Directed by Gil Kenan and executive produced by Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg, Monster House uses the same motion capture system as The Polar Express. While at the World Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Mitchel Musso talked about what audiences can expect from Monster House and what life was like on the film's very unusual set.
The Special Challenges of Acting in Monster House: "Actually it was pretty intense," said Musso. "I had to wear a wetsuit and reflectors every day, and a cap that I had to glue on. We worked in a 20x20 room with about 200 motion capture cameras around us. We worked for, I think, three months on it. It’s been in production for about 5 years now. It’s been a long process.
I worked on it about a year and a half ago. As an actor, it was definitely different. You couldn’t use the exact same expressions and emotions and stuff that you can use in front of a live camera. There’s things that are pulling your face down every once in a while, so it was tough. I got used to it after the first couple of days."
Improvements to the Motion Capture Process: "We just totally like we moved up on the chart, top of the line technology so I’m so excited to be a part of it." Musso said it was similar to the The Polar Express technology, but improved. "It’s actually come a little bit further. It’s like the cutting edge of everything."
The Monster House Set: Even the props had to be specially prepared for Monster House. "We had a couple of things, like a few things that we’d actually have to touch or sit on or use as a prop, but everything had to be grey wires," explained Musso. "So everything was see-through and grey so that if a reflector actually went through it – because there were reflectors on our hands – if it actually went through the prop, you would have to be able to see it. It was so crazy; it was so intense."
Puberty Hits - The Voice of DJ: "I had to go back in for looping about a year later and my voice was completely different. It was like 12-13 to 14 so my voice completely changed. It was like high and then it was low. Actually, a couple of lines it’s my little brother. My little brother sounds exactly like me – how I used to sound – so he went in and did a couple of lines for DJ."
The Target Audience for Monster House: Musso believes the film won't be too scary for young kids. "No, it’s PG so that’s a good thing. I wouldn’t say it’s too scary for kids. There are a couple of jump-outs and pop-outs that make you jump out of your seat, but nothing that will make you scream or cry. It’s good."
Working with Plenty of Big Name Actors: "I got to work with everybody. I got to work with Jon Heder, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Catherine O’Hara, Kathleen Turner, Fred Willard, Nick Cannon, Kevin James, Jason Lee... There were just so many people on this movie and I got to work with everybody. There was a 'how many people you can put in this room [contest]', it’s a 20x20 stage, and the top was seven. We ended up putting 11 in at the very end."
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Monster House hits theaters on July 21, 2006.
