Join Now
Be a part of the community.
It's free, join today!
Top Contributors
Alphabetical Article List
Htf Chat John Landau
Home Theater Forum
Subject: Live Chat with producer Jon Landau
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010
(RonEpstein) Good Evening everyone. Really want to thank all of you for taking
the time to be here tonight. My name is Ron Epstein and I am the co-owner of
Home Theater Forum. With me are the other two co-owners, Parker Clack and
Adam Gregorich. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the producer
of both TITANIC and AVATAR. Please welcome Jon Landau to this evening's chat. Hi Jon!
(JonL) Thank you for having me.
(RonEpstein) I think there are many who would love to be sitting where you are today
having produced two of the highest grossing movies in film history. Additionally,
AVATAR Blu-ray and DVD discs have set record sales, selling more than 6.7
million units since going on sale last week. That's quite accomplishment. I think
congratulations are in order.
(RonEpstein) So, let me throw out the first question to you, Mr. Landau. As a
producer could you tell us what your role was bringing AVATAR to the screen?
(JonL) The way I see it some ways is that Jim dreams the dream and then I make
it a reality. I try to be a very hands on producer from the script, the casting,
the production, the editing, the marketing. At times I have to me the devil in
Jim's ear and other times the Angel.
(JordanD) What advice would you give to people wanting to enter the movie business?
(JonL) First, never give up. I learned something from Jim...that in art fear
is not an option, but failure is. It all start with story and character. On our
film we use technology to service the story and not the other way around. So, use
technology, but start first with story. A story that has themes.
(Jonathan) What did you plan to accomplish directing Avatar?
(JonL) I was going leave the directing to Jim...can't compete with him in that
area. But as a producer...it was my goal to first an foremost entertain audiences
from around the world. We have to keep in mind that no longer is the film business
just about North America. It is an International business. As filmmakers we
need to service the broadest possible audience.
(StephenM) What was your favorite part of producing AVATAR?
(JonL) My favorite part was the premiere. We make movies to share them
with people. And the premiere was our first chance to do that. As the audience
watched the film, I watched the audience. To me, they are the true art.
(Michael) First off, It was a fantastic movie. Here's my question -> How
much did it cost to make Avatar? And how long did it take to make?
(JonL) As far as the how much the film cost...It cost just as much for you
to see this film as it cost you to see any other 3D movie. :) But seriously,
we don't talk about the cost of our films. We are the one business in the
world that does not charge more for more. You buy a bigger steak...you pay more.
You get a bigger hotel room..you pay more. Movies are not priced based on what
they cost. As far as how long the film took...Jim wrote the original scriptment
15 years ago. But at the time the technology did not exist to tell the movie
the way it needed to be told. People often times get confused and think the
technology we were waiting for was the 3D...IT WAS NOT! The technology we were
waiting for was the facial performance capture. We knew we wanted to use CG
technology for the Avatar and Na'vi characters. And we knew...that if we wanted
the movie to work, these characters needed to be engaging and emotive. Image
based facial performance capture was the key to that. In 2005, we thought that
if we pushed the technology we could get it to where we needed to be. Fox
supported for a year, while we proved that theory. Then we went into production.
In total it was 4 1/2 years.
(VincentS) How does it feel not winning an 'Academy Award' for 'Best Picture'
after 'Avatar' had wowed so many people and made so much money?
(JonL) We won the vote that really counts...the people. Sure not winning best
picture was a disapointment but that did not take away from the thrill we
felt from the reception the movie received worldwide. The thing that bothers me
the most the night of the Oscars was the fact the some of our technical crew
did not win. For example, our sound editors and sound designers had to create
an auditory world that lived up to the visuals of the film. They could not
just turn to real world explosions or animal sounds. Likewise, what our picture
editors had to do was remarkable. They all deserved to win. It is their
shoulders that Jim and I stand upon.
(Kimberly) What thought came to you to film/write AVATAR in this certain way?
Along with the Characters & theme? BTW great movie.
(JonL) THANX. I think that Avatar is a result of all of our past experiences.
I read a fair amount of science fiction growing up, but Jim read almost everything.
I think it was taking what inspired us from the Egar Rice Burroughs type of
novels and applying that the to the cinematic art form.
(WilliamB) Is it true that Avatar 2 will be dealing with the oceans of Pandora?
And I was also curious if it was true that Avatar will get a theatrical re-release
this summer?
(JonL) In the first Avatar movie we only touch the surface of the planet.
I guess the pun is intended. Jim has always had a fascination with the oceans.
I think it is only natural to want to explore them in the next film. As far as
the theatrical re-release goes...that is something we are working towards.
I cannot tell you how many people I still meet who say they never got to see
the film in the theaters. One person just today told me he watched the Blu-ray
and loved and could not wait to go see it for the first time in the theater.
