Just the other day I got to talk with director Stig Svendsen on the indie thriller Elevator . Now, continuing with that coverage, I've had the opportunity to interview Marc Rosenberg. Marc is the writer and producer of Elevator. We got a chance to talk about the film and his relationship with Stig. As well, Marc talked about his influences, future projects and whether or not he ever plans to become that triple-threat guy by taking a seat in the director's chair. You can read the full interview below.
JL: In a script like this, there appears to be a lot of subtext, both social and political commentary. What sort of message or point are you trying to convey through this?
MR: I wish there was something deep and meaningfulful I could say, but really my main concern was creating an entertaining movie with the budgetary and logistic challenges we had. I do read the news and I have life experience, so that inadvertently becomes my resource material.
JL: How was working with Stig Svendsen? How do you feel he did in contributing to convey your story and message on the screen as you intended in your writing?
MR: The only way a writer can hope to convey a message, if there is one, is to find a director that has similar reference points and is open minded. I could never make Stig tell my story without it being his story. While writers hate to hear this, film is a director's medium. I always hope the director likes the script enough that he or she will want to know my reasoning and to meld this with their own understanding of the world. If a director changes something in the script, I want to be sure they know the ramifications of that change. They might make it better than I imagine, I always hope they can. Stig and I like similar movies and that became the basis of our working relationship and friendship – that, a sense of humor and a love of drink. Stig did an amazing job – we captured 'lightning in a bottle'.
JL: You mention you and Stig share a similar taste in movies. What are some of your favorite movies? If you're anything like me your Top 5 change on a regular basis and it's too hard to narrow it down like that anyways. However, just off the top of your head what are some that you've really enjoyed?
MR: Both Stig and I love stylish films, films with a lot of panache. I think he's more open-minded than me. We love "Psycho," the way it's edited, the boldness of it and Polanski's "The Tenant," the way he combines humor with horror. More recently, I was taken by "Two Lovers" as a beautiful and powerful character piece, I loved Mike Lee's "Happy Go Lucky" as something totally refreshing and charming, and "The Visitor" appeared to me. I like intelligent movies. I do not go to the cinema as much as I used to, and arrogantly, I pretty much feel I've seen "everything," and there's not much that will surprise me anymore. I walked out of "Transformers," which surprised me until I found myself walking out of "Sherlock Holmes," too. The "knee-jerk" films do not entertain me; they're soul-less.
JL: Well, with so many layers and seemingly underlying commentary and such interesting characters, 'Elevator' definitely does not seem like it will be falling into the soul-less category. How do you feel the cast did in painting all the layers of the film being as so much rides on the characters in a movie like this?
MR: I believe the players we chose, or who chose us, did a spectacular job under fairly grueling conditions. They were asked to spend 12 hours a day in a confined space. They did it for the challenge and were amazing at carving out their individual stories. I was constantly reminded to never underestimate a professional.
JL: How do you approach a project? Do you like to take control? Or do you like to sit back and try to let the director command the project while you are behind him / her for support and the good of the film?
MR: I did not use to be a very good cheerleader, but over time I've come to see the value in it. I would prefer to be with a strong director, and once I've made the choice to work with them, I want to support them in every way I can. I used to nitpick, but it's pointless and no fun at all. I think, for the most part, all the bitching and moaning that can go on coming from insecurity. I'd like to think I'm past that, I do not choose to be a victim. If I want more control, as I did on "Elevator," I produce, and in this case, invest. It does not mean that I always get my way, but people pretend to listen.
JL: Stig Svendsen has said you're very much one of these producers that are all about the good of the film. How much of this stems from you being a writer? On some level, is it hard for you to take criticism during filming on a project that you've vested so much time in as a writer?
MR: I've been a writer for 30 years and I've worked with the kind of producers you'd never want to work with again. I did not want to be that producer, the one that treats creative people like irresponsible children. I've always thought the goal of a quality producer is to make the best film possible, and once you've chosen your key personnel, you have to trust them as professionals to do the job they've been hired for. One of the first things I told the production department was my distaste for the boundaries between production and creative. We're all creative and we all have something to contribute to the final film. If a second AD can make an actor happier, that does not help the film? I believe it worked, we built a trust.
As far as my relationship with Stig goes, he looks me out of my cynicism. In casting, he'd always go to the top. My first thought was, we have not got a snowball's chance in Hell, but then I'd think, "Why not?" If I could see the benefit in anything the crew wanted and we could find a way to pay for it, I'd try to get it. We were all pulling on the same end of the rope.
JL: Being as how I'm sure you have such a vested interest with your screenplays, how does it differ for you being able to serve as producer on a project as well? Being able to have more control over the whole process as opposed to such films as 'December Boys' where you have to just sit back and let another director and producer flesh it out on screen.
