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Interview with Vincenzo Natali
director
of Cube, Cypher & Nothing
I’d like to thank you for having taken the time to answer these questions
for the loyal Cube fans out there. Some of these questions are some that the
fans wanted me to ask you, so this interview should represent the general
interest.
You once mentioned that Cube was the first part of a sort of trilogy of
people trapped in alien places. “Nothing” came next. Whereas Cube was about
being trapped in a very small place, Nothing is quite the opposite. But
besides being two “trapped in hell”
kind of films, are there any
other similarities?
First of all,
they both star David Hewlett and Andrew Miller. Two fine young actors who
happen to be life long friends. I don't think either movie could exist
without them; they really made an essential contribution to the conception
of those stories. As well, I think of "Nothing" as a kind of sister film of
"Cube" -- a very silly, rambunctious sibling. Where "Cube" is founded in a
world of logic and mathematics, "Nothing" is set in a world of absurdity and
whimsy. But the films are similar on a dramatic level because they are
dealing with the human dynamics of people trapped in an inexplicable
situation -- in one case the results are horrific, in the other they're
comic.
Nothing was an incredible movie. It must’ve had a huge visual effects
budget also. How long did it take you to shoot it?
In keeping with the title, "Nothing" is a very low
budgeted film. We actually had a miniscule effects budget. It's all thanks
to the geniuses as Core digital effects (in particular Bob Munroe and Brett
Culp) that it was possible. We had a twenty-eight day shooting schedule.
What was the best and the worst part of the shooting?
The best part of shooting was the opportunity to
work with David and Andrew and with the same essential crew that I have been
shooting with since "Cube". They are an exceptional group of people, who are
a lot of fun to work with. It was a really friendly and happy set -- I hope
that comes across in the finished film. The worst part of the shoot was that
truly, I didn't want it to end.
You
worked with Martin Roach, who’s also in Cube Zero, for a short while, while
shooting Nothing. How was he like to work with?
I had no idea that Martin was in Cube Zero -- that's
great! Martin has very brief but funny cameo in "Nothing" as a cynical
co-worker to David Hewlett's character. He utters one line, but it
invariably gets a laugh. I remember during production, he had to wait around
the entire day to say one word -- I felt a little guilty about that. The
fact that Martin is in both films isn't surprising. Toronto (where both
films were shot) is a small town and the best talent tends to appear in a
lot of different productions.
When can we expect to see Nothing released internationally?
Like "Cube", "Nothing" is going to seep slowly out
into the world -- like a bad infection. First up is a Canadian release --
July 23rd and then France and Japan in 2005. We're still waiting on the US.
How is Echo Beach coming along and what will it be about?
"Echo Beach" is an idea that I have been working on
for a number of years. Unfortunately, I would rather not say too much about
it at this early stage except that takes the minimalist, sci-fi of "Cube"
and "Nothing" a little further. This time, there is only one actor in the
entire movie.
You’re running your own production company, Headspace Films. What kind of
films can we expect to see from there?
Headspace is really just 'my' space at the moment.
It's very egocentric -- just me and a room. But my hope is to one day
produce other people's work as well. First, I need that ever-elusive box
office smash.
You are currently in pre-production on the thriller
Necropolis, a ghost story written by the director of Resident Evil and Alien
vs. Predator, Paul W.S. Anderson. Have you got more info on that project?
Paul conceived of "Necropolis" as the first part in
a trilogy of ghost stories which occur over one given night in Chicago. The
first one, which I'm working on is a kind of 'biological' ghost story that
takes place in a hospital. Like "Echo Beach", "Necropolis" is at a very
early stage. I won't begin working on it until Paul is free from AVP.
Recently, Cypher (aka Company Man) has been released all
over the world. It stars Jeremy Northam and Lucy Liu. These two are probably
the most well-known actors you’ve ever worked with. How was it like?
It was really just like working with Andrew and
David, with the small difference being that Lucy is a gorgeous woman! Both
Lucy and Jeremy are very down-to-earth, humble and sweet. I felt totally
comfortable with them. ...And most importantly, they gave me two superb
performances.