(Paul) Hey man i loved the movie, so i read in an article that you borrowed
the dragon gunship from the videogame concept art. is this true and what else?
(JonL) Not true. We had a very collaborative relationship with Ubisoft. In
fact there were things they needed designed for the game that did not exist
in the movie and...we said to them, "if you need something designed, let us
use our designers to design it" This happened with the Grinder ATV and several
other vehicles. We then used these assets in the film in the back ground of
the scenes at Hells Gate.
[Note: You can see the dragon gunship here:
(Johnny) Are you planning on doing a 4D version of Avatar 2/3 like what
Jim developed for Terminator in the Universal Studio many years ago? It is
fantastic and seems like a future trend after you tackled global 3D, so
should you guys start developing 4D to stimulate even higher box office?
(JonL) Well, if you were in Korea you could have watched the first movie
in 4D. After the initial success of the film...Korean theater owners asked us
if we would release the film in 4D. This included motion seats, wind effects etc.
Geoff Burdick from Lightstorm went over to Korea to approve the use of the 4D.
He was surprisingly impressed. So I would not be surprised if we looked into
use it in a broader scale in the future.
(ColinF) First off, congratulations on Avatar, such an incredible and amazing
movie. Question: How would you describe your experience while filming Avatar?
(JonL) Other than exhausting. :) It was the experience of a lifetime.
As I producer, I got to be involved in areas that I never had before...
toy licensing...promotional partnerships...international marketing. We started
approaching partners 4 years before the film came out. I traveled around
the world...Russia, China, Germany, France, Brazil, Mexico, Singapore, Japan,
New Zealand, Canada, Holland, Spain, Israell, Australia and more.
(TaylorR) Is there anything you would have liked to change, or improve upon
in Avatar? If so, will we see those changes in the next film?
(JonL) Faster, Cheaper. We accomplished everything we set out to do
creatively on the first film. But on the first film we had a huge learning
curve. We were going down a path that no one had gone down before. There were
times on the show where we did things for the first time and we had to stop...
stop to figure out what to call what we just did so that we could do it again
in the future. We had to put $ into the infrastructure of the pipeline and
the world of Pandora. But now the pipeline exists as do many of the digital
assets we would want to use in sequel.
(Jeefff) Amazing movie, just saw it again at the MOSI--IMAX Dome in Tampa,FL.
Does Avatar have a message or just pure entertainment? Thank you for this movie.
(JonL) I think the movie has themes but not messages. Themes about opening
our eyes. Seeing the world around us. Seeing people that we might not otherwise
have noticed. Themes suggesting that if there can be a hero inside of Jake Sully,
there can be a hero inside of any one of us. The move gives no facts. It does
not preach. But if people can after being entertained by the movie realize
that unless we do something about, we will end of destroying this amazing
planet we living on... that would be good.
(OmarBrown) Hello Mr. Landau, thanks for chatting with us! Have any more
filmmakers expressed interest in using the "emotion capture" you folks developed?
I know Spielberg is using it for Tin Tin, anyone else?
(JonL) Yes. Shawn Levy is using it on his current project. In fact he has
many of our crew working on Real Steel right now. Performance capture is not
right for every film. If you have a human character on a film...shoot them live.
Performance capture should be thought of as the prosthetics of the 21st Century.
It should allow actors to play rolls they could not otherwise play. It is funny,
initially many actors thought that performance capture was a threat to their
craft. However, they are now coming to learn that it is something that in fact
allows them to play rolls they would not otherwise be able to play.
(JesseK) Hi Jon! Avatar is really an aesthetic piece of work. My question is:
I am citing a website saying James Cameron was going to take a break from the
film industry to make a book on Avatar before working on Avatar 2. Is that true?
Also, do you know or could you guess when the production of Avatar 2 will begin?
Thank you for such an inspiring and motivational film.
(JonL) Again...thank YOU. Jim is going to write a novel based on the first film.
The novel will give him the opportunity to go into more depth with the characters,
the backstories and the world. The novel will serve as the foundation from which
the second movie is built. I think it is a great first step in getting us there.
As for the timing...we are ready to go...We just need to get Fox to engage in
conversations about making it happen.
(TaylorG) I loved the movie I always get into the feeling of being a Na'vi when
I watch it! Question: May you tell me what the next movie is to be based on such
as the setting or a bit of the plot?
(JonL) Can't really do that now. NO SPOILERS ALLOWED. :) But what I can promise,
is just like Jim has proven on the two sequels he has made, we will only do it if
we believe the new film can be as good as the first.
(AnthonyC) I heard that James Cameron was once a truck driver before really getting
into movies via a biography that was recently written about him. I guess my question
is....as a producer what sorts of things would you look for in a person who is trying
to get their ideas out for possible films? What types of things should they try?
