A few weeks back I was lucky enough to take an exclusive trip to the set of Platinum Dunes' Friday the 13th, which ironically enough is shooting in Austin, Texas (a pretty dry place for Camp Crystal Lake). Inside you can read my preview piece, which chronicles my long wait to score my first glance at the new Jason Voorhees (Derek Mears) in action!
Friday, May 9, 2008
It’s 9:30AM here in Austin, Texas and I pretty much hauled ass right to the airport from the set of Platinum Dunes’ FRIDAY THE 13TH. I’ve been up since 3PM yesterday, which is the scheme of things isn’t that big of a deal – especially after seeing what the production is going through.
This is the first time I’ve ever been on an entire night shoot. The crew begins work around 7:30 PM and wraps up the second the sun starts to rise. A few hours ago I was literally standing there as Director Marcus Nispel was screaming, “Hurry, hurry, the sun is coming!” Everyone’s working massive hours and most have to commute an hour just to get to set – we’re talking an average of 3 hours of sleep per person. Typically I’d expect to hear complaining, some mutters and a bit of crabbiness from random people throughout the two days I was a guest. Instead, what I experienced was extreme camaraderie and plenty of laughs – this wasn’t just “another movie”, this was FRIDAY-THE-F**KING 13TH! You could hear it on set, in the transportation vans and even at the break/craft tables, everyone was talking and nearly everyone was a fan. This wasn’t just a passion project for a few select people this was a passion project for the entire crew, which is a very special and rare thing in Hollywood.
The first night I was there I saw a bunch of filming, but Jason Voorhees was nowhere to be seen. It didn’t help that co-writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon teased me about how freaking cool Jason will look in the hood.
“I’m f**king excited to see him in the hood again. I love the hood,” Swift tells me. “Oh and the hood in this movie, we just saw pictures of it, incredible! Incredible,” Shannon adds in. “It literally gave me chills, it looks phenomenal.”
Little did they know I’d later catch a glimpse of the bag/hood for his head in one of the FX trailers up at base camp, which gave me goosebumps. The anticipation was brutal, knowing that within the next day I was going to see the new Jason in action, kicking ass and taking names. Today (or last night depending on how you look at it) I finally had my opportunity. I hung out with Derek Mears (your new Jason) for a few hours. We chatted about all sorts of crap from FRIDAY to BLOODSPORT (random, right?), it was totally awesome. He had most of his costume assembled but I had yet to see the infamous mask. He did tell me about the moment he first saw himself in the mask, which was pretty cool.
“Before I even signed for the movie I went in and I was talking to Scott [Stoddard], he’s the make up designer, and he’s so f*cking amazing, his make up designs. We were moving forward, doing fittings and doing moldings though I still hadn’t signed yet and I didn’t want to jinx it and he goes, “Well, you know what, hey c’mere..” And he lifts up this case filled with Styrofoam, it’s like a high security case, he unlocks it and he goes, “You should prolly try this on.” And I started laughing and in my head I get this kind of Excalibur moment, like where the light shines down for the chosen one. Everyone working in the shop, in the make up department, is a fan of the series so they added their extra tlc in. So everyone’s working and I have the mask and I start to put it on and I’m getting like tingles, like when you see the opening of Star Wars, where you see the letters start and you’re like, “OooOo tingles.” So I start to put the mask on and everybody just stops and stares at me and I put it on and I’m looking over at everybody and it’s really quiet and people just started shaking their heads like, “YEAH, YEAH Dude, COOL.” So yeah it was amazing. (laughs) It was amazing.”
After my chat, the night continued on and on... I was becoming even more restless. I WANT TO SEE JASON!
Finally they set up a shot in the backyard of this cabin and secured Mears up on a roof where he’d be doing a sequence. As the mask comes out of the top secret silver padlocked briefcase, someone starts to set up a fake tree branch right in my eye line. I move to my right, and then it happens again – and then again. It was insanely ironic and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Eventually I found a good spot to view the filming and stationed myself behind the monitors that displayed what the cameras were shooting.
Nispel directs the scene in which the camera pulls up from a window revealing Jason on the roof, crouching down with his monster machete. Literally the SECOND the camera pulled up by Jason it hit me like a rock – this was going to be AWESOME. Typically on a set visit you can’t determine how good or bad a movie is going to be, it’s just damn near impossible, but there is something different about FRIDAY THE 13TH. What I saw on that monitor was like nothing I have ever seen in a FRIDAY film, and that was style. This was the sleekest and most believable looking shot I have ever seen in the franchise’s nearly 30-year history. This moment defined what we will be seeing in theaters and told me instantaneously that – even at worst case scenario – that Marcus Nispel will deliver nothing short of a stunning looking film.
