STAN WINSTON (Make-Up and Animatronic Effects)
This film did not use any miniatures, is that correct?
No miniatures. There's an enormous amount of CGI, live action, we built robots, they have puppetry, we have make-up effects, prosthetic effects combined with puppetry and CGI. We have all of the technology but no miniatures.
What was the most difficult thing for you to create for this one?
I think the most important thing was the design of the TX, the new endoskeleton that lives underneath Kristanna's skin. To design a character that looks more advanced than the Arnold endo - the most iconic endoskeleton of all time - that looks like it can kick his butt and at the same time be feminine, be sexy, be evil and know that it's going to do what it's got to do, that was a huge job and we did it and I think it's a wonderful design. I think she really looks great. I think Kristanna created a great character; I think Jonathan [Mostow] directed a great movie. Arnold is back and we built real robots in this movie. The T1s which you've seen here on the red carpet are real robots.
Was it different working with Jonathan Mostow as opposed to James Cameron, the director of the first 2 “Terminator” movies?
It's different working with every director. Every director has their own style. Jonathan has his own style, Jim Cameron has his own style, Steven Spielberg has his own style. It's our job to get into the mind and help serve that director and do what he wants and help him get his vision out there and get part of our vision out there also.
Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna at the World Premiere of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"
Photo ©Rebecca Murray. All Rights Reserved.
There's such a long time frame in between "T2" and "T3," will that affect the audience?
ANDREW VAJNA: I think they've just been waiting for it that much longer. I think there's a new generation of fans who have seen it on DVD, who have seen it on television, who are anxious to see this character continue because it's such a trademark - and such a great character in Hollywood.
Was it difficult to get Arnold back into the spirit of "Terminator?"
MARIO KASSAR: I think Arnold never was out of the Terminator because he even said that every time people see him they ask him, “When are you going to be back?” So, he's back. He was ready for the right thing to happen and it happened and he's back, and he's into it.
What can fans expect from this one that they didn't get in the first two?
ANDREW VAJNA: More excitement.
MARIO KASSAR: More excitement and a very deep-hearted story. There's a soul in the story. It's really a little different than the other two movies.
ANDREW VAJNA: They have to see it for themselves but there are some very exciting things in this film that I think they'll find very enjoyable.
It's been said there's more 'heart' in this one than there was in the first two. Do you agree with that?
MARIO KASSAR: It is different. You're not going to see wires and jumping and this and that, you're going to see a Terminator movie that it should be - simple.
Michael Ferris and John Brancato at the World Premiere of "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"
Photo ©Rebecca Murray. All Rights Reserved.
There's a timeline difference with John Connors' character. In the second movie he was supposed to be around 10 years old, yet Edward Furlong looked closer to 13. How do you work that out as a writer?
MICHAEL FERRIS: You know we finally just decided to heck with that stuff because there were some unavoidable discrepancies between the age of the character of the second movie and this movie and the first movie. Three years is three years, what's the big deal, right?
What's the biggest challenge of bringing this one to the screen?
MICHAEL FERRIS: The biggest challenge was just to be faithful to the tone of the first two movies because I mean that there are rabid fans, including ourselves, and we wanted to make sure that nobody was going to feel gypped by this. I hope that people will find it satisfying and that we've rendered out the story in some satisfying way.
How closely did you work with Arnold in fleshing out his character for this third film?
MICHAEL FERRIS: We met with him a couple of times. He's great. This is definitely one character he knows inside and out. He was all over it.
Is it intimidating working on the third film of such a hit series?
MICHAEL FERRIS: It's a little intimidating. On the other hand, the built in 12 year gap since the last film sort of works in your favor because you're thinking, “Well maybe everyone's forgotten by now.”
JOHN BRANCATO: One thing is you feel the need to tell a really large story. You need to have a real point for this movie to exist. That was great actually. We had directions that we could take the story that a normal franchise would never go near. I think we take big risks.
You two also have "Catwoman" coming up.
JOHN BRANCATO: "Catwoman" and "Westworld."
MICHAEL FERRIS: Yes. "Catwoman" begins filming in September and I think it's going to be out next summer.
What can fans look forward to seeing?
MICHAEL FERRIS: It's going to be great. Halle Berry's going to be great. They've got this guy Pitof, a French director who is amazing. His work hasn't really been seen in this country but he's a huge hit everywhere else in the world. I think the movie's going to have a look and a feel that's really distinct from all the other comic book movies that have been coming out.