(JonL) I guess the first thing would be character/honesty. I want to be in business
with people I can call friends. Making a movie is not easy (No matter what the
budget is). If you are going to go through what it takes to make a film, you better
do it with people you like.
(CarlT) First off, i want to thank you for your warmth and compassion and taking
the time to speak with all of us. does the success of avatar have any correlation
to your frequent visits to sushi zo, even though asanebo is right down the street?
(JonL) This must be Sam Sugarman. Sam went to high school with my son Jamie and
he is ALWAYS looking for a free sushi dinner.
(KatK) Okay, first of all: I'd like to thank you for helping to make this wonderful,
ambitious movie a reality. Now, my question is...I've heard that there will be new,
extended scenes in the Avatar re-release in the summer/fall. Any ideas/hints as to
what we can look forward to (Without giving us spoilers, of course. :P) ? Also...
what new technology do you think Jim will have for the next sequel? How is he going
to top the success that is 'Avatar'? Thank you so much for your time!
(JonL) I think you will see scenes that do delve deeper into the characters back
stories. I think you will see the expose people to a little bit more of the world
of Pandora. I think you will see new moments of action.
(JordanD) Thanks Mr. Landau for answering my last question. Question: It is my
biggest dream to be a movie director when I grow up. For school could I shadow you
or someone associated with film. It would be the greatest? Im a freshman in high school.
Thanks again and congratulations on the film.
(JonL) Where do you go to high school?
(JordanD) Hempfield High School
(JonL) We can only take interns if they receive college credit.
(JordanD) Ok, I will look into that
(JonL) So maybe contact us in four more years. But good luck with everything.
(ParkerClack) I was wondering how the production of Fantastic Voyage is going?
(JonL) We aren't in production yet. We are trying to set a director on the film.
We have been in conversations with Paul Greengrass but nothing has been concluded.
Shane Salerno has delivered us a great script and we look forward to moving forward soon.
(GeorgeB) First I would like to say Oel ngati kameie, ulte ngaru seiyi irayo
(I see you and thank you) for creating such an amazing movie and taking the time
to speak with us. My question is, Did you expect Avatar to perform as well as it did?
(JonL) NO!!! I always expected the movie would be successful but never like this.
I thought that in a best case we would be Pirates of the Caribbean or LOTR. Never
thought we would come close to TITANIC let alone surpass it. Hopefully what the success
of the movie will illustrate is the potential of the cinema going experience.
(Evan) Describe the atmosphere & environment like on the set of Avatar. How bad
was the pressure b/c of the budget, size, etc? And is Cameron as hard to work with
as I've heard? btw, you have the best job in the world!
(JonL) I agree about the best job in the world. Jim is hard to work with but I
would not have it any other way. Jim asks a lot of people...but he never expects
more of others than he expects of himself. That is the sign of a good leader.
There of course was pressure throughout the film. But the greatest pressure for
both Jim and I is self-imposed. We cannot let the outside factors affect us. We
have to keep our eye on the ball....THE MOVIE. We can only worry about the things
we can control. We make compromises all the time...but what Jim is great at doing
is never allowing those compromises to compromise the movie itself.
(Eric) In the film, is the Earth really dying? If yes, then RDA may have somewhat
noble intentions on Pandora. Will this be described in the sequel?
(JonL) I think these are issues that Jim will first address in the novel. As far
as noble intentions goes, just as it is in real day life, no matter how noble your
intentions are, if you actions are not noble...then the intentions are meaningless.
(PeterM) Hi Jon, Congrats on all the success, you guys deserve it all... couple
of quick ?'s -- Seen any new talents out there lately that you've been impressed
by? Sam worthington was a great find...what makes a great director? ... what movies
have you seen lately? thanks!
(JonL) Chloe Grace Moretz was great in KICK ASS. Can't leave out a young actor
named Zander Eckhouse. As for the director question...What makes a great director
is that they never lose sight of story and character. That they are open for
collaboration with their cast and crew.
(Anne_H) My thanks to the entire creative team ...Avatar really is my favorite
all time creation in the history of movies.....now,,.are you aware of the spiritual
phenomenon that it has created? and....for me, the movie was too real, I truly
believe that Pandora exist and I want to reincarnate there. I was so lonely for
the place I saw the movie four times in row!!!! I just feel the imagination can
be a portal,,,,, So my question is, was this story just a accumulation of random
tugs at heart strings and far out ideas, or some sort of a divine vision?
(JonL) Not a divine vision, but instead a well thought out narrative and world.
We were lucky enough to have some of the best artists in the world working on the
film. That continually brought us ideas that were inspiring. They often times
delved deeper into the foundation of the designs than we ever asked. Their
commitment and passion comes through in the things you are responding to.
