Director Marc Forster Talks 'Quantum Of Solace'
Acclaimed Swiss filmmaker Marc Forster ('Finding Neverland,' 'Stranger Than Fiction') jumps into blockbuster action with 'Quantum Of Solace' -- and shooting it was quite an adventure. Forster had to deal with a totaled Aston Martin, a seriously injured stuntman and most recently, Daniel Craig's grossly exaggerated finger cut. We caught up with the director just days after he wrapped production for an update on 007's 22nd installment.
What's been the biggest challenge for you, personally, taking on 'Bond'?
You take on 'Bond,' and you work within that framework of 'Bond.' You know, you have the girls, the cars, the history, the millions of fans. 'Casino Royale' has been such a huge success, and audiences always have higher expectations. So there is incredible pressure you are under because you have to create something as a follow-up to 'Casino Royale.' And that sort of pressure excited me. At the same time, I always love[d] the early 'Bond' films, like the 1960s Sean Connery, Ken Adam-designed 'Bond' films, which I felt were so much ahead of their time in feel and look and design. And I felt like when you got to 'Quantum Of Solace' there would be this incredible opportunity I had been given to really create something stylish and interesting and push further than where 'Casino' went.
Did you study 'Casino Royale' in order to make the tone consistent?
No. I mean I watched the movie, but I needed to create my own movie. I had to set my own tone and own visual tone for 'Quantum Of Solace.' So I didn't want to get too married to it because I felt like I still have to put my stamp on it and visualize it the way I feel it should be right to the character. And also, the movie starts where the last one ended. And I feel Bond is in a very different place now because it's the first time he experienced love and he lost someone. And now we take off from this point where he experienced that loss. And what really does it mean for Bond also to lose someone as he himself takes other people's lives? And it makes him psychologically more vulnerable, and out of that vulnerability the main theme, the center of the film, for me was trust. What can you trust? And what does trust really mean if you love someone?
There were conflicting reports about Daniel Craig's finger injury, we heard everything from a paper cut to a tip cut off. Can you tell us what happened?
It's basically ... on top of the finger there's like a cut, and it will heal and it will be fine. But it was just a very deep cut. But the finger isn't missing or anything. He still has all 10 fingers [laughs].
Do you buy into all that lore when people say "Oh, this production is cursed"?
No, I don't. On every action film, small accidents happen. And really the greatest news is obviously that Harris, the stunt guy, is out of the hospital. He's walking, talking. He really will get back to normal. That's just incredible news. And then the little things like with the finger and stuff, that's just gonna happen, you know. So I'm not really buying into it because I feel the movie we did is really special and the main things are I'm feeling very positive about it.
How would you describe the general mood on the set: Was it all business, being such a big production, or was there some horsing around?
No, I think it's always important to keep it humorous. Especially if you're doing a film like 'Bond,' you can't keep it too serious. The jokes are part of the movie, and it's part of the set as well. It's just very hard and intense work. And, you know for me, it's the first time making such a big commercial movie. So it's like you're running a marathon and you just have to pace yourself, because it's just a very long shoot.
http://www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2 ... of-solace/
Quantum of Solace
Moderator: Germangirl
Marc Forster: MSN Interview
New to the Bond franchise, Quantum Of Solace director Marc Forster tells us about aerial chases, seventies humour and the brand new trailer that will be hosted exclusively on MSN Movies UK from 5 pm on Monday 30 June.
Could you describe the stage you’re at with the production?
We wrapped the film around a week ago and now I’m in post-production and have started the editing process. We have four weeks to cut the film, then we have a preview, and then two more weeks and then we lock pictures. It’s a very tight schedule.
How much do you have to cut?
The movie will be just under two hours; it’s all the footage we shot since January third. I don’t know exactly how much, but it’s definitely a lot!
Quantum Of Solace has a far bigger budget than Casino Royale. Was it difficult to spend all that money?
All the films I’ve done until now we’re $40 million budgets and below. Making a movie for $200 million is a completely different scale, but at the same time you still have to watch the budget and make creative cuts to keep it in that range. You go to so many locations, six or seven countries. We’ve been to Austria, England, Mexico, Panama, Chile! Making it work when you’re constantly travelling with a crew and keeping it on schedule - and we wrapped on time - is pretty miraculous.
There have been a few mishaps, like Daniel Craig cutting open a fingertip and bruising a rib. Do you think he had a harder time with this than with his previous Bond film?
No, he had a few bruises in the last one as well. It just comes with the territory. Especially an actor like Daniel, who wants to do a lot of the stunts himself and is a very physical actor. That’s important to him, so you just run the risks - accidents can happen.
You’ve brought a lot of new talent into the franchise such as Olga Kurylenko. There must have been a shock factor for the new people...
Not much. Olga was also very keen on doing stunts herself. They all went through vigorous training to get to a place where they can do the stunts. But they all seemed to really enjoy it and got a kick out of it. For me, it’s always hard when you use a real actor in a stunt scene. You’re slightly tense and you just hope it goes well. There’s always an element of danger.
