Naomi Watts is the greatest: Nakata

Naomi Watts was sitting in a booth in a sound studio in Wellington, while outside a storm was giving the New Zealand capital's streets a solid dousing.

About 10,800km away, in a similar studio in sunny Hollywood, Japanese director Hideo Nakata was listening intently.

Watts and Nakata were connected by a digital phone line.

It was, as they call it in Hollywood-speak, ADR time - automatic dialogue replacement.

Filming of The Ring Two, the sequel to 2002's horror hit, The Ring, which grossed $US250 million ($A317.7 million) at the worldwide box office and hundreds of millions more in DVD sales, had finished in the US months earlier.

Watts was in New Zealand midway through shooting her latest project, King Kong, with Kiwi director Peter Jackson.

Nakata was holed up in Los Angeles, putting together The Ring Two, and, in what is a common process in Hollywood filmmaking, he needed his star to redo some of her lines.

"Some scenes are too noisy with background sounds," Nakata explained to AAP in a recent interview in Los Angeles.

"There might be traffic noise in the background or it might not be clear enough, so we have to replace with clean lines."

Watts' demanding schedule on King Kong meant a quick trip to Los Angeles was out of the question, so they had to rely on the phone line.

It was a risky venture.

There was the geographical distance between actor and director.

Watts also had to forget about her King Kong character, actress Ann Darrow, and crawl back into the skin of the tormented mother Rachel Keller, desperate to save her son from the evil spirit, Samara Morgan.

If Watts' voice was off, it would look like one of those bad Hong Kong martial arts film dubbed into English.

"She is the greatest actress I know," Nakata, a 44-year-old worshipped by horror film fans around the world, said.

"Naomi was great on the set, but her ADR sounds were perfect. Nobody else could know better. She has great ears and remembers what she did very clearly. It was marvellous. Nobody can tell what part is the ADR."

Nakata thinks Watts' sharp ear was inherited.

The blonde, 36-year-old's father was Peter Watts, a sound engineer for British band Pink Floyd.

"She inherited his musical ear," Nakata said.

The Ring Two is set six months after the events of the original film. The scenery has also changed, with Watts' character moving with her son from Seattle to the small, quiet Oregon seaside town of Astoria.

Of course, Astoria is not the sleepy, peaceful environment they expect.

Samara and her killer video tape find their way to Astoria.

The Ring and The Ring Two are based on Nakata's highly-successful Japanese horror films, Ringu and Ringu 2.

Despite his popularity with horror fans, the chubby faced director was not asked to direct The Ring.

The job went to Tennessee-born, former punk rocker, Gore Verbinski.

When Verbinski opted not to make The Ring Two, deciding instead to helm the two sequels to his 2003 action adventure blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Nakata was originally overlooked again.

The executives from Steven Spielberg's Hollywood studio DreamWorks signed up little-known commercials director Noam Murro, but it was a short-lived relationship.

In what was described as "creative differences", Murro dropped out with just weeks before shooting was scheduled to begin and Nakata, who was in Los Angeles prepping for another directing job, received an urgent call.

"I was at my apartment," Nakata recalled.

"An executive at DreamWorks called me and said 'Would you be interested in reading the script?'."

Nakata read the script and within days was signed up to make his first Hollywood film. What interested the director was The Ring Two was not a direct re-make of his Ringu 2, with an American scriptwriter revamping the story.

"It was very intriguing to me," Nakata said.

"There were similar elements, but it was still quite different to Ringu 2."

And there was no resentment on Nakata's behalf about being originally snubbed by DreamWorks for directing job on The Ring and The Ring Two.

"It was not disappointing," Nakata said, letting out a large belly laugh.

"Of course I would have been excited if they offered it, but when they decided to make The Ring I was not here in LA."

With LA now Nakata's temporary home, Hollywood producers have no problem tracking him down.

He has two films set to be made.

Out, about four female factory workers who make a pact after one of the women kills her abusive husband, is set to be released in 2006.

Nakata is also planning a remake of the 1981 horror film, The Entity.

