Jerry Bruckheimer talks: The anticipation for the movie is very high

The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy represents the very essence of why legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer makes moves.

“I love Pirates because there are very few films you can take your children to and you can all enjoy the experience. It is rare,” he says. “And, you know, I have made enough money, I don't have to do this anymore. But I do it to entertain people and a movie like this really entertains people on a global basis and that is a real thrill.”

When the first Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was released in 2003 it was a critical and box office triumph. Now Bruckheimer has re-untied his team - director Gore Verbinski, cast Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom and indeed crew - to make Pirates 2, Dead Man's Chest, and Pirates 3, virtually back to back.

“If that had not all come together - same director, same cast and crew,” he reflects. “I don't think we would be here right now.”
Bruckheimer reveals that he was thinking of a sequel when the first Pirates was being filmed - long before, of course, it become a box office phenomenon. At that time, a skeptical media was casting doubts on the commercial chances of a film based on a theme park ride. How wrong they were.

“And it wasn't until the picture started making steam that we got the studio to say “Yeah, let's go! Start writing another one!” Johnny loves the character and he'll tell you that and he was excited about coming back.”

Bruckheimer isn't gloating - his remarkable track record speaks for itself - just delighted that a project he clearly adores is back with a massive fan base anxious to discover what happens to lovable rogue Jack Sparrow (Depp) and young lovers Elizabeth Swann (Knightley) and Will Turner (Bloom).

“The anticipation for the movie is very high,” he says. “We feel that there is real want and need to see a continuation and since we have created what we consider a full story between the three movies - because everything that you will see in the second and third movie really relate to the first - it's created a real arc and a real trilogy for the three films.”

Indeed, such is Bruckheimer's enthusiasm for the project he would quite happily make a further three films. He certainly wants the ships used in the movies, The Black Pearl - pirate Jack Sparrow's ship - and The Flying Dutchman, to be kept shipshape and Bristol fashion just in case.

“Hopefully, we'll make more,” he says. “Hopefully Disney will save these ships, unlike last time, and save the sets and we can continue another trilogy - another three films. I would love to do that but it's not my money.

“Johnny loves the character and he'd love to play it. He has a fan base at home; his two kids love it. So that's a good start.”

Bruckheimer, 60, is one of the most successful producers in Hollywood. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he started his career producing television commercials before moving on to films with his partner, the late Don Simpson.

His list of credits is truly remarkable - ranging from American Gigolo, Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, Bad Boys, Crimson Tide, Con Air and Armageddon amongst many others, in the seventies, eighties and nineties. More recently, he has produced Gone In Sixty Seconds, Pearl Harbour, King Arthur and Glory Road.

This interview was conducted on set at the Universal Studios biggest sound stage.

Q: Was it a risk to make these movies back to back?

A: It's made around $600m in revenue, just in theatrical revenue not counting DVDs and all the other stuff, so it's a pretty good bet. Especially if you can get the same writers back, the same directors, the same director and the same cast and had that not all come together I don't think we would be here right now.

Q: Did everyone commit to the project straight away? When did you decide to make two and three?

A: We were thinking about it while we were making the first one but the studio wasn't. Then the press was slamming us for making a movie about a theme park ride that involved pirates because pirates were a dead issue at the box office - at least in the past. And it wasn't until the picture started making steam that we got the studio to say “Yeah, let's go! Start writing another one!” And Johnny loves the character and he'll tell you that and he was excited about coming back.

Q: You actually do have a bit of a break in between two and three. There was the two month hiatus and then in early 2006 Gore will have to go off and finish editing number two. What was the thinking behind that?

A: Well, first of all Gore needed time to edit the movie so he needed the two months to cut the two together and then jump to three and you don't want the audience to over dose on it too, give them too much, so we thought the year apart was good as far as generating more interest. Plus, you have the DVD coming out and revitalising two, before three comes out. So it was a good plan from a business point of view.

Q: It must be an added bonus that both Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley have become bigger stars since the first movie?

