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Video Interview: ‘Super 8’ Director J.J. Abrams Knows Character Development

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This morning Paramount Pictures released a slew of generic interviews for Super 8, but the only one that truly matters is that of director J.J. Abrams. While he does trail off a bit, and waste time plugging the iPhone application, he does tell of some tremendous filmmaking lessons for inspiring filmmakers.

In the three videos he talks about his two ideas – a film about kids making a super 8 movies in ’80s, and the other a creature feature – and how it mixed the two. One was about group of characters he loved without a compelling story, so he meshed them into one idea. He also goes into depth about finding the right kids and making sure their characters were authentic and believable. He also speaks for the first time on Steven Speilberg’s involvement revealing that he was “deeply involved in script, casting and editing [process].

Fans of Spielberg will have their minds blown on June 10 when Super 8 attacks theaters.

Update: we added the following video clip from Empire featuring both Spielberg and Abrams!


Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

Interviews

‘Immaculate’ Director Michael Mohan on Religious Horror and Why You Can’t Pull Punches [Halloweenies Podcast]

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Immaculate SXSW Horror

This weekend, Neon is releasing its highly anticipated new slice of horror Immaculate. Directed by Michael Mohan, Sydney Sweeney stars as an American nun named Cecilia who joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. What begins as a warm welcome quickly devolves into a living nightmare as Cecilia discovers her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors. You can see it with a crowd this Friday.

In anticipation, Halloweenies co-host/executive producer Michael Roffman sits down with director Michael Mohan to discuss how he approached making his first horror film. Together, the two chat about the effects of religious horror in 2024, Sweeney’s Scream Queen magic, the ending everyone’s going to be talking about, and why Horror needs zero rules. He also offers some choice Horror recommendations.

Stream the episode below or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. New to the Halloweenies? Catch up with the gang by revisiting their essential episodes on past franchises such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Scream, The Evil Dead, and this past year’s Chucky! This year? The Alien franchise.

You can also become a member of their Patreon, The Rewind, for hilariously irreverent commentaries (e.g. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Gremlins, Jaws), one-off deep dives on your favorite rentals (e.g. Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Invasion of the Body Snatchers ), and even spinoffs like their recent run Fortune & Glory: An Indiana Jones Podcast.

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