Castor Troy: What was it like working with Nic Cage – does he have an ego?
Hello! Cage is awesome. Fearless. Willing to try anything. I think they all have egos, but Nic is one of the most generous performers I've ever met.
JamesPrince: Hi Mark, You have said that An American Werewolf in London was a template for Ghost Rider. If in the future you were to remake a movie, which film would it be, why that choice and how would you approach it differently? Thanks.
That's a tough one -- better to remake a dodgy movie than a great one. Last night at dinner I was convincing Nic to do a musical remake of Phantom of the Paradise!
Punchdrunk: Would you ever fight your critics like the recent Uwe Boll boxing Match?
I'd fight Uwe Boll, actually.
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I'm concentrating on the pilot for Preacher right now at HBO. Not good at doing two things at once. And I really, really want Preacher to go.
Mark Steven Johnson
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Peter Griffin: Will your next film after Ghost Rider be a non comic book affair?
Don't know. I'm concentrating on the pilot for Preacher right now at HBO. Not good at doing two things at once. And I really, really want Preacher to go.
Castor Troy: who's your fav director working today? and least favourite?
Favorite director is Steven Spielberg -- I know that's not the cool answer but I don't care. Least favorite? Nah, I don't want to do that. Thanks.
Krayden: Who’s composing the film? I always thought Danny Elfman and John Williams are good for epic films like this would be?
They are excellent. But Christopher Young is doing my score and he's brilliant. He did most of Spider-Man 2 and the Hellraiser movies. Big, epic Western sound.
Scottycent123: Will Preacher be faithul to the comic? What should we expect?
Exactly. Preacher is perfect. It doesn't need any help or reimagining. My job is to be a midwife and protect it with Ennis' help.
TheOnes: When sending Ghost Rider to the BBFC to be rated for its UK release, will you allow them to cut anything out (like head butts or anything stupid like they did to Spider-Man 2 and Star Wars 2) just for age ratings, even though it could mean lower profits?
I have had to make a few trims to make your rating and it's very painful. The transformation scene being one. Unfortunately, I don't get a choice. It's still quite intense but it was a bit more stringent than the rating in the states.
Krayden: What sort of training did Nic have to do for the film?
Mostly visual effects stuff. Lots of scanning and mapping for expressions for the skull and what not. Nic is already a rider but he wanted to do a wheelie and a decent skid stop.
Pav's Labyrinth: If you could do a comic-book hero team-up between Ghost Rider and anyone else, who would you pick?
Hulk. That would be awesome. Or the Dazzler because it would be violent and quick.
Chris Hewitt: Dazzler versus Ghost Rider - it'd be like Hostel, with super powers.
Scottycent123: Can you give me Eva's phone number? of course you can't but what is she like?
She's awesome. Gorgeous and funny. And she falls a lot, which is fun to watch. She just fell down the stairs earlier but held onto a cappucino. It was something to see.
Peter Griffin: Who would win a fight between a Minotaur, a cenotaur & medussa?
Chris Hewitt: I believe the dictionary would win that fight, my friend.
You misspelled Medusa. And Centaur. Good work on Minotaur.
Pav's Labyrinth: Do you believe in ghosts, Mark? If so have you ever seen one and if so what was it like?
Yes. I saw my dead uncle in a seance in Omaha, Nebraska. Not joke. It was fucking terrifying.
TheOnes: What motivated you enough to go out of your way and use your own time to be so nice and generous to the fans over at SHH over the years?
I love SHH. They're who I am making the movie for. I am one of them and I want to include them and all the comic geeks to go on this ride with me.
Nerky: My friend likes Ghost Rider so much, that now he calls himself Johnny Blaze.
If he changes his name to Danny Ketch you should get him help.
JamesPrince: Patience has certainly been one of your strengths throughout the whole process of making Ghost Rider. What things throughout the making of the process really tested your patience?
