Starringviggomortensen,Charlizetheron,Kodismit-Mcpheeandguypearce

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PRODUCTIONNOTES

THEROAD

BasedonthePulitzerPrizewinningnovelbyCormacMcCarthy

DirectedbyJohnHillcoat

StarringViggoMortensen,CharlizeTheron,KodiSmit-McPheeandGuyPearce

ReleaseDate:JANUARY28

RunningTime:119minutes

Rating:TBA

THEROAD

FromCormacMcCarthy,authorofNOCOUNTRYFOROLDMEN,comesthehighlyanticipatedbigscreenadaptationofthebeloved,best-sellingandPulitzerPrize-winningnovel,THEROAD.AcademyAward-nomineeViggoMortensenleadsanall-starcastfeaturingCharlizeTheron,RobertDuvall,GuyPearceandyoungnewcomerKodiSmit-McPheeinthisepicpost-apocalyptictaleofthesurvivalofafather(Mortensen)andhisyoungson(Smit-McPhee)astheyjourneyacrossabarrenAmericathatwasdestroyedbyamysteriouscataclysm.Amasterpieceadventure,THEROADboldlyimaginesafutureinwhichmenarepushedtotheworstandthebestthattheyarecapableof-afutureinwhichafatherandhissonaresustainedbylove.

***

Itismorethantenyearssincetheworldwasdestroyed-bywhat,nobodycansay.Itcouldhavebeenanuclearevent,orthecollisionoftheEarthwithanothercosmicentity.Orthesunmayhaveimplodedandtakenouttheplanetascollateraldamagetoitsownflameout.Onedaytherewasabigflashoflight,andthennothing.Theresultofthiscataclysmicevent,whateveritwas,isthatthereisnoenergy,nopower,novegetation,nofood.Millionsofpeoplehavebeeneradicated,destroyedbyfiresandfloodsorscorchedandincineratedintheircarswheretheysatwhentheeventhitorsuffocatedbystarvationanddespairincivilization'sslowdeathafterthepowerwentout.

TheMan(ViggoMortensen)andTheBoy(KodiSmit-McPhee)-"eachtheother'sworldentire,"asMcCarthydescribestheminhisnovel-areonthemovewithalltheirpreciouspossessions-whateverfoodandclothingtheycanscrounge,utensilsandtools,plasticbags,tarps,blanketsandanythingelsetokeepwarminthefrigid,sunless,ash-filledoutdoors-ontheirbacksandinashoppingcartoutfittedwithabicyclemirrorsotheycanseewho'scomingupbehindthem.Theirdesperate,improvisedtravellinggearandtheirscruffyunwashedbodiesgivethemthelookofthehomeless.Andthatiswhattheyare.That'swhateverybodyisinthislifelessfrontier.

Astheytrudgealongonfoot,followingtheonce-magnificentAmericanhighwaysystemwesttowardtheocean,theyhideinthewoodsandinoldabandonedstructures,anysheltertheycanimprovisethatkeepsthemsafefromtheelementsandthewanderingbandswhowouldthinknothingoftakingeverythingfromthem.Theycomeacrossallsortsofdesperatepeople.Thereisaroadgang,abunchoftoughhombreswhohavesomehowmanagedtofueltheirbigsemi.Therearescavengersandhuntersofanythingthatmoves,somewell-fedcannibalswhokeepacellar-fullofbarelyhumancuisineinabighouseonahill.Andthereareallmannerofthieves.

AndthenthereisanOldMan(RobertDuvall),whotheycomeacrossbentandshufflingdowntheroadinfrontofthem,walkingwithamakeshiftcaneinshoesmadeofragsandcardboard.TheBoytakesalikingtohimandpersuadeshisdadtosharesomeoftheirfoodandcampwithhim.Theoldman,whoadmitshisnameisEly,isequallyimpressedbytheboy-impressedathisveryexistenceastheyarebyhis.Hetellsthemthathe'sbeenontheroadforever.Hetellsthemthatwhenhesawtheboyhethoughthe'ddiedandgonetoheaven,seenanangel.

Eveninthisbleakuniverse,therearemomentsofhappiness.Occasionally,thepaircomesacrosssomefoodlongforgotteninacupboardorstashedinafalloutshelter.Whilerummaginginanabandonedmall,thefatherfindsaforgottencanofCokestuckinthebowelsofanupturnedvendingmachine.Whenhegivesthetreattohisson,whohasneverindulgedinanythinglikeit,thefatherisamusedbyhisson'sastonishmentofthedrink'sfizzysweetness.Andwhentheycomeacrossawaterfallwithrelativelycleanwater;bothjumprightinforasessionofskinny-dipping.

Andthentherearethenumerousflashbackstotheman'slifewithhiswife(CharlizeTheron)beforethegreatdisaster,beforeshetookherownliferatherthanseeittakenbywhatorwhosheknewwascoming.Themanclingstothesememoriesthatnourishhimspirituallyandhelphimtopushhisincreasinglyfrailbodyeverfurtherinthequesttogethissontosomekindofsafety.Thesweetmemoryofhislifebeforethefall,andofhishalcyonchildhooddaysaresomeofthebrightspotsthatenliventheterrainforhimandtheboy.

Thechild'sinnategoodness,hiscompassionandhissenseofwonderandcuriosityarealsobrightspotsinthisstory,remindingthemanofwhyhemustkeepongoingnomatterwhatevenwhenhehasforgottenwhyhemustdoit.

THEROADisanadventurestory,ahorrorstory,aroadmovieandultimatelyalovestorybetweenafatherandhisson,betweenamanandhiswife,asitisacelebrationoftheinextinguishablewilltolive.Itisathrillingevocationofhumanenduranceandanunflinchingexaminationofpeopleattheirworst-andattheirbest.

Foreverymother,everyfatherwho'severhadachild,foreverysonofafather,THEROADwillbeajourneyintothehumanspirit.Itisasurvivor'sstoryinwhichtheheroescarrythefirethatisthelifeforcethatkeepshopealivenomatterwhat.

AbouttheProduction

THEROADisamoviethathadtogetmade.Onthesurface,astoryabouttheEarth'send-gamescenariothatincludescannibalismandbrutalityandotherunsavouryelementsisnotexactlytherightmaterialforapopcornmovie.Andthoughsomestudiosinitiallypassedontheprojectforthesereasons,theproducers,thedirectorandthetalentwhoweredrawntoitweremotivatedbyanabsolutebeliefthatCormacMcCarthy'snovelwouldmakeanincrediblepicture.

ProducerNickWechsler,ahugefanoftheauthor,gotbeatoutwhenhetriedtobuytherightstoMcCarthy'sNoCountryforOldMen,whichwentontowintheOscar™fortheCoenBrothers,sohealertedliteraryagentstolethimknowwhenthenextCormacMcCarthybookbecameavailable.HeandproducingpartnersPaulaMaeandSteveSchwartztookadvantageofcompetitors'skittishnessandoptionedthepropertywhenitwasinmanuscriptform."Thegreatthingaboutthisparticularbookwasthatitwassodarkandsobleakthatallofthestudiosandotherproducerswerecautiouslyapproachingit,weren’tsurewhetheritcouldbemadeintoamovie,"hesays."Thatgavemeanopportunitytoseizethemoment,outbideverybodyelsewiththehelpofmypartners,theSchwartz’s,andacquirethematerial."

Likealltheotherfilmmakersinvolvedinmakingthismovie,WechslerwasdeeplymovedbytheexperienceofreadingMcCarthy'spage-turner.Hesawinstantly,hesays,thatitwouldbegreatmoviematerial."IreadthenoveltheeveningthatitwasgiventomeandIthoughtitwasanextremelypowerful,emotionalexperience-thestoryofthefatherandthesonandthejourneytheytakeandthepassingofthefire,thepassingoftheideaofhumanityfromonetotheotherandbackagain.

"AndIalsothoughtthatthereweresomegoodgenreelementsaswell.Thesuspenseandtensionoftheneedtosurviveinanextremelyhostileworld-reallyobviouselementstomakeintoamovie.Iwasn’tworriedaboutthebleakaspectatall.Ithoughtthatanapocalypticworldisbleakandcannibalisminanapocalypticworldisbleakbutthattheemotionalcoreofthepiecewassofreshandsopowerfulthatthat’swhatwouldshinethroughinthemakingofamovie."

WhenWechslerinvitedRuddSimmonstocomeaboardasthefilm'sexecutiveproducer,hischoiceofJohnHillcoattodirectwasalreadyestablished.Simmonshadn'tseenHillcoat'sfilmTHEPROPOSITION,butwhenhedid,hetoowashookedonthedirector."IwasquitetakenwithJohn’sfilm,"hesays."Whatwasinterestingtomewaswhathedidwiththelandscapeandhowmuchthecharactersseemtocomerightoutofthelandscape.THEROADisafairlysimplestoryinawaybutit’smythicandthecharactersseemtojustcomerightoutoftheearth.So,ItalkedtoJohnandheandIgotalonggreat."

AnotherthingthatimpressedSimmonsaboutthedirector'sprocesswashowpreparedandhowfocusedHillcoatwasonexactlyhowhewasgoingtotransformthisgreatnovelintoagreatmovie."AttheverybeginningJohnwroteapositionpaper-andI’veneverhadthatonanyofthemoviesI’vedone,"hesays."Itwasaboutthreeorfourpagesofwhathewaslookingfor,thethemesthathewasinterestedin,ithadtodowithgenreandtheoveralllookhewantedforthemovie,andalongwithitwerealotofphotographs.

"Itwasaprettygreatthingbecausewegavethistoeveryonewhocameontotheprojectandrightoffthebatwewereallonthesamepage.Weknewexactlywhathewaslookingfor.Weknewexactlywhatitwashesawinthestory,"hesays.

"Whatmakesareallygoodadaptationisifthefilmmakerfindssomethinginthebookthatheispassionateaboutandtellsthestoryfromthatpointofview,"Simmonsadds."AndweknewwhatthatwasforJohn."

SomeofHillcoat'sstatementsdoreadlikeamanifesto,butinhindsight,thedirectorwasanalysingthemoviethematically,evenphilosophically,muchasaprofessorofcinemastudiesmightdo.HerearetwoparagraphsfromHillcoat'spositionpaperthatillustratethis:

"Themoviewilloperateonanumberofdifferentlevels,whereitcanbeviewedasamoremythicmetaphoricjourneyofthesoul,afable,anadultfairytaleaboutthepassingofonegenerationtoanother,thatinescapablerealityofmortalityandthearchetypalparent'sgreatestfear,guiltandheartbreakinleavingthechildbehind(andbyextensioneveryone’sfearofbeingleftbehindutterlyalone).Onanotherlevelisthemoralitytale,anurgentwake-upcalltousallwherekindness,trust,hopeandfaithmustprevailagainstalloddsinthefaceofimpendingdestructionandhorror.Onanotheristheimmediatevisceralrealityofadarkepicadventurefilledwithterrorandtenderness.

