Writer / Director - DONNIE DARKO, SOUTHLAND TALES, THE BOX / Scientists are saying the future will be far more futuristic than they originally predicted.
We have completed 4K restorations of both the theatrical and Cannes versions. The 158 minute Cannes cut is rough with many unfinished visual effects. It *will* be released for posterity... but my focus has been on preparing the epic Version 3.0 of
#SouthlandTales
.
#SouthlandNow
My *hope* is to direct a new
#SouthlandTales
prequel film using a hybrid of animation and live-action. This new film could be released in tandem with an expanded version of the existing film with significant new content.
#SouthlandNow
THE SHAPE OF WATER: The most ambitious and accomplished film yet from
@RealGDT
, weaving many genres into its own unique vision of underdogs and outsiders confronting conformity and repression.
#SouthlandTales
is a six-chapter saga. The existing film covers the second half. I wrote graphic novels with
@brettweldele
that cover the first three chapters. I have completed an ambitious new script that uses the novels as a blueprint for an ambitious new film.
#SouthlandNow
In the original script... Donnie and Gretchen went to see C.H.U.D. But... a clip from that film was impossible to license for some reason. Sam Raimi and Anchor Bay were generous to give us THE EVIL DEAD clip.
#DonnieDarkoLive
All of the drawings and illustrations in the film are mine. Several of my childhood art pieces hang in the Darko house. My INFANT MEMORY GENERATORS drawing is a huge easter egg...
#DonnieDarkoLive
The evolution of VFX and animation techniques will *hopefully* allow the complete vision of
#SouthlandTales
to see the light of day. The script is ready and the assets secured. Thank you to everyone who has supported this film - it will always be my most beloved.
#SouthlandNow
Late to discover OKJA... and I am completely blown away by the filmmaking and vision on display by Bong Joon-ho... wish I could see this back on the big screen.
The film was shot in 28 days... and the levitating ice cream truck was one additional day of photography that I fought hard to get. Thank you
@Matthew_Rhodes
. It gave Seann the emotional payoff for the end of the film. Pimps Don’t Commit Suicide = the whole film.
#SouthlandNow
The Sparkle Motion costumes - designed by April Ferry - are an homage to Kathleen Turner's prom dress in Francis Ford Coppola's 1986 suburban time travel film... PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED. Francis gave me notes on my script in an early 2000 meeting.
#DonnieDarkoLive
Stay home! Stay safe! Stay sane! Join us for an in depth discussion of the penetrating issues facing society today - as we revisit the
#SouthlandTales
alternate history of 2008!
@MUBI
#SouthlandNow
The Killers sequence with Justin was filmed over four hours during an epic 16 hour day on the Santa Monica pier. We did not yet have the rights to the song, which was one of the most popular hits of 2005. The band was very generous to give us the rights.
#SouthlandNow
“TENDER” by BLUR
Come on come on come on
Get through it
Come on come on come on
Love's the greatest thing
That we have
I'm waiting for that feeling
I'm waiting for that feeling
Waiting for that feeling to come
#SouthlandNow
#SouthlandTales
is in many ways a musical. The Killers dream sequence was the core musical number of the film that informed my decision to make Pilot Abilene the doomsday narrator... since he breaks the fourth wall in the Fluid Karma dream.
#SouthlandNow
Man in the Red Jogging Suit works for a government agency. You will see him again at the end of the film once the dream world has collapsed.
#DonnieDarkoLive
Many people do not recognize
@thatkevinsmith
in this film. He gives an amazing performance... and he shaved his beard so we could apply hours of makeup for the role! He also helped fund and publish the graphic novels with Bob Chapman! Bravo, kind sir!
#SouthlandTales
The score by Moby is the emotional heartbeat of the film. Pop songs by The Pixies, The Killers, Muse, Jane’s Addiction, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Elbow, Blur are also woven deeply into the fabric of the story. We couldn’t have made the film without them.
#SouthlandNow
We shot the Jim Cunningham infomercials during pre-production at Patrick Swayze's ranch home near Calabasas. He wore his real clothes and let us shoot there all day...
#DonnieDarkoLive
I always encourage the actors to bring their character ideas to the table. Seann wanted to shave his hair short, and it was also his idea for Roland to be shot through the left eye like Frank in DONNIE DARKO.
#SouthlandNow
If it happens... the animated portion of the new film would cover the 2008 events over the three days beginning on June 30th, when Boxer Santaros wakes up in the Nevada desert w/ amnesia... and then embarks on a journey through Las Vegas before returning to LA.
#SouthlandNow
We brought Justin back to record new V.O. after Cannes - and I asked him to perform it in a more somber tone like Martin Sheen in APOCALYPSE NOW. But I prefer the more playful tone of his voice over in the Cannes version. Justin was a pro and is a great actor.
#SouthlandNow
The Moby score is the sound of my intent with the film... not to be crass... but mournful. There is so much to mourn now... but there is also hope of recovery.
#SouthlandNow
This is my Philip K. Dick movie. I had Jon Lovitz quote ‘Flow My Tears’ after the murder scene to acknowledge all debt to his work. Lovitz is another SNL hero. He agreed to die his hair blonde to play Bart Bookman.
#SouthlandNow
Benicio Del Toro read an early draft of the script and gave me the idea to research Ralph Meeker for inspiration on the character Boxer Santaros. We walked to a video store together and he made me rent it. Remember video stores?
#SouthlandNow
KISS ME DEADLY quickly became one of my favorite LA Noir films. Many characters in
#SouthlandTales
- Fortunio Balducci, Vaughn Smallhouse, Dr. Soberin Exx - are references to both actors and character names in the 1955 Robert Aldrich film.
#SouthlandNow
SERPENTINE DREAM THEORY is the name of the Dungeons & Dragons inspired wargame at the mysterious heart of this film. Yes, Virgina, there is a D&D subplot in the Cannes cut of this batshit movie. We even had a
@wizards_DnD
advisor on the film.
#Proud
#SouthlandNow
Martin Scorsese's THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST was released on August 12, 1988. The decision to put it on the marquee as a double feature with THE EVIL DEAD was a last minute decision when we were shooting the Aero in Santa Monica.
#DonnieDarkoLive
LADY BIRD is endlessly rewatchable. Gerwig also features the most poignant recurring use of a pop song ('Crash' by Dave Matthews Band) in any movie this year. Hella tight.
PHANTOM THREAD is of course beautiful but also wickedly funny. One of my favorite scenes is Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) throwing a jealous fit to Cyril (Lesley Manville) and his disdain for the word ‘Shiek.’ Also... Vicky Krieps! ❤️
Getting to work with this incredible cast of actors was the thrill of a lifetime. Everyone came to the table and delivered. They all trusted me to take big risks. I wish the movie had been a success back then... but hopefully now people can see their great work.
#SouthlandNow
The live action sections of the new film would bring to life sequences from THE POWER, the bonkers screenplay within-the-film written by Boxer Santaros and Krysta Now. THE POWER takes place in the year 2024 and has significant importance to the story told in 2008.
#SouthlandNow
Dwayne Johnson studied Ralph Meeker in KISS ME DEADLY for the Jericho Cane part of Boxer’s dual personality. Boxer also drives away from the Vaughn Smallhouse mansion in a replica of the 1951 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster driven by Meeker in the 1955 film.
#SouthlandNow