Finishing the movie. It was a marathon and it's taken over 3 and a half years.
Pav's Labyrinth: I have a script called Goat Rider, about a superhero who rides a farm animal. Would you consider directing?
Isn’t Uwe Boll doing that already?
Punchdrunk: Having Peter Fonda on the cast must have been pretty intimidating. Did you go back and rewatch "Easy Rider" before meeting him?
Yes. We had an Easy Rider party at my apartment with about 20 people and we watched it while he did a commentary and everyone cut loose. It was surreal.
Nerky: Mark, who were your first choices to play Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider?
Nic was attached before I came on board so it was never a question.
Scottycent123: Mark, will you say Scott Chambers is a brilliant film-maker, so i can use it on my myspace caption? Sad, I know!
Scotty Chambers is the brave new face of cinema.
Mallabys: Was there ever the chance of a Kingpin spin off?
No. Elektra was a disaster and things have been quiet since. Hoping Marvel gets the rights back to DD so it can be done properly.
Nizzles: What do you prefer? writing or directing?
Directing. Writing is too lonely. Love being with creative people and bringing it all to life together.
Mebbetheywasinjuns: As someone pretty experienced with Marvel adaptations, what did you make of X3? It sucked, didn't it. Come on, admit it...
I liked it. Sorry. I had a good time with it. And Scotty Chambers is the brave new face of cinema.
Wandering starr: We're still waiting for a good Alan Moore adaptation, are you a fan of his work? if so would you be willing to take on where others have failed?
I think he's awesome. I'm holding out hope for Watchmen, I bet it will be brilliant.
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Elektra was a disaster and things have been quiet since. Hoping Marvel gets the rights back to Daredevil so it can be done properly.
Mark Steven Johnson
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Kim: Do you want people who see this movie coming in with the comic book knowledge before hand...?
No. We are trying to educate folks now because most have never heard of him. I've found that people are quite intimidated by him, those who don't know him kind of freak out at the sight of him.
Mallabys: Any plans for Preacher on the big sreen?
NO! I think that's wrong. That's why I'm so passionate about the HBO series. That story needs to be told in its entirety.
Workshed: What's the hold up with Ghost Rider - did you need more time with SFX/reshoots etc?
Yes. I literally finished the movie a week and a half ago. Was tweaking VFX until then. The CGI fire was extremely tricky and if GR didn't look right the movie wouldn't work.
TheOnes: With the extra 5 or so months, what extra sequences did you manage to come up with to make the movie better?
I wanted a scene where GR lassoes a police helicopter and there's a tug of war. I paid for half of the scene myself because I wanted it so bad. Wife is not happy.
Filmmaker101: MSJ, BIG FAN, I HAVE SCRIPT, BATTLE FIELD BLOOD THIRSTY, PLZ CAN I HAVE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO GET YOUR WORK READ BY THE STUDIOUS, plz reply
Have you heard of UCLA Extension? You can do it on line and they get you into contact with studios and producers, give you access you wouldn't get otherwise, and they work together to help you rewrite. Might be worth looking into.
Unclemonty: Do you even dare to dream of getting Clint Eastwood for Saint Of Killers in Preacher?
Yes, but I fear he might be too old now. I know he was the inspiration but Unforgiven was a while ago. I think I might need someone more physically threatening for that role.
RED_Rider: In Daredevil, you used lots of songs like the "Bring Me To Life" of Evanescence. Have you used similiar tracks in GR? What bands and tracks will be in the film? More Gothic ones?
No. Too many songs in Daredevil dated the movie. It was a huge soundtrack seller, but not right in the end. Ghost Rider is mostly score but with a great cover of Ghostriders in the Sky. Movie opens with Crazy Train though when we first meet Johnny.
Mozza: What are your thoughts on the Evil Dead movies?
They are my favorite flicks. I have every special edition they've ever done and God knows they've done a lot of them. They balanced humor and horror perfectly.
