As a long-time admirer of Alex Garland‘s work, I find myself particularly drawn to his heartfelt confession about his favorite filmmaking experience – the making of Ex Machina. Having followed his career since the days of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, it was refreshing to see him take control and direct his vision into reality.
Alex Garland, who has worked closely with Danny Boyle in the past and directed movies such as “Men,” “Annihilation,” and “Civil War,” discussed his most cherished filmmaking experience during a talk at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Alongside producing partner Andrew McDonald, Garland reminisced about their careers and named “Ex Machina” as his preferred project. This film marks its 10th anniversary this year and served as Garland’s directorial feature debut. Prior to that, he was a novelist and scriptwriter for films like “28 Days Later,” “Sunshine,” and “Dredd.”
However, in the year 2013, Garland opted to preserve his original concept by taking up the role of director for his subsequent script. As he stated at the film festival, “I’ve never aspired to be a director, but rather to prevent others from altering my ideas. The best way to achieve this was by assuming the director’s position myself.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the movie ‘Ex Machina’. It turned out to be quite straightforward in production, which certainly facilitated things. We spent four weeks at Pinewood Studios in London on a soundstage, followed by two weeks shooting on location in Norway. Our cast was relatively small and incredibly dedicated, with young and diligent actors who were fully committed. The crew was also exceptional – they genuinely believed in the project and worked tirelessly to make it happen. There was a great atmosphere on set, everyone was cooperative and working together. It was all very friendly.”
In his reflections, Garland discusses the contrast between creating “Ex Machina” and his prior projects, which he describes as having a detrimental or harmful environment.
After enduring a series of films and film sets filled with toxicity, I must say those environments are incredibly uncomfortable. The constant bickering, division, and conflicts between departments make it unbearable. But then came Ex Machina, which felt like a refreshing cure. It was everything the previous experiences were not – a complete contrast.
In Ex Machina, Garland had full creative control over all aspects of the film. Although the production companies involved, such as Film4 and DNA Films, are not exclusively dedicated to independent films (having produced movies like Trainspotting, 12 Years a Slave, and 127 Hours), Garland chose to maintain autonomy from studio interference. He kept production costs low, with the majority of funds allocated towards creating high-quality visual effects, which were essential in making it a convincing sci-fi film.
I’m thrilled to share that I’m deep into the production process of my upcoming movie, titled “Warfare.” Meanwhile, I’ve recently wrapped up my writing responsibilities for the third installment of the zombie trilogy, which goes by “28 Years Later.” As a cinephile, I can hardly wait to see these projects unfold on the big screen!
Ex Machina: A Hard Sci-Fi Dystopia That Feels More Relevant Than Ever
The movie centers around the character of Caleb, a computer programmer, who is granted a week-long visit at the secluded estate belonging to his company’s CEO, Nathan Bateman, as a contest prize. Upon arrival in a mysterious environment, Caleb soon discovers that he’s been invited to evaluate a humanoid robot named Ava, believed to have already excelled in the Turing test. Caleb develops affection for Ava, but events take a drastic turn when she responds in unexpected ways.
Delving into the murky ramifications of artificial intelligence, Ex Machina is a gripping science fiction thriller that poses thought-provoking questions about its complex subject matter, which has grown even more pertinent in today’s fast-paced technological era. A decade after its release, it continues to resonate powerfully with its incisive commentary on tech entrepreneurs and the corporate manipulation of AI and related technologies.
Ex Machina
is available to stream on Kanopy, or rent or buy on other digital platforms.
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2024-08-19 05:32