CHRIS WEITZ TALKS ‘NEW MOON’ AND REVEALS THAT HE’D REMOVE THE ‘FOREST FROLICKING’ SCENE
Buzz Sugar has a brand new (and amazing!) interview with The Twilight Saga: New Moon movie director Chris Weitz where he talks about all things movie-related. In the new interview, Weitz discusses how excited he is for fans to hear his commentary when the DVD is released, what he thinks about Breaking Dawn being possibly 2 movies (and 3-D), what scenes he loves/hates in New Moon, and much more.
There are lots of different editions of the New Moon DVD. Which bonus features are you particularly excited about?I’m excited that my voice will finally be heard! For me, the fun thing was doing the commentary with Peter Lambert, my editor, because it kind of re-created the atmosphere in the cutting room. Peter’s a really funny guy, and we were able to delve into not only the behind-the-scenes moments, but to explain why certain things were shot or cut together in certain ways. So that, for me, was the most fun.
When you go back and watch it again, are there things you’d like to change if you could?
I would like to never have shot Rob and Kristen running through the forest and Kristen’s just turned into a vampire. Because everybody always laughs and it makes me feel terrible. [Laughs] I would have shot it a different way so it wouldn’t get that response. But otherwise, I’m very happy with things.
You must get lots of questions abut Rob and Kristen. Do you laugh it off or are you totally sick of hearing about it?
I’m somewhat clueless — when you’re the director, you’re kind of like the school principal. Nobody really tells you anything. You really have no idea what’s going on. I’m the last person who would know about this kinda stuff. I’m sure you could get more from reading the paper.
What was your favorite scene to shoot in New Moon?
I’m very fond of the memories that a lot of the scenes invoke in me. My favorite scene is probably somewhere between the very last scene, and the cliffhanger that it’s left on, and the scenes in Italy. Just the experience shooting those scenes was so magnificent. We were in this beautiful hillside town in Tuscany, and going home to fresh-made pasta every night, and surrounded by thousands of fans of the series while we were shooting it. I know I’ll never experience anything like that ever again.
We still don’t know who will be directing Breaking Dawn, but what’s your take on the rumors that it will likely be two movies, possibly in 3D?
3D seems to be the new thing that everything has to be. I think the good thing about 3D is that it can lend tremendous depth to a picture, and really make it extraordinarily lush, visually. And also that it gets people to go out to the theater. Film directors want people to see things in the theater, on the big screen, at least the first time. So that’s a good thing. As for the book being broken up into two films, I think it’s a good idea. There’s so much material in the final book that I think it’s warranted.
How would you direct Breaking Dawn?
Very carefully, because I think that you want to deliver the fans a faithful version of the book that they love. Yes, there’s a lot of extraordinary goings-on. So it’ll have to be done carefully.
How do you think the movie franchise has been affected by using different directors?
I think it’s good for it, because I think there’s a tremendous amount of coherence thanks to a very strong cast, who care about getting their characters right. And I think that the fans’ interested will be un-dimmed, and I think it’s interesting to see the different visual approaches, different stylistic versions, different choices that different filmmakers take.
Are you excited to see Eclipse, or will you inevitably be thinking about how you would have done it differently?
I’m really excited to see it. I’m very excited to see it. I’m sure he’s done a really great job. I think that he’s, amongst other things, a much better action director than I am. So I’m really keen to see the action sequences. I think that there are a lot of things that I would have been very daunted by the prospect of shooting, which he will have taken in stride. I’m excited to see it whenever I can.
I am SO looking forward to hearing Chris’ commentary on the DVD. I’ve never really thought about it until now, but I really look forward to hearing his thoughts on the final version of the film (as it’s playing). What did you think of this interview?
I think the scene he regrets making was misunderstood by a lot of people. Especially those who haven’t read the whole series and don’t realise Bella sometimes pictures herself dressed as a girl from Edward’s time. Seen in that context the vision Alice has of them running through the forest makes more sense. However, I think the costuming of New Moon let the movie down and that does include that scene.
Thank goodness he realized how bad that scene was! The rest of it was GREAT! There was nothing to do but laugh, the outfits, ouch! I would have loved something sparse and intense like showing Edward and Bella embracing, shot from behind Bella so all you see is the back of her head and him lean back and smile his beautiful smile at her and then the shot zoom in on her face and red eyes at she beams back at him. Hopefully he won’t go for that kind of scene ever, ever, ever again!!!!!
