Bond 23 Press Conference

saint mark wrote:

Apperently we get David Arnold again for the soundtrack, not all news is good. So all we can hop eis an act of God for a decent soundtrack. Apperently EON still goes bargainbasement on the music.

Where thou is this God forsaken news?

It's not confirmed. MI6 includes it in their briefs on the film but it wasn't in the official press release from today.

Erica Ambler wrote:

Am wearing slippers, drinking whisky and shouting at the wireless: Mr Benevolent personified. I shall look in again on the 13th, by which time I hope to be very annoyed again.

You have become Ed Reardon. The circle is now complete.

I'll be on Messenger this evening. Want an update on the black market deal.

Jack Wade wrote:

It's not confirmed. MI6 includes it in their briefs on the film but it wasn't in the official press release from today.

So perhaps there is a little ray of hope left.

But apperently they are waiting for his schedule for the Olympic games in order to see if his involvement fits in. :affraid:

After years of really average composing whereby DA went from okay to the worst composer who really did not add anything new imho I wonder why Mendes doesn't ask for somebosy decent.

Erica Ambler wrote:

Sharky wrote:

Video here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15575601

Nothing too terrible so far.

You're going soft in your dottage. Better to go soft there than in most other places.

saint mark wrote:

Jack Wade wrote:

It's not confirmed. MI6 includes it in their briefs on the film but it wasn't in the official press release from today.

So perhaps there is a little ray of hope left.

But apperently they are waiting for his schedule for the Olympic games in order to see if his involvement fits in. :affraid:

After years of really average composing whereby DA went from okay to the worst composer who really did not add anything new imho I wonder why Mendes doesn't ask for somebosy decent.

probably told to tow the line in terms of composer by the Boss-woman.

So I guess this time it will be personal yet again...wonderful

"In SKYFALL, Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to
haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy
the threat, no matter how personal the cost."

Wow, Lazenby isn't all blather after all, lol. That synopsis could apply to The World Is Not Enough: MI6 attacked, M's past associations involved, Bond tracks down the threat and there's supposed to be what Ms Broccoli would call "emotional context". And even though I liked both Casino Royale and Quantum Of Solace, the whole Bond & M trust/loyalty thing is tiresome already without another film using it as a central plot point. Even as a fan of most of the films, this was a rather underwhelming press conference which confirmed more rumoured fears than it did new details.

Skyfall is a poor title though. Sounds like a straight-to-video low-budget action film starring Jason Priestley or something.

Daniel Craig and Berenice Marlohe interview:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15575609

As someone else said, may be the most useless press conference ever. In fact, I can't recall a Bond film, or any other film for that matter, that so much was known so far in advance. For all the elite, snobbish posters who thought they were too good to believe Internet rumors about Bardem, Fiennes, Skyfall, etc... I say this: SUCK IT!!!!

The one moment of refreshing honesty that I've come across so far (and there's still lots of news to digest) is when a reporter asks Craig if he'll be shirtless in the movie and before anyone else on the panel can answer, Barbara says: "Damn straight he will" (or words to that effect). Then Craig states that if Barbara has her way he and Javier would be fully nude in the movie. Thanks Danny Boy for confirming what I've long suspected.

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

As someone else said, may be the most useless press conference ever. In fact, I can't recall a Bond film, or any other film for that matter, that so much was known so far in advance. For all the elite, snobbish posters who thought they were too good to believe Internet rumors about Bardem, Fiennes, Skyfall, etc... I say this: SUCK IT!!!!

Well, you can´t blame EON for the internet revealing everything before the proper press conference.

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

As someone else said, may be the most useless press conference ever. In fact, I can't recall a Bond film, or any other film for that matter, that so much was known so far in advance. For all the elite, snobbish posters who thought they were too good to believe Internet rumors about Bardem, Fiennes, Skyfall, etc... I say this: SUCK IT!!!!

That's just how it works these days. I'd rather see a press conference than a slow leak of unconfirmed information released on the Internet.

I'm in "wait and see" mode. I don't like the idea of "This time it's personal, again". I don't have much faith in Pervert & Waste teamed with Logan to write this "great screenplay". We'll see.

The cast lineup is great. I'm neutral on the Bernice girl. Not very striking to me. It seems, from what info we have about the story, like this film will either be really good or will fail miserably and be TWINE meets Bourne.

