Mr Dark stepped up and told me what is happening to DARK CITY (Now known as DARK EMPIRE) and it looks like a film which from inception was not for all tastes is undergoing a bit of homogenization via Test Screenings. My spies liked it, we'll have to see what they think of the cuts with the reshoots inserted. This doesn't mean the movie will be ruined, perhaps it did go to far, but I loved the script, and have been dying to see this film. It'll be interesting to see what the spies and geeks will think of the post-test screening version.
"Dark City was basically ready to rock and roll before the test screenings. Alex Proyas (director) was very enthused about the cut at that stage...and you see, Alex has had a lot of trouble getting his heart into the business ever since that tragic accident with Brandon a few years back...
...anyhow...when the test screenings were held, the main audience feedback was "Wow! Looks really, really good...but it is really dark and the plot is really hard to follow."
These are not positive responses for a 80 million dollar film, so Keither and William and the other leads were brought back into the LA studios to do some pick up lines and plot explanations to help fix the confusion in the plot. This has taken quite a while in fact, as the other aspect to be fixed up was the darkness of the film.
This involved the re-working of some minature sets of citys (some of the best model building I've seen EVER!) and taking away from the more demonic and un-nerving tone of the film. I know I liked it when it was in there...but it's what the mass market wants...not the perfectionists. Sorry Alex.
Without giving away any spoilers, there is a great scene with Keither crashing a dinner party which has seen the cutting floor, as well as a great scene where those weirdo 'pinhead' wanna-be guys fall (DELETED DUE TO SENSITIVE NATURE)...it looked fabulous once...but now...it is fading due to the un-nerving nature of it all. This film questions the way we should all think and review our lives.
The film is now due to open in January 1998 and features great cameos from Aussie greats!!! This film was filmed at the old showground in Sydney (where Babe II is filming now) and Harry I know you're gonna love it...that is if it ended up anything like it once was...
Oh well...that's showbiz (WAH!)"