"Asweallbearwitnesstoanewageofviolentglobalconflicttogetherwiththespectreofapocalypticenvironmentalcatastrophe,THEROADmanagestotapintoourcollectivepsychewiththeforceofauniversalnightmare.Itevokesourdeepestanddarkestfears -andwithprescienceandlucidityaddresseswhatmattersmost."

Inadaptingthebook,thefilmmakerstookgreatpainstoretainthesimple,gut-wrenchingdirectnessofitwhilebringinginsomeuniversaltruthsaboutthiscollectivepsychesothatasciencefictionstoryabouttheendoftheEarthcouldjibewithsomeofthemostcommonfearsofourpost-9-11era-globalwarming,highgasprices,economicuncertaintyandtherealpossibilityofamonumentalnaturalcatastropheduetomankind'sabuseoftheplanet.SowhileMcCarthywasambiguousaboutwhatactuallycausedthegreatconflagrationinhisstorywhenallthelightswentout,thefilmmakerswerefreetoframetheirsinanecologicaldisaster.

"Wedidactuallydepartfromthebook,"saysHillcoat."Inthebookitwasverymuchlikeanuclearwinter-everythingwascompletelycoveredinashandtotallymonochromaticwithathicklayerofblacksootandashintheair."

Inscoutinglocations,thefilmmakersgravitatedtowardnaturaldisastersthatwipedouthugeswathsofterritory,leavingitinaravagedstate.PreppingthefilmHillcoatembarkedonalongjourneywithSimmonsandhislong-timeproductiondesignerChrisKennedy,inwhichtheysoughtoutplacesaroundthecountrythathadbeenravagedinthatway,knowingthatthelocationswouldconnecttheaudiencewithamodern-dayhorrorstorythatcouldhappenhere.ThesedistressedlandscapeswouldtapintothecollectiveAmericanpsychebyreferringtosomemajortraumasthatdevastatedpartsofthiscountry.

"Whatwasgreataboutthebookwasthatincredible,visceralrealitytoit,"saysHillcoat."NeitherChrisormyselfhaveeverreallylikedapocalypticfilmsthatmuchasagenre.Butthisfeltsodifferentfromanythingelse.Soweimmediatelythoughtthisstoryseemstotapintoexperiencesofnaturaldisastersandman-madedisasters-sowhynotutilizeallofthat.

"Soweimmediatelybegandoingalotofresearchinwhichwewerebasicallylookingatman-madeandnaturaldisastersthathaveoccurred,andthat’swhatledustothingslikeNewOrleanspost-Katrina,andMountSt.HelensinWashingtonandminingincentralPennsylvaniaandaroundPittsburghwherethatindustryleftakindofman-madedisasterareaintermsofthelandscape-what’sleftofit.Sotheprocesswasaboututilizingallthosethingsandgraduallypiecingitalltogether.Itwaslikethishugetapestry."

ForproducerPaulaMaeSchwartzthestorywaseminentlyfilmablebecauseofitsinherenthopefulnessandthetenderemotionalcoreofthenovel."WeadmiredCormacMcCarthyverymuch,thoughthehadanoriginalvoice,andthisparticularbookcapturedauniquelovestorybetweenafatherandson,"shesays."Wefeltthatthepowerofthelovebetweenthefatherandthesonwaspalpable-sostrongthatithelpedmankindsurviveaftertheapocalypse.Soit’stheultimatestoryofsurvival."

ViggoMortensen,whowasnominatedforanAcademyAwardforhisrivetingperformanceinEASTERNPROMISES,rootedhisportrayalinthefather-sondynamicaswell.Andthoughatthetimehewasofferedtherole,theactorwascomingoffaperiodofworkingalotandlookingforwardtoabreak,hesays,butwhenhegotthescriptandreadthebook,therewasnowayhecouldn'tdoit.

"Ithought,'Wow,it’sgoingtobeprettyhardtosaynotosomethinglikethis,thiskindofcharacter.'It'soneofthosebooksthat’shardtoputdown,onceitgetsgoingyouwanttoknowhowitturnsout,"hesays.

WhenTheRoadwasfirstpublished,thenovelwaschosenbyOprahWinfreyforherinfluentialbooklist,andthathelpedgetitoutthereintheuniversalconsciousness,tobeacceptedbythepublicinadditiontothecriticswhohavealwayssparkedtoMcCarthy'swork."Thereasonsomanypeoplehavereadthisbook,"addsMortensen,"isthatitreallystruckachordinAmerica.Thestoryisuniversal.Anyparentthatcaresabouttheirkidhasthesefeelings,thesedoubts,thesefears,theseconcerns.What’sgoingtohappenwhenI’mgone?Ismykidgoingtobeallright?Ifmykidgetssickwhat’sgoingtohappen?ButthemainoneiswhatwillhappenwhenI’mnotaround."

Inthisstory,Mortensennotes,thatbasichumanconcerniscrankedupafewnotchesbecauseittakesplaceinableakuniversewhereeveryhumancertaintyisgone."It’stakentoanextreme,"hesays."It’snotjustthatI’llbegoneandhismotherwilltakecareofhimorhisaunt,extendedfamilyorjustsocietysomehow.There’snobody.Zero.IfI'mgonehe’saloneintheworld.Asextremeasthatis,itstillconnectsforpeoplewiththeirownfamilies.Anymother,anyfather,howtheyfeelabouttheirchild,whattheyworryabout.

"So,allthosethingsareworthexploring,"hesaysofhispreparationforplayingTheManinthismovieofMcCarthy'sdystopiansaga,"IrealizedthatIhadthatinsideofme.Ineededtojustsortoflookinsidetoplaythis."

ThestoryofTHEROADissimple,yetcompelling,andthoughthereareothercharacters,it'sreallyaboutthefatherandtheson.Mortensensaysthedeepquestionsthebookraiseswerewhatledhimtofindthesoulofhischaracter."Becauseofwhatthestory’sabout,andbecauseofthethoughtsIhadwhenIfirstreadthescriptandthebook,'hesays,"Itmademethinkaboutwhat’shappening,whatdoesthefuturehold?Whenwearenomore,whatdoesitmean?

"Inaway,that’swhatthisstoryisabout.Whathappenswheneverythingistakenfromyou?Imeaneverything.Thesetwopeople,thismanandthisboy,that’swhat’shappened.Andwhenyouthinknothingelsecanbetaken,theboyloseseverything.Evenmore.That’saprettygoodrecipeforadrama,ifit’shandledright.Whathappenswheneverythingistakenfromyou?Howdoyoubehave,howdoyoureact?Howdoyoudealwithpeoplewhoyoufearmighttakemorethingsfromyou?Orpeoplewhohavethingsthatyoudon’thave.Andwhenyou’retired,whenyou’reafraidofthem,howdoyoureact.Doyouactaggressively?Sometimes.Doyoutrytostayawayfromthem?Probably.Ifyouthinkyoucan,doyoutaketheirthings?Sometimesyoudo,evenifyouthinkofyourselfasagoodguy.Allthosethingshappeninthestory,allthesetests.Thetestsof:whathappenswhenyouthinkeverything’sbeentakenfromyou.That’swhatcarryingthefiremeans,evenifyouthinkthey’vetakeneverythingfromyou,thefactthatyou’resittinghere,thinkingaboutitandcomplainingaboutitmeanstheyhaven’t.You’restillhere.Untilyou’renothere,theyhaven’ttakeneverythingfromyou."

Mortensenaddsthatthefilm'stitleismorethanironic."Iknewthatifwediditright,itwouldbeachallengeemotionally.Iwouldhavetogoonajourney."

FordirectorHillcoat,therewasneveranyquestionthatViggoMortensenshouldplaythefather.Duringtheconceptstageofpre-production,hesays,hisvisionforthefatherwasoneofstolidstrengthheartenedbyapalpableinnervulnerability.HisidealfortherolewouldbesomeoneontheorderofGregoryPeck."ItbecameclearthatViggocouldbeaneverymanbutalsocouldhavetheintensityandthephysicalitytheroledemands.Hischaractergoesthrougharangeofemotions."

Ifanyonecouldsurviveinapost-apocalypticworld,thedirectorsays,itwouldbeViggo."It’ssuchachallengingandextremesurvivalworldthathehastodothingsthathavetobecredible,"hesays.Andyet,therolerequiresnotonlyphysicalverisimilitude,buttheabilitytoshowtendernessandinnerstrength."Forsomeactorsitmightbeastretchthatthey’resotenderandsensitivetoachildandyetbeabletophysicallydowhathehastodo.Viggo’sveryintenseandverywoundup,andthatiswhatthefatherisallabout.He’ssohauntedbythesuicideofhislovedone-hiswifeandpartner-andyethehasthisincredibleprotectiverelationshipwithhisson.Itisalovestory,andinsuchachallengingandextremesurvivalworld,hehastodothingsthathavetobecredible."

WhenMortensencommittedtotherole,hebeganaperiodofintensepreparationinvolvingresearchthecharacterandtheextrememilieuofthestory.Heimmersedhimselfintheworldofthenovelanditsextremehypotheticalsituation.Hisresearchtookhimnotonlytobooksandmaterials,butalsotonoticingthepatternsandhabitsofpeopleinourtimeswhomustexistbytheirwits,scrapingtherefusebinofsociety-thehomeless.TheactoralsohadsomeconversationswithCormacMcCarthy,mostlyaboutMcCarthy'sownrelationshipwithhisyoungsonJohnFrancis,towhomhededicatedthenovel."WetalkedabouthisrelationshipwithhisownboyandItalkaboutmysonandhowhewasattheageofthecharacterinthebook,"hesays."IthoughtaboutwhatIfeltaboutmyownfamily,myrelations.AlotofchaptershaveendedasIwasstartingtoshootthisandwhileIwasshootingthis.It’smademethinkaboutthings,fromyearsagothatIhadn’tthoughtabout.Intermsofmyson,whenhewastheageofthecharacteroftheboynow."

