Geek Syndicate
a mellow father figure for the town and the deputies, I was worried that no one would want to see Arnold playing that type of character. Exhibiting these two sides appropriately within one character was very difficult. GS: The trailer makes it look very action heavy, but will there also be plenty of character moments, relationship arcs, etc? KJW: Yes. If the Last Stand were just an action-heavy film, I would’ve never even worked on it. I am neither an action director nor ambitious when it comes to action sequences. I am simply interested in portraying characters in violent situations, and give much thought as to how to portray this visually in a certain genre. In that regard, this film is about fear, rage, and sorrow that the characters feel in a violent situation, and how they overcome such emotions with certain calmness. As the story unfolds we see the characters grow emotionally, and I relied heavily on such character growth to design the action sequences. My hope is that the characters in this film will be loved as much as the action scenes. GS: You proved you could do amazing, inventive action in The Good, The Bad, The Weird. Is there anything in Last Stand to rival the ghost market sequence? KJW: There are a few sequences that I like. Two of my favourites would have to be the fierce town battle between the escaped cartel boss’s mercenaries and the sheriff and the cornfield car chase. I don’t think I am highly skilled in directing actions sequences, but in the town battle I was able to bring out all the different small town characters along with a lot of neat action beats to my satisfaction. The cornfield chase sequence actually did not exist in the original script, but I fought for it until the end. In this sequence, cartel boss Cortez drives his specially modified monster of a supercar, Sherriff Owens desperately goes after him in the Mayor’s precious Camaro, and this turns into a sort of a cornfield car race. There are many special moments within this sequence, and I was really satisfied with the dynamics we were able to portray with the vast cornfield and the cars that drive through it. The dried corn and cornstalks frantically crashing into the windshield and the cars driving through the cornfield is very powerful, dynamic and unique at the same time. In the midst of this chaotic car chase there are two quiet moments: once in the middle and once at the end, and I have to say these I am quite fond of these two cinematic moments. My hope is that the audience would enjoy these moments as much as the cornfield chase. GS: One of the most pleasing aspects was the use of pract X?[ ? [? ?\?X?X[ H[? H?\??\?\???Y??X?[ ?\?] ? ??? ??H ?\]Y[??\???\?H \?H[?HXZ?? ??[\?????H]?HH?\??\?H ??[?H ] Z?\? X?H[??YHH ?\?????Y[ ?H ?????H][?\]Y\?]YH?]? ?YZ???Y??H H????Y[ ??? ??\][ H??\?[???\?????Y[ ?]X]?H ????H ?\?H???\??Y ] ?H ??[??&]?HX?H ? ??? \? ??[?H][ [?X? X[ H???Y[?????B??[XY?H0?S[???]K ? L??NB??