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Archive => Archive => Alien Covenant Speculation => Topic started by: Anthony on Mar 01, 2017, 02:09:30 AM

Title: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Anthony on Mar 01, 2017, 02:09:30 AM
http://www.slashfilm.com/alien-covenant-trailer-2/ (set report news is in the second to last paragraph).

QuoteThe good news is that we'll be getting some answers soon enough, because we have some pieces running from a set visit that our own Jacob Hall went on last year. There you will learn even more about the story, characters, and just how Ridley Scott decided to find the roots of the Alien franchise again.

*Added quote. Hicks.
Title: Re: /film says set report articles are coming soon.
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 02:11:39 AM
Guurrrd. The embargo must be up soon. I thought it was about due to end.
Title: Re: /film says set report articles are coming soon.
Post by: Cavalorn on Mar 01, 2017, 02:19:37 PM
Set report by the comingsoon.net folks:

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: BonesawT101 on Mar 01, 2017, 02:29:21 PM
Awesome. Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 02:33:39 PM
There's going to be lots pouring out now -

http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-daniels-ripley-strong-female-character/
http://www.fotogramas.es/Noticias-cine/Visitamos-el-rodaje-de-Alien-Covenant
http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social



http://collider.com/alien-covenant-engineers-prometheus-connection/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social


http://nerdist.com/alien-covenant-set-visit-ridley-scott-prometheus/


http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/alien/262409/alien-covenant-rediscovering-fear


QuoteLast summer I visited the set of Alien: Covenant, where I discovered that the Engineers were wiped out by unflattering lighting.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C51t_spWcAAC2Id.jpg:large)

https://twitter.com/HSW3K/status/836946079115538432


http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-gay-couple/
http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1630560/what-the-title-of-alien-covenant-really-means?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


http://collider.com/alien-covenant-david-michael-fassbender/


http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1630569/how-alien-covenant-will-address-the-biggest-mystery-of-the-alien-universe-according-to-ridley-scott?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Stolen on Mar 01, 2017, 02:38:48 PM
Sounds amazing no?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 02:40:11 PM
http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

New picture seems to have come with these reports too.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnerdist.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2FAlien-Covenant.jpg&hash=e36a70d55173dcc7b36dfce42b98c21e28364de7)

I've not had chance to read any of them yet.


http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-rating-blood-violence/
http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-character-guide/


http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-character-guide/


http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/alien-covenant-set-visit-1-what-we-learnedsaw-chat-with-fx-supervisor-128
http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/exclusive-new-alien-covenant-images-feature-some-scary-situations-142

Another new image.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joblo.com%2Fimages_arrownews%2Fackwy.jpg&hash=7827409ad0fd8187969b32f0de8e4d734a50e51a)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: bacchus on Mar 01, 2017, 02:56:01 PM
So that first set report gives away something pretty big...

Spoiler
QuoteTo see the full-scale Space Jockey set is awe-inspiring. The end of it was lit up, and there were also those signature Giger bio-organic tunnels all around the set. Entering these tunnels we are struck by how ridged, bony and dark they are. A woman is adding paint to texture it, very detailed. A little nook where Shaw is hiding out in makeshift quarters holds a bed and a rack of human space suits behind a plastic curtain. We see Fassbender's body with something around its neck.
[close]

Link: http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#/slide/1
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Fatboy40 on Mar 01, 2017, 03:06:34 PM
Spoiler
One piece of art that I kept going back to was a Giger-esque drawing of Shaw's head (Noomi Rapace) surrounded by bio-mechanical tubes, as if she was mutating into something (I thought the first Xenomorph from ALIEN perhaps?). I was surprised they would let such a picture out there for us to see – so keep that in mind, it may be sly misdirection on the Studio's part.
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 03:07:57 PM
Can we post links to the specific reports you guys are quoting? Thanks.  :)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 03:08:26 PM
The ''Hall of Heads'' sounds pretty interesting... http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#creatures

I bet we'll barely learn anything about it in the movie, though. It's sad that the engineers have such a small role.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Enoch on Mar 01, 2017, 03:18:07 PM
THIS IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: shawsbaby on Mar 01, 2017, 03:21:07 PM
Collider seems to confirm that the body we see in that overhead shot is indeed
Spoiler
an Engineer
[close]
.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: bacchus on Mar 01, 2017, 03:23:10 PM
Quote from: shawsbaby on Mar 01, 2017, 03:21:07 PM
Collider seems to confirm that the body we see in that overhead shot is indeed
Spoiler
an Engineer
[close]
.

Considering all the other set reports and...

Spoiler
....the mention of Shaw's hiding place, I'm starting to believe (hope) that Shaw is actually still alive in the film and just in hiding. Jungle girl style.
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Enoch on Mar 01, 2017, 03:23:42 PM
Great.. I m not fast enough to read everything...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: shawsbaby on Mar 01, 2017, 03:25:24 PM
Quote from: bacchus on Mar 01, 2017, 03:23:10 PM
Quote from: shawsbaby on Mar 01, 2017, 03:21:07 PM
Collider seems to confirm that the body we see in that overhead shot is indeed
Spoiler
an Engineer
[close]
.

Considering all the other set reports and...

Spoiler
....the mention of Shaw's hiding place, I'm starting to believe (hope) that Shaw is actually still alive in the film and just in hiding. Jungle girl style.
[close]

Well, to my mind, since they mention
Spoiler
Shaw's hiding place, I'm thinking her fate remains a "surprise" (aka, dead)
[close]
or they wouldn't have spoiled it on the set visit in the first place, you know?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Fatboy40 on Mar 01, 2017, 03:29:26 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 03:08:26 PM
The ''Hall of Heads'' sounds pretty interesting... http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#creatures

I bet we'll barely learn anything about it in the movie, though. It's sad that the engineers have such a small role.

I get a feeling that quite a lot of Engineer scenes have been filmed though, with probably only a tiny fraction of it being in the final film?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 03:33:35 PM
Quote from: Fatboy40 on Mar 01, 2017, 03:29:26 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 03:08:26 PM
The ''Hall of Heads'' sounds pretty interesting... http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#creatures

I bet we'll barely learn anything about it in the movie, though. It's sad that the engineers have such a small role.

I get a feeling that quite a lot of Engineer scenes have been filmed though, with probably only a tiny fraction of it being in the final film?
Seems like it. Though I'm sure the engineers will still have a somewhat important presence in the film. Just not as important as in Prometheus.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: cliffhanger on Mar 01, 2017, 03:38:00 PM
I for one hope david wiping out the engineers (and all life on the planet as we clearly see in the trailer) is not the last of the engineers. i hope there are still engineers alive somewhere, and discover what happens at a certain point.

would bring quite the story though!
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Enoch on Mar 01, 2017, 03:49:17 PM
Quote"The first 'Alien' was seven guys and gals in a steel hull, frankly the very old idea of 'The Old Dark House,'" Scott recollects. "Who's gonna die next? The fundamental basis of 'Alien' was a pretty old B-movie, but because of the cast and talent involved it came out an A+ movie. So we've reinvented the idea of 'Alien,' I think, which is that 'Covenant' gets us a step closer to who it was and why they decided to make human beings."
Read more at http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#4ArH8aXW8wo4HkJz.99

I dont need to read anything else. Just to wait a little bit and see this movie.
I think its going to be my favorite one...

Bye, I will be here on May 12th...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 04:16:22 PM
QuoteWith this film popping up and embracing the ALIEN universe and Blomkamps impending ALIEN 5 aka ALIEN 3 "for real", they had film researchers create a 10-page rule-book for the series. First time that happens in the franchise's history.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/set-visit-1-alien-covenant-everything-we-learned-sfx-info-238

Interesting quote there. They have a little bible now.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Mar 01, 2017, 04:24:53 PM
Ok SM, cat's out of the bag now. You can talk about the new rule book now.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: 426Buddy on Mar 01, 2017, 04:26:20 PM
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Mar 01, 2017, 04:24:53 PM
Ok SM, cat's out of the bag now. You can talk about the new rule book now.

lol that would be great
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Xenomorphine on Mar 01, 2017, 05:00:15 PM
Ugh... I don't care if characters are heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual, but you do not want your significant other to be your own subordinate - especially in the same military/security unit. The actors say their characters are all professional and whatever, but favouritism, even if it's subconscious, tends to creep in during life-or-death moments. That's just basic psychology.

Looks like my theory about Fassbender looking at Bishop as a template for the new synthetic was correct.

Curious about how accurate the guide they came up with is. Wonder if it'll include the magical Storm Rifle...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Pvt. Himmel on Mar 01, 2017, 05:00:46 PM
Alien: Covenant Actors on Playing the Franchise's First Gay Couple.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fscreenrant0.imgix.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2FAlien-Covenant-Hallett-and-Lope.jpg%3Fauto%3Dformat%26amp%3Blossless%3D1%26amp%3Bq%3D40%26amp%3Bw%3D1000%26amp%3Bh%3D500%26amp%3Bfit%3Dcrop&hash=cdfa51a0579f6463fafb0ee50a0a244f2381bb2a)

QuoteDuring Screen Rant's set visit last year, Bichir expounded on what the characters (who also appeared in the "Last Supper" prologue short) meant to him and to the broader context of the Alien mythos:

"Before partners, before husband and before lovers we are professionals and we know we can't cross that line because that would be the difference between dead and alive. No one really crosses any line, the rest of the crew is also formed in couples and whatever happens in our cabins is private."

"We are all couples on this ship, all kinds of couples, even men and men. For me that's a beautiful side of the story when you can have these two almost iconic macho types being together and loving each other and being a part of keeping everyone alive."


When asked if Lope and Hallett intend to have children of their own, Bichir replies:

"I'm sure we will be many children's uncles because we won't be able to have our own. Or maybe by the time we tell the story we can actually get pregnant. Please don't tell Ridley because he might bring it in on the script and I don't look good in a belly."

Added Dean:

"It's really great in the future... The thing within this film is that we don't really italicize it. You know, it's just a thing, they're just two men who love each other and they're happy to be bad-ass soldiers."

http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-gay-couple/ (http://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-gay-couple/)

8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: HuDaFuK on Mar 01, 2017, 05:36:14 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 02:40:11 PMhttp://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-character-guide/

This is the first I'm seeing of Nathaniel Dean and Tess Haubrich being in the film.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Valaquen on Mar 01, 2017, 05:36:58 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 04:16:22 PM
QuoteWith this film popping up and embracing the ALIEN universe and Blomkamps impending ALIEN 5 aka ALIEN 3 "for real", they had film researchers create a 10-page rule-book for the series. First time that happens in the franchise's history.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/set-visit-1-alien-covenant-everything-we-learned-sfx-info-238

Interesting quote there. They have a little bible now.

Saw that too. Intrigued.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: shawsbaby on Mar 01, 2017, 06:46:06 PM
The Joblo report makes it seem like Shaw and David
Spoiler
have a good deal of interaction with each other in the film
[close]
, though I suppose that could have changed in reshoots.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 01, 2017, 07:17:43 PM
QuoteRidley Scott decided to come back to the world of ALIEN after being let down by the AVP films. Moreover, he listened to the fans who craved aliens in Prometheus hence why Prometheus 2 goes back to ALIEN territory even down to its title. As Scott said while I was on set: "They want Aliens, I'll give them f*cking Aliens". (Dude swears like a sailor – I like that!)

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/alien-covenant-set-visit-1-what-we-learnedsaw-chat-with-fx-supervisor-128
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: BishopShouldGo on Mar 01, 2017, 07:23:55 PM
I thought he didn't watch the AvP films.


Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 04:16:22 PM
QuoteWith this film popping up and embracing the ALIEN universe and Blomkamps impending ALIEN 5 aka ALIEN 3 "for real", they had film researchers create a 10-page rule-book for the series. First time that happens in the franchise's history.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/set-visit-1-alien-covenant-everything-we-learned-sfx-info-238

Interesting quote there. They have a little bible now.

