Film School Rejects » Behind the Scenes

Avatar Through the Eyes of Stephen Lang

Neil Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:46:28 +0000

One of our beloved readers, Marcus G., sent this over to me this morning and it is more than worth sharing — especially if you’re looking to cleanse your pallet from all of the Twilight: New Moon news this weekend. Even if that does mean more video footage from James Cameron’s Avatar. Somehow, I don’t think anyone is going to mind.

This brief, but also quite interesting featurette focuses on Colonel Quaritch, played by Stephen Lang. He’s the head of security for the corporation that is trying to invade Pandora and mine the precious mineral that the exists below the home of the Na’vi. He dispatches the members of the Avatar Program, played by Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Joel David Moore, to infiltrate the Na’vi in order to avoid using force. But based on the gigantic scars on this hardened soldier’s face, he’s also no stranger to using force. Have a look at the featurette below.

Avatar is in theaters on December 18, 2009.

How To Hurl a Soccer Mom Through a Windshield, Zombieland Style

Neil Miller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:11:06 +0000

Sometimes a great shot can be attained through the wonders of visual effects — the fine folks at ILM can do just about anything with a computer these days. But there is a certain brutality, a certain aesthetic beauty that can only be achieved in the practical realm. Such is the scene in Zombieland when Columbus, the character played by Jesse Eisenberg, explains survival rule #4: “seatbelts.” In the accompanying scene, we see an overweight soccer mom being chased by several zombie kids in her minivan. Upon crashing into a truck, this pink-sweatered lady is hurled out of her windshield, landing on the pavement right in front of the camera and sliding a few feet before she comes to rest right in front of the audience. It is one of the many awesome, fun and gruesome scenes that make Zombieland such a fun ride.

Over at The Envelope, stunt coordinator Jill Brown writes about the process of bringing this shot to life, including the hiring of stunt woman Samantha MacIvor, a brave soul with a can-do attitude. Here’s an excerpt:

Problems arose when we couldn’t stick a hefty girl behind a wheel and fly her out safely. We’ll need to lose the roof, steering wheel and front seat. Bring in the power saw.

The next challenge was Samantha’s traveling trajectory. Since we had to fly her over the hood of her car and the flatbed truck, then down to the pavement and slide her 20-something feet toward the camera, George [Aguilar, second unit director] suggested the most accurate approach would be to incorporate a computer-controlled cable system. Bring in the Fisher Winches.

There is also a photo gallery at The Envelope that shows the progression of the shot.

As I mentioned, it is an awesome scene that came together in part because of a dedication to doing something practically, rather than just trying to throw it in digitally after the fact. All the more reason for you to get out there and check out Zombieland, which is still hanging around in theaters. For more on the film, check out our Exclusive Interview with writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick and Brian Salisbury’s Zombieland review from Fantastic Fest.

Exclusive: The Making of G.I. Joe’s Girl-on-Girl Action

Neil Miller — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:26:16 +0000

We were one of the many sites who got out in support of Stephen Sommers’ G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, right before it became a late summer surprise. And rightfully so, as it was a lot of fun. There was some over-the-top action, crazy-fun characters and of course, women in tight costumes kicking the crap out of each other. The latter being a personal favorite of yours truly.

So it’s fitting that we are here today to debut a very cool behind the scenes clip that will show you how the fight scene between Scarlett (Rachel Nichols) and the Baroness (Sienna Miller). As fans of the movie might note, this was a very fun moment in the film. And now you can see what went into constructing this badass babe-beating sequence.

For the record, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is on DVD & Blu-ray November 3rd. For more, check out the official site: GIJoeMovie.com

Go Behind the Scenes of Iron Man 2 in French

Neil Miller — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:20:23 +0000

CanalPlus.fr has published a brand new behind the scenes report from the set of Iron Man 2, complete with interviews with director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr.