MR: I was very involved with "December Boys," because I was friends with the director and I promised not to be a nuisance. Sometimes it does not work out that way and it's not much fun. On "Elevator" I wanted as much control as I could get. I wanted to sink or swim based on my own efforts. It's exhilarating and frightening in equal measure. I was very, very lucky to be surrounded by people who were smart and generous. I may be different than most writers, but once I finish a script, I'm not that invested, it's almost like someone else had written it. I still want the check sent to me.
JL: What's it like for you watching your writing adapted on screen? I would think about some level, as much time as you put into it, a screenplay becomes something like your baby. How is it watching your baby essentially grow up right before your eyes?
MR: That whole concept of it "being my baby" is foreign to me. I was constantly being asked what it felt like, and to be perfectly honest, it just looks like this cousin that I've seen photos of. Perhaps soon on my career I would have been more possessive, but not any more. When I'm writing it, it's fun and challenging, and I put my heart and soul into it, so sometimes when I've finished I'm just spent.
JL: You talk about wanting to have as much control as you could on "Elevator" and how that "sink or swim on your own efforts" is exhilarating for you. With that in mind, have you thought about ever making that final leap and take a seat in the director's chair as well? Maybe at some point do your own project that you write, produce and direct?
MR: I'm in awe of directors. When I was watching Stig talk about camera angles, deciding on costumes, working out choreography with actors – the confidence you need, it all looks daunting. I did think about directing at one stage, soon after Film School, but I was too influenced by the people around me. I guess that's why writing appeals to me so much – I can be a closet show-off. I have not totally given up the idea of directing but it's not a burning desire.
JL: Speaking of your writing, I've heard that when you and Stig met you let him read a few of your screenplays and 'Elevator' actually was not his first choice. However, due to budgetary restraints y'all were not able to do the one he first chose. What was the original script that Stig was interested in?
MR: The original script was an espionage film set in LA and Venezuela. It's still a possibility, so I do not want to reveal too much.
JL: Do you have any plans to cooperate with Stig again? Maybe to come back to that script at a later time? How would you feel working with him again?
MR: I'd love to work with Stig again, and we have an idea for Harrison Ford. It's another big film.
JL: A Harrison Ford movie huh? That's interesting. Anymore you can tell me on that?
MR: The "Harrison Ford" project is still in the early stages, but deals with a character that makes an unnatural discovery that changes history.
JL: Going back to your and Stig's decision to work together. As I mentioned, the first script Stig wanted was not possible due to budgetary restraints. This results in having to go a much more low-budget route. It sees more and more like indie films and getting recognition these days. With recent hits like Paranormal Activity and Buried, how do you thinkthis bodes for those very low budget filmmakers? How might it affect the industry that's so known for being all about money and being more focused on using big names and huge budgets to typically sell movies?
MR: I believe that there will always be spectacle films, big budget films, but if you're an aspiring film-maker or you want to have more control, you can make high-concept films on a low budget. The market is receptive to indies.
JL: Have you found a distributor for 'Elevator' yet?
MR: We do not have a distributor, and this was by design. When I first pitched the concept to my lawyer, he said he could sell it immediately, but I'd lose control, and that seemed to defeat the whole point of me doing it in the first place.
JL: When might we be seeing Elevator ? Any tentative release date? Any ideas to shop it around at any festivals?
MR: I'm trying to formulate a strategy for getting it seen in the most positive way. My first thought is to take it to Cannes. I want to talk to wiser heads and see what they suggest.
JL: Do you have any other scripts in the works or ideas for what you might be doing next?
MR: I have a big budget film in the works called "The Mennyms," based on a series of books by English author, Sylvia Waugh. The story centers around a family of living dolls fighting to keep their house. Besides that, I've always drawn to the Patricia Highsmith books and would love to adapt one of those. I was not at all happy with the film, "The Talented Mr. Ripley".
JL: Speaking on the admiration of others' works, the concept of 'Elevator' feels real Hitchcockian and you mention your love for 'Psycho', so I'd figure in some ways his films have had an influence on you. What have been some of your biggest influences as a writer?
MR: I read a lot of novels. Patricia Highsmith has been a big influence on me – "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "The Glass Cell," "A Dog's Ransom," etc. There's not one of her books I have not read. I'm still struggling with the classics that most people read in college – "Anna Karinina," etc. I am a huge fan of Chekov, and I think his "A Boring Story" is a masterpiece. I like reading novels set in LA and get a kick out of recognizing the locations. I really think the secret to being a good writer (or filmmaker) is knowing the terrain, not parodying someone else's work, but writing from a personal knowledge. Emotional terrain counts, too. If I were not a screenwriter, I'd love to write a novel. Most screenwriters turned novelists are pretty average.
JL: "The Mennyms." Anymore you can tell me on that? You say that's in the works, how far in the works are we talking here?
MR: I've written about 10 drafts of "The Mennoms", trying to please producers and directors, and now there's someone trying to raise the money. If they can not, I may produce it myself.
JL: Well, I thank you for your time, Marc. It's been very interesting and a pleasure. I look forward to hearing more about 'Elevator' and your future projects.