So Blomkamp's film is still on the table.

And this is very smart of them because the series is currently very incongruous. Alien and Aliens are the only two that feel of a piece. Maybe Alien 3. Maybe a bit of Prometheus. But yeesh.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 07:26:49 PM
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Mar 01, 2017, 05:36:14 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 02:40:11 PMhttp://screenrant.com/alien-covenant-character-guide/

This is the first I'm seeing of Nathaniel Dean and Tess Haubrich being in the film.

We've known about Haubrich for a while. I think Nathaniel Dean was someone we spotted on social media but had no info for.


Quote from: BishopShouldGo on Mar 01, 2017, 07:23:55 PM
So Blomkamp's film is still on the table.

I wouldn't put too much stock into this just yet. The visit was nearly 9 months ago. Odds are the reports were written around then. It's likely Joblo's report just wasn't updated to reflect the later comments.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: N-Shifter on Mar 01, 2017, 07:28:39 PM
Information overload!!! I love it :)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 08:07:06 PM
QuoteIt shouldn't have really ended, so we've come back with a very simple idea. Who made them? No one ever asked that question. [Alien] was just about there it is; it exists. And this is what it is. Seven guys and gals in a steel hull. Frankly, the very old idea of The Old Dark House. Who's gonna die next? The fundamental basis of Alien was a pretty old B-movie, but because of the cast and talent involved it came out an A+ movie. So we've reinvented the idea of Alien, I think, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them [the Engineers], you're dead wrong.
Ridley Scott.

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-prometheus/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#poster

Can't help but think we're really going in the direction that David is responsible for the Aliens as we know them. I'm holding onto hope it's some Elder God race or something but I really think it's not going there.


Quote"The aesthetic choices aren't just superficial, they tie into the larger story. "Technically, we're slightly earlier than the Giger stuff, a little bit," Seagers explained. "We're sort of edging into that. That's part of that whole storyline."
Chris Seagers.

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/#effects

Another hint towards David somehow introducing the biomechanical aspect to the Alien. Probably not in this film though. We've seen that.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: HuDaFuK on Mar 01, 2017, 08:19:07 PM
Quote from: BishopShouldGo on Mar 01, 2017, 07:23:55 PMAnd this is very smart of them because the series is currently very incongruous.

Things didn't get incongruous until AVP started having Aliens cropping up on Earth hundreds of years before humanity supposedly made first contact with them. The four Alien films make a pretty straightforward series.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Molecules on Mar 01, 2017, 08:28:19 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 08:07:06 PM


Can't help but think we're really going in the direction that David is responsible for the Aliens as we know them. I'm holding onto hope it's some Elder God race or something but I really think it's not going there.

Will fans have a major problem with this if, either in A:C or further down the line, the origins of the black goo are shown to be some kind of progenitor race/elder gods? I for one will be disappointed if the scale only goes up to the Engineers.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: harlequinade on Mar 01, 2017, 08:46:14 PM
"In addition to the Neomorphs, we will also see a creature similar to the Deacon from Prometheus, along with old favorites like Facehuggers and Chestbursters."
"O'Sullivan says "There's an enormous amount of creatures" in Covenant, and multiple versions of them."

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#creatures

Sounds like way more than Neo and ProtoXeno...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 09:10:32 PM
I don't believe it. They're probably just confused and talking about the different stages of the Neomorphs, thinking they are different creatures.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: rabidranger on Mar 01, 2017, 09:16:00 PM
Quote from: harlequinade on Mar 01, 2017, 08:46:14 PM
"In addition to the Neomorphs, we will also see a creature similar to the Deacon from Prometheus, along with old favorites like Facehuggers and Chestbursters."
"O'Sullivan says "There's an enormous amount of creatures" in Covenant, and multiple versions of them."

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#creatures

Sounds like way more than Neo and ProtoXeno...

Maybe that ties in with the comment in the trailer about a complete lack of wildlife on the planet.....
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 01, 2017, 09:18:18 PM
 ;D

QuoteThe cast and crew of COVENANT watched ALIEN before diving into this one. Ridley's orders!

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/alien-covenant-set-visit-1-what-we-learnedsaw-chat-with-fx-supervisor-128
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 09:20:46 PM
QuoteThe infamous operating table unit from Prometheus will be back!
Wut.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 01, 2017, 09:31:57 PM
Walter and David will
Spoiler
share screen time together.
[close]
Quote"That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen on screen," said Waterson. "I'm so excited for it. And also jealous because they're totally going to steal my thunder, those two robots."

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/#effects
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 09:33:57 PM
Spoiler
They're going to fight, aren't they?
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 01, 2017, 09:37:00 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 01, 2017, 09:33:57 PM
Spoiler
They're going to fight, aren't they?
[close]

Spoiler
Yes, according to the leaks.
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Le Celticant on Mar 01, 2017, 09:49:27 PM
Quote from: BishopShouldGo on Mar 01, 2017, 07:23:55 PM
I thought he didn't watch the AvP films.

I thought he never heard the critics or the fan.

Have we been deceived?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Stolen on Mar 01, 2017, 10:36:30 PM
QuoteWhen we arrived, the crew was on day 60 of a 75-day shoot, a more compressed schedule and reportedly a smaller budget than Scott had to work with on the previous prequel, Prometheus. We are led to the art room

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#dod2EyUHZfoGCm6j.99 (http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#dod2EyUHZfoGCm6j.99)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Nyarlathotep on Mar 01, 2017, 11:14:45 PM
Quote from: Le Celticant on Mar 01, 2017, 09:49:27 PM
Quote from: BishopShouldGo on Mar 01, 2017, 07:23:55 PM
I thought he didn't watch the AvP films.

I thought he never heard the critics or the fan.

Have we been deceived?
Evidently so.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: cliffhanger on Mar 01, 2017, 11:32:46 PM
anybody who has seen prometheus knows ridley stole AVP's story.

and if i'm overly b*tchy, i'm almost starting to get AVP:R vibes, not the least from the neomorph and a crashed spaceship,
and cannon fodder hippie couples. remember that 'swimming pool' scene? it's now a shower scene.
remember that hospital scene? it's now medbay in the covenant lander.
remember the end of AVP:R with the corny lame 'miss yutani' 'reveal' at the end showing that was the moment weyland merged with yutani?
guess what, the events of covenant have now weyland-yutani.
it's a ripoff from the master himself.......
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: hfeldhaus on Mar 01, 2017, 11:42:33 PM
You do realise that AvP recycled a lot of ideas that Scott passed on for the first Alien film? Think you need to read up on this before you make sweeping statements.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: cliffhanger on Mar 01, 2017, 11:48:21 PM
i know, but as harsh as it is, both AVP and AVPR came out way before prometheus and covenant, AND have aliens in them.

and just to show just how extremely similar it is

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: SM on Mar 01, 2017, 11:48:57 PM
Was there hippie couples in AvP:R?
Or Covenant?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: fiveways on Mar 02, 2017, 12:10:44 AM
Quote from: Stolen on Mar 01, 2017, 10:36:30 PM
QuoteWhen we arrived, the crew was on day 60 of a 75-day shoot, a more compressed schedule and reportedly a smaller budget than Scott had to work with on the previous prequel, Prometheus. We are led to the art room

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#dod2EyUHZfoGCm6j.99 (http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#dod2EyUHZfoGCm6j.99)

That is actually good news.


Quote from: cliffhanger on Mar 01, 2017, 11:48:21 PM
i know, but as harsh as it is, both AVP and AVPR came out way before prometheus and covenant, AND have aliens in them.

and just to show just how extremely similar it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFicodglXyQ

Yes, because AvP ripped off the ideas from early drafts of Alien.  Regardless of what came out film wise first, all that stuff was plundered from a script from 1976.  That overrides everything.  So AvP ripped off unused Ideas from Alien, dumbed them down to drool-cup levels, and turned it into a completely unwatchable series of movies. 
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: D88M on Mar 02, 2017, 12:26:52 AM
shit, i wish i havent read that about Shaw, too much spoilers! sounds great, i am out
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Virgil on Mar 02, 2017, 12:45:27 AM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 08:07:06 PM
QuoteIt shouldn't have really ended, so we've come back with a very simple idea. Who made them? No one ever asked that question. [Alien] was just about there it is; it exists. And this is what it is. Seven guys and gals in a steel hull. Frankly, the very old idea of The Old Dark House. Who's gonna die next? The fundamental basis of Alien was a pretty old B-movie, but because of the cast and talent involved it came out an A+ movie. So we've reinvented the idea of Alien, I think, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them [the Engineers], you're dead wrong.
Ridley Scott.

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-prometheus/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#poster

Can't help but think we're really going in the direction that David is responsible for the Aliens as we know them. I'm holding onto hope it's some Elder God race or something but I really think it's not going there.




Only problem with that is, how do they explain the murals depicting aliens and eggs at the engineer's weapons facility?

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvignette4.wikia.nocookie.net%2Favp%2Fimages%2F0%2F0c%2FNormal_art-of-prometheus-003.PNG%2Frevision%2Flatest%3Fcb%3D20121201182936&hash=576b1c8a22dde1e879305c28e834ebc8bbce5d7c)

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alien-covenant.com%2Faliencovenant_uploads%2Fmain-qimg-0166e183747c5398d18f67bef5258379-c.jpg&hash=6c6b4c79035291c99b5882f29d31c8b3f462a24c)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: N-Shifter on Mar 02, 2017, 01:41:50 AM
Quote from: Virgil on Mar 02, 2017, 12:45:27 AM


Only problem with that is, how do they explain the murals depicting aliens and eggs at the engineer's weapons facility?




Only thing I can come up with is that the "Alien" (as we know it) is what the engineers were ultimately trying to make but failed and David has continued their work and succeeded?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: D88M on Mar 02, 2017, 01:46:18 AM
the Shaw part sounds very Giger, like one of his paintings it kinda reminds me of this actually http://img1.meristation.com/files/imagenes/general/teaser_ka_giger_top_1204131138_id_548944.jpg among other of his paintings, i hope we get more answers tough
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Morose on Mar 02, 2017, 03:19:00 AM
The part about Elizabeth Shaw's head surrounded by tubes and machines sounds a lot like H.R. Giger's LI 2 painting. It would be interesting to see Elizabeth become a Xenomorph and David become some evil scientist. To see these two characters transform from hopeful and somewhat naïve individuals to dangerous monsters is very interesting.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Ultramorph on Mar 02, 2017, 03:20:16 AM
Interesting quotes from the Collider report:
QuoteThe aesthetic choices aren't just superficial, they tie into the larger story. "Technically, we're slightly earlier than the Giger stuff, a little bit," Seagers explained. "We're sort of edging into that. That's part of that whole storyline."

And this:
QuoteThe production team carried over the engineer alphabet created for Prometheus. All the hieroglyphics actually say something, but it might be rather difficult to decode since not all the translations are in English.

Remember the one wall of hieroglyphs that we thought said something about the Engeineers' "children"? Maybe we were right!
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: rabidranger on Mar 02, 2017, 04:28:06 AM
The murals are an interesting side note. At the very least it seems to suggest that the "xenomorph" in some form as well as it's life cycle was known the Engineers. There was an "altar" of sorts at well which could indicate some sort of reverence. Maybe the xenormorph represents the next stage in evolution or harkens back to the Engineers' own "Gods."
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: SpeedyMaxx on Mar 02, 2017, 05:56:29 AM
I believe one of the set reports explicitly says they deliberately ignored AVP for their new bible/timeline, as it is no longer canonical.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 02, 2017, 06:14:22 AM
"The aesthetic choices aren't just superficial, they tie into the larger story. "Technically, we're slightly earlier than the Giger stuff, a little bit," Seagers explained. "We're sort of edging into that. That's part of that whole storyline."

