выражаясь словами Хоботова из Покровских ворот - грубо, но правда!

прекраснейшее интервью Роба Маршалла
ROB MARSHALL DIRECTS “PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES”

Making Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films’ “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” took Rob Marshall and his cast and crew—led by Johnny Depp returning as Captain Jack Sparrow—on a “grand adventure” across the world. It was, says the director, one of the most memorable experiences of his life.

“It was a grand adventure on screen and off,” says Marshall. “Each moment as we were making this film, whether it was in Hawaii or London or wherever we were, I believe everyone felt part of this unique experience.”

Marshall, the highly acclaimed director whose first three films “Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha” and “Nine” have garnered a total of 23 Oscar® nominations, says taking the helm for the fourth film in the hugely successful “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise felt like a perfect fit.

“I’ve always wanted to do a classic adventure film,” he says. “I think some initially thought that it’s a departure from what I do, but for me it’s not really; it’s more of an extension, specifically because ‘action’ in general is a kind of choreography.

“The action in ‘Pirates,’ like dance, is choreographed within an inch of its life. To make action sequences work, they are put together carefully like a detailed mosaic and that’s very similar with dance. The action must contain story and develop character.”

It also represented a golden opportunity to work with Johnny Depp, an actor Marshall has wanted to team up with for years. He wasn’t disappointed. “Many people have said to me over the years ‘you guys would be a great fit, a great match and you would love working with him and he would love working with you.’

“So when I was asked about ‘Pirates,’ the first thing that came to my mind was, ‘What a great opportunity it would be to be able to work with Johnny.’ Johnny is this extraordinary person because not only is he a genius and a creative force, but he is also such a kind, thoughtful and elegant man.

“I really feel that he’s a throwback to another time. The man comes on set and shakes hands with everyone. He takes the time to make sure that everybody on set is happy.

“He has a strong work ethic, but he’s also so much fun; he’s hilarious and we laughed all the time. You know, it’s a grueling schedule we’re on; we were moving quickly and we had an enormous amount to accomplish with huge set-ups, but it was so joyous because of him, I have to say.”

Depp returns as the lovable rogue Captain Jack Sparrow and this time he’s on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth, pursued by an exotic, dangerous band of adversaries, some old—like Barbossa played by Geoffrey Rush—and some new, including the evil Blackbeard (Ian McShane) and his daughter, Angelica (Penélope Cruz).

“There are three different factions that are trying to reach the Fountain of Youth. One is Blackbeard’s crew. Blackbeard and Angelica have taken Jack Sparrow prisoner and they are trying to get to the Fountain first,” explains Marshall.

“They are attempting to beat Barbossa who has now joined the Royal British Navy, and is on a mission to get there too. And thirdly, we have the Spanish monarchy trying to reach the fountain as well.

“So there’s a classic nature to the storytelling—it’s a race for the Fountain of Youth—and everyone has their different reasons and motivations for getting there. The central motor of the film is that race.

“And then of course there are all these twists and turns with all the different characters along the way. I have to say one of my favorite aspects of the story is the simplicity and velocity of the central narrative,” concludes Marshall.

Indeed, story and character development were paramount, says Marshall, who worked closely with writers Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to develop the script. “For me it always begins at the same place—it’s really about story and character,” he says.

“At the beginning of the process it’s all about telling a story that makes sense, that’s intriguing, and that you are engaged in so that you can get on board and take a fantastic ride,” comments Marshall.

Marshall had worked with Penélope Cruz before, on “Nine” in 2009, and they have become close friends. He admits that when he first mentioned the idea to Cruz of taking the role of Angelica in “On Stranger Tides,” he wasn’t sure how the Oscar®-winning actress would react.

“I saw Penélope in that role immediately,” he says. “I couldn’t think of anybody else. It had to be an actress who could go toe-to-toe with Johnny and match him on every level.

“There had to be a sensuality to the character; there had to be humor, strength—a female pirate who is as smart, crafty and as clever as Jack Sparrow. Angelica needed to be all those things and, honestly, Penélope was the only choice.

“I remember asking Penélope when we were in a restaurant in London. John DeLuca, Executive Producer, and I took her to dinner and I didn’t bring it up until the end of the meal and I kept thinking ‘I wonder whether she will be interested…’

“And I tentatively said, ‘Penélope, would you ever be interested in the idea of doing “Pirates”…’ and I didn’t even finish the words. She jumped up—in the restaurant—and screamed, ‘I would love to!’

“You see this with great actors; they want variety in their careers and they don’t want to play the same thing over and over. She was so thrilled, as I was, at the idea of doing a classic pirate adventure, a film that’s for families, as well as everyone else. This was something completely different for her and she embraced it,” says Marshall.

During filming, Cruz became pregnant, which was a “challenge,” says the director. Cruz and her husband, Javier Bardem, are now the proud parents of a baby boy, who was born in January.