FieldsMan wrote:

MI6 has updated their Bond 23 Blog Page - Journalists have entered, and it's about to kick off soon. The stage has apparently been set for 9 people. 4 cast members perhaps? Click the link below for updates, if you can't watch it... like me :(

http://www.mi6-hq.com/sections/bond23/london_press_conference_live_blog.php3?t=&s=&id=02996

Edit: This is nerve-wracking and bloody exciting. Plus I'm listening to Bond music.

No! I'm not a fanboy.

Biggest suprise reading that page is no word about David Arnold or Daniel Kleiman. Also nothing about the Harry Potter actres, mabey it stays by a remour she wil be a suprise.

Quote :

Naomie Harris says she has spent two months training for her role. She will play a field agent called Eve. No word of Miss Moneypenny being in the film.

Not see it as a real problem, i don't like but also don't dislike the idea if she have been. ''Eve'' sound like a nice name for a Bond girl.

Quote :

Producer Michael G. Wilson confirms the title of the 23rd James Bond film is SKYFALL.

Fine it be offical now. Title growing on me since the unoffical news.

Quote :

Director Sam Mendes confirms the locations as Shanghai, Istanbul and Scotland.

No India comes a big suprise.

Quote :

The budget for SKYFALL will be similar to 'Quantum of Solace' - nothing will be cut back, and nothing in the script has been cut back from their plans.

Let's hope the promotion budget of Sky Fall is higher then CR.

Quote :

When asked, Sam Mendes hopes to direct another Bond movie "if this goes well". The title SKYFALL has an 'emotional meaning' which will be revealed in the film. Quantum will not be involved.

Quantum not be in Bond 23 be a bit of a suprise, from the other hand we mabey already know it if true the Producers said earlier there whant made Bond 23 having a Quantum break.

Quote :

SKYFALL will be similar in tone to 'Casino Royale' - news which will be received well by the vast majority of fans. Daniel Craig confirms he does have a shirtless scene, too. Bond Girls rejoice.

This feeling we got a bit for the last couple of weeks.

Quote :

The Director of Photography is Roger Deakins, Production Designer is Dennis Gassner (who previously designed Quantum of Solace), Editor is Stuart Baird (from Casino Royale), Costume Designer is Jany Temime, 2nd Unit Director is Alexander Witt (Casino Royale), Stunt Co-ordinator is Gary Powell (his third Bond outing in this role), SFX Supervisor is Chris Corbould (long time Bond family member) and Visual Effects Supervisor is Steve Begg.

Nice to read Stuard Baid is confirmd. Strange there is nothing said about Tariq Anwar, but i am happy he isn't edit the movie.

Quote :

Barbara Broccoli responds "Definitely!" when asked if Daniel Craig will do more Bond films after SKYFALL. Craig himself says "If I could do this for a few more years then I'll be happy." It seems he will be on for Bond 24 at the very least.

Something that Brosnan said before too, so we must becarefull with believing this to fast. But if so, good news.

Quote :

When the panel is asked if the reason why three character names have not been revealed it is because fans would recognise them, the audience is told the question is well phrased and hint that is exactly the reason.

Q, Moneypenny & Blofeld ?? I read that Ralp Fiennes not be there.

Quote :

Dame Judi Dench will be front and center of SKYFALL as M's past is integral to the plot and MI6 'comes under attack'.

Nice her past have something to do with the plot, made me curious or this plot wil mean GE-DAD or to her claimd Boyfriend in CR.

Let's hope the whole conference wil be seen on youtube soon.

MBalje wrote:

Biggest suprise reading that page is no word about David Arnold or Daniel Kleiman.

What's strange is that MI6 has stated that it's confirmed, but it's nowhere on the official Sony press release.

Well that was all a bit anti-climatic. :|

I wonder if Capetown is officially off the table--so to speak?

Full transcript (with a few corrections)::

Quote :

Michael G. Wilson (producer): “Thank you all for coming, this is a great day. It’s the 23rd Bond and next year when we open the picture it’ll be within days of when Dr No opened 50 years ago. So it’s our golden anniversary and we’re really looking forward to making a fantastic picture, we got a great crew and a great cast. And now I want to confirm the worst kept secret in London, the title of the film. [Skyfall appears on the screen with the Bond theme playing].”

Sam Mendes (director): “I’ve got various bits of information to impart. There’s rumours I can confirm and there’s some rumours I can’t confirm. And the first is to say that we will be shooting the movie Skyfall, here in London, obviously, a large section of it is in Whitehall which is why we’re here rather than dear old Pinewood. Although we will be shooting a lot of the movie in Pinewood. Bond’s journey takes him to China, to Shanghai and other parts of China, to Istanbul in Turkey and other parts of Turkey, and to Scotland.

