Director Uwe Boll was kind enough to take time away from filming "Dungeon Siege" to answer a few questions about projects, past, present, and future for Skewed and Reviewed.
GVK: You are obviously a big fan of the gaming industry. What games are you playing now when your schedule allows and which ones are you looking forward to the most?
UB: I love to play Postal, Silent Hill and Hitman. I’m excited to do soon "Far Cry."
GVK: How did you get into film and how did you evolve into being the leading director of game-based films? Also, what films and directors inspired you?
UB: I made Super 8 and video movies as kid and I kept doing it. "German Fried Movie" – my first movie – I financed with $40,000 and distributed it on my own in all German theatres. I like a lot of movies and a lot of directors: Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, John Carpenter, and Brian De Palma. I love "Apocalypse Now," "The Deer Hunter," "Dances With Wolves," "Raging Bull," "Taxi Driver," "Fargo," "Jaws"…
GVK: What is your preference in the ongoing debate between PC Games and console games?
UB: I like to play with my Xbox.
GVK: What sort of challenges does adapting a game present that are not normally found in, say, adapting a book or television show?
UB: The games are, in a way, like movies and the gamers are looking carefully into every step of the production process.
GVK: What is the background and setting of the film and how much continuity does it have with the events in the games?
UB: The main point is to keep the characters, the mood and a few brand elements of the game and to bring that in the new story.
GVK: Will the film likely be PG-13 or R Rated?
UB: "Bloodrayne" is R. "In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale" will be PG-13.
GVK: Any truth to the reports that the film will be over three hours in length?
UB: Or longer. Maybe we have to do the "Kill Bill" variation – two parts. Nobody wants to sit so long in the theatre.
GVK: How has it been working with such a large cast with so many name actors and actresses in it and have you had to change your directing style to accommodate a larger cast and what challenges has this presented for filming?
UB: (A) good cast is important. Big names doesn’t matter if they are wrong for the part. In "Bloodrayne" and "Dungeon Siege" I have the right names for the right parts. It is a pleasure to work with all that great actors – and they feel better if the partner is also a well known face and good actor.
GVK: What can you tell us about the upcoming "Far Cry" and "Bloodrayne"? I know many people are very curious as to who will be playing Jack Carver and other aspects of the films.
UB: "Bloodrayne" starts in over 2000 theatres in U.S. and is a classic epic vampire movie with a great cast (Kristanna "Terminator 3" Loken, Ben Kingsley, Michael Madsen, Billy Zane, Meat Loaf, Geraldine Chaplin, Udo Kier, Matt Davis and Michelle Rodriguez). And "Far Cry" – we have a great script and we are scouting right now locations. We are in talks with a few actors right now.
GVK: As a follow up, are there other game based films that you will be working on?
UB: "Hunter: The Reckoning" and "Fear Effect" and (withheld until the formal announcement).
GVK: Also, is there anything you can share with the readers in regards to “Night Claws”?
UB: I will not do it. I don’t know why it is still on IMDB listed.
GVK: With Peter Jackson recently being announced as part of the coming “Halo” film, do you think this will signal a new age for game based films to finally get the respect and support of major studios allowing them to see even more lavish productions?
UB: Hopefully.
GVK: Looking back on “Alone in the Dark”, what sort of changes would you have made or what would you have done differently if you could?
UB: The script needed another few weeks of work. And Tara Reid with a miscast.
GVK: As a follow up, do you think that many critics were unfair in their reviews for the film which in turn hindered its success?
UB: They write what they think. Hopefully they like "Bloodrayne" more.
GVK: If you were given your wish to make any film you wanted, with no restrictions on budget or cast, what would you like to make, and who would you wish to cast in it?
UB: (Answer to be included when the formal announcement of the project is made.).
GVK: Thank you so much, I and the readers really appreciate it.
And thanks to Gareth over at Skewed and Reviewed for giving us our required monthly dose of Uwe Boll.