Butforthismovie,asciencefictiontaleabouttwoisolatedpeoplewalkingthousandsofmilesacrossadeadplanet,theactor'spreparationwouldhavetobeaboutalotmorethaninternalgeography.Mortensenhasbeendescribedasaphysicalactorwhoincorporateshissurroundingsintohismethod,andthisisanotherreasonwhyhewasperfectlycasttoplaythefather.Whentheelements,theweatherandtheterraingettough,Viggogetsgoing.

"Differentactorshavedifferentprocessthattheyuse.WhatI’veseenwithViggoisthatheisabletousetheenvironmentmoresothananyotheractorI’veworkedwithbeforetoputhimwhereheneedstobeemotionally,"saysproducerSimmons,whohadalottodowiththephysicalsetupofthefilmanditslocations."Andmaybeit’spouringdownrain,andhe’llwalkawayfromumbrellas,raincoats.He’llwalkawayfromanytentthat’sbeingofferedoranyblankettobeintentionallycoldandwet,anditseemstotakehimtoaplacethat’squiteremarkable.I’veseenithappenoverandoveragaininthesnow,therain,cold,thefog-anythingthatheisabletousethatputshimintheworldofthecharacter.He’saveryphysicalactoraswell,andit’sbeenaremarkableprocesstowatchthat.Iwouldimagineittakesanenormousamountofconcentrationtobeabletonotletthecoldgroundortherocksontheroadorwhateveritmaybebreakyourconcentration,butit’stakenhimtoaplacethatisprettyamazingoverandoverandoveragain."

NickWechslerconcurs."Viggohastheperfectqualitiesasamanandasanactortodothispart.He’sgotincredibledepthofsoul.Hesoimmerseshimselfinaparticularcharacteryouthink,'Wow,thatisthecharacter.That’snotanactorplayingthecharacter.'Andthat’swhatwewantedforthispart- somebodywhosubmergeshimselfintotheroleaswellasanyactorI’veeverworkedwith."

ThoughtheroleofthefatherwassoughtafterbymanyleadingactorsinHollywood,therewasneveraquestioninthemindsofthefilmmakersthatiftheycouldgethim,hewoulddefinethecharacter."Viggowasborntoplaythispart,andhe’sabsolutelyriveting,"saysproducerSteveSchwartz."Partofthechallengeforanactordoingamovielikethis-wherethematerialissodarkandwherethereissomuchsadnessandcruelty-istostayinroleamidstthetumultoftheset.There’salotofstuffgoingonthisset.There’sstuffbeingmoved,there’snoise,there’srainandhorrificweather-alotofdiversions.Iwasoverwhelmedbytheactor’sabilitytostayfocusedandstayinrole.AndIhopeI’mnotsayingsomethingoutofschoolhere-andIdon’tknowhowViggowillfeelaboutthis-butforthefirstfewdaysoftheshoot,hesleptinhisclothestostayinrole.Hepaidattentiontoeverydetail.Ifhisshoesweren’twetenough,hewouldsprayhimself.Hewastotallyabsorbedandobsessedwiththepart.HebecameTheMan."

Theproducercontinues,"Asaresultofthat,Iwouldsaythatthisprobablywouldn’tbedescribedasaparticularlychattysetbecausewhenViggoandKodiwereinthezone,peopledidn’twanttomixitupwiththem.So,Idon’tknowhowViggoandKodifeltaboutbeingignoredsometimes,butwhenwesawtheminthatzone,wegavethemspace.AndKodihadhisownwayofstayinginhiszone.Itwasveryimpressive."

InorderforTHEROADtocometogether,itwascleartothefilmmakersthatcastingtheroleofTheBoywouldbecrucial.AsgruellingastheshootwasforMortensenandthecrew,thepre-teenactorwhoplaysthesonwouldhavetobebothasurvivorandagreatnaturalactortokeepup.Afteraseriesofcastingsessions,theyfoundthatactorinKodiSmit-McPhee,scionofathespianfamilywhosefatherAndyisanactingcoach.Kodi'sportrayalofanothersonoppositeEricBanainROMULUS,MYFATHERbroughthimtotheattentionofthefilmmakers.

Thoughthecastingprocesswasthorough,encompassingafewhundredboysfromaroundtheUnitedStatesandinCanada,anauditiontapethatKodi'sdadhadsentfromAustraliawastheonethatwonout.WechslerexplainsthatKodiwastheobviouschoice."Thismovierisesandfallswithhowwelltheactordoesthatplaystheboy,"hesays."AndKodisurvivedthechallengeofallthoseboysandultimatelywastheonethatwehadtogowithbecausehehadasoulfulqualitytohim.Hehadcharismaifyoucanattributethatwordtoayoungboy.Weknewthathewouldpop.Weknewthathewastheone."

ThechoiceofKodiSmit-McPheemadesenseformanyreasons,nottheleastofwhichwashisaffinitywiththecamera.Theproducers-andMortensen,hisco-star- weretakenabackbytheyoungactor'stalent,professionalismandworkethic."Whatdoesitmeantohavetalentasanactor?"saysSimmons."YoulookatKodiandhecangettothesemomentsthatarereal.It’saremarkablethingtoseefromtaketotake.He’llbeworkingonsomethingandallofasuddenhe’llhititanditjustringstrue.ThethingI’mmostimpressedaboutwithKodiishisdiscipline-hisconcentration.

"Imeanhe’san11-year-oldboy.IrememberwhatIwaslikewhenIwas11.Iwasrunningaroundplayingarmy,doodlingcartoons,andallofthat.ButKodicomesin-Kodiworksninehoursaday.Hecomestosetinthemorning,goesthroughmake-upandhair,he’sonthesetandhe’sfocusedlikeanadultactor.Hehasapresencethat’squiteremarkable.Andthenhe’llturnrightaroundandrunoffthesetandplaywithanother10-year-oldboy,andthey’reoutthereplayingcowboysandIndiansandit’sagreatthingtosee.Andthenwhenhe’sdonewiththathecomesbackonthesetandhe’sthisamazingactoragain."

TohearViggoMortensentellit,themoviewillbememorablenotbecauseofanythinghemighthavedone,butbecauseoftheextraordinarytalentsofhischild-actorco-star.

"He’sanextraordinary,extraordinaryactor."Mortensensays."Ithinkthathisperformancewillbeahistoricperformance.Honestly,Ithinkit’sgoingtobeoneofthosethatpeoplerememberforyears…foryears."

Wereitnotfortheyoungactor'sintensity,headds,themoviewouldbeagoodmovie,butwithit,it'llbearealfilm."WhenIreadthescript,Ithought‘Welltheyneedtofindthebestchildactorever,orthebestyoungactorintheworldtoplaythispart.WithanactorasgoodasKodiitcouldbeareallygoodmovie.Ihavereallyenjoyedbeingontheridewithhim."

Andlikethefatherinthesagawholearnsfromhisson,MortensensaysthatworkingwithKodiwasarevelationasanactor."Kodihasgreatinstincts,greatpresenceandmostimportantlyhehasthegiftofbeingabletorelaxtothepointwherehe’salwaysinthemoment.He’salmostneveroutoftherealmomentthat’shappening,notthescriptbutwhat’sreallyhappeningontheset,what’shappeningbetweenthetwoofus.Mostofthestoryisthesetwopeople-amanandaboy.Theyareprettymuchalwayswearingthesamefilthyclothing.Theydon’ttalkmuch.Theweatherisuniformlyterrible.It’sbrutal,veryhardcore.Butifitworksyoucangoonarealemotionaljourney,youcouldusethewordspiritualjourney."

Theinteractionbetweentheboyandhisfatheriswhatcarriesthestoryandelevatesitabovemeresciencefiction.Whileinthenovel,thereismuchdescriptionofhowthetwointeractwiththetorturedlandscapeandthebatteredenvironment,inamovie,whichisavisualmedium,allthatmustbeconveyedwithnuanceandactingalone.Mortensenisconvinced,hesays,thatthecoreofthisinspiredexpositioninTHEROADcomesfromKodi.

"Thebookhassomevividdescriptionsofthesebarrenlandscapesofthisinhospitableweather,it’sverybeautiful,"headds."Butwedon’tusethat.Whatyougetthough,thatyoucan’tgetinbook,isallthesubtletiesoftheinteractionofthecharacterwiththeirenvironmentandmostespeciallyoftheManandtheBoy,howtheyrelatetoeachother.Somuchhappensbetweenthewords,andthatisespeciallytruebecauseKodiissuchafineactor.He'sveryattunedtowhat’sgoingon,anythingthathappens,anyerrorthathappens.Hewelcomesthelittleaccidentsthathappen.Kodialwaysgoeswithitsothereissomethingextra.

"Eachscenethat’salreadyonthepagelookslikesit’schargedwithemotionandyouthink,’Well,howarewegoingtothere,'"Mortensensays."Ithinkwithoutexception,thankstoKodi’swayofworking,we’vealwaystakenitastepfurther.Therehasbeenanotherlayer,there’sbeensomethingunexpectedthatcameoutofhimorthathappenedbetweenus.Ithasbeenagreatride,IcanhonestlysaythatinallthemoviesI’vebeenapartof,allthescenes,alltherehearsalswithactorsfromallovertheworld-I’vebeenlucky,I’vebeenabletoworkwithsomeverygoodperformers-Ihaveneverhadabetteractingpartner,ever.That’sfromtheoldestmostexperienceddecoratedperformerstonewer,younger,rawtalent.Ihaveneverworkedwithsomeonewhoissoconsistentlyinthemoment,soconsistentlytherewithyou.Hisperformancewillmakethisoneofthosemoviesthatyouwatchyearsfromnow.Ireallythinkthat."

ThereisapivotalsceneinTHEROADwhichillustratesthebondingthattookplacebetweenthetwoactors.Duringanencounterwithamemberofarovinggang,thefatherhastoshootthemantoprotecthisson.Later,hetakestheboytoastreamandattemptstowashtheboy’shairinthefreezing-coldwater."Now,thatstreamissnowmelt,sothatstreamisprobablyforty-fivedegrees-it’sreallycold,"saysRuddSimmons,whoalongwithanastonishedcrewwatchedthesceneinawe."Themantakestheboyinhisarms,andhedipshisheadinwater-thebloodandthegorefromthegangmemberissplatteredallovertheboy-andheverygentlyrubsawaytheblood,andtheboycomesbacktolife.Nowthat’sthewayit’sscripted."