The report features a bunch of new footage, including a look at Tony Stark’s at-home particle accelerator project. There is also a series of shots with Scarlett Johansson, who plays Black Widow, and some shots of Mickey Rourke as Whiplash. It’s interesting to hear that things are getting “a bit darker,” while keeping with the tone of the first film.

All signs still pointing to Iron Man 2 being awesome. Have your own look at the new stuff below.

Iron Man 2 is in theaters May 7, 2010.

Darren Lynn Bousman Celebrating ‘Mother’s Day’ Early

Bethany Perryman — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:29:14 +0000

Darren Lynn Bousman (director Saw IV and Repo! The Genetic Opera) debuted via Twitter the first official image (seen above) of his horror-thriller film remake, Mother’s Day. Also found on the net today is a short, ADD-style behind-the-scenes peek. Best moment of the video? Bousman showing off a text message and saying, “Quote of the day from Jamie King: ‘Oh my God, you seriously just dragged my ass!’”. That’s better than the quote of the day here at Reject HQ, which was Dr. Cole Abaius saying, “Hey guys, the apartment’s on fire.” (Everything’s okay now. Worry not.)

Mother’s Day is a Charles Kaufman directed exploitation piece from 1980, about three women terrorized by two guys who will do anything to impress their mother — including rape, torture, and murder. That’s an Oedipus complex that not even Freud would touch. Well played, Bousman. The Mother’s Day remake is currently filming in Canada. Have a look at the video below, courtesy of IGN.

Exclusive: See How the Robots of ‘Transformers 2′ Were Designed

Neil Miller — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:53:57 +0000

If there’s one thing I think we can all agree on when it comes to Michael Bay’s latest opus Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, it is that the damn robots looked really cool. Whoever designed those things should get at the very least, a pat on the back. The story is one thing, the action shots another and Michael Bay’s gigantic ego something completely different, but those Transformers sure did look cool.

With that in mind, we’ve received an awesome new exclusive clip from the folks at Paramount Home Entertainment that focuses on Ben Procter, the film’s Robot Art Director. In the clip below, which is from the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD release of TF2, Procter explains the process behind the design of each robot. He also shows off some very early concept art, some of which didn’t make it anywhere near the movie. It’s the perfect little feature for concept art hounds like myself, and those who dream of what could’ve been. Check it out below.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be released on Blu-ray and DVD October 20th. You can find more cool extras over at TransformersMovie.com/Choose, including an app that will have Optimus Prime call your phone and the infamous “Robotize Me” application.

Exclusive: Behind the Jesus Cloth of ‘Gentlemen Broncos’

Neil Miller — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:52:33 +0000

Fox Searchlight has provided Film School Rejects with an exclusive look behind the scenes of their upcoming release Gentlemen Broncos, from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess. As you might recall, we covered this film as part of Fantastic Fest ‘09, where it made it’s North American premiere. In the film, Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) plays Roland Chevalier, a once-famous sci-fi writer who pilfers a story from a budding home-schooled kid named Benjamin (Michael Angarano) and passes it off as his own. Sam Rockwell stars as Bronco, the central character in Benjamin’s story.

In the design of the film — which fits perfectly with previous Jared Hess works in that it is super-kitschy and very middle America weird — production designer Richard Wright had to capture the home of Benjamin and his eccentric clothing designer mother (played by Jennifer Coolidge) with a bunch of very odd little touches. One of these touches is a cloth Jesus who is going to meet the dinosaurs, a creationist’s wet-dream. It sounds a bit odd, but then again, that’s the whole point. Check out the video below to see Wright as he finds inspiration for Dino-loving Jesus.

Gentlemen Broncos opens in limited markets on October 30, 2009.

Watch: John Krasinski and Sam Mendes Promo for ‘Away We Go’

Dr. Cole Abaius — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:55:10 +0000

For some reason, Neil couldn’t (or wouldn’t) steal all the cool Red Band video clips for Away We Go directly from their site. I blame professional ethics and the ham sandwich he was going to town on at the time. However, I highly recommend that you jet on over to the film’s website to check them out for yourself – just as long as you are old enough or have no moral dilemma with entering a fake date in the age gate.