I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! The Organic stuff is going to be added by some synthesized version of the Goo.

Also the Mutated Shaw thing - We all have been speculating! This could be really great.

What the hell is the MEDPOD going to be doing in this (and PASSENGERS by Spaihts BTW)? Operating on an ANDROID I hope!

Also "HALL OF HEADS"   - YES!!! YES! YES! I love this so much.

Its like Christmas morning!!
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Stolen on Mar 02, 2017, 06:33:54 AM
Quote•Shaw's (Noomi Rapace) presence in the film was going to be a surprise, that is why they kept her casting under wraps. That's until it leaked online and they had to own up.

Certainly something big for Shaw!
Great !
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: prometheusfire08 on Mar 02, 2017, 06:37:27 AM
wondering if the giant head on lv223 is symbolic of those engineers being removed or exiled from the larger society on paradise ?

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 02, 2017, 06:48:17 AM
There is seriously so much shit going on in these set reports I dont even know where to start commenting.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: D88M on Mar 02, 2017, 07:25:13 AM
those reports can be read, or they have too much spoilers in them?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: whiterabbit on Mar 02, 2017, 08:00:54 AM
This entire thread sounds awesome. Though what is that alien bible thing everyone is talking about? I'm assuming it's rules to keep some sort of canon in the alien franchise.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 02, 2017, 08:32:15 AM
^ I imagine that is it; just a canonical rule book really.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 02, 2017, 08:33:33 AM
Quote from: CainsSon on Mar 02, 2017, 06:14:22 AM
What the hell is the MEDPOD going to be doing in this (and PASSENGERS by Spaihts BTW)? Operating on an ANDROID I hope!

Considering how much Covenant seems to be like a retry of Spaihts' original script, I'd hope to see the original medpod scene return where it's operating on Watts (Shaw) as she's being chestbursted.

Quote from: whiterabbit on Mar 02, 2017, 08:00:54 AM
This entire thread sounds awesome. Though what is that alien bible thing everyone is talking about? I'm assuming it's rules to keep some sort of canon in the alien franchise.

Exactly. Probably to help Scott and the writers work out the trilogy. Also probably to avoid any contradictions with Blomkamp's movie when they were working on that too.


Quote from: D88M on Mar 02, 2017, 07:25:13 AM
those reports can be read, or they have too much spoilers in them?

There's a lot of information. Probably best to avoid if you don't want more details. Also best to avoid this thread in that case as people are going to be talking about them.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: HuDaFuK on Mar 02, 2017, 08:51:41 AM
Quote from: cliffhanger on Mar 01, 2017, 11:32:46 PMand cannon fodder hippie couples. remember that 'swimming pool' scene? it's now a shower scene.

The characters and specific scenes weren't really the issue with that film.

It was the appalling acting and screenplay.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Dangerous Days on Mar 02, 2017, 11:54:36 AM
Still be interesting to see if the next 2 films go back to the reason the Engineers wished to wipe out humanity. All this talk of space Jesus (which even though I'm not religious, I certainly wouldn't want to see) and the rise of the Roman Empire. But I also remember Lindelof and Spaihts mentioning the possibility that our creation was just an experiment and that the earth is little more than a petri dish to the Engineers; an idea I personally feel ties in much better with the whole Lovecraftian feel, that most fans seem to want with an Alien origin story.

With that in mind, I'm really hoping the Xeno-like mural on the wall in the ampule room, is more than just an Easter egg; included for no other reason, than it being the only piece of artwork Giger contributed to Prometheus.

My preferred direction by the end of these prequels, would be to find out that the creature in mural was central to the plot. And what the Engineers were really doing on LV-223, is trying to resurrect that creature, an ancient god like being, long extinct, who's blood is the basis of the mutagen they use in their sacrificial rituals, to seed other worlds. They knew the creature was parasitic in nature and would require living hosts, so just arbitrarily selected the human population on earth, for the honour of birthing their deity. But the Engineers messed up. Rather than recreating the creature from the mural, the black goo creates abominations of it instead; which David later perfects through his experiments on Paradise.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Russ840 on Mar 02, 2017, 12:00:50 PM
Quote from: Dangerous Days on Mar 02, 2017, 11:54:36 AM
Still be interesting to see if the next 2 films go back to the reason the Engineers wished to wipe out humanity. All this talk of space Jesus (which even though I'm not religious, I certainly wouldn't want to see) and the rise of the Roman Empire. But I also remember Lindelof and Spaihts mentioning the possibility that our creation was just an experiment and that the earth is little more than a petri dish to the Engineers; an idea I personally feel ties in much better with the whole Lovecraftian feel, that most fans seem to want with an Alien origin story.

With that in mind, I'm really hoping the Xeno-like mural on the wall in the ampule room, is more than just an Easter egg; included for no other reason, than it being the only piece of artwork Giger contributed to Prometheus.

My preferred direction by the end of these prequels, would be to find out that the creature in mural was central to the plot. And what the Engineers were really doing on LV-223, is trying to resurrect that creature, an ancient god like being, long extinct, who's blood is the basis of the mutagen they use in their sacrificial rituals, to seed other worlds. They knew the creature was parasitic in nature and would require living hosts, so just arbitrarily selected the human population on earth, for the honour of birthing their deity. But the Engineers messed up. Rather than recreating the creature from the mural, the black goo creates abominations of it instead; which David later perfects through his experiments on Paradise.

Not bad. I'd buy in to this.


Quote from: Dangerous Days on Mar 02, 2017, 11:54:36 AM
Still be interesting to see if the next 2 films go back to the reason the Engineers wished to wipe out humanity. All this talk of space Jesus (which even though I'm not religious, I certainly wouldn't want to see) and the rise of the Roman Empire. But I also remember Lindelof and Spaihts mentioning the possibility that our creation was just an experiment and that the earth is little more than a petri dish to the Engineers; an idea I personally feel ties in much better with the whole Lovecraftian feel, that most fans seem to want with an Alien origin story.

With that in mind, I'm really hoping the Xeno-like mural on the wall in the ampule room, is more than just an Easter egg; included for no other reason, than it being the only piece of artwork Giger contributed to Prometheus.

My preferred direction by the end of these prequels, would be to find out that the creature in mural was central to the plot. And what the Engineers were really doing on LV-223, is trying to resurrect that creature, an ancient god like being, long extinct, who's blood is the basis of the mutagen they use in their sacrificial rituals, to seed other worlds. They knew the creature was parasitic in nature and would require living hosts, so just arbitrarily selected the human population on earth, for the honour of birthing their deity. But the Engineers messed up. Rather than recreating the creature from the mural, the black goo creates abominations of it instead; which David later perfects through his experiments on Paradise.

Not bad. I'd. It not this.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 02, 2017, 01:00:10 PM
I like your thinking Dangerous Days (cool name by the way ;)), that just may be the case; David will simply re-create it the way it originally was, as perfected by some other being, he'd just be following the blueprint that the Engineers were trying desperately to replicate. So, that way, the original beast did exist as it did eons ago, it just took a synthetic being like David to find all the correct ingredients and method, as it were. That could very well be the compromise here folks as far as these prequels will go.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Mar 02, 2017, 03:41:28 PM
Quote from: Stolen on Mar 01, 2017, 10:36:30 PM
QuoteWhen we arrived, the crew was on day 60 of a 75-day shoot, a more compressed schedule and reportedly a smaller budget than Scott had to work with on the previous prequel, Prometheus. We are led to the art room

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#dod2EyUHZfoGCm6j.99 (http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/820159-our-visit-to-the-alien-covenant-set#dod2EyUHZfoGCm6j.99)

That at least puts paid to that ridiculous $200 million budget rumour. By the looks of the two trailers so far it does look like a slightly lower-budget Prometheus.

Quote from: SM on Mar 01, 2017, 11:48:57 PM
Was there hippie couples in AvP:R?
Or Covenant?

Very mild spoiler:
Spoiler
Well, the Covenant is according to one Sydney newspaper report, carrying a shitload of Nimbin Cannabis. Not sure if that makes 'em space hippies though. They look more like space hipsters to be honest  :-\
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 02, 2017, 04:39:15 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 04:16:22 PM
QuoteWith this film popping up and embracing the ALIEN universe and Blomkamps impending ALIEN 5 aka ALIEN 3 "for real", they had film researchers create a 10-page rule-book for the series. First time that happens in the franchise's history.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/set-visit-1-alien-covenant-everything-we-learned-sfx-info-238

Interesting quote there. They have a little bible now.

I want that book so bad!! Also Sigourney's/Ripley marble notebooks. FOX should publish both.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: dlb on Mar 02, 2017, 04:46:56 PM
having some kind of bible is a common practice when dealing with a franchise. it's probably just notes and stuff that they laid out as must haves for these movies. I bet Marvel has something like this as well to not loose overview and I know that Stephen King has something like this for his Dark Tower series as well.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 02, 2017, 04:51:45 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 01, 2017, 08:07:06 PM
QuoteIt shouldn't have really ended, so we've come back with a very simple idea. Who made them? No one ever asked that question. [Alien] was just about there it is; it exists. And this is what it is. Seven guys and gals in a steel hull. Frankly, the very old idea of The Old Dark House. Who's gonna die next? The fundamental basis of Alien was a pretty old B-movie, but because of the cast and talent involved it came out an A+ movie. So we've reinvented the idea of Alien, I think, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them [the Engineers], you're dead wrong.
Ridley Scott.

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-prometheus/?utm_campaign=collidersocial&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#poster

Can't help but think we're really going in the direction that David is responsible for the Aliens as we know them. I'm holding onto hope it's some Elder God race or something but I really think it's not going there.


Quote"The aesthetic choices aren't just superficial, they tie into the larger story. "Technically, we're slightly earlier than the Giger stuff, a little bit," Seagers explained. "We're sort of edging into that. That's part of that whole storyline."
Chris Seagers.

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-spoilers-things-to-know/#effects

Another hint towards David somehow introducing the biomechanical aspect to the Alien. Probably not in this film though. We've seen that.

FROM COLLIDER:
"But there's something larger at work here, too. If there was one thing that was made abundantly clear throughout the conversations on set, it's that Covenant, like Prometheus, is very much rooted in the idea of creation myths. Who created David? Man. Who created man? The Engineers. But who created the Engineers? And what comes next in the chain? What does man's creation create? Covenant is a film that looks to tell a broad-scale creation myth both backward and forwards at the same time. While it brings us closer to the events of Alien, to the birth of the biomechanical Xenomorph we all know and love, it also continues to look back at the story of human creation — a story we don't understand nearly as well as we think we do from the story we were told in Prometheus."

http://collider.com/alien-covenant-engineers-prometheus-connection/ (http://collider.com/alien-covenant-engineers-prometheus-connection/)

A few reports mentioned this. Which seems to suggest that what we thought we were being told in PROMETHEUS is part of a larger scheme, including 'WHAT CREATED THE ENGINEERS' - the SJ? - and this film seems to focus on 'WHAT OUT CREATION -DAVID- WOULD CREATE'
The thing is, I dont think the Xeno we see here is biomechanical. So it would seem to be leading toward's DAVID trying to Perfect this Proto-Xeno, into something biomechanical.

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Mustangjeff on Mar 02, 2017, 06:19:36 PM
My biggest, admittedly pre-conceived, trepidation about Covenant is that there will be a lack of Engineer backstory.  A crazy slasher monster created by mad scientist robot doesn't really interest me that much.  It's the back story of the Engineers that is truly interesting to me.  I'm hoping some of this come out even if we don't see them.

