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Doom Movie Scriptwriter Dave Callaham Interviewed

rsmith-mac writes "The HomeLAN Federation has posted an interview with Dave Callaham, the scriptwriter for the forthcoming Doom movie. The interview goes over id's influences on the movie and willingness to change the mythology to work with the movie, along with the earlier reported studio shift, and some very light details relating to the characters in the story. If all goes as planned, the Doom movie will start principal production this month in order to hit the theaters in August of 2005."

34 of 275 comments (clear)

  1. An excerpt of the interview: by Concern · · Score: 5, Funny

    Interviewer: So, Mr. Callah, let's start with the most important question on everyone's mind. Will there be lava? And, perhaps more importantly, will there be crates?

    Callahan: I want to put everyone's mind to rest on this point. The studio has the best lava people in the business, and they've specifically assured me I will have a free hand.

    Interviewer: Phew. Also, before I forget. we're all dying to know. Will the hero at any point successfully outrun a fireball? This is something that is so important, not only to me, but I think I can speak for all moviegoers out there. It's an image that really really gets better every time I see it.

    Callahan: Well, Ed, I don't want to give too much away, but we briefly considered having the hero run from a nuclear explosion! Don't worry, there'll be plenty of what we know the audience loves most.

    Interviewer: So, let's talk about the plot. Which of the hero's family members will be killed? Mother? Father? Both parents? Or will it be a hero-parent who loses his kids?

    Callahan: Actually, what I'm allowed to say is that we're going a bit unconventional on this. We're going to have a brother and a sister, and each one will lose a parent. I know this is pushing the envelope a bit, but the producers are behind me and I believe the studio will hold off and allow us some of the artistic integerity which we all know is so rare in this business.

    --
    Tired of Political Trolls? Opt Out!
    1. Re:An excerpt of the interview: by chucklehuck · · Score: 3, Funny

      The love interest will be supplied by a flayed (but rather comely) lady zombie who the hero gets to fuck before blowing her away half way through.
      Half way through the movie, or half way through intercourse?

  2. Sure to be ... by operagost · · Score: 4, Funny

    The best video game movie since Super Mario Brothers!

    --

    Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    1. Re:Sure to be ... by jthayden · · Score: 3, Funny

      What about Pong the movie? That would really be spellbinding. Have more plot than Doom too.

    2. Re:Sure to be ... by bsharitt · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The game franchise I want to see turned into a movie is Warcraft. They could easily make a trilogy on the scale of the Lord of the Rings movies. With the story telling in the game and the back stories in the manuals, I think there is enough there to base a good script on.

  3. Great expectations by DrXym · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have high hopes that will be another classic video game transfer. Just like Super Mario Brothers, Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, Tombraider and Wing Commander.

    1. Re:Great expectations by kahei · · Score: 4, Interesting


      Resident Evil (the first one) was an excellent movie, beautifully paced and choreographed (dogs and doors sequence!). Given the director's record in general, this must have been a coincidence, but still, great movie.

      I haven't seen the others you mention but I may decide to give them a miss -- SPECIALLY the Resident Evil sequel.

      --
      Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.
    2. Re:Great expectations by R.Caley · · Score: 5, Funny
      [there's a love story involved]. With his sister?

      ``Luke, I fragged your father!''

      --
      _O_
      .|<
      The named which can be named is not the true named
  4. hmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will I have to upgrade my eyes/ears to see it?

    1. Re:hmmm... by CMRichar · · Score: 3, Funny
      "Will I have to upgrade my eyes/ears to see it?"

      A:No! amazingly enough, our expert group of beta testers found that the best results for viewing the movie actually came with the stock audio/visual equipment packaged with every human. Some testers required certain "tweaks" to get the audio or visual to display correctly, but those users who require those tweaks should already have them installed.

      As a side note, it should be brought to your attention that certain users who have "overclocked" certain parts of their default hardware package may have trouble enjoying every aspect of the movie experience. Therefore, management must ask that everyone who has the "dual bandwidth" eye hack installed either disable the hack, or refrain from seeing this film. Remember, the MPAA is watching!

      --
      "Good night, good work, sleep well, I'll most likely kill you in the morning." - Dread Pirate Roberts
  5. Real old, real fast by dfj225 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I dunno...if the whole movie just involves one actor running through a pitch black set with random zombies jumping out from in front and behind (after he just cleared the room behind him), I think the movie will get real old, real fast. Zing!

    --
    SIGFAULT
    1. Re:Real old, real fast by DrXym · · Score: 3, Funny

      Don't forget the flashlight and wading through tedious PDA voice mail for locker codes.

  6. I'm your man! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    willingness to change the mythology to work with the movie

    If they get stuck with this...give me a call.

    G. Lucas.

  7. Top-level acting by media_Assassin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will also appear as Sarge, the head space marine, but Callaham warns, "He is not going to be smiling a whole bunch. You won't see him raise his left eyebrow."

    This movie is bound to be good - The Rock only accepts scripts of the highest quality.

