Cloverfield articles and interviews

• WIRED - Cloverfield roar to life on DVD, Online.
• Bloody Disgusting - SpookyDan Drills 'Cloverfield's' Lizzy Caplan, Loses the Battle
• Movie Web - Michael Stahl-David Talks Cloverfield
• 411 Movies - Michael Stahl-David of Cloverfield
• Tagruato Blogspot has an interview with the Cloverfield Monster's designer Neville Page.
• Tagruato Blogspot has an interview with Tippett Studio's Eric Leven.

Matt Reeves Interview

IGN.com interviewd Matt Reeves and posted the article yesterday. The article is below and the direct link is on the bottom.

Cloverfield director talks potential sequel.

by Christopher Monfette

April 23, 2008 - With Cloverfield now on DVD shelves across the country, we were recently able to sit down with director Matt Reeves to discuss the blockbuster phenomenon. So keep reading for Reeves' thoughts on making a modern-day Godzilla, as well as a few juicy tidbits on a possible Cloverfield sequel.

IGN: As a director, what challenges were associated with doing a large-scale, effects-heavy monster film in this very low-budget, Blair Witch-style patina. How do make it feel raw and real and hand-held and still have to plan for sets and green-screens and transitions?

REEVES: That was both the challenge and the joy of it. We're making a movie for Paramount, on handy-cams, with special effects and improvisation…We're doing this kind of garage-band movie, but at the end of the day, it's still a mainstream monster movie for a major studio. The challenge was to find a way to always make it feel real. Very early on, because of all the footage I watched, I could see the way that people used cameras – their cell phones, their video-cameras – and that shoots in a very particular way. The way that camera moves is very different than the way an eighty-pound professional camera moves…So through the process of making the teaser trailer, we learned how to hide cuts and bridge different takes together. Normally, when you go into a movie, you have certain tools. You know that you can get a certain amount of shots and stage things in different ways. And I've always seen shooting as a kind of hunting and gathering process, where you go out and explore different things with the actors, knowing that you can cut everything together through editing. But on this movie, I knew that we wouldn't have that…So that meant that we had to get things often in one take. Instead of covering multiple angles, I would do one angle and shoot it 50 times. I'd start by shooting the rehearsals, and then introduce improvisation, and go on this epic search for what seemed real.

And the same was true for the camera – throw it, drop it. I'd know I wanted the camera in certain places at certain times and the trick was to invent "accidental" ways of it getting there. When we were down in the subway, there was a moment when Rob falls down trying to help Lilly, and the reason he does this is that when we were shooting on the day, he actually fell. So I wanted to build the rest of the sequence off the fact that he fell, largely because as we were working, we were constantly looking for ways to make him look like the un-heroic hero. It was enough that he was doing this – that he was going back for her – that he didn't need to seem like Tom Cruise doing it.

IGN: With a movie that's supposed to look this spontaneous – which includes improvisation in both the acting and directing – what does the first draft of the script look like in comparison to the film itself?

REEVES: When we started prep, the script still didn't exist. When I first got involved, there was only an outline. Drew [Goddard] was working on Lost at the time and he'd only just started writing…And one of the critical things that happened was that I went to the production designer and I said, "It starts in this part of town and moves here and moves there," and he said, "Okay, we're going to New York with a camera and we're going to take the paths that you're telling me, and we'll be able to identify what has to be shot in New York and what can be done here." But it also told us some stuff about the story. So as we were doing research, I'd seen this footage from Iraq of a guy hiding under a table in a tent that was being bombed, and it was terrifying. The sounds kept getting more and more intense, but the image was very obscure. And I said to Drew, "We need to get this into the movie." So there was a constant interplay between what was happening story-wise and what was happening with the production itself. We finally had a draft about a month out of shooting, so we essentially had a month to put together what we should have had twelve weeks to develop…

But the interesting thing about the process was that the fundamental underpinnings of the story – because we'd worked on them and developed them – that the basis of what happens, the structure of the story, is very much the structure that you see now. And the improvisation that we did had much more to do with, "Would he really react this way at this moment?" Or would a camera really move this way in this moment? And I was trying to communicate through a kind of short-hand that they had these relationships. One of the things I did with the actors was to say, "Listen, the most important thing you can do since we have no script is for you guys to hang out. Get to know each other and trust each other." And by the time we were shooting, they'd developed a rapport that I was able to call on in places. And TJ, who plays Hud, came from a stand-up background, so he'd come out with these great lines, and I'd go back to Drew, and he'd have an idea for a pay-off line later in the film…So the way things developed was very free-form, but the foundation of what Drew wrote was very strong.