Chris Hewitt: I thought I noticed a couple of references to Evil Dead II in Ghost Rider, Mark - the mirror scene with Nic, for one... am I right?
Yeah, there's a scene where Nic is looking at himself in the bathroom mirror waiting for the transformation to come. Weird and funny.
Punchdrunk: Have you ever had any strange or scary experiences with the fans at the comic cons?
Yeah, but mostly they are really cool. Someone has been writing me and asking for blood samples but they don't include a return address so I haven't been able to comply.
Workshed: Do you think GR is as perfect as you could have made it, considering the extra time?
No, it could always be better. Wish I had more money, etc. But I like it very much.
Mallabys: My casserole is a little bland, what would you recommend?
Paprika is overlooked, mallabys. Don't let it go to the wayside.
Krayden: Were there any weird things that happened on set ie unexplained fires?
No. But the cast, Eva and Wes and myself, all had really lucid dream nightmares. Eva actually went to the doctor to get help. I had the first day of shooting blessed, in an old graveyard, by a priest. Maybe that helped?
Jo: I loved Daredevil - i thought in the movie was fantastic I especially liked Elekta's character in the movie, however i did not like the Elektra movie... how do you think the Elekta film could have been better?
Everything about the Elektra movie was wrong. It breaks my heart.
Castor Troy: I spell my name - Marc - with a C. That's better if you think about it isn’t it?
Much better with a c..
TheOnes: Would you ever want to work with Fox again?
Jennifer is awesome. But filmmakers need to be fans if they're going to do these movies. I made mistakes on DD but they were honest mistakes for a character I love. Fox is just a building. I have nothing against the building.
Punchdrunk: Is there a biography or factual historical event that you would like to make into a film?
Not at the moment. Better people for that than me.
Wandering Starr: Mark, when you have actors auditioning for a film, do you judge them in the style of Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul?
I'm very appreciative of what actors go through for auditions. It's a really difficult thing to do. I try to give them all the time they need.
Castor Troy: Were you a fan of Nic before GR? If so what are your favourite performances of his?
Yes. I think he's one of the best actors out there. I think his work in ADAPTATION is unbelievable. And I love Wild at Heart. He is fearless.
Kingoftheducks: Did you imagine after the, let's say, frosty reaction to Daredevil that you'd be moving into another comic book adaptation? And, was your position on Ghost Rider based upon the success of Daredevil directors cut?
I learned a lot -- that you have to enter into it with people who love and respect the source as much as you do. Thank God for DVD. It's still not what I envisioned but at least its closer.
Workshed: Who were your major influences as a director?
Spielberg. Kubrick. Leone.
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I love Grumpier Old Men. I wrote it and was on set everyday. They are trying to make Grumpy Old Men into a musical for Broadway.
Mark Steven Johnson
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RED_Rider: About Preacher, Who do you have in mind for the role of Cassidy? Also who for Starr?
I really think Preacher should be unknowns. I want people to fully believe in this world and these characters with no baggage. Still writing the pilot. Lets see if HBO goes for it. Will take balls.
PaulD: What song would you like played at your funeral (I know it's a morbid question sorry)
Afternoon Delight. No, Crazy Train. Sorry, changed my mind.
Workshed: How much of the script did Nic Cage re-write and were there any "artistic differences"?
Didn't change that much. We really saw eye to eye on things. We have the same sense of humor. The same love of Ghost Rider.
Jimiboy: are you looking forward to seeing spider man 3?
YES. Can't wait. They film it on the Sony lot and we see things from time to time. We steal food from their craft services tray sometimes. They eat really well.
TheOnes: After what you said about cutting things for the UK release, will any of that find its way into the DVD for the UK (cut back into the movie or in the deleted scenes)?
Yes, it wasn't much but it's still difficult. DVD will have everything no doubt, plus an extended version of deleted scenes.
