Hey folks, Harry here with an interview that Koola the Norwegian conducted with Erik Skjoldbjærg, who made the original brilliant film INSOMNIA, which is soon to be remade... as well as the upcoming PROZAC NATION which will be coming out the week after SPIDER-MAN... at long last. You'll get the details as to why this took so long right in this wonderful little interview. Enjoy!!!
Hi Harry,
So here comes the interview with Norwegian filmdirector Erik Skjoldbjærg. It was printed in the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang (VG), 3rd of January. The newspaper is found here: VG.NO.
My translation may be a bit foul-written, but it contains quite a lot of info regarding his views upon the upcoming INSOMNIA-remake, and a lot about what's happening with PROZAC NATION. Great guy, with a future to look upon with great expetations.
Still on the cinematic drug known as Fellowship of the Ring;
Koola the Norwegian
Here's the interview:
Erik Skjoldbjærg's big year!
2002 isn't like every regular year for Erik Skjoldbjærg.
On the 10th of May the Norwegian director's first American film, PROZAC NATION, opens wide in USA. The best-selling novel has been transferred to film with Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, Jessica Lange, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Anne Heche as the cast. With him, Skjoldbjærg has Erling Thurmann- Andersen as the cinematographer.
Two weeks later the remake of ES's INSOMNIA (from 1997) opens directed by Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO) and with Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank in front of the camera. This directing-job was quite simply turned down by Skjoldbjærg.
-Relaxed
- "I didn't want to make the same film twice", he says. By that he sort of accepted the result of the remake. "In the moment I turned it down, I realized that they were gonna make something different out of it. I have a completely relaxed opinion to that now. But it might get weird to see it again", he admits.
In these days he himself is occupied with finishing his PROZAC NATION in the "filmpark" at Jar, Norway, where the finishing touch is being laid. But only after the American producers inspected, and gladly approved, the standard at Jar.
Soundediting was finished before Christmas, now remains new light-layers, after the unfinished version was shown for sale at the Toronto Film Festival in September. With great luck. The film has been secured distribution in USA, England and Italy. But not yet here in Norway. Meanwhile the impatience of the crowd grows. Especially in Tromsø (the directors hometown), where the executives of the city's well known exotic film festival "15.-20. January" really would've liked a juicy, international premiere. With a film "made in Hollywood" by a man "made in Tromsø". The director himself says that would be cool.
- "For a long time I've had a secret plan to show it in Tromsø, in some way. But now the time works against us", he says. The strategy of distribution and release is not in his hands, but with the main-producer NU Image and Miramax in Los Angeles, who have have planned the common test screenings by the end of January.
- Delays are usually taken as a sign of problems. And PROZAC NATION was shot already in 2000. What are the problems?
-"There are no problems. In February this year it's only two years since I even bumped into this production, and that's not a long time in filmbusiness. What made the delays were certain practical difficulties with gathering all the actors for three extra days of shooting. We had only 35 days for the whole shoot. Extra shooting-days was a part of the deal. But because they were all bound to new projects, we couldn't practically shoot again until May 2001. That delayed us 6 months comparing to the original schedule. And when there's‚ a delay in the first place, a whole in-put slowness lies in the American productionsystem which leads to new delays", says Skjoldbjærg.
-Ricci's choice
It was Christina Ricci who chose ES as a result of the much-talked-about success that INSOMNIA had in USA. She had a meeting with him, and so Ricci became the first person involved, both in the role as the chaotic, severely neurotic young student from Wurtzels novel - and as a co-producer with her own company. Skjoldbjærg himself believes her interest with him had to do with his adjustment to the unbelievably huge theme of the film: A clever young woman, on her way to adulthood, who moves into a series of depressions, happy-drugs, studies and chaotic relationships. While many aspiring directing-candidates had strong opinions about the theme, Skjoldbjærg arrived only smack full of curiosity.
- "When I'm entering a filmproject that takes two years of my life it has to be something there for me to explore. Something I exactly DON'T have any relation to, and which therefore tease my curiosity - and can keep it", he says simply.
Nude Scene
Ricci has later priced the calm Tromsø-man with big words, and she showed him her trust by breaking her own contracted reservations - and agreed on her first ever nude-scene. "I suggested that we added an opening scene where she sits naked - like the cover on Wurtzels book. I just gave it to her as a suggestion, and told her to think about it. But she liked the visuals, and the idea itself. She was much worse "naked" in other ways during this movie. Mentally she went to the basement each day. That's a much bigger thing to handle for an actress."
It was Skjoldbjærg himself that chose Lange, Heche, Rhys-Meyers and - not at least - the unbelievable "AMERICAN PIE" -dork Jason Biggs. He discovered fast that stars was easy to attach to a non-glamorous story as PROZAC. The comedy-actors often need something like this to prove something for cynic nitpickers, typecasting - and also themselves.
What Skjoldbjærg himself wants to prove is that he can make films with individuality. That's why he put on a filter, and dared to say no to something like the INSOMNIA-remake.
- "Luckily, I'm quite stubborn. It helps, I guess. Americans are really open for new ideas and thoughts, and most likely they would've been concerned if I had none. But the machinery there is enormous."
So presumably it takes a certain amount of wickedness and naivity there too.