The past few months have been a new experience for the Japanese director who, with Watts kept busy in New Zealand with King Kong, has found himself fronting most of The Ring Two's publicity in the US.

He says it's a pleasure to talk about his time on The Ring Two, especially the day Watts and Academy Award winner, Sissy Spacek, shot a scene together.

It's a pivotal moment set in an asylum and Spacek and Watts, an Oscar nominee last year for 21 Grams, go head-to-head.

"It was a very exciting day on set," Nakata said.

"It was a bit overwhelming.

"I remember later in the day when we were watching the scene we just shot on the video monitor.

"Sissy was sitting here on my left, Naomi was on my right.

"I really felt like I was dreaming. I had an Academy Award winner here, and a nominee here.

"After we watched the scene Naomi said 'ichiban' which means number one in Japanese.

"It was a great moment."

The Ring Two opens in Australian cinemas March 24.

[SOURCE]

Authors Costello & Golden talk KONG novelizations

Horror writer Matt Costello knows how to keep himself busy. In addition to writing the backstory for the DOOM III videogame (see item here), working on a new series of books—the first of which, IN DREAMS, will soon be published by Berkley—and adapting his 2004 novel MISSING MONDAY as a TV series for the USA Network, Costello has also been chosen to pen a book inspired by the upcoming remake of KING KONG directed by Peter Jackson (pictured).

"There will be two books," Costello tells Fango, "a prequel and the novelization. My friend, the writer Christopher Golden, was contacted to do the novelization, and he and an editor recommended me for the prequel."

Pocket Books and Universal sent Golden’s bio, which includes the best-selling novels THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN, STRANGELAND and several BUFFY and THE CROW adaptations, to Jackson. The director asked to read Golden’s latest, WILDWOOD ROAD, and then gave his blessing. Once hired, Golden suggested Costello, who had already penned novels based on CHILD’S PLAY 2 and 3, as well as the SEVENTH GUEST videogame (with Craig Shaw Gardner), to write the prequel.

"KONG is one of my all-time favorite films," says Golden, "just engraved on my brain as far back as I can remember into my childhood. Matt is an excellent writer, a brilliant researcher and an old friend who happens to be even more passionate about KING KONG than I am."

How much freedom will be given the writers, and what they will be allowed to see from the actual movie, has yet to be determined. According to Golden, his "book will be based on the script and whatever visual elements they provide to help me. I presume there’ll be set designs and storyboards that I may or may not get a look at. I want to breathe as much life into it as I can with both imagery and a richness of emotion, but beyond that, I’m following the script."

As for the prequel, Golden says, "The plan is to try to make the two novels flow seamlessly together, and especially to get a unified sense of character."

As for what that story will be about, Costello is keeping mum. "I love my idea for the prequel…which is top-secret as of now." —Axelle Carolyn

[SOURCE]

I was at Border's Books the other night and saw this hardbound book titled "KONG" that basically told the story of what happened after KONG Plunged off the Empire State Building and what happened to Carl Denham and the body of KONG.. To make a long story short, Carl Denham, who was very old now, was telling the story to his Son as to what ever happened with KONG and how he was wrong to have taken this God, this Ape from his home and all the deaths he(Denham) was really responsible for as a result.. In the end, he died and I think the Butler took his Son to an Underground vault where the skeleton of KONG was posed in the position you see him in the TIME Magazine article with KONG battling the T-Rex in a headlock pounding away at him.. The T-Rex skeleton was also next to him.. It was a good read..

The book you're referring to is "Kong: King of Skull ISland" written by a couple of friends of mine (Joe Devito and John Michlig and Brad Sttrickland...(Don't know Strickland though))
The book is a prequel and a sequel. It tells the story of Denahms dissapearance and his son who goes looking for him, years after the Kong incident.
His son ends up on Skull Island where he learns the story of how Kong became king (There was another beast before Kong who was king and had killed off Kong's family) and the history of the island. The story of Kong is told not by Denham but by a medicine woman from Skull Island. The scene with the T-rex and and Kong skeleton was a dream sequence. Denhams son (who works in a museum) is imagining how the skeletons of these two beasts would look on display...However he decides to leave the bones on Skull Island.