David clearly knows what they were doing.  He did in Prometheus (sometimes to create, one must destroy) so he has to have a pretty good handle on it by now.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 02, 2017, 07:35:22 PM
http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/alien-covenant-set-visit-2-michael-fassbender-katherine-waterston-huffam-745#.WLhn1367IJI.twitter

Joblo's second report. I think we've mined all the new info we're going to get from the set reports. I think it's largely going to be repeat information.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Morose on Mar 02, 2017, 08:07:54 PM
It is a shame they are not focusing on the engineers. I was looking forward to some sort of engineer battle where there were two factions. Elizabeth would probably join one faction while David ran off the possibly make deals with the Deacon character.

Still I do find it a bit interesting that these characters are still in the franchise and are developing
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: banecat on Mar 02, 2017, 08:14:09 PM
that's my thing, i hope we get a sufficient amount of engineer content
at this point it's looking like we'll just see
Spoiler
a flashback showing david dropping black goo and wiping them out
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Evanus on Mar 02, 2017, 08:17:31 PM
QuoteHe thinks that it will be a movie that absolutely delivers for the Prometheus fan base and the ALIEN fan base. He's not feeling anxious.
Well, I don't think Prometheus fans will like
Spoiler
Shaw and the engineers being killed off like it's nothing, and having almost no screentime.
[close]
:D

:'(
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 02, 2017, 09:25:03 PM
QuoteLRM Online was allowed to visit Fox Studios Australia this past June where Ridely Scott was filming his latest chapter in the Alien series, Alien: Covenant. With limited time we were able to catch up with him while he was in between takes. Guided into a dimly lit stage we came across a massive set which consist of large heads which look like they are carved from stone. These large heads are know as the engineers or the elders that once had a civilization on this planet. Here is what he had to say about his latest film.

See more at: http://lrmonline.com/news/alien-covenant-director-ridley-scott-doesnt-think-of-alien-as-a-horror-film#sthash
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Stolen on Mar 02, 2017, 09:35:20 PM
QuoteWhat's with all the heads?
Ridley Scott: If you ask me they were a people who were superior. These were probably the ten apostles, the wise men.  -

Better and better ! Prometheus is everywhere in Covenant

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_marrs4pXlg1r5c736o1_500.gif&hash=44b03a67a85fa34d29ec00a142dd8a471d911fa3)
Title: FX Supervisor Neil Corbould about Covenant
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 02, 2017, 09:59:15 PM
Here is what Joblo got out of a chat with Special Visual Effects Supervisor Neil Corbould:

QuoteAt the beginning of the movie they looked at all types of different blood, then they put a few tests onto film just to see what color they liked. They got it from all over the world. They made some of their own as well, and ended up using their own stuff, which was quite ironic, really, because they spent a few thousand dollars shipping it in from everywhere. Everyone has their own little recipe and they won't tell anyone else, and theirs is basically cornstarch and food coloring and that's it.

They have different types of blood like congealed blood and blood "chuckers", which are different sizes and shot out with compressed air. They put a cap (with different patterns) on top of a tube (think a shower head) so it gives a spray or a splurge or whatever else they need.

They made some alien blood as well, some black blood and the android white fluid. The red blood, they've probably made like a thousand liters of it.

They are trying to make the gore as realistic as possible, because that's what Ridley wants. He wants the shock factor.

Ridley loves to do things in camera. He doesn't like CG blood, doesn't like CG effects unless it is to complement the work that they do or to do set extensions. He loves realism. He wants a real alien running around the spaceship and stuff like that.

There are creatures there (guys in suits) and then the visual effects enhance them, which he thinks is the way to go, rather than having a complete CG character. At least there's a performer underneath the costume that is giving a performance.

They made one of the alien head with the teeth coming out and a facehugger that runs along the ground. But his job is more the mechanical effects, the big gimbals, the spaceships, and crashes and explosions.

They built the top half of the gimbal, on this little spaceship. They made the bottom half of it, then twisted it and turned it. It's sort of the size of a tennis court and there's a fight sequence set on top of it. At the time the spaceship is not in space, it's on an Earth-type of environment. It weighed 27 tons in reality and it was flying around with people hanging off of it, which Ridley loved. It gave him the opportunity to get a lot of wide angles of the spaceship, and it's real! The CG will put the rest of the engines on and stuff like that.

This movie is a huge action movie. It's one of those movies that never stops giving. Just when you think it might be over, something happens and it just keeps going on.

Doing the terraforming bay was tricky because it was this truck that was about 25 tons, and that had to slide down the spaceship and then go off the end to teeter for a bit. The logistics of it were arduous. And the schedule that they had to stick to was challenging. They went from the terraforming bay to the gimbal rig overnight. Hence they had to get everything from one stage to another. It was a logistical nightmare.

Ridley Scott's attention to detail is incredible and his knowledge of film is also incredible. He remembers the stuff he did on ALIEN like it was yesterday. Their briefing was to look at the first ALIEN and to bring a modern sort of twist to it. Ridley remembers absolutely everything about that movie. How they did the facehugger, and using the oysters, and all. He's an incredible filmmaker. This was his sixth movie with him and it's always great. He never gets bored of it. Ridley challenges him.

They shot two weeks in New Zealand. It was part of a set build. They had a beautiful backdrop of Milford Sound and they did quite the explosion there – in one take.

Ridley Scott is a role model for a lot of people in the film business. He puts all they younger guys to shame. When you're in meetings he'll turn up at 8 o'clock and he'll be there until 9, 10 o'clock at night, saying: "Have you had enough yet? You guys look tired. You should go and have some sleep." And then he'll go off to editing or something like that. He doesn't need the money anymore. It's just his love of film and making movies the way he wants to make them that drives him.

Technology has moved on. The hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics have all evolved quite a bit. ALIEN probably had 20 special effects crew members, they had 80 on this. Because the toys they got to handle were a lot more advanced than what they had 30, 40 years ago.

They couldn't go too far away from ALIEN, because obviously this is before ALIEN. They took a little bit of creative license here and there, but they had to keep in mind that ALIEN is the movie that we're heading toward.

As soon as the effects community heard they were doing another ALIEN everyone wanted to do the movie, from all over the world. It's got such a following within the film industry.

Ridley listened to the PROMETHEUS criticism: people wanted more aliens. They're going to get a lot more aliens. More than they probably anticipated.

In his opinion DEADPOOL and THE REVENANT changed the stigma about an R Rating as they made lots of money. So that opened the door for ALIEN COVENANT to go for a hard R.

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/alien-covenant-set-visit-1-what-we-learnedsaw-chat-with-fx-supervisor-128
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Evanus on Mar 02, 2017, 10:15:24 PM
QuoteIf there was one thing that was made abundantly clear throughout the conversations on set, it's that Covenant, like Prometheus, is very much rooted in the idea of creation myths. Who created David? Man. Who created man? The Engineers. But who created the Engineers? And what comes next in the chain? What does man's creation create? Covenant is a film that looks to tell a broad-scale creation myth both backward and forwards at the same time. While it brings us closer to the events of Alien, to the birth of the biomechanical Xenomorph we all know and love, it also continues to look back at the story of human creation — a story we don't understand nearly as well as we think we do from the story we were told in Prometheus.

At least that's what we're led to believe by Scott, who came to speak with us briefly while we were standing in the Hall of Heads. "We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."
Anyone knows what he's talking about here, the bold part?  ???
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Enoch on Mar 02, 2017, 10:19:44 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 02, 2017, 10:15:24 PM
QuoteIf there was one thing that was made abundantly clear throughout the conversations on set, it's that Covenant, like Prometheus, is very much rooted in the idea of creation myths. Who created David? Man. Who created man? The Engineers. But who created the Engineers? And what comes next in the chain? What does man's creation create? Covenant is a film that looks to tell a broad-scale creation myth both backward and forwards at the same time. While it brings us closer to the events of Alien, to the birth of the biomechanical Xenomorph we all know and love, it also continues to look back at the story of human creation — a story we don't understand nearly as well as we think we do from the story we were told in Prometheus.

At least that's what we're led to believe by Scott, who came to speak with us briefly while we were standing in the Hall of Heads. "We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."
Anyone knows what he's talking about here, the bold part?  ???

I m not sure... I think the human story will get a bit more complex in Covenant...
It seems Ridley said that humans are not created by Engineers but designed by other race,
and then just seeded by Engineers who were a servants to that superior beings.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: N-Shifter on Mar 02, 2017, 11:41:47 PM
Quote from: Enoch on Mar 02, 2017, 10:19:44 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 02, 2017, 10:15:24 PM
QuoteIf there was one thing that was made abundantly clear throughout the conversations on set, it's that Covenant, like Prometheus, is very much rooted in the idea of creation myths. Who created David? Man. Who created man? The Engineers. But who created the Engineers? And what comes next in the chain? What does man's creation create? Covenant is a film that looks to tell a broad-scale creation myth both backward and forwards at the same time. While it brings us closer to the events of Alien, to the birth of the biomechanical Xenomorph we all know and love, it also continues to look back at the story of human creation — a story we don't understand nearly as well as we think we do from the story we were told in Prometheus.

At least that's what we're led to believe by Scott, who came to speak with us briefly while we were standing in the Hall of Heads. "We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."
Anyone knows what he's talking about here, the bold part?  ???

I m not sure... I think the human story will get a bit more complex in Covenant...
It seems Ridley said that humans are not created by Engineers but designed by other race,
and then just seeded by Engineers who were a servants to that superior beings.

Maybe we were seeded onto earth to be parasites as well, maybe there going to explore the idea that we're another form of created bio weapon just like the Xenos I mean, we pretty much spread across the planet destroying things that get in our way and multiplying...........too deep?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Darth Vile on Mar 03, 2017, 08:23:42 AM
That quote from Scott is a bit vague... and the use of grammar doesn't help... "Who and why was this thing designed to make human being"? I'm assuming he must be talking about the black goo? And I'm starting to think that we, humans, we're a mistake.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Cavalorn on Mar 03, 2017, 09:51:00 AM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 02, 2017, 10:15:24 PM
QuoteIf there was one thing that was made abundantly clear throughout the conversations on set, it's that Covenant, like Prometheus, is very much rooted in the idea of creation myths. Who created David? Man. Who created man? The Engineers. But who created the Engineers? And what comes next in the chain? What does man's creation create? Covenant is a film that looks to tell a broad-scale creation myth both backward and forwards at the same time. While it brings us closer to the events of Alien, to the birth of the biomechanical Xenomorph we all know and love, it also continues to look back at the story of human creation — a story we don't understand nearly as well as we think we do from the story we were told in Prometheus.

At least that's what we're led to believe by Scott, who came to speak with us briefly while we were standing in the Hall of Heads. "We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."
Anyone knows what he's talking about here, the bold part?  ???

I told comingsoon.net over Twitter that the line looked garbled and they have now changed it. It now reads:

''Covenant' gets us a step closer to who it was and why they decided to make human beings.'

Which barely makes any sense at all. I think it's a transcription error, personally; there's a missing word, and that word is 'afraid'.

So the Ridley Scott quote should read:

"The first 'Alien' was seven guys and gals in a steel hull, frankly the very old idea of 'The Old Dark House,'" Scott recollects. "Who's gonna die next? The fundamental basis of 'Alien' was a pretty old B-movie, but because of the cast and talent involved it came out an A+ movie. We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings afraid. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."

I can't see any other way of reading it. Ridley's talking about horror here, and why the Alien is so frightening to us humans. The point about Covenant is that it recasts the Alien's scariness as the product of design.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Protozoid on Mar 03, 2017, 10:34:48 AM
Quote from: Cavalorn on Mar 03, 2017, 09:51:00 AM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 02, 2017, 10:15:24 PM
QuoteIf there was one thing that was made abundantly clear throughout the conversations on set, it's that Covenant, like Prometheus, is very much rooted in the idea of creation myths. Who created David? Man. Who created man? The Engineers. But who created the Engineers? And what comes next in the chain? What does man's creation create? Covenant is a film that looks to tell a broad-scale creation myth both backward and forwards at the same time. While it brings us closer to the events of Alien, to the birth of the biomechanical Xenomorph we all know and love, it also continues to look back at the story of human creation — a story we don't understand nearly as well as we think we do from the story we were told in Prometheus.