“And I think that Rob [Wade] and Neal [Purvis] and John Logan have written a fantastic script, I’m incredibly excited to be doing it, and I think it has all the elements of a classic Bond movie including, to quell any rumours, a lot of action. And many other things too. There are various members of the cast who because of work commitments can’t be here, all of whom I’m delighted to confirm. Ben Whishaw, who will be playing a part I can’t tell you about in scenes that I can tell you nothing about. And Albert Finney, who’ll also be playing a part I can’t really tell you about in scenes I can’t really tell you about and Ralph Fiennes, who, similarly, I can give you very little information about. But just to say that those three make up the first of, I think, eight fantastic actors I am genuinely thrilled to have the most fantastic cast.” [Mendes then introduces the cast: Bérénice Marlohe, Naomie Harris, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem (who he confirms as the villain of the piece), and Daniel Craig].

So what attracted Mendes to the film?

Mendes: “Well I’ve always been a huge fan of the Bond movies. As a child, of course every young English schoolboy grows up with it, it’s in a sense part of my life, y’know, and I vividly remember the first time I saw one of the Bond movies, which was Live And Let Die, and the impact it had on me. But there was something else, which was, frankly… I got very excited when I saw my friend Daniel play James Bond in Casino Royale, and I thought it opened up all sorts of wonderful possibilities for the character. I love that movie and when Barbara and Michael and Daniel came to me, I thought the story was fantastic, I love Daniel and I love Judi and I wanted a huge challenge. For me this was an enormous challenge and one I’m extremely pleased that I’ve taken, thus far.”

Barbara Broccoli (producer): “Working with Sam is a dream come true. Ever since I saw his theatre work, initially, and his films, I’ve just hope that we’d be able to entice him and come and do one of these and the enthusiasm and the enormous commitment he’s brought to this, and his sort-of boyish excitement is really infectious, and he’s assembled this extraordinary cast, so we’re thrilled.

Wilson: “Back in the early days when Dr No was going to be released no-one really thought that we were going to get to 50 years of Bond, let alone 23 pictures. At that time, United Artists had a deal with Cubby and Harry for four pictures, and even then they thought that was stretching it. But no-one contemplated this kind of success, and it’s really down to the public, they’re the people, the fans, that keep on supporting us and we’re really delighted.”

Daniel, feeling comfortable third time round?

Daniel Craig: “Very comfortable and just tremendously excited; just look at the people we’ve got in the movie. And we’ve assembled an incredible crew, and Sam’s at the helm and we actually start shooting today so this is it! It’s too late now, no turning back.”

Judi, have you really got a grip on who M is seven films in?

Judi Dench: “I’ll never get a grip on who M is, like I won’t get a grip on anyone in my office either, no. But, that’s my job isn’t it? Just try and keep a grip.”

Javier, was Bond a part of your life growing up in Spain?

Javier Bardem: “Of course it was. Some of the most beautiful memories I have with my family was when I was a kid and I went to the theatre to see all these movies… I would say it was one of the first experiences of really having this experience, of seeing amazing movies, amazing stories on screen. So of course yes.”

Bérénice, what about you growing up in France with Bond movies?

Bérénice Marlohe: “Oh yes, I saw them since I was a child too, so when I got the auditions, it took me a few days to realise that I was finally going to be part of it, and I’m so very excited about it.”

Naomie, what’s your feeling sitting here today?

Naomie Harris: “I still can’t believe it’s happening really, I’m still having to pinch myself. I’m totally, so excited, raring to go. I’ve spent two months training so far so I feel really ready for the rollercoaster that’s about to commence.”

So there’ll be plenty of action, but what about gadgets and everything else we expect from a Bond movie?

Mendes: “ This is an odd press conference because there’s so little… Normally one is involved in a press conference when you’ve got something to announce and talk about and you won’t be surprised to hear me say, ‘I can’t give much away.’ As far as that is concerned the movie will reveal everything, and there’s a lot of surprises, I will say that.”

Daniel, are there any comparisons between Dragon Tattoo’s Mikael Blomkvist and Bond?

Craig: “They're completely different [laughs]. I’m struggling to find anything else to say, I’m sorry.”

Could the new Bond ladies expand on their roles?

