Robert Eggers on The Northman Directing is an Insane Job
Robert Eggers on The Northman Directing is an Insane Job, which is not like him at all. This movie by Robert Eggers on Northman is very strange. Amleth, a Scandinavian folk tale, says that The Northman is a grim tale of revenge. Egger’s new movie is much more violent than any of his other movies. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson were in his most complicated action scene before “The Northman,” which raises the bar a lot.
Eggers’s career began with stylized art-house movies like “The Witch,” which won the Best Director award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Pattinson also directed the 18-year-old black-and-white horror movie “The Lighthouse.” This is usually the time when an unknown director decides to make a superhero movie or switch to a streaming service to keep the budget in check.
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Why is that?
Since I became interested in less common things when I was 10, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever make a movie that a lot of people would watch. I’m glad I did it, but it wasn’t something I planned to do.
Did a large number of people watch your two first films?
I hoped that “Witch” (2016 movie) would be seen by a lot of people. And I’m hoping that if I get enough good reviews, I’ll be able to make another movie. The movie didn’t turn out the way I had hoped, but I thought it would be a huge hit because it was about Pilgrims.
Are your movies boring to you?
I don’t like “The Witch,” but that’s a different story. But I don’t think that kind of movie would be boring in general. In fact, I like to watch movies that are much less interesting than my two films
But you seem to know enough about yourself to say, “This is how most people would understand my work.”
People [curse] a lot about how “The Witch” misled people about how scary it was. Even though I think it’s a horror movie, I can see why some people don’t like it if it doesn’t follow a certain formula. But with “The Northman,” where I tried to do both, it was difficult.
So how do you thread that needle? Where do your feelings intersect with the mainstream?
You want something that is familiar enough for people to want it, but different enough to be something new. I think that’s what everyone in this movie was going for. And for me, it’s been great that the source texts are easy to read and easy to find. I know that kids don’t go to Barnes & Noble to buy Icelandic epics, but a lot of medieval literature is weird and mysterious, and that stuff isn’t.
What is Northman directing?
It’s crazy to work for Robert Eggers. The Killing of a Sacred Deer is the next movie he will make after The Witch. “The Tiger Hunter,” a short movie he made.
Robert Eggers is best known for his experimental films. The artist has used a variety of methods, including traditional filmmaking and video art. Even though most of his movies are dark and scary, they also have a sense of humor.
Didn’t you feel that after finishing your other films?
No. I felt like I was trying to prove to people that I was a filmmaker. I’m not saying I’m not—I’m pretty proud of “The Lighthouse”—but now I feel like I could make a movie on the spot, which might not be so bad. This movie showed me the whole process in a way I had never seen before.
Talk to me about the level of challenges you took on for “The Northman.”
We did a lot, including a huge raid on a village with hundreds of extras, stunt people, horses, and cows, a storm at sea on a Viking ship at night, and a scene in a place so remote that the cast had to be flown in by helicopter. When we were done, Ethan Hawke put his arms around me and the director of photography, Jarin Blaschke, and said, “Congratulations. You’ve done everything there is to do in a movie, so now you can do anything.” When he left, Jarin and I both said, “Yeah, now we’re ready to make this movie.”
What do you think of the stakes about the box-office earnings in this movie?
Very. Many people think that not everyone will want it. But the fact that my team made the movie and I have to make an important movie is reason enough to covet it. The permission was given, but the movie is not part of a superhero franchise. So, it was a big success.
What did you learn from doing this with a movie with such a large budget?
Everything. This is the first time I’ve felt like a director since I finished the movie.
How much money did you risk on the movie’s box office success?
a great deal. The fact that the movie was made, and that my team and I were able to make a great movie that wasn’t a franchise superhero movie, is an achievement in and of itself. Because of Covid, it’s likely that it won’t be as good as everyone wanted it to be, but the fact that the movie was made at all is a big deal.
Even if you don’t like the movie at all, I think society has a duty to support it in some small way so that other filmmakers can make movies like this and so that people can see movies that aren’t about superheroes. Early reviews that have been so good have made me feel both small and happy. Even though I don’t make fun of superhero movies, I think there should be room for something else.