At least that's what we're led to believe by Scott, who came to speak with us briefly while we were standing in the Hall of Heads. "We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."
Anyone knows what he's talking about here, the bold part?  ???

I told comingsoon.net over Twitter that the line looked garbled and they have now changed it. It now reads:

''Covenant' gets us a step closer to who it was and why they decided to make human beings.'

Which barely makes any sense at all. I think it's a transcription error, personally; there's a missing word, and that word is 'afraid'.

So the Ridley Scott quote should read:

"The first 'Alien' was seven guys and gals in a steel hull, frankly the very old idea of 'The Old Dark House,'" Scott recollects. "Who's gonna die next? The fundamental basis of 'Alien' was a pretty old B-movie, but because of the cast and talent involved it came out an A+ movie. We've reinvented the idea of Alien, which is that Covenant gets us a step closer to who and why was this thing designed to make human beings afraid. And if you think it's them," Scott said, gesturing to the monolithic figures of the Engineers surrounding us, "you're dead wrong."

I can't see any other way of reading it. Ridley's talking about horror here, and why the Alien is so frightening to us humans. The point about Covenant is that it recasts the Alien's scariness as the product of design.
Are you the Cavalorn who wrote that noted Prometheus Unbound post back in 2012? If so, thank you. I was baffled by the movie but was starting to piece together some of the stuff you articulated. It got me excited about delving deeper and now it's one of my favorite movies because of all the layers of implication.

That said, I don't think Scott was talking about horror. I think he was saying that Prometheus contained misdirection, and the creation of humans and the Aliens won't necessarily be what we expect based on that movie. He gestured to the statues to rule them out as the creators of the Engineers. The search will go on.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 03, 2017, 10:39:59 AM
I think he either means the Engineers making us and talking retroactively, or why the Aliens are able to gestate inside us? Only problem with that is that we know they'll grow from other creatures as well.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 03, 2017, 10:53:27 AM
Sought of makes sense to me; we assume the engineers were responsible for creating (or guiding the evolution of) mankind, perhaps they were not...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Cavalorn on Mar 03, 2017, 10:55:31 AM
Quote from: Protozoid on Mar 03, 2017, 10:34:48 AMAre you the Cavalorn who wrote that noted Prometheus Unbound post back in 2012? If so, thank you. I was baffled by the movie but was starting to piece together some of the stuff you articulated. It got me excited about delving deeper and now it's one of my favorite movies because of all the layers of implication.

Yep, that's me. Glad you liked it!

QuoteThat said, I don't think Scott was talking about horror. I think he was saying that Prometheus contained misdirection, and the creation of humans and the Aliens won't necessarily be what we expect based on that movie. He gestured to the statues to rule them out as the creators of the Engineers. The search will go on.

My reasons for thinking he's talking about the design of the Alien creature centre on the reference to 'this thing', which is clearly a single phenomenon. If you take the quote at face value - 'why was this thing designed to make human beings' - it's gibberish. Why was what thing designed to create humans? Have we seen a human being factory anywhere, whose design suddenly needs explanation? Why would we need to know that it wasn't the Engineers who made the thing that in turn made humans?

But if you read it as 'why was this thing designed to make human beings frightened' it makes perfect sense. Scott's reference to 'the old dark house' suggests to me that he's talking about horror movie tropes.

Edit to add: joblo.com's summary of what Scott said makes it clear it is the Alien whose design is being talked about here:

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Darth Vile on Mar 03, 2017, 11:00:10 AM
My interpretation is that it's the black goo Scott is referencing. We assume the engineers used the black goo to terraform, and it was with the black goo that kick started evolution here on Earth. I think Scott is saying our assumption is incorrect. Perhaps it was all a big experiment that ****** up? I.e. it wasn't by design...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 03, 2017, 11:36:40 AM
That's probably it; that thing - black goo - who created that and why.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Evanus on Mar 03, 2017, 01:09:14 PM
http://www.imdb.com/imdbpicks/alien-covenant-set-visit/ls064061628/?linkId=35053905
QuoteThere's mounting, unconfirmed evidence that Paradise may have once been home to humans who worshipped the Engineers.
Uhh, whaaaat?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 03, 2017, 01:10:41 PM
I don't think that's likely. Ridley seemed to indicate it's Engineers worshiping their own betters.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Evanus on Mar 03, 2017, 01:12:05 PM
Yeah, exactly. They're probably just confused.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 03, 2017, 02:15:40 PM
http://www.slashfilm.com/alien-covenant-set-visit-report/

I've not read it yet but likely more of the same.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 03, 2017, 02:55:14 PM
Yeah nothing different.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: thexenomorph on Mar 03, 2017, 03:33:59 PM
Then like Adam and Eve, the humans were kicked out?
Title: Re: FX Supervisor Neil Corbould about Covenant
Post by: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Mar 03, 2017, 03:55:11 PM
Thanks for this Ingwar. Very interesting article.

QuoteRidley listened to the PROMETHEUS criticism: people wanted more aliens.

The problem with Prometheus wasn't really the absence of aliens though. In fact, they were probably better off without them considering how they were utilized in Spaiths' scripts. I'm hoping he heard the complaints about the script and editing issues though.




Now this is weird. Where did Ingwar's thread go and why has my reply to his post been moved to this thread now?  ???

Corporal?  >:(

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Darth Vile on Mar 03, 2017, 06:42:30 PM
I'm sure Scott recognisises some of the script inadequacies in Prometheus, however, the lack of 'horror' was something oft mentioned within fandom. From a marketing perspective too, it was an odd one... which is probably why the Prometheus trailer felt much more like an Alien movie than the actual film itself.
Title: Re: FX Supervisor Neil Corbould about Covenant
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 03, 2017, 09:03:37 PM
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Mar 03, 2017, 03:55:11 PM
Now this is weird. Where did Ingwar's thread go and why has my reply to his post been moved to this thread now?  ???

Corporal?  >:(

Looks like one of the other mods merged the thread with the Set Report one.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Mar 03, 2017, 09:13:32 PM
Ah right, found his post on the previous page of this thread. It probably got synced into the timestamps of the other posts in this thread. Though it was probably deserving of it's own thread since it was quite informative.
Title: Re: FX Supervisor Neil Corbould about Covenant
Post by: Valaquen on Mar 03, 2017, 09:29:46 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 03, 2017, 09:03:37 PM
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Mar 03, 2017, 03:55:11 PM
Now this is weird. Where did Ingwar's thread go and why has my reply to his post been moved to this thread now?  ???

Corporal?  >:(

Looks like one of the other mods merged the thread with the Set Report one.

I did, since Ingwar's link was already included and being discussed here.

Apologies for any confusion, folks  :-[
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Mar 03, 2017, 09:35:09 PM
No problem Valaquen.  :)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 03, 2017, 10:08:27 PM
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Mar 03, 2017, 09:13:32 PM
Ah right, found his post on the previous page of this thread. It probably got synced into the timestamps of the other posts in this thread. Though it was probably deserving of it's own thread since it was quite informative.

Yeah, that was my intention. Those set reports apply to many aspects of the movie like cast and characters, sets, visual effects and production design, costumes, creatures and so on. It's confusing to talk about all of this in one thread. Only my opinion. I'm not in charge here ;)


Here is what Joblo got out of a chat with Sir Ridley Scott, Billy Crudup and Demian Bichir.

Ridley Scott

QuoteThe giant heads in the sacrificial/altar room are of beings that were the superiors. They were probably the ten apostles, the wise men.

He thinks of ALIEN as a a posh horror film. He never thought of ALIEN as a horror film – it just scared the shit out of people. It was about what is real tension, what is real fear as it is very hard to scare people. So he thought he'd try and come back and do another one like that with Covenant.

He thought that ALIEN had run its course; but then thought with that special kind of creature, it shouldn't have run its course and should not have ended. So he's coming back to it with a very simple idea, who created them, nobody ever asked that question, and why do they exist?

ALIEN was about 7 guys and gals in a steel hull, which was frankly a very old idea, the spooked house and who is going to die next. It was a B movie idea but with class and a superior cast which made it an A+ film.

They reinvented the idea of ALIEN with PROMETHEUS. And with COVENANT they are taking one step closer to who and why this thing was designed. And if you think it's the beings represented by the giant heads in the Altar room, you're dead wrong.

ALIEN had a Christian protagonist, and in Covenant they also have Jews and atheists. Religions is always interesting to Ridley, because the bottom line is you're asking the same question whether you're an agnostic or a heathen or whatever. You're celebrating our concern about your end.  If you're not, you're a liar.

The Egyptians were obsessed with the afterlife and built their whole culture around it, which he felt was very interesting. He'd say he's kind of agnostic, not necessarily in the sense that he believes or does not believe in God. But he thinks that there's an alternate thought or idea of a superior entity, because we can't be just it cause in his opinion that's entirely ridiculous. Are we one of many? Of course we are. We are one of many, many variations of what we are right now. And NASA has conceded that, they didn't thirty years ago. Now they say it's entirely feasible. So he'd like to open that door.

When asked why he added another Android in the film he said; "How many Mercedes Benz are there? You get a great android it's good business. Roy Batty, if he hadn't died they'd have probably would  have made a lot of Roy Batty's."

His perception of Sci-Fi has not changed. He always tries to keep everything as real as possible. The very first knocked his socks off and was a seminal film but a "Fairie story". ALIEN was more reality based.  Blade Runner stepped into the area of urban future, and he thinks they were pretty accurate with it. With The Martian, it was wonderful  for him to work with NASA and JPL. They were very helpful and were also Sci-Fi buffs.  So when he started talking to them, he got immediate help and advice. They showed him pictures, "We're gonna be doing this, we're gonna be doing that." They swapped notes a lot. It was a nice experience for him.


Billy Crudup as Orum

QuoteHe plays Christopher Orum who is the first mate and chief science officer aboard The Covenant.

Orum is a complicated person as he struggles with his ideas of Faith as a man of science. That complication alienates him from people; he's a very serious minded person. He doesn't have a great sense of humor. Katherine and her husband are secularists and adventurers; folks that do this kind of job have to be pioneers in some way. And some people do that with religious fervor, others for the joy of exploration and some people do it out of curiosity. For Orum this not a lark, its an act of providence. He feels like he has a very strong sense as to why he is part of this mission.

His character was raised in a Pentecostal household. He was treated very roughly; it's a very penal belief system and structure. And it also has come under fire culturally for the past 20 years or so several times for leading members of the church acting in a outwardly duplicitous way. For Orum the combo of it being familiar and him wanting to reject it made him seek out his Faith, his own belief system. And as somebody that uses their mind in their occupation as a rationalist, he's come to the conclusion there is a fairly low probability that the universe was created without some sort of creative engine. So he chooses to believe that the creative engine had at the very least some form of humanity in mind as part of an evolutionary step, some kind of being that can reflect on the majesty of the universe.

We meet him while he's in the process of trying to understand that. And this journey is a process of understanding for him. He believe that he's an Agent of God in some ways, that everybody is an Agent of God is some ways, and they should celebrate the majesty of creation by celebrating life. But when you talk like that all the time, you out people off. That's one of the reasons he's alienated from the core group in some ways. His wife understands the complexities – you can be ostracized by the scientific community for feelings of Faith, not across the board but there is a strong driving force for Imperial evidence, so in the absence of it, many scientists say, when that comes along; I will believe with you but in the meantime lets talk about what we can experience.

His character suffers from being alienated. He shares his internal pain with his wife (who's a biologist) who has an appreciation for that struggle. He' s a big-hearted person who wants to live an authentic life. His wife believes and trusts that he is a good man.

