Chris Weitz talks about New Moon, touring Europe, what he thinks of the Paparazzi and Robert Pattinson


From EW.com

'New Moon' director Chris Weitz: 'This was made for the fans, and if you don’t get it, then you don’t get it'

A lot of fans say they like the movie more than the book, that New Moon was their least favorite book in the series.
New Moon takes a lot of time to read and you have a lot of time without Edward in the picture. And here in the compressed scenario of the movie, there is less time without RPatz. And the fact that Taylor [Lautner] does such a great job, to the reading audience who’s been very skeptical of him, here he is in the flesh, and it’s quite something.

It’s interesting then that you went forward with another book adaptation with another studio, considering how badly it went the last time.
I really liked the actors. I saw the first movie and I thought there was something special about Kristen [Stewart] , Rob [Pattinson], and Taylor. I liked the emotional tones to the book. It was stuff I knew how to do. I had this theory that if you stay true to the book, you would win. You would not only win with the fans, but other people will get what the fans care about. If the box office tells us anything, then it’s a win. It’s made more in its first day then the entire domestic run of Golden Compass. It’s extraordinary.

What were the high­est and low­est points of mak­ing New Moon?
The lows had to be shoot­ing at 5 a.m. in a for­est and strug­gling to get cer­tain shots so a sequence would string together prop­erly. It was a very cold for­est in British Colum­bia, and we knew we’d have another night shoot just like it the next day. The highs were the moments of real iden­ti­fi­ca­tion with the actors. With Tay­lor, the moments early on when he real­ized he was going to do it. That was very grat­i­fy­ing to me.

You’ve been around the world promoting this movie. Have you ever been part of something like this?
Never. It’s like being Ringo Starr. There are the big three and then there’s Ringo. It’s probably what he faced a lot. Hey Ringo, Can I meet Paul? When I meet the fans there’s a lot of enthusiasm for me, if one of the kids is nearby or, if they think I can arrange some tryst.

What about dealing with the paparazzi? Did you have any run-ins?
I did a bit of a Sean Penn at LAX. When we were leaving for the European tour. We had left from our L.A. press junket to go to LAX and someone nearly ran us off the road trying to get to one of the cars. We were followed by eight different vans and there was some really dangerous driving. And I understood for the first time how things happened to Princess Diana (I don’t think I’m Princess Diana), and I understood for the first time why celebrities lash out and what’s that about. My first thought upon getting out of the car was, “Who was that driver of the car?” I never found him, but I did lift someone by the hood. A photographer. He was in my way. They have a legal right to be there but they don’t have an ethical right, and he was obstructing my path, and there was someone else I threatened to knock their teeth out. It’s not like me but I felt very protective at that moment and very attacked. There is a huge difference between the attention of the paparazzi and the attention of the fans. The fans have been lovely. The paparazzi in my opinion are a very low form of primate.

Do you think you’re going to get some boys into the theater for New Moon?
I think so. I just hope it’s not just guys who were dragged there. And if they were dragged there, I hope some part of them is enjoying it. And I hope they can admit it if that’s the case. But if not, I hope they have a nice night with their girlfriend. I had an imaginary ad campaign saying “Will your girlfriend go in thinking of Edward, Jacob, or you.” I thought that would force men to go.

To read the full interview head over to EW.com

47 comments:

jh said...

Wow. I love Chris Weitz.

Unknown said...

Wow...and people keep complaining how robert doesn't smile anymore for the paps...sthat sorta answers it all, huh?

That's downright disgusting, how the paps behave....

Anonymous said...

I dont see why people say they dont like the book just becasue Edward is not there that much...at least for me I love the book..I think it was really well writen..

RPLover said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RPLover said...

Chris is such an awesome guy! I HATE that any of them have to put up with this kind of dangerous behavior from the papps. Rob being chased in a car scares me. :(

Emily said...

The stories of being chased in cars scares the sh*t out of me. It makes me sick to even think about it.

I love Chris. Like he's seriously one of my favorite people now. "The paparazzi in my opinion are a very low form of primate." LMAO! I wish he could travel with Rob everywhere. I would feel a little better about it.

rpattzgirl survived Rob! said...

Woo Hoo Chris!!! Too bad he didn't knock the guys teeth out...not really because then he would have been sued...but it would be nice to see anyway.

The fact that they chase them in cars is the scariest part-that's how Rob crashed the car in LA...

I'm so glad Chris is proud of his film because he deserves to be!

I saw it again last night, which makes # 4, and I'm going again Friday...just can't get enough.

Anonymous said...

LOL Chris, how I love you, LMAO, you went all pappa bear on the papz. And you've taken very good care of "the kids"! I have never ever said I would go see a movie a certain director did, until now...

crazy vamp said...

