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Its time to clear some things up. 1:10pm, December 21, 2009 While many of you are enjoying a Christmas break I am working everyday on Elm Street. I have read all the rumors and want to make sure that you have the facts. We are doing a couple of days of reshooting Elm Street. People seem to be making a big deal about that fact. Elm Street is our 8th film and we've had reshoots for every film. As I have stated here many times, I try to read everything and I pay attention. The fans input has always been so valuable to me, and Elm Street is no exception. I don't want to get specific about what we are shooting, but suffice to say we heard you. After you've seen the film we can discuss what was reshot. I will say this though- nothing beats seeing Jackie back as Freddy- he works so hard to perfect his portrayal and leaves nothing to chance. Let's talk Friday 13th. We have busted our ass to get that movie going! The script is great- dare I say, better than the first. Shannon and Swift have outdone themselves. We are working with New Line to get that movie going. I had hoped to be able to tell you that we started prepping the movie, but that isn't the case. We are hoping that New Line decides get us started early next year. We also have a couple of new projects we are getting ready for the new year. As they become real I will reveal all here. I wish you all a great holiday season and appreciate your continued support. Let's hope that 2010 is a record-breaking year for horror! - Brad Fuller NOES trailer response overwhelming, a few questions answered, Friday 2 or 13? 5:14pm, October 1, 2009  I have to thank many of you. The debut of the teaser was really amazing. Whether you like it or hate it, the release of it was huge. More that 1.6 million people saw it in the first 24 hours. The traffic to the teaser even clogged up Bloody-Disgusting for a day. As many of you know getting the teaser to you has been quite an ordeal - one that I think deserves an explanation... Originally, our teaser was to be released on Jennifer's Body and I was excited to tweet all about it. I announced on my twitter page that I would make an announcement within two weeks, assuming that all the plans came to fruition. But what happened was we liked the teaser, yet felt it needed to be better. Our intention always to reveal Freddy at the very end, but we had three different scenes and couldn't decide on which one was the best. At the same time Mike Jones (Warner bros.) Drew, Bay and I keep reworking the body of the teaser. Asking ourselves, "are we showing too much, not enough etc." We wanted to be sure that whatever we released was the best version. When we finally decided on the final version of the teaser it was too late to be on Jennifer's Body - so we looked at the release schedule and felt that Zombieland could work for us. At the end of the day are there things we would like to change in that teaser? Of course. But knowing our team we would keep changing things till the end of the time. Let's be honest, Drew and I know that NOES is the most important film we've made. We know how all you feel about Freddy, and how you feel about us. We don't want to be the guys who screwed up Freddy and as such are pushing ourselves harder than we've ever pushed. Moreover, we have found a wonderful partner in Sam Bayer. He has such high standards and refuses to cut any corner. I have been receiving a couple of questions and want to answer some here: Is that Freddy's final look? No, it isn't - we are continuing to refine Freddy's look. Many people commented about the CGI on his face - and I don't want to give everything away but I will say this - Freddy's face is 98% practical make-up. Moreover, as you now know we went hardcore on what a burn victim really looks like, and I can't imagine what the comments would have been if he DIDN'T look like a real burn victim. Is that Freddy's final voice? No, Jackie spent so much time on the voice, researching what people who've has their vocal cords burned sound like. He is still working on it and I suspect that we will be refining it, until the last moment. Will it be rated PG-13? Are you kidding me? Make no mistake about it this is a R-rated movie. Finally, many of you tell me how you have been defending me in chat rooms. I just want you know that I really appreciate that. We will never be free of haters, but if we can at least present ourselves in an intelligent way we can point out the absurdity of having a negative opinion about something that doesn't even exist yet. Anyway, stay tuned as I hope to have some Friday 13th part 2 (or 13 depending on how you are counting) news soon. - Brad Fuller So, where's that Comic Con trailer? 1:40am, July 28, 2009  Comic Con was amazing - Warner Bros knows how to handle an event like that. They went to great lengths to make sure we were able to enjoy it in style. I must say, Drew, Sam and I have never been treated so well. It is a great comfort to know that they are taking Elm Street so seriously. I have faith in their marketing department, which brings me to the Comic Con trailer... I am all too aware of the anger generated by their decision not to release the trailer on the Internet. As many of you know, I went to them and asked for it to be released, but frankly, I understand why they won't. Our film comes out on April 30th. That is 9 months away - a really, really long time in the movie business. If they released the trailer now, it would surely be forgotten a few months from now, and then what? This amazing teaser would have not had the impact that it should. Believe me, as a fan, I share your frustration in not being able to see it, but it isn't going anywhere. I am sure that each of you will see it, just closer to release. So don't get bent out of shape because you have to wait, besides, many of you would have wished that you waited 'til later because after you see the teaser you will want to see the film so badly it will be brutal to wait the 9 months. Let me just say that it was a real highlight to be sitting there in front of 7 thousand fans and it made me even more excited for what we will be bringing to you. Over the next few months Sam will be cutting the film and Drew and I will be looking for our next project - but as always, when there is something relevant I will write about it here first. There will be a teaser, a trailer and more photos - you will learn about all of it here and at my Twitter account @bcfuller. - Brad Fuller Now we're back on track... 11:17am, July 24, 2009 I am very encouraged by the recent turn of events on this board. Now we seem to have gotten back on track to discuss the films instead of flinging insults. I appreciate everyone pitching in to make the change and our ability to monitor ourselves. I don't mind a difference of opinion; in fact it makes for lively discussion. What bothers me is when the discussion ceases to be informative. After all, that is where this board becomes helpful to me. There have been changes to the movies that came directly from comments I read here. Thank you to all of you for doing your part. Yesterday, we showed you a picture and Comic Con poster of Freddy. People have been freaking out. We have never had a better response to anything that we have revealed. It is so exciting that so many people are excited by the imagery of Freddy. You should know that we were going to release a different poster - and at the last minute we threw a flag on the play and decided to go with the one you now see. I know that you'll ask so let me say that the other poster was very similar, but much more polished, and it didn't feel like it "fit." Tomorrow morning I am heading to comic con for what I hope will be an amazing experience. We do have another surprise that we will reveal there. It should be a crazy day, but if you are interested I plan on twittering all day long. So check that out at @bcfuller. We'll discuss everything after Comic Con.  - Brad Fuller Before we talk Comic Con.... 12:07pm, July 20, 2009 When I started this blog it was intended to be place where we could interact about the Platinum Dunes movies. It was designed to bring you inside every step of the process of bringing those movies to your local theater. Recently, it seems like things have been reduced to people taking shots at us, while others defend our films. While there is certainly a place for that, it concerns me that we are drifting away from the intended goal here. Perhaps I am to blame for this, as I took a run at the haters, but now that there is so much negativity here that I have decided to respond to a few of the regular negative comments so we can move past them and get back to doing what we should be doing... discussing all aspects of our films. For better or worse and in no particular order... "I do this for the money." Actually, that is true. I have always wanted to produce movies; it's been a lifelong dream of mine. The measure of my success is determined by the amount of money our films make for the studios. If we started putting out movies that lost money consistently, I wouldn't have a job. It's pretty clear and simple. I want to make movies that will earn the studios their money back and much, much more. That allows me to keep doing what I love to do. Moreover, I am passionate about horror movies and feel that if we can contribute to a profitable slate of films for a studio that they will continue to make horror movies with us. My passion has become my job and I do the best that I can at it. It's impossible to please everyone, but the box office numbers continue to show that viewers want to see what we are putting out. If you wanted to see more original horror films, then you should make sure that original horror films are outgrossing the remakes. "I don't have an original idea in my brain." Actually I do, but the intent of this comment is that we only make remakes. Not true, though some of our remakes have been more successful than our original films. The Unborn and Horsemen are both original films and though it fits neither into a remake or original film, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning straddles the line. We have numerous original films in development at the studios. AND AGAIN, go support those films if you want to see more. Spend some of your free time being supportive of original content instead of wasting energy on all of the negativity behind remakes. "Platinum Dunes movie suck." That is certainly open to differing opinions, and obviously I am in no position to judge, but I will say this. We employee the finest artists, crews, and staff available - many of whom are not generally available on films budgeted at our level. We benefit that many people who work on Michael Bay's films are very loyal to Bay and avail themselves to us to stay in the "family". Additionally, I feel that our films have an amazing look and that "look" is something we work very hard to bring to every movie and that I'm quite proud of. If you think the movies themselves just plain 'suck', you are quite entitled to your own opinion and it should be respected... but you should also be respecting the people who love them. It goes both ways. "Don't remake (fill in the blank), you are ruining (fill in the blank)." This is a very big one and frankly it confuses me for various reasons. First of all, I can't comprehend how remaking a movie invalidates the original. I am not taking the original negative and destroying it. If you only want to watch the original version of A Nightmare On Elm Street, I am not stopping you from doing it. We are not the first company to remake films and certainly won't be the last. Devin at Chud and I had this very discussion a few weeks ago. Producers have been remaking horror movies ever since horror movies started. Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein and many, many others have been remade over and over. I see Freddy, Jason, Mike Myers and Leatherface as the Draculas of this current era. Long after I've gone there will be another generation of horror producers who will remake these films and bring their take to the concept. This continual reinterpretation is how art always has and will evolve. All we can do is try and bring you the best film we can make and entertain you for an hour and half. Shouldn't we all be happy that these icons that are so important to us are living on and will see a day where the next generation might actually care about them? Something you should all know... There is something else that I have noticed which I think is only fair that I share with you. Many of the haters on this board are WRITERS who have submitted material to me that I have rejected. There is no reason to call them out, but you know who you are and I wonder if I had not rejected their material if they would bring the level of discussion down to its current low level. I ask that you at least identify yourself when you post so everyone can be aware that your negative opinion is based on something other than our work. It's odd how low some people will go to try and malign our work, when their anger has nothing to do with the quality of our work. Some News! Comic Con is this week! Finally, Here is a bit of Comic Con news. Drew, Sam, Jackie and I are planning to attend Comic Con on Friday. We will be revealing something(s) for the first time EVER there. We are working very had to get it ready. Since this will be the first time we reveal anything to the public, I am pumped to hear what you think. So please post your comments here as soon as you see anything. Additionally, I intend to tweet all day on Friday so look for that. You can Follow me at @bcfuller. See you in San Diego. - Brad Fuller It's a wrap, the new Elm Street is in the can! 3:34am, July 12, 2009  It's over - at least shooting is. I feel like I just ran a marathon. Though I will never know the actual feeling of finishing a marathon - I reckon this is what it feels like. Week after week of night shoots, distant locations and extreme weather, all taking its toll on all of us. Many of my other marathoners share the same 1000 yard stare I've got going. All of us simply spent.But all that effort, time and pain was for a great cause. We did it all for Freddy. To realize our dream of bringing him back... the way we remember him. Scary, mean and nasty. Now I know it will be hotly debated here, but I can tell you I am proud of what we did. Proud that Jackie Earle Haley was uncompromising in his desire to create a Freddy that is uniquely his own creation. Proud of Andrew Clement for his desire to create a look that will shock and scare you. You will surely recognize Freddy, but he is distinctively different, more real, and more burned. Jackie and Clement spent four hours a day painstaking applying all the make-up, appliances, texture before coming to shoot. And when we were all done at the end of the day they had to stay for at least another hour to take it off. For those of you keeping score at home that is 5 hours a day, on top of 12 hour shooting days. Those among you who are so closed-minded that you can't fathom anyone else playing the role, you are idiots. So much time and effort put into bringing Freddy back and you dismiss him before you've seen his efforts, it's just stupidity. See what we've done and then pass judgment; but there isn't a person out there who can tell me Jackie isn't a terrifying, inspired, awesome Freddy. I am grateful to Bloody Disgusting for its early support of that idea and can confidently tell you that choice was simply inspired.  