(JustinC) Firstly, Avatar is certainly the finest movie ever crafted. I really
enjoy movies where the creators take the time to create an entire world and
culture. You guys certainly outdid yourselves with the creation of the Na’vi,
their language, and the flora and fauna of Pandora. How big of a challenge was
this and what were your influences? What is your favorite aspect of Pandora?
(JonL) It was a big challenge. Things such as creating the language which
I initially thought would be as easy as out giving Paul Frommer a word and he
would simply make up a Na'vi word..WRONG!!! Paul took six months just to figure
out the structure of the language. Our influencesces for much of the Pandora can
be found right here on Earth. Often times we would take things that mother
nature created and play them out of context in the movie. If you have ever
been scuba diving at night you might have seen bioluminescent creatures. We took
that undersea concept and played it above ground. We took the vibrant colors
found on poisonous dart frogs of the Amazon and place them on creature 1000
times their size. etc. etc.
(JustinE) How versed are you and other crew members in the Na'vi Language?
(JonL) Personally, I have enough trouble with English, so I am not that well
versed at all. Carla Meyer our dialect couch was very well versed in the language.
As was Juleen Renee a member of our troupe. Jim also picked up quite bit of the
language.
(MikeR) Oel ngati kameie, i loved the movie, were you surprised by the way
the movie had effected so many people, also anyway i could get an autograph? :)
(JonL) That the movie effected people...no I was not surprised. That it
effected SO MANY people, yes I was surprised. As for the autograph, send request
to Lightstorm Entertainment in Santa Monica and we will see what we can do.
(TorukM) First off, irayo. Movie rocks... I, like Jake, am a former Marine
as well and I will tell you this, I would have taken the exact same path
that Jake did. Simple fact is, no matter how long we as a species 'survives'
into the future we will always be capable of destroying such a wonder as
Hometree... that being said. Will Neytiri be granted a new ikran in the sequel?
(JonL) Flying is a big part of the Na'vi culture. We only said that a
banshee will only bond with one warrior. Not the other way around. So...
(Justin) Hey Jon, thanks for taking the time. For the past few years I had lost
touch with my artistic ability to create short and interesting videos. Seeing
Avatar rekindled my love for movie making. Specifically, seeing not well known
actors like Sam and Zoe really helped me to beleive that anything is possible.
Thus, after I graduate college I really want to give it a shot in Hollywood.
I have great repsect for you and Jim and all of the work that you two have
accomplished. Do you think that you could share a little bit of insight of
what it takes for aspiring artists in Hollywood, specifically movie makers,
to get themselves noticed? For many it seems like Hollywood is a special
club that only a select few get in.
(JonL) First...if there is a special club in Hollywood, I am outside of it.
Neither Jim nor I ever travel in the Hollywood scene. What I would say is don't
rush things. Find something you can be passionate about then make it happen.
It can be small. But it will be a step. I always tell people in the film
industry it is the project you are working in now that will lead you to your
next gig.
(Edwin-S) I would like to find out if you and James Cameron are still
involved with Battle Angel? Is he set to direct? How is it progressing? Thank
you and keep up the good work.
(JonL) We are. And we are very excited about it. Jim worked with Laeta
Kalogridis on the script and it is great. Jim still wants to direct it. We
just have to see where it fits best into the upcoming time line.
(CalebR) First off, congratulations on producing the highest grossing film of
all time.
(JonL) Highest two films. :)
(CalebR) My question is, do you intend to release the full musical score of
Avatar, for sale to the public? As I am aware there is only one promo copy
that allegedly sold for $3,016. And if you do plan to release the full score,
do you have an idea of when?
(JonL) You know, that is a question I do not know the answer too. Let me
try to find out and I will let the people at the Home Theater Forum know.
(RonEpstein) Regarding the Avatar Special Edition Blu-ray. What can you
tell all of us about it?
(JonL) The current plan is that it will be a four disc set...it will included
deleted scenes...a long-form documentary...a detailed behind the scene look at
the visual effects...branching to various layers of fx work...commentaries etc.
(RonEpstein) Jon, final question. What kind of Home Theater do you have?
(JonL) I have a Panasonic HD projector on a 12 foot wide screen. I am waiting
for Reel D to come out with a way to project 3D on it. :)
(RonEpstein) Adam, Parker and I would like to thank Jon Landau for taking
the time to join us this evening -- and for all of the chat attendees who
asked some great questions.
(JonL) THANK YOU!
(ParkerClack) Thank you for being here with what has to be a very busy schedule.
Copyright 2000-2010 Home Theater Forum. Reader may not modify, publish, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale or in any way exploit any of the content of transcript, in whole or in part, without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder.
Comments (0)