ASK MSJ (The Complete History)

[FlameHead]

Bumpin' again...

 

[FlameHead]

Another Question if you should happen to return;

How much credit is David Goyer getting for this movie? Will his name be present at all and has he had much imput besides the initial script writting?

 

[FlameHead]

Well folks, if you all remember, MSJ's first real response to our questions came about this time last year. The first ever Q&A thread (I think created by BG) was made for people who were going to the Con last year and possibly ask these questions. To our surprise, the man himself answered them directly to us. Sweet stuff.

So, I'm wondering if he'll do the same again.

Also, is there anybody here going to the con to ask some of these questions? I'd much rather people asking questions that weren't answered yet instead of all the same stuff, ya know?

 

[FlameHead]

Here's an edidted list of questions in this thread. I've removed anything related to DD, ELEKTRA or anything outside of GR.

This list will have to be shorted further if we're going to try and pass it in to MSJ. No more than 10 questions I think. Suggestions?

I'm gonna go through and try and organize them by topic in a little while....

...

5 Finally. Do you think that with the movie being pushed back to 2007 , it'll be better for the VFX schedule. I often get the impression that reason why the budget of many big VFX movies are so high is due to the fact that the VFX companies have to deliver their shots in a short while. You see that movies who take a longer time to work on their effects , tend to produce better results

[/B]

MSG thanks for answering my questions before. Here's some more:

2) With the long wait...Are you going to be doing any test screenings early to get some more feedback. You have plenty of time to add footage, do reshoots, etc...if needed.

...

4) Just a fan curious question. Say Nic Cage chose not to do Ghost Rider or couldn't do it with his schedule...what other names were on the list to play Ghost Rider? Were there any back ups?


Hey Mark,

I'll put you on the spot. What's your box office prediction for opening weekend including Holiday. I'm guessing 60-65, and trust you're doing everything on your end to prevent the 70% 2nd week drop.

MSJ,

Are you working closely with the game developers so the effects and the storyline and everything run together nicely? Do you know if the cast members are doing the voice overs on the game? I don't think Nic has done that before.

Heres My Question:
Is Stan Lee making an appearance?

What exactly is Sony expecting from this film in terms gross? I'm curious because it's been move to febuary and also the budget numbers being thrown out range from 50-100 mil. Also considering the fact that Constantine which is a similar movie did pretty well in nearly the same spot but that only manage to garner 75 mil, and Hellboy only did about 60 mil so the question is, what exactly are Sony's expectations for this film?

Also this is your second superhero film, and it's also the second time you casted a well-known actor. This seems to fly in the face of what has now become the formula for super-hero films which is cast unknowns. I was wondering did this happen to fall like that or is it easier working with seasoned actors?

2. You've stated that GR is like a "gothic western", is there any way to describe that a little more detailed so we can get a feel for the movie?

Thank you.

Edd.

2. How long into the movie until Blaze actually becomes The Rider and will he have more screentime than Blaze? I'm always one for cutting straight to the chase, but understand the need for intros and such for the plot and story explanations.

Hi Mark, I was wondering if the new short with no sound was shot outside the Little Lonsdale Street garage set? The door in the background on the right looked real familar. I know this is crappy question of absolute no importance but I loved cruising around that set on weekends, soaking in the feel of the dirty back street garage. It was sad to see that thing come down.

2. I personally haven't read many GR comics, but b/c u r directing, I have been into the movie. Is there anything inperticular (spelling) that I should read? I no Barnes and Nobles has the Essentials to GR, but is that all? The DD movie got me into reading DD and Elektra and now I really want to read GR, so...

Hiho Mr. Johnson!

I also have a few questions for you. Sorry if they were asked before! Here we go:

1. Im not really familiar with the GR comics at all, but I would like to know if there is any portrayal of hell itself and how different it is from other movies like "Constantine" and films like that?

2. So, this movie is very rich in FX stuff and has a big budget. But GR isn`t as well-known as other Marvel characters, such as Spider-Man or X-Men for example. And this will be the first movie in a possible series. Do you think that this could be a disadvantage at the boxoffice? Will there be a huge marketing campagne for the film?

...

4. Will there be any backstory in the movie around the Medallion, Zarathos and Mephisto through flashbacks? And will Noble Kale, Badilino or John`s brother Daniel play any role in this or in future GR films probably?