Sam Bayer suffered for this movie. He pushed himself so hard that I worried that he couldn't maintain his pace, yet he did. No one had more sleepless nights than Sam - replaying the day's events over and over in his head, questioning how to make it scarier, better. We would often have breakfast together before shooting and he was never content. If he was concerned that he could improve on a scare, he and our first ad, Myron, would figure out our schedule so we could shoot the scene until Sam felt it was as good as it could be. Sam has very high standards and he was unrelenting. He brought all his experience to those nightmares and they are outstanding - if you aren't familiar with his work, check him out on YouTube, he is a great visual artist.Making movies is like riding a unicycle down a steep hill. And when I read this back it seems like this movie was a dream shoot. Not true - we had all sorts of challenges on every level, but what was great about making this film was that we all had the same goal in mind. It really felt like a team effort to get to the finish line. And for me personally, when the end did come I didn't want it to. I know the blog has been quiet lately, but after I've rested a bit I will start posting more. A couple other things. Pay attention to Comic Con, we will have a couple of surprises for you there. If everything goes as planned we will reveal something special there. Also, I am twittering and posted a few behind-the-scenes photos, so keep checking here and Twitter for updates. One, two...  - Brad Fuller Thinking of joining the Springwood Police Department... 2:05pm, May 18, 2009 So last night was one that I won't forget. We've been shooting in Chicago for two weeks and I've got some great stories to tell, but last night was the first time we filmed Freddy - the first time that we saw Jackie with all his wardrobe and make-up. It was insane. Jackie is playing to role with incredible intensity. His Freddy doesn't tell jokes, he is simply terrifying. His make-up is so awesome - obviously there will be elements that you all know so well, but there have been advances in make-up and he truly looks like a burn victim. It is challenging to have a normal conversation with him because he looks so scary. And if that's not enough, he talks with his hands a lot and at one point he pointed to me with the glove and it was terrifying. Today we are shooting in a prison. It's not my first time in a prison, but fortunately every time I've been in one it is because we are shooting there. It's always weird though. The picture you see below is of one of our Springwood police cars and was taken on Friday night when we were shooting a scene when a couple police cars converge on a house. More later.  - Brad Fuller Off to Elm Street (otherwise known as Chicago)... 2:00pm, May 4, 2009  It's deja vu. Here I am at 37 thousand feet listening to Bruce Springsteen on my way to start another film. This is what I do before every production. Tomorrow at 6am Drew and I will be sitting on set with Freddy and the kids he terrorizes. 46 days production days, 9 weeks of real time and when it's over we will have suffered, laughed, bled and worried enough for a lifetime. This being our eight film, we know that making any film is an isolated, limited war like experience, replete with its own camaraderie, battles and losses. And in the end the question of, "was it worth it" will be hotly debated on this and many other web sites. I can promise you this- every single person from the execs at New Line to the PA's care very passionately about Nightmare on Elm Street. While we often get assaulted for simply doing this for the money, I can assure you there are easier films to make with less downside and far less scrutiny. But I come to this incredibly optimistic. Sam Bayer continues to impress me everyday with his passion for telling this story in a visual style that will blow you away. Our script gets better all the time, and things that were discussed and hated here are no longer a part of the story. I am happy to report that pod casting is gone. But part of that script evolution is due to the level of actors we have attracted. From Jackie, to Thomas, Kyle, Rooney, Kellen, Katie to Clancy we have held the highest standards to bring you the best actors. And they are all huge fans. As you know we will be shooting in and around Chicago, where we shot The Unborn last year. It's an amazing city and when you see the locations we found you'll understand why we chose this city to base Elm Street. It will be an exhausting movie with 7 weeks of night shoots. Which get harder every year for me. I am getting too old to stay up all night. Nonetheless, it is my intention to be there for every frame shot and will bring you all the info I can and maybe some things I shouldn't. Check back here frequently as I intend to post as often as humanly possible. As always I rely on you for your input and thoughts- know it makes a difference- We will be out there busting our asses to bring you something amazing!! - Brad Fuller 'Elm Street' casting begins... Jackie Earle Haley is your new Freddy Krueger. 5:08pm, April 5, 2009  There is no one who knows the hatred and distain of horror fans better than I do. I also have learned a great deal from the comments I read, especially here at BD. The fans here are very insightful and passionate and I find it very helpful to read the feedback.It should come as no surprise then that Jackie Earle Haley is playing Freddy Krueger. He was the only person we ever considered for the role. He was BD's first choice and there were many times during the negotiation that I came here and just looked at the fans casting ideas and realized that he was ONLY person who could play the role. We can't make all the fans happy, but those of you who are open to a new version of the Nightmare story have to be as excited as we are. Come on people, an Academy Award Nominated actor is playing Krueger. This was no small accomplishment, but everyone involved wanted it to happen. We all know that Jackie is an unbelievable actor, but I want to let you in on something you might not know. Sam, Drew and I had drinks with Jackie and were elated to learn that he is just like us. He is a huge fan of horror, and well aware of the rightful place Freddy Krueger holds in the horror pantheon. Quite simply, he knows what he has to do, and is very up to the task. On Monday we start the process of "creating" Freddy's makeup. Jackie is going in to have his contact lenses fit as well as a head cast created so we can create the make up to fit perfectly on his face. Normally I don't go to these fittings, but I am so excited about this film, I don't want to miss anything. I won't be able to take pictures but I will post later in the week to tell you how it went. Just a few lines about Sam Bayer. He is so thrilled about taking all the years of experience he has in making breathtaking images and turning it into a horrifying film. He is uncompromising and a perfectionist. I am loving working with him because he cares so much, that I feel like we are all in good, safe hands. Now that we have our Freddy I am very focused on casting the rest of the movie. Our first actor cast, Kyle Gallner starred in A Haunting In Connecticut. We didn't have the luxury of seeing the film before we cast him, but his audition was so impressive that everyone at the studio and Bay signed off on him the same day he auditioned. It was one of the few times that someone got the role in the room. He has set a very high bar for the remaining actors. I hope to have more casting news very soon. There are lots of rumors floating around, but the best place to get the real skinny is on this blog or the BD homepage, so keep coming back, because I intend to post frequently. Jackie Earle Haley in 'Watchmen' - Brad Fuller Reflecting back on a killer weekend, can you say sequel? 