In this exclusive interview, director STEVEN C. MILLER “bites” into the making of the action-packed and entertaining WEREWOLVES.
SYNOPSIS: A supermoon event has triggered a latent gene in every human on the planet, turning anyone who entered the moonlight into a werewolf for that one night. Chaos ensued and close to a billion people died. Now, a year later, the Supermoon is back….
Directed by STEVEN C. MILLER and written by Matthew Kennedy, WEREWOLVES stars Frank Grillo, Katrina Law, Ilfenesh Hadera, Kamdynn Gary, James Michael Cummings, Lydia Styslinger, and Lou Diamond Phillips.
Chatting with director STEVEN C. MILLER is laden with high-octane energy that matches that in his action films, including his latest, WEREWOLVES; a film that is as beautiful and textured as it action-packed and entertaining. As we discussed the “making of” WEREWOLVES, Steven highlighted the visual and visceral elements of the movie, emphasizing the importance of having physical practical werewolves. Also key to this production was his collaboration with Frank Grillo, who “enthusiastically” participated.
As we dug in-depth into WEREWOLVES, we discussed, among others:
- casting
- breaking down the script from a visual standpoint
- the challenges of balancing action and werewolf effects
- the decision to shoot at night and the importance of shooting night-for-night with this film
- the critical role of production designer Tyler Bishop Harron in creating immersive sets, both interiors and exteriors, that provide a visual backstory without the need for extraneous exposition
- developing the visual grammar with cinematographer Brandon Cox
- reference films like the first Underworld, Blade, and Blade Runner as inspiration, aiming for a practical and textured look that felt authentic
- designing dynamic lighting and camera work to have the same kind of texture and feel as the practical werewolf effects they were using on set; developing a color palette to help achieve that authenticity
- experimenting with practical lighting elements, like the pop-up lights in the house, to create a layered and dynamic lighting scheme that would get progressively darker as the film went on
- the intentional placement and use of practical lights to reflect the characters’ efforts to protect their home and plan their defense
- lighting the exterior night scenes as they were shooting night for night; utilizing the moon and strategic placement of harsher “streetlights” to create shadows and limit the full visibility of the werewolves, thus building suspense
- lensing choices; what would be most effective to capture the werewolves on camera
- creating a cohesive visual style that complemented the practical nature of the werewolf effects and enhanced the suspense and intensity of the film’s action sequences
Behind the scenes werewolf fight scene
- the importance of achieving authentic, textured visuals
- the werewolves and werewolf suits
- the design
- giving each of the six practical suits individuality with personalization like fur color, piercings, and the clothing/accessories each wore
- creating a diverse group of werewolves with distinct visual identities that helped sell the scale and threat
- working with DP Brandon Cox and the special effects team to ensure the werewolves would look and move authentically on camera, testing different lenses and camera angles
- achieving a balance to make the werewolves feel big and imposing while allowing the practical effects team to operate them effectively during the action sequences
- challenges in balancing the action, werewolves, and practical effects; the delicate “ballet” of planning and execution between the stunt coordinator, effects coordinator, and puppeteering team
- ensuring the practical werewolf effects were integrated properly into the action sequences; carefully planning the werewolf movements and positioning
- maintaining the kinetic pace and visual style that Steven was going for, while also accommodating the practical limitations and requirements of the werewolf effects
- striking the right balance between showing enough of the werewolves to be impactful, while also preserving some mystery and suspense by not revealing too much; strategic camerawork and lighting
- lessons learned as a filmmaker
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 12/06/2024
WEREWOLVES is in theatres nationwide on December 6, 2024
