As someone who experienced the raw power of a tornado at a young age and saw my family rally together to salvage what we could after the destruction, I can deeply connect with the essence of “Twisters.” The fear and uncertainty that come with facing such a force of nature is something that stays with you. But it’s not just about fear; it’s also about the strength and resilience of a community coming together to support each other in the face of adversity.
In 1996, the team behind “Jurassic Park,” which included Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, writer Michael Crichton, and director Jan de Bont, raised the bar for disaster movies with the release of “Twister.” This film featured Helen Hunt and the late Bill Paxton as storm chasers in Oklahoma, where the movie was filmed, as they attempted to set up a new warning system amidst a devastating tornado outbreak. The movie grossed almost $500 million globally and received Oscar nominations for its sound and visual effects, offering an unprecedented on-screen portrayal of extreme weather’s destructive power.
In 2024, I’m thrilled that “Minari” director Lee Isaac Chung has finally brought “Twisters” to life on the big screen. I can’t believe it as I pack my bags for a return journey to the Sooner State – a place where tornadoes are more frequent and deadlier than ever.
Edgar-Jones began her journey into big-budget filmmaking with “Twisters,” marking a new milestone after her impressive performances in films such as “Fresh” and “Where the Crawdads Sing. “” Top Gun: Maverick’s standout actor, Powell, has been making waves recently. Following his breakthrough role as Hangman, he co-wrote and starred in the genre-blending Netflix crime comedy “Hit Man.” For Powell, a Texas native who lived through tornadoes as a child, “Twisters” holds a special meaning: “As a kid, witnessing the destructive power of these storms, but also observing how a community comes together to rebuild, left an indelible impression on me.”
Watching the original movie
Glen, you were 8 when the first movie came out.
Glen Powell: That sounds about right.
Daisy, you weren’t here when the first movie came out.
Daisy Edgar-Jones: Yeah, I wasn’t born.
Do you remember both seeing it and how you reacted to it?
Edgar-Jones: I had only heard about “Twister” before, as I wasn’t alive when it originally came out. However, knowing that director Lee Isaac Chung was going to create a new version of it, I became very excited. I was already a big fan of his work, particularly “Minari.” So, seeing him tackle a large-scale project piqued my interest. I watched it and was immediately captivated by the world of storm chasing and the engaging characters. The experience was enjoyable, fun, and full of thrills. That’s how I discovered it.
Powell: Growing up, I was among the first in the US to own a copy of that movie on DVD. This discovery made perfect sense since it’s a film that holds significant meaning for many people. Though not frequently discussed in movie conversations, telling someone about “Twister” often elicits an excited response. The nostalgia and unique texture of this world continue to captivate audiences. Its groundbreaking elements from the past remain relevant, making it a desirable realm to revisit. We have successfully recaptured what makes this universe so enjoyable and compelling.
Committing to the story
Daisy, how does it feel for you to take on your initial significant acting part in a major film production, having worked on less complex projects beforehand?
Edgar-Jones: Wow, it was an amazing experience setting foot on these sets, collaborating with top-notch professionals from every aspect of production. Our camera team, stunt crew, set builders, and production designer were all exceptional. The authenticity of our work added to the excitement – we weren’t dealing with green screens, but real environments and special effects. Horses trailers were actually dropped on us, people were hoisted on wires, leaving me in awe each time I entered set. I am deeply thankful for Isaac as our director; his leadership was instrumental in my newcomer experience, guiding and supporting us throughout the process.
Me as a gamer: Daisy’s performance left me amazed. Her dedication to acting is truly commendable. In this project, which involves a massive production and an array of required skills sets, from selling the scientific aspects convincingly to actually embodying intelligence, Daisy excelled. It wasn’t just about being intelligent like her character; she went the extra mile to understand the science behind it all. So many times we’ve seen movies that rely on pseudoscience and try to pass it off as authentic, but with Daisy, there was no question of her knowledge or expertise. She put in the effort to truly embody the role.
To add on, Daisy was completely dedicated during filming. She didn’t hold back and gave her all in each scene. Initially, I assumed I would be the one spending countless hours at the gym for this production. However, that wasn’t necessary as Daisy was present for every session. It’s essential for audiences to connect with a movie like this, and seeing an authentic and sincere performance from the lead actor is crucial. Daisy brought genuine emotion to every scene captured on film.
Talking tornadoes
Based on my own experience as an actor, having a solid understanding of the science behind the role I am playing, particularly when it involves meteorological phenomena like tornados, can greatly enhance my performance. By absorbing and internalizing this knowledge, I feel more confident and authentic when delivering lines related to the subject matter. This confidence translates on stage or on screen, allowing me to fully embody my character and deliver a more convincing and engaging performance for the audience.