4:48am, February 16, 2009  It's 5am Sunday morning and my house is very quiet - Mrs. Fuller and kids are fast asleep and I have some time to process. This is a huge weekend for horror and a bigger weekend for Jason. Not only did the fans come out to see the film (love it or hate it) but an entire new audience seemed to enjoy Jason also. Friday 13th had the highest opening night a slasher/horror movie has ever had. As you all know Drew, Bay and I worked till the final moment on this film and are thrilled with this outcome.Couple of things to go over... First of all, you can bet your ass that we want to do a sequel - I have said that a number of times, but now we have evidence to support that desire. My first call on Tuesday will be to all of the people we worked with at the studios to get moving on another Friday 13th movie. We loved making this one, and already have some thoughts about the next one. I have spoken to Derek (who plays Jason) and we all want to work together again, so I feel very strongly that he will be back. I also know who I want to write it, and will get into that later. I hope to make some announcements about a sequel very soon. On a side not, here is something that really pisses me off. As you know, I read everything so I can truly give our audience what they are looking for in our films. We all know that we can't make everyone happy, but we can at least process the information and see how we can use it. That is why I read every review of the film. Now, I never expect to get good reviews on any of our films, although the New York Times has been favorable to us. The reviews for this film were mostly horrible which is fine, but something was written that really bothered me. Some reviews said that we only made this movie for the money. My lifelong dream was to be a movie producer and I have been a lifelong horror fan so I love my job, but I wouldn't do it for free. In the same way that the reviewers who tear our movies apart don't write their stupid reviews for free. So to say that we do what we do for the money is just as stupid as saying that our movie isn't scary or that is looks horrible. It is time to focus on Freddy. As you know, we hired Samuel Bayer to direct and if you don't know his work you should YouTube him. He is amazing. We start scouting for locations next week and I will update you accordingly. More importantly for you horror fans, this is a weekend to rejoice. Our beloved Jason came back to life (again) and he slaughtered the competition. In doing that he also reaffirmed that horror movies are a real business, and one that needs to be taken seriously. For that I am truly grateful to you. - Brad Fuller Friday the 13th a week away... some DVD news! 7:11pm, February 8, 2009  It has been a busy weekend. Drew and I spent Saturday at Comic-Con, in New York with Derek and Jared. It was amazing. Derek went into this weekend as a virtually unknown actor and came out of it unable to walk freely without being asked for pictures and autographs. Jared, the consummate professional, and great guy, has a fan base from Supernatural and as such is very comfortable with all the attention. Nonetheless, both Jared and Derek authentically want to interact with the fans and have great interest in what the fans have to say. We all were very pleased what the fans had to say at Comic Con.Last night, at the Empire 25 in Times Square we screened the movie for the first time in front of an audience. It was an amazing experience. The audience loved the movie. I couldn't have asked for a more receptive audience. They were terrified- at one point I was in the restroom and the sounds of the people screaming at Jason could be heard all the way in the bathroom. As many of you know Mama Voorhees and young Jason are now in the movie- due to fan response. Well, the fans were right, and the scenes plays very well. There are two other scenes that we changed substantially from the "test cut". I don't want to give any spoilers away here, but I am curious if you can figure it which two scenes I am talking about? Tonight (Monday) is the premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. We wish we could have given Bloody-Disgusting more tickets but the demand for tickets from all the studios (there are three) and more than 13 cast members and crew limited our ability to get everyone who wanted to be there- in. On a personal note this is a special premiere for me because for the first time my wife and I have decided to allow our oldest son to see my work. My mother, on the other hand is not allowed. This movie is way to hardcore for her. We are finishing up on the Unrated DVD this week. That DVD will rock! We have a different cut of movie, that not only has more violence and sex, but it has an additional storyline that is totally different from the movie you will see in theaters. Its not like we just cut a few things differently, the DVD version will feel like a different movie. For those of you who love the theatrical cut, that will also be on the DVD also. Looking forward to the rest of the week, we are having a screening in Austin on Thursday. We shot the movie there and it feels only fitting to show it there. If you can't be in Austin in many cities there will be 12:01 showings on Thursday night. As I have said many times, I am very proud of Friday 13th and appreciate your support from the day we started working on it. I will be living on this board starting Thursday and look forward to your comments. As of Friday I will be moving to Elm Street. - Brad Fuller Second to final Friday the 13th blog post, then it's off to Springwood... 2:22pm, January 25, 2009 At some point you just have to let go.  After a two-year journey with Jason Voorhees I am finally at that point. There is really nothing left to do. The trailer is out there, and in New York and Los Angeles that hockey mask is on billboards, bus shelters and buses. If you are watching TV at all you are probably seeing our commercials. But there are more (different one's) coming! I saw two commercials yesterday that, I think, are the best we've ever had. Speaking of the best, I really mean what I am about to say... Friday 13 is my favorite movie of all of the movies we've made. Now I know you haters will have problems with things such as the pine needles being too green or that we had Jablonsky create an amazing score, but here is the fact... If you are truly a fan of horror movies, and specifically Friday the 13 movies, you need to see the new one. It's badass. Hell yes Jason runs. You better believe his machete is huge (there are a bunch of people to kill). And the scares work. I've seen this movie with an audience and I am telling you there were some people who were so scared they kept their hands over their eyes the entire film, and those who didn't were squirming in their seat. So let me know what you think of the commercials, billboards or anything else. I think I will write once more to update you on Comic-Con New York and then, ladies and gents, we are all Freddy, all the time! - Brad Fuller The Unborn a 'scary' PG-13? We hope so! Your feedback is helping with Freddy's return to Elm Street... 