Are you approaching Tekken as you did Tomb Raider in regard to balancing the following of the already established video game mythology to creating a whole new adventure?
We had a similar problem with Tomb Raider. Our vision was quite different then what the director (who basically rewrote everything) had in mind. Angelina’s a fantastic Lara Croft, but the storyline as filmed did not serve her - or the franchise - well, in my opinion. I still weep over how needlessly dull that movie is. Not to say our draft (which we were given one month to write) didn’t need work. But it was more entertaining than what was filmed.
Any recent favorite films?
I love every film Chris Nolan has directed. Batman Begins was mind-blowing. Beautiful, thrilling, emotional on every level. I just saw the teaser for Dark Knight, and believe me, Tan, I am counting the days till that one opens. I also quite liked 3:10 to Yuma (with some quibbles). I also loved Casino Royale. Martin Campbell has brought that franchise back for the second time. I just saw a digital 3D print of John Wayne’s Hondo at the Academy. Wow. I hope that gets an art-house re-release. The technology alone was astounding. And I’m looking forward to Beowulf and the Golden Compass.
Oh, and how could I forget? The LOTR TRILOGY (director's extended cuts). Those 12 hours — if I may count them as one single film — constitute my all-time favorite piece of cinema. What Peter Jackson did should rank among the greatest pieces of visual art of all time — in the Pantheon along with the best of Michelangelo, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ansel Adams.
What are some tips that you could offer any aspiring screenwriters?
Mine your insanity — then make sure to put it down on the page in a coherent form. Picasso was a classic portrait artist before he famously began to break form. Avoid clichés. Always look for a unique way in, through, and out of even the simplest of scenes. Get to know your characters, allow them to speak in their own voices, don’t get down on your process and don’t get down on the process. It’s hard work, get used to it. Even if you’re holding down two jobs — write something every day. Even if you only have 15 minutes. Don’t say “I’ll get to it tomorrow” because tomorrow becomes next week and next month and next year and then your friends will get really sick of you talking about the script you still haven’t finished.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Now I might have to re-watch Face/Off, a movie I hated. The marketing was all about the actors, neither of which I care for. I'll have to follow the writing more closely.
2 - Mary K. Williams
Nice work Tan, what a great opportunity you had here.