How did the opportunity presented itself to direct Halloween?
Well, it came out so strange. After "The Devil's Rejects "I began to experience a lot of people. I was offered other remakes that I was not interested, other interesting stuff, a lot of proposals. I had a million meetings, I also began to sew on some projects. Then they started to come out of things to which I was not going to be involved. One day I'll get a phone call asking if I wanted to meet Bob Weinstein who was in town, I think for the Golden Globes. Ok, I go there but it's my last. I broke because of encounters never lead to anything. It 's all a series of idle talk. So I go to his hotel and we meet, and he pulls out this history of Halloween. The Dimensions had the rights to Halloween, and he wanted to know my views on Halloween. Not as a remake, in the broadest sense. Essentially, they had Halloween and did not know what to do! I know that they had tried several times to make a movie for Halloween but there were successful, then basically it came to me like that, point blank.
So you had in your hand like a Halloween project, and should be exciting since you're a big fan of the genre, but you were a consequence of having to reinvent Halloween. There was a time when you thought "what a mess I stuck?"
Well, I was not sure at the beginning of wanting to go since I was not anxious to do a remake. I answered "I do not know, I will think." In the sense that I wanted to call them and say no. But I left there and I thought for a couple of weeks. And at some point I began to see her like, "Wait a minute. Why do I assume that is a bad idea? can be an incredible idea. The attitude I'm taking the completely wrong." And I started working on it. Yes, I would. I began to imagine how it could be done. I thought about it I realized that Michael Myers was a great character. And 'one of the few modern icons of horror. There are only 4 or 5. Very rarely reappear and are tabled in the classical way. So I said "fuck, I do this film. It 's a great thing and can be really big."
How much freedom has been given you?
to 100%. I would not have done otherwise. That 's what they wanted. Bob Weinstein said, "We want to take it and do what you want." If there was one thing for which I have always stressed, saying "Make it more Rob Zombie!" (Laughs). Not interested in protecting the franchise ... not created any problems. He wanted to have I started working on it. Again, I was in a very rare situation and so it was hard to say no.
E 'was difficult do? You had a lot of time between HOT1000C and TDR. Halloween was announced in June 2006 and was released in August 2007.
The biggest obstacle was the mistake that I had done ... I've seen Halloween a million times but never thought to make us a remake. So I began to see him again and again and eventually it did more harm than good, starting to fuck with my head because I had the same idea that fans have. How do you do? How can you change this? So I had to stop and think about it and start thinking about my vision. It was not so difficile.E 'was difficult towards the end, because the first part of the film, that is, story of little Michael, was easy because there already. People watch the first movie and says "Oh, it was a normal kid." But we do not really know. Nothing is said about it and we have no evidence to say. It 's just people making speculations on what he sees. So I thought it was fine. It can go so well because it's like a white sheet. And also the story of Dr. Loomis in the early days of Smith's Grove mental hospital was a white sheet. I could do whatever I wanted. It 'was in the third part of the movie when it comes to Haddonfield, which I wanted to include classical elements. But do include other classic elements. The best way that I can describe it to people is that it's like Batman Begins. Keep Wayne House. Keep Batman. Do you want the Batman suit. You probably making Alfred the butler. You keep a lot of things but you'll see a classic product represented in different ways.
What did you want from your cast? From your Loomis, Jaime from your, from your Michael?
The thing that is all I wanted to be realistic and take it seriously. Because one of the problems that sometimes you have ... you know ... the horror fans love horror things. But most of the population not only does not like horror but does not care about anything. Sometimes you have an actor enters the project with the attitude "h, I realized that stuff is. It's going to very good." You know, there are no preconceptions about how states in horror films. And no, I did not want to happen. I want you to read as if it were a true story. Damn serious. A real fact. The entire film has to live and die on the acting. Not about the bad acting and special effects. I want this film to be convincing because you gave a great performance. Not because there's a big guy with a mask that goes around.
E 'was a benefit that many of the cast had never seen Halloween? I know that Malcolm McDowell has never seen the original.