Personally, it didn’t even need John Krasinki or Maya Rudolph to get me excited about this project, because I’m a major Dave Eggers fan. Thus, I’m fan-tastically bound to check out anything he’s written, even if it’s in movie form. Oh, and Sam Mendes is directing as if you needed anymore reason to get excited about this bad boy.

Luckily, aside from those Red Band scenes that we are hiding from you, there’s also a pretty cool featurette that you can check out below:

First Footage: Russell Brand Shows Off ‘Get Him to the Greek’

Neil Miller — Tue, 26 May 2009 06:07:17 +0000

MTV has posted a brand new video from the set of the upcoming comedy Get Him to the Greek, which will see the return of Russell Brand as his out-of-control rock star alter-ego Aldous Snow, a role that he played in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

This time around Brand has reunited with Sarah Marshall director Nicholas Stoller (who also wrote this film) and co-star Jonah Hill, who will play Aaron Greenberg, the assistant to the always zaney Mr. Snow. Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs will play a role far from his own real life existence, starring as Snow’s record company executive and Aaron’s angry boss. The premise of the film is that it will be a comedy ‘road movie’ in which Aaron is tasked with getting Aldous from a gig in London to another show at the famous Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

Have a look at the behind the scenes video below, courtesy of MTV. As well, please note that this would otherwise be non-news, if it weren’t for the fact that Russell Brand is hilarious. Also — is anyone else not feeling good about Jonah Hill’s look these days. As a fellow fat kid, I weep for him. Hopefully its for the role and not because of the rolls (get the pun, rolls as in bread, as in carbs). Anyway, here’s the video:

Get Him to the Greek is scheduled to hit theaters in April 2010.

New ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ Featurette

Neil Miller — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:13:42 +0000

Warner Bros. has just hit us up with yet another new look at Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a film that is still months away. And I was going to ignore it, to load the video into our player and save the posting for later — but then I watched this little featurette and it looks really cool. In fact, it dawned on my as I watched it that the effects in these Harry Potter films are generally pretty brilliant. The entire franchise has never gotten more than an apathetic “meh” from me, but as I look back through the list I am compelled to feel more than a little impressed with how good this films have looked. This one is easily the most visually impressive (based on the clips thus far) since Alfonso Cuarón was behind the camera.

Check it out for yourself in the featurette below, followed by the film’s official synopsis.

Official Synopsis:

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information.

Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simmering with jealousy but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

This film has been rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on July 15, 2009.

First Footage from Jonathan Mostow’s ‘Surrogates’

Neil Miller — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:59:22 +0000

One of our favorite readers, PatientZero, has sent us over this brand new featurette for Jonathan Mostow’s upcoming sci-fi film Surrogates starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell and Rosamund Pike. Hitting theaters on September 25, the film will follow the story of two FBI Agents (Willis and Mitchell) who are investigating the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate program that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves. These good looking, physically fit robot surrogates assume their roles in everyday life, enabling people to live vicariously from the comfort of their own home. But as these agents soon find out, this world of humans and non-humans quickly becomes a world of questions.

If you ask me — which you didn’t, but I’m going to tell you anyway — this movie has tons of cool-potential. And with director Jonathan Mostow, we are assured that there will be a bit of action to go along with whatever plot development may exist. In fact, I was just commenting the other day to some friends about how I am still impressed with Mostow’s work on Terminator 3. Sure, the story in that film went way off the deep end, but the action sort of kicked ass, did it not. And from what I hear, The Surrogates is a wicked cool comic series that is ripe for a badass adaptation. This preview only solidifies that sentiment.

Surrogates hits theaters on September 25, 2009. Check out the new featurette below.