  8. Main character = John by arnoroefs2000 · · Score: 4, Informative

    One thing that id did insist upon is that the main character in the movie be named John. When asked, Callaham was unsure if that was a tribute to id's master programmer John Carmack but did admit there is another character named Carmack in the movie.

    Yes, quite the mystery where that came from...

    1. Re:Main character = John by ubera · · Score: 5, Funny

      We presume it's not Romero, unless the changes to the mythology involve robotic frogs.

      That said, this film has had approximately the same excessive pre-production lifespan as Daikatana

      --
      But what is the SIGnificance?
    2. Re:Main character = John by Chris+Burke · · Score: 3, Funny

      That could be a funny scene!

      Sarge: Welcome aboard, Private... Player? Did you forget to change your name in the Options menu?!

      Player: Sorry, sir! I'll fix it right away, sir!
      [name changes to FragMaster]
      Fr4gY0M4m4: How do I get l33t colors, sir?

      Okay, nevermind.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  9. Why wouldnt someone.. by cOdEgUru · · Score: 4, Interesting

    with lot of talent and lot of time on their hands wouldnt use the Doom3 engine to (a)create new models (b)create new environments and (c) with the help of a good story writer, create a pre-rendered movie with an acceptable level of voiceover acting, great action and stuff that blows up sky high. Or does someone really need to spend around 200 mil to find what Aliens Versus Predator just found out?

    I would even pay if someone could make it engrossing enough to waste a few hours on it, and salacious enough to keep the young viewers glued to their screens.

  10. Except from the Script by Nova+Express · · Score: 4, Funny
    Sarge Runs

    Sarge Shots The Monster

    Sarge Runs

    Sarge Shots The Monster

    Sarge Picks Up More Ammo

    Sarge Runs

    Monster Shoots Sarge Just Before He Shots The Monster

    Sarge: Ouch!

    Sarge Runs

    Sarge Opens A Secret Door

    Sarge Applies A Medkit

    Sarge Runs

    Sarge Shots The Monster

    Sarge Finds A Bigger Gun

    ____________________________

    Academy Award, here we come!

    (Note: I couldn't put directions in all caps like a real script due to Lameness Filter...)

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  11. Re:Doom the movie? by StuckInSyrup · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder...are they going to land on mars using Carmacks Armadillo spacecraft?

    --
    Ni.
  12. haven't i seen this already? by putch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ghosts of Mars

    mars. demons. guns. space marines. little or no plot.

    seemed like doom to me.

    --
    just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand!
    1. Re:haven't i seen this already? by jandrese · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In other words, he's just making whatever movie he wants and slapping the Doom name on it? That is probably for the best actually, as trying to make a movie based on a game with 2 paragraphs worth of plot is not a good idea. Still, I think it will be a good idea to set your expectation bar to "low" for this movie.

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
  13. Going for greatness! by hanssprudel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Let's see here. What have got:

    a) Movie based around a video game whose entire plot was "bad things came from hell, kill them."

    b) First time scriptwriter.

    c) B-Movie director whose best credits are Romeo Must Die and Exit Wounds, and involvement in such classic stinkers as Species and Speed, changed in to direct at last minute.

    d) Will star The Rock and a washed out Bond girl in leading parts.

    e) Tossed around between studios.

    I think we are looking a three or four Academy awards, at least!

  14. Hard to screw up the plot then, huh? by StringBlade · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Since Doom's plot (even Doom 3's plot) is very weak and really has no substance, the movie has a potential to make up whatever story they want. Ideally, they'll leave the setting on Mars/in hell and throw in some recognizable artifacts (such as the chaingun or plasma cannon -- maybe the BFG) and put the main character - a marine - in some dirty green uniform; slap UAC on a few walls and signs and you've got yourself a Doom movie! If you REALLY want to stick to the game - add pinky demons, imps, and maybe a death knight or arch vile.

    --
    ...and that's the way the cookie crumbles.
  15. Telefragged! by wuice · · Score: 5, Funny

    The only thing I want to see a doom movie for is to watch a real actor rocket jump to an otherwise-inaccessible ledge.

    Oh yes, and I want to see someone telefragged on screen.

  16. What about Bungie's Marathon? by jjh37997 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hell..... if there are going to be making movies based on old shoot-em ups why not pick one that acutally has an interesting story and plot?

    1. Re:What about Bungie's Marathon? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, that was the forum, the story stuff is here.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  17. obligatory slam... by TachyonAT · · Score: 5, Funny

    No see the real trick will be getting it out before the Duke Nukem: Forever movie...

  18. Cinematography suggestions by babbage · · Score: 3, Funny

    For it to really be a Doom movie, it has to be done first person shooter style.

    This means, of course, that the camera has to be permanently mounted behind a gun barrel and, aside from mirrors and other reflective objects, you never get to see the protagonist's face -- because he is, after all, the true everyman, representative of everyone and specifically looking like no one. For truly, who among us has not had to slay a million zillion zombies?

    A true first person shooter version of Doom / Quake etc would be cool, in a "Blaim Doom Project" kind of way ...

  19. Just don't be like Lucas! by Maul · · Score: 4, Funny

    Remember that when facing down the Cyberdemon, the space marine shoots first!

