About "Aquaman", I had a total of three talks with Director Wen Ziren, one before the San Diego Comic-Con, and one in his editing room to watch the not-completed late-stage clips, and an interview afterwards. On the visit to the editing room, there was an old Australian journalist with him who was vigorously reporting on the "Chain Saw" series. Director Wen recognized him at a glance and shook hands and thanked him tightly. In the following special interviews, he also gave a very sincere response to the identity and belonging of the role of Neptune, combined with his childhood experience.
After several contacts, Wen Ziren reminded me that there is such a boy in every school, a skinny monkey, who usually makes trouble in class, and can test the top few without warming up the book. He is not tall or handsome, but he is always good. In the upper grades, the beautiful elder sister, the teacher always punished him while standing in front of him. Being clever and smart is just too clever. In fact, the director of Warner's most horror movie, he looks like a high school boy. The thin body is dangling in the t-shirt jeans, the bangs are dyed with a handful of red hair, and he laughs and leaned forward to resemble a teenage boy. He speaks extremely fast, gives enough information and is effective, and is as careful as a hair.
All the questions that should and shouldn't be asked are over. "Sea King" is an important milestone for Wen Ziren. He has done a lot of cleverness and has done a lot of skill, ready to be tested in the coldest winter. See you on the big screen.
(Too long to persuade, but DC and Wen Tao’s true love fans will definitely find a lot of dry goods between the lines. I envy the domestic audience. I started painting two weeks in advance. I wrote 8,000 words and haven’t seen the final version yet. piece……)
Q: "Universal Screen" Los Angeles Special Correspondent Pan Meng
J: James Wan Wen Ziren
Part I: "There are more actors who cried for me!" Wen Ziren talks about roles and actors. Q: The role of Jason Momoa in the movie is impeccable, but compared with the original comics, he and the sea king inside There are big discrepancies, how do you think about it?
J: When I joined this project, Jason was already determined to be the candidate for the role of Aquaman. Most people need to digest this for a while, because it is true that he is very different from the image of Neptune in the comics, but as I have in-depth contact with him, the more I feel that he is the best candidate to play Neptune. The role of Neptune is one of the most ridiculed in the superhero world, but when you see Jason playing Neptune, no one will make fun of Neptune anymore, right? He grew up in Hawaii and was a good surfer since he was a kid, so he fits well with the role of Aquaman. And he is of mixed blood, half of Native Hawaiian descent, as is the role of Sea King, half of Atlantis and half of Earth. When Jason was growing up, he always felt that it was difficult to integrate into any culture. When he was in Hawaii, people thought his skin color was too white. Later, when he moved to the United States, others thought his skin color was too brown, so he always felt like he was. The sides can't blend in, which is exactly what our character needs in this film.
Q: What is your working mode at the scene? Do you find it unbelievable to give orders to such a big guy like Jason Momoa every day?
J: Jason is very opinionated and he is a big man, so make sure not to be scared by his size haha. But don't forget that I am the man who guided Dashi Johnson and Van Diesel! (Laughing)
We respect each other very much, and Jason trusts me very much when shooting. Because from a very early time, we have talked about some ideas about this character and how to shape him, which are not shown in the "Justice League", which are the original comics, and how I envision Aquaman accepting himself Of the process. In the beginning, Arthur didn’t want to be a hero at all. He just wanted to drink a little wine every day, until fate called him, and he gradually realized that he needed to take on more responsibilities and do what he should do. .
When instructing him, I don't think I need to show his toughness, because he can do it right there. And what I like very much is that he is actually very humorous, he has a very charming personality, I want to extract such characteristics from him to give the character of Neptune. So I also told him that there is no need to pay special attention to those action scenes, because I know he can do well. Sometimes what I want to do is not what he is very good at, not in his comfort zone, no Like his usual characters, such as the horse king in "A Song of Ice and Fire", so everyone will definitely see some of his differences in this film, and they are very favorite characteristics. After I finished filming "Aquaman", I felt that there would be absolutely nothing wrong with letting him act in a romantic comedy in the future.
Q: But he just said that you almost cried on the set...
J: (Holding forehead) Well, I often cry my actor wow haha, baby Jason is only the next one on the list.
Q: Let’s talk about the female number one again. We know that the candidate for Sea King has long been determined. How did you determine the actor of Haihou Mera? Have you considered other candidates at the time?