1:13am, January 5, 2009  As you know, I pay close attention to what people say online. I have learned a great deal about what the fans expect and how we can best make films that you, the fans respond to. I am fully aware that there is a severe prejudice against PG-13 horror films. And frankly, I totally get it. Believe me, nobody loves a good decapitation more than I do. But I am also freaked out by unsettling imagery and situations. Sometimes spilling tons of blood can be a crutch when you can't think of anything better. That is why in some ways a PG-13 horror film can be more challenging to make than an R-rated one. The closet shot in The Ring freaked me out and though The Shining was rated R the sound of the big wheel going down the hall in the Overbrook Hotel still gives me that uncomfortable feeling we all go to the movies for. A lack of blood doesn't always equate to a lack of scares.This is why we decided to make The Unborn. Drew, Michael and I wanted to challenge ourselves and see if we can scare people without blood. For us, it was about making a film that delivered the same level of scare with imagery and situations as our other more violent films. And who better to come up with exciting imagery than David Goyer. Goyer sold us the movie by showing us a photograph of dog with the upside down head. And believe me, that shot was virtually impossible to perfect. Thankfully, Satan lent us one of his actually inverted headed dogs for the sequence. But Goyer made it his mission to come up with a number of freaky situations and are so unsettling you won't easily forget them. The Unborn is full of horrifying situations and terrifying imagery. I'm not a fool, and I know that it won't be popular (especially here at Bloody-Disgusting) to admit that The Unborn is a scary film, but it is. You can't dismiss the Goyer brain and all that it has come up, with and I urge you to go see the Unborn to see how scary a PG-13 can be. In just a few days you will start to see the ads for Friday 13th. We did air one during a hockey game, but the campaign will really kick in next week. There are a few fan-made commercials out there so beware the imitators. We are planning to go to Comic-con in New York in February and are now trying to figure out what we will be showing. Finally, thank you one and all for the all the great feedback on what is important for you in a Nightmare On Elm Street movie. I am learning from you and hope to make a film that includes any key elements that are discussed here. 2009 will be a great year for horror and during these challenging times we have support all the horror movies so the studios keep making them. - Brad Fuller The Voorhees Family Reunion 3:52pm, December 24, 2008  Here we go - it feels like two chapters of our lives are coming to a close and another is about start. 'The Unborn' opens in a little over two weeks and if you haven't started seeing commercials for it - you will soon. As soon as new years rolls around you'll start seeing commercials for 'Friday 13th'. By now I hope that you have been able to find the standee in your local theater. It is awesome and allows you to get your picture taken with Mr. Voorhees. If not you can see it at VictimsofJasonVoorhees on Facebook. I am very proud of both films, though they are vastly different. I hope you will see both and let me know what you think. Input from fans is very important to us. And, now I can safely say that partly because of what people wrote on this site that Ms. Voorhees and young Jason are DEFINITELY in the movie. Just so we are clear, when we tested the film we couldn't put the scene in the cut, because we weren't happy with the cut of it. Now we are and I think it works really well. I have read some concerns about our score. Steve Jablonsky has scored most of our movies as well as Transformers. He has created an amazing score that draws from the original and includes the KiKi-MaMa. I have no problem with haters, but hate after you've had a chance to see the movie - not before. It is amazing how many haters there are out there. If you are really a fan of horror films and Friday 13th specifically wouldn't you at least want to see Jason again? On to 'Elm Street' - As many of you know we have been chasing that one for two years. We have been obsessed with Freddy and are so thrilled to be a part of bringing him back. We have been reading the boards to see what people are looking for and certainly taking that into account. The 'Nightmare' films are complex and conceptually very challenging. We don't come to this movie ignorant of Freddy's place in the horror pantheon. As such we will not make this film until New Line and we feel that story we are telling is worthy. I just want to dispel a couple of rumors. Billy Bob Thornton, who has worked with Bay before and we all love, has not been discussed for the role of Freddy. But no one has because we don't have the final version of the script yet. Once we do then we will start having casting discussions. Additionally, Robert Englund is an amazing actor and it is our hope that he will be in the film, but again, we can't consider that until we have a completed script. I wish you all happy holidays and will write when I have additional news. - Brad Fuller Busy, busy, busy... 9:13pm, December 7, 2008  So it has been quite a long time since I have written. Drew and I have been slammed with finishing up both movies- and will be working right up till New Years Eve to finish everything. But I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your support. I really mean that. The Unborn trailer has been so well received, and frankly we couldn't be happier with it. The challenge for us on The Unborn was to create a horrifying PG-13 movie. We couldn't dip into our usual bag of tricks - spraying body parts to create scares. Goyer's script did have amazing imagery- and that was what attracted us to it. But Drew and I would spend many hours debating whether Eli Walker (the old man) was scary enough- or if a scary kid digging into Odette's stomach would freak people out. It was a risk for us, but it feels like people are responding to the trailer, and I can assure you that the TV campaign will provide even more scary moments. Look for those commercials around Christmas.Jason Voorhees is back, and now you know what he (and we've) been up to. That trailer hit the web on Friday and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Since the day we started Friday 13th, we've liked the idea of bringing back the countdown trailer, from the original. Bill Neil, who along with Michael Jones, created that trailer are fans, like us. They understood how important it was to be true to the original, but at the same time bring it into 2009. Most of you have seen a couple of our movies and know how much we love horror films. So let me ask you this question. Would we create a trailer that gives away every kill??? Let me remind you - this isn't our first time to the barbeque. I've also read much of feedback on the poster. We went through 50 different concepts to arrive at the one you'll see in theaters - and all the things I've read were things we considered. Is the machete to long- or too short? Is Jason's neck too wide? In the end, we love the imagery and quite simply- feel that Jason looks terrifying. I want to let you in on something- and Warner Bros. would kill me if I give too much away, but suffice to say that the poster isn't the only imagery you'll be seeing for the movie - and what is coming will blow you away. It is coming soon and when you see it - you'll know what I am talking about. As we get closer I am going to try to write more, but keep posting, because I read everything. - Brad Fuller Preparing for the San Diego Comic Con! 7:19pm, July 24, 2008 Greetings from Santa Monica- I know that it has been a while since I have posted, and the blame rest squarely on David Goyer and Marcus Nispel's shoulders. Both "The Unborn" and "Friday the 13th" kicked my ass with 12 weeks of night shoots between them. I needed to rest and rejuvenate. Now I have and have much to report. First and most