INTERVIEW WITH PRODUCER MARK JOHNSON
What demographic are you going after with "The Notebook?"
Well, the interesting thing is this is the best testing movie I’ve ever had. And I’ve produced “Rain Man,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” and “The Rookie” – a bunch of movies that tested really well. The beauty of how it tested is that it tested as well with men as it did with women. Now I’m not an idiot, I don’t think men are going to run out to see this movie. But hopefully their girlfriends or wives will make them because once they see it, they really like it. Or they say, “You know, this is really good for a chick flick.”
How important is that testing process and what goes into the testing?
When you finish a movie or you’re in the process of cutting it and you want to see how it plays, you take it to a theater and you try and tell the few people about what they’re about to see as little as possible. And then you ask them a whole set of questions afterwards. You know, some movies that have gone on to do very well haven’t tested well, and the other way around. But this one, as I say, is the highest tested movie I’ve ever had.
The thing you have to understand is that just because it played well with an audience doesn’t mean it’s going to be a success because you have to get the movie out there.
Do you sometimes change a movie based on the responses?
Oh yes. On “Good Morning, Vietnam” we added more scenes with a character because we found that the audience really – a character played by JT Walsh – we found out the audience loved to hate him. We had taken a scene out that didn’t advance things and we put it back in because they loved to see Robin Williams give this guy his comeuppance.
Why do the commercials seem to be geared for a younger audience?
You know, it’s interesting. We have two sets of commercials. Somebody was complaining the other day that they had seen a commercial and James Garner and Gena Rowlands weren’t even in the commercial. I said, “Those are designed for a younger audience.” So to go back to your first question, we’re aiming at older women and younger women, and a lot of them who had read the book. I hope we get everybody who helped make the book a bestseller.
What about releasing it in the summer amidst all the big action, big effects films?
Well I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s what they call counter-programming. So at some point, those of us who go to movies are going to get tired of seeing certain really effects-laden movies and see something that’s more direct or more emotional.
What did writer Nicholas Sparks think of the film?
You know what? I’ve only talked to him once and he said he really liked it. You ask him (laughing). That’s what he said to me because we made some… A lot of people who have seen this say, “Oh, it’s so true to the book,” but we’ve made some very dramatic changes, and he seems to be fine with it. But maybe he’s lying to me (laughing).
And you’ve got “The Chronicles of Narnia” up next, right?
Yep. I leave here tomorrow night [on June 22, 2004] because we start shooting in five days in New Zealand.
Wait, you start shooting in five days? I’ve only heard about two confirmed cast members. There must be more people onboard now besides Tilda Swinton and James McAvoy.
I’m not talking (laughing). No, do you know what it is? It stars four young unknown British kids so I could give you their names but they won’t mean anything to you.
So they haven’t been in anything else?
No. Maybe little things but nothing that you’d recognize.
What about putting it in the hands of "Shrek" director, Andrew Adamson?
I think the guy is a genius. The first thing he said to me is, “I don’t want to make a movie based on the book. I want to make a movie based on my recollection of the book.” So it’s kind of like his imagination and the underlying material.
How will that play with real fans of the original material?
Oh no, it will still be very much true to it and the C.S. Lewis Estate is assured of that. But there are lot of things when you go back and read it, a lot of stuff is suggested. And this really fills in a good deal.
So the C.S. Lewis Estate is a big supporter of the project?
They are our partners every step of the way. Every change we make, they are involved in.
Will the financial success of the first film determine how many more movies you’ll do?
Hopefully we’ll do all seven. I’m excited about it.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
More Interviews from the World Premiere of "The Notebook" - Rachel McAdams / Ryan Gosling & James Garner / James Marsden / Nicholas Sparks
"The Notebook" Credits, Trailer, Photos, and Interviews