I think CW is a little hot too...
Weird ears, but interesting man...
hmmmm... 0-0

crazy vamp said...

I remember exactly when I heard about Princess Di's death. I was watching tv, breast-feeding my daughter...
I felt so strange. She was lovely.
I hate those papz!

Angie said...

I love Chris Weitz! He seems to be an amazing person.

I agree with all...the car chasing so frightening. You would think that with the tragedies that have occured due to this, that something could be done.

crazy vamp said...

Hi, ADM! Good evening, girl!

Angie said...

Hello crazy vamp! Good Robday to you. heehee

crazy vamp said...

Is it true that there are some 'restrictions' to papz in France?
I read somewhere that Brad Pitt and Angie moved to France because of that.
Just think about what a life these celebs have! A lot of money and no privacy! Nuts!

crazy vamp said...

@ ADM!
"Good RobDAY"???
Are you in Japan??? maybe in China???

crazy vamp said...

Okay, i am talking to myself again...
The american girls are probably having dinner.
Have to go. Tons of work on my desk! And I got a damn cold!

Good evening, ya'll!

Angie said...

No crazy vamp, just being silly.

Anonymous said...

did you see the comments section after the interview? some jerk insults Chris, and Chris responds accordingly - twice!

I have the utmost respect for that man.

MrsGoosey said...

Eight different vans? How ridiculous is that? Who is paying these Paps for pictures of Rob looking miserable as he is being hounded 24/7? Give them all a break!

Good on Chris for sticking up for them x

CdL said...

Ooh, I love the way Chris Weitz is thinking... ^_^
that guy is awesome...!

katie said...

CW is dreamy-he's like an absent minded professor who's cute.

The paps are scum and they are dangerous. There were pap videos this summer of Kristen tryign to drive Dakota Fanning home and they blocked their car and just surrounded them and flashing all those bulbs in their eyes and Kristen was crying at one point on the video, and then sped off in the darkness the minute she could get free. It's really horrible, there should be laws for this, someone's going to get hurt.

RPLover said...

"he's like an absent-minded professor who's cute." LOL! such an accurate description! ;)

you would think after the tradgedy of Princess Diana there would have been some secure laws set in place to protect people from them. I don't care what profession you choose, no one should be subjected to this kind of abusive, dangerous and potentially life threatening behavior. it's so disgusting to me! I hope when Rob goes home he can have some peace for a while.

Cheeky Chops said...

Yes, Chris's kung fu is strong..LOL ;P

Marna said...

This was a really good interview, I really LOLd at the part where he compares himself to Ringo Starr, I can EXACTLY see that. I read the comments section on interview on the EW web site, & there is somebody there who says they are Chris. I wonder if it really is him or not, maybe somebody will tweet PFach & ask him LOL.

Angie said...

HERE, HERE, RPL.

LMFAO @ Kimberly.

Dahlia said...

Go Chris! I can just imagine him pinning some punk-ass-pap against the wall by the scruff of their neck.

Like all of the cast keep saying, Chris seems like such a lovely person! And credit to him, he did a fantastic job!

And although the title of my favourite book has to go to Eclipse, I do enjoy New Moon. The first time I read it I read through the middle part so quickly I missed a hell of a lot of important information, but each time I read it again I find more and more, and find myself enjoying it more and more. Edwards leaving and the development of all of the characters, and the realisations they come to, make for a fantastic story, and IMO the film adaptation does just that too!

rpattzgirl survived Rob! said...

Rpl,

I agree. I don't understand their"right" to be there in the first place. Doesn't the person have the right to say I don't want my photo taken?

If someone chased me down the street, that's legal?

Our system is screwed up for sure.

WhyIstheRumAlwaysGone said...

"The paparazzi in my opinion are a very low form of primate."
Oh dear I love you so much Chris! You're so funny, wisecracking, and hilarious. And you've given us such a great film.

MMc said...

The only way to stop the Papz - is for all of us and everyone else to STOP BUYING THE TRASHY MAGAZINES like US and OK and Enquirer and Globe and all of those trashy ones. If NO ONE bought them, then they would have no reason to take the pictures and bug the people. Right?

Or do the pappz also get paid for pix that they give internet sites???? Like socialife and those papz type sites??

If there have been laws changed in France - there should be laws changed here too......with all of their money in Hollywood - why can't they do it? Probably because - again it all relates to money - when their actors get publicized we go see their movies $$$$$$$$$$$$$ - the almighty dollar wins again.......but at what cost to human life?

MMc said...

I'm sorry to sound like such a cynic.........but when Princess Diana died - and John Kennedy Jr. the year before - it was so tragic and her death did not have to happen.

Have any of you ever heard an interview from the driver - the only survivor?? Has he ever explained himself and what happened??

MMc said...

