Brandon, can you tell me when
you first discovered the character of Indiana
Jones?
It was 1989. I was still living
in Florida, close to Disney world. When MGM Studios
opened I remember my parents wanting to see this
show called the Indiana
Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. I was only
6 at the time, and I remember watching the opening
boulder scene and crying my eyes out because it
was so loud. I had no idea what I was watching.
When we got back home, I was quickly sat down
to Raiders of the Lost
Ark and that was the beginning of my long
love for Indiana Jones.
What attracted to you to Indiana
Jones and these films as opposed to other film
heroes?
Brandon (as Indy) and other fans at
the 2007 San Diego Comic Con. |
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I would honestly say the stunt show
at DisneyWorld in Florida. Being 6 when introduced
to the character, I really loved the fact that
I could go and SEE that excitement and adventure
in front of me. And as far as I was concerned,
that was Indiana Jones in front of me. For a little
kid, being able to meet Indiana Jones was pretty
darn cool. Not only that, but that was really
my first introduction to seeing how movies were
made. I really give Disney and the Indy show a
lot of credit for me wanting to learn more about
making movies!
What is your connection to the
Indiana Jones fan base? Collector? Film buff?
I really only became involved with
the Indy fan base about 5 or 6 years ago. Before
that, I didn't know there really was a fan base.
I just assumed it was my Dad and I. Once the Internet
came into play, I found that there were more people
who shared a love for Indiana Jones. Then I stumbled
onto Club Obi-Wan,
where I'm a frequent post-er, I started to contribute
little bits and pieces to The
Indy Experience and TheRaider.net,
and I've really thrown myself in the middle of
it all, especially now with the documentary in
full swing.
What started you on the path
to making IndyFans and
the Quest for Fortune and Glory?
Well the first thing that I'm sure
a lot of people don't know is that I had started
to do a documentary about Indy
Fans long before Indy
4 went into production. It was more of
a "mock-umentary" than a legitimate
documentary. Once Indy
4 went into production, I decided that
if anyone was going to make a documentary about
Indy, it had to be me. I didn't want someone to
do it, who wasn't a fan, didn't know the fans,
etc... I remember that once they started filming
in New Haven, everyone at my production company
quickly threw it together and we were on a plane
to New Haven the next week. It's been non stop
ever since.
Wow, one week! That was fast,
I remember when you landed in New Haven, there
was so much of the Marshall College set at Yale
it was HUGE. How did you prepare?
I don't know if you can prepare
for a documentary like this. I mean "you're
meddling with powers you cannot possible comprehend,"
Lucasfilm and Dreamworks. Everyday it's something
new. The best that I'm able to prepare, honestly,
is lets say we know we want to shoot at Comic
Con, we plan to be there, but that's about it.
You never know who is going to show up or what's
going to happen. You can't keep a strict schedule.
Ultimately, this is about the fans, so they're
really shaping the film. If I meet someone who
says they have a huge collection, then I'm off
to capture that. If this person says they have
a story, then we get that. There's never been
and will never be a "script," only a
general outline of where we want the film to do.
The FANS will determine the final product!
Who were
you looking to meet?
Brandon on the Marshall College Library
set (aka Woolsey Hall at Yale Univ.
in New Haven, CT) |
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That's a tough question. Everyone
is asking, "are you going to interview Steven
or Harrison?" But that's been done! To be
totally honest, it's been so much fun just meeting
the fans, like yourself and your sons at the New
Haven filming, hearing your story about seeing
the Indiana Jones films with your late father
in New Haven and now passing that tradition down
to your sons, hearing other fan stories, seeing
their collections. It's the fans that I look forward
to meeting.
We ran into this kid named Christopher
at Comic Con. He's 9 years old and a huge Indy
fan, but he's never seen the films on the big
screen and only owns one Indy figure from Disney.
The interview of him from Comic Con was so amazing,
that we've made him a major part of the documentary.
It's been so fun hanging out with Christopher
and seeing his reactions to all this Indy stuff
coming out. It reminds me of the Bruce Willis
movie The Kid.
It's like walking around with my younger self.
But, most importantly he has reminded me about
what's really important in life. Imagination and
Creativity! To me, that's the most important thing
we have. And that's what movies are all about,
that's what this documentary is all about.
Besides the fans, who have you
met that were involved in the actual Indiana Jones
films to date?
Interviewing
Indiana Jones costume designer, Deborah
Nadoolman. |
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Oh man, lets think. Anthony DeLongis
(Bullwhip trainer on Indy
4). He's a great guy and was a lot of fun
to hang out with. Deborah Nadoolman (Raiders
Costume Designer), what amazing stories she has.