J: At that time, Jason had been selected as the actor of Aquaman, and then we found a lot of excellent actresses to play with Jason, Amber Heard is in which we think we stand out the most. She cooperates well with Jason, and she understands Jason's own sense of humor, and at the same time she is not afraid of him. This is also in line with the characteristics of Mera's role.
Q: What do you think are Mera's specific qualities?
J: She is a very strong image in the comics. It can be said that she is one of the most powerful female characters in the DC Universe. It is even more so in the movie. If anything happens, it is Mera who will save Aquaman, not in turn. Because Neptune is not familiar with the underwater world, and Mera is the one who brought him familiar with the various rules of the world. In the movie, you can see Mera rescued Neptune many times.
Q: Did you know much about Amber before this?
J: Well, I am not very familiar with her previous works. In fact, like everyone else, I have read her various reports from gossip magazines. (Winking, shushing) But after I worked with her, she was really good. Very kind and likable, and the work is extremely serious. On the set, I will constantly ask me, "James, are you sure you got what you want? Would you like to have another one?" Especially for some special shootings, such as underwater scenes, yes. The actor's physical challenge is very big, but she never complains. Sometimes she has to be splashed with water many times, often the whole day is wet, and her clothes are made of tight-fitting latex, which is not very comfortable. Every time she splashes water, she is even more uncomfortable, but she never No complaints. I had a great time working with her, and her performance in the film was also wonderful.
Q: The interaction between Sea King Arthur and Mera in the film is very natural and interesting. How did you design it?
J: Actually, the feeling between the two actors is very similar to the characters. I think an important task as a director is to discover the charm of the actor's own personality, and then assign it to the character, and then radiate it through the character. I believe that everyone who has watched the movie will feel the chemical reaction between them. Mera is a noble ocean princess. When Arthur comes up to the grassroots, they will naturally collide with sparks, but he and Mera are also equivalent to leaving their familiar environment. He wants to enter the world in the water, and she wants to enter In the terrestrial world, these two people come from completely different cultural backgrounds, and they need to learn how to get along with each other during the journey. We can also follow these two people and experience a lot of fun along the way.
When I was young, I liked watching a lot of Spielberg's movies. For example, the romantic links between the first protagonists of "Indiana Jones" are also what I want to learn from this film. In the comics, the two characters later got married, but in this movie I didn't want them to progress so quickly. It is enough to have a process of gradually developing from tit-for-tat to liking each other.
Q: We have seen a lot of brothers in the comic world and superhero movies, such as Black Panther and Thor. Do you think there is anything special between the Neptune brothers?
J: First of all, I must admit that this is indeed a set of classic character relationships. It is naturally dramatic, and it is no wonder that it has been repeatedly used in countless works from Shakespeare to the present. But although we use similar elements, we will also differentiate it from other stories.
I think the special thing between the Neptune brothers is that apart from being brothers by blood, they actually grew up in a very different environment. One grew up on land and the other was a pure-blooded prince of Atlantis. Especially from the perspective of his younger brother, his thinking mode and personality are 100% Atlantis, and he must be responsible to his people. But at the same time, Aum actually had a lot of respect for Arthur, he didn't want to kill him. He also wondered whether he could rule Atlantis with the Sea King. If there is an afterlife, they will be a good pair of friends.
Q: Please talk about this collaboration with Nicole Kidman and her role? Although she didn't have many scenes this time, she was amazing. She should be the actor you have always wanted to work with, right?
J: She and I will be working together a few years ago! It's a surreal thriller, and we had a good conversation at that time, but it's a pity that the project didn't continue to develop. So I have been thinking about when I can really cooperate with her. Then, during the development stage of the "Aquaman" script, I immediately thought of asking her to play the role of "Aquaman Mother", so I asked her and she happily agreed.
Nicole plays the role of Sea King’s mother, a real mermaid, who fell in love with a man who keeps a beacon while fleeing. They married and had children like mortal couples until she received a call from the underwater world again and realized that she was the only one to leave. The beloved husband and children can ensure their safety. Although this role doesn't have too many scenes, it needs to interpret a lot of emotions. The love story of Neptune's parents is the cornerstone of this film. Nicole gave this character a lot of vitality in the very limited screen time, and many of her scenes appeared to be invisible.