What will surprise us about the film?
Stylistically, it will be very different. I approached the film very differently and it’s going in a different direction. There was more action in Casino Royale, but my goal was to bring it back to the 60s and early 70s. I was always inspired by the early Bond films – Dr. No, Goldfinger - and the sets designed by Ken Adams. I want to go back to the feel of the old set designs, which were incredibly interesting and ahead of their time. I felt the look of the Bond franchise was a little bit neglected in the last decade - to make a more stylish Bond is a little more interesting.
Will you bring back the humour of the old 007 movies - the suave, ladies’ man Bond?
The role of the woman has changed in our day. At that time, the role of the Bond girl was more as an object. Today, if you cast a Bond girl she has to be a three dimensional woman. She has to be smart and sexy. It’s not the suave humour in that sense, but the humour is important to me and it does go back to the traditional humour.
Michael G Wilson said the film was nearly twice as big on the action front as Casino Royale. Could you describe any particular action scenes that you think will be seen as groundbreaking?
There’s an airplane sequence that’s a real cat-and-mouse game. I think it’s really breathtaking and a lot of fun. Another scene is the finale of a foot chase in Vienna during which they crash into a cathedral and there’s a fight. I really like that sequence; I feel I haven’t seen it in any film before.
Finally, MSN will be hosting the new trailer exclusively on Monday 30 June. Could you tell us what we can expect?
It’s a teaser and I’m really happy with it. Even in a minute and a half, I think it captures the essence and the feel of the movie. I feel great about it and I have a really good feeling about the movie. I hope audiences will enjoy it as well.
The brand new trailer for Quantum Of Solace will be exclusively on MSN Movies from 5pm on Monday June 30.
http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/movies/ ... id=8722193
New to the Bond franchise, Quantum Of Solace director Marc Forster tells us about aerial chases, seventies humour and the brand new trailer that will be hosted exclusively on MSN Movies UK from 5 pm on Monday 30 June.
Could you describe the stage you’re at with the production?
We wrapped the film around a week ago and now I’m in post-production and have started the editing process. We have four weeks to cut the film, then we have a preview, and then two more weeks and then we lock pictures. It’s a very tight schedule.
How much do you have to cut?
The movie will be just under two hours; it’s all the footage we shot since January third. I don’t know exactly how much, but it’s definitely a lot!
Quantum Of Solace has a far bigger budget than Casino Royale. Was it difficult to spend all that money?
All the films I’ve done until now we’re $40 million budgets and below. Making a movie for $200 million is a completely different scale, but at the same time you still have to watch the budget and make creative cuts to keep it in that range. You go to so many locations, six or seven countries. We’ve been to Austria, England, Mexico, Panama, Chile! Making it work when you’re constantly travelling with a crew and keeping it on schedule - and we wrapped on time - is pretty miraculous.
There have been a few mishaps, like Daniel Craig cutting open a fingertip and bruising a rib. Do you think he had a harder time with this than with his previous Bond film?
No, he had a few bruises in the last one as well. It just comes with the territory. Especially an actor like Daniel, who wants to do a lot of the stunts himself and is a very physical actor. That’s important to him, so you just run the risks - accidents can happen.
You’ve brought a lot of new talent into the franchise such as Olga Kurylenko. There must have been a shock factor for the new people...
Not much. Olga was also very keen on doing stunts herself. They all went through vigorous training to get to a place where they can do the stunts. But they all seemed to really enjoy it and got a kick out of it. For me, it’s always hard when you use a real actor in a stunt scene. You’re slightly tense and you just hope it goes well. There’s always an element of danger.
What will surprise us about the film?
Stylistically, it will be very different. I approached the film very differently and it’s going in a different direction. There was more action in Casino Royale, but my goal was to bring it back to the 60s and early 70s. I was always inspired by the early Bond films – Dr. No, Goldfinger - and the sets designed by Ken Adams. I want to go back to the feel of the old set designs, which were incredibly interesting and ahead of their time. I felt the look of the Bond franchise was a little bit neglected in the last decade - to make a more stylish Bond is a little more interesting.
Will you bring back the humour of the old 007 movies - the suave, ladies’ man Bond?
The role of the woman has changed in our day. At that time, the role of the Bond girl was more as an object. Today, if you cast a Bond girl she has to be a three dimensional woman. She has to be smart and sexy. It’s not the suave humour in that sense, but the humour is important to me and it does go back to the traditional humour.
Michael G Wilson said the film was nearly twice as big on the action front as Casino Royale. Could you describe any particular action scenes that you think will be seen as groundbreaking?
There’s an airplane sequence that’s a real cat-and-mouse game. I think it’s really breathtaking and a lot of fun. Another scene is the finale of a foot chase in Vienna during which they crash into a cathedral and there’s a fight. I really like that sequence; I feel I haven’t seen it in any film before.