importantly let's discuss Comic-Con. I have been mum on the subject because I didn't know exactly what was going on. Now I do, and want to share it with you. Andrew Form, Derek Mears, Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti and I will be conducting a "Friday the 13th" panel at Comic Con Sunday at 1:00pm in Ballroom 20. During that panel we will have many surprises, and we will be showing a teaser that we created for Comic-Con. Keep in mind the movie wrapped a month ago so the editing process has just begun. Having said that I think you will be happy with the teaser, and it will certainly clear up some Jason confusion about the film. I want to warn you that our teaser will be hardcore like the film. We will be doing a Q & A also. Right after the "Friday the 13th" panel Rogue will be presenting two films. One of which is our other film, "The Unborn." David Goyer, Odette Yustman, Meagan Good, and Cam Gigadent will be there to discuss the film. Andrew Form and I will be there also. Goyer is planning a reel, but as of today we are still working on some of the shots. That film has a couple of effects shots that we are working hard to include in the reel and right now it is a race against the clock to get some of those shots completed. "The Unborn" is coming along very nicely, it is a very scary film. I know that expectations are high for Goyer, but he exceeds them. We are working toward our next film, but the threatened actors strike is making it hard to get a film up and running right now. As soon as I know what we are doing next, I will reveal it here. If you are at Comic-Con and see Andrew or myself please come up and introduce yourself. - Brad Fuller Happy Friday the 13th! Here's a look at Jason Voorhees' mask!! 4:51pm, June 13, 2008  Ok, Ok Ok... it's finally here.... it's Friday The 13th and the last day of the production schedule... so first things first. I am truly grateful for all the feedback to my blogs and in honor of today's special date here is a photo of the hero mask in it's carrying case, where Scott Stoddard, our special effects make-up artist, keeps it safely secured when its not covering Jason's gruesome features.I can't help but be reflective now that we are at the end of this long and sometimes perilous journey in bringing Mr. Voorhees back to the big screen. I am not going to sugar coat things. These last few days have been challenging. Poor Amanda Righetti - she is just flat out getting brutalized, but she is so committed and stays in character from the moment she walks on set to the moment she wraps. It's actually painful to watch. Yesterday she was screaming and crying for 14 hours straight, when it was over she was so spent and totally depleted, but her work will have audiences on the edge of there seats. Next on the pain brigade is Derek Mears, but for a totally different reason. Derek's prosthetic make-up requires a bunch of glue in order to keep in place on his body and face. At the end of a 14 hour day, it becomes very painful removing the glue and Derek's face is has become increasingly raw and red as a tomato from the process. He claims he is using the pain to fuel Jason's rage - but I feel really bad for him because in these final days he has had to endure getting it ripped off twice a day. And finally, there's Jared Padalecki, who spent two nights getting his face smashed through a pane of glass over and over. If any of you went to the Dallas "Supernatural" Convention you probably noticed all of the cuts on his nose and forehead. What impressed me the most though was that each of these actors never, ever complained. Their level of commitment is appreciated and commendable and will pay off on spades come Friday, February 13th, 2009. A quick note, I owe an apology to writers Shannon and Swift. I mistakenly wrote that Kyle Davis had ad libbed a line that they actually wrote. That's how good a line they wrote. Anyway, keep checking back as I will continue to update through post production... where the fun really begins! HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH... - Brad Fuller Take a trip with me to Camp Crystal Lake... 2:05pm, June 11, 2008  Greetings from Camp Crystal Lake. I told you I would try and leak out a photo now and then, so here is a sneak peak at the Camp Crystal Lake sign! (Click the image to see it larger)We deliberated for a long time about what that sign would look like cause we wanted it to be really creepy. The photo was shot on set in Bastrop, Texas, where for the next couple of days we are shooting a couple of death scenes. One is an homage to one of my favorite kills and the other involves a machete, someone's skull and third degree burns. These are very important kills as I have Guy Stodel from New Line and Dan Levine from Paramount here just to make sure. Talk about pressure! For the role of Donnie in the film, we brought back an actor who we loved in The Hitcher- Kyle Davis. He was so hilarious as the clerk in the convenience store we asked screenwriters Shannon and Swift to write a role for him. Kyle was great and always comes up with some hilarious lines. This week's gem was,"Came this close to hitting the start button on the wup ass machine Boy!" You will laugh your ass off at him. We are entering the final week of the film here and Friday, June 13th is coming soon... what a night on set that will be... stay tuned!!! - Brad Fuller Why THIS Friday the 13th is important! 6:57pm, June 2, 2008 Are you superstitious? I am not, but I am a bit freaked that the last day of the shooting schedule is falling on Friday, June 13th. So get this; the movie wraps on Friday the 13th and then the movie opens on the next Friday the 13th on the calendar, which is Friday, February 13th, 2009. Is that enough bad luck for you? Now we have two weeks left to shoot and anything could happen with the schedule, but it has become a crew wide mandate to wrap on that Friday the 13th. It's a point of pride... So with two weeks left, let's recap. At this point the kills are now in double digits and span the gamut from blood filled and drawn out to quick and surprising. We have kills that fans will recognize, but we have added a twist or three - some kills that you have never seen before. The kids in this film also have a lot of fun... drinking, smoking weed and having sex. There are tons of all three. And finally we have the big man with the machete. We have worked hard to create a Jason who is a cold blooded killing machine and Derek Mears has brought so much more to the iconic character. Derek, at his core is a huge horror geek and is constantly asking himself... "Would Jason do that?". It really elevates the film to have an actor who has so much respect for the character and franchise and is always concerned about keeping the character true to its roots. In fact, he is so committed that he got married during the shoot and only missed one day. Watch out because there is a Mrs. Voorhees who is owed a honeymoon... - Brad Fuller So, who is playing young Jason Voorhees? Actors shed a little blood for the camera... 