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Feltenstein Talks '33 Kong DVD

theonionavclub.com recently spoke with George Feltenstein, the Senior Vice President in charge of Warner Home Video's classic catalog. In the interview he mentions the 1933 King Kong restoration: 'it took us literally until just a couple of months ago to get a proper element on King Kong, which is like one of the ultimate, perfect DVD releases. Everybody thinks we held off because Peter Jackson is remaking the movie, but that's just a coincidence. There was an element in Europe that we wanted to get our hands on, and it took a lot of negotiation with the archive that had it. We finally got it, and the restoration is under way. People always think there's some kind of conspiracy. [Laughs.]' Read the whole interview here.

[SOURCE]

PJ in Joint Venture with S. Korean Company

SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- Peter Jackson, the New Zealand director of the Hollywood movie trilogy "Lord of the Rings," will establish a film studio jointly with a South Korean film investment company, a local business group said Wednesday. Daesung Group said Jackson's Park Road Post will launch a joint venture firm in South Korea with the group's venture capital investment subsidiary Binext. [more] (Subscription Needed)

[SOURCE]

King Kong top E3 Conference Program

More than 150 speakers drawn from the business, creative, retail, and funding ranks are slated to appear during the annual event in Los Angeles. Each year, the top luminaries of the game industry have been featured in the conference program at the E3 game expo in Los Angeles. In years past, attendees have seen Gabe Newell present Half-Life 2, Pete Parsons helm a Halo 2 presentation, and Ray Muzyka present Jade Empire. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within and Doom 3 have also made the scene. The 2005 program--slated to run May 17 to 19--will be no exception. Of special note is the Sneak Peeks session this year, which will give those present a ringside seat as Ubisoft creative director Michel Ancel presents King Kong, based on the forthcoming Peter Jackson film... [more]

[SOURCE]

King Kong Cameo



*lol*

[SOURCE]

Jackson's God, says Bullock
19 March 2005
By TOM CARDY

Sandra Bullock, one of Hollywood's highest-paid and most popular actresses, wants to work with Peter Jackson.

"He is God. Peter is fantastic. Look at the work that he does. It's someone who takes no prisoners. He executes his vision and there's a reason his films are so good," she said in Sydney yesterday to promote her new movie Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.

"You always want to work with directors like that – someone who you can rely on and go to and go: `I'm going to do my homework, but I trust you completely and I'm going to let go and allow you to lead the ship.' It's rare that there are directors like that, it's a rare, rare breed."

Bullock, who shot to stardom in 1994 with the action movie Speed with Keanu Reeves, is also familiar with Jackson's Lord of the Rings cast, having worked with Viggo Mortensen in the 2000 film 28 Days.

The 40-year-old actress, visiting Australia for the first time, had planned to visit New Zealand late last year, but had to cancel because of business commitments.

"Both Australia and New Zealand are places that I've always wanted to go...New Zealand was my New Year's Eve destination last year. I don't know what in the world happened that I couldn't go, but I think it was work-related.

"I had an entire trip planned out. I'm going to get there," she said. She had mainly heard about New Zealand by word of mouth.

Bullock, who has also become a successful producer for the past eight years, has been paid at least US$15 million for her most recent films – making her one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses.

[SOURCE]

Production Diary: Day 113!



PD 113 focuses on the 2nd unit direction of Randy Cook, Randy and his team have been all over the Kong map filming everything from Vaudeville-esque scenes to shanty town slums and SKIIP ritual dancing (show us more SKIIPS!!!). His team is the one that board the real Venture and film on the open water, be sure to check out Andy Serkis getting nailed on what looks like an exercise machine from hell. There are some great stunt shots, green-screen action and more..plus who knew Jack Black could fly? Take a look!

[QT6 480x264px 15Mb High]
[QT4 320x176px 12Mb Med]
[QT6 240x132px 6Mb Low]
[Bit Torrents!]