Billy Joel said - Only the GOOD die young!

I'm so glad Rob is such a BAD boy!

gracefulgrace said...

People, Ive seen the video with Chris telling the pap he would kick/knock his teeth out! He sounds so protive. I love him even more now.

See it here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyFSzaRMfJo

At about 00:48

Unknown said...

Chris is a hell of a director and a GREAT human being! Too bad they might not do the forth movie. He is not saying anything about it. It would be SO tough to make it interesting. Plus everybody will want mo'money... Oh, well... We'll see.

Cheeky Chops said...

@ ADM..The name is with an E honey :)..sorry one of my pet-peeves.

Loisada said...

I love Chris going protective papa bear. I remember the video well, but you couldn't tell who was actually talking back to the pappz and the tabloids were saying it was Rob. So obviously false! I love that Chris fesses up to it...

I think that many people have no idea what kind of bile the pappz spew at R & K trying to get them to react or lose their temper. The remarks can be unbelievably crass. It is no wonder they simply bow their heads and refuse to even acknowledge them. Unfortunately for fans in LA, they will never stop and interact with well wishers at places like LAX, for very good reason: the real blood suckers are right up in their faces there.

kespax said...

There have been more restrictive laws in place since before Di died, not after, paps can't just crawl all over people.

I just can't understand why there aren't universal laws that they can't come too close - really all of that in your face crap and jostling and crawling allover you it probably is assault anyway isn't it?
And when you see them in the way of celeb cars and getting their toes run over - they should be classified as suicidal if you happen to squash one.

gracefulgrace said...

Wonder if that's Chris saying "go f*** yourselves" at the end too. Haha! Sounds like him. But I can't see him. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyFSzaRMfJo

qiupang said...

http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/24/new-moon-twilight-bella/

Cast your vote for Team Eddie!

solas said...

Whrn I first saw New Moon, there were lots of guys, but they were with women, wives or girlfriends, I guess, and some groups of women, but I saw no guys on their own. Today, seeing it the second time, I noticed a few guys sitting by themselves, and a few guys in groups with no women!

spellbound said...

I can't even stand to think about Rob being chased in a car...Princess Di's death just about killed me. I cried for weeks. I've never gotten over that. There has to be something that can be done to outlaw them chasing people in cars. It seems like it would be so simple to do! How can they possibly justify themselves doing that?? They aren't only endangering their lives & the lives of the ones they are chasing but innocent bystanders too. Ok, on to another subject. I've seen New Moon twice now & both times I went I've seen guys there without girls, in groups of 2 or 3. So something is drawing the guys in, which can only be good news!

paisleywicker said...

@cerulean blue:
oh, me too. *sighs*

@femroc
I TOTALLY AGREE. Just don't by the magz. They kill too many trees, humiliate and slander innocent human beings for no good cause.

Besides they make a shit load of money with their stalking capabilities- WHY DON'T THEY BUY CAMERAS WITH SPECTACULAR ZOOM FEAUTURES? The kind they use on safaris and shit. They do hunt them like animals.

It's s scary. This is gonna sound cheesy but I remember the day I got home from daycare with my dad, and my mom was talking about Princess Di. Everybody was arguing around the tv and what not, and I was asking everybody if my Aunty and cousins were alive(LOL?). I'd hate for anyone to have to die that way. But yeah, I hate how the laws als don;t make much sense. They can't stalk you in certain places I guess? weird.

rpgirl27 said...

proof yet again that CW is a god among men
and a DILF

Robs Bitch said...

There's no way that was Chris Weitz making comments. Really - he would make fun of a commenter's name? I don't think so...

Gwen Cooper 426 said...

Not sure of all the details, but Arnold signed a bill in October for exactly this in California. No idea if NY or other states have similar laws. Some of the pap photos of R&K this past summer have been truly frightening. I'd be crying all the time, with people chasing me with cameras and yelling at me. It's horrible.

The new law goes into effect in January.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/14/paparazzi.law/index.html

Ellie said...

I am in love with CW right now...he's perfect for this series...I hope he's in charge of BD.

Loisada said...

Thank you Gwen for the link. I wonder how they'll define "personal activity." Doesn't seem it will stop them from getting mobbed at LAX. I don't understand how there isn't a law that prevents the pappz from getting touching distance from people and sometimes even jostling them. I would think anyone who takes photos for sale would have to abide by rules that ensure the safety of their "targets." Guess I'm dreaming to think these lowlifes would follow a code of ethics!

jlsentangledweb said...

I melted when I read about CW's reaction to the paps. I've seen photos and videos of Rob just an arm's reach away from, literally, a sea of paparazzi, many of them screaming really disgusting things trying to get a reaction from him. I don't know what's scarier, people chasing him on foot or in cars?

 
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