What has been the most horrible thing you’ve ever experienced during a
film shooting?
While shooting "Cube", the set nearly collapsed on
me. That was a little unnerving.
When was the last time you saw Cube?
I honestly can't remember.
Were you ever considering calling the film something else?
No, I had the title the instant after I thought of
the idea. It was pretty obvious.
The rooms in Cube were marked by three three-digit
numbers. You developed this system together with David Pravica,
but were
some numbers used intentionally? We come upon the numbers ‘666’ and ‘911’ in
the movie. Any reason for that?
No, I resisted using those numbers, but that was
really where the characters were in the cube.
I heard you shot an alternate ending for Cube? Is there any way you can
tell us a little about that?
No one is supposed to know this, but I did shoot a
short epilogue to "Cube". But I will never reveal what it was. The film has
been destroyed.
You said that there was supposed to be six different
colours for the rooms in Cube, but you could only afford five. What colour was
supposed to be the sixth?
I'm afraid, I don't remember. I would love to see a
nice shade of purple in there, though.
What did you guys do to the props and set parts after you
had finished shooting the film? You kept Alderson’s head, but then gave it
to Cronenberg. Do you know if he still has it?
In my fantasy world, David Cronenberg has Alderson's
head mounted above his fireplace. I have kept a few bits and pieces of the
cube. I have Worth's jacket with a nice blood stain on over his name tag.
What part of Cube are you most proud of?
I'm proud of the spirit of the movie, which never
wavered from my original intention. I think it is a totally uncompromising
in its ambiguity and starkness.
By the time you finished Cube, did you have any idea there was going to
be a sequel?
Never in a million years did I think there would be
a sequel. I thought maybe someone would try to remake it with Bruce Willis,
or someone like that. My co-writer Andre Bijelic and I have always harboured
a secret desire to see the cube blow up ...which is inevitably what would
happen at the climax of the big budget version.
Were you in
any way in touch with the cast and crew of Hypercube while it was in
production?
Only Kari Matchett who was working on "Cypher" at
the time.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever heard people say about you?
That I'm good at math.
So far, David Hewlett has starred in all of your films.
Elevated, Cube, Cypher and Nothing. Could you ever imagine making a film without David?
No. David and I have been shooting films together
since we were fifteen. It would be hard for me to do a film without him.
Do you think you’ll ever be known as Vincenzo Natali and
not just “The guy who made Cube”?
I'm working on "The guy who made Nothing" right now.
If you were offered the chance to direct a 4th Cube movie and the right
screenplay was there, would you ever consider to take on that challenge?
Believe me, after you have made one film in a cube,
the romance wears off pretty quick. As a movie-goer and a movie-maker I'm a
big fan of experimenting and exploring new worlds. If I could do both those
things in a "Cube" sequel, I might consider it, but I think Lion's Gate
didn't really want to think outside the box, so to speak.
Any news on the, perhaps, upcoming Cube TV-series?
I was flirting with the Sci-Fi channel to do a
series and I had a concept which would have expanded the mythology of the
cube maze to fit that medium. Unfortunately, they weren't willing to commit
to a full series, only to a two hour pilot and that smelled suspiciously
like "Cube 4" to me. I was only interested in the idea as an on-going,
episodic narrative with a lot of different characters and story lines. But
who knows maybe it will be resurrected one day. Right now there is
discussion of a "Cube" video game, which I am very excited about.
You’ve been writer, you’ve directed, you’ve made storyboards. Any other
things you’ve done or might want to do in the future?
When I'm old and senile, I would like to draw comic
books.
Are you thinking about writing a new screenplay?
I'm working on many different screenplays at the
moment. Some I'm writing, some are being written in collaboration with or by
other writers. I'm trying very hard to be prolific.
Do you ever stop by to see what’s going on at Uncubed.com?
I love Uncubed. My "Cube" hat goes off to you and
your fine webmanship, Lennie.
That’s all from me. Thank you so much for having taken part in this
interview. It’s been a pleasure.
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