A: Yeah, it's great. The anticipation for the movie is very high. We feel that there is real want and need to see a continuation and since we have created what we consider a full story between the three movies -because everything that you will see in the second and third movie really relate to the first - it's created a real arc and a real trilogy for the three films.

Q: Is there more pressure after having so much success with the first one?

A: I feel pressure on every project even the tiny ones. I feel pressure every time I take somebody else's money and try to get a good return on it. So sure.

Q: You've worked on so many different movies- big scale, small scale. How does this compare? Is this the biggest so far?

A: Yeah I think it is the biggest undertaking that I have ever done. I'm doing two movies back to back plus all of the other things, ten television series and there are two other movies that we are currently working on. This is a big chunk of my time, let's put it that way.

Q: The first film was a great surprise and no one knew what to expect. But now we kind of know what Johnny's performance is going to be like. How do you conquer that and still make it surprising?

A: Well it's all about story telling. It's all about really good story telling. We have a new character, we have a number of new characters and we have a creature. It is a bigger, funnier, more exciting script. You don't know how the movie is going to turn out but I know the script is wonderful and the dailies and cut footage I've seen seem terrific. I don't make the decisions about what you spend money on when you go the theatre, you do,. So whether you're going to spend your six or ten bucks to go and see Pirates, I don't know. But I hope you will.

Q: How much input did you have in the scripts?

A: Well it `s a team; Gore, the writers, myself, my group of executives all work on it together. It's certainly a vision by the writers and by Gore. The writers came up with the ideas and the new characters for the second and third films then Gore certainly worked on it and embellished it as did our company. It's a team. But it's the writers who are the driving force creatively, along with Gore...

Q: Whose decision was it to cast Chow Yun-Fat in the third film?

A: I think it was a combination of Gore and myself and the writers. He's just a wonderful actor and he is a real gentleman .I'm thrilled to be able to work with him.

Q: Is the Asian element in the third part an attempt on your part to tap into the huge Asian audience?

A: Well we had a huge Asian audience for the first one . It did really well out there and we kind of wanted to give them something too. Why not? We really did well in Japan, Hong Kong and all those markets.

Q: The first Pirates introduced Johnny Depp to a much wider audience...

A: Yeah, sure, Disney made a PG13 movie for the first time and parents thought ”Well, it's a Disney label, maybe my 10 year old can see it.' Before most of Johnny's pictures were R rated, or wonderful artistic endeavours, that were not big crowd pullers. But, suddenly kids knew who Johnny was. And we've got kids now who want to be Johnny Depp ; 8 year olds running around in pirate hats and swords. Pirate costumes are the most bought costumes now.

Q: Is there going to be a whole lot of merchandise to go with the film?

A: I hope so because there wasn't much on the first one. It caught Disney by surprise.

Q: Is the script now driven by something that you can merchandise?

A: I don't think we look at it that way, but I think we'll probably take advantage of everything we have in there in terms of merchandising it. For example, we have a dice game that's a lot of fun and hopefully we'll get some company who can do the same dice game. It shows up in the Pirates Two.

Q: Why have you employed so many British actors?

A: A number of reasons. One they're really good. I like good actors and they are very talented and this kind movie really lends itself to that. An American accent probably wouldn't work too well in this movie. So I think it is that old fashion kind of English drawl that they have. It is perfect for a pirate movie.

Q: Do you have to pay your professional cast a little bit more than in the first part?

A: Yeah, you are absolutely right (laughs)

Q: What are the advantages of a sequel?

A: For a studio it gives them confidence that there is an audience that is pre-sold. So, if you liked the first one, chances are that you'll sample the second.

Q: What is the key to controlling a film like this?

A: Nothing is ever under control. I'm not under control. I can't control my wife! (laughter) Let alone anything else.

Q: But it's a big movie?