But before you assume I’m jumping to an immediate conclusion, let me explain that prior to seeing this shot I had interviewed the cast and crew. What I discovered will have you all singing praises. This FRIDAY comes complete with mass nudity, drug use, extreme violence, cussing like no tomorrow and most importantly it has creative deaths. From what I’m told this is the flipside to “torture porn” and will be a fun – and gory – trip back to Camp Crystal Lake. Keep your eyes posted here for exclusive interviews and a full report from the set in the coming months.
FRIDAY THE 13TH hits theaters February 13, 2009 - Valentine’s Day weekend.
I'm really enjoying hearing about all the reports about the new FRIDAY THE 13TH. I do hope you guys keep some surprises from us. One thing I remember so fondly about my early days of getting into horror films was often-times not knowing a thing about the project before seeing the ads and hearing from friends how good a particular movie was after they'd just seen it.
I know that Platinum Dunes is trying really hard to make sure the fans are going to enjoy the movie, and that gives me a lot of confidence in the finished product but it also makes me hope they don't sacrifice anything just to please fans.
I often think fans don't know some of the time what's "good for" them, and resist changes just to feel comfortable with their characters staying the way they remember them.
I encourage again that Platinum Dunes LISTEN to fans, and THINK about the characters we so obviously care about, but at the same time I hope they will do at the end of the day what makes the most sense.
PLEASE make this an original movie - please don't fill it with cute tongue-in-cheek humor or post-modern nods or cameos that call attention to themselves. Make it its own film and make it good by its own merits.
Yeah what is this hood thing all about? To tell you the truth, I was confused by that part.
Also, Jason on a rooftop sounds a little odd, but I'm sure it'll at least look super cool.
Yeah baby! I was never a big Friday 13th fan but now i'm getting really really excited!!! The TCM also had great style but didn't like the movie, but this sounds awesome!
I still can't get over the fact that they're remaking the original FT13th with Jason doing the killing...maybe it'll be like the Halloween remake having half the movie with Jason as a child and the last half all grown up? Or is this supposed to be a remake of 1 & 2 together? I remember seeing the original at the drive-in...scared the f**k out of me. Who knows, but you know I'll be there!
It's a shame when people fail to pay attention. This isn't a direct remake of the first Friday the 13th. It's an unofficial sequel/reimagining of the first four films.
We ARE going to see his mother!
I don't remember hardcore cursing to be a part of the original Ft13 series. Sure, average amount of cursing, like any horror movie, but when you go overboard with every other fucking word being "Oh yeah, mutha fucka, it hurts like a son of a bitch! Mother fucking shit, I can't fucking seem to find my fucking little shit! SHIT!", that can be annoying. That's Rob Zombie typed crap. It annoys me when people talk like that in real life, why would I wanna go see a movie where you have sit through that stuff. I mean, the drugs, the gore, the nudity and sex, that's alright. It's just speech becomes totally lowbrow, and it's to the point that I can't understand what people are saying because of it, that's a problem in my eyes.
the whole "hood" thing is sounding awesome! is it going to be like the sack Jason wore in Part 2? i loved that! so i imagine he starts out w/ the hood then (obviously) finds a hockey mask and uses that from then on out!
This is exciting! I didn't know they would have the bag/sack head too! Awesome!
I just hope the language isn't too consistently vulgar. That's what killed the Halloween remake for me. Too much is not a good thing. I mean, just think about the breakfast part in the first chapter of the Halloween remake. It was too much.
hopefully it all will not be computer generated kills like if they hired gregory nicotero and howard berger on the set to make the kills look some what realistic but those guys are definetly high dollar but i just hope for a bada** friday the 13th experience and i am so there that opening weekend, i loved the originals and i will so be there for the remake :-D
ahhh great report! always looking forward to this all the time now, every day i think about this new jason movie!
i know they wont fail at delievering the friday movie we all want and NEEd!
i cant wait to see jason just hopefully when they make a sequel to this they have the dead jason return i like him being unstopable not gettin his ass kicks by a couple teenagers and dying and sorry katie but but please NO male nudity
LMAo, you guys are funny. by "HOOD" They ment NEIGHBORHOOD, Not like in the ghetto hood or a hood that you wear. They where refering his hood as in Camp Crystal Lake. IM actually excited about this movie, Marcus did an excellent job with Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I have to make my voice heard with all the various reactions to this subject. I say absolutely YES to male nudity. Aside from all that, I'm a guy. Come on, you guys - Ft13th made this mistake before by not giving us all of Kevin Spiritas. Don't make the same mistake now that you've got Jared Padalecki. GIVE THE FANS WHAT WE WANT!