It’s great to be filming with her, especially since I grew up watching her movies. Our entire crew respects her very much. Nicole rarely did fight scenes before, and there was one scene where she really took the little goldfish. Hold it in your mouth and keep spitting it out. She was very dedicated when she was working on the set, and she didn't have any pretensions. This collaboration is my dream come true, and it can be regarded as a small appetizer before my future collaboration with Nicole, haha.
Q: In addition to the role of Nicole Kidman that everyone is concerned about, can you also talk about the role of Aquaman's father? Do you think he is important?
J: My mother is from the ocean, and my father is from the land, just an ordinary human. Aquaman's father represents the human side. After the mother left, Sea King was actually raised by his father alone, and he was also most affected by his father's values. It was his father's wisdom and personality that ultimately helped him to accept and defend these two worlds.
PART II: "It took only 19 days to shoot "Saw Fright" back then!" Wen Ziren talks about the production Q: You are a very valuable talent for Warner, and you helped them make so much money, but for the super The film, especially because of the extraordinary status of the character Neptune, and one of the Justice League, what is the process of competing for the position of director?
J: The role of Aquaman, to be honest, everyone knows that he is always laughed at by other superheroes, so at first I hesitated whether to direct such a film, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that, as a filmmaker from a horror film background , I always have the kind of spirit of standing up and resisting from the small people at the bottom, so the more I think about it, the more I feel that Neptune can be such a character who has the opportunity to stand up. Especially with Jason Momoa joining, we have the possibility to achieve more breakthroughs.
On Warner's side, I have proven my level and ability through previous works. So when I made a proposal with them, I just said that this is the way I want to shoot. Only if I shoot in my own way, I would be willing to direct Aquaman. Then they liked it very much, so they chose both ways. My vision for the movie Neptune is somewhat retro, just like the characters in the movies of Spielberg, James Cameron and George Lucas that I saw when I was a child, taking a very classic hero growth route. At first, Aquaman was very reluctant to be a hero. He didn’t care about the bad things at all (just like the plot in the Justice League). Until after a series of hardships and changes during the journey, he became a real hero. Like Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars", this very classic narrative mode. Then I also introduced my visual vision. For some war scenes, I hope to be like the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but of course it must be in my own way, including battles that take place in the underwater world. To make it very special, They also like and support my ideas. "I want to add a monster, are you okay?" "Get on the monster!" It was so happily decided.
Q: Have you ever thought that one day you can shoot a super blockbuster of this level from a low-cost horror movie?
J: I grew up watching George Lucas, Spielberg and James Cameron movies, so I have always been eager to make the kind of movies they make. This has always been my goal. Of course, horror movies are also a genre that I like very much, and making horror movies is also the best entry point for me to enter the film industry. But I am still a bit unwilling to see other types of movies besides seeing that I can make horror movies. I want to prove that I can make other types of movies, not just directors who are good at horror movies. It is a comprehensive director.
Q: So have you been fighting for other types of films?
J: Always. But let's be honest, when I did shoot such a large-scale film, I still missed the time when I made small-cost horror films before, and I didn't have the troubles of making large-scale films now. Today's audiences are used to seeing big special effects and big scenes. Even so, I still want to show them some world they have never seen before. This is what I should do as a director. Making a movie itself is a stressful process, but this is already the ninth feature film I have directed, so it's okay, I want to hold on.
Q: So to be more specific, from making small-cost movies like "Chain Saw" to now making super blockbuster movies like "Aquaman", what is the difference in your filmmaking process?
J: In terms of budget, it is definitely a big leap, but the production process itself is not very different. You will have more freedom when making low-cost movies, but you do not have enough resources and funds to support your vision. For high-cost movies, you have more resources, but there are more other issues that need to be paid attention to. I think I am very lucky. Everyone trusts me and my vision for the film. For this film, many of my creative visions, especially many very alternative visions, have been realized, so I feel that the creation is the same as before. The degree of freedom for making low-cost movies is the same, but I have more manpower and resources behind me to help me achieve this. The shooting process is similar. You have to do your best to complete the scenes that need to be shot every day, and then while shooting, discover what doesn't work and what works, and improve while shooting. Making a movie is such an organic process. No matter how well you plan, you will continue to discover new things in the shooting, instead of just copying the plan to implement it, so I also like to maintain a certain level like I did in independent films before. Flexibility and adaptability.