IGN: What were your initial thoughts on the viral components

REEVES: There are a bunch of really smart young guys at Bad Robot who followed very carefully everything we were doing…And the whole idea of the movie is about this phenomenon of an age where everything we do is documented by those going through the experience…It's a way of dealing with chaos. Like, "This is a terrifying thing, but it becomes less terrifying if I become a documentarian instead of a victim." So in terms of the viral stuff, I always thought it fit well because it is so much about the same idea. That there are other points of view on the same event. When you look at a news event on CNN, the footage you see of critical stuff is coming from amateurs. So the idea of the internet being a news source – the website of an oil company, or Slusho – a fragmented prism focusing on the same central object: to get at the truth by piecing together a puzzle from all this condensed media.

IGN: Is there a flipside to that coin – as a director, watching all of that peripheral material define the cannon and the mythology of the "Cloverfield" event? In planning a potential sequel, do you feel at all beholden to or limited by that?

REEVES: There's nothing in the movie that we did that was driven by the viral stuff. All of that emerged from the story and the script and the footage as we were filming…I don't think we'll be as slavish to the viral stuff. I think that stuff was only meant to enhance, but not to drive the experience. The thing that's important to all of us as we're talking about what the sequel could be is that it's incumbent upon us to do something different. We can't just do a repeat of the experience. We're not 100% sure that there even will be a sequel, because we promised ourselves that if we couldn't come up with something new, it's not worth making. That being said, there are a couple ideas that are starting to build. But I think it's critical that there be something different. Part of what was exciting about the movie was how fresh it was. That was a throw-back, in our minds, to a period when you could go to the movies and really discover something. You see a trailer now and you know almost every scene in the movie. This time, we're not going to have that level of surprise. And some of it will be about point-of-view, but we're going to have to find new ways to build upon the story.

Whether it would be literally another person in New York going through the experience, I don't know if that would be substantially different enough. You can't continue to have no information. The idea was that Cloverfield is what it would feel like for somebody who was thrust into a situation with no idea what was happening. But the idea of being able to make a film that sheds more light on the story through a similarly fractured point-of-view will be important to a possible sequel.

Original found here.

Alyse is about to lose it

There is a new post from Alyse on her blog.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Having one of those days - those "stare at the ceiling" days. I feel like it would be really easy for me to go crazy right now. Just give in and go completely bats**t insane. Maybe I never even had a brother to begin with. He's always been lost.

I've lobbied, held fundraisers, and slept outside government buildings. Everyone I could think to call I called. I have everyone's pity. But there's always more to do. The growth of people is great but I can't sort through all these theories. I don't know what to believe anymore. Everyone thinks they know. But no one knows for sure where Teddy is, do they? No one is honestly doing anything to bring him back. The attention is great - but people could care less whether he actually comes back or not.

Why isn't anything happening? Why am I in the exact same place I was 4 months ago? Why won't anybody tell me what's going on? What do I have to do to get the truth?????

I've gotta make more calls. It's part of being a crazy person. You don't ever stop.

This is dated for the 22nd, the day the dvd came out. Also there is one comment:

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

You'll notice one of the files is missing. That's where your prayers will be answered. Now please stop.

21:45

What does all of this mean? Hmm ponder, ponder.

Cloverfield Clues DVD buyers guide.

Check it out here, and let me know how things go for you. I am unlikely to get my own copy for another few weeks simply due to lack of cash :(

Cloverfieldfiles.com Open!

