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Interview with Children of Dune" director Greg Yaitanes
Recently I had the chance to speak with Greg Yaitanes, the director of "Children of Dune". Greg was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to grant this exclusive interview with SKNR.NET
GVK: How did you get into directing and what was your big break?
GY: The story goes that I was 14 years old and saw a camcorder for the first time. It was quite an operation back then. The recording deck needed to be slung over your shoulder, the battery pack on your belt. Long cord to the camera itself.
I begged my dad for one and started making short videos during high school. I also did public access.
I applied to film school and got into USC. Made a short film that got some attention. Two things happened at once. I got a job as Diane Keaton's "visual consultant" which meant I designed the shots and staging of the actors for her movie Unstrung Heroes. During that time I landed my first film. A small action film called Hard Justice.
GVK: How much prior knowledge of the Dune series did you have coming into the film?
None. I had not seen the Lynch film or the mini. When I got the job, I choose not the read the books as a way to remain objective and make it accessible to anyone new to Dune. I think we did a good job at doing that.
GVK: Combining the 2nd and 3rd books into one film must have been tough, what were some of the biggest obstacles and greatest triumphs you experienced in filming?
GY: John Harrison did an amazing job at adapting the books into one cohesive and epic story. The scripts where riveting.
For me, the biggest challenge was maintaining a consistent tone between the three nights. Night one was self contained and nights two and three picked up sixteen years later and introduced a new cast and new story. I accomplished this with the style of acting and several visual cues…primarily within the vision sequences.
The greatest triumph was completing Children of Dune. I'm really proud of it and the great work the cast did.
GVK: How long was the shoot and what locations were involved?
GY: The prep was eight weeks and the shoot was sixteen weeks. Which is practically nothing for was is essentially three movies. Realize that Lord of the Rings trilogy and the new Star Wars trilogy had six years to prepare and shoot.
We shot entirely on sound stages in Prague, CZ. Because the world of Dune needed to be created, no real location would suffice.
Because I didn't want the skies of Dune to be blue or like Earth. We even shot the exteriors indoors.
GVK: How would you describe working with Susan Sarandon, and what does she posses that made her the perfect choice for the role?
GY: Susan is a total pro and was a director's dream. She was prefect for the role because of her enthusiasm and love of the material. Trivia: She was approached by David Lynch back in 1983 to play Lady Jessica but could not because of a commitment to be in The Hunger.
GVK: Taking something on the grand scale of Dune from the page to print would be an overwhelming task for many, did you ever have days where you thought, "How am I going to do this" and if so how did you attack the problems that arose?
GY: I took COD day by day. It was a massive project. Massive. Every minute of everyday was packed. Seven days a week. I love what I do. That makes it easy.
GVK: Looking back, if you could make any changes to the final version, what would they be?
GY: I am really happy with the way COD turned out. I am not a director who thinks longer is necessarily better. However there are a few small moments that I wish we had the time to expand. The special edition should restore those moments.
A small detail that I would like to change is to make Ghanima the narrator of all three nights. I love Julie's work but saw Children of Dune as being told by Ghanima to Farad'n on the cliff.
I would like to refine a few visual effects that we did not have time to fully texture or detail.
Almost every visual effect sequence was twice a long. I'd like to expand those.
I've never been happy with Edric. I'd love to start from scratch on conceptualizing and animating him.
GVK: What's next on your schedule and what can we look forward to seeing from you soon?
GY: Hopefully you'll see a large scale Sci-Fi or fantasy film from me in the future.
Interview with the Star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Recently I had the chance to spend some time with Nia Vardalos and John Corbett, the stars of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Not only were they very gracious and charming, but also they were outstanding hosts as they took the time to chat with me on a variety of subjects. What follows is a condensed version of our extended conversations.
GVK: I am going to try to ask some questions that you have not been asked a million times already I am sure you get tired of the cookie cutter-remarks.
NV: Thank you.
GVK: Lets start off with Second City, what years were you there?
NV: I was there from 90-95 almost 96, I was there with Rachael, Draj and Tina who are on Saturday Night Live now, we were a really strong group of actors, and it was the best time in my life. People were fired all of the time and that forced us to create really good material and it was great training for L.A. When I got to L.A. and could not find a job, I said, ah, I am Greek, I know this stuff, so I got on stage and starting speaking about what I knew. This gave me a lot of confidence.