Marlohe: “Well I play a glamorous, enigmatic character called Severine.”

Harris: “I play a field agent called Eve.”

Dench: “You’ll just have to wait to see the film to find out.”

Sam, tell us about the Scottish elements and Bond going back to his roots.

Mendes: “You’re not entirely accurate about him going back to his routes… there is a Scottish element, and it is the wilds of Scotland.”

Will there be any budget cuts for this one?

Broccoli: “Does it look like we’re cutting back? [Gestures toward Mendes and cast.]”

Wilson: “It’s in the same range as the last film, and we really haven’t had to change anything in the script to get what we want, in fact we keep on adding. But no, we’re not feeling that we’ve had to sacrifice anything.”

Broccoli: “And it’ll all be up on the screen.”

Wilson: “All of our crews are back, the same effects crews, the same production crews, the visuals effects, stunts… everything is as it was in the last two films.”

Could you explain how Skyfall relates to any existing Fleming property or story?

Mendes: “It doesn’t.”

Any ideas who’ll do the theme song?

Broccoli: “We’ve been considering various people but we haven’t got anyone to announce at this stage.”

Daniel, what have you tried to bring to the Bond character?

Craig: “It’s really… I don’t know how to answer that. All I know is that in doing a third one, and being lucky enough to get the chance to do the third one, it was my intention to make the best Bond movie that we possibly could, and Bond with a capital B, and I’m just incredibly proud to be part of this gang of people here who’ve agreed to come and do it, and with their help we’re going to make that happen. So, bringing to the character? It’s in the script, really. That’s where I get it from and we’ve got a great script.”

Javier, how do you feel being selected by the production as the bad guy?

Bardem: “Who told you that a villain is a bad person? [Craig: “Misunderstood?”] Exactly. For me it’s an honour to be on this table for many reasons. First, because of the background story that Bond has on me. Second, because of the quality of these professionals, that is beyond words. Third, because of it being fun to do, and for me it’s a pleasure and an honour to be here. About the big production thinking of me as a bad person, I think that… I don’t know what to answer to that really. That means that independent productions think I’m a good guy?”

Javier, you’ve played such a formidable bad guy in a previous film [No Country For Old Men], how can you top that?

Bardem: “It’s not about improving, there’s not even a comparison, it’s about really taking a different journey, taking a different path and doing something that’s related to the great story that we have. [Can’t you expand?] As you saw… no!”

Sam, traditionally Bond directors haven’t handled the action sequences, will you be hands-on in that respect?

Mendes: “Have you told Martin Campbell and John Glen that? I think they have! Traditionally they’re very hands-on, working in tandem with a great second-unit director, and I’m very lucky I’ve got a fantastic second-unit director Alex Witt, alongside Chris Corbould, who is the king of special effects, and Steve Begg on visual effects and Gary Powell, stunt coordinator, these are the people who, for me, it’s been a new experience to work with and it’s one of the reasons it’s been so exhilarating so far. That’s the world that’s new to me and I’ve embraced it because I’ve found it very fascinating, and it’s exciting. Alex [second-unit] director, he does a lot of that, it’s entirely part of the main body of the movie. It’s not that dominant, the action needs to co-exist with the drama. That’s the balance we have to strike.”

Sam, you got a great Oscar-heavy cast and crew, are you hoping the golden anniversary might tie in with a few golden statuettes?

Mendes: “It’s not the reason you do any movie, and it’s certainly not the reason you do a Bond movie. I don’t think in those terms about anything, and it would be… for me, Bond is for the audience and only for the audience, like any good movie should be. And the rest is just what happens afterwards and that’s out of my hands.”

Will any of the older films be re-released as part of the anniversary celebrations?

Wilson: “Well we’ve got a documentary in the process of being made that looks back across the history of Bond, and we have a lot of other things planned, but we’re not prepared yet to announce them. But certainly, Sony and MGM and ourselves are looking at a lot of opportunities to give the fans something to celebrate on the golden anniversary.”

What sort of training have the cast had to do for their roles?

Bardem: “For me – learning English vowels! That’s a lot of training, that’s all I can say.”

Craig: “I’ve got nothing as dangerous as that! [laughs]”

Harris: “I’ve been doing yoga three times a week, to get into shape, and also stunt-driving and firing machine guns, which I discovered I had a real taste for. What else have I been doing? All the stunt training as well, jumping in and out of cars and running up stairs very fast and all things like that.”