Q: In addition to the budget, another big difference from your previous movies this time is the adaptation. Compared with the original story developed by yourself, how do you feel about this script development?
J: There is less pressure to be original, because the stories and characters you create are unfamiliar to the audience, and there is no history, you have absolute control and freedom, and the adaptation of the work, especially like Aquaman, has a wide impact. There are a lot of readers, if you mess up, people will be disappointed. I definitely have great respect for the original material. On the one hand, I have to consider the fan's ideas and whether they are faithful to the essence of the original work. On the other hand, I also have to think that it is the first time that many audiences who walk into the cinema know that there is Neptune. To please fans, but also to satisfy new audiences, how to balance is difficult.
Q: Yes, you have many fans all over the world, especially in Asia, but some of them may not be familiar with the manga character Neptune. Do you think this will affect their appreciation of this film? What should the audience in this section expect from "Aquaman"?
J: When I made this film, I wanted it to be enjoyable without having to read a comic book or watch "Justice League" first. Just like "Indiana Jones", you just follow the characters in it. Going through all kinds of thrilling and interesting adventures along the way, to explore and grow, I think these elements will not be out of date, and I hope my audience can enjoy them.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in this shooting?
J: The biggest challenge is the challenge to my physical fitness. It took more than a hundred days to shoot, and there are so many to be shot in the water! It took only 19 days to shoot "Saw Fright" back then! I'm still fighting the post-production special effects every day. I hope I can finish them all before the show. There are too many shots. Look at my dark circles!
Q: Let's talk about the high-tech of the underwater shooting!
J: Most of our underwater shots are shot using the "dry shot wet" shooting method. We thought of some ways to make the actors wear ultra-complex suspended costumes made by the special effects department, and then connect them with different equipment. , You can do all kinds of rotating actions, as if they are really in the water, and then use special effects to create the illusion of being in the water. This is a very technically challenging process. When we are shooting, we need to always imagine what it will look like in the end. It is also a big challenge for the actors. The devices they need to wear on their bodies are not very comfortable, especially those who are like Jason. Big, these devices will make him uncomfortable. For me, I have never made a movie that requires so much CGI technology, so I am also gradually learning. But even with high technology, we still shot a lot of real underwater scenes. After all, it is impossible for me to make a movie called "Aquaman" without touching the water. Although I don't like shooting underwater, real shooting under the water will have a very real and natural side.
Q: I am curious how the sound effects of the underwater world are made?
J: Many people have asked me how I plan to show the effect of these people talking underwater, and I told them to speak normally. Try not to think too much about this aspect. Atlantis people grow underwater. Although they look like us and have some characteristics of our human beings, their body structure will be different. For example, when they speak, they don’t. There will be air bubbles coming out of their mouths because there is no air in their lungs. So starting from here, in terms of sound design, we try to find an underwater feeling that can be imparted to their conversation, and it also involves their underwater limb movements, etc. For example, their movements in the water will be like dolphins. That way, it's very fast and elegant, which is what I want to highlight through the coordination of visual and sound design. My sound production department has also done a lot of underwater research. In the behind-the-scenes footage, we can see our entire sound department moving various props in the swimming pool to record their different sounds and explosions in the water. Sound and so on, so not only visually, we also want to present some distinctive effects in sound.
Q: Is it your own preference for the schedule to be released in December?
J: When discussing the schedule at the time, I remember that James Cameron’s "Avatar 2" also wanted to be selected in December, but I had a hunch that the film might not be fully finished by then, so I told the company if the card If the schedule changes, I hope "Aquaman" can be screened during Christmas. I wanted to show it at this time from the beginning, because I was shooting a family movie. Although this movie is about superheroes, the theme cannot be separated from the family, and it is very suitable for the whole family to watch. I also know that there will be many other films during this period, but I think at least we can give it a try.
Q: Will China be released at the same time?
J: I think so too. Hope the Chinese audience will like this film! I know that a few years ago, a movie with a high box office in China was Stephen Chow’s "Mermaid", so audience friends can regard my "Aquaman" as its series! Hahaha. (Unexpectedly, at press time, "Aquaman" officially announced that China will be the first to be released in North America for two weeks!)
P ART III: "I will always be an immigrant." Wen Ziren's personal issues section
Q: How is your water quality?
