Recently (as in just a few minutes ago), I had the good fortune to be able to sit down with someone closely involved with this weekend’s blockbuster movie release, Cloverfield. Phil Conner is a highly regarded figure in the entertainment industry, having previously worked on such films as Gravedigger: A Monster Truck Love Story and Me, Mac and A Bottle of Wine. Mr. Conner was generous enough to give us a few minutes of his time and remark on this groundbreaking piece of film.
DP: First off, Mr. Conner, I just want to thank you for taking time out of your busy evening to comment on Cloverfield
PC: No problem, it’s my pleasure.
DP: So what are your expectations for this film? I mean, I hear it’s predicted to have a huge opening weekend.
PC: Is it? Oh, I’m not really sure. That’s cool, though.
DP: Now what exactly was your role in regards to this film?
PC: Hmm? I don’t… What do you mean? I just watched it.
DP: You weren’t involved in creating the film?
PC: No, I just saw it in the theater. I thought you just wanted to know if I liked it or something.
DP: Oh… well… that, uh, that kind of changes the tone of this interview a little bit. I’ll probably have to scrap most of these questions.
PC: Well, maybe you should have thought of that before we started.
DP: So what did you think of the film?
PC: It had, uh… well, it was very…
DP: Did you have a difficult time getting a ticket?
PC: No.
DP: You must have reserved them early. Did you use one of the online services or…
PC: I just went to the ticket counter and bought one.
DP: Were you ever scared that you might lose time in line that way? Did you have to sit on the front row?
PC: No, I sat right in front of you. You saved us seats, remember?
DP: You’re welcome.
PC: No problem. Don’t mention it.
DP: Would you say this was a good date movie? Did you bring a date to the film and/or would you recommend it for couples who mainly want to neck, but prefer the raw excitement of doing it in a crowded theater?
PC: Well, I came with my buddy Adam. So no, there was no necking.
DP: Were you ever tempted to?
PC: …
DP: I mean, was that weird, going to the movie with just another dude?
PC: No. Lots of guys go to movies together. What are you getting at?
DP: Nothing, I just wondered if… I mean, you know, people talk.
PC: Who?
DP: What?
PC: Who’s talking? You said people are talking. I want to know who they are.
DP: Look, nobody’s talking. It’s cool. Let go of my shirt.
PC: I just wanted to go to a movie, man. There’s nothing wrong with that.
DP: Yeah, no that’s fine. It’s a free country. People can totally do that kind of…
PC: Look, shut up man. That’s not funny.
DP: Sorry.
PC: What did you think of the film?
DP: I’m interviewing you.
PC: I don’t care. Tell me what you thought of the film. Was it dramatic? Do you think it was more dramatic than 27 Dresses?
DP: I didn’t see that one.
PC: Yet.
DP: What?
PC: Yet. You haven’t seen it yet. But you will. It’s gonna be huge.
DP: The music for Cloverfield was huge.
PC: There was music?
DP: Yeah, at the end. We stayed, remember.
PC: Oh, that. Yeah, right at the end. I’ll never forget that. That was…
DP: Weird?
PC: It was weird.
DP: It was “ROAR!” The name of it.
PC: It was. They remembered to put the exclamation point in there and everything.
DP: That, and it was weird.
PC: It was weird to only have music during the end credits.
DP: But they saved it up. They hired a film composer, locked him in a room, and said “We need this really big, huge music score. Summer Blockbuster big. It’s really important to the film, and we need a lot of it. You’re the Man!”
PC: Poor guy, they didn’t even use any of it. Just his token thing at the end.
DP: Right, which is what made it so huge. He had to cram a whole movie soundtrack into six minutes of credits. It was like the Reader’s Digest version of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
PC: He made those credits come to life though. It made me kind of want to…
DP: Neck? That’s a good time to neck, during the credits. The lights are still a little low, but there’s less people around. Is that what you were gonna say? I know you said that guy was just your friend, but…
PC: Shut up, man. I told you, that’s not funny.
DP: Hey, I don’t think it’s funny either. In fact, I think it’s very brave. It’s beautiful, even. You shouldn’t be afraid of your feelings, Phil, because there’s nothing wrong with…
With that, Mr. Conner had to leave, and he took some of my blood with him. It was worth it, though. Just to be able to spend a few minutes with the man on this very important night is something I will not soon forget. Thanks again to Mr. Conner for his candor and insight into what is sure to be one of the weekend’s most important and talked-about films: Cloverfield.
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