Interview: Oren Peli
Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli talks to inthenews.co.uk
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Tuesday, 16, Mar 2010 06:05
By Lewis Bazley.
Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity was one of the finest films of 2009 as well as one of the most successful - but unlike its box office rivals, the supernatural horror featured no big name stars or expensive special effects and a budget of less than $15,000. That didn't stop it going on to become one of the most profitable films of all time as a simple and hugely effective tale about a couple frightened by things going bump in the night became the 21st century's Blair Witch Project.
Click here for the inthenews.co.uk review of Paranormal Activity
Ahead of the DVD release of horror smash Paranormal Activity, Lewis Bazley talks to its director about his debut feature, Spielberg and the power of 'found footage' films.
What was the genesis of the story of your massively successful first film?
I moved into a new house and noticed some strange noises in the night so I just had the idea that you could set up a video camera in your own home to document something like that.
But how much do you personally believe in the supernatural?
Not very much, actually, I'm quite agnostic when it comes to supernatural things or strange phenomenon, and I usually need to see proof of something before I can actually believe in it.
So much of the film's success of the film is because of what we don't see - is that a primal fear for humanity, do you think?
Yes, I think so. I think with a lot of horror movies it loses the impact when you actually see the monster, it can be more effective when it's left to the imagination.
While Paranormal Activity's single, frequently static camera is part of an inventive style, there are also hints of horror classics The Omen and The Exorcist in the film - were those nods deliberate?
Yes, those films were big influences on me, especially The Exorcist which scared me more than any other film. I had nightmares about it and didn't sleep properly for weeks. It was just so well made and I think I was probably too young to be watching it as well.
Like Micah in the film, you were a day trader, and also a software engineer, with Paranormal Experience being your first experience of filmmaking. Why did you choose the 'found footage' style used in films like The Blair Witch Project?
For what the story concerned, a couple being scared in their home and deciding to set up a camera to document it, we thought it would be more believable if it was shot on a video camera rather than a conventional set-up. Also, it helped with production costs as it was much cheaper than having to use a full crew.
Why do you think 'found footage' films can be so effective?
I think these types of films have an intimacy to them - they make the audience feel like they're experiencing the events with the people on screen and it keeps them close to the action.
Talking of the people on screen - they were a key part of the film's effectiveness. Why did you choose Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston as your leads?
First of all, I completely agree that they were key to the film's success, they did a great job. To find them I just held auditions and casting sessions but you're right they were so believable. I hear a lot from people who've seen the film - and they work out eventually that it's not real, that this isn't real found footage, but they still ask if Micah and Katie are a couple. That's how great a job they did.
Did they always have good convincing chemistry?
Yes, right from the very start they had a great relationship and really good chemistry together.
Is it true that you shot several endings for the film? How many are we talking?
We actually shot quite a few endings, some of which were never included because they didn't work. Then there was the original ending which was with the film at some of the festivals and that worked well but we heard that some people didn't find it satisfying. And then when Dreamworks came on board we worked to develop another ending and the one that we used was actually suggested by Steven Spielberg.
Is it true that a paranormal moment convinced Spielberg to get involved?
Yes and no. He was already involved when Dreamworks came onto the project and he'd seen the film and loved it. But there was an incident, I suppose, when he was watching the film in his own house and the bedroom door was locked from the inside. He couldn't open it and had to call people out to help him, so I suppose that was the supernatural event.
While the backing of the likes of Dreamworks and Spielberg played a part in getting the film noticed, the key aspect of its box office success was a word of mouth campaign. Why did that marketing approach work?
I think it's the only way it could have worked for this type of film. We didn't have star power and if people had seen a trailer they would have thought it was for a bad home movie. But we noticed after the first screenings and some of the festivals that people were writing about seeing the film and being positive about it so we realised that could be a good way to let the film grow organically.
How did you celebrate after hearing the film had passed the $100 million mark?
Nothing special, to be honest. It was a great moment though, of course.
But you still must have realised the film's success was incredible given its tiny budget- when did you realise it was a phenomenon?
Pretty early on actually when there was a screening and the line was stretching completely out of the movie theatre, along the street and into the car park - they eventually had to open additional screens for the amount of people.
There's a sequel to Paranormal Activity on the way - what's your involvement with that? Will you just produce rather than direct?
I actually don't like to talk about projects that may or may not be in development until they are completed and released so I can't answer that, sorry.
Does the same go for your rumoured next film Area 51?
Yes, it does, I can't talk about that.
<>Well. Can you discuss what it's been like working on your second film, with a much bigger budget?
I will talk about that, but not until the film's released.
Understood. So what's the best way to watch Paranormal Activity? In a cinema, alone or in daylight?
I think there's a case for both actually. In the cinema it can have a great reaction and people respond well in an audience to the movie. But at home, people have told me they watched in on their own and found it very involving, especially as they were watching it in their own home and that's where the action takes place. And then people have to go to bed and try and sleep after watching it, so the film has an effect there to.
Did you hope to make people scared of their own homes?
No, I meant to make a really scary movie, but if that's the reaction people are having I take it as a compliment.
Paranormal Activity is released on March 22nd.