Simmonscontinuestoexplainthescene:"WhathappenedwasViggopickedupKodi,dippedhisheadinwater,andthewaterwassuchashocktoKodi,itliterallyjoltedhimalive.Andhestartedtocrybecauseitwassopainful,andhecouldn’tstop.AndsoViggotookhiminhisarmsandcradledhim,andliterallybroughthimbacktolifeinthatmoment.It’saremarkablescene.Viggopickedhimupinhisarmsandtookhimovertoaclearingrightawayfromthestreaminthesunlight.Andheputhimdown,andhejustcradledhimandrockedhiminthesun.

"Kodi’sdad,Andy,cameoverand-ifthathadbeenmyson,IwouldhavejumpedrightintoseewhatIcouldhavedone.ButAndy’sawonderfulactor,he’sawonderfuldirector,he’sbeenworkingwithKodiasanactingcoach.AndAndyknewtostepbackandletViggoandKodiasactorshavethatmomenttogether,whereKodihasgonetoaplace-abadplace-andViggoisnowhelpingbringhimback.Itwasaremarkablethingtosee.Ithinkfromthatmomenton,theirrelationshipchanged,andtheybecameinseparablefortherestofthemovie.Theybecamelikefatherandsontoeachother."

Mortensenpicksupthestoryofthatpivotalscenefromhisowngenerouspointofview:"Itwasquitecold,therewasstillsnowontheground,andwhenIhadtowashKodi'sheadinthatstreamitwasreally,reallycoldwater-therewasstilliceontheedges.Anditwasoneofthosemomentsthatactuallycouldhavegonedifferentways,butthewayitwentwasthatwhenIpulledhisheadoutofthewateronthesecondtakehewasalmostinshock,hisheadwashurtingsobadfromthecold,andIdidn’trealizehowmuchithadupsethimuntilIlookedrightintohiseyes,rightinthemiddleofthetake,andhewasn’tgonebuthewasreallyinrealpain."

Theactor,whohasplayedoppositesomeoftheseasonedgreats-AlPacino,SeanPenn,EdHarris,CateBlanchett,RobertForster,ArminMueller-Stahl-speaksofhisyoungco-starintonesnormallyreservedforsomeiconoftheActor'sStudio."AndIjustlookedathim,buthestayedincharacter,thisisthekindofactorheis,"Mortensensays,"AndhecalledmePapaandhe’scryingthereforreal,butheplayedthescene,yetIknewthatitwasreallyhim.He’sabrilliantyoungactor.Hehasapresence,heisappealingtolookatandheisconsistentfromtaketotake… pushinghimself,pushinghimself,pushingme… pushingeverybody."

ItisbothatributetoMortensen'sowngenerosityandtoKodi'stalentsthatViggo’sassessmentofKodi'sperformanceissoeffusive."Thatday,itwasalmostlikesomethingbrokeandexpandedinsidehimasanactor,"hecontinues."I’veseenROMULUS,MYFATHER,themoviehewonawardsforinAustralia,andhe’sverygoodinthatmovie-reallygood-yetIthink,however,thatinthismoviehegoeswaybeyondwhathedidinROMULUS.Hehadalreadydonethatbythetimeweweredoneshootingthescenebythestream.Butthatdayhekindofsteppeditup,hewentintoanothergearandmostimportantlyIthinktheconnectionbetweenusreallywascementedsomehow,inthatmomentandintheaftermathofthattake.HisfatherAndyisreallygoodwithhimandhe’salsoanactor,sohe’sverygroundedandhehasarealunderstandingoftheprocessofpreparingfromdaytodayandwhatgoesintoascene.Therehavebeenmany,manymomentslikethatthathaveledusdeeperintothestorythanyouwouldexpectwhenyoureadthescript,andclosertoeachotheraspeopletoo."

WhilethenovelTheRoadisapasdedeux,asolitaryjourneybytwomainplayersinwhichotherpeopleareeitherhazards,horrors,flashbacksorancillaryplayers,themovieversionofthestorycalledforashiftinemphasisinthehumanuniverseinwhichtheylive.Sothefilmmakersmadeaconsciousdecisiontoexpandsomeofthekeyrolesinthetellingofthestory.ThecharactersknownasTheWoman(CharlizeTheron),OldMan(RobertDuvall),TheVeteran(GuyPierce)andTheThief(MichaelK.Williams)tookonamuchmoreimportantaspectinthefilm'sdevelopmentprocess.AndoncethewordgotoutaboutanadaptationbytheproducerofSEX,LIESANDVIDEOTAPEandTHEPLAYER(Wechsler),thedirectorofTHEPROPOSITION(Hillcoat)andthewriterofENDURINGLOVE(JoePenhall),theshortlistofworld-classstarsbecamemuchshorter.

"Itwasveryeasytocastthismoviebecausethebookhadachievedsuchpopularity,"saysWechsler,"andtheotherroles,eventhoughtheymightbesmall,theyeachpackedalotofpunch-theyeachhadaveryspecificpurpose,andwereveryimportanttothemovementofthepiece.Soanyactorthatwasgoingupforoneofthesepartsknewthatthatpartwouldbeaveryfulfillingexperience.Sothecastingcametogetherquitewell-theactorswerewillingtomovearoundtheiravailabilitiesandtriedtogettheproducersofshowstheymighthavebeenworkingonpermissiontocarveoutsometimesothattheycoulddoasmallpartinourmovie."

Anotabledeparturefromthewaythestoryistoldinthenovelisthepresentationoftheman'swife,whocommitssuicidewhenshefearsthatwhoeverisouttherewillcomeforthem."Soonerorlater,theywillcatchupwithusandtheywillkillus,"shesays."Theywillrapeme… andtheywillrapehim.… Theyaregoingtorapeusandkillusandeatusandyouwon'tfaceit.You'dratherwaitforittohappen."Theman'schoiceistotakehissonafterthistragedyandgooutontheroadinhopesofsomehowfindingabetterfuturefortheboy,ifnotforhimself.Inthebook,thewife'schoicesaretoldstarklyandpragmatically,againstthebackdropofhorrorthathasbefallenthemandtheentirehumanrace.

TherelationshipbetweenTheManandTheWomanistoldinflashbacks,whichthemanreturnstoindaydreams,often-especiallyintheearlierscenesfromtheirmarriagewhenthingsweremoreupbeat-clingingtothesevignetteslikesomeelixir,theonlybitsofhumanityhecangraspthatkeepshimgoingandremindshimofwhyheisontheroad.Onelyricalpassagefromthebookillustratesthis:"Fromdaydreamsontheroadtherewasnowaking.Heploddedon.Hecouldremembereverythingofhersaveherscent.Seatedinatheatrewithherbesidehimleaningforwardlisteningtothemusic.Goldscrollworkandsconcesandthetallcolumnarfoldsofthedrapesateithersideofthestage.Sheheldhishandinherlapandhecouldfeelthetopsofherstockingsthroughthethinstuffofhersummerdress.Freezetheframe.Nowcalldownyourdarkandcoldandbedamned."

Inthemovie,thissceneisdescribedwithoutnarrationordialogue,justcinematically,withsightandsound.Whilerecountingtheupsanddownsoftheirlifetogether,theflashbacksalsoservetoprovidesomeelegiacmomentsoflight,sun,musicandhappinessinanotherwisebleakworld.

Forthischaracter,thefilmmakersrequirednotonlyapowerfulactressbutalsoaversatileone."ThethinginthebookaboutTheWomanisthatthecharacter'srealityisveryabrasiveandharsh.Anditis,andwekeepthat,"saysdirectorHillcoat."Butwewantedtoreallytryandenrichthatcharacterandpresentherargumentformakingthatchoiceasverysoundbecauseofthecontextofwhatishappeningintheworld."

Theroledemandedanactorwhobroughtherownsubstantialtalent."WhatisgreataboutCharlize,"hecontinues,"iswewantedtotrytofindsomeonethathadarealkindofgravitas,anemotionalkindofdepthtoshowthattransitionoflifefromtheworldthattheprivilegedfewareaccustomedtoandtakeforgranted,andthenhavingthatallstrippedaway.Wewantedtoshowtheemotionaldamagethatisinflictedbythisglobalcatastrophe.Herrefusaltoacceptthenewworldisahugeshift,anemotionalshift.So,Charlizeissomeonethathasalreadyshownincrediblerange.HertransformationinMONSTERwasprettyastounding.Sheseemstobeoneofthoseactressesthatreallyisabletotransformandgotorealemotionaldepths."

AnotherpivotalcastingchoicewastheuseofRobertDuvallforTheOldMan,acharacterthemanandtheboymeetontheroadandspendsometimewithwhoprovidesanothermorephilosophicalperspectivetotheirjourney.Coincidentally,saysHillcoat-andthisisoneofanumberofserendipitouscoincidencesabouttheproduction-"HeknowsCormacMcCarthy,he’ssofamiliarwiththatworld-thatwasreallyhelpful."

Duvall'spresenceonthesetwasnotonlyalinktothenovelist'sworldview;itprovidedanopportunityfordeepeningthestory,andinspiringthecrewinthetellingofit.Andtheactorbroughtsomeofhisownmagictothepieceundertrulydauntingcircumstances.

"Hedidsomethingthatwasquiteextraordinaryunderextremepressure,"Hillcoatobserves.Whileformostfilmcrews,asunnydayisagoodthing,forthemakersofTHEROAD,astoryaboutaworldwithoutlightorwarmth,thevaluesweretopsy-turvy."Wewereplaguedbyweatherproblems.Itwasadaywhenthesunwasoutandthesunwasourenemy.Andthat’sbeenarunningjokethroughoutthewholefilmthatwhenit’sactuallybeautifulweatherthatmostpeopleloveweallgetdepressed,andwhenit’smiserableweallgetexcitedandrunoutintoit.

"AndthathappenedwithRobertthatwehadjustthisbright,sunnydaythatwasjustadisasterforthelandscapewewereinwherethere’sahugecoalashpileofremnantsofminingdebrisandascarredlandscape.Weendedupbeingreallypressurizedfortime.Wetalkedabouttryingsomethingwherehewouldbringanextrabitofhistorytothecharacter.Intermsofthatpainanddamage,becausehischaracter’sanoldcoot-everyone’swonderinghowthehelldidhesurviveandwheredidhecomefrom,andhe’saveryenigmaticsortofaSamuelBeckett-typecharacter.Andsowithinacoupleoftakes,hejusthecameupwiththemostextraordinarybitofimprovisationinthemiddleofthescenethatwasjustheartbreakingandkindofhelpedshapethesceneinaveryquicktime.Thatwasgreat.Itwashardtoworkunderthoseconditions,andwhenyouhaveactorswiththatkindofwealthofexperience,youkindofwishyouhadmoretimetodostuff.Butherosetochallengeandbeyond."