“Honestly, it was a challenge, I have to say, because all of a sudden she was showing more each day and we had to work around that,” says Marshall. “But she was worth it; she was worth every second of it.

“It took more time and we had to be smart about how we were shooting her. We filmed a lot of the physical stuff up front, before her pregnancy became obvious.”

Marshall was also thrilled to be working with rock legend Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones guitarist returns for another cameo as Captain Teague. “He is a very sweet man and very funny, very self-deprecating,” says the director.

“After we shot his scene, I said, ‘Keith, that was fantastic. I’m so impressed,’ and he said slyly, ‘You should see my Hamlet.’ It was a joy to work with him because he’s such fun. He’s terrific in the movie and Johnny adores him. They have this amazing chemistry.”

A mammoth 107 day shoot would see the production travel the world—from Hawaii to Puerto Rico, from Los Angeles to London, where the film finally wrapped. In Hawaii, much of the production was filmed on the open water.

“We had two ships that we worked with,” Marshall explains. “One was Blackbeard’s ship, called the ‘Queen Anne’s Revenge.’ It’s an incredibly evil vessel—it’s made of the skulls and bones of Blackbeard’s victims. It’s been prophesied that Blackbeard will die soon, so there is also a sense of doom on the ship. It’s a majestic pirate ship, so it was absolutely thrilling to sail.

“And the other ship is the ‘Providence.’ It is a Royal British Naval ship helmed by Barbossa who is now working for King George of England and is no longer a pirate; he is a privateer.”

Marshall continues, “And then on our way to London we stopped off in Puerto Rico and did a scene on a desert island there. It was this tiny little island where we shot a scene with Johnny and Penélope. It was beautiful, with gorgeous water and incredible heat.”

When Jerry Bruckheimer approached Marshall to direct “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” he was delighted to take the helm, having been a fan of the first three “Pirates” films.

“I had seen all the ‘Pirates’ movies,” he says, “but never in a million years did I think I would be doing one.”

“I love period films; I love classic adventures. I ultimately watch more old films than I watch new films. I find them more inspiring, and this has that classic nature to it. It’s one of the aspects that drew me to it.”

“On Stranger Tides” is filmed entirely in 3D, a format that enhances the experience for the audience, says Marshall, but represented another big challenge for the director and his crew.

“We felt very much like pioneers I have to say, because rarely has a film taken 3D cameras into these remote locations,” he says. “Most 3D filming has been on stages, in front of blue screen or it’s been shot in 2D and then converted into 3D.

“We took these delicate cameras into locations like jungles, beaches, caves, and ships. It was a challenge. We discovered a lot on our feet as we were going.

“It takes more time because of the nature of 3D, but the result was well worth it. When you see it in its final form, you feel very much a part of the adventure; you feel inside the pirate world.

“On Stranger Tides” is a skillful blend of action, humor, romance and, Marshall hopes, a spellbinding adventure for the audience who will see it.

“It really is an amazing experience making one of these films,” he says. “I’ll never forget it.”

Marshall began his career as a theatre director and choreographer, earning six Tony® nominations for his work on Broadway, including “Cabaret,” “Little Me,” “Damn Yankees” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” His films include “Memoirs of a Geisha,” nominated for six Academy Awards® and winner of three, “Chicago”—which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including Best Director, and won six ,including Best Picture—and “Nine,” which was nominated for four Academy Awards.

Q and A follows:

Q: You must be very busy finishing the movie right now. How is it going?

A: It’s our final four weeks, so everything is coming together now. And I have to say, it’s been such a thrill to work on this film. And it’s going really well, thanks.

Q: So you’ve enjoyed it?

A: For me it’s an adventure on screen but it’s been an adventure off screen as well. It really is an amazing experience making one of these films. I’ll never forget it.

Q: In what way was it an adventure?

A: Well, first of all we were in so many different locations. We were in Hawaii, which was a beautiful place to film. We were on both the island of Kauai and Oahu. Kauai is especially tropical because it is filled with amazing jungles and waterfalls and caves. We filmed all over that magnificent island. And then Oahu was where we did most of our work on the water. There’s nothing like taking a ship out and sailing it and filming. It’s a thrilling experience.

Q: How important is the London section of the film?

A: Very. The whole movie opens in London and we were able to take advantage of location work there, and we shot at the historic Pinewood Studios, which I love. We filmed our Fountain of Youth sequence on the 007 stage, one of the largest sound stages in Europe.

Q: Johnny Depp said that you are very much an actor’s director. Is that a priority for you?

A: Working with actors is truly what I most like. I’m very comfortable stepping out from behind the camera.

Q: Tell me a little bit about the Angelica character. Is it true that she has a romantic history with Captain Jack?

A: They’ve had a past for sure and he was also her mentor. He taught her everything she knows, and that’s why she can match him blow for blow. Throughout the film Jack and Angelica are going back and forth, always double-crossing each other—it’s that wonderful, unpredictable kind of relationship, because you never know who to believe.
Their relationship is so much fun, and Johnny and Penélope have extraordinary chemistry together.