Daniels partner is the captain and is younger than Orum who has been a part of this program for some time. And Orum had the expectations that he would be in charge of the mission but his Faith and his struggle with it was an impediment for him ascending. So that's the source of the conflict in addition to him being self-serious and them being normal.

His character thinks that we humans are examples of the glory of the universe, which is a direct expression of God. He is confused about souls, whether things have souls, if he has a soul. But he is excited about meeting new life forms as at the end of the road is God.

He thinks of Walter as a tool, because he was created by man, not by God.

Orum sees signs (like the ship being called Covenant) and they play a big part in his life.

The Captain is named Jacob and there's an interesting Biblical reference to him as a leader. And Orum gets a mild thrill out of that.

Crudup responds to the creation myth in the film. Prometheus was Titan, like Zeus and all those cats. And with Covenant Ridley explores an innate desire to understand the creation of the universe, earth, humanity, culture, and art. But we take it a step further when we construct our myth as to how things work and we make them a part of what we think is a truth of our history. Hence for Ridley, - what happens when we create robots who have a kind of consciousness and they then look at us as their creator? We have now endowed ourselves with a kind of Godliness. So what happens if THEY create robots? That's one aspect that Ridley (and him) is interested in exploring with this film.

Ridley does a great job in many of his movies in keeping the audience at bay as to who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, who's AI, who's not. So he spent most of his prep time to try to create a character that would keep the audience guessing.

It's great fun to play archetypes but right now he's interested in complex characters that keep the audience guessing. He's interested in people who seem to be making poor choices in their life and through that we discover their humanity. When he read the Covenant script the character was portrayed as an antagonist. But he didn't want to play like that. He wanted to play him as somebody who really thinks that he's doing a great job and is so focused on that, that he is doing a horrible job at socializing and leading, but not because he's nefarious.  He finished off by saying in a joking manner "that he'd like to play a hero sometimes" a nudge as to his typecast.


Demian Bichir as Sergeant Lope

QuoteHis character is in charge of the military side of the expedition, the security of the ship.

When he watched the ALIEN films as an audience member he always thought "man I wish I could be in a film like that". If you're going to do Sci-Fi, do it with the best and stepping on set was part of a dream come through. Ridley is a heavyweight who surrounds himself with the best and it's only a triple A team.

They could have done the film on a green screen but the fact that they are there on real sets helps him as an actor greatly.

His character's mission is to keep everyone safe, as they don't know what they'll find on the planet, until they do find it.

His character is old school military. The particularity about all of it is that they are all couples on the ship – all kinds of couples. Even men and men. And for him it's a beautiful side of the story to have; iconic macho types being together and loving each other and being part of keeping everyone alive.

At the beginning of the film, they just lost their captain so the chain of command is challenged and anybody that is trying to make a career in the military yearn for more.  One thing that makes the expedition special is that they all depend on each other, so the more they behave, the more mature they are, it keeps them alive.

His husband has worked under his command. It's not a problem as they know who they are and they are trained to follow orders and ranks. But, that may raise some highbrows, but the fact that they actually though it was a good idea to put them on the same team, they are grateful for the trust, cause before partners, husbands and lovers, they are professionals. They know they can't cross that line because it is the difference between dead or alive.

The rest of the crew is also formed as couples, and whatever happens in the rooms is private.

The ship is like Noah's Arc and they aim to reproduce once on the planet.

When he met Ridley he was just happy with the chat they had, and they ended up talking about different things aside form the film. Life, sports, love. It comes down to one single thing, we're all the same, human beings, we're sensitive, we can step into a museum and get moved by a painting, we all have that, whether you do it for a living or not, if you have some blood in your veins. The fact that they loved the same things in life, like the simplicity of poetry, is probably what got them together in the end. Ridley is a genius, simple as that whether people agree with him or not. So the meeting alone was great. When leaving the office he thought "f*ck, that was good", then he thought shit "there's a film going here" I have to get in that film. And once he got the call he was very happy.

The Covenant crew does not know what happened on the Prometheus ship as they go on their mission. They find out about many things that didn't go right down the road though. Surprises.

His character deals with fear internally. He's only spoken about being afraid with Ridley in the WAR ROOM. That is how you approach a character and you solve a problem.  It's an interesting angle to take on cause his character is supposed to be fearless.

He missed ALIEN in theatres when it first came out because he was busy with school, theatre and soccer.  He then had many chances to see it on BETA, laserdiscs and then DVD and he kept saying no cause he was hoping to see it on the big screen. And then he got his wish when the film was re-mastered and opened in his favorite theatre the Arclight. He went with his younger brother and best friend, they went at the Monday 11am show just so he felt it was a private screening for him. And that's when he saw it for the first time. The first thing that came to his mind was  "okay that is why the rest of the word went crazy and why everyone loves this"

Ridley is the kind of director that can step into any genre and do it right. He's his own private Jules Verne. He creates worlds and planets and he's such a nice sweet man and very funny. And he can tell horror in a very spooky way. Sometimes they are on set, they stroll in with flashlights, and it's creepy. He can just imagine what the audience will feel. He loves Ridley's fascination for art and his films are artwork, everything is in place. He can't wait to see it all together.

Film is collaboration. When you call someone to your table you don't expect them to be quiet and eat. You expect them to comment on the dishes and the wine. And that's what Ridley does on set.  Ridley does that on every aspect. He wants to hear what you have to say. What is it that can make this better? Bring it in! It's beautiful. It fascinating and beautiful. And it confirms that it's the way it should be. The way all great artists are.

He loves to be able to play with other fantastic actors. He loves tennis. His game gets better when he plays with better players. And that's what has been happening here. So that has been a joy for him. He considers himself to be a hermit, so when he works, he almost becames a monk. But with this group of people it's been fantastic, they had a great time in New Zealand, they have dinner and talk and talk. That is a gift.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/alien-covenant-set-visit-3-ridley-scott-billy-crudup-demian-bichir-540


Can we make separate thread about characters?

He's another Joblo's report regarding Daniels and David/Walter (they've got their own threads):

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/alien-covenant-set-visit-2-michael-fassbender-katherine-waterston-more-263

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 04, 2017, 08:05:42 PM
Just keep it all in here. It's all the same info (from a quick read through) that the other set reports are reporting.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Enoch on Mar 04, 2017, 10:27:08 PM
Guys, does any of you remember some article describing the temple and how the water was dropping from the circular opening  on the dome? That article also went describing the interior of the Halls of Heads, the sacrificial area and some stairways to other chambers?
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 04, 2017, 10:34:40 PM
There was one that talked about that. Can't remember which though. I think it's one of the ones on the news article.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Enoch on Mar 04, 2017, 10:39:14 PM
Thanks, Hick. I ll try to find it.

P.S. I ve just realized that you arranged all the articles here:
http://www.avpgalaxy.net/2017/03/01/alien-covenant-set-reports-now-released/

Great!
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Ultramorph on Mar 04, 2017, 10:41:19 PM
I know it's probably just a mistake but
Spoiler
the one set report that mentions the Deacon is exciting. I know it's probably just an immature Neomorph, but I would love if the Deacon surprised us all by showing up.
[close]
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Enoch on Mar 04, 2017, 10:44:12 PM
Quote from: Ultramorph on Mar 04, 2017, 10:41:19 PM
I know it's probably just a mistake but
Spoiler
the one set report that mentions the Deacon is exciting. I know it's probably just an immature Neomorph, but I would love if the Deacon surprised us all by showing up.
[close]

I ve read in some of all those articles that we ll see many versions of aliens in Covenant. So, not only two, three, but many more. For example someone wrote somewhere that the one at the very end of the trailer is a xeno with spider attributes.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 04, 2017, 10:45:39 PM
I think it just going to be the varying stages of the Neomorph and then Big Chap.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Huggs on Mar 05, 2017, 05:09:34 AM
Awesome. I'd love to see a fully grown Deacon. Looking at that pic of the corridor also has me thinking, how cool would it be to walk through that in the cinemas before seeing the movie.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: ReluctantNerd on Mar 05, 2017, 07:34:12 AM
So according to Ridley:
Spoiler
They reinvented the idea of ALIEN with PROMETHEUS. And with COVENANT they are taking one step closer to who and why this thing was designed. And if you think it's the beings represented by the giant heads in the Altar room, you're dead wrong.
[close]
That's dynamite! Unless he means it's just
Spoiler
David who created them
[close]
In that case he shouldn't have had xeno-art plastered all over the walls, left over from a previous version of the plot is my guess, in Prometheus
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 05, 2017, 08:04:56 AM
Quote from: ReluctantNerd on Mar 05, 2017, 07:34:12 AM
So according to Ridley:
Spoiler
They reinvented the idea of ALIEN with PROMETHEUS. And with COVENANT they are taking one step closer to who and why this thing was designed. And if you think it's the beings represented by the giant heads in the Altar room, you're dead wrong.
[close]
That's dynamite! Unless he means it's just
Spoiler
David who created them
[close]
In that case he shouldn't have had xeno-art plastered all over the walls, left over from a previous version of the plot is my guess, in Prometheus

Ridley is the greatest public speaker. But it does sound like he is saying there is something we haven't seen yet - The CREATOR of the ENGINEERS no doubt - and perhaps this is why the xeno is created.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: SpeedyMaxx on Mar 05, 2017, 04:22:58 PM
I am willing to bet
Spoiler
he means David.
[close]
Full stop.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 05, 2017, 04:58:57 PM
Quote from: Enoch on Mar 04, 2017, 10:27:08 PM
Guys, does any of you remember some article describing the temple and how the water was dropping from the circular opening  on the dome? That article also went describing the interior of the Halls of Heads, the sacrificial area and some stairways to other chambers?

I read this one too. They mentioned that the water dripping from the ceiling was designed to reference/appear like the water dripping from the Cargo hold in Alien when Bret dies. I thought that sounded like a nice nod.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Evanus on Mar 05, 2017, 05:04:49 PM
The Hall of Heads sounds really cool. Sadly, we'll probably learn nothing about it. It's frustrating, because they could've done something really epic with that and the whole engineer citadel. Instead, they focus on David and his experiments.  :-\
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 05, 2017, 05:08:16 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 05, 2017, 05:04:49 PM
The Hall of Heads sounds really cool. Sadly, we'll probably learn nothing about it. It's frustrating, because they could've done something really epic with that and the whole engineer citadel. Instead, they focus on David and his experiments.  :-\

I dunno if this was posted on here yet but there are now Parts 2 and 3 added to the extensive JoeBlo.com set visits.
In Part 3 Ridley Scott talks more about the Citadel and Hall of Heads.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/alien-covenant-set-visit-3-ridley-scott-billy-crudup-demian-bichir-540 (http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/alien-covenant-set-visit-3-ridley-scott-billy-crudup-demian-bichir-540)

Links to Part 2 (and of course, Part 1) are on the bottom of the page.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: ReluctantNerd on Mar 05, 2017, 06:48:01 PM
In reference to my earlier post (can't figure out how to quote!), yeah I also think Ridley means the usual suspect when he talks about who created what...

And I don't know in which topic my following remark belongs, it's just an observation on a common misconception so I'll put it here: the remains of the people of Pompeii were not found as we know them, they are plaster casts of hollows found in the volcanic debris (which formed after the flesh decomposed, leaving only bones in the hollows). The engineer remains in Covenant are obviously based on them and in story the cause is probably something entirely different so that's fine, I just hope some character doesn't do a Prometheus and says something like "My god, they're petrified. Just like Pompeii!" when they discover them  :laugh:
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: rabidranger on Mar 05, 2017, 09:25:42 PM
Quote from: ReluctantNerd on Mar 05, 2017, 06:48:01 PM
In reference to my earlier post (can't figure out how to quote!), yeah I also think Ridley means the usual suspect when he talks about who created what...