5. Which part was intended for Jon Voight before he left the project?

I have a question. Your gonna supply us loyal fans here with tickets to an advance screening right?? I don't mind if the effects are not there yet.


Is this Aquinnah really a producer for the movie?

2nd after working with both talented actors (Ben Affleck and Nic Cage) who do you think would win in a fist fight? (not their super-hero's)

1) Angry Anderson is reported (by crappy IMDB) to have Angry Anderson in the film however there is reportidly close friend of his saying that he's not involved at all. Could you clear this up?

Hey Mark, how many times have you reinvented this movie since you began production... since you finished production for that matter. This ample time to tweak the movie must be pretty sweet.

There is a website (http://www.johnnyblaze.com) that was written on a brochure used as a prop in the movie for (I assume) Blaze's big jump. Is this URL (which is active) owed by the studio or anyone involved in the movie? And, will it be updated in the future?

How much credit is David Goyer getting for this movie? Will his name be present at all and has he had much imput besides the initial script writting?

I haven't read a Ghost Rider comic ever. How accessible will this movie be to me and others like me? Thanks.

When you make GR 2 will it be made in Melbourne?
It was great to watch (from the sidelines) you guys work.
...

Can you give us some idea of Ghost Rider's fighting style? Batman Begins had a very brutal, grounded, no-BS style which perfectly suited the character. Will Ghost Rider's be similar?

1. Will there be any deaths in this movie?

2. Will there be any evidence or nods to other Marvel characters?

3. You seem to have assembled quite an amazing cast for a comic book film. What attracted these A-list stars? Are there any hardcore GR fans besides you and Nic? Or were they just really attracted to the story, characters, etc.?

Who built the bikes?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I didn't see it anywhere. I know the movie is a mixture of the Blaze and Ketch stories, but I was wondering if there are any shots in the movie that are directly taken from the comics. I know the scene in Spiderman 2 where he throws the costume in the trash is pretty much framed just like it is in the comics. And obviously Sin City was all shot using the comics as storyboards. So, without giving too much away, can we expect any shots from the comics?

MSJ I was wondering what made you go with the brownish skull instead of white? Will there be any test footage shown on the DVD of the white skull?

Here are 4; 2 of which are relating to the merchandise:

1. Will Blaze's 1st change into GR be as an older man (Cage) or will you infer that Blaze has been GR before when he was younger?
2. Any possibility that in the flashback scene involving a young Johnny Blaze that he might be wearing something similar to the classic 70's "blue" leather jumpsuit?
3. Any news if the video game is still planned to be released at the same time w/ the movie?
4. Also Toy Biz will no longer be producing Marvel characters after 2006 w/ Hasbro taking up the job for 2007 and beyond. Do you know if the sculpted Toy Biz line will be used by Hasbro or will they start over w/ a line of their own?

Simple question about the soundtrack...

Ghost Rider by the Rollins Band, in or no? cause it would be great for the end credits

1) While writing your version of the script, how much of Goyer's '95, Goyer's '01, and Salerno's scriptwork did you base yours off of. I've only read Goyer's 2001 script of the bunch to which I know the story has changed from his version to yours, but was anything kept around (such as Caretaker in '95 script and now in the current version).

2) Johnny Depp, Keifer Sutherland, and even Eric Bana were names that were thrown around or attached as some point to play the part of Johnny Blaze, but in the end Nicolas Cage was the constant throughout the years. Did you have any other names in mind for the role, or was it always Nic Cage?

3) Originally, the production was slated to start in 2001 before you come on board. After you came on the project as director in 2003, the production was set to start in late '03 / early '04, though some troubles pushed the production back to the official start time of early '05. What were the factors that pushed the filming time back this far? Were there any times during the pre (and now post) production that aggravation started to settle in since the project seemed to have a "curse" on it or something?

4) The release date has obviously been moved around all over the place from August '06 to July '06 and now finally to February '06. What were the reasons for this moving, first moving up and then back? Was it post production reasons like CGI development or something else? Many sites have stated that Sony has "not liked the movie and thus throwing it into February and doing all these reshoots to in a sense 'redo' the movie." This is not true, I know, especially after reading your post with the lassoing of the helicopter. Please put these claims to rest!