The Cloverfield Files site is now open to the public. Before it read "forbidden". You have to solve a puzzle to unlock each movie. Dennis over at Cloverfieldclues has some hints for everyone just in case.

Here is the list of the exclusive videos:

• The One'r: A look at the unique style of the film.
• Amature Naturalism: The Challenge of making the movie look realistic as a handheld camera POV.
• Casting Beth: A look at the casting of the character Beth with actress Odette Yustman.
• Casting Jason: A look at casting the character Jason with actor Mike Vogel.
• Wall of Dust: An in-depth look at one of the practical effects used in the movie.
• Destruction: Production Designer Martin Whist's re-creation of a destroyed New York.
• Casting Rob: A look at casting the character Rob with actor Michael Stahl-David.
• Subway: Making a San Pedro abandoned warehouse look like a NY subway.
• Casting Lily: A look at casting the character Lily with actress Jessica Lucas.
• RataCloverfield: How rats were used in the movie.
• World of the Parasite: Making parasites come to life.
• Marlena's Death: Making a death scene realistic using practical effects.
• Sideways Apartment: Recreating a destroyed building/apartment.
• Military Element: Using real soldiers in the making of the movie.
• Shooting Style: Translating the creator's vision to film

JamieandSnyder.com - Fake or Real?

A new rumored ARG site has popped up, JamieAndSnyder.com, no password. I doubt the site is actually IG, I think it may be fake. However I wanted to call it to everyones attention anyways. From what I can tell the site has to have been set up prior to the attack as she talks about the Sea Bed Nector being in her apt.

Snyder, if you're reading this, you finally read my email and found the link to this site.

When my brother, Bill (he's a computer freek .. can't wait for you to meet him, except he lives near philly) sets me up with a password, I will upload those pictures we took before that party! We can't have everyone seeing them ;) That stuff was like viagra!!! Make sure you don't eat it all at once, I have more at the apt, but not much.

This is about as far as I can go on my own.... this internet language is japanese to me.

Speaking of Japanese, some guy I know just got a job in Japan selling some ice drink. Who would just pack up and leave for Japan?!?!?! Not me.

These pics are crazy, I don't know what's gotten into me. I would show you them in person, but I haven't heard from you... where the hell are you? Call me, it's been a week since I heard from you.

Jamie

JL loves SC

SC? I wonder what his last name would be. As far as I can tell the sword symbol is no where to be found on the site, which is one of many reason that make me question is legitimacy.

Also, Missing Teddy Hansson Blog, fake or real?

• This site does not have the sword like every other confirmed ARG site.
• This is the first site in the series that does not have its own domain name
• Many of the blog posts have been back dated. i.e. her first post says its on March 20th, 2008 when the URL indicates the post was made in April 2008, why would she do that?

Ganu Fights Off Attackers read over

So I have been scanning over all the ARG sites trying to find something I may have missed. This article left me wondering:

Tagruato is proud to report that Ganu Yoshida, sustaining no injuries from his recent attack, is continuing his trip as scheduled. "They tried to hold down my hands," smiled Yoshida at today's BevVo press conference, "But I can still point to the stars."

Yoshida was ambushed yesterday afternoon by a radical gang as he left a important restaurant. The group was barely able to restrain Yoshida and pour a liquid over his head before Yoshida fought back, scattering the gang in all directions. Tagruato security officials believe these may be the same attackers who caused the Chuai Station incident weeks prior.

Yoshida remains in high spirits despite the incident and assures his loyalists that the stunt will not affect Slusho!'s assimilation into America. "I should really thank the criminals, " chuckled Yoshida, "Because of them, I had to postpone a meeting. Now I can extend my stay in New York. I look forward to seeing more of this wonderful city."

When asked if he feared further attacks from the radicals, who reportedly escaped after running from Yoshida's power, he responded, "No. I have nothing more to worry about from them."