And I don't know in which topic my following remark belongs, it's just an observation on a common misconception so I'll put it here: the remains of the people of Pompeii were not found as we know them, they are plaster casts of hollows found in the volcanic debris (which formed after the flesh decomposed, leaving only bones in the hollows). The engineer remains in Covenant are obviously based on them and in story the cause is probably something entirely different so that's fine, I just hope some character doesn't do a Prometheus and says something like "My god, they're petrified. Just like Pompeii!" when they discover them  :laugh:

It seems to me that Scott is riffing on what happened at Pompeii in the sense that what befell this particular civilization was sudden and catastrophic (such as David doing a fly by with the black goo). Perhaps this is also meant to demonstrate what would happened to earth if the Engineer from Prometheus would have succeeded in his mission.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Enoch on Mar 05, 2017, 09:38:59 PM
Those petrified bodies in all those positions reminded me of painting of famous
Belgian painter Jean Delville from symbolism movement.

(https://i.imgur.com/3YAqXa2.jpg)

L'Homme-Dieu, ("Man-God", 1903)
oil on canvas, 500 x 500 cm. Bruges: Groeningemuseum.




There is also a similarity with Auguste Rodin's Gates of Hell
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FoCKox5v.jpg&hash=86bcc7202ee22bd987bab9d51a5f89e620908023)

P.S. I dont believe they were petrified as a result of black goo attack... The goo do not possess such effects.
It was some ray/laser... kind of weapon...
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Stolen on Mar 05, 2017, 09:51:08 PM
So the Citadel and Hall of Heads are two different things ? This movie is going to be crazy!
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 05, 2017, 09:53:40 PM
I think the Hall is inside the Citadel.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Stolen on Mar 05, 2017, 10:00:59 PM
Perfect ! I want to see new things in this universe. Covenant seems to offer us a stunning new place!

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Enoch on Mar 06, 2017, 12:19:14 AM
(https://i.imgur.com/klYyfQJ.png)

Quote*CYPRESS is a symbol of the Lord of the Underworld. The cypress was first planted in cemeteries, due to a folk belief that it had the power to preserve the body from corruption. Today it is common to see cypress trees growing in a cemetery, particularly in Italy,
The cypress tree is also associated with the Watchers or Grigori, and is a guardian tree. Because of its tall straight nature the cypress was
often used as the tree for the Maypole, and was sacred to Maia, the May goddess. Cypress was believed to preserve the dead body from corruption.
In the ancient Aegean/Mediterranean region the cypress was sacred to Zeus, Apollo, Venus, and Hermes. In occult imagery the cypress is sometimes pictured in art with the sun and moon on either side, symbolizing the cypress as the balance of polarity. Interestingly Swiss painter A. Bocklin used cypress as a symbol in many of his images. This plant occupied the central part of his most famous painting Isle of the Dead.

This shrine is perhaps some kind of burial or sacrificial place to to higher gods; The following fact could support this claim -  on the top of the large shrine dome we can clearly see the opening or the oculus similar to that on Roman Parthenon. The Oculus had more reason to it than one of simple lighting. This hole in the ceiling is used for planetary observations or as a sun-dial. Advanced race would never have built such an obsolete sacral building. Instead this "primitive" shrine is dedicated to some divine presence way above the civilization presented in the movie.

Interestingly the shape of the spherical dome resembles the shape of an eye (cornea).
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuuSm4UL.jpg&hash=49e9d7129fb3846c051ac6b57a63bb56d0e26f72)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fdtk2Qe5.jpg&hash=61abe0dab524bcc91465a273a32a64c4d3e9dad8)

And golden rays. :)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Freligionfacts.imgix.net%2F991%2F149199.png%3Ffit%3Dmax%26amp%3Bq%3D80%26amp%3Bw%3D240%26amp%3Bs%3Df6d3011cbd8017cf456981e6f9015011&hash=8069b6c9b809b12e035edb864eb9dcdbac6a3c6f)

I know this is a bit far fetched but it was interesting.


P.S. Note the two grand pillars, the left one is broken but nevertheless...

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F68.media.tumblr.com%2F0e394a9fd8060570e94b97c6cf995adf%2Ftumblr_ny5smoKX7n1qg20oho1_1280.jpg&hash=b0dcd3488fd9bc716322c5a772151fefec05f6e9)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 07, 2017, 08:38:59 AM
http://www.filmstarts.de/nachrichten/18510881.html?page=3

New still (full version of cropped one seen in some other reports).

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fde.web.img3.acsta.net%2Fc_3750_2500%2Fnewsv7%2F17%2F03%2F02%2F14%2F53%2F290561.jpg&hash=c5675bca66369d1826eac58988b495453aaefe90)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: HuDaFuK on Mar 07, 2017, 01:34:28 PM
Getting a bit of an Aliens vibe from the shoulder-mounted camera.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 07, 2017, 02:17:57 PM
Yep, I'm loving that.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 09, 2017, 01:20:32 PM
http://www.filmstarts.de/nachrichten/18511017.html

QuoteFILMSTARTS: You're more familiar with your comedic roles. How does it look at "Alien: Covenant"?

Danny McBride: "Covenant" is definitely not a very funny movie, so I can say for sure. When I got the role, all my friends blasphemed me that I'll end up just for the funny loosening, but there is not much to laugh in "Covenant", just a bunch of people muttered. (Laughs)

FILMSTARTS: Do you have a little Meet & Greet with the title-giving creature in the movie?

Danny McBride: Oh yeah, I meet some of those in the film. The first thing I did when I went to Sydney was to visit the Creature Shop at 20th Century Fox Studios. It was the madness that must be the coolest job in the world, to think up something and actually to implement it. In addition to the creatures, it was also very exciting to see live copies of your colleagues with mutilated faces. (Laughs)

FILMSTARTS: How did you prepare for the role as a pilot?

Danny McBride: When I met Ridley to discuss my part, he told me that Tennessee was a tribute to Slim Pickens' Major Kong from Stanley Kubrick's " Dr. Strange Or: How I Learned, To love the bomb ". I watched the movie again.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 09, 2017, 02:17:22 PM
Nice find, I think he's definitely going to come into his own with this role.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Ingwar on Mar 09, 2017, 02:54:04 PM
Major Kong from Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oscarchamps.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F10%2F1964-Dr-Strangelove-02.jpg&hash=a789d7bb7cedcff5c38dc2d13ab652069203d227)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 13, 2017, 08:43:40 AM
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/upcoming-movies/playing-new-ripley-is-a-real-scream/news-story/1a0234735261a5e4371cdb637d71f582
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: HuDaFuK on Mar 13, 2017, 09:51:43 AM
QuoteScott describes his leading lady's journey as "parallel" to that of Sigourney Weaver's Ripley

Sounds worryingly like she is just going to be another Ripely rip-off.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Necronomicon II on Mar 13, 2017, 10:35:19 AM
She'll have her own qualities, having two kick ass heroines is fine by me.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: cliffhanger on Mar 13, 2017, 06:10:56 PM
is it me or is this starting to sound more and more like a actual and complete reboot of the franchise done by mister scott himself?

he already slammed his own original movie as a horror b-movie, and he's clearly distancing from aliens 3 and 4, and AVPs (not that i blame him),
but though he's saying he's aiming at the origins of the alien from 1979, the more i read, the more i feel things dont add up or are even looking like
retconning the original movie - for example, the fossilized jockey.

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: HuDaFuK on Mar 13, 2017, 06:20:00 PM
Quote from: cliffhanger on Mar 13, 2017, 06:10:56 PMis it me or is this starting to sound more and more like a actual and complete reboot of the franchise done by mister scott himself?

No, because he's said several times these are going to lead into the original Alien.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: SuicideDoors on Mar 13, 2017, 06:33:35 PM
Quote from: cliffhanger on Mar 13, 2017, 06:10:56 PM
is it me or is this starting to sound more and more like a actual and complete reboot of the franchise done by mister scott himself?

he already slammed his own original movie as a horror b-movie, and he's clearly distancing from aliens 3 and 4, and AVPs (not that i blame him),
but though he's saying he's aiming at the origins of the alien from 1979, the more i read, the more i feel things dont add up or are even looking like
retconning the original movie - for example, the fossilized jockey.



He's never slammed Alien. He's recently described it as being "too posh for a horror movie" and is always gleeful speaking about it. I see where you're coming from with the rebbot angle but like HuDaFuk said, it's leading into his original movie. Just resetting our pre-conceived notions.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: 426Buddy on Mar 13, 2017, 06:34:10 PM
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Mar 13, 2017, 06:20:00 PM
Quote from: cliffhanger on Mar 13, 2017, 06:10:56 PMis it me or is this starting to sound more and more like a actual and complete reboot of the franchise done by mister scott himself?

No, because he's said several times these are going to lead into the original Alien.

Not to mention he's been using the "alien is a B movie" line as long as I can remember, so that's nothing new.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: CainsSon on Mar 13, 2017, 07:04:47 PM
Quote from: 426Buddy on Mar 13, 2017, 06:34:10 PM
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Mar 13, 2017, 06:20:00 PM
Quote from: cliffhanger on Mar 13, 2017, 06:10:56 PMis it me or is this starting to sound more and more like a actual and complete reboot of the franchise done by mister scott himself?

No, because he's said several times these are going to lead into the original Alien.

Not to mention he's been using the "alien is a B movie" line as long as I can remember, so that's nothing new.

I think when all is said and done, these films will add something to ALIEN. The only real issue here, is just an issue with Prequels in general. You really cannot appreciate ALIEN if you watch these films first. The plot developments will all fall flat. But Im actually OK with that.
I look forward to all the fan theories about what the PROPER VIEWING SEQUENCE of the series will be in the end.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 13, 2017, 08:17:09 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 13, 2017, 08:43:40 AM
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/upcoming-movies/playing-new-ripley-is-a-real-scream/news-story/1a0234735261a5e4371cdb637d71f582

Got a better quality version of the still in this article -

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10003/DF-07042.jpg)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: zoidy on Mar 13, 2017, 09:24:14 PM
Excellent, that article mentions almost 3 metre tall practical creature, with movements by a dancer.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: prometheusfire08 on Mar 13, 2017, 10:53:37 PM
I think a lot of people mistake ridley scott for ozzy from back in his reality show days .

like he's just some bumbling moron sat in a chair ranting incoherently and waving his hands around , grunting as the artists , set builders and actors etc etc just interpret what he might mean , all giving each other confused looks when he is not watching them .....


I'm more than certain ..... given how he directed Alien and Faught for the spacejockey to be built ( even having it commissioned in secret ) that Scott is more than aware that the jockey ship , pilot and chair have aesthetic differences when it comes to Alien and prometheus .......

we have all seen the set picture that matches the ships tunnels from Alien so I think the differences in juggernaut presentation so far were intentional
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 16, 2017, 10:29:11 AM
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/218314/sxsw-2017-ridley-scott-katherine-waterston-danny-mcbride-talk-alien-covenant/

QuoteQ: You've said on several occasions that if the situation were to arise, you could see yourself doing more Alien films. I was wondering if that's still your feeling now?

Ridley Scott: Oh, yeah. Well, I think this is so, dare I say, clever and violent and everything you kind of want. I think it's a cut above what's happened before and therefore will leave all kinds of things open for the next one. I enjoy doing them so much that I would like it to go on forever.

Q: Who would you want to take over? You can't do it forever.

Ridley Scott: I'm trying. That's why I have A.I.'s in everything, I'm trying to figure out what they do. Stick a f**king chip in you.

Katherine Waterston: Ridley might be an A.I.

Q: We're coming to a point when cybernetics seem like they're something that could become a part of human life very soon. Is that something that you personally would be interested in?

Katherine Waterston: Maybe the next movie you could have an A.I. actor!

