Compiled by: Jack Foley
Q. Now it seems obvious to take a popular Disney theme park
ride and turn it into a romp, but what triggered the idea off
in your head? What made you think this could be a massive movie?
A. You never really know, what the scope is. What excited
me about it, was that when we brought the two Shrek writers in,
they thought of the idea that these pirates could turn into skeletons
at night and cant be killed; so they have to return the
treasure, rather than steal it. Its not about a theme park
ride, it has the title of one, but its a movie in itself.
We have visual references to the ride, but it doesnt go
beyond that. Its got to stand on its own two legs.
Q. The film is subtitled, The Curse of the Black Pearl. How
did you avoid the curse of the pirate movie?
A. I always trust the material and thats the reason
the film is really exciting. I always feel that when pictures
have a long timespan between genres, I think that can be exciting.
We did it with Flashdance, when people said musicals wouldnt
work, and we did it with Top Gun, when they said that aviator
films wouldnt get anybody in. I was told when I made Beverley
Hills Cop that no African American actor could gross over $12
million, when, in fact, it did $234 million, so those kind of
challenges really excite me, because with the right amount of
talent (great writing, great directing and great actors), you
can overcome all of those curses.
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Q. So are there any more genres youd like to conquer?
The Western maybe?
A. Id love to do a Western, and were working on
a number of them, so well figure that out too, I hope.
Q. Now that youve hoisted the Jolly Roger at the top
of the Box Office, how long might we have to make for Pirates
2?
A. Hopefully, not long if we can get everybody back together
again. They key is to get the same team, starting with the writers,
and then Gore and all the actors. Its usually something
thats very hard to put together, because theyre all
very busy. We have a picture coming out next weekend, in America,
you know - Bad Boys 2 - and it
took us seven years to get those three back together again; the
director and the two actors. But it really comes down to material
and having a great idea; if theres a great script, well
figure out how to put it together again.
Q. With all the film and TV work you put together now, how
do you decide how involved you get in each film? I mean, how involved
were you in this film, for instance?
A. Again it comes down to the team you put together. Gore
and I, and the writer, sat down and we decided what kind of movie
we were going to make, and they went off and made that movie;
so its not hard, when you have great people, to do more
than one film at a time. It comes down to delegating authority
and having talented people to do it. Im around, but these
guys are doing the hard work.
I see the rushes every day, and while I couldnt be in the
Caribbean an awful lot, I tried to stop by the set at least two
to three times a week
Once the picture has started, its
Gore who has the headache, so I just try and help him, if he sees
problems.
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