E 'was a good thing because they did not want to imitate what they have seen before, so good ... the original actors do not imitate anything. It was only their fresh perspective on what they should do. If people start to imitate, it becomes strange. Nobody wants to see someone who imitates Donald Pleasence or something. And there is no reason why it should be so because it is a great actor Malcolm McDowell. I wanted McDowell McDowell was not to imitate someone else. For most of the cast had not seen the movie or the first time she had seen him so as to have a vague memory. So it was not a factor.
But Daniel Harris, who not only Halloween but it was also seen in some of the sequel.
Danielle Harris came to light, was not there that day, but in reality I was not convinced to take it because it was in Halloween 4 and 5 and did not see it as a good thing. Indeed as a bad thing. Yes, the fans would be a great thing but I did not want to belittle the film saying, "Hey, look. And 'a nod to pay homage to another film.." I did not want to work that way. It had everything to live and die in this film. But, you know, to its credit, this is the best compliment I can make them saying it was so good that we got even if I did not want to take it. And she knows it. I said this thing many times.
From the outside, the cast is excellent. Did you have someone in mind? O came out with the casting?
A little 'both. I refer to the older actors I wanted. I knew I wanted Tyler (Mane) as Michale Myers. I knew that I wanted Malcolm McDowell, William Forsythe, Dee Wallace. The only girls that I did the casting are the 3 girls, Laurie, Anny, Linda and three children, the young Michael, Tommy Doyle and Lindsey Wallace.Sono the only ones who have come to light. I know what I wanted and I did not have. A boy of 10 years in the head. For the little Michael and Laurie Straude I knew I had to have new faces who were not identified in any other film.
Scout's performance Taylor Compton for what I've heard seems to be really strong.
E 'phenomenal. It 's great. And this is the greatest thing because I really wanted her. They came dozens of people. People recognizable by other things, that it was not people but Scout has always been my first choice. So I fought for it. I wanted her as Laurie Strode, I knew it was perfect.
McDoweel back to Malcolm, I wondered what had brought in more than Whereas it is a great actor.
Malcolm is a strange actor because that vibration is always on him. Even when it's good, seems to be the bad. I do not know. He has an innate image disturbing in itself. But in a pleasant way. Like Clockwork Orange, no matter how bad you think "I like this." What was great at Halloween is that we have created more than one character as the young Loomis is more idealistic. It 'a pediatric psychologist who works with this guy. And I think I picked up the approach with the thing, I tried to take from real life. Vincent Bugliosi is a prosecutor only when he took the Manson case. Now is the world's most famous and this changed his life. It is now forever linked to Charles Manson. Forever. And it was the way I wanted to recreate it. Dr. Loomis crosses his road with Michael before doing anything. It then becomes part of Michael's life, and they are so intertwined in a way that Malcolm begins and ends in another. It starts very idealistic and cynical then becomes such that recognizes that everything he has done is nothing but a failure. It 's interesting to see the evolution of this character.
Donald Pleasence has often said to love the character of Loomis and wanted to continue to interpret it. It feels like Malcolm?
I think Malcolm would do it again. Probably. Seems to have been electrocuted. He has enjoyed every minute. I loved it. It 'was one of the best things the film. I've always loved Malcolm, from A Clockwork Orange, O Lucky Man or If or Caligula or Time After Time, I've always been a big fan. And working with him which is the type cooler than you'll ever meet was great. What more could I ask?
Speaking of actors with an innate disturbing side, what about Brad Dourif? You see for 5 minutes on the set but it is disturbing.
It 's a funny thing. I love to draw people like that. I chose Brad as the sheriff, which is a good person. I called Danny Trejo as a nice person, not as a tough guy. I took Clint Howard as the doctor seriously. Trying to pick people the opposite of what normally is. And Brad is great, what I love that Brad gets so convinced of its performance. It falls completely and we really believe. It is not that comes in and says his lines, he really thinks and see him in the eye. It 'something that is not known on the set, at times, but it's the sort of X factor that only certain actors, and there's just a certain level to what you see in the eye and you receive. This is Brad. Brad is really brilliant. I really appreciated the fact of working with him. Dee Wallace was another with whom I have loved working. I did not want to go away ever. (Laughs) I wanted to continue to push it in the scenes because she is so good. She is another who has made a million movies but she is incredible. It 'was a big party. (Laughs).