I totally understand what he was talking about with the forest scene…I think the people who laughed weren’t really that big into Twilight…they didn’t understand what they were seeing..they maybe didn’t see Bella’s red eyes or her sparkling skin…I thought that scene should be in the movie and that Chris should be proud of it…It’s actually one of my favorite shots of the movie, because it’s so beautiful, and seriously people who laugh at it are just ignorant…they aren’t capable of understanding real art, so they laugh….The reason they were dressed that way, was because that’s how they dressed when Edward was a human…in that time period…
Yeah, everytime I see it I cringe. It was too bad they didn’t have Bella sitting in the sun, looking beautiful and sparkling next to Edward. Thats what I would have done. But what the hell do I know?
I think that I love Chris Weitz. I hadn’t taken note of him before New Moon but I was really touched by the obvious care he took in creating New Moon. I’ve been writing a thank you letter to him in my heart ever since the premiere but I’ve never got it down on paper to send to him. But I love him for giving NM The Movie the humor that exists in the books, for allowing Kristen to finally get Bella right, and for caring more about the fans than the critics. I’m so so grateful. I think he did an amazing job. Also, dang, he’s cute. Here’s some love from one of your new mom fans, Chris. Mwah.
I actually really like that scene! It pissed me off when people laughed at it in the theater. I wanted to be like “shut up!” lol. I think it would have made more sense to people if they had started running at “vampire” speed, and then slowed down to focus on bellas face. It reminded me of them in Breaking Dawn, racing each other after bella is turned…you can notice she cuts in front of him and smirks. Love it!
I love the books and movies but will admit that while I didn’t laugh the first time I saw it, the other 3 times I saw it I laughed after the initial cringe. Probably because I knew when it was coming. Hoping someone would put together some sort of matrix that explains which of the NM dvd’s have what content…
Great interview & I can’t wait to hear the DVD commentary – still sad its not Rob & Kristen but it will be nice to hear Chris’ take on things.
As for that scene I understand what he was trying to do with it but I didnt like it. I will not admit to how often I saw NM in the cinema & it always got a laughing reaction.
Well done to CW, you made my least favourite book into a fantastic movie & I am really looking forward to the dvd. Wish you would come back for Breaking Dawn
Ditto Lizzie I was pissed off too…
If people would have read Breaking Dawn PROPERLY…they would also know that Alice dressed Bella in a dress.. so
yes they were also racing and Bella was faster, Lizzie lets say to THOSE people read the book AGAIN…
I thought it was cute and it makes me smile when I see that scene in New Moon!
That made me feel really awkward. My first thought was: “Oh wow. This is going to make people who already think Twilight is ‘gay’ think it is even worse than they already perceived it to be. V_V” That scene had a LOT of potential. Heck, it would’ve been better if it just showed Alice and Aro looking at each other as he read all her thoughts, and the facial expressions of the others in the room as they wonder (or in Edward’s case, experience) what Alice is showing Aro. *shrug* It could’ve been executed much better.
I, for one, loved the scene when E/B were running in the forest. Maybe it could have been done differently but it was one of my favorite scenes.
I really had no problem with the scene where Edward and Bella were running in the forest. I’ll admit that I had to explain it to my husband in the car on the way home and yes, it was slightly corny but I understand why he added it. CW could have taken it in a different direction but as Lizzie says, I love how Bella was smirking as she cut in front of Edward during the scene! I wish that Chris Weitz would have added a few other scenes that were omitted that may have added to the continuity of the movie but I completely respect his judgement with regards to the flow and timing of the movie. I think CW did an excellent job with New Moon and I hope that he is considered for Breaking Dawn. As for doing Breaking Dawn in 3D, I’m not sure I’d like that but 3D movies usually remind me of cheesy movies that lack in substance and need a gimick to bring the people in.
Ditto Heike and Lizzie:
I don’t get the joke, what makes it so funny??????
I don’t think the clothes are funny or the running is funny.
Like Heike said if people read the books properly why would
you laugh.
CW shot a beautiful looking film.
I HATED that scene it was so cheezy and lame. I can’t even watch it,it’s so bad!
Yeah Bella and Edward running thru the forest made me and my friends laugh and we love Twilight and all the books! It just looked odd to me! The way they were dressed was funny to me and the slow motion! IDK, I just wish we were shown that vision another way. Everything else I loved!
the frolicking scene was hilarious! hahaha. i thought it was like that just because it’s alice’s vision, & she’s very……girly. haha
i was like ROFL!!!
i wish chris weitz would direct breaking dawn….and PLEASE do NOT make breaking dawn 3D!!! that’s RIDICULOUS….. no. dont do it. lol