Lovely Naomi
...at the Sidney premiere of Ring 2. A feast for the eyes. Especially the left pic in the second row i've fallen for... that look of her...





Can't wait to see her as Ann Darrow, damsel in distress... I'm sure she'll kick some serious ass! :razz:

wow this is looking great, i can't wait, and Naomi is looking HOT.

Is there a prediction thread made for this yet??

I see you have Kong at number 1 on your most anticipated list. Makes me happy.

As for your question, no, not that i know of. I think it's best to wait for a trailer first before making a prediction thread, so that we can get at least a rough picture of what's in store for us.

Yes, Kong is by far my most anticipated movie of this year. I've been following the video diaries and this thread for some time, i'm looking forward to the ride

I've really enjoyed reading through all the articles... keep up the good work! it's appreciated.

Jackson hosts king-size party for Kong's last act

New York was brought to life for one final time with an ape-sized carnival to celebrate the end of King Kong filming.

Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson hosted more than 1000 people at the film's elaborate 1930s New York set at Seaview on Saturday.

Every person involved in the movie - from Hollywood stars to construction staff - were invited to the no-expense-spared carnival-themed family event.

New Zealand musician Neil Finn performed with his son Liam, singer for band Betchadupa, and bands Goldenhorse and Fat Freddy's Drop also played.

It is understood a VIP marquee housed stars Jack Black and Adrien Brody, but Jackson endeared himself by mixing and mingling with the crowd. Australian actress Naomi Watts was in Sydney for the premiere of her latest movie, The Ring 2.

According to one partygoer, Jackson was dancing and made sure he spoke to everyone.

"It was a really happy atmosphere and none of this senior staff and junior staff stuff. Everyone was mingling and in great spirits."

The party was "just like a proper carnival" with giant fairytale characters wandering the streets and a ferris wheel and merry-go-round for children.

American hotdogs, burgers and mini-kebabs were handed out and a well-stocked bar was popular.

"It was absolutely amazing. It was top-of-the-line catering, the whole works. It's just the way Pete does things - puts on a huge party like this because everyone works so hard and sweats blood on the film."

A never-ending supply of bananas were on hand as a tribute to giant ape King Kong.

"Everything was that 1930s grey but with bright yellow bunches of bananas everywhere. It was great."

Filming on the $200 million remake finished about three weeks ago and the set is to be taken down this week. The movie is due for release in December.

Source

Thanks, man! Glad to hear that! :razz:

More Kong wrap party news:

King Kong cast, crew celebrate end of main filming on classic movie remake

Hundreds celebrated the imminent return of the world's most famous gorilla at a party for crew remaking the classic movie "King Kong" - due to end principal filming shortly, a spokesman said Monday.

The 1933 classic is being remade by New Zealand director Peter Jackson, who directed the fantasy trilogy "Lord of the Rings." It was likely to go into post-production within a couple of weeks, publicist Melissa Booth said.

The weekend crew party, on a back lot set built to replicate 1930s New York, "was essentially our wrap party," she told The Associated Press.

Filming of the 200 million New Zealand dollar (US$145 million; €111 million) remake, funded by Universal Pictures, began last Sept. 6. The movie is due for release in December.

The cast includes Australian actor Naomi Watts, who plays damsel in distress Ann Darrow. Watts earned a best actress Oscar nomination for playing a grief-stricken mother in 2003's gritty drama "21 Grams."

Oscar winner Adrien Brody, the movie's romantic hero Jack Driscoll, and offbeat comedy actor Jack Black, who plays raconteur and filmmaker Carl Denham, are the other main actors.

But the real star of the movie, the giant gorilla, is entirely computer generated.

Everyone involved in the movie - from Hollywood stars to construction staff - was invited to the carnival-themed family event, local media reported Monday.

The party was "just like a proper carnival" with giant fairy tale characters wandering the streets and a Ferris wheel and merry-go-round for children, partygoers said.

A never-ending supply of bananas was on hand as a tribute to giant primate King Kong.