1:55am, May 15, 2008  Greetings from Crystal Lake! First let's reveal something here that I don't think anyone knows. Young Jason Voorhees is being played by Caleb Guss (pictured). The make-up is awesome, freaky and true to the original. Though he only worked a few days - the imagery adds a very disturbing depth to the character. A couple of other things; first of all it feels like we are getting great footage, but in exchange our actors are paying the price with their blood. In order of blood spilled, Aaron Yoo just returned to set after a week in the hospital. The fine doctors here split him down the middle and repaired an obstruction in his intestine and now he is sporting 27 staples holding together his abdomen. Not optimal to say the least. Especially considering today's work required him to fall to the ground out of the back of an Escalade. Yoo is a trooper; he bravely endured the pain that forced him to lie down after he was done to make sure he didn't disembowel himself. In the back of my head I wondered if his insides spilled out should we shoot it and figure out how to work it into the movie. That is how horror movies screw with your head... Second episode of blood spilling claimed the lovely Danielle Panabaker. She, of an easy smile and easygoing spirit, commits every time, especially in scenes that require full speed running. Last night we were shooting a scene where Travis Van Winkle and Danielle are running full speed down a narrow hall, they got tangled up and Danielle's chin collided with the hard edge of the window sill leaving her down for the count. She was out cold for a minute with a bloody chin... she's a tough girl and was willing to come back the next day to shoot, but we adjusted our schedule to accommodate her ailing chin. In addition, two other actors bit the dust for various reasons as well, so three weeks in we have had four "episodes". But I can assure you what happens to them on camera will be much worse... - Brad Fuller Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake! Let's get started with a picture... 7:38pm, May 12, 2008 Greetings from Crystal Lake; I have been waiting two years to say that!  Bay, Form and I decided long ago that the opportunity to remake FRIDAY THE 13TH was only worthwhile if we could do it right. Along the way to this balmy night outside Austin, Texas there is a wide swath of discarded scripts, fired actors, and wardrobe pictures that would have been the subject of endless berating amongst the online community. But through it all we remained focused on the path to attempt to produce a great horror film, worthy of its lineage. And tonight, my fourth on set, but the first that brought me face to face with Mr. Voorhees in all his glory - I can tell you without hesitation that every minute of frustration, pain and misery was worth it - really worth it, because tonight Jason Vorhees scared the shit out of me. No, he didn't threaten me with that huge machete; all he did was look into the camera and every hair on my body stood up. Derek Mears captures the best of the all the Jason's and injects the character with his own element of tangible menace.In this movie you will see a feral, brutal Jason who is hell-bent on killing in astonishing ways. And tonight our director, Marcus Nispel, constructed a shot of Jason as he is about to strike... that is when I got scared. The shot is iconic in its construction. It's our "Batman" or "Spiderman" shot and when you see the movie you will know exactly what I am talking about. It is the single shot that tells you everything you need to know about Jason. I so badly want to post that image right here and now, but if I did even Jason couldn't protect me from the army of lawyers and execs who would want to kill me. But here is what I will do! I am working hard to get pictures from the set and my present to you is the first ever behind-the-scenes photo from FRIDAY THE 13TH! The image shows my partner, Andrew Form and me hanging on set in front of a Crystal Lake police car in between set ups. What you are seeing is the before version of the car - the after version has considerably more blood and broken glass. But, let's start slow, get the suits used to me leaking stuff here on my blog and see how far we can take it. Sound good? One more thing - I am working with Bloody-Disgusting on introducing you to each cast member via my video blog. So check back soon! Note: Click the image to see it much larger! - Brad Fuller Final thoughts on Unborn -- Friday the 13th here we come! 5:17pm, May 8, 2008 I am sitting in the cabin of Los Angeles bound 767 after completing "The Unborn" in Chicago. It is always a bizarre feeling when you wrap a movie. You go into it with so many expectations. Wanting so badly to make sure everything works out perfectly. When it is over some of your expectations were exceeded and some weren't. But here is the thing... there is no such thing as perfect when you make a movie. There are pleasant surprises and horrible dilemmas and everything in between. Under the heading of pleasant surprises comes shooting an exorcism scene in a place everyone felt was haunted. The bizarre occurrences at that setting created an authenticity that seemed to elevate the sequence to a level none of us could have imagined. The ghosts running around that place saw to it that we experienced an earthquake, power outage, exploding lights and general freakiness so that by the time we were shooting the actual exorcism, it felt like Gary Oldman and Idris Elba were actually exorcising that building. When you see the scene in the film I know audiences will feel it. Other pleasant surprises was putting Odette Yustman in the lead and watching her shine beyond everyone's expectations and truly become the heart and soul of the film. She was a total sport whose unwavering passion for the project found herself covered in bugs (that actually stung), disgusting slime, running around in skimpy outfits in sub freezing Chicago winter weather and in one scene actually let another actor put an external eye speculum... (it was painful to see done... you may remember it from "A Clockwork Orange") in her eye. Yet, through it all - she never, ever complained - always ready to do it again if necessary. Inversely, we found ourselves against horrible obstacles that certainly took their toll. A key member of the production broke his leg (not on set) which led to all sorts of scheduling headaches not, to mention the pain and suffering of dealing with a broken leg. After a particularly grueling scene requiring an infant and a nine-year-old boy to work together, we learned the next day that the film was potentially "flashed" and had to try and recreate a very complex scene. On another occasion half of a days shot footage just disappeared into the shipping world ether... gone (luckily was later found). There were numerous exhausting night shoots with White Castle sliders at 6am for breakfast (grueling, not glamorous). Through it all, the skilled commander of this close knit crew was David Goyer, whose eager smile and unstoppable energy and drive resulted in an engrossing, original story that will scare you and get under your skin... Looking back on it now, I can honestly say that it was a truly gratifying experience and I hope that when you see it you'll feel our efforts were worthwhile. On Wednesday, I will begin six weeks with Jason Voorhees. Already two weeks into production, I can assure you of a couple of things. The cast is awesome and most are hardcore fans of the original series - and as such are committed to making the best Friday the 13th yet. If there were no blood at all in the movie (there is tons) it would get a hard R-rating just for nudity and sexual situations alone. And finally, and most importantly Jason Voorhees is a bloodthirsty maniac with a knack for killing in new and original ways that will satisfy even the most hardcore gore hound. Please check back here often as I will update frequently and try to sneak some photos of the goings on from camp Crystal Lake. - Brad Fuller I can now officially say that I believe in ghosts! 