GVK: There has always seemed to be a pipeline between Second City and Saturday Night live, what is your take on this?
NV: Yeah, I was never there when Lorne Michaels came in to audition; it was like I was not meant to be in that show. I normally do not believe in that sort of things, but it seems as if I was destined to take another path and meet Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. Oddly, I would take my vacation and my understudy would be doing the show and Lorne would come and hire a cast member. Or, I would be shooting a commercial on the day he arrived and it is unbelievable how he never saw me, so it was not meant to happen. I am not sure I would want to do a show like that though, as with live TV, every ex-boyfriend you have ever had is watching you live.
GVK: I recall the story of John Belushi and how he would work four days on Saturday Night Live, then fly to Oregon after the show, film "Animal House" for three days and then fly back and do it all over again. It was said this is what started him down his destructive path.
NV: Yeah, it is a really crazy schedule and a lot of flying by the seat of your pants; I learned to be tough, and not to be sick. If you are in a bad mood, tough, just use it in the show and this was really good training for me.
GVK: I bet all of your improv work was a great benefit for when you were doing the stage show.
NV: Yes, I never re-wrote when I was doing the stage show, I did the material, got up read it, and I started with 40 minutes as I knew my set points, which is how we did it at Second City. I would recall a story and toss it in, my mom would call me and say something hilarious and I would toss that in as I knew how much time I had to spend on the courtship process. The last time I did it was in Montreal at the Comedy Festival and it was an hour and twenty minutes. Can you believe it? I was sick of my own voice by that time; I drank three large glasses of water during the show.
GVK: Then you met Rita after a show, then Tom Hanks, and the rest is fate as you said.
NV: Yes, they were so great.
GVK: It just goes to show that often the funniest things are the real things as real -life often transcends the best comedy writing at times.
NV: That is true as the funniest things in the movie are the truest things, the more bizarre the Incident; the more likely it is to be true.
GVK: Like what for example?
NV: The Windex, the lump on my Aunt's neck, totally true. People think I am brilliant for coming up with it when it was just my dad and my Aunt.
GVK: I have to ask, did the film tick any of your friends or relatives off, or did they say you portrayed me in a bad light?
NV: No, Thank God, my family is such hams they kept saying Hey, that's me.
JC: Hi, I am going to lay, listen and talk if that is ok, can you believe the view of that mountain out there?
GVK: At least it's not quaking now so that helps.
JC: You think it's going to rip one day?
GVK: They have been saying it will for 120 years now and it hasn't yet so the odds are with us.
JC: That would not be good public works would be out cleaning in Seattle for weeks that's for sure.
GVK: You were up here in Roslyn for your time in Northern Exposure.
JC: yes, on Sex and the City, we wrote in characters as Northwest quirky dudes.
GVK: How is it working on sex in the City?
JC: It's great though I only work with Sarah Jessica Parker.
GVK: You do not get to meet the cast?
JC: Oh, I meet them, but I do not get to work with them, its cool to do that, but I work about 8 months on the show with just one other actress.
GVK: What are you doing now?
JC: I just did a pilot called "Lucky" for FX that was just picked up.
GVK: What is that about?
JC: I play a game named lucky who wins a million in Vegas, and loses it all in 6 months, his wife, everything, so the show picks up with him in Gamblers anonymous as he try's to get his life in order. Its good man.
GVK: When does it air, in the fall?
JC: We are hoping to follow up "The Shield" when they enter their next season.
GVK: I can't imagine the demands on your time, when you are not in front of the camera; you are looking for work or doing p/r for a film correct?
JC: True, you never stop auditioning; you have any idea how many people tried out for a film like "Minority Report"?
GVK: I hear they narrow the list to about 500 and start from there?
JC: Its crazy do you know how many people try to get in a film like "Fight Club" or you have experienced and known actors like Benjamin Bratt who are always having to audition for roles.
NV: I was amazed when we casting for the father, it makes you wonder if you ever get to a point where you do not have to audition so much. It sucks, that so many good people are looking for a job, we had such a selection and all would have been great, Michael Lerner, he was nominated for an Oscar, lets cast him, wait, he is good as well, but when Michael walked in, we knew he was the guy. He walked in with a vest, and when we looked at his headshot he was wearing a vest. When we got to Toronto to shoot, he was asking where he could get a vest.