Marlohe: “I’ve been training a bit to fire guns for the first time in my life so it was very fun, and I enjoyed it very much.”

Sam, if this films a success, are you open to doing another one?

Mendes: “[Gestures to producers, Broccoli shouts “Yes!”] If it’s as much fun… if in six months’ time I’m still feeling as excited as I am now then the answer would be yes. There’s a lot to go on, there’s a lot that’s going to happen between now and then.”

What does Skyfall mean?

Broccoli: “That’s a good question! [laughs]. It has some emotional context which will be revealed in the film. You have to wait and see.”

Daniel, how frustrating has the wait been, and was there ever any doubts that it would get going again?

Craig: “Strangely, it wasn’t frustrating because there’s really nothing I could do about it, it was a financial issue and I just had to let them get on with it, and I was just fortunate enough and lucky enough to be able to go off and do some other projects so I kept myself busy. It’s kind of been frustrating, funnily enough, over the past three months, because now, everything’s ready, and I just wan’t to get going, and the past few months have just been to this point. So… it was OK?”

Will this film continue with Quantum organisation?

Mendes: “No. It doesn’t. It’s its own story. It doesn’t connect with the last two movies, other than these two characters sitting next to me.”

Were you worried the film would never get made?

Craig: “They just kept at it and at it, and the reason we’re here today is because of these two [producers], and on a personal note I’d just like to say, having these two people in my life has changed my life… they made it happen, basically.”

With the high pedigree cast and director, was there a sense of wanting to take the films in a new direction?

Wilson: “With Casino Royale, we started down a path, and we’re sticking to that path, and it’s really the same kind of idea: and interesting story well written, with a great cast and plenty of action.”

You won’t reveal Fiennes, Finney and Whishaw’s character names, is this because Bond fans will recognise them?

Mendes: “They might do. On the other hand they might not.”

Are we guaranteed Javier and Daniel will be taking their shirts off quite a lot?

Broccoli: “Damn right!”

Craig: “That’s the gig.”

Wilson: “If Barbara gets her way it’ll be more than just their shirts…”

Craig: “We had to cut a few scenes out… It’s when I keep my shirt on we should be talking about. And Javier’s stripped naked for most of the movie.”

Daniel, you pursued a lot of diverse roles recently, have you actively tried to avoid being typecast as Bond?

Craig: “I just like working. I mean it’s as simple as that. I don’t think about it, genuinely. And like I said earlier, I’ve been lucky enough to get some really nice roles thrown at me, and I grabbed them. If I could do this for a few more years I’d be more than happy.”

Will you be doing this for a few more years?

Craig: “[Nods to Broccoli] Ask her.”

Broccoli: “Yes. Yes, definitely!”

[As they leave Broccoli stumbles] Craig: “That’s the only action we’re going to have!”

http://www.totalfilm.com/news/bond-23-press-conference-full-transcript

I notice Craig's hair is much shorter now. Shame, I was hoping he would have it longer given that his "Bond begins" story was finished, but I guess this is a look for Craig that the filmmakers will stick with just like the tone.

The full press conference:

There's irony for you. The fans peddling the Bond 23 news for months now complain that the official event doesn't offer much real news. Hilarious, simply hilarious; haven't had such a whale of a time since... Paris? In '49? Mightly amusing.

Sharky wrote:

The full press conference:

They really missed a trick here, the way Michael arrives with Barbara clinging onto him in silhouette needed a third member and 'Tree Blind Mice' yodelling in the background.

Quote :

Mendes: “You’re not entirely accurate about him going back to his routes… there is a Scottish element, and it is the wilds of Scotland.”

Wilds of Scotland? Nice.

Wilds must just be to the east of the Highlands.

Jack Wade wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

As someone else said, may be the most useless press conference ever. In fact, I can't recall a Bond film, or any other film for that matter, that so much was known so far in advance. For all the elite, snobbish posters who thought they were too good to believe Internet rumors about Bardem, Fiennes, Skyfall, etc... I say this: SUCK IT!!!!

That's just how it works these days. I'd rather see a press conference than a slow leak of unconfirmed information released on the Internet.

The "suck it" comment was directed mainly at people over at CBn who used to denigrate people who liked to discuss Internet rumors, and felt that basically all we should talk about were things that we knew as fact. Nobody I know over here has taken such a position, but we had a few posters back over at CBn who would look down on people discussing rumors, and yet, in this case, just about every rumor was spot-on.