TheproducersdrawtheirownparallelsbetweenthecastingofDuvall,MortensenandSmit-McPhee,andjoboftheirrespectivecharacterswithregardtothethemeofthestory,about"carryingthefire,"throughaworldofadversityintoafutureofhope.Thescenearoundthecampfirewiththeoldman,theboyandhisfather,saysPaulaSchwartz,"hasthreegenerationsofactorsinit.There’sKodiSmit-McPhee-thebuddingstar,theboy-there’sthefather-ViggoMortensen,anestablishedstar-andthenthere’sthelegendarystar-RobertDuvall.Soit’sverysymbolictome-thereisamessageinthis.Itisnotatutorial,butthere’sthecontinuity,there’stheevolution,andthere’sthiscontinuation:carryingthefire.Andthefireisthesymboloflife,thesymbolofsurvival,whichiswhatthemovie’sallabout.Theboyiscarryingthefire.Thefatherisprotectingtheboy.Andthatwasverytouching."

Onthedaytheyfilmedthescene,thesetwashushed,andeveryoneknewthatsomethingmagicalwastranspiring."Itwasanincredible,verytouchingscene,"PaulaSchwartzcontinues,describingthesetupwhereRobertDuvall'scharacter"hasacceptedaninvitationtositbythecampfirewiththemanandtheboy.Andit’sverypoignantbecauseyoucanseetheadmirationforthisoldman,whohaswithstoodthecatastrophe,theapocalypse,andboththefatherandtheboylisteningtohiswisdomaboutwhythishappenedandwillpeopleeversurvive.ItwasmemorablebecauseRobertDuvallis77yearsoldnowandhehastremendouswisdomandenergyinhisvoicethatiscatching.Itwasamagicalscene."

RoundingoutthecastofsupportingcharacterswhowereonlyciphersinthebookwereTheVeteran,aruggedsurvivalist,oneof"TheGoodGuys"whobecomestheultimateprotectoroftheboyoncehenearstheendofhisjourney,andTheThief,acraftymanwhostealseverythingfromtheboyandhisfather.

"I’mreallythrilledwiththecastthatwemanagedtogetandthevarietyofdifferentcharacters,"saysHillcoat."Icouldn’tthinkofanyonebutGuyPearceastheveteranandwewerejustveryfortunatethatwewereabletogethim.WewantedtoconveythatthereareallthesepeoplewanderingaroundthisnewworldfightingforsurvivalandGuycertainly,likeViggo,hassomesimilarqualities-youcanimaginehimsurviving.Addingtothemixtureofpersonalities,MichaelK.Williamsbroughtagreatkindofmoreurban,streetthingtothethief,whereasGarretDillahunt,whoplaysoneoftheroadgangtruckers,addedakindofmorecountry,hick,backwater-typethingtoit.AndMollyParker(MotherlyWoman)wasjustgreatfortheendingIthink-averydifficultroletopulloff,becausesheendsthefilmwithKodi.Andreallyforthemthechallengewhichwastogetacrosstheirdamageinafairlyshorttime,screentime,togiveyouasenseofwherethey’vecomefromandthekindofemotionaldamage-thatthey’veallendured."

MortensensaystheproductionwasfortunateindeedtogetsomestrongactingtalentsothattheentirefilmisnotjustabouthimandKodi."Johnhascastthemoviewellit’snotjustthetwoofus,"hesays."ObviouslyGuyPearce,whoplayedthemainroleinTHEPROPOSITIONforJohnHillcoat,playsapivotalroletowardstheend.Veryinterestingcharacterhedidthatreallywell.HeandKodiinteractedwell.MollyParker,MichaelWilliamsisgreat.Everybodythat’scomeintodothesesequenceswherethefatherandsonactuallyrunintopeoplehavebeengreat,havebeenperfectlycast.We’vebeenlucky… luckyinalotofways."

ForHillcoatandhisteam,themissionwastoconveythehorrificaspectofaravagedworldwithoutresortingtowell-wornclichésfromtheend-of-theearthgenre.Hismaingo-topeopleinthisrespectweretheeditorJohnGregory,theproductiondesignerChrisKennedyandthecostumedesignerMargotWilson-allofwhomhe'dworkedwithbeforeandhadthecomfortlevelandfilmmaker'sshorthandtogetthejobdone.

"AftermyexperiencewithTHEPROPOSITION,I’dbeveryhappytoworkwiththemfortherestofmydays,"hesays."WhatIloveaboutbothChrisandMargotistheireyefordetail.Therichnessoftheirunderstandingofthematerialgoessobeyondwhattheirofficialpositionsdesignate.Margotreally,likeChris,reallygetsintothecharactersandwhythey’redoingthings,whatthethemesareandhowtheyshowupintheirsurroundings.Whatthatsaysaboutthem."

Thedirectornoteshowtheteam'ssensibilityshowedupintheinterpretationofthematerial."WewantedtoavoidtheMadMaxkindofthingthathasdefinedthepost-apocalypticgenrebecauseitwassuchalandmarkinthatgenre.Sowethoughtabouttheimageryinthebookandwhatsprungtomindistheshoppingtrolleyandtheskijacketsandthegrimeandallthatandplasticbagsandtapinguprunnersandstuff.Whatthatimmediatelybroughttomindwasthehomelessineverymajorcityintheworld.Thisunderclassislivingthatapocalypticworldofday-to-daysurvivalonthestreetswithnomoneyandnofood.

"Sothatwasourreferencereally.Margotcollectedloadsofpicturesandshewaskeepinganeyeoutonthatwholeworldofbeinghomelessandsurvivingonthestreets.Andhenceshetookthatfurtherwhereitwasplasticlininginthejacketsbecausetheworldwassocoldtokeepwarmandthewaypeoplewouldrecyclebitsofclothing.It’sjustfantasticallydetailed."

WhenMargotreadthescript,shesays,shehadbeensentphotographsofsomeofthelocations,andshebegantopiecetogetherthetypesofcharactersthatlivedinthem."IreaditaboutfivetimessoIcouldgetbeyondthesortofsadnessandthefeelingandfromalltheemotionsthatthatscriptevokes,"shesays."Oneminutethere’shopeandthenthere’ssadness-ittakesyouthroughthewholegamut.That’swhereIstartedfeelingthislovestorybetweenthesetwopeople,ViggoandKodi.

"Johnsentmeawholelotofphotographsalongwithhisstylenotes,"shecontinues."Butalotofmyresearchcamefromthehomeless,unfortunately,becausethey'repeoplethatreflectwhatthatworldwouldbe.They’vegotnoclothing,they’vegothardlyanyfoodandtheyjustmakedowithwhatthey’vegotandreallythat’swhatourcharactersare.Thelocationphotosgavemeasenseofthebareness,ofthenothingnessreallythatweweredealingwithandbeautiful,starklandscapes.Nocolouranddreary,butpoeticatthesametime."

Hermethodwasthentothinkaboutthecharactersandmakesketchesofwhattheywouldlooklikeintheirimprovisedoutfits."WhenIreadthescriptIknewwhothecharacterswereandthatalwayshelpsbecauseyou’rethinkingaboutwhotheactorsareandbringingthemtogetherwiththecharacters,listeningtothewordsthattheirsaying,developingwhattypeofpeopletheyare,"shesays."Iwantedtheaudiencetolookatagarmentandseesomethingfamiliaraboutitandrecognizeitasclothingthatweweartoday."

Onceshesettledonalookforthecharacter,therewerehoursofpainstakingwork,"aging"thegarments,manyofwhichwerepickedupatsecond-handstores.Carewastakentouseclothingthatdidn'tmatch-everythinginthisworldwouldhavebeenscavengedandadaptedforutility-warmth,shelterfromtheelements,ruggedness-notstyle.

Shealsocameupwithaphilosophyoflifeontheroadthatextendedtoallthecharacters.Itamountedtoportability,layersandasubstancethatwillprobablyoutlastusall-plastic.

"Wehadtothinkaboutalotofclothing,obviously,thelayers.Ifyouhaven’tgotanythingintheworldandyouaretravellingacrossAmericatotryandfindsafetyyou'recarryingyourhomeonyourback.So,thelayerswereincrediblyimportant.ForViggo,westartedoffwithhe’sbroughthistee-shirtfromhome,he’sbroughtacoupleofshirts,ahoodietokeephisheadwarm,gloves,endlesspairsofsocks,shoes.Butit’snotlikeyouthink,'Yes,youcanputalotinabagandwe’lljustcarrythelot.'Hehadtothink,'WhatfeasiblycanIcarryaroundonmyback?'Theycan'tbecarryingendlessluggagearound."

That'swherethephilosophyofcostumedesigninterfaceswiththemise-en-scène,shesays."You’vegottosortofthinkofitfromaminimalisticview,thatit’salmostlikeyou’regoingcampingandIcanonlytakeacertainamountwithmeandwhat’sgoingtokeepmewarmanddry?Forkeepingthemdryweusedshowercurtains.He’sfoundthatsomewherealongtheroadandturnedthemintoaraincoat.Sohe’shadtoutilizecertainthingsthathe’sfoundalongtheroad.

"WithKodi,whenhewasbornalltheshopshadgone,therewasnoelectricity,thatsortofstuffsoIbroughtintheideathatthefatherandmotherhaveputtogether.ItwasViggo’spantsthatthey’vemadeshorter;theygotoneofhisjumpersandstapledittogetherwithstaples.He’sgotabiggershirtonandthecoatisacoatthattheyhad,hisparka,inthehouse,theshoesaretoobigforhim,hisglovesarefartoobigforhimbecausetheycan’tjustgoandbuyit.WithViggo’sshoes,he’swalkingacrossAmericasoweneedtogetcomfortableshoesforhim.Hejusthasthatonepairofshoesandovertheyearstheyeventuallystarttofallapartsoweagedthemheavilyandthenputducttapearoundthem.Hecarriesarollofducttapeandmendsbitsofhisclothingwithit.Hetapesuphiswoundfromthearrowwithit.

"Alltheselittleelementsgotogether.Hecarriesplasticbagswithhimandwrapshisfeetinplasticbagsbecauseplasticdoesn’tbreakdownandit’sonethingthatkeepsyouwarmsothatcameinveryhandybutIalsowantedtoshowthat,IusedplasticbagsonRobertDuvall’scharacterandalsothethiefbecauseIwantedtoshowthatplastic,whateverhappenstotheworlditwillbeonethingthatwillsurvivebeyondeverythingelse".

