April 29, 2024
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
I do not understand why Ridley Scott is so damn adamant about this not directly being an Alien movie when it clearly is, and why Fox can’t put “From the Director of Alien” or “The Director of Alien returns to the world he created” somewhere in there. So some idiots might be unhappy there isn’t the facesucking xenomorph or Giger’s alien isn’t there. So what? Sell what it is, not what you’re afraid some people might think.
No way is this a better trailer. The American trailer blows this away. How can anyone say this trailer is more vague. It gives away the whole plot of the movie and makes it look like an action movie. The American trailer was sick and twisted and deranged and emphasized the horror. Give me more of that any day.
Saw both trailers and really have no opinion on which is better. They both got me very excited to see this movie.
I think if they can sell this movie effectively on its own, without the Alien hook, well enough to get a decent opening weekend, people will be thrilled to be surprised by its relationship to Alien. That would translate to great word of mouth and longer legs.
That’s my guess anyway on why the studio is approaching it as they have so far. I also think it could work. I’m certain that most (non-movie nerd) people out there won’t figure out that it’s an Alien movie ahead of time if it’s not sold as such.
Good point, Eric – Fox’ marketing might be afraid to blow their wad on the Alien angle. What I still don’t get is why they aren’t name-checking, though….just like Avatar, why they can’t just roll through the big credits, “From the Director of Blade Runner….Alien…..Gladiator…..Black Hawk Down….” Makes it seem like more of an event if you do it right.
And I actually don’t think the international trailer is as effective – it’s a little all over the map, actually. The American one seems much more intense and actually does NOT explain as much of the backstory…..and that siren from the original Alien trailer, damn effective and only used in the American trailer. And that last moment and quote from Fassbender…why not use that in the international trailer too???
I’m pretending it’s 1979 and I don’t know jack.
Hey, Christian – you hear that there’s a Star Wars sequel coming out next year?? I understand that Lucas isn’t even directing it, it’s probably going to suck!
“That’s my guess anyway on why the studio is approaching it as they have so far.”
I think it has more to do with these films being the more recent ones in the franchise:
Alien 3
Alien Resurrection
Alien vs. Predator
Alien vs. Predator 2
Given the fact that there hasn’t been a decent movie in this series since 1986… I imagine the last thing they want it connected to is anything Alien-related from the last 25 years. And who can blame them?
This movie HAS to stand on its own, because the last thing it can stand on is the franchise.
Geoff – I CAN’T HEAR YOU.