Finally, MSN will be hosting the new trailer exclusively on Monday 30 June. Could you tell us what we can expect?
It’s a teaser and I’m really happy with it. Even in a minute and a half, I think it captures the essence and the feel of the movie. I feel great about it and I have a really good feeling about the movie. I hope audiences will enjoy it as well.
The brand new trailer for Quantum Of Solace will be exclusively on MSN Movies from 5pm on Monday June 30.
http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/movies/ ... id=8722193
I'm turning on the satellite now to see if I can catch an East coast feed of ET. I'm a time zone west. I really hate ET. Remember last time they teased us and it was actually a day later.ad78472 wrote:There is a scheduled segment on Entertainment Tonight this Friday.
Sky News will show the trailer at 8:30 tomorrow.
http://www.mi6forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=42985
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Elaine_Figgis
- Administrator
- Posts: 7195
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:27 pm
Boy do I hate ET, must I?JoniJoni wrote:I'm turning on the satellite now to see if I can catch an East coast feed of ET. I'm a time zone west. I really hate ET. Remember last time they teased us and it was actually a day later.ad78472 wrote:There is a scheduled segment on Entertainment Tonight this Friday.
Sky News will show the trailer at 8:30 tomorrow.
http://www.mi6forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=42985
Crazy!
Sorry Elaine, you MUST! It's for Daniel. lolElaine_Figgis wrote:Boy do I hate ET, must I?JoniJoni wrote:I'm turning on the satellite now to see if I can catch an East coast feed of ET. I'm a time zone west. I really hate ET. Remember last time they teased us and it was actually a day later.ad78472 wrote:There is a scheduled segment on Entertainment Tonight this Friday.
Sky News will show the trailer at 8:30 tomorrow.
http://www.mi6forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=42985
My satellite is screwy. It won't give the latest schedule. I'll just try to find a NY station and watch. Did I mention how much I hate ET?
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Elaine_Figgis
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- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:27 pm
GG told me the same thing!JoniJoni wrote:Sorry Elaine, you MUST! It's for Daniel. lolElaine_Figgis wrote:Boy do I hate ET, must I?JoniJoni wrote: I'm turning on the satellite now to see if I can catch an East coast feed of ET. I'm a time zone west. I really hate ET. Remember last time they teased us and it was actually a day later.
My satellite is screwy. It won't give the latest schedule. I'll just try to find a NY station and watch. Did I mention how much I hate ET?
I'm getting drunk to do it.it's an hour, starting at 7 eastern time.
Crazy!
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Elaine_Figgis
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Germangirl
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- Location: Germany
Good idea that, Elaine. Better take notesJoniJoni wrote:Careful! We want you to report back. Maybe you should try to scrawl some notes on your cocktail napkin.
The top notch acting in the Weisz/Craig/Spall 'Betrayal' is emotionally true, often v funny and its beautifully staged with filmic qualities..
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Browneyed_LadyBond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:06 am
- Location: Sibiu, Romania
Girls did you know that the new Bond girl Gemma Arterton is only 22 years old? .....she's my age...Oh My God!!!!.....maybe I'm mistaking but IMDB says so:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2605345/bio
Maybe I should have taken up acting because I really thought about it
.....she's my age...Oh My God!!!!.....maybe I'm mistaking but IMDB says so:http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2605345/bio
Maybe I should have taken up acting because I really thought about it
~You open your big old baby blues
"Thank you darling," you say
Mr. Craig, you made my day~...from Sharmaine's lovely poem
Thank you D_C for the siggy set
"Thank you darling," you say
Mr. Craig, you made my day~...from Sharmaine's lovely poem
Thank you D_C for the siggy set
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Germangirl
- Moderator
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- Location: Germany
Yes, its true and Olga is 29. So Dan has some yummy young flesh to keep up with. Although with Olga he isn´t as lucky as with GemmaBrowneyed_LadyBond wrote:Girls did you know that the new Bond girl Gemma Arterton is only 22 years old?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2605345/bio
Maybe I should have taken up acting because I really thought about it
The top notch acting in the Weisz/Craig/Spall 'Betrayal' is emotionally true, often v funny and its beautifully staged with filmic qualities..
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Browneyed_LadyBond
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:06 am
- Location: Sibiu, Romania
[quote="GermangirlYes, its true and Olga is 29. So Dan has some yummy young flesh to keep up with. Although with Olga he isn´t as lucky as with Gemma [/quote]
....Oh my!*faints*....so I must be proud ...They are both very beautifull
[/quote] ....Oh my!*faints*....so I must be proud ...They are both very beautifull ~You open your big old baby blues
"Thank you darling," you say
Mr. Craig, you made my day~...from Sharmaine's lovely poem
Thank you D_C for the siggy set
"Thank you darling," you say
Mr. Craig, you made my day~...from Sharmaine's lovely poem
Thank you D_C for the siggy set
-
Elaine_Figgis
- Administrator
- Posts: 7195
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:27 pm
