Culture
Berlin Talent Campus Interview with Roland Emmerich – Berlinale
Roland Emmerich: The German film director and producer shares his secrets about the movie making business starting with his first Hollywood film “Universal Soldier”.
Roland Emmerich was back in 2005 at the Berlin Film Festival not to present a film, as in 1984, but as the President of the Jury, a role that suits him well.
Despite a busy schedule, he took some time away from his jury duties for an interview at the Berlin Talent Campus. He appeared quite relaxed and made a good impression on the public, smiling and joking during the entire time.
He wore fadded black jeans, a blue T-shirt and a pair of white sneakers and it is hard to believe that Roland is 49-years-old!
Everyone knows him as the master of visual effects with his two huge successes, “Independence Day” (1996) and “The Day After Tomorrow” (2004). Since he directed 10,000 B.C. and 2012.
When asked how he feels about his success, he blushed yet did not hide that he feels good about his accomplishments.
“Independence Day”, a movie about aliens, was Emmerich’s first big blockbuster. It was released on the 4th of July, the U.S day of Independence. The deal had been made quickly and the shooting started three days later, with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum starring.
Roland wrote the script for “The Day After Tomorrow” after reading the book “Global Warming” and sold it through an auction, as he did for “Independence Day”. “ Fox had no idea what they were buying…they were stuck with it,” he says.
In 1984, he founded his production company “Centropolis” with Dean Devlin. Things were not moving quite well for him in Germany, so 15 years ago he moved to California with hopes to succeed.
In 1992, he filmed an action movie “Universal Soldier” in the Grand Canyon. For a reasonable amount of money, he realized his special effects with only 12 people.
Then, he directed “Stargate” (1994), which was a great success. After that, Emmerich received many offers.
“Godzilla” (1998), a story about a giant lizard, was a flop. “I wrote the script and did not change anything, but I should have,” he admits laughing.
Then, came “The Patriot” (2000), an epic about the American Revolutionary War. Looking back, Emmerich says: “I could have done it better.”
Regarding his future plans, he mentionned that he will film later in 2005 in England and in South Africa. He will show in his next movie “that Shakespeare was a fake,” he told us.
“It hard to work for Hollywood,” he says. “You have to give them what they need and trick them too. But you have to think of your career. Sometimes you have to put your job on the line.” For “Independence Day”, he battled to convince Fox to take Will Smith, only a TV star at the time. During the filming of “The Patriot”, Sony pressured him to remove the scene of the beheading. “I did not agree because war is shocking,” Roland says.
For him, the amount spent on a film does not make its quality. “The Day After Tomorrow” cost 136 million dollars. Other films at that time were made for 200 million. “I do not think they were as beautiful as my movies,” he adds with great pride and self-confidence.
According to Emmerich, what matters most when deciding on a movie subject is to pick something current. “Independence Day” was a good idea in the 1990s, but not anymore. Roland reveals that for a film to be taken seriously, stars are important, but huge stars are not necessary. “Improvisation is an important part of the scene making. Rehearsal is ok on the first day but after that the excitement is gone,” he says. Lastly, he admits his admiration for Clint Eastwood and the way he directs his actors.
Roland loves creating new worlds. When he writes, he does not think and does not care how the special effects will be done because it is not his job. Someone told him after reading his script for “The Day After Tomorrow”: “You are out of your mind”. It did not stop him from continuing!
Today, Roland still lives in Los Angeles, where he owns a beautiful villa. Even if he misses Europe, he does not plan on leaving anytime soon. One cannot blame him. First of all, as he says it so well: “The weather is nice there” and second of all America has given him the chance he needed.
Thanks to Hollywood, we have gotten to know his talents. Without it, movies like “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow” may have never came out.
But does Roland Emmerich believe in aliens? Maybe…“It would be a thrill to have something like “Independence Day” happen to the third degree. I hope it will,” he smiled.
Interview was led by Peter Cowie in February 2005
___________________________________________________________
What movies did Roland Emmerich do since?
- 2008 – 10,000 B.C.: it brings us back into prehistory (made more than 200 Millions at the Box office)
- 2009 – 2012: a disaster movie about the end of the world. Did well at the Box Office already better than for the “Day after Tommorow” and made more than 10,000 B.C made in 2008 in the first weekend worldwilde (225 Millions). Critics are mixed.
His movie about Shakeaspeare is still coming up.
For more about the Berlinale click here.