GVK: That reminds me of something Michael Dorn of Star Trek said to me once the worst thing you can do for an actor is give them a job. When you are out of work, all you do is moan about not getting work and how badly you want it. He said he was going through that and he got a call asking him if he would do 4 seasons on "Deep Space 9". He jumped at it, but on the first day he was saying, I hate getting up this early, I hate the hours of make up, and even though he got what he wanted, you can still complain, but not to pass up chances and jump on opportunities.
NV: It is totally true.
JC: It is hard to diversify yourself when you are doing someone's work.
GVK: How do you manage the battle of being creative yet having to do it the way a director, then producer wants you to do the scene and they call the shots.
JC: I am ok as I am flexible I see myself as a spoke in the wheel, if parties are not seeing eye to eye, then they need to work it out and tell me, as once you place that wall up and say, "I am not doing it that way" you are only hurting yourself. I like to bend and give them what they want.
GVK Do you prefer to give your input?
JC: I read the scene and know what it is, if you want something else, I need to think about it and make the adjustment, the scene is there when you read it.
GVK: Where did you study acting and what were your early roles?
JC: I did not really study. I took a few classes and watched movies. I saw a movie and thinking that I could do that, and before long I was.
GVK: Were there any parts that you really wanted but did not get?
JC: There were many, but I learned not to name them as they can come back and haunt you. I will say this, I wanted the role that went to Chris Isaacs in "That thing you do" and our producer did not let me do it, I was ticked and wished a few bad things,
NV: Your joking.
JC: Nah man, I wish bad things on all the movies that do not cast me that I wanted to be in. (Laughs)
GVK: I remember watching "Almost Famous" and thinking how well you would have been in that film.
NV: Yeah, the Billy Cruddup character, he would have been great in that. He is a great actor, and you should hear his voice.
JC: You remind me of Kevin Costner.
GVK: Is that good or bad?
JC: You got the Costner thing going on, especially the eyes and nose.
GVK: There was a time that was a good thing I am not so sure about now.
NV: Young Costner, that's not a bad thing. (Producer takes a picture of me at this time, we all laugh)
Producer, we have you on file, come see me or Tom if you get to town and we wont give you the part, (All laugh).
GVK: What did you see of the summer films?
JC: I saw "Minority Report", "Attack of the Clones", and "Spiderman". I liked
"Minority Report" but not so much the others. I rented "Made" the other day and that was great as well.
GVK: Do you find the big studious less anxious to do a character based film like yours in an age when it seems the studious think the notion of more effects and action is needed?
NV: The film about the two cops who don't get along then do at the end, or one of them is a dog? I have not seen that yet. I do not know any big studios so it would be hard to say.
JC: I did "Volcano" for a big studio, and it was one of the worst experiences I had. There were five studio people who could not decide on how my shirt should be buttoned. I always picked my own wardrobe and this experience made me turn off big studio films.
GVK: How has your family been in the time since the film?
NV: They are great there were 49 of them at the premiere and now they are e-mailing me ideas for my next script. I had the come and listen to your uncle and I talk we are funny story. I was like, ok kill me now and save me the trouble.
NV: I would go to parties and talk about my family and do my cousin Nicky on stage
at Second City, and I finally listened to the people who said to do things about your family. The great thing was that I never fealt rushed during the six weeks of filming, I never got the we cant have this scene as we need to save money, it was very nurturing, especially for a small-budget film.
GVK: How long after you met Tom and Rita did it take to start filming?
NV: Two years, I had a year for the script, and then we had pre-production and financing.
GVK: I had the script done when I met Rita so I gave her one. I had three offers prior for it, but it was the old we will buy it, and you are not involved. I said ok, you couldn't have it then. I recall the fourth one where I go tin the door and they said, "Here is the writer" I was stunned. I asked what have you written, and he said that he was the writer's assistant on the movie "Mr.Wrong". The producer said that he grew up in a Greek area. I asked what else have you written and was told nothing. I figured with all of my work at second City, I had written more than him, and figured out I was doing this all wrong, went home, and wrote the screenplay.
GVK: I have to ask, is there any talk of a sequel?
NV: Sure, if you have five million we can start shooting tomorrow. I was in Greece recently during a boat strike and I found a wealth of material.