Introduction to Robert eggers
Eggers is the author of many books, like “The Circle” and “The Things They Carried.” He also directed the movie “The Northman” which came out this year. How was it to work with Robert Eggers on a project of this size?
Working with Robert was a pleasure. Whenever he writes or does something else, he always asks other people what they think. He also had a great time making the movie because he was a great motivator. The project was fun to work on with my team, and I’m very happy with how it turned out.
And I’m sure those shots are even harder to get when you’re filming them outdoors in difficult weather, rather than on a controlled soundstage.
Look, making movies isn’t easy. When I make a movie, I try to find the harshest and most dangerous places to shoot it, because that’s what the story calls for. Everyone’s lives are harder because of it, but it’s worth it. I like a challenge. I wouldn’t want to do it if it was easy.
Before becoming a director, you acted in theatrical productions. Does this influence the way you work with your actors now?
I should be a director for actors, but I can be mean sometimes. Alexander Skarsgard thought he was treated like a robot for the first two weeks, but then he understood why I was leading the way I was.
Before you became a film director, you acted in theatrical productions. Does that inform the way you work with your actors now?
I should be a director for actors, but sometimes I do bad things. Alexander Skarsgard thought for the first couple of weeks that he was being treated like a robot, but then he understood why I was directing the way I was.
He was frustrated that he had to hit such specific marks.
Yeah. I also don’t do a lot of table work, like talking about your character’s background and how they grew up. When it comes to acting, I’d rather do things than talk about them.
This is interesting because you do a lot of research when it comes to designing your world. I think you’ll sympathize with an actor who wants to do the same research for his character
Yes, but I think that’s what they’re supposed to do. Pattinson would sometimes say in “The Lighthouse,” “Is it This is amazing or is who – which? “You know what?” I said. Choose what works for you, but this scene needs to be done 25% faster.”
Upcoming projects of Craig Lathrop
In his next horror project, Robert Eggers may try to do something more mysterious. The famous author has been writing scary stories about the occult and things we don’t understand for a long time. This mix of different types of stories could be turned into an interesting movie.
Egger’s next project could be very different from his most well-known movie, The Lighthouse. Even though it wasn’t a big hit, The Lighthouse helped Eggers get to the top of his business. He would have been able to direct a big-name movie for a big studio.
He was frustrated to have to hit such precise targets.
Yeah. And I don’t do a lot of table work, like talking about your character’s background and how he grew up. When it comes to acting, I’d rather do things than talk about them.
His Relationship With Stellan Skarsgard
People used to think that Eggers and Skarsgard were dating because they were both in “The Witch.” Skarsgard is from Iceland, and his relationship with Eggers actress is the same as hers. When Skarsgard was working on a movie with the same name, she didn’t want to work with Eggers because of his past relationships. Eggers has liked Skarsgard for a long time. However, they didn’t start working together in the movie until it was done.
Stella, his mother, grew up in Sweden and did not act for a while. As a teen, he went back to acting. After playing a role on the HBO show True Blood, the actor became known all over the world. Skarsgard and Eggers’ relationship is still private, but many people have made assumptions about Skarsgard’s life.
Conclusion
The Northman by Robert Eggers’Eggers shows the human condition in a way that few other movies do. We can tell that Eggers’Eggers put his heart and soul into this movie because of how intense and crazy-making his direction is. Even though he may be new to directing, it is one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking movies of the year. If you haven’t seen The Northman yet, I really think you should. You won’t be disappointed!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Robert Eggers on The Northman Directing is an Insane Job
Is your film boring to you? It’s an insane job directing The Northman, says Robert Eggers
What happens next is a different story. I’m not interested in “The Witch.” A movie like this doesn’t bore me in general. The two movies I’ve made are a lot more interesting than the ones I’ve seen.
Have you had a large audience for your first two films?
I had high hopes for “Witch” (2016) when it came to distribution. I’d also like to make another movie if enough people like the first one. Contrary to what I thought, a Pilgrim horror movie was a huge hit.
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