Exclusive: Water For Elephants Premiere Report And Image Gallery

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Typical. The weather is lovely for once and the premiere is inside anyway.

Tuesday night, myself and my ear drums braved the Vue, Westfield for the premiere of the new Robert Pattinson movie – Water For Elephants. Yeah, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz are in it too, it’s directed by Francis Lawrence (‘I Am Legend’ and ‘Constantine’ – which I think only I really liked) and they are all walking the red carpet, but there is no getting around the fact that everyone, every screaming, camping out all night, homemade sign carrying fan is here for one reason only. The R-Pattz.

Based on an acclaimed best-seller, in Water For Elephants, Pattinson plays student vet, Jacob. He meets and falls in love with star circus performer, Marlena, played by Reese Witherspoon. Unfortunately for Jacob, Marlena is already taken and her dangerous and charismatic husband (Christoph Waltz) isn’t going to step aside quietly. Beneath the big top, will Jacob and Marlena find lifelong love? Yes. Of course they will.

The atrium of the mall was done up like a big top and there were lots of actual circus performers showing off their skills. Everywhere you looked there were bendy ladies, swinging from red ribbon ladies, hoop hoola-hooping ladies and screaming ladies. Lots and lots of screaming ladies. First up to saunter down the shrieks of devotion soaked red carpet was the director, Francis Lawrence.

FilmShaft: Hi Francis, I’m Alan from FilmShaft, nice to meet you. So, were you a fan of the book already?

Francis Lawrence: I was, yeah, yeah. My wife actually gave it to me, she had me read it.

FilmShaft: Which is your favourite of the circus acts?

Francis Lawrence: My favourite circus act… wow… I think, the one I researched and found, that was one of my favourites, is the Slack Wires. It’s an authentic act from the 30’s and it’s a little bit like the tight rope, only the rope isn’t tight. The guy walks on it and swings and does a drunk act – so he pretends he’s drunk as he’s swinging around on this rope. It’s unbelievable that a person can stand on that rope alone, let alone dance around on it like that.

FilmShaft: What are you up to next?

Francis Lawrence: I’m doing a television pilot for Fox, called ‘Touch’, with Kiefer Sutherland. I’m gonna do that this Summer, but I’m not sure what the next movie will be.

FilmShaft: Constantine 2?

Francis Lawrence: Not yet… I’d love to figure out a story for it.

Franny L. (I get to call him that now because we’re best buds, post Constantine appreciation) then began to be pulled away via the sleeve by his handler, so I thanked him and turned to see Reese Witherspoon fast approaching. She wasn’t going to be doing the bloggers pen so I stretched my dictaphone arm to breaking point to eavesdrop what she was saying to the telly folk.

What was it like working with the elephant?

Reese Witherspoon: It was a really great experience, we really bonded.

Tell us about your character (scintillating questions guys)

Reese Witherspoon: Her name is Marlena, she’s a 1930’s circus performer and she rides elephants.

What was it like working with Robert?

Reese Witherspoon: It was great. He’s very professional. He’s a very hard working guy.

Do you find all his screaming fans annoying?

Reese Witherspoon: No! It’s really sweet. It’s really nice to see them.

The combo of mind numbing questions and a cheeky ask of whether a rumour that she’s pregnant is true (that elicited a swift and stern ticking off from her handler) were enough to leave Reese still smiling, but obviously short with her answers and in a bit of a grump. Maybe smarting a bit she left the interview line and went to sign things instead.

I then braced myself for The Pattinson. Being a rather popular chap, he was only making a brief stop by the online pen and was immediately descended upon by the gaggle of girls to my left. They had one question for the sake of all of us. They asked if he enjoyed playing a vet and if he would like to be a veterinarian.

Robert Pattinson: It’s great but it’s not something you can do part-time.

They then had him sign something and he scarpered. Sigh.

Though the Water For Elephants premiere ended up being a particularly barren hunting ground for interviews; I got lots of lovely photographs, so check them out below. Yes, there are lots of R-Pattz.

