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Interview With Randy Cook
Aired February 26, 2004 - 14:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: When they hand out the Oscar for visual effects this year, can you guess one of the top contenders? No, not that Botox expert in Santa Monica. We're talking "Lord of the Rings."
Actually it's Daryn Kagan talking "Lord of the Rings." She's got the inside story from Randy Cook, one of the brains behind the stunning scenes from "The Return of the King." All right. I can't wait to meet this guy, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, he's a genius. A two-time Oscar winner, three-time nominee. Wanted to set this up in front of costumes for "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" as we're coming to you from the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising.
The costume is remarkable. Really people are talking about with "Lord of the Rings" not just the story and the trilogy but of course the visual effects. And it is one of three movies that is nominated for best visual effects. "Lord of the Rings," "Master and Commander" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."
And as Kyra mentioned, we have Oscar nominee Randy Cook here with us.
RANDY COOK, "LORT" DESIGNER: Hi.
KAGAN: Congratulations on your nomination. Two-time Oscar winner. You've been down this road before.
COOK: Yes.
KAGAN: Still get as nervous?
COOK: Oh, sure. Why not?
KAGAN: Explain to us some of the magic behind the visual effects. I think one of the things that's gotten the most attention is the character of Gollum, which is part actor, part your magic. How does that work together?
COOK: Part? I'm damned if I know.
(CROSSTALK)
COOK: I don't think any of us really have a handle on that. It starts off with a performance by actor Andy Serkis. Then we either follow that exactly, either by inputting it directly into the computer, based on his actual movements, or we do an interpretation of it.
It's basically "Lord of the Rings" is an interpretation of a book by J.R.R. Tolkien. And Gollum is an interpretation of a performance by Any Serkis.
KAGAN: So one big interpretation. You were explaining to people (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Gollum, that's what the movie-goers see. But what do the actors see when they're actually filming that?
COOK: Sometimes they see Andy on screen doing his performance. Sometimes they'll see a tennis ball on a see-stand (ph).
(CROSSTALK)
COOK: Depending on the needs of the day. I mean Peter Jackson was shooting four or five different units at once on this film. Actors were scattered all over New Zealand. He watching them on different monitors. He was watching the different units being fed in and directing them via video.
And sometimes you'd have Sean Astin on one set, Eli Wood on another one and Andy Serkis on another one if any. So sometimes they acted to a tennis ball.
KAGAN: This has been an amazing personal journey for you as well. You were explaining to me this was a nice little job you accepted for a few months, a nice free trip down to New Zealand.
COOK: Yes. Peter asked me to come down for eight months to head up the previs and design sequences for him. And somehow it just evolved into 5 1/2 years now. As soon as the Oscars are over, win, lose or draw, we go back to New Zealand and finish the DVD.
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: It will never end.
COOK: No, I don't think so.
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: How has it been to be part of this huge project that's part of Hollywood history?
COOK: Every bit as good as the advertising leads to you believe. Peter Jackson is just a gem to work for. I'm a huge fan of his. I am going to be waiting very eagerly when the best director envelope gets opened.
KAGAN: That's kind of a done deal. Don't you think?
COOK: I hope so.
KAGAN: We'll see. See you on the red carpet on Sunday. Good luck. Two-time winner, three-time Oscar nominee Randy Cook for visual effects.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 26, 2004 - 14:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: When they hand out the Oscar for visual effects this year, can you guess one of the top contenders? No, not that Botox expert in Santa Monica. We're talking "Lord of the Rings."
Actually it's Daryn Kagan talking "Lord of the Rings." She's got the inside story from Randy Cook, one of the brains behind the stunning scenes from "The Return of the King." All right. I can't wait to meet this guy, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, he's a genius. A two-time Oscar winner, three-time nominee. Wanted to set this up in front of costumes for "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" as we're coming to you from the Fashion Institute for Design and Merchandising.
The costume is remarkable. Really people are talking about with "Lord of the Rings" not just the story and the trilogy but of course the visual effects. And it is one of three movies that is nominated for best visual effects. "Lord of the Rings," "Master and Commander" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."
And as Kyra mentioned, we have Oscar nominee Randy Cook here with us.
RANDY COOK, "LORT" DESIGNER: Hi.
KAGAN: Congratulations on your nomination. Two-time Oscar winner. You've been down this road before.
COOK: Yes.
KAGAN: Still get as nervous?
COOK: Oh, sure. Why not?
KAGAN: Explain to us some of the magic behind the visual effects. I think one of the things that's gotten the most attention is the character of Gollum, which is part actor, part your magic. How does that work together?
COOK: Part? I'm damned if I know.
(CROSSTALK)
COOK: I don't think any of us really have a handle on that. It starts off with a performance by actor Andy Serkis. Then we either follow that exactly, either by inputting it directly into the computer, based on his actual movements, or we do an interpretation of it.
It's basically "Lord of the Rings" is an interpretation of a book by J.R.R. Tolkien. And Gollum is an interpretation of a performance by Any Serkis.
KAGAN: So one big interpretation. You were explaining to people (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Gollum, that's what the movie-goers see. But what do the actors see when they're actually filming that?
COOK: Sometimes they see Andy on screen doing his performance. Sometimes they'll see a tennis ball on a see-stand (ph).
(CROSSTALK)
COOK: Depending on the needs of the day. I mean Peter Jackson was shooting four or five different units at once on this film. Actors were scattered all over New Zealand. He watching them on different monitors. He was watching the different units being fed in and directing them via video.
And sometimes you'd have Sean Astin on one set, Eli Wood on another one and Andy Serkis on another one if any. So sometimes they acted to a tennis ball.
KAGAN: This has been an amazing personal journey for you as well. You were explaining to me this was a nice little job you accepted for a few months, a nice free trip down to New Zealand.
COOK: Yes. Peter asked me to come down for eight months to head up the previs and design sequences for him. And somehow it just evolved into 5 1/2 years now. As soon as the Oscars are over, win, lose or draw, we go back to New Zealand and finish the DVD.
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: It will never end.
COOK: No, I don't think so.
(CROSSTALK)
KAGAN: How has it been to be part of this huge project that's part of Hollywood history?
COOK: Every bit as good as the advertising leads to you believe. Peter Jackson is just a gem to work for. I'm a huge fan of his. I am going to be waiting very eagerly when the best director envelope gets opened.
KAGAN: That's kind of a done deal. Don't you think?
COOK: I hope so.
KAGAN: We'll see. See you on the red carpet on Sunday. Good luck. Two-time winner, three-time Oscar nominee Randy Cook for visual effects.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