GVK: How much input did your husband have in the film?
NV: He was the one who helped me keep it together when I had to worry if it was going to happen or not or if I was going to be replaced in the movie.
GVK: How did you handle all of your family trying to get parts in the film?
NV: That was fun, we gave my father a speaking part that was eventually cut but he got a dressing room, and he would lorded that over the family. He would go down to extras holding and do the old "is this the only food you had, I got a hot lunch". I was like Dad, shut up. When I told him his scene was cut his face dropped, but he looked at my mom and said "ahh, its ok".
GVK: you can always add it back for the DVD version and use that to get your way.
NV: (Laughs) that's is funny. I will have to think about that one.
Gareth Von Kallenbach
I was able to get an interview with Natalie Portman while she was filming "Where the Heart is". It is not the standard interview, and I thought you folks would like some new insights from the talented actress. I am also inclyuding interviews with Jeremy Bulloch and Peter Mayhew
Q. Did you find the final version of the film to be confusing for your Characters?
A. “No not really, if you understand everything that’s going on”. “Any avid Star Wars Fan after seeing it 7 times would realize (laughter).”
Q. This must have been a totally new experience for you , working with so Many bluescreens. Did you find it more difficult than you expected it would? Be? Easier?
A. “We used a blue screen in Mars Attacks.. That wasn’t a first”.
Q. Did you have the chance to watch the first 3 Star Wars films before Working on PHANTOM? From what I understand, you had never seen the original Trilogy.
A. “Yes I did see the original Trilogy, bit only after I got cast as homework, Rick made me watch them.”
Q. some younger actors do not seem to be treated as equals by "seasoned" Actors due to their age. Did you find that this was a problem on the set? Do you think you have gained a new respect from the filmmaking community? after your success in PHANTOM ?
A.“ Oh, Everyone was wonderful. Got along great with everyone.”
Q. Do you still try to go out in public and live like a normal person?
A. “Yes, I love to go to Magazine stores”.
Q. You weren't working in the Star Wars movies, what kind of job could? You see yourself doing (besides acting)?
A. “McDonalds…???”
Q. Did you ever in your wildest dreams ever think you'd be Luke? Skywalker's mom? :)
A. “ No, George is like, Your gonna be the Queen. I was Like, Great! Then Rick told me that she gets married to Anakin. I was Like, Ooook.”
Q.How do you feel about having toys ranging from action figures to dolls? Fashioned in your image? Which is your favorite? And where in your home do You keep your set on display?
A. “I have the Little Queen Amidala Dressup Doll in my room.. That’s pretty cool.”
Q. What changes do you expect in your character to go through in future films?
A. “ Well from each Episode to the next will change, Episode III will be my last. But I think Ep. II being a Romance part of the Prequels will be Different then the rest of the trilogy.
JEREMY BULLOCH (Boba Fett)
I recently had the chance to talk with Jeremy Bulloch about some of his experiences with the Star Wars saga, as well as what he is currently involved with. Bulloch is known to fans the world over as the man who brought the evil bounty hunter Boba Fett to life, and is constantly in demand at conventions due to the enourmous popularity of the character.
GVK: At this point, what do you know about your involvement in the upcoming films? Have you had any contacts?
JB: No, no involvement at all really. To be quite honest, I say to people that I do not own the right to be in the next film. I enjoyed my time in the films, and I assume that Fett is coming back, and whoever plays it, it is a fantastic part to play. I liked to be involved somehow in it, but I do not expect to.
GVK: What kind of background did they give you on the character for "Empire", was their a backstory?
JB: Just that he was a bounty hunter, a mercenary, and he is cold, there was not a real backstory at all.
GVK: Was there any reason why you were not called in for the new scenes that were added to the Special Editions?
JB: No, I don't think so. Everyone has asked if I was upset that I was not used, and I always say no. I did my time on the first films, but I am very honored that they used Boba Fett in the new scenes. The character has become very popular, and that is luck for me, as luck for an actor. I have had a ball doing the films, and Fett is now an important part of this whole trilogy.
GVK: I am sure you have heard about the continuing adventures of Fett in both comic and novel form, are you ever contacted about stories?
JB: the nice thing about that is that I am kept up to date. People send me books, comics, and so on, and perhaps one day I can write a story.