"Everything was that 1930s gray but with bright yellow bunches of bananas everywhere. It was great," one participant was quoted as telling Wellington's "Dominion Post" newspaper.

Jackson said last year he was "reliving a childhood dream" to direct the film, which was shot on the back lot of his studios in a suburb of New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

A "sneak peak" of 18 minutes of the movie shown to 200 distributors and cinema owners flown into Wellington last month drew a standing ovation for Jackson.

"They were very excited. That's a nice little benchmark to have," Booth said.

[SOURCE]

More about the S. Korean deal:

Peter Jackson multimillion-dollar Korean post-production deal
21 March 2005
By LANE NICHOLS

Director Peter Jackson is about to enter into a multimillion-dollar joint venture with a Korean company.

The deal was revealed last week on a Korean newspaper website and confirmed by Jackson's post-production company Park Road Post in Miramar.

The Korea Times reported that Park Road Post had teamed up with the Daesung Group "to develop and promote the local movie industry in the international film market". Park Road Post – which has worked on The Last Samurai and World's Fastest Indian, and is being used extensively for Jackson's King Kong project – planned to announce the agreement today at a Korean news conference.

However, a statement was released after questions from The Dominion Post.

In the pipeline for three to four years, the deal involves Daesung BiNEXT putting up between US$10 million and US$30 million (NZ$13.4 million to NZ$40.3 million) for digital film production and post-production work with Park Road Post.

Park Road Post would be used for "larger budget" Korean feature films, telemovies and television series. In return, Park Road Post would share its skills and technology with selected Korean personnel to increase the quality of Korean post-production.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Park Road Post to capitalise on the skills seen by the world in the multi-Oscar-award-winning Return of the King," Park Road Post chief executive Sue Thompson said.

"Both parties hope that our respective governments fully support this initiative and that it might speed up the proposed Korea/New Zealand Film Co-production Agreement which will be good news for New Zealand film-makers."

The statement said the deal would ensure funding for a research project at the Korean Academy of Film Art, including an assessment of film industry strengths in both countries.

[SOURCE]

Nothing hairy about Kong role: Naomi
By MICHAEL BODEY
March 21, 2005

MOVIE fans are going ape for Naomi Watts. Everyone wants the former Sydneysider to talk about Peter Jackson's King Kong, now in its final weeks of filming in New Zealand.

Watts is cast in the Ann Darrow role and already she's bearing the weight of expectation.

"It's such an iconic film and iconic part but hopefully it's not the only thing people talk about with me," she said.

"I've done some other diverse things."

Maybe not as diverse as acting next alongside a man playing Kong's finger, or Andy Serkis -- Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy -- playing Kong from the top of a crane, grunts and all.

"Yes he's wearing a suit but it's not a hairy gorilla suit, it's a special suit that helps him move and behave in a certain way. It all makes sense," she said.

Watts is well aware King Kong is a big leap for an Academy Award nominated actress better known for her intense dramatic performances.

"But how awful would it be to be in a situation where everyone knows exactly what choice you're going to make next?" she said.

"I do hope I will never play a superhero or be in a comic book movie though.

"I really, really can say quite safely, I don't want to do those types of movies, but you never know."

Watts took a weekend break from filming in New Zealand to promote her latest film, The Ring 2, in Sydney, and visit her mother and two aunties.

She also had a small party on Saturday night at Hemmesphere with friends including Nicole Kidman, Lisa Hensley and Joel and Nash Edgerton.

[SOURCE]