Pattinson was laid back and moves with the grace of a benevolent universe behind him. Reese Wetherspoon’s was a tiny package of big smiles and it was a shame her zen got wrecked by someone asking her if she was knocked up! Director Francis Lawrence was enthusiastic, if a little vexed at being in a shopping mall, and Christopher Waltz… well matey, you really let me down. Unfortunately Chris decided that he didn’t want to do any press. At a premiere. Of his new movie. So, bitterly disappointingly, all I got of him was some long range shots of the back of his head. So we’ll never get to know if he would have spilled me lots of beans about Django Unchained.

Water for Elephants stomps into UK cinemas from the 4th of May and you can read what our Cheryl thought of it here. You can also have a go at winning merchandise from the movie here. Best of luck.

Moody New Poster For Jane Eyre

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The Bronte sisters were pretty amazing young ladies – Charlotte and Emily, especially. Both have their classic works up for adaptation again, but we’ll be getting Cary Fukunaga’s Jane Eyre first. Andrea Arnold is busy working away on Wuthering Heights as I type.

A wonderful and very moody poster has debuted on the film’s Facebook page. The lead has been taken by Alice in Wonderland star Mia Wasikowska and expect Michael Fassbender to be all mean and aloof as Mr. Rochester in this Focus Pictures adaptation due in March 2011.

There’s fine support on offer in the forms of Jamie Bell and Judi Dench. If you’ve never read the book – get yourself to a library and prepare to be wowed. And no, it’s not a chick’s book, either but one of the finest stories written in English. One has high hopes for this given the cast and director.

Synopsis:

Based on Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, the romantic drama stars Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) and Michael Fassbender (“Inglourious Basterds”) in the lead roles. In the story, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. The isolated and imposing residence – and Mr. Rochester’s coldness – have sorely tested the young woman’s resilience, forged years earlier when she was orphaned. As Jane reflects upon her past and recovers her natural curiosity, she will return to Mr. Rochester – and the terrible secret that he is hiding…

Exclusive: Paul Andrew Williams Interview

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While up north at Grimmfest 2010 I had the chance to sit down with British film director Paul Andrew Williams. Having directed three films to date (London To Brighton, The Cottage and Cherry Tree Lane), he’s leaned towards horror but doesn’t see himself exclusively as a horror director.

We talked about his films, critical opinion of his films, future projects and why Aliens is the best film in the series and our differing opinions on Avatar.

Yes, it was an interview more like a rambling and fun conversation going off on tangents before circling back to the main point. One of the nicest and fun interviews I’ve ever done. Williams also gave me an exclusive update on a future project but asked me not to say anything. I’ve been sworn to secrecy and shall refrain from revealing it. I will say it sounds very cool and that is all.

We’ve met before very briefly at the Curzon in Soho. It was the Cherry Tree Lane screening with Q&A afterwards, and I told you I thought Mark Kermode’s review of your film was wrong.

Williams: I respect Mark Kermode and it’s great he talked about it but yeah, I disagree with him as well.

Have you found that Cherry Tree Lane got mixed reactions and reviews?

Yeah, a lot of people get it and some don’t. It’s fair enough. People take what they want to take from it.

How was the seminar earlier?

It was fine. I’m always surprised people are interested. Are you here for the whole festival?

Yes. I came up to Manchester this morning after seeing 127 Hours at the London Film Festival.

What did you think?

I didn’t like it. I wanted more of a horror film.

Really? I saw a rough cut. At first I thought ‘am I going to like it?’ and by the end of it I did. It’s a good film. I haven’t seen all his movies but Danny is one of those directors I really admire. And that’s what’s interesting about film, you can find somebody who likes one of your films and hates the others, you know?

When you followed up London To Brighton with the horror comedy The Cottage, there was a bit of ‘why’s he done that?’ But it’s got Reece Shearsmith and Andy Serkis starring. I like the film.

