Case studies
was his army, hence, you get the terracotta
army of Xi’an in our mythology. They are
the army of Mummies.
How much of a challenge was it for Brendan
Fraser, emotionally and physically, to
resurrect the role of O'Connell in this film?
Rick here is a man wrestling with life
decisions. A marriage in trouble, an alienated
son (played by newcomer Luke Ford) and
the most terrifying Mummy of them all—
a creature of mystical and shape-shifting
powers determined to find immortality and
John Hannah, Maria Bello,
recreate his world domination. Rick is still
Luke Ford and Brendan Fraser
funny from the first frame but Brendan is
able to give this new Rick a much stronger actors. This is, in fact, directing two blast working with this fine cast, shooting
grounding and some true emotion. For me, movies, one on location and one at the in China and Montreal, painting on such a
Brendan was the Sine Qua Non of me doing workstation. Pity we don’t get paid double! big canvas.
this film. I went to see him at his home in
Connecticut, to lay out my vision for the film Do you think fans of the franchise will Of all the films you’ve made, which would
and we struck up a delightful, productive embrace Maria Bello taking over from you consider your best and why?
relationship from the start. He is a gentleman Rachel Weisz’s role as Evelyn, given she It’s easy to like your box office hits. You
and an innovative actor with abilities of was such a popular character? get way more validation from those. The
enormous range. I introduced him to Israeli Maria is a fiery, smart, beautiful woman. Fast and the Furious, xXx, Dragon:
martial arts called Krav Maga and through She is stepping into big shoes but meets The Bruce Lee Story and The Skulls
that, he not only got into the best shape of the challenge head on right from the first all made a lot of profit. I have a soft spot
his career, he ultimately fights Jet in a shot. Her quality is different; her Evy is for my first film, A Small Circle of
battle royale which forms the climax. In different. I think she has brought a new Friends with Brad Davis, Karen Allen and
every way, he kicks ass. vitality to the role, which both honours Shelley Long, made in 1980, and also for
Rachel and swings the character into her Dragonheart. They weren’t successful
How closely was the character played by Jet own orbit. I hope audiences will be open to but they had meaning to me.
Li based on the real-life Emperor Qin Shi her interpretation but that is up to them.
Huang, who was buried amidst 10,000 Would you ever consider making an xXx
painstakingly carved terracotta warriors, Bello reported during an interview that the sequel on your terms with Vin Diesel back
believed to date back to 210 B.C.? new Evy is different from the original Evy. in the lead role?
This is a fantasy of that time, not a historical How so? Vinnie and I talk about it from time to
drama. Although the essence of the Qin The O’Connells have been married for 21 time. There was something rich about the
period has been respected, we are also years in 1946. They are retired from the character of Xander Cage; the extreme
taking it only so far. Our tomb has 500 adventure business when we meet them sports, the punk James Bond. I couldn’t
exact replicas of the Xi’an warriors plus I and bored out of their skulls with each help but notice the last Bond opened with
had all the period bronze weapons, pikes, other and life. This new Mummy reignites Parkour and had a much more punk actor
halberds, crossbows and swords, placed in their sense of purpose and the juice between now in the lead. I loved it.
the terracotta hands. This is the first time them. Maria plays this all so well. She is
that there would be a glimpse of what it truly motherly to the 20-year-old Alex and a Is there anything you can tell us about your
might have looked like. sexy life partner to Rick now in middle age. next film King of the Nudies? It seems like
you’re shifting gears with this film, because
You’ve got 949 visual effects in this film. Do you plan to make another Mummy film it’s not an actioner, it’s a drama in the Ed
How do you marry the actual production after The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Wood mould from what I can tell?
with the visual effects so that it appears a Emperor? Maria Bello said she had already Yes, that is correct. The life of Russ Meyer
seamless process? signed on for a sequel. was redolent for the 1950s and 1960s
Now, that’s a big question! The most I would love to keep working in this genre cultural shift. His relationship with his
important thing is the tonal control of and I hope we do get to make another one wife, Eve, was complex, fetishistic and
both the human and the VFX sides of the because that will mean this one was a success. powerful. I would like Vince Vaughn to
equation. The actors need to intensely play him as I think he has great character
imagine what I am going to have there so You’ve made tentpole pictures before, how size, range and humour all of which Russ
it is incumbent on me to create this do you deal with the demands and pressures had. I haven’t talked to him yet, so you are
context for them by way of storyboards, that such a huge endeavour inevitably the first to know. n
animatics and other tricks I use to keep comes with?
them focussed. Nothing worse than the With relish! I live for challenge. This is my For a more detailed look at the production
thousand-foot stare in the ten-foot room! 30th movie as a producer or director, and of The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon
But, concomitantly, the animators need to the largest and most complex, not to Emperor, check out Rob Cohen’s production
create a sympathetic reality in the CG mention the most VFX shots. I had a total blog at
www.robcohenthemummy.com
12 By filmmakeRs. foR filmmakeRs.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84