J: Okay, hahaha, in the swimming pool. Maybe I grew up in Australia and you think I will be good at surfing or something, but it's not. When I was in school, the school was divided into two groups. Those who are surfing are cool kids, and there are nerdy kids who are comic books. I am more of the latter. And I am very afraid of sharks because of Spielberg's "Jaws".
Q: How did it feel to participate in the animation show with the first wave of "Aquaman" trailer and materials? Is the reaction of those fans what you expected?
J: Much crazy than I thought! I have been to anime fairs many times, but this time I brought an adaptation of a movie related to manga, so it feels very special. Many fans are especially looking forward to how we plan to create this character. Everyone knows that Aquaman is at the bottom of the superhero food chain and has been ridiculed and spoofed by everyone, so they are very curious about what we will do. It seems that in just 72 hours, our first trailer has accumulated 129 million views.
Q: Since you joined "Aquaman", you have been communicating with DC Universe fans online. What do you think?
J: I think dealing with fans is really good and bad. The good side is that I am really grateful for the enthusiasm of the fans, the bad side is, what the word says, the black powder is poisonous! I have also encountered fans who are very uplifting. No matter what they say or do, they are dissatisfied. The emotions they release are extremely negative, and they have become a force of cyberbullying. I can only try not to care too much, and then focus my attention on positive interactions. But in the end I still have to learn whether to deal with cool enthusiastic fans or difficult fans, I can find fun in it. Things on social networking platforms, after all, don’t be too truthful.
Q: Did you initially know that the film will be shot in Australia?
J: I was involved in the decision, because at the beginning I didn't know what the story would be like, but I always wanted to go back to Australia to make a film. They said that they wanted to shoot in the UK at first, but it was too cold. I didn't want to shoot there, especially there were a lot of shooting scenes in the water, and I didn't want my actors to be frozen.
Q: This film was shot in Australia. Is it meaningful to you?
J: It means a lot to me! I have been in this line of filmmaking for more than 10 years, and I have never had the opportunity to make films in Australia, where I grew up, so that my family can come to see me on the set more often. And I also want to give back to Australia, where there are staff who filmed with me when I first entered the industry, so this time is also a way for me to give back to them. We shot in Queensland, but many of the staff are from Sydney, Melbourne and From other places in Australia, everyone is very good. So I also feel very lucky, not only to be able to shoot in Australia, there are also many excellent local practitioners, and I don't need to find people from other places.
Q: As a Chinese director who was born in Malaysia and grew up in Australia, you are already making blockbuster films in Australia. Would you like to consider returning to Asia next time to fight? It's better to come to China to shoot?
J: It would be great if there was such an opportunity!
Q: Which scene do you personally like best in the whole film?
J: It's too difficult to choose. I like a lot of things, visuals, action scenes, funny... But if I only choose one, my personal favorite is the opening part, the story of Sea King's parents. The beginning of this section established the emotion of the whole movie, that is, family. I care about family elements. For example, in "Fast and Furious 7" of course, I also emphasize family drama.
Q: Have you said that you don't want to make a superhero movie look like a superhero movie?
J: Exactly! I think "Aquaman" is more like an action-adventure and fantasy movie, such as "Lord of the Rings". It is a classic story about a family, how a low-level character breaks through himself.
Q: Actually, after watching it, I have a feeling that there is a metaphor for immigrant families in "Aquaman".
J: (Suddenly became a bit agitated) Yes! Aquaman is like a child of an immigrant family. I have basically been an immigrant for half of my life, whether I went to Australia from Malaysia when I was a child or working in the United States now. As an immigrant child, of course I have experienced it since I was a child, knowing that I am different from everyone else, and I need to find a way to integrate into the majority of my growing years. Until one day, you will find that when your heart is truly mature, you can actually have both worlds.
Q: I have interviewed you several times, and all the questions are asked. The publicity of Aquaman must be very intensive. Are there any questions that you would like the audience or reporters to notice, but have not been asked?
J: Actually...the immigrant you just mentioned is the meaning of it. No one has ever asked about it. Although "Aquaman" is a comic story, it is actually very relevant to our current world. I want to talk about the connection between people. Aquaman has always felt that it is difficult for him to integrate into the two worlds, but after such a journey, he can finally complete his father's teachings and Meila's expectations, becoming the best bridge between the ocean and the land.
(Part of the content was first published in the December issue of "Global Screen" 2018)
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