ThestoryofTHEROADisbleakindeed,butitisaboutsurvival,andunderneaththatisastoryofhopefortheworldwherethepossibilityofannihilationhascomesoclosetoallofusthatit’snicetoknowthatwecouldgooneveniftherewasacatastrophe.

FortheSchwartz’s,asSteveSchwartzsays,"Therewasneveraquestionforusaboutwhetherwewantedtomakethismovieafterwereadthemanuscript.Sincethemid-20thcentury-sincetheinventionoftheH-Bomb-peoplehavebeenwonderingifmankindhasbeenfacingitslasthurrah.Butitseemssincethestartofthiscentury,there’sevenmoreperilateveryturn.Peoplearemoreandmoreengagedwiththethoughtoftheendoftheworld.AndTHEROADpaintsapicturethatis-initsdevastationandinitsrealismthatyoujustcan’tturnawayfrom.Butifthat’sallitdid,wewouldn’tbeinterested.Inasensetheworldisredeemedbythefatherandthesonandtheirlove,andattheendthereisaglimmerofhope."

Butmakenomistake,headds,THEROADisahorrorstory,aneco-disaster,post-nuclearapocalypsehorrorstory,butahorrorstorynonetheless.Since9-11,peoplehavehadgoodreasontobescared,and"peoplearegoingtobescaredastheywatchthis.Ihopepeoplewillthinkit’sasmartscarymovie,andofcourseifyou’resmarttoday,there’salottobescaredabout.Butbecauseitissorealistic,it’sveryscary.AndHillcoatisageniusatcreatingthekindoftensionbothon-screenandoffthatmakesyousquirminyourseat."

Butitisabouthopeintheend-carryingthefire.Totheboy,thatisaprocessofstayingthecourse."Theboydividespeopleupintotwocategories.Whathe’slearnedfromhisfatheristhegoodguysaretheonesthatdon’teatpeopleandthebadguysaretheoneswhodo,"saysPaulaMaeSchwartz,"andthat’swhyhesaystotheveteran-whohemeetsafterhisfatherdoesdie,'Areyouoneofthegoodguys?'Doyoueatpeopleornot?"

"Forme,thescarypartisthesearen’tzombieseatingpeople-thesearepeopleeatingpeople-peoplelikeus,"saysSteveSchwartz.

"Theearthitselfisacastmember,"hecontinues."Wedon’tsignalthecauseoftheapocalypse,butit’sapparentthattherehavebeenprofoundalterationstotheplanet,andthey’renotgood.That’sasimplestatement,buthowdoyouexecutethat?Andoncewegotintothenitty-grittydetailsofthat,yourealizethatyouhavetocomeupwithasetofrulesforhowyou’regoingtoaltertheplanet,andthoseruleshavetobeconsistent.IwasveryimpressedearlyonwithJohnHillcoat’swillingnesstogethisarmsaroundthisandtomakesurethatthenewworldwecreatedwasinternallyconsistent.Hillcoat’svisionwasalwaysveryclear.Hehadaprofoundvisionanditnevervaried.Hesawthisveryclearlyfromthegetgo,andhasstucktothisvision,andIthinktheresultingfilmrevealsthisverycoherentvisuallyinterestingnewworld."

"CormacMcCarthy’sbookstartsaftertheapocalypse.That’sintentional,ofcourse,"PaulaSchwartzadds."Ithinkoneoftherealthought-provokingresultsofthatisthatpeoplearegoingtobemuchmoreawareofthemultitudeofcausesthatcouldhavereallycausedtheendoftheearthsothatthey’dbeawareoftheenvironmentalcause,thepossibilityofanuclearwar,thepossibilityofaplanetaryevent,likeacomet,butIthinktheawarenessofthefragilityoftheearthisveryimportanttothestory-thatweallhavetobecareful."

Whenhevisitedtheset,McCarthywasveryhappywiththechoicesoflocations-inparticularNewOrleans,wheretherehasbeenanactualnaturaldisaster.Natureandtheenvironmentaresoimportanttothisfilm.

"WhatIreallylovedaboutthebook,"saysHillcoat,"andwhatIloveaboutCormacMcCarthyishe’ssokindofunflinchinginexploringthedepthsofhumanityandnotshyingawayfromjusthowscarywereallyareandhowwe’reourownandtheentireplanet’sworstenemyandalwayshavebeenandalwayswillbe.Andyetwhatisextraordinaryaboutthebookthatisn’tinhisotherbooksisthatincredibleemotionalrichnessandtendernessbetweenthefatherandthesonatthecoreofthestory.

"Andtheworld.WhatIlovedaboutthebookaswellwastherewasnodiscussionorbuild-upofactuallywhathappened.Youdon’tevenknowwhathappened.Therewassomuchstuffthatwasleftunsaidinthewayitshouldbeleftunsaidbecause,youknow,ifadisasterofthatscale,whetherit’snuclearoracometorwhicheverwayitgoes,anydisasteronthatscalewouldimmediatelyfromthatdayonitwouldbeirrelevantaboutexactlywhathappenedandwhatcausedit.Fromthatdayonpeoplearefightingtocopewiththeradicalchange,andthewayhekindofkeptthatonaknifeIthoughtwasoriginalandquitehauntinganddisturbing.Itfeltparticularlyrealandparticularlyrelevantforthesetimes."

"Itisabiblicalstory,"saysPaulaSchwartz."Thestoryofthetriumphofloveoverevil,andwefeelthatitwillgivepeopleagoodfeelingwhentheyleavethetheatre-thatthereishope."

AboutthePhysicalProduction

Inamovieinwhichtheplanetisacentralcharacter,itbecamecrucialforthefilmmakerstofindagreatdealofvariedterrainthatreflectedthechangingsceneryastheboyandhisfathermadetheirwayfromamountainousregionacrossthecountrythroughrollinghillsandfinallytotheocean.Andsincetheplanetisonebigdisasterarea,theyhadtofindmanyruined,abandonedordevastatedlocationsaspossible.

Overalongpre-productionperiod,morethan50locationswerescoutedwhichsuitedtheproduction'sneeds.ThemajorityofthesewerefoundinPennsylvania,withnotabledetourstotheshoresofLakeErie,theKatrina-hitareasofLouisianaandsomeareasinOregon.

"SinceCormacnevertellsuswhattheapocalypticeventis,we’vedecidedtolookaroundtheUnitedStatescontemporaryeventsthatwouldlookliketheywereapocalypticevents,"saysWechsler."SoNewOrleansgivesusagreatopportunitytoshowwhatcanhappenwithanaturaldisaster.ThereareotherareasintheUnitedStatesthatwerecausedbyfire,byvolcano,byhumandecayandthetragedyofsocietymovingfromonepartofcivilizationtoanotherpartofcivilizationintermsoftheapplicationofmoneyandresources.Sowe’retakingadvantageofman-madeandnaturaleventsaroundtheUnitedStates."

"ThefilmcrewdecidedthattherewerealotoflocationsinandaroundPittsburghthatcouldbeveryuseful,"Wechsleradds,"especiallyanabandonedturnpike,whichisnotfaraway,aswellasabandonedcoalmines,surfacecoalmines,coaldumpingareasthatwouldgiveaqualityofblackenedearththatwecoulduse.Pennsylvaniahadsomebeautifulwinterlandscapesthatwereusefulandthefilmcommissionandthepeopletherewereincrediblyfriendlyandincrediblyreceptive,soitmadeitagreatplacetobaseourfilm."

Fortheproductiondesigner,ChrisKennedy,thescriptbyJoePenhallfairlywelllaidoutthecoursehewouldtakeinsettingupthelongandarduousshoot."WhenIreadthescreenplay,Iwasprettyimpressedbyhowtheyhadmanagedtotranslateitfromthebook,"hesays."Joemanagedtopulloutallofthekeydialoguebecausereallymostofthebookisthemanthinking.It’skindoftheambientsenseoftheworldthroughhiseyes,whichwasthekeytohowtothinkaboutvisualizingit.Plus,weintendedtousereallocations,soitwasprettymuchstraightawayamatteroffindingoutwheretheymaybe.Sotherewasalongsearchforplacesacrossthecountrythatwecoulduse."

WhenthedecisionwasmadetobasetheproductioninPennsylvania,Kennedywasexcitedbythepossibilities."It’sclearlysetinAmerica;it’saboutthingsAmerican.IdidahugesearchonthewebwhileIwasinAustraliabeforeIcameoutandIprettyrapidlyrealizedthatthere’saheapofabandonedanddestroyedtowns,cities,landscapeshere,muchmoresothaninAustralia.TherewasawholecollectionofthingsthatgotmereallyexcitedonceIrealizedthatthePennsylvaniacoalminingareas-theabandonedturnpikedowninBreezewood,eightmilesofabandonedfreeway -allthosethingsthatarejustquitespectacular.It’sTheRoad,soitseemedlikethisroadactuallybecamelikeakeystonetowhytocomehereinthefirstplaceandthensearchedoutfromthereandfoundallsortsofthings.Andherewehavedeciduoustrees,whichisakeytothewholetheme-adeadlandscape.IkindofcoveredthewholeofAmericainmyresearch,andthenorthernareaswithdeciduousforestsinawinterlandscapewereobviouslytheplacetostart.

"Pennsylvaniahascoallandscapes,devastatedminingareas,coalpiles,flyashpiles,likeblackenedlandscape.Soit’sacombinationofelements-adepressedsocio-economicsituationinsuburbslikeBraddockandKeysport,winterlandscape;deciduoustrees;devastatedlandscape."

Kennedy'smodusoperandiwouldbetodohisresearch,findlikelyareasandsendphotosandnotestohislocationmanager,AndrewUllman,whobycoincidencewenttoschoolinoneofthePennsylvaniaareaswheretheyshot."Theyfoundtheareaorperse,andwesortoffoundtheplaces,"Ullmansays."Chriswasinteresting.Hekindoffedmesomematerialandsaid,'Thiswouldbeaninterestingareatodosomethinglikethis,'andthat’showwecameuponafewofthelocations."

OneofhisprizefindswasanoldthemeparkinConneaut,Pa.,whichservedasthesettingforsomefiresandarazedbuilding.Theplacewasaluckyfind,accordingtoUllman."Therearen’talotofthemeparksthatshowwear-and-tear,"heexplains,"andthisoneobviouslyisalakeparkover100yearsoldthathasgonethroughsomeunprofitablerestructuringandhencemetwithdecayandabandonment.Wewereabletomakethesefireshereandtheywerekindenoughtoholdofftearingthebuildingdownforus."

