“Hi, this is Travis with A Culminating Life…”
Right around the time THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS was getting put together Wes Anderson decided to direct, and along with Noah Baumbach, write the stop-motion film Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Stop-motion is an interesting technique, which was utilized very well in movies like Nightmare Before Christmas (Weirdly and awesomely odd) and more recently Coraline ( My kids didn’t sleep that night – Thanks Henry Selick! – Oh the sisters! It burns!!! )
So, by it’s nature, stop-motion seems to enjoy skipping hand-in-hand, with it’s director, in the daisy-like fields of eccentricity [ See above ]. Stop-motion provides a different point of view, in relationship to humor. The jerkiness, shortness or even the smoothness of puppet’s movement can be directly applied to physical humor, which this movie has in abundance.
So, prior to the conference call with Jason Schwartzman to discuss the movie and his role as Ash… I did what I do best [ It's a curse really ].. I spent time watching trailers. Here is the trailer for Fantastic Mr. Fox. So for your enjoyment:
I agree, existentialism sounds illegal. And scary too!
Felicity “Liccy” Dahl the widow of Roald Dahl (Author of Fantastic Mr. Fox and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) opened her doors, and had her archivist assist Wes Anderson in being able to get all touchy-feely with the original manuscripts and to be immersed in the surroundings of the Gypsy House and the Dahl’s famous writing hut. Which to some, would be seen as an OCDetic paranoia [ New word!* ]. The access required a double-wash with a special soap. This of course has just a slightly different meaning for all you Archivists out there. Really? I wonder what the certification test for that is like. I swear the profession caters to the OCD in all of us.
[ On a side note, I'm sure that we're tight, so I can probably just call her Liccy... ]
In reviewing all the materials, I wondered how the story was going to pan out. The book is slim on content and would need to be expanded upon, and areas would need to be fleshed out for a movie adaption. So, I was getting worried. But alas! As the director Wes Anderson put it,
“so we knew we had to invent a lot. But as we did it, all we wanted to do was to try and write something that we hoped Roald Dahl would think was suitable and fit with what he has invented in the first place. We were trying to write a Roald Dahl movie. I mean, we’re not going to think up the same jokes that Roald Dahl would, and we’re bringing our own personalities to it. But our goal was to try and do a Roald Dahl story.”
Look at that picture in the background... Pure Awesome!
One thing that I really liked about the choice of using puppets and stop-motion, is how it feels like your seeing a book come to life. I really appreciate the artistic choice. Like how the movements aren’t smooth, and when you see facial movements, it causes your eyes to want to look for all the other minute variances. You also get micro-fiber outfits and real clothing. I think it’s a great choice for this book.
Anderson and Noah Baumbach (frequent writing partner) decided to remove the four unnamed cubs from the book and replace it with a cub that would have a substantial role in the overall narrative of the movie.
Hi Travis, this is [ Censored ]*. We are just waiting for the moderator to come on and then he will introduce Jason.
So Ash came to life in this adaption.
Ash, who is played by Jason, and who we got to interview for this article, is a 12 year old looking for his father’s approval. He is a bit geeky, awkward and doesn’t have a great deal of ankle strength. And his upper body strength may or may not be up to par. But who am I to judge. Ash attempts to make an awesome attempt at freeing someone with his killer body strength.
Which, uh… didn’t really work out the way he planned.
As the moderator came on, introductions where made. I’m sure Jason will remember me, when I’m making a frantic, “Remember me, I was on that conference call once, you said that you liked to dig holes. Remember?” Cause, I will be at the next red carpet event.
Just waiting for those tickets…
[ Don't forget you have my address. You can send them there... Call me? ]
Yeah, I’m sure that will get some special attention. By at least two people.
The moderator got to pick 3 questions from the group and wouldn’t you know it… they picked one of mine. Good and bad. Since, I had a head cold and the Sudafed didn’t kick in yet.
The first question came from Ashley Cooper from Optimistic Cynicism. With her question, ” Can you relate to your character Ash from the film, and if so, how?”
