The 2006 San Diego Comic Con Crowd’s Reaction to Pan’s Labyrinth: Jones joined writer/director Guillermo del Toro for a panel discussion of Pan’s Labyrinth. Set to hit theaters in December 2006, the film has already generated a healthy amount of buzz following its successful screening at the Cannes Film Festival.
“I had no idea that a Spanish language film would have this kind of reception but I should have seen it coming because Guillermo del Toro, the writer/director/creator of this masterpiece, is beloved by these fans. Every piece of work he’s done has been fan friendly. He is a fanboy from the get-go. He was a creature effects makeup artist in Mexico before he started writing and directing so he understands movie geekdom – fan geekdom. He’ll call himself one, a geek, right off the bat. He relates to the fans like no other personality in our business ever has. They adore him and anything that he produces. It’s like their big brother. It’s like, ‘Are you going to do another movie? We want to see it?’
The reception has been great. We had a booth downstairs in the showroom that had a line going for hours yesterday when we did a signing of the limited edition posters. And all the comments that we were getting, these fans just love on you and it’s no wonder that Guillermo has the following that he does because he takes time with every person, will listen to their stories, will look at their artwork, will watch their DVD if they’re a filmmaker doing a short film. He’s so approachable. In our panel discussion we had 2,000 people in attendance, and Guillermo makes it like you’re sitting in a living room with him talking across the sofa. That’s the intimacy that he creates, so every one of those 2,000 people felt like they had an intimate moment with Guillermo del Toro. I just get to be his goofy sidekick because I’ve been in a few of his films and thankfully this one too, Pan’s Labyrinth.”
Pan’s Labyrinth Hits Theaters During Awards Season: Hitting theaters in late December, there’s a possibility Pan’s Labyrinth may pick up a few nominations. Jones said, “I was asking more about the Oscar awards contention possibilities and I believe that for Oscars, that each country outside of the US can nominate one film to be put into the pool. So Pan’s Labyrinth is kind of a Mexican-Spanish coproduction, but since he is a Mexican director… I don’t know how the rules are constructed but I believe the nomination would have to come from Mexico. That’s what they’re hoping for. I believe that if Mexico does nominate it as their one film for the year, I believe it has great potential to be in the top 5 to see on Oscar night.”
What might the award mean for Pan’s Labyrinth and its creator, Guillermo del Toro? “It would be so nice for the film,” responded Jones. “The thing is with a Guillermo del Toro film and as an actor, like most of us actor types are very self-promotion type. Like, ‘Look at me, I’m going to be in this. Look at me, I’m going to be in that!’ When you work with Guillermo it’s a labor of love because you’re creating a piece of art. As an actor, he is just a dream to work with for me because sometimes the money’s there if he’s attached to a big studio. Sometimes it’s not if it’s a foreign film (laughing), but either way it’s a labor of love because you’re creating a piece you’re going to be proud of and that’s going to affect people’s lives. Watching people come up and make comments to both he and I about the work that we’ve done together before, people are just so touched by the human condition that he addresses in every movie that he makes. And for me to be able to play any character in any of those human condition-related films is such a treat for me.”
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Doug Jones Interview Video #1 - His Acting Career and the Silver Surfer Rumors
Doug Jones Interview Video #2 - Pan's Labyrinth and Guillermo del Toro