5:56pm, April 24, 2008 I realize that most people will think what I am about to say is total bullshit. That is fine, and I expect it, but what I am writing about tonight is based on my experience over the last few days. We are shooting The Unborn tonight at an abandoned college an hour outside of Chicago. I have been told that the property used to contain Indian effigy mounts. During the Civil War, soldiers were housed here and later it became a Catholic school where three girls died. Now it is an abandoned college that is due for demolition. For the last 4 days we have been shooting an exorcism scene for the film in which the words that Gary Oldman chants are directly from the Old Testament. During this time, I have come to the conclusion that this place is haunted... before I came here I wasn't a believer, but over the course of this past week so many odd things have happened that I can't dismiss what is going on. When we shot here a couple of weeks ago I heard footsteps walking down the hall above where we were shooting - problem is the floor above us was sealed off and it would have been impossible for someone to gain access to that area. There also have been multiple sightings of "ghosts"... Some crew members have seen bright lights in places where there is no electricity. Another crew member told me that he saw a "torso in shadow". The final straw was Yuriy Chernin, a set PA's who went up to the fourth floor with two other PA's (Senica Billingsley & Mike Zeller) who both claim they see unexplainable things "all the time" up there (we are only shooting on the first and second floor). The picture you are looking at was taken of Senica & Mike as they were walking the halls of the fourth floor late last night. Yuriy took the photo just as Mike (on the right) said he felt a coldness come over him as the hair stood up on his neck. They showed me the picture right after they took it, which eliminated the Photoshop option. Is it a ghost?? - you tell me.... but as I keep looking at it, and it looks more and more like hands from a torso about to grab them. There is an attic in this building (above the fourth floor) that no one on the crew has been bold enough to venture up to, yet... Click the image to see it super-sized  - Brad Fuller Chicago QUAKES During Unborn Exorcism! 9:30pm, April 21, 2008 Greetings from Chicago - a wonderful place to make a movie and terrifying place to have an exorcism. I am here shooting "The Unborn," which was born in David Goyer's brain and is being skillfully directed by him. Tonight we are shooting one of the climatic scenes in the film in which Gary Oldman and Idris Elba are conducting an exorcism. We are shooting on location at an old abandoned chapel with cracked stained glass windows, peeling paint and ruptured floors. The place feels like it belongs in a World War 2 aftermath scene. Now before I go on, I want to remind you that I have shot films in unsettling places before. I am convinced that the house we shot the "Amityville Horror" in was haunted and the Hewitt House from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" had a total of nine people die in it - all by "natural causes" - or so I was told. But I digress. So tonight we are shooting this scene -- it's 3:30 in the morning and we are all exhausted. Lights are flickering, wind is blowing and Gary Oldman is trying to be heard above all the chaos. It feels so real that those of us seated in front of the monitors were freaked out and thrilled at the same time. Goyer painstakingly recreated this exorcism rite from the Old Testament. The words Gary Oldman is saying are directly from the Old Testament and since we are running the scene all the way thru in each take, I found myself completely wrapped up in the scene. For a second I forgot we were filming a movie, and then the room started to shake... I am not screwing around here, the room shook, chandeliers swayed, and our 25 foot long lighting balloon exploded - sending shards of glass raining down! Chicago, along with neighboring cities throughout Illinois and Indiana, were experienced the second largest earthquake in the history of these parts. Now you can say that it's a coincidence that we had a 5.2 magnitude earthquake while shooting our exorcism scene - but when you finally see the scene, you'll know why the actors look so freaked out, and why am writing this blog from the safety of a particularly hardy doorway. - Brad Fuller Welcome To Platinum Dunes 2:15pm, April 13, 2008 I have been a fan of Bloody-Disgusting for a long time. Though the site hasn't always loved what we do at Platinum Dunes, I admire its devotion to the genre that we all love. I have spent countless hours reading comments and there have been many times when input from BD readers have had impact on our films. Being in the remake business certainly opens us up to criticism and scrutiny and we welcome that. So, for this, my first post I want to discuss ratings. And specifically the rating of our remake of Friday 13th. Everytime I read something about the movie people suggest that it might be a PG-13 film. I ask YOU Bloody Disgusting reader, how could it be? In fact, none of our remakes have been PG-13. How do you remake a rated R horror movie and take the guts out literally and figuratively? What is F13 without sex, drugs and really, really long sharp machete? And why would we, horror fans ourselves, produce a movie devoid of the things that made the title so appealing in the first place. So let me say for the record, that the F13 that we start shooting this Thursday is a full bodied, rated R film. It has insane kills that will be shown in all their glory- it has a group of college students who drink and even have sex. We are betting that if we don't hold back that the audience will reward us for being bold in a time when some horror movies are playng the ratings game. So we embrace the R rating Friday the 13th will have, and hope you will too. I hope that as production progresses you will come to rely on this blog as the place to come for all things F13. I welcome your comments and thoughts. - Brad Fuller |
This is the official blog page for Brad Fuller. Platinum Dunes has produced The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Amityville Horror, The Hitcher, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning and the forthcoming Unborn, Horsemen, Friday the 13th, The Birds and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Watch this spot for inside stories, scoops, first looks and more!
OLDER NEWS NOES trailer response overwhelming, a few questions answered, Friday 2 or 13? Posted October 1, 2009 So, where's that Comic Con trailer? Posted July 28, 2009 Now we're back on track... Posted July 24, 2009 Before we talk Comic Con.... Posted July 20, 2009 It's a wrap, the new Elm Street is in the can! Posted July 12, 2009 Thinking of joining the Springwood Police Department... Posted May 18, 2009 Off to Elm Street (otherwise known as Chicago)... Posted May 4, 2009 'Elm Street' casting begins... Jackie Earle Haley is your new Freddy Krueger. Posted April 5, 2009 Reflecting back on a killer weekend, can you say sequel? Posted February 16, 2009 Friday the 13th a week away... some DVD news! Posted February 8, 2009 Second to final Friday the 13th blog post, then it's off to Springwood... Posted January 25, 2009 The Unborn a 'scary' PG-13? We hope so! Your feedback is helping with Freddy's return to Elm Street... Posted January 5, 2009 The Voorhees Family Reunion Posted December 24, 2008 Busy, busy, busy... Posted December 7, 2008 Preparing for the San Diego Comic Con! Posted July 24, 2008 Happy Friday the 13th! Here's a look at Jason Voorhees' mask!! Posted June 13, 2008 Take a trip with me to Camp Crystal Lake... Posted June 11, 2008 Why THIS Friday the 13th is important! Posted June 2, 2008 So, who is playing young Jason Voorhees? Actors shed a little blood for the camera... Posted May 15, 2008 Welcome to Camp Crystal Lake! Let's get started with a picture... Posted May 12, 2008 NOW ON DVD
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