Ridley Scott: Absolutely. But can a computer be a chess master? I'm just hoping that you can't quite replace a human being's capability. Can you have a computer write a book or write a screenplay? Or write a poem? It's always going to be very derivative and only based on what's been done and trained in different ways before. So, it's going to be a cross-collateralization ... it can only be that. Medically, it's going to be fantastic. I don't think it's going to make better movies.

Q: Spinning off that, though, when I look at some of these films, I'm wondering if it looks at the irrelevance of humans. You've got these aliens killing us and A.I. taking over.

Ridley Scott: Big subject in this. It's in this; that's one of the big questions. The film begins with something very interesting which sets up a platform for acknowledging what you just said and discussion. It's quite clever actually. I'm surprised.

Q: So now that we know the Engineers really aren't the creators of humanity, are we still getting quite a few clues in Covenant? Or is everybody just running for their lives?

Ridley Scott: No, they're metaphors for superior beings, and therefore, are their superior beings out there? I'd put your money right now on yes. Do they like us? I have no idea. Superior? Almost certainly.

Q: I have a question for Katherine and Danny. If you could imagine your characters dropped into Ridley's original Alien, which scene would you be most interested in seeing how your character is reacting in that scene?

Katherine Waterston: I think it's Ash's head. But it's hard to pick, man. The Chestburster.

Ridley Scott: Ash's head was a really giant, fresh surprise during the process of the film.

Katherine Waterston: Me, I think I would just want to be hanging out with Harry Dean Stanton and Yaphet Kotto.

Q: People still love what you did. How does that feel... that you created something people still love? You're now a part of that legacy, and Katherine, you're part of Harry Potter too. And [Danny], you're doing Halloween; you're a part of legacies. How does that resonate in your head?

Ridley Scott: It doesn't really. You get used to it. I can give you another answer... but no, it's fun. We're lucky to be doing this production.

Danny McBride: Yeah, my parents think that I'm finally, like, making real movies now.

Ridley Scott: I was an art student; my Mom said to me after my agony of being an art student... I said I'm going to go do films. She said, 'You mean you're going to waste all that time being an art student, and now you're going to do movies?'

Q: Danny, did you get to pick out your awesome hat?

Danny McBride: You know, that was one of Ridley's ideas from the get-go. We talked about it being like an homage to Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove. Yeah, it was easily embraced. Then it became the signs of when he's wearing it and when he's not, you know... how stressed out he is.

Q: Is there any truth to the rumor that Katherine's character is connected to Ripley?

Katherine Waterston: Who started that shit?

Q: That's a really great answer! Danny, quick question... Tennessee, where did you draw your inspiration from? Or did you just say, "You know what... let's do something brand new?"

Danny McBride: Well, you know, on the ship it's a lot of scientists and I liked the idea that in the original you had working class people and so I think that was sort of his dynamic with him... that he was a little more working class. And he gets paired up with all these scientists and brilliant people. So it was sort of like trying to figure out how he would kind of operate in that world, something advanced like that, but still bring a little salt of the Earth to it as well.

Q: What does it take for a film to be scary?

Ridley Scott: You know, it's the hardest thing to do. It's a lot easier to make people smile. I think we've been challenged by so much violence, super-violence, like Saw 13, so we get numb to blood and numb to brutality. And numb to inhuman behavior. Way back when I was going to do Alien, I think at that point in time there were two... three... one really serious one that scared the hell out of me. Exorcist One is a fantastic film maybe because it feels logical, feels possible. And when it's possible and logical it's always scarier.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Infected on Mar 16, 2017, 10:39:00 AM
A lot of people having problems with the thing Ridley said about, a.i. not being able to create, that hasnt been created or done before.
If he is talking about David, or is he talking about reality?
The question is, if a wheel wasnt invented yet, and David walked somewhere and he trips and rolls down a mountain, would his chip/brain be able to understand what happened and would he be able to come up with the idea of a wheel invention?
If yes is the answer then he would or an a.i. would be capable of writing or rewriting his program or instructions.
When this in reality becomes real, then you could have a Skynet thing, because when an a.i. start seeing things as in efficient and non efficient, then shit gets real.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: cliffhanger on Mar 16, 2017, 12:16:35 PM
i think that what is missed in this is that we're only looking at artificial intelligence, which can mimic biological intelligence, perhaps in some areas surpass it if you will.

however, what's the thing here is that artificial intelligence is only part of the 'problem'. ridley talks about creativity, and the thing is though, for that, you thus need artificial creativity. intelligence and creativity are not the same, and don't neccesarily need eachother. for example, an intelligent human being can lack severely in creative skills or any creativity whatsoever.
then, a highly creative person can really lack intelligence.

the spectrum thus doesn't stop at artificial intelligence, which science seems to be halted at for quite a while. the creativity aspect is missing, when the creativity aspect is reached, then you suddenly get a whole new world at your feet. dreams, visions, etc.

that is exactly what ridley is talking about.
David is an artifcial intelligent being, but he lacks the creative part as far as we have seen untill now.
the question is, can this creative part actually be learned without the need for programming or human research?

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 19, 2017, 05:19:27 PM
http://www.adorocinema.com/noticias/filmes/noticia-129388/

Spanish interview with Bichir.

Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Pvt. Himmel on Mar 19, 2017, 05:29:53 PM
Translated:.    Small spoiler which confirmed by Sagardoa!!
Quote
   As soon as Demián Bichir arrived in the interview space on the set of Alien: Covenant, the message was clear: he had met one of the fearsome Aliens. After all, the actor had on his face an immense mark, caused by the iconic beings. "This mark was created by the contact with the saliva of the Alien. It started with a stain and now it is burning my face, disintegrating everything, what they have inside them is very strong, whatever it is."
Behind all the makeup, Demian was happy. "To face the Alien is like returning to my childhood, it's a legendary character, it's like facing Al Pacino or Robert De Niro, I was speechless, I almost asked for his autograph!" He joked.
Check below the main highlights of our interview with Demián Bichir, nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for A Better Life. It is worth remembering that Alien: Covenant will hit Brazilian cinemas on May 11.

  WORKING WITH RIDLEY SCOTT
It is foolish to think that Demián Bichir's greatest goal in starring Alien: Covenant is the opportunity to be in a science fiction blockbuster. For him, the great attraction was working with Ridley Scott. "This sequel could have been commissioned by a studio and directed by someone else with the endorsement of Ridley Scott, but no: it's who's driving it himself.It's the master in person who's in charge! Which makes everything even more surreal to me, "he commented.
"I do not know if I would agree to be in this movie if Ridley was not in charge, I always dream and hope to work with the best directors and actors in the world.There are many ways to be part of a science fiction, but it is not always that you are in a project Five stars like this, could not be happier, more grateful. "

   WHO IS YOUR CHARACTER?
Even nine months after our visit to the Alien: Covenant set, the character played by Demián Bichir remains nameless. "My character is a highly trained military man, a sergeant prepared to fight at any moment. My objective inside the ship is to keep all the crew of this colonizing mission safe. We are lucky to find a planet that has similar conditions to ours, so we can colonize it, but we also know that we can die by trying to do that. "

FROM NOVELS TO BLOCKBUSTERS
Like every Mexican actor, Demián began his career working on local soap operas. "I'm happy to have participated in all kinds of production when I was young.We all go through this, I come from a place where you have to do it for a living.It was like a training to have done all these TV programs that are really horrible, but all The great Mexican artists have gone through it.This is all part of the learning process and what is important is the path you choose to pursue in your career. "

THE SECRET OF PROFESSION
Since the Oscar nomination, Demián Bichir has been increasingly sought after by Hollywood productions. And he often refuses the proposals he receives. "The secret, something that many people do not know, is to say not several times." People only see the things we do, but they do not know how many times we said no, which is part of what defines an actor. A character that gives a lot of money or a blockbuster that will give a return, but life is too short.You have to do the things you love and touch your heart.It is difficult because acting is my profession.But life is simple, it is Good: the best things in life are for free.We can not make things too complicated. "

  AdoroCinema traveled to Sydney at the invitation of Fox Filmes do Brasil.       
       
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Evanus on Mar 19, 2017, 05:34:54 PM
So their saliva is like acid...  ???
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Pvt. Himmel on Mar 19, 2017, 05:36:19 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 19, 2017, 05:34:54 PM
So their saliva is like acid...  ???

Well it is the first step towards what we see in Alien.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: rabidranger on Mar 19, 2017, 05:39:26 PM
Quote from: Evanus on Mar 19, 2017, 05:34:54 PM
So their saliva is like acid...  ???

Yeah, I thought that was interesting. An unfinished product. Still in the tweaking phase before we get to the iconic xenomorph.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Mar 20, 2017, 08:36:29 AM
Could be the Neomorph? Slight variations between the two. We see security forces fighting the Neos in the trailer so perhaps.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Corporal Hicks on Apr 11, 2017, 01:53:29 PM
http://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/alien-covenant-behind-scenes-what-expect#.WOzW_nPTzsU.twitter

QuoteOur set visit is held towards the end of a four-month shoot in late June of 2016. When we arrive to stomp about the muddy grounds, we see the boring grind of making a thrilling horror movie. They're on day four of a scene towards the climax — one you see glimpses of in the first official trailer. The film's main hero, played by Katherine Waterston, has to battle a monster while perched on a small ship that's about to take off.

In reality, the acclaimed actress (of "Inherent Vice" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them") is standing on a moving platform that jostles her about. Again and again the platform turns diagonal, sending her sliding down. Waterston has to save herself by sticking her pick-axe in a small hole.

Estimated to run four minutes of screentime, this sequence will take eight days to film.
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: Ingwar on Apr 11, 2017, 03:59:23 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Apr 11, 2017, 01:53:29 PM
http://www.metro.us/entertainment/movies/alien-covenant-behind-scenes-what-expect#.WOzW_nPTzsU.twitter

QuoteOur set visit is held towards the end of a four-month shoot in late June of 2016. When we arrive to stomp about the muddy grounds, we see the boring grind of making a thrilling horror movie. They're on day four of a scene towards the climax — one you see glimpses of in the first official trailer. The film's main hero, played by Katherine Waterston, has to battle a monster while perched on a small ship that's about to take off.

In reality, the acclaimed actress (of "Inherent Vice" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them") is standing on a moving platform that jostles her about. Again and again the platform turns diagonal, sending her sliding down. Waterston has to save herself by sticking her pick-axe in a small hole.

Estimated to run four minutes of screentime, this sequence will take eight days to film.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scified.com%2Fmedia%2Fdaniels-vs--xenomorph-in-alien--covenant-8556.jpg&hash=652ba8781e36a3160f6d62655ee1b3e3a9abb559)
Title: Re: Alien: Covenant Set Reports *Spoilers
Post by: cliffhanger on Apr 11, 2017, 04:36:07 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 20, 2017, 08:36:29 AM
Could be the Neomorph? Slight variations between the two. We see security forces fighting the Neos in the trailer so perhaps.

he clearly mentiones the xenomorph, so no.

also, why not, the saliva? i can't remember seeing their saliva in contact with human tissue. it doesn't HAVE to be acidic, though
offcourse it does sound like that. Perhaps not as strong as the acidic blood, but comparable.

for example, saliva of a komodo dragon is highly toxic. the gila monster produces toxic saliva.offcourse the komodo dragon has bacterial effects, rather than 'burn'. but well, if it is acidic in nature, it definately can burn.but let's just take diesel oil for example. i've had a bit on my jeans at the upper leg area when fueling and slipping when the floor was ice frozen. i didn't think much of it, and thougt hey, i'm home in half an hour, i'll wash it off then.

unfortunately, when i got home, my skin was superbly irritated and had a strong red rash, which lasted about a day and a half.

so, here you have 'simple' diesel, which thus 'burns' the skin somewhat.so i can imagine alien salive of a dangerous creature having a stronger effect though.