No Scurgar, I think scooby71602 is right. That's what I originally thought, but then people started mentioning the sack Jason wore on his head in Part 2 and I got confused.
I have mixed feelings about this film to be honest, most of these new re-makes are aimed at the teenager market so they are a pile of shite......i hope they pull something special out the bag for this one!!!
Please dont fuck it up!!!
This behind the scenes report was the equivolent of porn for horror junkies. So glad to hear they brown bag is coming back. That's what we need... more deranged killers in recyclable/green materials.
masterhook then there shouldn't be any kind of nudity at all. I mean why should us girls have to sit threw a film that exploits us women, while u guys wolf wistle and drool? that isn't fair at all. LOL i mean u guys could watch porn for that, just give us the scary stuff.
-Heather
My diamond-tip just broke through my pants.
"This FRIDAY comes complete with mass nudity, drug use, extreme violence, cussing like no tomorrow and most importantly it has creative deaths."
Is it a hood or is it a bag. When they described Jason, I was thinking he was going to look similar to how he usually does, perhaps a large jacket/coat, but with a hood WHILE wearing the mask. That would be insane. It would be him wearing the mast, the hood would cover the rest of his head and he'd look like a damn hulking grim reaper of death!
the hood is the sack like the one he wore from Friday the 13th part 2, I guess he will wear this at first in the opening and later in the movie he will have switched to a part 3 style hockey mask from what I've heard.
i cannot wait to see this, its sounds so good. and i am REALLY excited they have brought back jason in the bag/hood. i much prefer this to his iconic hockey mask (which i always felt was a little gimmicky in comparison, although still very cool). i love marcus nispel's chainsaw remake, so i am really looking forward to seeing what he does with this. bring on the nightmare remake too... there's LOTS of room for that to become scary/serious again.
So if this is a remake why is Jason doing all the killings? It was his mother who was the original killer to get revenge for her dead son who later comes back to avenge her in the second movie.so what's up with this? Is this the first friday the 13th or the second. I hate when they make a remake that isn't true to form with the original.
I am really excited about this film , I'm a fan of the Friday the 13th films anyway but the fact that Jared is in this makes it even better ,i am confident this will be brilliant, roll on February!:0)
Since it's really nothing more than a nod to the earlier F13 films, rather than a straight up remake, I suspect it should be good times for all. These modern remakes are less about new spins on the originals and more like Marvel Comic's "Ultimate" series giving us a modern update to a popular character (and jettisoning years of baggage that comes from too many sequels).
I'm not sure if I really want to see this version of the Friday series; for major starters Kane Hodder's not playing Jason!!! And that's more then enough reason NOT to go see this new Friday in my opinion.But it has my favorite T.V actor in it so maybe Jared Padalecki is reason enough to RENT this one but as for theater viewing??? Count me out the last thing I need is another remake of a movie that either wasn't good enough to deserve one or just didn't need it to be done...exe Halloween!!!
I THINK THE MOVIE IS GOING TO SUCK SO MUCH ASS AND BALLS FOR 2 SIMPLE REASONS FIRST OF ALL IN THE ORIGINAL FRIDAY THE 13 TH JASON'S MOM WAS DOING THE THE KILLING NOT HIM AND THE 2 REASON IS THEY GOT RID OF KANE HODDER WHICH BY THE WAY IS A HELL OF ALOT BIGGER THEN THAT PUSSY THEY GOT TRYING TO TAKE HIS PLACE,WHY NOT BE ORIGINAL AND MAKE THE MOVIE ABOUT WHEN JASON WAS A BOY AND GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT HIS CHILD HOOD.
From what I've read about the project it seems they're getting rid of Jasons clunky,slow movements and that weird "teleportation" thing he does which annoyed me a lot of the time.
This movie is gonna kick so much arse!
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The first night I was there I saw a bunch of filming, but Jason Voorhees was nowhere to be seen. It didn’t help that co-writers Mark Swift and Damian Shannon teased me about how freaking cool Jason will look in the hood. 
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