In anticipation of the July 12 release of "Pacific Rim," director Guillermo del Toro spoke with Latinos Post's David Salazar on Wednesday, July 10 about his current film and upcoming projects.
The film, which showcases an apocalyptic battle between alien monsters and giant human-made robots, marks the first time in five years that del Toro releases a film that he directed. The auteur's last directorial effort was 2008's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." When asked if the five-year hiatus had created difficulty on set for him, del Toro asserted that he eased into the workload right away.
"I was completely comfortable. After the first day, I felt as if I had just directed three days earlier," he said. "It was instinctual, quick, and natural."
Del Toro also revealed that while "Pacific Rim" was his largest film to date, he did not feel any added pressures about directing the film.
"It was an emotional return because for the first time I had the chance to make a film with a massive budget, but with a lot of creative liberty," he said. "The reality is that 'Hellboy 1 and 2' were extremely complex from a technical standpoint and very expensive. The second one cost $85 million. It's not that it was more complicated. The scale of 'Pacific Rim' was higher, but the technical difficulties were the same."
He alluded to the fact that his five-year hiatus had been a busy one that included the preparation of other major studio pictures that ultimately fell through.
"I found that that after preparing the two 'Hobbit' films and 'Mountains of Madness,' the work on those three films left me economically and logistically prepared to tackle such a massive film as 'Pacific Rim,'" he added.
The film portrays one of the recurring themes in motifs of every del Toro film: monsters. The auteur explained his love for the creatures and how they are a product of his worldview.
"I am worried about the culture of perfection we experience in commercials and in films that pretend to find ideals in life because it is hard for people to live out the standards of perfections seen in commercials," he explained. "However if there is one thing we can all be sure of is that we are imperfect. All of us have flaws. The fantastical, especially the monsters, celebrate that imperfection.
"Monsters are like the patron saints of imperfection," he elaborated. "What also attracts me is the possibility of not only showing carefully and lovingly constructed monsters, but also the opportunity to show vulnerable human beings. Characters that are imperfect. Characters that are not triumphant. I prefer to portray characters that are going through very difficult times. The two ideas of monsters and vulnerable humans go hand in hand."
Del Toro also revealed that he and screenwriter Travis Beacham have already started preparing the script for a "Pacific Rim" sequel.
"Travis and I have been actively writing the sequel for the last three or four weeks," he stated. "We have advanced quite a bit with the concept and story. The concept is to portray a different world than we did in the first. A more potent one but also more varied.
"The key to the sequel will be the Drift and the idea that Newt drifted with the brain of a Kaiju and the concept that all of the Kaiju brains are connected," he added.
Del Toro has been vocal about his desire to create a family franchise with "Pacific Rim." He asserted that this same approach would continue with a follow-up.
"I think that the tone of 'Pac Rim' is one of its great virtues. You can go with your family and there are interesting ideas and characters for the adults but you know that you are not watching real violence or tough subjects for children," he said.
Next up, the director is slated to direct the TV movie "The Strain" for FX. He noted that he started his career in television in Mexico with his friend Alfonso Cuaron but had not worked in the medium since.
"I have always filmed with long shooting schedules," he said about the difference between working in film and television. "I am a bit nervous about shooting something on such a short schedule. It's only 20 days [for 'The Strain's' production]. But at the same time I am very excited."
After "The Strain," the Mexican auteur will shoot his next feature film "Crimson Peak" starring Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mia Wasikowska.
When asked about projects that he would take on thereafter, del Toro revealed that he had stopped speculating about future projects.
"The only secure projects I have are 'The Strain' and 'Crimson Peak.' The reality is that one does not control what film one does in the future," he asserted. "I never imagined that I would not have gotten a chance to do the 'Hobbit' or that 'Mountains of Madness' would have collapsed."
"I don't like to speculate about the future because life has shown me in a profound way that it is useless to speculate on what comes next beside what is known and real."
Del Toro did reveal that he was actively working to get the third part of the "Hellboy" trilogy made, but that economics were a major obstacle.
"At the moment, there are no financial resources," he noted. "We are working hard to get it done and I think with a little bit of luck, we will get the opportunity to make it."
Aside from "Hellboy," del Toro is also positive that "Mountains of Madness" might still have a chance at getting the green light. The film was set for production prior to "Pacific Rim" but financing fell through due to the film's requirements for a large budget and the "R" rating from the MPAA that is was expected to receive.
"I think that after speaking with Universal, there seems to be some interest in getting it done. However, nothing is set in stone," he said.
In closing, the helmer also provided some perspective on why he thinks he has had such a successful career and how other aspiring filmmakers could find a way to achieve their respective goals and dreams.
"It is important to recognize that there are two types of imaginations in the world, one that we can fight against which is the external imagination that tries to limit us," he explained. "The other type of imagination is a bit more difficult to fight. That is the one we create ourselves. It is hard to fight that one because if you do not do the things that define you as a person, if you do not allow yourself to dream, it is hard for someone to believe in you.
"I was born in a culture in which the fantastical is very commonplace and taken for granted by the majority of the population," he elaborated. "But on a cinematic level, no one in Mexico was doing fantasy with honesty or passion. The films that were being produced were mostly commercial. Based on that model, I would not have been able to make the films I wanted to. But I didn't believe in the model and I dedicated myself to making the movies I wanted to make. I think that that is critical to any filmmaker."
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