King Kong Setreport
by John Dybvig

Firstly it was very sentimental to get a part in the picture as it was one of my all time favorites when I was a little kid - I loved the dinosaurs and Skull Island and of course Kong and the Empire State Building and especially the energy of Carl Denham...he made it seem that anything was possible which was great stuff for the imagination of a little boy....I absolutely loved the picture...so I was excited to land a part and then to be in the very last scene with Jack Black was the icing on the cake....the production is first class in every aspect - I was discussing with my wife what we were going to do when I flew from Auckland down to Wellington car wise...would I drive myself and leave the carat the airport or would she and the kids drop me off etc. then I got my travel itinerary and viola there's a corporate cab to pick me up at home and drive me to the airport...that's probably not a big deal to most movie actors but when you're an unknown that's very cool - it just makes things so much easier....and it's nice not to have to worry about the hassle of parking....it's a nice one hour flight down to New Zealand's capital where I'm met by one of the production drivers....he says he'll take me first to the production offices where I can see the back lot where a lot of the Venture scenes were shot...that's a phrase that I haven't heard in all the 12 years I've been acting in New Zealand: "back lot" that's because Peter has built the very first one....that's cool....next I'm taken to my hotel which is right on the harbours edge..very nice I'm on the ninth floor.....the next morning we drive out to the back lot where Peter has built New York and I have to say when you see it for the first time it just takes your breath away...you can throw in all the adjectives: the buildings are so perfect in every detail, the layout is spectular and the feel is there....the day I'm on there are about a thousand people on the set with all the extras for the final mob scene and the buzz is electric and yet it's also the calmest set I've ever worked on and this is a tribute to the man himself...Peter Jackson is just so respectful of everyone that he comes into contact with....it's beautiful to watch and it's an absolute blast to be part of..kind of the way you think making movies should be...fun and creative!

I'm playing a New York policeman who has to push the crowd back so Jack Black can come in and deliver the final line.....the first take took me completely by surprise...when action was called the rush of the crowd almost knocked me over and I'm not a small guy at 6'3" and 220 pounds...I did literaly have to fight and push to keep them back and of course Jack Black never made it through....but that was cool and Peter came out and said so to the extra's that they were doing a great job and then he worked out how to get Jack through...but that's the mark of the man that he was so enthusastic that his extra's were doing a great job....I had to laugh at one point - one of the other actor's in the scene did a little ad libbing with one of the key lines and Peter with a nice bemused smirk on his face told him that that was one of the most famous lines from the original movie so he'd appreciate it if he didn't add anything to it....beautiful!!! Jack Black was a true professional in every way working hard to get this vital scene just right and all-in-all the day just flew by way too fast and before I knew it I was back in my suite at the hotel....Peter was very gracious in thanking me for coming down.....I have to say walking off the set that day reminded me of walking out of Disneyland when I was a kid and knowing the feeling of the magic disappearing...leaving it behind.....I did get to see Adrian Brody walk across the set all decked out in a beautiful three piece pin striped black suit looking extremely cool and I immediately thought of Clark Gable...I have no idea why but that's what popped into my mind...I also did some voice work with the dialogue coach Liz Himmelstein who was a great help - in fact everybody that I came into contact with on that production from the assistant ad who made me a great flat white to the drivers to the sound guys to the make-up people - everyone was first class and a pleasure to work with.....however I got my biggest thrill the next day bright and early before I flew home...a little after six in the morning an earthquake shook me out of bed....and naturally originally being from San Francisco I was up and out the door and raced down nine flights of stairs in a flash...the guy at reception greeted me with "that was a good one - wasn't it?" UH yeah.....

And that was it I flew home and my corporate cab delivered me to my door and now I'm part of a movie that I know will rock the socks off moviegoers come this December....can't wait!

[SOURCE]

King Kong Sells Ford



The folks at the J. Walter Thompson ad agency in Bangkok, Thailand have created an hilarious Kong themed commercial to sell Ford Pickups, you need to register to see it yourself...but it is well worth it! The site reads: King Kong has returned and is currently living in Thailand, where he and his son are promoting Ford pickups. It's true -- see the spot yourself. But watch out for those airborne trucks. [to the commercial...]

[SOURCE]

Any ideas when we can expect a trailer?? i can't wait much longer to see *something*!!! a teaser... hell a poster would do for now!

My guess (and that of others) is a teaser at some point around may, and a final trailer in october.

I know how you feel... waiting sux...

I want trailers for Narnia, Kong, HP4 so damn bad. I am getting sick of waiting.

Luckily there's summer with all the big blockbusters coming, will detract a little bit from the waiting...