Choosing The Right Path

The camera cuts to Director John Woo waiting for Ewan McGregor to get in the right spot for a specific shot.

Shane Alexander talks with Brad Pitt about the production of “Nowhere”

Shane Alexander: The story takes place in a fictional world so it doesn’t exist. But it could and probably does somewhere in our world.

John Woo: The reason why I choose to do this film was because of Shane Alexander. When he explained the story to me and I realized what he wanted to do a big, big smile came to my face. (He laughs) It was great opportunity to go back to my roots with this action film.

Shane Alexander: I had no idea if we could do this movie. I did not want to even attempt this movie if we could not do it right. I wanted to create a world that feels as real as the one in which we live in.

The camera fades into a location shot where we see John Woo tracking a camera with Ewan McGregor and Jude Law running on a sound stage.

Ewan McGregor:….This story meant so much to the producers involved….

Shane Alexander: We needed to make an action film that would provoke real emotion from the audience.

The camera cuts to scene in the movie. Elevator doors open and Brad Pitt crawls out holding a gun in his hand. He is bleeding uncontrollably.

Brad Pitt: How do we make the audiences feel for these characters? When the story seems to have been told so many times.

Thugs pull out weapons and ammo. They each cock and load them.

John Woo: How exciting can we make this seem?

In slow motion, Ewan McGregor and Jude Law with their back against each other, continuously shoot and kill thugs trying to enter a building.

Robert DeNiro plunges a knife into a body.

Ewan McGregor rolls and then propels himself into the air with two guns firing.

Shane Alexander: It is a story that has not been done before on this sort scale.

The camera cuts to a wide view of the soundstage that was used to film interiors.

Narrator: From producer Shane Alexander and legendary action director John Woo comes the first action epic film of the year. Staring Ewan McGregor, Brad Pitt, Nicholas Cage, Jude Law, and Robert DeNiro.

Quick cut to a the group of actors standing around.

Narrator: It’s a film about Victories, defeats, and courage.

Cut to Ewan McGregor clenching his fist.

Another quick cut to Brad Pitt pointing a gun towards the camera in slow motion. He pulls the trigger and the screen explodes an it covers the screen.

Choosing The Right Paths: The Making of Nowhere

Shane Alexander: The idea of ordinary people fighting a war against enemies that they themselves could be had always been in my head. Of course the fear, distress, and paranoia created by there success is what the main characters deal with in the story. Are they trying to accomplish their goals? Or are they just walking aimlessly into a terrible situation they wont be able to get out of?

Narrator: John Woo was bought on as a director to bring out the emotion and mythic qualities in the Script.

Cut to John Woo sitting in the director's chair. He places a fist under his Chin.

Shane Alexander: I’ve been a big fan of John Woo for years and have been literally drooling from the mouth since he decided to come aboard.

Cut to John Woo telling some extras where to stand and what to do.

Shane Alexander: He can take ordinary action scenes on paper make them a guilty pleasure to watch.

John Woo: Yes, I have made an action film like this before. That’s why I choose to this movie. It was a chance to do another Tragic Hero movie and bring it to America.

Shane Alexander: I felt that this film is a bit different from John’s first films. Because it also has Fantasy elements rooted into it.

John Woo: It also shows the dark side of human emotion.

Shane Alexander(Laughs and pats John on the head): That too.

Narrator: The movie’s concentration of the darkness and lightness of the characters reflect that of the entire fictional city.

Shane Alexander: The entire movie seems to take place at night. But the fact is that the sun doesn’t rise nor set on the city.

A zooming bird’s eye view of the city.

John Woo: We mostly shot the film on a big sound stage in Australia. I am still very much in thanks to all the people behind the scenes that created these large, large sets.

Narrator: The movie sparred no expense, especially when it came to casting.

Shane Alexander: There was so behind the door’s “Discussion” about the amount of big stars we would approach for this movie. There are some that would disagree with me and say it wasn’t a discussion….but more of a statement that we could cast big for this movie.

Narrator: Ewan McGregor plays Sebastian Cole. A young man who after seeing his parents brutally murdered decides to dedicate his life to protecting innocents with his gun.

Ewan McGregor: You know me? I love these big, big tasty roles and said yes! Absolutely, I’ll do this role when I was approached.

Quick speed up zoom to a scene of Ewan McGregor being consoled by Maria Bello

Ewan McGregor: My character, Sebastian, has been living this life of a hit man who is doing this job for various gangs and mafia groups. He feels that they are hiring him to take them out and he gladly accepts this. It is not until he meets Anastasia in which he questions this?

Cut to Ewan McGregor and Maria Bello kissing in bed.

Ewan McGregor: When he eventually decides to give this life up because he is now sure that he doesn’t want to live his life in past memories. The world will always be the same and he won’t be able to change it. Is he becoming weaker or wiser? It is an interesting state of moral contradiction he finds himself in. It is also one that has no easy solution to It.

Brad Pitt: My character is at odds with Ewan’s one because he feels that his duty and obligations are to him and his feelings for Anastasia should not interfere with the promise he made to his parents. Its all about love, revenge, or friendship? (He looks directly at the camera) You’re going to have to go see the movie to find out! (He smiles)

Shane Alexander: John Woo’s protagonists are generally criminals with a sense of decency and honor in conflict with themselves, adding a much needed complexity to otherwise card-board, one dimensional characters. The dilemma that Sebastian must reconcile is his obligations to Matthew and his growing love to Anastasia and her young son is the thematic undertaking that provides the emotional drive of this film.

** Scene from a movie **

Jude Law: If and when I kill people I’m doing it in defense of the law and to uphold the laws of this city. I do not kill people to try and become a folk hero. I’m protecting the innocents by the way of the law!

Maria Bello: You and him are the same. You both kill bad people for a living. But while you do it in hopes of a promotion Sebastian does it heroically.

Narrator: The most obvious characteristics of any John Woo movie include excessive gunplay, slow motion, and unbelievable action sequences

The camera cuts to Ewan McGregor who leans his ear against the door. Brings one of the glock up out of his coat and bangs on the door with it. Others now pull out their guns from their jacket.

Quick cut to Ewan McGregor with both arms extended holding two guns.

Cut to a building blowing up.

Another quick cut to Ewan McGregor, driving a black car in slow motion He pulls out a gun while he rides and fires

Jude Law suddenly falls to his knees. He drops his gun.

Spencer Treat Clark slumps back against the seat.

Maria Bello inhales and then exhales a violent scream.

Silence.

Narrator: The film is packed with action sequences but it doesn’t forget that there is still a story to tell.

Shane Alexander: Sebastian is a tortured individual having to carry out a duty which he can no longer morally justify to himself to fulfill a personal obligation.

Quick cut to Ewan McGregor standing with Shane Alexander. They are looking over a Script.

Shane Alexander: Which is a universal dilemma that many of us face-- do you keep working at the same job that you hate, suppressing your own dreams and desires, just to pay the rent and put food on the table? That is the circumstance Sebastian finds himself in, and he must let go of it, even if it means selling his soul. And that is the same for all the characters in the movie I think.

John Woo: I hope that people will embrace this film and enjoy it when it comes out

The camera fades to black

….Rolls credits….