Maybe Ganu was in New York during the attack? Maybe he is dead. I have a new theory since reading the Magna. In the 3rd Magna, Kishin finds out he has the pod thing inside his body the controls the monster. And when he got angry with the bullys, the monster awoke. Later after dodging death a few times and lots of gore the monster and him meet, the monster bows his head and lets Kishin onto his head. An image of the bullys a peers and we get the "To Be Continued..."

Theory: If Kishin can control the monster maybe he sent it to New York to kill Ganu? He is the head of Tagruato the same company Kishins dad worked for, the same company that killed his mother he loved so much. Maybe he was getting the ultimate revenge? There has been no updates on the Tagruato site since the movies release. My guess is he sent the monster in a blind rage, it saw the Tagruato tanker and blew it up, than attacked New York looking for Ganu. The military attacked it, it got more pissed off and just destroyed everything.

This of coarse is all based on the comic being BEFORE the movie. However, if the comic did happen before the movie than why didn't the peeps in New York know it was coming? However some of the photos on 1-18-08.com hint that someone new about the Monster before hand as it hits a bunch of ships. Maybe all Tagruato. Than again, maybe everyone that knew about it died before the monster got to New York, I mean if everyones dead there is no one to tell right? ;)

Cloverfield Magna 3 translation

You can check it out here. Remember to read it from right to left and left to right.

New post from Alyse

Alyse is happy with her support.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Just wanted to thank everyone for the new outpouring of support I've been getting. I'm guessing some of what I'm doing must be working. So, whether you saw the flyers, heard about me on the news, or whatever, it's good to have more visitors here.

Yahoo News: brams' `Godzilla' envy helped unleash `Cloverfield' monster

By DAVID GERMAIN, AP Movie Writer Mon Apr 21, 9:45 AM ET

LOS ANGELES - It was a classic case of monster envy that led to the rise of "Cloverfield," the horror hit about a 350-foot creature stomping through New York City.

Visiting Tokyo with his son a few years ago, producer J.J. Abrams was struck by the omnipresence of Godzilla in toy stores half a century after the giant reptile first terrorized Japan.

"This iconic character had really maintained his position," Abrams told The Associated Press in an interview to promote Tuesday's DVD release of "Cloverfield," which set a record for January debuts with a $40 million opening weekend.

"I thought it would be so great if we had our own monster movie, not just `Godzilla,' not just `King Kong,'" said Abrams, creator of TV's "Lost" whose big-screen credits include directing "Mission: Impossible III" and the upcoming "Star Trek."

With longtime TV collaborators Matt Reeves directing and Drew Goddard writing the screenplay, Abrams set out to create a homegrown beast beyond the guy-in-a-lizard-suit quaintness of "Godzilla" flicks, bringing the creature-feature into modern times.

What they hit on was a refreshing mix of monster mayhem and the amateur-video style of "The Blair Witch Project" as a Manhattan farewell party for a friend being recorded on a hand-held digital camera becomes an impromptu documentary of the gargantuan's rampage.

Shot for less than $25 million, a bargain price in Hollywood, "Cloverfield" heightened its documentary realism by using a cast of unknowns and maximized its limited budget for visual effects by offering scattershot images of the monster and devastation as the characters run for their lives.

"It becomes more effective to have fewer money shots, like `Alien' and `Jaws.' When you're not actually seeing things but anticipating them, it can be much more terrifying," Abrams said. "We really tried to take the position that less is more. There are definitely shots where you see the whole thing, but we didn't want to make something where you felt it was becoming overdone."

Abrams and distributor Paramount used similarly clandestine tactics to sell the film, keeping the title under wraps until shortly before its release and offering trailers and online marketing to make movie-goers ask one another, "What in the world is this film?"

"Cloverfield," the name of a street near Abrams' office, was a code name for the movie but ultimately became its title because he and his collaborators never hit on anything they liked better.

Given the murky origins of the monster itself and the fact that the story plays out through a discovered tape in the Pentagon's secret files, "Cloverfield" made sense, said Abrams, who is kicking around ideas for a possible sequel.

"The Manhattan Project or various military actions, there are always titles for these things that sometimes feel oddly benign," Abrams said. "So it felt logical in that regard."