After reading the LA Times interview with DISTRICT 9’s director Neill Blomkamp a thought comes to mind: there’s a man who has his shit together.
GB: What films have you liked recently?
NB: My favorite film of the year was “The Hurt Locker.†I really loved it. I really liked “Inglourious Basterds†a lot. One of my favorites recently was “Let the Right One In.†The way it’s put together. I love that film. The fact that they’re making an American version, that’s part of everything I’ve been saying about Hollywood. Why not just watch the real one? Do we need a remake of that film now? They’re remaking “Oldboy†too. I don’t understand it.
GB: What did the “District 9” experience teach you about casting?
NB: I’m not particularly interested in working with movie stars. It depends on where you come from, I suppose. Why are you making films? The reason I want make films is because they convey ideas. I think some directors make films because they want to hang out with movie stars and be part of Hollywood. They want to be a star themselves. I’m not interested in that at all. I think the reason you use an actor is if they are right for the role. Most of the high-profile stars tend to be good actors. That’s probably what led to their fame. So if they are right for the movie, you can certainly use them. But I don’t want to, not at all. Stardom and Hollywood overpower the ideas and the film. That being said, it’s hard finding very good performers who aren’t well-known.
GB: So it’s not the familiarity of the face that bothers you, it’s the physics of stardom and Hollywood.
NB: Yeah exactly. That’s it. I don’t want egos and personalities on the set that make it more difficult to make the film. I don’t want people who take the focus away from the movie and the ideas behind the movie.