Thanks, and yeah, they’re both great. When you make a movie you don’t concentrate on how it’s going to be received you just concentrate on making it. I was very grateful for the response to London To Brighton and obviously I didn’t know it was going to be received so well. In a weird way it puts a lot of pressure on you and then when I did The Cottage people maybe thought ‘he just wants to be a horror director’. The thing is, in all honesty, a lot of people were asking to make a film and I had no money whatsoever and The Cottage was the closest thing I had to a shootable film. That’s why we did it. It’s as simple as that. I’m proud of it and I like it.

How did Cherry Tree Lane, your latest film, come about?

Basically I had another film going and hopefully that’s still going to happen and any director these days is spinning a lot of plates, and there was one which was getting very close and being pulled back a bit. Then I just thought ‘fuck it let’s make this’. Writing it to shooting it was three months. Again, it’s a film I feel passionate about and I made it for a reason. It was a low budget shoot and we filmed it in one house. I made it in a certain way and some people get it and some don’t.

Where did the idea come from?

I liked the idea of filming in one location. Not for practical reasons but dramatic ones. The idea was the perception of things like being mugged, road accidents, all sorts of stuff, are only ever really influenced by the media and it is sanitised information. So we have this idea of what life would be like if you got mugged and in movies they’re all big dramas and actually, I’ve been mugged before, and it wasn’t a big exciting drama it was mundane.

Did it leave you hyped up and fantasising about revenge afterwards?

It sort of left me thinking ‘why didn’t I do that?’ or ‘why did I react like this?’ and there was a time when I was a little bit scared but you don’t really realise what’s going on. You don’t know how you’re going to react to it. There’s no message it’s just what I believe might possibly happen.

That’s the criticism Mark Kermode put across. He wanted a message movie.

If you want a message go to a fucking lecture. I don’t think every film needs a message.

I thought it was a very suspenseful and tense experience. Isn’t that enough?

Just because you don’t get a higher meaning about it … people watch films for different reasons.

Do you care about critical opinion of your work?

I do. Critics can really elevate your movie, which is great in commercial terms. Unless someone is wrong -as in factually wrong – or just slagging me off, that annoys me. But why should I be offended by somebody not liking my film?

Did you go to film school?

I used to be an actor. I got into directing because I wanted to work with actors. All you need to know is what you want to see and if you’ve got an idea of what you want to see then the rest of the team should be able to get that for you.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a project that’s sort of set here but it’s for an American company and a British company. I can’t tell you what yet. I can tell you off the record (he did and it sounds great!). I’m writing another film and there’s a period piece based on the Bronte sisters. There’s lots of things going on. And I’m trying to live my life.

So you’re not one for all the media parties and awards dinners then?

No. I like staying at home. I’m quite lazy. I’ve just got the Alien films on Blu-ray.

What’s your personal favourite out of the four?

Aliens.

I agree.

It’s weird because a lot of people … I’ve just done a top ten horror films thing for Total Film. A lot of people would put Alien whereas I’m a fan of Aliens. Apart from the fourth one, which I’ve only seen once, all three stand up.

Yeah, Fincher’s is very underrated.

There’s some great documentaries as extra features and I love all that. He’s gone on to make some elaborate films and you kind of forget he made Alien 3.

Speaking of James Cameron, did you see Avatar?

Yeah, I did.

I hated it.

Really? The thing is James Cameron is an amazing director in terms of details and what he’s done. Avatar hasn’t got the best script but on an immersion level, it is an experience you’ll never get again. Why didn’t you like it?

I thought the script and dialogue was terrible. Really cheesy stuff.

He’s got to make it like that so the masses get it. I was really immersed in it.

Do you ever think about doing something big – maybe not ‘Avatar big’ – but something on a larger budget?

I don’t know. I think it would frighten me a little bit. I like working with characters and films like that characters are secondary. The main character of Avatar is the visuals and the technological side. Look at The Terminator it was a great character and he made it really on a low budget.

Thanks for chatting today, it’s been great.

Thanks, man.

Filmography:

Cherry Tree Lane (2010)
The Cottage (2008)
London To Brighton (2006)