"The Fifth Element" was Luc Besson‘s only foray into science fiction. Though praised by many fans and critics, the experience was so frustrating for the filmmaker that he has never tried the genre again. But now that technology would make such films easier, he’s got ideas.
"I think of it," said Besson. "Not before two or three years [but] I got an idea I think."
Besson cannot share much of his idea, because he’s started from the back forward and wouldn’t want to spoil it. "I start to have the ending which is good. Let’s not blow the flame."
"The Fifth Element" was made just before the techno-revolution that allowed CGI to become a common practice in any kind of film. Thus, it was much more difficult than it would have been only one year later.
"I did ‘The Fifth Element’ at probably the wrong moment because I was so frustrated to see that a year after that, the tools that we had to do special effects went from five to 50. For me it was a nightmare. I have to work 12 hours to do one still shot with the blue screen and the thing. I was so frustrated to see two or three years later how easy it was. So that frustrated me and I really would love to do another sci-fi where I can be much more free with the special effects."
Now, time and money won’t limit Besson’s vision. "It’s new tools, you can really do anything you want now. It’s not so much a question of money. It’s a question of imagination and how to be able to do it. You have an idea but before, you can’t do it. The Fifth Element was a nightmare. Some shots, just her jumping with the cars, you do that now like this [snaps fingers.] It was a nightmare."
