So no real vacation for you, just right into the next thing?
No vacation. No way.
Also, another project to which you’ve been attached is Rainbow Six. Do you see that in the future?
Yeah, you know Kurt and I wrote a draft of Rainbox Six, a version of it. And Paramount has it, and I don’t think they are going to do anything with it right now. For whatever reason Clancy has gone to the back burner for them. So yeah, I’m all Watchmen right now.
Now, with 300 do you think that you’ve set a standard for your films going forward? Does your next film have to be as visually impressive or can you change gears?
I would hope that my… what do you call it? I guess I would hope that my aesthetic is consistent. I don’t know about more spectacular, but certainly more specific. And I would hope that every shot is good. That even if I’m shooting a shot in the city that its as cool as a shot I did in Thermopelae. I like that kind of thing, so I’m attracted to it.
Now what else should people know about 300 that they haven’t gotten yet through the trailer, or the marketing campaign?
The important thing is that it’s a fun movie experience, you know. Whatever people want to say about it — it’s a sword and sandals epic, it’s a war movie — all that stuff. The truth is that in the end I really just wanted to make a movie that is a ride. And it's awesome when you walk out of it, and it’s satisfying and you saw something that you haven’t seen.
Was it as much a ride to make it as it will be for everyone who sees it?
Absolutely, it was. Especially the shooting. It was a grueling, non-stop freakout, you know. Every day you’d get there and work all day, you’d go home, go to sleep and wake up and go right back and do it again. No rest, no fuckin’ downtime. Just fuckin’ hardcore all the way.
What was your biggest challenge during the shoot?
I think that the physicality was the hardest thing. You know, we were all playing hurt, but we were all happy to do it. Around here it was like football season because we were all broken and just trying to hang in there.
You mentioned how Frank was impressed by the film. What kind of involvement did he have with the production?
Article comments
1 - Kaonashi
This film looks all sorts of bad ass. It's also the most beautiful film I've ever seen (at least, looking at the trailers). I can't wait for March 9!
2 - El Bicho
good interview; thanks for the mention.
3 - Concrete Block 15
DOUG HUTCHISON *IS* RORSCHACH!
People must be told. Never compromise.
4 - Mike
The film got a Standing Ovation at the sold out World Premiere at the Berlin Film Fest. 1700 seat house with lots of cheers and applause during the film. Cool, huh?
5 - Camran
Xerxes- Persian Xashayar Shah- was one of the greatest Shah of Iran-where Greeks would translate Persia. He was Shah (king) of many countries include Egypt and Babylon and today's Turkey. In Ezra you can read more about him. He had a Jew wife; Esther. Later he was killed by his prime minster (Vazir). I don't think his defeat means that he was a savage person. Rodrigo who carries Egyptian jewellery on himself has not any similarity with Xashayar (Xerxes)even; the kings of Iran would never stand naked!! Check his picture
In the last 1400 years Iran suffered religious pressure from outside and then inside! Now by forging history in the shape of Alexander or 300 you're just adding to our bad fortune. We know our history Mr. Snyder and had been long the only competitors in science and technology with Greeks and later Romans.I would kindly suggest you to look at history and do not prejudice and do not put your political hate into your work. You better leave the historical feeling of Greeks and Persians for themselves.
Regards, Camran
6 - Jim Patterson
300 was probabely the greatest distortion of the known history. I had no idea that in our day and age where people can read about the historical facts easily from their computers someone would even attempt to make a movie like this. He could at least be a little bit more realistic. Originality and reality aside, i guess the movie was a good entertainment for teenagers.
7 - Rizvi
Great Movie with an Evil motive.
It’s all about the number... the entire Europe & America is sensitive towards the 6 million numbers and the Holocaust. No-one is allowed to disagree with it but the same sensitive civilization has given full freedom to Zack Snyder to distort the history to suite his plot.
Rambo was prelude to the attack on Afghanistan... 300 is the plot to justify the future attack on Iran.
8 - Rizvi
Great Movie with an Evil motive.
It’s all about the number... the entire Europe & America is sensitive towards the 6 million numbers and the Holocaust. No-one is allowed to disagree with it but the same sensitive civilization has given full freedom to Zack Snyder to distort the history to suite his plot.
Rambo was prelude to the attack on Afghanistan... 300 is the plot to justify the future attack on Iran.
9 - Sepideh
Well..By the look of it, sorry but it is complete rubish..
Thanx for all the effor to make this movie..but why didn't u put this effort to make movie which contains reality rather than a bunch of rubbish...
Persians have had slaves from greece to build their cities ...So how can they loss to 300!!!....
OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK AT THE REALITY!!!
10 - Cedsnyder
Dear Foreign Friends, This is a movie to be enjoyed & obviously a lot of people did!!!!...$700M gross on a $63M operating budget..Get it?...I honestly believe you would have invested in it if you knew the Financial outcome!!!! There was nothing immoral or subversive in this movie at all!! No one came out hating the Persians or the Spartans!..It was just an enjoyable,excellent film.....Best, Ed