GVK: That would be great.
JB: I also get to hear different fan versions of what happened. I am up to date, I have met various people at Lucasfilm, I have been to Skywalker Ranch, and I feel as if I am part of a family. It is a history that has gone back for twenty years. As much as you try to put it in the background, as I am working as an actor in England, you cant really, as it keeps coming up. I still get 100 letters a week which is extraordinary.
GVK: How much of the fight in Jedi did you do?
JB: None, it was all done by stunt people. People always ask me about this, and I tell them that there are very talented people who get paid to do this type of work, and what they do is fantastic. People asked about how hot it was in Yuma, and actually, the hottest past was the carbon freeze scenes.
GVK: Did it require many takes?
JB: Quite a few. All of the steam and dry ice that was used being pushed in by pipes, and it was a very difficult scene to do.
GVK: Was the timing hard to get right?
JB: Yes, you had Solo going down, then the steam, and the claw mechanism, it was a very interesting scene.
GVK: When Fett took Han off to Jabba at the end of "Empire" were you given any heads up as to what was ahead for your character?
JB: No, when it finished, I did not have a clue, and suddenly I heard that I was going to be in the next one and I was very excited about that.
GVK: How did the officer scene in Cloud City come about for you?
JB: There was no actor there, and I was asked if I would dress in the uniform and be in the scene. I said, I would. You help out, it was a matter of somone not being available, and I was as I was waiting to do a scene later, so I just got up and did it.
GVK: Did you do any of the voice at all?
JB: No, that was dubbed months later. At the time they did not know how he was going to sound. I was happy to be a part of this big science fiction wheel.
GVK: You mentioned earlier about wanting to do a comic or something, what is happeneing with that?
JB: If I ever get asked to do a story, I would like to be involved. I have written several stories. I did one for a Kosovo Refugee, and I wrote a tale from the viewpoinbt of Boba Fett. It was written in Englad as part of the "Tales From Midnight" series, and they had a special comic which was used to raise money for Kosovo.
PETER MAYHEW (Chewie)
GVK: Did you see the Phantom Menace, and what did you think of it?
PM: Yes, It was the first chapter of a book, and as such it was an introduction to the larger story of Star Wars. Parts of the film were good, but some parts were not as good.
GVK: How do you think the new films will compare to the original series and how do you think they will be compared in the future?
PM: I do not think they compare at all. The new films are different stories and they have a greater emphasis on effects than the earlier films did. I think that in the future, the original series will still be considered good films.
GVK: What have you been doing of late, and do you have any projects in the works?
PM: Lately I have been attending many conventions the world over. It is always great to be able to meet the fans and be able to speak about my Star Wars experiences. I had some theater projects that I have been looking into as well, but they are currently on hold and there is nothing to say about them.
GVK: If you were to be given the chance to play Chewie again, how would you like to see the character used.
PM: It would be the same as before as Han's sidekick.
GVK: When the decision was made to kill off Chewie in the book series, were you contacted about this and what were you thoughts on this?
PM: Yes, I was contacted about this. I saw that a character needed to be killed in order to jostle the other characters and add an element of freshness and danger to the series and Chewbacca was the most likely to go, as they could not kill Luke, Han, or Leia.
GVK: If you could change anything about your portrayal of Chewie, what would it have been and why?
PM: I would not change anything as I was happy with the character and my work bringing him to life.
GVK: Do you keep in touch with the original cast and do you have fond memories of the experiences?
PM: Yes, to both questions. The freiends and experiences I made and encountered were amongst the best in my life.
GVK: Do you think that Star Wars has faded in terms of popularity over the years?
PM: No, it has not faded, in fact, based on recent happeneings such as the new films, and the book series, I would say that the interest is stronger than ever.
GVK: What would you attribute the staying power of the series too?
PM: Having a good story and great effects as well as characters that are likeable, interesting, and memorable. It is a fairy tale battle of good vs. evil, and in that, it will always be timeless.
GVK: Are you and Chewie alike and how much input did George Lucas allow you to have in the character?
PM: Yes, Chewie and I are alike in some ways. I would say that the character and the input are one in the same. By combining 50% of myself and 50% of what was given to me for Chewie, I was able to create the character and personalize him.
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1 star out of 5
Gareth Von Kallenbach
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