Randal Kleiser é um realizador de cinema internacionalmente conhecido
desde o lançamento da sua primeira longa-metragem, Grease. Os outros créditos de realização de Kleiser incluem The Boy in the
Plastic Bubble, The Blue Lagoon, Summer Lovers, Flight of the Navigator, White
Fang, Honey I Blew up the Kid, Getting It Right, Lovewrecked, entre outros.
SWCP: Quando realizou “Grease”, esperava que este filme tivesse um
sucesso tão estrondoso?
R.K: Nunca imaginámos que Grease fosse explodir daquela maneira.
Pensámos que poderia ser bom para os adolescentes, mas nunca esperámos a
resposta espantosa de todo o mundo, de todas as idades. O estúdio também não
estava à espera. Nunca poderíamos ter imaginado que, tantos anos depois, as
pessoas estariam a falar sobre ele.
SWCP: Tendo trabalhado com vários atores de renome,recorda-se de alguma
situação engraçada ou incomum que tenha ocorrido durante as filmagens?
SWCP: A sua experiência com a Realidade Virtual remonta a 1994. O que o
motivou a utilizar esta tecnologia na indústria cinematográfica? Pensa que será
utilizada mais regularmente nos filmes e nas salas de cinema num futuro
próximo?
R.K: Há alguns anos, o meu irmão Jeff, que é supervisor de efeitos
visuais, fez-me uma demonstração do Oculus Rift e fiquei a pensar: como é que
se conta uma história neste novo meio? Isso levou-nos a Defrost, a nossa série
de RV, que estreámos em Sundance em 2016. Isso foi há quase dez anos, e agora
penso que as atenções se voltaram para a IA. Adoraria que a RV voltasse a
descolar, mas os auscultadores nunca foram realmente confortáveis ou fáceis de
utilizar e o mercado não cresceu como esperávamos. Se as empresas conseguirem
desenvolver uns auscultadores que pareçam tão naturais e leves como um par de
óculos normal, penso que veremos finalmente todo o potencial da RV.
R.K: Estou atualmente a trabalhar em dois livros - um sobre a “Máfia
USC” e outro que é mais um livro de memórias pessoais. Também acabei de
terminar o segundo volume de Drawing Diretors, uma coleção dos meus retratos
desenhados à mão de colegas realizadores, acompanhados de um pequeno texto.
Também estou envolvido em alguns documentários e outros projectos, mas por
enquanto ainda estão em segredo.
SWCP: Que mensagem gostaria de enviar aos seus fãs?
R.K: Sem eles, eu não estaria aqui. Fico espantado com o facto de as
pessoas ainda gostarem de Grease, The Blue Lagoon ou Flight of the Navigator.
Acabei de assistir ao “Grease Sing-along” no Hollywood Bowl, com 17.000 fãs
fantasiados, a cantar e a aplaudir após cada número. Isso é surreal para mim. O
que é que posso dizer? Obrigado por assistirem, pelo vosso apoio e por deixarem
que estes filmes façam parte das vossas vidas.
Randal Kleiser Productions | www.randalkleiser.com
ENGLISH VERSION:
Randal Kleiser has been an internationally known film director since the release of his first feature, Grease. Kleiser’s other directing credits include The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, The Blue Lagoon, Summer Lovers, Flight of the Navigator, White Fang, Honey I Blew up the Kid, Getting It Right, Lovewrecked,among others.
SWCP: When you directed ‘Grease’, did you expect this film to be such a resounding success?
R.K: We never imagined Grease would blow up like
that. We thought it might do well with teenagers, but we never expected the
amazing response from all over the world, across all ages. The studio didn't
see it coming either. We could never have imagined that so many years later,
people would be talking about it.
SWCP:
Having worked with several renowned actors, do you remember any funny or
unusual situations that occurred during filming?
R.K: One of the craziest things happened on Big
Top Pee-wee. We actually borrowed Michael Jackson’s pet giraffe for a circus
scene. One day, the giraffe got loose and ran up a freeway ramp. Our stunt crew
had to chase it down on horseback and lasso it back. We were very lucky. I
definitely did not want to call Michael Jackson to tell him we lost his
giraffe!
SWCP: Your experience with Virtual Reality dates
back to 1994. What motivated you to use this technology in the
film industry? Do you think it will be used more regularly in films and cinemas
in the near future?
R.K: A few years back, my brother Jeff, who’s a
visual effects supervisor, showed me an Oculus Rift demo, and it really got me
thinking: how do you tell a story in this new medium? That led to Defrost, our
VR series, which we premiered at Sundance in 2016. That was almost ten years
ago, and now I think the spotlight has shifted toward AI. I’d love to see VR
take off again, but the headsets have never really been comfortable or
user-friendly, and the market just didn’t grow the way we hoped. If companies
can develop a headset that feels as natural and lightweight as a regular pair
of glasses, I think we’ll finally see VR’s full potential.
SWCP: You have taught courses at several film
schools, given lectures at numerous film festivals and arts venues. What advice
would you give to those who would like to embark on a career in film?
R.K: My biggest piece of advice is: make it
personal. My career really took off because of a personal short film called
Peege about my grandmother. I always tell students to do something from their
gut, something that only they can do. In other words, write and film the story
only you can tell, even if it’s tough or emotional. Those are the projects
people truly connect with. That’s what my mentor Nina Foch drilled into me, and
it’s always been true. So, my advice is to follow your passion, tell your
truth, and tell it boldly.
SWCP: Can
we find out what projects you are currently working on?
R.K: I’m currently working on a couple of
books—one about the “USC Mafia”, and another that’s more of a personal memoir.
I also just finished the second volume of Drawing Directors, a collection of my
hand-drawn portraits of fellow directors paired with a short write-up. I’m also
involved in a few documentaries and other projects, but those are still under
wraps for now.
SWCP: What message would you like to send to your
fans?
R.K: I really wouldn’t be here without them. It
blows my mind how much people still love Grease, The Blue Lagoon, or Flight of
the Navigator. I just attended the Grease Sing-along at the Hollywood Bowl with
17,000 fans in costume, singing along and cheering after every number. That is
surreal to me. What can I say? Thank you for watching, for your support, and
for letting these films be part of your lives.
Randal Kleiser Productions | www.randalkleiser.com