And then it happened…
… Basically I’m the son of George Clooney and Meryl Streep…
I don't think my kids will appreciate how cool your room is...
Wha?! And there you have it, Jason Schwartzman just confirmed what we knew to be true. He is the son of George Clooney and Meryl Streep. We were there to have this massive news unveiled to us. TMZ, if you want the exclusive, just give me a call. You know how to reach me.
Due to the way he said it, he had just enough of a pause, that he jokingly referred to it as him coming out. It was pretty funny.
It was lighthearted conversation about how he can relate to his character. How it’s okay to be yourself.
“He doesn’t really know who he is and wants his father’s love and approval,”
“I want to be a great athlete like my dad, and I want to be smart like him. I want recognition. My character’s whole story line is coming to terms with who he is. And I think that’s what the movie’s about. It’s being okay with who you are. And the thing that makes you different is the thing that makes you special. In the end, it turns out that my smallness and my differences save some lives.”
My turn came up, and I got to ask this question, “It appears that the humor in the movie aims to be at both adults and children. How do you think this adaption of the book appeals to those audiances.”
I really liked his response. [ And on another side note, I'm impressed that he can do these events all morning and still be chipper ]
Everything is more awesome with a mask!
I learned that he really loves this movie and he really loved the book. He has done a lot of work with Wes Anderson, and he really liked the work done on this. With him stating that it was a great marriage of Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl.
There was over 125,000 still images with hundreds of animators and it took over three years. [ Holy freak! ]
He went into his youth, and how he loved to dig holes. Immediately I was thinking about all the hills that I dug out three foot holes. Wanting to say, “Yeah, me too. and some additional witty humor”
I choked. I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s move along shall we?
The third question came from Dawn Krutt from Peeling An Orange With a Screwdriver. “What was your favorite part of the movie.”
Sshhh, your getting the inside scoop. Jason is talking about a scene that shows up later in the movie… We got special access. Yup! His favorite part of the movie can be found in one of the trailers if you pay attention. I didn’t realize that it was at the end until Jason brought it up and I don’t want to give it away, but I think it’s very funny and heartwarming.
It was great experience to ask Jason my question. He had comfortable presence, and I really enjoyed the opportunity.
When I first saw the posters and trailer, I didn’t know if I would like another puppet stop-motion movie. After spending some time understanding what Wes was doing, I’ve started getting anxious for it come to a theater here in Madison, as it looks pretty good. And of course, so I can take my kids. Because… that’s who I…
Fine. I almost forgot that I would take them. You got me. I was going to go on opening night, but now, I’m going to wait to take my kids.
FANTASTIC MR. FOX is now playing in select cities and opens nationwide on Thanksgiving.
–
[ Censored ]* Name dropping is a crime.
[ New word! ]* OCD + Therapeutic. Mix that with paranoia and you get… My brain hurts.
That’s pretty sweet that you got to be involved in the conference call. My 4th Graders and I just finished reading the book. Knowing the movie was coming out I wanted them to be familiar with the book before they saw it over Thanksgiving. I fully intend to take my kiddos to it as a family outing over the holiday.
I think the book had some great literary qualities to it (I use Roald Dahl a lot) and I’m going to be curious to see which parts of the book actually made it into the movie. Though the book story is brief, hey, they made a movie out of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and Where the Wild Things Are so why not Fantastic Mr. Fox. It seems to be the trend!
I found out that the the middle third is close to the book. This adaption is looking pretty awesome. I’m taking my kids this weekend. You will have to tell me what you think of it.
You guys are taking your kids…my kid is taking me. He is now 25 and grew up on Roald Dahl. If the trailer is any indication of what the film will be, it is going to be a treat.
Cathy´s last blog ..Heavy heart for the holidays?
After spending some time piecing the trailers together. I realized that this movie is going to be just awesome. Did anyone catch one of the farmers trying to swim in a pool? I paused it and it looked hilarious!
Saw it. Reminded me of my youngest when he was learning to swim. I laughed out loud at, “are you cussing with me.” Very funny!
Cathy´s last blog ..When Your Ex is a Turkey
“The cuss you are!”