Sybil Danning There was also in the cast!
I met her for Grindhouse. Because originally my plan was to have the three Nazi Sheri, Sybil and Diane Thorn (Ilsa) at the Nazi women. But Diane did not want to do that, for some reason. E 'was unfortunate. There I met Sybil. I was already in production for Halloween when I finished doing Werewolf Women. And she said "Oh, if there's anything to do on Halloween, I'd do it. Anything!." And it was only one part, is the nurse in the asylum. It 's a little scene but she has done splendidly (laughs).
Considering how active you are on your MySpace blog, the news were all taken from your blog. You have had some influence on the ideas that you have read on the internet?
were not affected in any way. It could be because people who did not comment on the pious idea of \u200b\u200bwho is speaking. They make comments about a movie that have not seen a movie that has not even been shot yet! So I'm totally useless information, unfortunately. And when I was working on pre-production of the film, I have not looked anything online or anywhere, because I was not interested. Perhè six so confused in what you do, because no matter. The only way to make a film is to have your vision of what you want, and have a unique vision without anything to give a damn what others think. It 's the same thing with the casting. Some people who is in the film, no one wanted me to you took, and I had to fight to get them. It took up to four months, but I would not let that happen. And now that is done, is like "Wow, that guy is awesome. Thank God you have chosen!" Why is it so that he must go. It 's the work of the director, you have to do with the blind and fight and fight.
Someone objected that it would be demystified the character, describing his past ...
I think it's fascinating, I do not think that demystifies the character. First, no one knew what I had done. (Laughs) People have said that he did not want all those explanations. Who said that I had said something? The funny thing about the Internet is that people say "I heard that ..." tick here and 100 people who say because it's a bad idea. But this is not true from the beginning so I am all astray. I mean, about Michale Myers, I did not explain anything. That's the biggest thing about him. I wanted to take a look at his life, but everything that made him so it is completely inexplicable. You can not say "Oh, this has happened then has become so." No, I wanted it to be seen in a situation of low social class because it does not matter if it is raised in a family rich or poor, it is a fucking psycho! The environment does not matter. Friends do not matter because he is a psychopath and I find it interesting. The good guys become bad from good homes - I was interested in doing the same thing that has already been done before. Anyway, that stuff that people have created. In the first Halloween, is that through the first-person view of a clown mask, a boy kills his sister. Go outside, two people enter, one removes the mask and says "Michael?". This is all we know! Are they close? Maybe his father beat him? We do not know anything. None of that movie is just pure speculation put on by the fans. Again, we know nothing. It was my job to fill those holes as it seemed right.
re-tell the story satisfying the purists and those who wanted more, according to your vision.
Yes, and what I thought was fascinating was that or what fascinates me is that we see Dr. Loomis in the original before the shit hits the fan. He has worked with this kid, he failed and now, all he wants is to keep him locked up. Well, I thought it was great to see the Doctor Loomis while he was still optimistic over Michael Myers. And slowly he realizes that it is hopeless. That's why I thought it was great. Donald Pleasence would have mentioned this but we have not seen.
I know, and I always wanted to see it.
A fool in a dressing gown in the rain jumps out and runs away with the car. It 's all we know. The other thing that drives me crazy, I always make comparisons ta movies, but I love the films of John Carpenter. But people think that if I make comparisons is as if you were insulting the film. Not so! I just want to explain what the difference with mine.
Carpenter saw the final product?
No.
How was the dialogue with Carpenter when you started to remake Halloween?