A: Yes, as a movie it's got a lot of moving parts and it is doing quite well. Some parts break down and you fix them. But as, as a movie of this size it's as good as you can imagine. You don't know because tomorrow something could happen that you just hope doesn't happen. I was getting ready to make a movie in New Orleans, and we were supposed to start last October, obviously we didn't g at that time. So you never know what can happen on a film. But it all comes down to the director and we have a wonderful director and he is very prepared. He knows what he wants to do and most of his big action sequences are pre planned. He's got IOM working with him and they're wonderful. So for this size, it is going quite well.

Q: What parts have broken down on Pirates?

A: Every day something breaks down. I don't think any major parts. We had a storm in the Caribbean. We built this tank and the depth was down to 25ft and the sand came in and we had to re dig it and put a retaining wall in. But things like that happen on a daily basis: a ship won't be ready on time, an actor gets sick. We had an actor get sick and he couldn't fly from England. Those things happen. But it is just part of it being a big movie. I don't see that as a detriment,. When you have been doing it as long as I have, you just see it as daily events.

Q: What can you tell us about the story? What's the overview?

A: Well basically the overview is that the East India Trading Company, which you sort of met in the first movie, has come to Port Royal to take over the seas and make the seas free of pirates and the first thing they do is arrest everybody associated with letting Johnny go and so that's the beginning. And this character, Beckett is the major villain in the piece. He is trying to get rid of all the pirates. It is kind of like Wal-Mart eating up all the independents you know, so he wants to get rid of all the privateers. And then Johnny made a deal in order to get the Black Pearl before the first movie started, with Davy Jones, the legendary character who lives under the sea. They agreed Johnny could have the Black Pearl for 10 years but then he owed his soul to Davy Jones. And now it's 10 years and Davy Jones has come back to claim Johnny, and Johnny doesn't want to go. So he has got to figure out a deal to get him away from Davy Jones. And Davy Jones, because he can't find Johnny, sends this creature. He's been living under the sea forever and all his tentacles move and he smokes a pipe. (Played by Bill Nighy).

Q: And how often have you sat down with Keith Richards to discuss him appearing in Pirates 3?

A: I never have. Johnny has, not me.

Q: Are you still hopeful that it`ll happen?

A: Well, we've got some schedule problems with his tour, so we'll see.

Q: Does the ending of two leave you having to see three, or is it kind of completed?

A: I think there is an emotional ending to it. But then there's something else that happens. It will certainly make you want to come back.

Q: Could you translate this to TV?

A: You could do anything but hopefully we'll make more. Hopefully Disney will save these ships, unlike last time, and save the sets and we can continue another trilogy. Another three films. I would love to do that but it's not my money.

Q: And Johnny has already indicated as well that he would do more...

A: Yeah, he loves the character and he'd love to play it. He has a fan base at home; his two kids love it. So, that's a good start.

Q: And so once the third part is over there's a consideration of doing a 4th and 5th?

A: Yeah I would love to. But I don't write the cheques.

Q: You've made a lot of films, what is it that you love so much about Pirates?

A: I love Pirates there are very few films you can take your children to and you can all enjoy the experience. it is rare. Normally we dumb down things for kids and you are sitting there thinking, “I can't wait to get out of here.” You're thinking about everything but the movie and something like this comes along and you just get such a broad audience and it is not just a movie here for Americans, it's bigger elsewhere in the world. And it's the reason I do this. I have made enough money, I don't have to do this anymore. But I do it to entertain people and a movie like this really entertains people on a global basis and that is a real thrill to be able to do this - take people away from their lives for a couple of hours and make them feel good, make them feel something. Let them watch something that engages them, where they like the characters and they want to be with the characters and that is a lot of fun.

Q: Are there plans to modify the actual rides in Disneyland?

A: I know they are doing some alterations to the ride that I think will be open around the time of the movie at least in California, and maybe in Florida, too. I don't know about the rest of them, but I know they are making some alterations.

Q: Are you on set much yourself?

A: I try to come by here once a day. But I have so many other responsibilities too. And when they're out of town I try to go out for a week and then come back for a week. But I do love being with the actors, it's just that we have so many other things.

source: madeinatlantis.com