First Behind the Scenes Footage from The Expendables

Neil Miller — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:47:24 +0000

For the first time that I can remember, a studio has actually set aside a unit publicist to actively blog and update Twitter from the set of a movie. Of course, it is fitting that publicist Sherly Main is working on the set of one of the most buzzed about (at least online) movies of 2010, Sly Stallone’s The Expendables. For the past few weeks she has been giving us photo and text updates from the set, talking about Sly’s badassery and how Eric Roberts does his own stunts. And now she’s delivered on her promise of “more, more, more” with a video from the set of the film. But first, a little bit of description:

so here’s a little never before seen footage from the set of The Expendables shot in Brazil. I’m headed to NoLa early next week and will be bloggin and tweeting up a storm. I also got a sneak peak at the teaser posters for the Cannes Film Festival which I hope I will be posting in a few weeks. Some behind the scenes photos will also be posted. footage shot by John & Pedro

You can follow her updates on her production blog and on Twitter. You may also check out the video below. The Expendables is scheduled to hit theaters on April 23, 2010.

Watch This: Dan Fogler’s Sam Kinison Screen Test

Neil Miller — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:34:38 +0000

Back in November of ‘08 we reported that Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury) had signed on to play the late Sam Kinison in an upcoming biopic, and now it appears as if the first screen test of Fogler in the role has made its way onto the web. In the clip, the Tony award winning Fogler performs a 4-minute stand up set as Kinison. And while I’m no expert, I will say that Fogler has the Kinison look and for the most part, as the same stage presence. And no offense to Kinison fans who will never, ever be happy — as is the nature of fandom — but this is not an easy role to cast, and Fogler is probably your best choice. As well, I believe that moviegoing audiences are yet to see some real acting from Fogler, who has long been relegated to roles in ’stupid’ comedies like Balls of Fury.

Check out the test footage below, followed by Sam Kinison’s HBO Special hosted by Rodney Dangerfield from 1984. I will let you compare and contrast for yourself and leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

Dan Fogler Screen Test:

The Real Sam Kinison:

Image courtesy of our friends at Bullz-Eye.com and their Stand-Up Comics Hall of Fame

New ‘Fame’ Teaser: There Will Be Dancing!

Neil Miller — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:00:00 +0000

The folks at MGM have revealed a new featurette style teaser trailer for the upcoming remake of Fame, the 1980 musical from director Alan Parker. This time rookie director and You Got Served dancer Kevin Tancharoen is directed a cast filled with limber, nubile young people who will dance out the story of the students of the New York Academy of Performing Arts. Of course, in addition to the artistic goals of the students, they also have to deal with everything else that goes along with high school, a tumultuous time full of schoolwork, deep friendships, budding romance, and self-discovery. And who doesn’t love a little self discovery set to a hip-hop beat.

In the teaser below, you will get an advance look at some of the youngins that make up the cast and some of the behind the scenes work that they’ve been doing throughout the production. They also do their best to explain what the movie is about. I would paraphrase, but I’m not done watching the dancing. It’s very addictive. Check out the very energetic, High School Musical-esque teaser below. I know that some of you may not be into it — but I like dancing, so deal with it. Step Up 2 4eva.

Fame hits theaters on September 25, 2009. Featurette courtesy of Apple.

Michael Bay Commands This Minute of Your Life to Be Awesome

Neil Miller — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:35:05 +0000

“Mr. Bay doesn’t do anything small,” explains Josh Duhamel. Smash cut to explosions, Michael Bay giving the “boom” order and yes friends, more explosions. That is what you are about to behold in the brand new featurette below for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which comes to us courtesy of the folks over at MTV. It may only be a minute long and be robot-free, but the following behind the scenes spot should be enough to raise your pulse just a smidge. Or as my friends who are already standing in line would say, “this is so fucking awesome dude!!”

It is awesome, dudes (and dudettes). And it is ready for your inspection below. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen hits theaters on June 26, 2009. Directed by Michael Bay, it stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson.

Film School Rejects » Behind the Scenes

Avatar Through the Eyes of Stephen Lang

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