As a gamer, I can relate to Powell’s need for understanding before delivering lines. Acting isn’t just about memorizing lines; it’s about feeling and conveying emotion. In this specific scene from the movie, Daisy and I got out of the car and were supposed to chase after something with mutual excitement while looking at a storm. It was an amazing sequence, one of my favorites from the film. However, when we jumped out of the truck and tried to deliver the dialogue that was written, it just didn’t seem to work.
Daisy suggested focusing on the striations, but I wasn’t familiar with the term. A lot of such exchanges took place during filming. Luckily, we had the privilege of working with experts from the National Weather Center and NOAA, as well as authentic storm chasers. Without Oklahoma’s support, making this movie would have been impossible.
You don’t talk about silver iodide and polymers every day in normal conversation?
Powell: I do. I do. Just in the privacy of my own home. It’s sort of my thing, yeah.
A dance of death
Based on my experience working on film sets, I’ve noticed that the term “practically” can sometimes be subjective and open to interpretation. When Daisy mentioned that a lot of the action was done practically, I couldn’t help but wonder if both she and her colleague would recall the most challenging practical day in the same light.
Edgar-Jones: I wonder. God, there were so many difficult practical days. It’s hard to choose. Each tornado had its own difficulties or challenges, but one that sticks out for me that I’m really proud of is there’s a scene that we do in a motel, which is a tornado sequence that’s done all on a oner [a single, extended take that appears to be uninterrupted]. It was a lot of really technical camera moves, but we also had a huge amount of different practical effects coming in that day. We had a horse trailer drop; we had people on wires. Isaac really wanted to show how quickly and how powerful and how damaging a tornado can pass through somewhere and the effect of that.
Above this pool, we begin with the water cascading down. Upon resurfacing, the entire scene lies flat. The intricacies of executing each detail accurately held significant importance for us. Filming on film amplified the pressure, necessitating swift and precise takes. Simultaneously, we braved December’s chill in tank tops and shorts while battling rain and wind machines, making our performances even more demanding. Indeed, it proved to be an arduous undertaking.
Powell: I take great pride in that continuous shot sequence because we focused on how the viewers were engaging with each moment. When filming a single take, our goal is to maintain the tension without giving the audience a chance to catch their breath or blink. It’s a challenging dance where we coordinate the timing of falling objects, people being pulled, and camera movements, all while ensuring the audience stays engaged and processes these moments effectively.
The sequence is amazingly rhythmic and harmonious in its own right. It’s a stunning performance, yet filled with intense, raw energy that mirrors Isaac’s real-life encounter with a tornado. Creating such a complex oner is no easy feat. Few manage to accomplish it, despite oners being commonplace.
For Glen Powell, Twisters is personal
Glen, you had two significant links to this film. Firstly, when you were nine years old, your family went through a tornado, much like the one depicted in the movie. Secondly, during your work on “Red Wing” in 2013, you had the opportunity to discuss the original production with Bill Paxton. How did these experiences shape your involvement in this project?
Powell: I recently recounted to Daisy the story of the F5 tornado I survived when I was nine with my aunt and a carful of cousins. This was one of our earliest interactions during the making of the film. It must have been our first day getting acquainted, as I remember discussing with her the sensation of my aunt driving the vehicle. That experience marked the first time I had ever seen my aunt so frightened and helpless. As a child, witnessing an adult in such a state can be quite disconcerting. You find yourself questioning what they’re afraid of and why this seemingly unmanageable threat has us all huddled in this car. It was a truly terrifying moment for all my cousins and me.
My mother recalled to me, nevertheless, that we had gone through other tornado experiences as children. One storm even placed a tree atop our house, an incident I had forgotten about in my childhood. This tornado had blocked off our street. She also mentioned the devastating F5 tornado in passing. During the cleanup efforts following this tornado, we prioritized locating personal items above all else. While some searched for pets or belongings, in truth, our main focus was on discovering family photographs. The instant we uneartthored a cherished family photo, we’d safeguard it and transport it to a shared area where everyone could sift through them. Those irreplaceable keepsakes were essential.
Growing up, witnessing the force and impact of such things, as well as observing a community coming together to rebuild, was an awe-inspiring experience for me. Bill embodied that concept beautifully, demonstrating immense generosity. His involvement in “Twister” left a lasting impression on him, inspiring us with his wonder at the sky and igniting within us a similar sense of excitement.
“Twisters” opens in theaters this Friday, July 19.
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2024-07-18 17:30