Q: Let’s talk about some of the other new cast. You’ve got Ian McShane as the evil Blackbeard. How was he cast?

A: Well, that was a no-brainer. Johnny Depp, Jerry Bruckheimer and I sat down with a large list of actors and when we went through the list and we got to Ian McShane, it was immediately clear that he was Blackbeard. He can play something evil but there’s always humor behind it as well. He just has his own fresh take on things.

Q: You’ve also got a couple of new young actors, Sam Claflin and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey. What was the thinking behind casting those two?

A: That was a real search because we were looking for fresh faces—new, young actors. We looked everywhere. We saw candidates in Europe and in the States, too. It was a long process, involving hundreds of actors. But as it came down to the final few, it became pretty clear who stood out. Sam is a marvelous actor and handsome as well, but he’s also so fully rounded—he has humor, is as charming as can be, and is incredibly physical too; he’s actually a really good football (soccer) player. Astrid is playing a mysterious mermaid in the film and we were looking for someone otherworldly. We saw that immediately in Astrid—she had this ethereal quality. She is incredibly grounded and very true, and so beautiful as well. And when we finally put the two of them together, we knew it was right.

Q: Keith Richards is back as Captain Teague. What was it like working with a rock and roll legend?

A: For me that was such an honor. I mean, you know, there he is, and there’s only one Keith Richards.

Q: You’ve got a big chase sequence through the streets of old London at the start of the film. Was that one of the most difficult sequences to shoot?

A: That was so much fun. We shot most of that in Greenwich, England which was great. What’s nice about that location is that it’s really isolated; you can really shut it down and create a period locale. But I think the most challenging sequence of the film is the mermaid sequence. Blackbeard and his crew venture to this cove called ‘Whitecap Bay,’ where the legendary mermaids live in order to capture a single mermaid. We set it in Hawaii, at this incredible location, called ‘Halona Cove’ in Oahu. It’s the location where Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster kiss and roll in the sand in “From Here to Eternity.” And it’s tiny and very rocky, but very beautiful. So we shot some of the sequence there and then John Myhre and his team recreated the entire cove at Universal Studios in Hollywood because the real cove was too dangerous to enact a water battle. That was complicated and long, all-night shoots, with a lot of stunt work, and a lot of underwater work. All of our characters were in wet suits being thrown around. So that was without a doubt the most complicated sequence and the most challenging.

Q: Did you get seasick filming on the water?

A: I was so lucky. I took a little over-the-counter thing—I don’t even remember what it was called—every morning just to be safe but I never felt anything. I know other people did and we lost a few people here and there, but luckily I have sea legs. Who knew?

Q: Sum up the experience of making this film.

A: It was a grand adventure on screen and off. Each moment as we were doing something you felt part of this amazing experience. I knew how lucky I was to be making something like this. I felt really fortunate and also felt I needed to be smart about it too and do it right—on time and on budget and all those things, which we did. I loved the adventure of it and it still continues to be one until we open on May 20th. It’s been fantastic.

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Дина, спасибо большущее за перевод!
это интервью Роба прекрасно!
столько интересных подробностей и так мило он говорит о Джонни и о Пенелопе.
для Роба эта работа была очень интересным опытом.
помню, как удивленно радовался Роб, когда ему предложили быть режиссером проекта и когда он только-только дал согласие. Он гвоорил, что все решил разговор с Джонни. Мол, Джонни поговорил с ним и он понял - я в проекте.
Роб не первый, кто с удивлением рассказывает о том, как Джонни здоровается с командой. он для каждого находит теплое искреннее слово. его команда - его близкие.
очень приятно было узнать, что Роб во время сьемок фильма все время был вместе со своим партнером Джоном ДеЛюка. Когда людей связывает такая любовь, расстаться как умереть.
И как тепло Роб говорит о беременности Пенелопы. а ведь для него ее увеличивающийся живот был настоящей проблемой и для него в первую очередь. ему пришлось менять график сьемки, привлекать к работе сестру Пен, менять расписание сцен, чтобы успеть отснять Пен, пока ее животик не стал совсем уж большим.
Роб настоящий профи, и теплый, замечательный человек.
честно говоря, меня очень, но приятно(!!!) удивил выбор руководства Диснея, когда Роба утвердили режиссером проекта. Открытый гей снимает супер ожидаемый фильм для семейного просмотра в этой супер-пупер семейной киностудии. Надеюсь, что этот шаг вперед не закончится двумя шагами назад руководства диснеевской киностудии.

Джек давно нашел себя. надеюсь, что с его помощью, и Джонни окончательно обретет самого себя

для нас с мужем разлука в один день - страдания и страстное желание поскорее прилепиться друг к другу.
думаю, что это же чувство испытывают все, кто любит.
именно поэтому, когда любящие люди могут работать вместе, это всегда такой праздник. не расставаться ни на час.