Oh, it was simple. I called the day before the news was announced and I knew the day would end in Variety or something. I have known him for 10 years, or so I called and just said "Hey, look what I wanted to say that I'm also doing this remake of Halloween." And he says "Great! Cool! Go well! Anything else?" (Laughs) 'a man shined. It's just "Cool!"
's music is a Halloween icon as Michael. What you asked for the new theme the composer Tyler Bates?
Tyler was on my same boat, basically. Because music is more iconic than the rest. And we were not sure of anything, because I started to play without music in my head. He had made a few sketches but nothing we had not started a project if not advanced because we were not sure that the issue of Carpenter worked. Why is associated with the movie you've already seen. I thought that watching this film would have seemed out of place. Who knows? Maybe we used all. Even the classic stuff. He rang him and made him very directly. Did not want to make it big, rock, techno or shit like that. We wanted it to sound as if the old type. If something had a strange effect synth we've got some old wreck. We wanted it to sound true. And when he composed music was the same thing. We wanted it to seem as if there was a part of the soundtrack that we had never heard. The theme is really cool.
How did you choose the songs and how you have integrated into the film?
The songs that I have taken do not sound like a soundtrack. It's not like Freebird TDR that sounds like a thematic element. The background songs are all from the radio or something. One thing that I like to make music like that is to make everything real. And I Like that there is no music in the asylum. It 's so sterile. And when Michale comes out in his first, and ends at the truck wash, truck wash where 18-wheeler, in which the character of this altercation with Ken Foree. People wash the trucks and put on music fracassone. And it is as if the world in which it was trapped for 15 years, comes out and explodes in a world of sounds. It was a way to hinder, the isolation in which he lived all these years.
Can you tell us more scenes reshot?
There was a disproportionate. All films have additional scenes filmed on Earth. Sometimes you hear about in Sometimes you come back two days to turn over. Sometimes people come back to run for 8 weeks. Half turns film. We shot six days. We had finished with the film. We did a rough assembly and we did see in New York, and came good. And Bob Weinstein came to me saying "Rob, the movie has come good, we really believe. If there is anything that you have not taken the first time, or you want to add to the film, I'll give the money to do it." And that was it. He never told what to shoot. I have never suggested anything. He only said "if you want to do something to make it better, do you support in everything." And there was something in truth. Making a film is a puzzle with many pieces. And until you can not fake it get to say. "Damn, I wish I had that piece there and that guy.". For TDR, but I have not had this opportunity I had here and I did. One thing I wanted to do was to restructure the time-line of the film. So I took scenes that were filmed in the daytime and at night I stir. Many things I wanted to restore. There are a couple of new things, some people did not seem resolved. One in particular was the character of Danny Trejo. And so it was.
From horror fan, what it's like a remake of the greatest horror film ever made?
Oh, it's completely surreal. Completely surreal. I had a little 'of surreal moments like these in my life. One was over a year ago when I was on stage to play God of Thunder with Ace Frehley. I thought, "It 's so absurd, but I was this loser who adored Kiss in '70 and I'm on stage to do this song." Ace Frehey was on stage with me and others of Kiss playing this song "It 's strange. It' s like a bizarre dream.." Halloween is the same thing. You're on the set to turn Halloween. And I'm in Pasadena in the same streets where Carpenter has turned. It was a strange dream of Halloween. I never lost that feeling and how it was insanely cool.
people consider Halloween a touchy subject. What would you say to fans of the way of doing a remake.
I think so. In my opinion, the remakes are a form of passion and purpose. It 'obvious. How to say "Who do you like more like Dracula? Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee?" I have always said, "Fuck! I love both. They are both fantastic." You know, but you can tell when something is remade for fast money. This is not the case. I really believe it. And being a big fan of the original, and like many people, looking at Michael Myers followed with 7 escalate until you say "Where are we getting there?" I really wanted to take that character and when people see on the screen and says "I've never seen Michael Myers so bad-ass! In 30 years!" It meant a lot to me. I really wanted it to be great. I took it very seriously. People think he did it only for money. No. I could go on tour and do 10 times the money they gave me for the film at the time. It was not a question of money. It was what I wanted to do. And I think when the movie works.