Nerky: Call me a geek, but i think Smallville is the best programme...anyone agree? I hope Mark isn’t offended by the fact that i just mentioned a DC related thing.
Of course not. I need to catch up on Smallville. Still tivoing that and Heroes...
Chris Hewitt: People have asked about Heroes. Do you like that show?
It's great. Very keen to see where it's all headed.
RED_Rider: 1.How accurate will Preacher be? 2.Will it have all of the adult themes of the Comics like Violence and such? 3.How much will be Garth Ennis be involved?
As I've said, it will be exactly the book. The pilot is the first two issues of the comic. I write Garth with questions all the time. We're getting together in New York soon to talk.
TheOnes: After using Affleck as Daredevil, and Cage as Ghost Rider, what do you find to be the benefits and if any, pitfalls to using a fan of the character to play said character?
It's both a plus and a negative. People turn up because you have a star but you have to lose the baggage of celebrity. It was particularly hard for Ben who was going through the whole Bennifer thing, through no fault of his own.
Kingoftheducks: You didn't like Elektra, how do you feel about Grumpier Old Men?
I love Grumpier Old Men. I wrote it and was on set everyday. They are trying to make Grumpy Old Men into a musical for Broadway. Could be fun. Elektra I had nothing to do with. They gave me an executive producer credit because of DD but that’s it.
Chris Hewitt: Really? A Grumpy Old Men musical? Interesting... what's your involvement.
Just creative input. They bought the rights from me. Makes sense, actually, because the average age of the audience on Broadway is, like, 124.
Krayden: Were you a comics fan all your life?
Yeah, I learned to read through comics. All my life they've been there.
TheOnes: How does it feel to be directing a movie of a comic you're a fan of? What keeps you going and not giving up? Are there any boundaries to directing this movie that you wanted to go to but couldn't for some reason?
It's awesome. I feel privileged. There are always battles you lose with the studio, or money you can't get, and it's hard to forget those things. Sometimes big set pieces get reduced to pretty quick fights for monetary reasons. But the money we did have is on the screen.
SimonK: You've directed adaptations of both comic books and big-L Literature - which fan community was more receptive (or hostile!) to the changes you had to make to get the films produced?
Comic book fans are very tough but mostly fair. Of course, the internet is much worse. People in person and at the cons are lovely. Something about the anonymity of the internet can bring out the worst in people.
Sumintelligentguy: yer man, 4 years it’s taken for Ghost Rider, what was your motivation?
I love this comic and wanted to see it through. I couldn't imagine giving up on it, you know?
RED_Rider: In DD, in the scene that Elektra dies, Her death is shown with her heart stopping in DD's eyes/head. How did you come with such idea?
Loved showing how he used his radar sense. That and the scene in the rain where the sound of the raindrops showed her face I thought were lovely.
Kingoftheducks: Speaking of money on the screen, how do you feel about the CG snowman in Jack Frost? I noticed there are about 3 other writers listed on that film, are you glad that it shares its name with a serial killing snow man B-movie...
I like the serial killing movie much better. My kids like Jack Frost but it’s painful for me as I was the original writer.
Castor Troy: If GR won an oscar, what would it be for?
Visual effects. They could actually. I think they're terrific.
Workshed: What's your fav comic adaptation?
Probably The Crow.
Krayden: Will Stan Lee be in Ghost Rider?
No. Unfortunately he didn't have anything to do with Ghost Rider and Marvel wasn't keen to fly him to Australia.
Sumintelligentguy: Do you think the pictures in the latest edition of Empire does justice to the visual effects in the film, are they an accurate representation(the pictures in the mag)??
They're good but the movie is much better. Static shots of fire always look poor.
PaulD: Mark, will you be pissed off if Empire give the film a bad review?
No. Will I, Hewitt? Will I?
Chris Hewitt: I don't know.. I mean. Erm... look! A blue car!
LOL. Thanks everybody for joining in. Thanks to Empire. You all rock.
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