Q:when will scoring begin for GR?...around when can we expect some sample scores and/or soundtrack?

 

[BIGGUN]

man its gonna be tough to select which questions for Advanced Dark...if possible FH you can eleminate my last 2 questions which relate to the merchandise.

 

[FlameHead]

Sure, will do.

One or a couple of us are going to have to make an executive decision and trim this list down. It's the only way really. Plus, what's the chances of him answering all the questions or even getting them?

 

[FlameHead]

Mark. What's the chances we internet folk will get to see the Comic Con footage? Slim to none?

 

[BrollySupersj]

Well I got a question. I heard that when Johnny Blaze first turns into Ghost Rider, he gets the **** kicked out of him by like, little demons things and gets smashed by a freight train, is that true?

 

[Advanced Dark]

Sorry guys I missed the Sony panel. I went straight from the Marvel panel to hall "H" for the Sony panel and the line was huge. So I rushed back to the convention floor line to get Favreau and Adi's sign on the new poster. Barely made it but I got it as did my friend.

 

[FlameHead]

Way to go AD. Way to go. Sheesh.

Just kidding man. Check out the Comic Con thread for information: http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=181605

There's a lot of questions in this thread and maybe some of them were asked. Who knows? Hopefully Mark looks at the end pages when he visits before the first as it's all be somewhat cleaned up for him...

 

[WiscoD]

Hi Mark, Since Nic would consider a sequel only if its better than the first movie, then how about doing the Midnight Sons with Ghost Rider and Blade as a semi-sequel??? It would accually be a origin film starring 2 existing movie charactors. David

 

[Reaper]

That would be one way to keep Cage out of another movie, but I don't understand why that would be your goal.

 

[FlameHead]

Hey Mark. I know you don't have much time to post but, we know you read the posts so we'll probably keep askin' you questions. Well, I know I will...

Did you know that Javier Saltares chats here as well (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244061)? He's one of Ghost Rider's artists from the 90's and the current ongoing, as I'm sure you know. Anyway, he's really pissed off that you didn't write a movie about Dan...

Just kidding.

Anyway, my question of the day (besdies the one I just asked) is have you ever met or chatted with any of GR's creators?

 

[WiscoD]

That would be one way to keep Cage out of another movie, but I don't understand why that would be your goal.

Not to keep him out, but to keep him in. If you take away the pressure of a sequel to Ghost Rider, but keep the charactor in a new Superhero movie with another established charactor(Blade). You would have a semi-blank canvass to write with, while bringing in the Blade/Snipes fans in to see an interesting take on doing sequels. D

 

[FlameHead]

SwitchBlade man. Tell that tale. Midnight Masacre. Now that would be the ****. Probably would only work in an animated feature but, with a little adapting, it could really work in film as well.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that. We can chat about this in the Sequel section, which we hardly ever use...

 

[Mr Nick]

Mark,

Obviously, you had a vision in your head when you started on this movie. Now filming's long done and you're well into post production, has anything turned out way better than you imagined?

 

[BigDub]

Everyone will be blown away by the fx work, I promise!

 

[FlameHead]

Welcome to the hype BigDub. I hope you stick around and check some of the other threads. We're a good group of fella's (and/or ladies).

We have a Q&A thread for MSJ, by the way.
http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212831&page=3

Poke around, have fun.

 

[FlameHead]

Worthy Bump

 

[totalpackage59]

BD what job did you do for the Ghostrider film??

 

[BigDub]

Once GR is out in theaters I'll be happy to talk about working on a kick-ass cool project at the best fx studio around!

 

[WiscoD]

I wasn't joking about committing career suicide, so I'll refrain from answering that just now. Once GR is out in theaters I'll be happy to talk about working on a kick-ass cool project at the best fx studio around!

Jumping the chain of command could tick off people that might not appreciate someone going to the big boss directly!

Dumb question, but what fx house/houses are working on this film.. im embarrassed that i dont know this...

 

[NDX]

Welcome to the boards, and is there a way to check out your body of work? See what other projects you've worked on?

 

[BigDub]

NDX,

I checked out your stuff, way cool!

Dub

 

[FlameHead]

Mark.

Why aren't you on Myspace? Will Ghost Rider have a space there, ya think?