You love these movies. Perhaps for the first time this film was in the hands of someone who loves them.
The fact is that the remake, no matter how good, I am nothing. Nothing can make you love something more original because it's something special for you. This also applies to me. No matter how good the remake of Zombie, will never be so special compared to what I saw in a theater at midnight when I was in high school. It was an explosive experience. It is not an insult to the film, it's just that there is such an emotional baggage tied to the movie for many people. And I agree. This does not mean that they should not be made. If so, Nosferatu is the only version of Dracula that would see for the rest of our lives. There is nothing wrong with it, just do it with the right intent and not to make easy money. That happens often. Do not let us take the piss. Even if 100 remake suck you always have confidence in those who have hope. "Maybe that's what makes everybody happy." To me I do not care nothing about the other film. I tried to do my own good.
The only way to start the series was to give a kick to the past and start all over with someone who really kept us then?
I never did Halloween 9. 9, would be finished on video. What are you doing? On the 8 I would feel like Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. A great character once it became a hole in the water for someone. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein or Dracula make a joke. This is what Michael Myers was for me in 8. When Hammer did with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing for you was "Yay!" (Laughs). These are things that made me understand how things were going.
Were you a fan of the whole saga of Halloween?
not I could care less. No. They went over what must have Datta. I thought they would be fired into space. Let them fight with someone else. (Laughs) It becomes ridiculous after a while '! It happens with everything. Ok, I love the shark. With the second I can get along well. At 3, 4 ... what is going on? (Laughs).
You are at peace with Michael Myers or continue with the story? Or leave it where he left Michael Myers?
I finished. No matter how it goes this movie. Even if this was the best film of all time, no turning back. Because I wanted to make one big movie and that's all I wanted to do. The way it works the horror genre, beyond what I did, they would find a way to make the sequel. You know, if we make Michael Myers explode into a thousand pieces, in Part 2 is regenerated by itself. He would end in a government laboratory where they reassemble. (Laughs) The thing that I do not want to do is start a franchise, because that's how it ended badly. It 's so that writing the crap. You just concentrate on making a great movie for everyone, because it is really what matters to everyone. You do not want it to end ready for the second part.
well then hopefully do not make too many sequels ...
They do not even talk. That's what I liked about Bob Weinstein. He wanted to reinvent it without creating something to start a franchise. It was focused on making one big movie. Because if they wanted to do a sequel would be planned now and it is not. This I liked. All the intentions were in the right direction.
This version of the film is your final. There will be a two-disc edition with an alternate version, a director's cut?
You know, the funny thing is that I have not had any problem with the MPAA. We had a R rated very easily. And I was perplexed by this thing. I do not know whether it is due to the huge amount of bloody film that came out that made it seem less violent. I feel that we have given more calm because it was that Michael Myers is a type ... monster. Unlike a man who hurts another man. You can pop the head off a zombie but if you make a normal man is a problem. They have these weird rules. Then they took him to a monster and we have left to lose.
What do you think of movies like Saw, Hostel?
I have not seen many, so I do not have a precise idea. I do not see many movies. (Laughs). I will see them on DVD and then I'll tell you.
What you gonna do now?
take some 'time for me. I will go on tour. Then I will start another film. Now I'm trying to figure out exactly what will be.
How many DVDs you have now?
Ah, I do not know. It should be over 10,000. I recently saw Hot Fuzz. I saw Pan's Labyrinth. When I worked at Halloween I have not seen anything.
not watch movies while speed?
Sometimes you can do to ... Sometimes you see something why are you trying to express an idea to someone else. How to "see this scene here? This is the kind of lighting I am talking about." Often it is only a tool to express an idea to someone else. But after working 8 hours a day, or 12 or 14 or 16 hours a day, certainly not you come home to watch a movie. You're too broke. If I look at something, I watch the dailies.
by Rob G., courtesy of iconoffright
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