65 | Children’s games on the big screen

Filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have known each other since they were 11 years old. For 65the screenwriters of A Quiet Place had fun like when they were children creating a world populated by dinosaurs, spaceships and futuristic gadgets. Interview.

dream of youth

“On June 11, 1993, my mother took me to the cinema, because I wanted to see Last Action Hero with Arnold Schwarznegger. Instead, she chose Jurassic Park. I was overthrown and changed forever, says Scott Beck. Like all children in the world, we were fascinated by dinosaurs and seeing them on the big screen made me realize that they really existed on our Earth. That’s what we’re trying to bring back to life with 65.” Co-director Bryan Woods also dives into his memories: “When Scott and I were kids, we made movies together with our action figures. Jurassic ParkofAlien and of Star Wars. Somehow we’ve collected all of our toys to create 65, the film we’ve dreamed of making all our lives. »

Entre superproduction et film d’auteur

« Nous aimons Roland Emmerich, mais nous aimons aussi Terrence Malick, souligne Bryan Woods. Notre film est un peu schizophrène avec sa prémisse inspirée des films de série B et des moments plus intimes qu’on ne voit habituellement pas dans des superproductions. Un instant, nos personnages sont poursuivis par des dinosaures, puis le film s’arrête pour une scène dans laquelle Adam [Driver] whistles and there is a non-verbal bond that is created between them. We like auteur films as much as popcorn films, so we made a popcorn film about bereavement. ” So, 65 tells the story of a space exploration vessel that crashed on Earth 65 million years ago. Only two people survived and their chances of a return home are slim.

Adam Driver

“The most important thing for Adam is authenticity. There must be a reason behind every decision his character makes. explains Scott Beck. “Besides, he’s not afraid of anything,” adds Bryan Woods. We shot high in the mountains, in difficult places and he not only supported us in these choices, but the places inspired him. If it was raining, the scene took place in the rain. It didn’t bother him. »

Language barrier

“The explorer ship’s passengers come from a variety of backgrounds, which is why Mills (Adam Driver) and Koa (Ariana Greenblatt) don’t speak the same language. This language barrier also allows us to explore what we call “pure cinema”, says Scott Beck. It is possible to express a multitude of emotions without words, thanks to the music, the camera movements, the sets… We did it by writing A Quiet Place and we wanted to continue with 65. We also really like the silent films of Jacques Tati, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton in which the characters communicate only with their gaze or their body. One of the reasons why Ariana landed the role is precisely her ability to be very expressive without saying a word, underlines the co-director. She also wanted to do her stunts, in order to experience the same things as her character. Like Adam, she has this concern for authenticity. »

creative duo

“Writing and filming together is really a collaborative work in which one and the other constantly relaunch each other, sums up Scott Beck. For example, if I have an idea for the script, I submit it to Bryan. If he likes it, he adds his point of view and we continue to build. Since we’ve known each other since the age of 11, we quite instinctively know what the other is thinking. If we work out the same scene separately, 9 times out of 10, it will be quite similar when we discuss it together. Then, we make sure that the best idea is the one that ends up in the film. »

65 hits theaters Friday.