This kind of honesty is refreshing, to be sure. Especially from someone so deep into the Hollywood business of making movies. Studio director Joe Johnston, who’s career batting average sits somewhere in between the underrated October Sky and the over-bloated Jurassic Park III, spoke with CBM very briefly about his upcoming Captain America film and his quickly forgotten Wolfman adaptation.
To be clear, the filmmaker was asked solely about Captain America and his feelings about that production. And this is how he explained it:
“The two experiences could not have been more different, in fact in many ways (certainly not all) they were polar opposites. I had three weeks of prep on WOLFMAN, a ridiculously inadequate amount of time to try to bring together the fractured and scattered pieces of the production. I had taken the job mostly because I had a cash flow problem, the only time in my career I’ve ever let finances enter into the decision process.”
Hey, no judgment on the money thing. Let us not forget Francis Ford Coppola spent the 90s with a cash-flow problem, offering up The Godfather Part III, Dracula, Jack and The Rainmaker to make ends meet. What we can judge, however, is the amazing phrase “cash flow problem” and all that it can and cannot mean. Glorious.
Now, some more on The Wolfman and its clear problems:
“The production was a leaky, rudderless ship in a perfect storm suffering from bad decisions, infighting, reluctance of the powers-that-be to take responsibility, and too many under-qualified cooks in the kitchen. The good news and bad news about directing is that when the picture works you’re showered with all the credit and when it doesn’t work you’re dumped on with all the blame.”
He goes on to say he takes “full responsibility” for the film and its problems.
Finally, concerning The First Avenger, he speaks to the “thirty weeks of pre-production” he had as opposed to 3, essentially being able to pick his leading man in Chris Evans and the top-knotch creative team he had at his disposal.
Then about the production itself:
“The weather was so good we were compelled to make it rain for a couple of sequences just for some variety. At times I felt as if the gods were saying, “Ahem, sorry about that wolfman thing…let us make it up to you.” CAPTAIN AMERICA was probably the most universally positive experience I’ve had in this mad business.”
This all appears to be good news. Johnston is certainly capable of big productions going well (Jumanji, Hidalgo). He’s also just as capable to hype a lifeless movie he did due to cash flow problems, as he did trot out The Wolfman as visceral and inventive pre-release.
Are you surprised about the Wolfman honesty? Believe the Captain America serendipity?