Thelakepark,hesays,"isadinosaur.Nobodycomestolakeparksanymore.Thiswasforthepeoplethatcouldn’taffordtogoanywhereelse.Theywouldhoponatrain,andthey’dcomeuphere,andthey’dsummerhereorspendaweekortwoweeks.Thiswasforthecoalminerstheworkingclass."

TheparametersofhisjobonTHEROADwerequitedifferentfromwhathe'susedto."NormallyIlookforbucolic,beautiful,youknow,orsomethinginterestinganditwasinterestingofChris-andJohn-tofindtheseiconicimages,thesegraphicimagesintheseruins."

Anothertopsy-turvyaspectofthefilmmakingwasthequalityoflightthecrewneededtosimulateaplanetdevoidofbrightsunlight."Weneedovercastweatherforsubduedlighting,"saysKennedy."We’retalkingaboutapost-apocalypticworldunderanuclearwinteroranequivalent.So,directsunlightisaproblem.Infact,JavierAguirresarobe,thecinematographer,says,'Thesunisourenemy.'BothhereandinOregonanotheraspectofwhyit’sgoodtoshootthereistheamountofovercastdaysintheperiodthatwe’rethere."

Whileotherfilmcrewswouldrejoiceatabrightsunnyday,thatiswhenTHEROADcrewgotdepressedandwentinsidetoshootinteriors."Workingoutinthesnowinextremelycoldweatherandinmudandinawfullydifficultconditions-ifit’ssnowingorraining,thenit’sgreat.Werushoutintoit,"Kennedysays."Ithinkittookpeopleawhiletogetthatintotheirheadthatactuallythisisanenvironmentalfilmthat’ssetoutinarealenvironment,andwhatwewantisthedramaofthat,notanice,clearday."

Mortensen,whoissuchanintenseincorporatoroftheenvironmentintohismethod,describestheday-fornightqualityoftheshootasatestofthesubconscious.OnthesetinOregon,aftermostofthegruellingweatherscenesarebehindhimandhe'spreparingforsomeflashbacksceneswithTheron,hemusesabouttheeffectoftheweatheronfilming."Westartedoutthewholeshootalmostalltheexteriors;we’vehadsnow,mud,rain,"hesays."Weareinsidenowshootinginteriorssowedon’thavetoworryaboutit.It’sthisbeautifullatespringdayhereinOregon.AndthismorningwasthefirsttimeintheshootwhereIactuallysatdownforasecondinthegrassandIjustlookedatthegreen,watchedabird.Iamsomeonewhoenjoysbeingoutdoors;Ilikethechangeofseasons.Iliketolearnabouttreesandflowers.Iaminterestedinplacesandnaturalplaces,butbecauseofthismovieI’veendedupthinkingalwaysaboutnogreen,nosun,noanything.

"Mostlywe’vebeenluckywiththeweatherinthatway,"hecontinues."Soinaway,forthefirsttimeinmylife,I’vedeniedthecomingofspringandIhavedeniedlifeinaway.That’swhattalkinthestoryaboutcarryingthefirereallymeanstome.Youcanreadthatmanyways,thatidea,beingsomeonewhoisaleaderinawayissomeonewhocarriesthefirealso.Butcarryingthefiremeanscarryingsomelifeforce,andbecauseeverythingisdeadaroundusit’sonustokeepthathopeoflife,ofspring,whateveryouwanttocallit,alive.It’sbeeninterestingthattodayIjustrealizedI’vebeengoingtosomequietbeautifulplaces,butlookingbutnotseeingthenaturalenvironment,andIhaveneverdonethat.Today,Iamstartingtoletgoalittle,andlook,it’sverynice!"

Thetaskoftranslatingaworldtotallydevoidofsunlightintothegrey-tonedbrushstrokesthatwerenonethelessphotographedincolour,thedesolateyetexcitingworldthat'supthereonthescreenfelltothedirectorofphotography,JavierAguirresarobe,aveteranof35productions,includingTHEOTHERSandVICKYCRISTINABARCELONA.

"Adulllandisverydifficultvisuallytobringtoafilm.Somylifebecamemoreenrichedwiththisfilmbutalsomoredifficult,"Javiersays.Buttohearhimtellit,hewouldn'thaveitanyotherway.

"Ithinkthemostimportantthingformeasadirectorofphotographyisfindingnewaspirations,newplaces,newspacesthatareabsolutelydifferentforme.IencounteredthiswithTHEROAD.It’sreallyisthefilmofmydreams,becausepartofthebookCormacMcCarthyportrayedanapocalypticland,alandnakedofsun."

AnearlydecisionbyJohnHillcoatwastokeeptheuseofCGI-computergeneratedimagery- toaminimum.Ifanything,theprocessingofthefilmstocktotakeoutsomeofthecoloursthatmighthavemadetheirwayintoitwastheprimaryuseofdigitalmanipulationonTHEROAD.

"Onthetechnicalside,IhavetosaythatI’veexperimentedalotwithdifferenttechniques,"Javiersays."Thefilmwillbetreatedindifferentwaysinthelabtogetthefilmvisuallytothepointwhereit’slookingwherewewantit.IfoundafantasticteamthatIhaveworkedextremelywellwithandtowhomIamverycloseandfranklyI’mecstatictohavebeenapartofTHEROAD.Ithinkit'sanincredibleprojectanditwasworththeeffortevenwiththemanychallenges.Thisisdaynumber59andthat’salotofdays.I’mnotsomuchtiredasmuchasIamparticularlysatisfiedwithajobthatIbelieveinvisually,andIfeelconfidentinsayingthat.THEROADisdefinitelythehighpointofmyprofessionallifeandIthinkit’salsothebiggestofallmyfilms"

Thebiggestchallengeforacinematographer,hesays,wasworkingwiththeweather,andmaintainingvisualcontinuityovermorethan50locationsand60daysofexteriorshooting.Andmaintainingthe"confidencetodothejobcorrectly.Becausethisisanexteriorfilm,we’realwaysoutsideanddealingwiththedifferentclimatesandthechangingweather.Icameupwithtwosayingsonthefilmthatbecamepopularwiththecrew.Oneis,'Thesunistheenemy'andtheotheris,'AnythingispossibleonTHEROAD.'Wewereactuallyveryluckywiththeweatherintheendandthesunstayedawaymostofthetime.

"Inthismovie,thesundoesn’texistandtheearthisapocalyptic.Thecolourgreendoesn’texist;infactcoloursdon’texistcinematicallyeither.Atnighttheonlylightandcolourisfromtheredfire.Weendedupusingalotoffireballstocreatethelight.Theyilluminatetheskyandgivethefilmanauthenticity,realness.

"Inthisfilm,thereisn’tamanipulationoflightsoramanipulationofthingsthatarereal,"headds."FormeIneedthepeoplewhentheyleavethetheatretohaveanimpressionofwhatcanhappentothisearthandthatthiscanhappentothem.Iwantthemtofeelwhiletheywatchthefilmthatit’srealandsincere.Ithinkthebiggestvictorywillbeiftheaudiencecanbelieveintherealityofthestorywhilewatchingitintheartificialworldofthetheatre-thattheyseethereisatruthtothisstory.

"Inrealityit’sarecreationbutitalsomorphswithrealityandthephotographyistheretoservethat.Tocreatetruelightandthetruthoftheapocalypticworld;thatismyrole."

Afteralonganddifficultshoot,JaviersaysheisblessedtohaveworkedonTHEROAD.Hetipshishattothetwopeoplewhocarriedtheburdenoffilming-andthefire.

"AnotherreasonIfeelverysatisfiedonthisfilmisbecauseofalotofpeople,butinparticulartwopeople,"hesays."OneofthemisViggoMortensenandtheotherisKodi,theprincipalprotagonists.IncreatingthissortofrealityIthinkIhavealsobenefitedfromtheirperformancebecausetheiractingformistrulynatural.It’sanextremelyluckycoincidencehavingtwoextraordinaryactorsforthisfilm.Ithinkthisisanotherofthemanycircumstancesonthisfilmthatleadmeonapathtogreatsatisfaction,makingafilmthatalotofpeoplearegoingtoremember.Iamtrulyconvincedofthat."

AbouttheCast

VIGGOMORTENSENasTheMan

ViggoMortensenhasconsistentlyearnedacclaimforhisworkinawiderangeoffilms,includingmostrecentlyEASTERNPROMISES,AHISTORYOFVIOLENCEandtheLORDOFTHERINGStrilogy.In2008,hewashonouredwithAcademyAward,GoldenGlobe,ScreenActorsGuild(SAG)andBAFTAAwardnominationsforBestActorforhisperformanceinEASTERNPROMISES,directedbyDavidCronenberg.Inaddition,MortensenwonaBritishIndependentFilmAwardandseveralcritics'groupsawardsforhisworkinthefilm.HehadpreviouslycollaboratedwithCronenberginthe2005dramaAHISTORYOFVIOLENCE,inwhichhestarredwithEdHarris.

MortensenearliersharedinaSAGAward,aCritics'ChoiceAwardandaNationalBoardofReviewAwardasamemberoftheensemblecastoftheOscar-winningBestPictureTHELORDOFTHERINGS:THERETURNOFTHEKING.HealsostarredintheprevioustwoinstalmentsoftheLORDOFTHERINGStrilogy,"THEFELLOWSHIPOFTHERING”and"THETWOTOWERS.”

Mostrecently,hestarredagainwithandwasdirectedbyEdHarrisinAPPALOOSA.Alsoin2008,MortensenstarredinGOOD,basedontheplaybyC.P.Taylor,whichexplorestheriseofNationalSocialisminGermany.ThefilmpremieredattheTorontoInternationalFilmFestival.

MortensenwasborninNewYorkCitytoanAmericanmotherandaDanishfather.Hisfamilytravelledextensively,however,andhespentmostofhisfirstelevenyearslivinginSouthAmerica.HelaterspentafewyearslivingandworkinginDenmark.HebeganactinginNewYork,studyingwithWarrenRobertson,andappearedinseveralplaysandmoviesbeforemovingtoLosAngeles.

