Fred Dekker Talks The Predator: Characters, Keeping the Mystery of the Predator and Scope of the Film

Started by Corporal Hicks, May 31, 2016, 12:59:34 PM

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Fred Dekker Talks The Predator: Characters, Keeping the Mystery of the Predator and Scope of the Film (Read 29,501 times)

Corporal Hicks

Fred Dekker talks The Predator in a new podcast with The Movie Crypt. In the new interview, Fred Dekker briefly discusses his work on The Predator, talking about the characters, keeping the mystery of the Predator, Black and Dekker’s inspiration and the scope of the film.

While discussing the approach he takes to writing characters and how he identifies that unique voice for his characters, Fred Dekker discussed what we can expect from the characters in The Predator:

“I used to just want to come up with quips and just smart alecky lines and what not. Now I’ve begun to look at the characters as attitude, really. This is something we’re doing on The Predator now. I can’t talk a lot about it but I tell you about the process of writing it. One of the things is that every character has kind of an attitude. Who is this person? What do they want? Why are they doing what they’re doing? And just by having each of those characters have a different agenda and a different life experience they start sounding different and they can bounce off each other like ping-pong balls. It’s really exciting and it’s relatively new to me.”

Dekker re-iterates later on that from his perspective as the writer he wants to tell a story where you’re interested in the characters, even if the Predator doesn’t make an appearance.

Fred Dekker says he wants to tell a story where you're interested in the characters, even if the Predator doesn't make an appearance.

Fred Dekker says he wants to tell a story where you’re interested in the characters, even if the Predator doesn’t make an appearance.

When asked about where in the production process The Predator is, Dekker confirms that the script is finalized and that the film is currently being budgeted, that casting has begun and that they’re still aiming for a late September shoot.

Talking about the writing mentality behind the latest instalment, Dekker says: “[talking about Predator] It’s relatively simple. Our idea was “we know that story already”. What’s behind the curtain? Why are they here? What are they doing? What’s the bigger picture of this? They’ve touched on it a little in the other films, in the AvPs and whatnot.”

Having been asked about demystifying the Predator, Dekker hints at an exploration of the Predators that doesn’t remove their metaphorical teeth and make them less scary but also hints that this time maybe more than just a simple hunt:

“There’s a world out there…we know the Predators come from somewhere…we know they do. How did they get here? Why are they here? Those are questions I think you can answer, or at least explore, without defeating that sense of scariness. Who knows if their agenda has changed?”

Fred Dekker Talks The Predator: "Who knows if their agenda has changed?" Artwork by icedestroyer.

Fred Dekker Talks The Predator: “Who knows if their agenda has changed?” Artwork by icedestroyer.

Dekker also mentions his excitement at working on the film though he admits that whilst he enjoyed the first film, he wasn’t as big a fan of Predator as director and writing partner, Shane Black, was. He also goes on to say that Black and Dekker have been inspired by Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Howard Hawks, that they were aiming for that level of emotion and gravitas.

Discussing the scope of the film, Dekker later compares Predator and The Predator to Alien and Aliens, saying that The Predator is akin to Aliens where “it’s not Ten Little Indians. It’s not just let’s kill off all of our characters – we have a lot of characters from a lot of different worlds and ideologies. I don’t mean by that other planets. It’s a lot of people doing a lot of things in a lot of locations.”

Be sure to head on over to The Movie Crypt and check out the whole podcast! The Predator talks begins at around 1:22:00. Thanks to Johnny Handsome for the news.

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overthere

I don't like to see that he wasn't "as big of a fan" of Predator as Shane.

From the rest of it, it sounds like the actual Predator won't be the center of the movie. I'm a bit worried it'll be like Godzilla, where the movie technically is about Godzilla, but the actual creature is on screen for 10 minutes.

Then again, Predator wasn't on screen much longer in the original, but there was tension of his presence throughout.

Corporal Hicks

Quote from: overthere on May 31, 2016, 01:08:08 PM
I don't like to see that he wasn't "as big of a fan" of Predator as Shane.

You know what, I actually like this. We always here people drone on about how they're massive fans of the property - Anderson, Strause, Rodriquez. A slightly more outside perspective is a massively good thing. He didn't say he wasn't a fan, just not as big as Black and working together might mean we get a film that isn't pandering to the fans.

Quote from: overthere on May 31, 2016, 01:08:08 PM
From the rest of it, it sounds like the actual Predator won't be the center of the movie. I'm a bit worried it'll be like Godzilla, where the movie technically is about Godzilla, but the actual creature is on screen for 10 minutes.

