Released globally a few weeks ago, Bright is the ambitious Netflix original genre-bending film that stars Will Smith and Joel Edgerton as cops in a present-day Los Angeles inhabited by mythical creatures like orcs and elves. The film is Netflix's biggest film to date with a budget of $90 million as well as a global press tour prior to the film's release. Guru was able to be part of the Japan premiere and press junket and had an opportunity to talk to producers Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless, director David Ayer (who also directed Will Smith in Suicide Squad), and actress Noomi Rapace about Bright.
Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless, Producers
Why did you choose to produce this movie under Netflix?
Netflix wanted to make an impact on feature films the way they made an impact on TV, and they were very aggressive on getting into business with Will Smith. They offered the most resources and creative control that other studios weren't necessarily willing to give.
Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless.
How important was humour to this film?
The most surprising thing for us was how well the early scenes worked between Will and Joel which is a testament to how unbelievable they are as actors and how good their comedic timing is. But if that didn't work, if there wasn't any humour or lightness that came through those scenes, this would be a very dark film, so that was essential. (David) Ayer is able to find that nice tonal balance and allows people to go on a ride with the characters that is exciting and intense but also really funny. Some of the scenes were improvised and Will and Joel just played off one another. It feels like there's a real brotherhood there.
What are the important messages this film sends to its viewers?
The analogies to race are very clear. Pretty much everywhere in the world, there are differences, and differences are good. But what started to happen more now is that it feels like we're going the other way and the racial and ethnic divide has gotten worse. So what Max (Landis, the writer) did - and that we all really responded to - was to create an analogy in storytelling that's about our world. We think it's what makes the movie special, and it's not hitting the audiences over the head with the message, but the message is there.
David Ayer.
Do you guys have any worries about releasing a movie on a streaming service where people may possibly be distracted while watching at home or on their devices?
I think it's about if they're engaged in the programme, it will keep their attention. I (Eric) do a show called Narcos, half of which is in Spanish, so you can't watch that show without engagement. No one gets distracted when watching Game of Thrones. We believe what Netflix and other services have proved is that people will watch something with all the passion and engagement they have.
David Ayer, Director
A recurring theme in your movies is brotherhood. How important is that in Bright ?
I think in my work, there's a lot of bromance and male bonding. The heart of the movie is really their friendship and chemistry, that they don't start as friends but become friends. That's what got me excited about the movie.
Photos courtesy of Netflix
How were you able to incorporate the fantasy elements but not go overboard into a ridiculous territory?
I think it's tone. Max Landis wrote a script that's based off my police movies which are hard, tough and R-rated. So with that base of reality, with the streets of Los Angeles, it helped make the fantasy elements more realistic.
What do you like best about working with Will Smith?
He's like a machine. He knows cameras, he knows his marks, he understands his angles, he knows photography. He's so experienced, you don't have to explain anything to him. He understand the precision of filming. He also understands it's the director's vision, so he trusts me to direct him. If he has a good idea, because he's so experienced, I listen to him.
Why was it important to create such a detailed world, and just how insane was level of detail?
It's pretty insane. For me, the camera frame is like a mosaic, and I like a complex frame. I like a lot of details. The detail also tells the story and I think it tricks your mind into believing the world more because there's so many things that feel true. So it's like billboards and signs and the shops. I'll obsess over what colour to paint a wall. Everything has to work together. I can't explain it, I just know when I see it. It's a difficult process.
Noomi Rapace, Actress
What does it take to become Leilah, the elf character you play, aside from martial arts training?
Noomi Rapace.
I was listening to a lot of old Celtic music. I revisited my childhood back when I lived in Iceland because there's a lot of myths and stories about elves. It's also a country that's very close to nature and I think elves used to live very close to nature. I was talking to my grandmother in Iceland about her beliefs about elves. I was listening to beautiful, innocent music, not as hardcore or aggressive like you would imagine. It was also very physical so I was training with knives and guns in high heels, so it was quite physical and internal.
You've played a number of badass women. What draws you to these characters?
I think what they have in common is that they're all struggling, there's a battle going on inside of them. There's some kind of conflict. It's something I have to figure out as an actress. I like it when I read the script and I have questions about the character. If it's too clear, that's not for me. I like when it feels like something is cracked inside. There's a lot of layers for me to discover and you can dig deeper to find more.
Do you think Leilah is not purely evil and is just someone who thinks she's doing the right thing?
Oh yeah, totally. She's fighting this battle to bring back beauty to the world, but her kind of beauty.
What was it like working with Will Smith and basically kicking his butt in fight scenes?
I know! Nice, right? It's an honour working with him and he's such a good human being, so supportive, so kind. He makes you feel special and he takes care of you. That's very unique in our business. He's very generous. He was very playful. He made it very easy.
