Constantine

Paru le La Lettre AFC n°140 Autres formats

[English] [français]

Philippe sent us this text by e-mail on January 18th.
Constantine is being released in Paris (I’ve just heard) 2 days before America and I’ve only just finished the digital timing (the first copy will be screened in 2 hours).

Filming lasted from late September 2003 to early February 2004. 60% of the filming was done in studios (Warner Bros) and outside locations were in Los Angeles. We used Panavision Super 35, Kodak 5218 film stock (and Kodak 5248 for some exteriors).

Francis Lawrence is a highly visual director, very well-organised, with whom it is very pleasant to work (quite something for a first film, with such a budget and a whole army of producers lined up to look over his shoulder at the monitor).

Visually, the film is inspired by interior photos taken in Havana, a combination of blue-green and orange. Non-corrected fluorescent lights and sodium steam lamps (in a funny way, this is a return to Diva for me). A whole range of visual effects (Mike Fink, a digital effects genius), and beautiful sets by Naomi Shoan. One of the most interesting scenes was a street in downtown Los Angeles, where all the lights go out one after the other. On four blocks, we had to replace the street lamps by new 5 kW quartz lamps (recycled from Spiderman), switched off using a wireless remote control and we had seven generators because it is forbidden to stretch cables across roads. It took the electricians four days to set it up.

The film is inspired by a cartoon strip that I’ve never seen, which apparently has a horde of fans. I’ll tell you more in 1h50 !

(Translated from French by Moira Tulloch)

Technique

Film stock : Kodak 5218 & 5248
Camera : Panavision Super 35