Then again, Predator wasn't on screen much longer in the original, but there was tension of his presence throughout.

That's not quite what he's saying. I think he's saying he wants the characters to be that interesting that they'd hold the film without the Predator. 

pwoper fish

Black and Dekker, Wow I just got the joke...

overthere

You might be right, a bit of a different approach than "I'm a massive fan of the original let's recreate it" could be good.
I'm extremely excited about the movie, and more and more with every new information we get.

XENOMORPHOSIS

 Dekker later compares Predator and The Predator to Alien and Aliens, saying that The Predator is akin to Aliens. Sounds an awful like what they were saying that Predators would be to Predator what Aliens was to Alien.

:P

Much as I hope this film is well received and favoured by the fans its inevitably going be be have fans who like it and those who don't, the original is so highly regarded its a tough act to live up to.

Russ

QuoteHe also goes on to say that Black and Dekker

You did that on purpose...

Corporal Hicks

Quote from: overthere on May 31, 2016, 02:48:14 PM
I'm extremely excited about the movie, and more and more with every new information we get.

Every new piece is filling me with confidence.

Quote from: Russ on May 31, 2016, 03:24:52 PM
QuoteHe also goes on to say that Black and Dekker

You did that on purpose...

Mebe...  :P

locusta

So stoked for this movie. Love the approach and attitude. Hey, Scott hated SIFI too before ALIEN, maybe still does.

RakaiThwei

Hmmmm...

Some of the things still has me on the fence. Like with Dekker willing to answer questions like where they came from, why are they here, etc... I don't know, we know where they come from and we know they're here to hunt us. But the idea of it being more than a simple hunt... well, why exactly else would they want to be here? I mean if we are focusing on just.. one Predator.. what else could there be for it being here? Coupled with the idea that we maybe seeing Predator scientist and engineers... I can't imagine what's going on now.

The agenda of the hunt has changed? Mmmmm.... Well, I'mma wait and see to hear more. I just... I dunno.

Predator_Spirit

Quote from: RakaiThwei on May 31, 2016, 03:55:52 PM
Hmmmm...

Some of the things still has me on the fence. Like with Dekker willing to answer questions like where they came from, why are they here, etc... I don't know, we know where they come from and we know they're here to hunt us. But the idea of it being more than a simple hunt... well, why exactly else would they want to be here? I mean if we are focusing on just.. one Predator.. what else could there be for it being here? Coupled with the idea that we maybe seeing Predator scientist and engineers... I can't imagine what's going on now.

The agenda of the hunt has changed? Mmmmm.... Well, I'mma wait and see to hear more. I just... I dunno.

Once i've heard "Spielberg" I was disappointed.I'll wait and see but I've lost my former enthusiasm.
I guess the good old hunt party with a good old predator stopped when Predator 2 ended, a very long time ago. :-\

Johnny Handsome

I love that they want to go with a different approach this time, i don't want to see the same movie with the same formula over and over again. I want to be surprised and i want to find out something we really havent seen yet. That's what was great about Predator 2.

Corporal Hicks

Exactly, Johnny. I'm not blind to Predator 2 having flaws but its expansion on and not imitating Predator were some real strengths to the film, I though. I think people are just jumping the gun here with the Chicken Little reaction, expecting the worse.

overthere

Predator can't continue being a movie about the Predator hunting humans and then getting killed. Something needs to evolve.

I like the new agenda thing, like maybe at first they came just for sport, but now they're interested and want to study us more, give us another chance, maybe rule us out of the hunting pool cause we're showing progress. There's a lot of possibilities, and the whole hunting thing does require a bit more explanation.

Quote from: RakaiThwei on May 31, 2016, 03:55:52 PM
Hmmmm...

Some of the things still has me on the fence. Like with Dekker willing to answer questions like where they came from, why are they here, etc... I don't know, we know where they come from and we know they're here to hunt us.

Where do they come from? A planet in space is not a real answer. Why do they hunt? Just for fun, or the trophies carry some value back home mean a lot more than something you stick on a wall?

And can someone please explain to me what's so tongue-in-cheek about "Black and Dekker" ?


RakaiThwei

RakaiThwei

#14
Quote from: overthere on May 31, 2016, 05:18:14 PM
"Black and Dekker" ?

Black and Decker is the name of a power tools company. The term Black and Dekker is a pun on the name.

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on May 31, 2016, 04:45:12 PM
I think people are just jumping the gun here with the Chicken Little reaction, expecting the worse.

Hey, I'm on the fence about this. I haven't said anything bad about it, aside from expressing a few concerns but I'm all wait and see about this. I'd like to know more before I voice an opinion out.

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