But here's an interesting one, I met James Gammon
(President Theodore “Teddy" Roosevelt
in The Young Indiana
Jones Chronicles: Kenya 1909 episode) once.
I saw him in a performance of King
Lear, which was amazing. I went up to him
after the show and he was kind enough to sign
my Young Indy script, from his episode. He looked
at his wife and said "I haven't seen one
of these in years." That was really neat!
I had a chance to meet the late
Michael Sheard (Admiral Ozzel in The
Empire Strikes Back, Raiders'
Sub Commander and Last
Crusade's Adolf Hitler) and he had
a lot of stories from the films production. Do
you have any behind the scenes stories that fans
might not be aware of that you have learned during
the making of Indyfans?
Well if I answered that now, nobody
would want to see the film. (Laughs).
Have you sought out any original
locations from the earlier films to get some behind
the scenes stories?
We filmed in New Haven and got a
ton of great stories there. We may dig a bit deeper
and see what we can find from earlier locations,
but we'll have to see. Again, it's tough to really
plan to far ahead on this project. We are making
some of this up as we go, to quote a certain archeologist.
Speaking
of fans, what has been the reaction from them
on what you are doing?
"No
Time for Love": The Indyfan Girls
at San Diego Comic Con 2007. |
|
The fans are great, Obviously! Other
wise, why would I want to make a documentary about
them. But seriously, the fans have been great
and very excited about the project. But that's
probably just because wherever we go, we take
the "Indy Girls!" Haha. Actually many
fans came after us in New Haven to get interviewed,
same happened at Comic Con. It's really been great.
It seems like everyone has a story about Indiana
Jones in their lives.
Has there been one common element
that you hear from fans again and again on why
they enjoy the Indiana Jones films so much?
Probably the most commonly heard
reason is just that it appeals to everyone, to
every generation. It's almost the perfect family
film.
With
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
in post production and due for release next May,
have you been following the making of the film?
Yes and No. Obviously I've been
following what's been on TheRaiders.net,
for my own knowledge, but we have to keep in mind
that Indyfans and the
Quest for Fortune and Glory is not about
Indy 4. Luckily,
we have the mania of Indy
4 to use a backdrop, but ultimately, this
is about the fans! As of right now, don't expect
too much about Indy 4,
but it will be included...
Have you heard from the folks
at Lucasfilm on this project?
No comment. (Laughs). Of course
we have! Oh, I think I've said too much!
Understood, excuse me Brandon,
while I call for security. You should be expecting
a squad of Imperial Stormtroopers or maybe Thuggees
at your door any minute.
Uh oh! (Laughs).
Any plans on meeting Steven
Spielberg, George Lucas or Harrison Ford for their
take on the Indiana Jones phenomenon?
In Steven's case, we've left messages
with certain people at Dreamworks and are awaiting
return calls. I have a feeling we'll never get
to Lucas, he has too many "top men"
around him. (Laughs). But honestly, We're making
sure that anyone we interview has something new
to say. I'm sure the fans are tired of hearing
the same things over and over, and we certainty
don't want the DVD to be boring in any way, shape,
or form.
What has this experience been
like for you as an Indyfan?
It's been a great experience, for
a number of reasons. One, I get to go do these
amazing Indy things, and write it off as "work."
Can't get much better than that! And two, like
I said before, it's all about the fans. They're
all great and so fun to talk with. That's really
what makes it all worth it. It's been a great
experience, and really has been an adventure in
it's own right.
When can
we see the final film?
If everything goes according to
plan, our goal is to have it on DVD when Indiana
Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
comes out on DVD. Like so many documentaries of
this style, they all stop right when the film
opens. I know I'll probably get hate mail for
this next comment, but I want to be able to interview
the fans even if the Indy
4 isn't any good. I know, I'm sorry, I
said it. But seriously, I want to be able to get
those reactions, either good or bad. So that's
why it'll be along after the films release in
theaters.
However, if you're in the Los Angeles area in
April, we are teaming up with the Newport Beach
Film Festival to bring some sneak peaks of Indyfans
and the Quest for Fortune and Glory to
the big screen. Of course we'll keep the news
coming to The Raider as we get closer to the date.
Brandon, if there are some fans
looking to learn more about Indyfans
and the Quest for Fortune and Glory where
can they go?
Well, they are more than welcome
to find out more information or of even better
if they want to be a part of Indyfans please visit
Indyfansfilm.com
or myspace.com/indyfans.
Brandon, it has been a great
pleasure talking with you again, I want to thank
you for including me in Indyfans
and the Quest for Fortune and Glory and
for speaking with TheRaider.net.
Good luck with the film and we look forward to
seeing it in 2008!
Thank you, Mitch! I just want to
say TheRaider.net
has been a great source for all things Indiana
Jones over the years and keep up the good work! |