First-time feature director Dan Trachtenberg speaks with us about 10 Cloverfield Lane, the Cloververse and more.
That was the script that I had read, that was initially sent to me.
I went in and pitched my take.
Ad content continues below
The script was always very intense.
I spoke about really embracing that but still making it really fun and funny as well.
When you laugh with them, you form such a strong connection with them.
So I pitched my take and we were off to the races.
You readThe Cellaror you read the later version that Damien worked on?
I read the later version.
So did you ever go back and look atThe Cellar?
Ive never read that original.
Now I probably will.
How was that decision reached?
I could feel it on the page, but the decision to get it there was before my time.
I think it sounds like aTwilight Zoneepisode.
And this movie really is one giantTwilight Zoneepisode.
I mean nobody wants to be presumptuous, but I think that would be really freaking cool.
Its cool to have this new platform for cool new stories.
Any particular era or style of films that were a major influence on you?
Im hugely influenced by Alfred Hitchcock.Notoriousis one of my favorite Hitchcock movies.
That movie has a great sequence set around a set of keys.
We have our own little moment with a set of keys thats quite fun.
I wanted to give this movie that same quality.
AndDie Hard, of course.
Even Fincher and Spielberg.
Im a real cinephile.
So we really looked to all my heroes to learn from.
You shot this in Louisiana.
I believe the shelter was all one set, correct?
And it also allowed us to shoot the movie chronologically.
It was all one connected piece.
It wasnt like different rooms on different stages.
This was obviously done in secret.
Were there any special measures put in place to kind of keep everything such a secret?
We did the normal stuff.
Our scripts were either hand-delivered on red paper with your name print all over it.
We were not allowed to take pictures on the set and things like that.
Beyond that, I just didnt talk about it.
We just really kinda kept our mouth shut.
Is there a real difference knowledge wise when you make that jump to shooting a first feature?
You know, it was certainly larger in scale.
But relatively, I had much more support.
One of the greatest moments for me was sitting around when we were prepping.
That was so emotional for me.
I was like, This is a pure joy.
This is what it felt like.
It doesnt feel any different when we were kids doing it.
It didnt feel any different when I was doing a commercial or my own little short film.
Its the same feeling.
You do the same thing.
Its just on a different scale.
Do you still see theatrical feature films as sort of the gold standard?
Of course things change.
But I think the reason why you would even word it that way is because its less accessible.
And it was amazing because it was nervous laughter.
It was communal nervous laughter.
I dont think people laugh that way when they are watching something alone on the couch.
Are you feeling what Im feeling right now?
That is such a joy to go through and ride like that.
Its like when you are in an amusement park.
And this movie is a real thrill ride.
Its a real experience.
And you really want to be a part of that, I think.
I mean I had so much fun making this and working with the people that I worked with.
It would be a joy to continue to make them.
Are you familiar with theGod Particlemovie that Bad Robot is doing too?
Is that part of this series?
You were attached for a long time toY: The Last Man.
You did a lot of work on that.
Whats your view on getting that adapted?
I think they are making a TV series out of it.
I think now Brian is trying to get a series made out of it.
I really loved developing that.
I loved what we had done.
I love movies like that.
And there were some great set pieces, too.
Hopefully there will be a way to recreate that in some fashion.
But it was a great time working on it for sure.
You are also working onCrime of the Century, an original script that you developed.
Its a science fiction heist movie.
Thats something that I was developing even before this movie.
But its one of my favorite things.
And I am chomping at the bit to tell that story.
Its going to be a really awesome, once again, very unique, fresh, exciting movie.
I hope we get the chance to make it.
10 Cloverfield Laneis out in theaters now.