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

  20. Those Doom Novels by JMPrice · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Did anyone else read the four Doom novels by Dafydd ab Hugh and Brad Linaweaver?

    The books got increasingly metaphysical as they reached the fourth book, but the first book was awesome and I always saw it as movie-ready. It dealth with the solipsism and paranoia of being on a space-station by oneself (and, ok, a couple of thousand Satanic spawn).

  21. Uhm. Aliens Versus Predator was a success! by celerityfm · · Score: 3, Informative

    You will be just as surpised as I when you read this:

    Alien vs Predator Domestic Total as of Oct. 5, 2004: $79,690,462, Worldwide total $101,614,954

    They've already gone into profit territory on this and in fact it's being called a success: The studio also saw success this year with Regency's "Man on Fire" and "Alien vs. Predator."

    So stop all the hate and learn the facts.

    --
    ...unfortunately no one can be told what The Mat^H^H^HGoatse is...they must experience it for themselves...
  22. The perfect DOOM script wich can really work by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Interesting
    It is so simple it will never occur to anyone in hollywood. A group of marins is stationed on mars at research facility to keep the peace. It is an important post and the duty is peacefull but requires lots of discipline to exist as a civilian peacekeeper so in contrast to all hollywood movies the marines are well trained and disciplined and selected for their stable family backgrounds and general good social skills. They can be a mixture of all races and religion but they are all okay with each other.

    They are commanded by a hardbitten veteran sergeant for who this is a reward, a few easy years at a top post before his retirement. He does not a chip on his shoulder about anything. New is the officer but he is smart, knows his stuff, knows to use his NCO's and that sometimes orders are there to be disobeyed. None of his family had been killed by anyone and he is single.

    In the first ten minutes we learn a little about how nice and stable they all are and see a bit of the base. Perhaps get a few hints about some Big Fucking Gun being developed and meet the system administrator, a nice tomboy girl with no hangups and also single. She and the officer take an instant "dis"like to each other and trade funny one liners.

    Remember this takes about ten minutes. During the opening credits. Then the movie starts and hell breaks loose as the research goes wrong.

    From then on we don't got any lines longer then two sentences. The "story" is basically the sergeant and the officer trying to get their team together (spread out across the base during the incident) with the help of the system admin (que banter and very light love interest) and then beat back the demons with the help of the tech gadgets hinted at during the intro with of course the final mission to collect the BFG and kill the boss demon.

    After the first suprise no-one gets killed needlessly, everyone does their job with perhaps just a few civilians being funnily slaughtered because they do the stupid thing. None of the marines panick or betray the team or any of the hollywood crap. The team doesn't get smaller and smaller but gets bigger as the group gathers members.

    In short? Band of Brothers Meets Alien. That is the Real men acting like real men in a future world with really nasty monsters and big explosions.

    Avoid all the "incompetent officer" "hardbitten marine with broken home" "backstabbing civilian" "scream queen love interest" "slowly people getting killed off in incredibly stupid ways" and you won't need a "great story", the audience will be too relieved with your originality to care.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:The perfect DOOM script wich can really work by syberanarchy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You know what? That's a damn fine script idea. You ought to write the screenplay and try and sell it on spec. Just put a different name on it.

      I can, however, tell you why Doom and all other licensed properties never get the perfect treatment they deserve.

      1. Ego

      The film industry has always, and will always, feel that they are artistically superior as a medium to video games. Despite the fact that Doom 3 probably made more in one day than their Chronicles of Riddick made in its entire run, they still view "their" ideas as being better than Carmack's.

      When Max Payne - a game with enough built in material for 2 films - hits the screen, you can be assured there will be only a passing resemblance to the game. Ms. Valkyr will probably end up being played by Jessica Simpson, and Payne will most likely be played by Vin Diesel. Also, in an attempt to get a PG-13 rating, Valkyr will become Valka-Cola.

      2. The Fans Can Do Better, But They Don't Know The Right People

      I'm sure the industry elitists will flame me for this, but the simple fact is that there are probably 20 different scripts for any given conversion that are better than what was actually put on the screen. A dedicated group of fans could have done better with AvP and Street Fighter. They took a classic franchise for geeks and turned it into a teen flick. I'm sure it will be the same with Doom. Remember the Lost in Space update (which I liked)? I can see the Doom movie being something like that, but with zombies instead of spiders.

      3. The Game's Audience Is Generally Smarter Than The Movie's Audience

      Continuing the "It's not what you know..." situation, Resident Evil will always suck in my mind because they threw away a godsend based on petty Hollywood politics.

      You know who was originally signed to write and direct the film? George Romero, the man who all but invented the modern zombie film. Capcom then fired him because his script "wasn't good enough," then turned around and hired the man behind Mortal Kombat.

      What Capcom really means is that Romero's script stuck too close to the game, and that would have alienated people who couldn't follow an intelligent plot - otherwise known as 75 percent of the moviegoing public. What they needed was a shallow, plotless movie with lots of EXPLOSIONS and EYE CANDY and HOT CHICKS, not a well-written film that stuck to the source material.