MortensenmadehisfeaturefilmdebutasayoungAmishfarmerindirectorPeterWeir'sWITNESSandhassincedeliveredasteadystringofmemorableperformancesinmorethan40featurefilms.HehasreceivedpraisefromcriticsforhisworkinsuchfilmsasALATRISTE,G.I.JANE,AWALKONTHEMOON,LAPISTOLADEMIHERMANO,THEPORTRAITOFALADY,CRIMSONTIDE,CARLITO'SWAY,THEINDIANRUNNERandTHEREFLECTINGSKIN,tonameonlyafew.

Apartfromhisacting,Mortensenisalsoanaccomplishedpoet,photographer,andpainter.In2002,hefoundedPercevalPress,anindependentpublishinghousespecializinginart,poetryandcriticalwriting.Perceval'smissionistopublishtexts,imagesandrecordingsthatmightnototherwisebepresented.

Mostrecently,Mortensenexhibitedthephotographicseries"Skovbo"inIceland,attheReykjavikMuseumofPhotography,and"TheNatureofLandscapeandIndependentPerception,”withGeorgeGudni,atBergamotStationinSantaMonica.Pastshowsinclude"Miyelo”atboththeStephenCohenGalleryinLosAngelesandtheAddisonRipleyGalleryinWashington,D.C.MortensenhasalsoshownhisworkattheRobertMannGalleryinNewYorkCity,aswellasinNewZealand,DenmarkandCuba.InOctober2008,hisphotographicexhibition"Sådanset”openedinRoskilde,Denmark,atthePalæfløjenexhibitionspace.HisbooksofphotographyandwritingareavailablefromPercevalPress.

KODISMIT-MCPHEEasTheBoy

Kodileapedintoprominencein2007afterstarringoppositeEricBana,MartinCsokasandFrankaPotenteinthecriticallyacclaimedROMULUS,MYFATHER,directedbyRichardRoxbury.Forhisworkinthefilm,KodireceivedtheAustralianFilmInstitute'sYoungActorAwardandwasalsonominatedfortheInstitute'sBestLeadActorprize.HealsoreceivedtheBestNewcomerawardfromthe2007FilmCriticsCircleofAustralia.

Theyoungthespian - hewasbornJune13,1996 - comesfromanactingfamily.HisoldersisterSianoastarredonthepopularAustraliantelevisionshowNEIGHBOURS,andsherecentlylandedherfirstU.S.role,filmingtheHBOpilotHUNG,whichwaswrittenanddirectedbyAlexanderPayne.Kodi'sfatherAndyhasappearedindozensoffilmsandtelevisionshowsinhisnativeAustraliaandservesashischildren'sactingcoach.

BesidesROMULUSandTHEROAD,KodihadhadabusylasttwoyearsofactingwiththeAustralianfeaturefilmsSTRANDEDandENDOFTOWN,alongwiththetelevisionproductionsofStephenKing'sNIGHTMARESDREAMSCAPES.HealsoappearedinRichardFrankland'stheatreproductionWalkabout.

KodiSmit-McPheeandliveswithhisfamilyinMelbourneAustralia.Besidesacting,Kodienjoysskateboardingandmakingmusiconhiscomputer.

CHARLIZETHERONasTheWoman

Withherabilitytocaptureaplethoraofcharacters,Oscar-winningactressCharlizeTheronrelentlesslydemandstheaudience'sfullattentionassoonassheappearsonscreen.ThisSouthAfricannativeiscontinuouslybeingpraisedandadmiredforherinspiringandpowerfulperformances.

TheroncaptivatedaudiencesasfemaleserialkillerAileenWuornosintheindependentgemMONSTER.Forheremotionallydevastatingperformanceinthatfilm,shereceivedtheAcademyAward,theIndependentSpiritAwardandtheNationalBroadcastFilmCriticsAssociationawardforBestActress.ShealsowontheGoldenGlobe,ScreenActorsGuild,SanFranciscoFilmCriticsCircle,NewYorkFilmCriticsOnlineandSouth-easternFilmCriticsawardsandtheBreakthroughPerformanceAwardfromtheNationalBoardofReview.

CharlizewasnextseeninthedramaNORTHCOUNTRY,oppositeFrancesMcDormandandSissySpacekfordirectorNikiCaro.Basedonthereal-lifestoryofagroupofwomencoalminersandthehostileworkenvironmenttheyfacedonadailybasis,NORTHCOUNTRYreceivedgreatpraise.HerincredibleperformanceasJoseyAimesgarneredhernominationsforaGoldenGlobe,SAG,CriticsChoiceandanOscar.

TheronalsocaptivatedaudiencesinHBO'sTHELIFEANDDEATHOFPETERSELLERS,oppositeGeoffreyRush,forwhichshereceivedaBestSupportingActressnominationfromtheGoldenGlobes,ScreenActorsGuildAwardsandtheEmmys.

CharlizewasrecentlyseenasDetectiveEmilySandersinthefilmINTHEVALLEYOFELAHwrittenanddirectedbyPaulHaggis.SoonaftershereceivedravereviewsforherfilmSLEEPWALKING,inwhichshebothproducedandco-starredalongsideDennisHopper,WoodyHarrelson,NickStahlandAnnaSophiaRobb.

MostrecentlyshewasseeninHANCOCK,starringalongsideWillSmithandJasonBateman.DirectedbyPeterBerg,HANCOCKisanactioncomedywhichwasreleasedbySonyPicturesinthesummerof2008.Inaddition,TheronrecentlyfinishedfilmingandexecutiveproducingGuillermoArriaga'sdirectorialdebutTHEBURNINGPLAINinwhichsheplaysSylvia,awomanwhoisforcedtotakeanemotionaljourneytoridherselfofasinfromherpast.TheronstarsalongsideKimBasingerinthisupcomingdramaproducedby2929Productions.

MoviegoerswerefirstintroducedtotheseductivecharmofCharlizeTheroninherfeaturefilmdebut,MGM's2DAYSINTHEVALLEY,withJamesSpader,EricStoltzandJeffDaniels.Shehasalsobeenseenco-starringalongsideAlPacinoandKeanuReevesinDEVILSADVOCATE;withTomHanksinTHATTHINGYOUDO;andinJonathanLynn'sTRIALANDERROR.Inaddition,TheronstarredinWoodyAllen'sCELEBRITY,whichshethenfollowedwithMIGHTYJOEYOUNGwithBillPaxton.In1999TheronstarredintheOscar-nominatedTHECIDERHOUSERULESandinNewLineCinema'sTHEASTRONAUT'SWIFE,withJohnnyDepp.In2000,themuchin-demandTherontackledback-to-backrolesinthefollowingmovies:RobertRedford'sTHELEGENDOFBAGGERVANCE,withWillSmithandMattDamon,Fox2000'sMENOFHONOR,withRobertDeNiroandCubaGooding,Jr.,JohnFrankenheimer'sREINDEERGAMES,withBenAffleckandMiramax'sTHEYARDS,co-starringMarkWahlberg,JoaquinPhoenix,JamesCaanandFayeDunaway.

In2001,TheronilluminatedthescreenintheWarnerBrostearjerkerSWEETNOVEMBER,alongsideKeanuReeves,aswellasinWoodyAllen'sCURSEOFTHEJADESCORPION,co-starringHelenHunt,DanAykroydandDavidOgdenStiers.Inthefallof2002TheronstarredoppositePatrickSwayze,NatashaRichardsonandBillyBobThorntoninWAKINGUPINRENO.ShethenmovedontostaralongsideKevinBacon,CourtneyLove,StuartTownsend,PruittTaylorVinceandDakotaFanninginthefeaturefilmTRAPPED,directedbyLuisMandoki.

ROBERTDUVALLasTheOldMan

VeteranactorRobertDuvallreceivedhisfirstAcademyAwardnominationasBestSupportingActorforhisroleasCorleoneFamilylegaladvisorTomHageninTHEGODFATHER.In1979,DuvallearnedasecondOscarnominationasBestSupportingActorforhisroleastheCuster-likeKilgoreinAPOCALYPSENOW.Thenextyear,hedrewyetanotherAcademyAwardnomination,thistimeforBestActorasthemachoMarinepilotBullMeechuminTHEGREATSANTINI.HewashonouredwiththeAcademyAwardasBestActorforthe1983releaseTENDERMERCIES.HewasnominatedagainforTHEAPOSTLE,afilmhewroteanddirected,wonaGoldenGlobeforSTALINandreceivedaGlobenominationaswellashissixthOscarnominationforACIVILACTION.

Duvallmadehisscreendebutin1962'sTOKILLAMOCKINGBIRD.Inthenow-classicmotionpicture,Duvallplayedthepivotalroleofthemysterious,misunderstoodBooRadley.

HisimpressiverosterofadditionalfeaturefilmcreditsalsoincludesTHECHASE,COUNTDOWN,THEDETECTIVE,BULLITT,THERAINPEOPLE,TRUEGRIT,M*A*S*H,THX1138,THEGREATNORTHFIELDMINNESOTARAID,JOEKIDD,THECONVERSATION,THEGODFATHERPARTII,THEEAGLEHASLANDED,THEKILLERELITE,NETWORK,THESEVENPER-CENTSOLUTION,TRUECONFESSIONS,THEPURSUITOFD.B.COOPER,THENATURAL,LET’SGETHARRY,DAYSOFTHUNDER,COLORS,RAMBLNGROSE,FALLINGDOWN,GERONIMO,WRESTLINGERNESTHEMINGWAY,THEPAPER,THESCARLETLETTER,PHENOMENON,THESIXTHDAY,JOHNQ,DEEPIMPACT,GONEIN60SECONDS,GODSANDGENERALS,OPENRANGE,SECONDHANDLIONSandKICKINGANDSCREAMING.In2007,heappearedinLUCKYYOU,withDrewBarrymoreandEricBanaandWEOWNTHENIGHTwithMarkWahlbergandJoaquinPhoenix.

DuvallformedButchersRunFilmssothathecouldbecomemoreactivelyinvolvedinallaspectsoffilmandtelevisiondevelopmentandproduction.InJuneof2006,hiscompany'sminiseriesBROKENTRAILairedonAMCtothedelightof10millionviewers.BROKENTRAILgarnered16EmmynominationsaswellasthreeGoldenGlobenominationsandaDirectorsGuildAward.TheButchersRun'sfirstco-production,AFAMILYTHINGinwhichDuvallco-stars,earnedaHumanitasAward.HeexecutiveproducedtheTNTOriginalTHEMANWHOCAPTUREDEICHMANN,inwhichDuvallportrayedthechillinglyremorselessNazibureaucrat,AdolphEichmann.Inthebeginningof2001,hewenttoArgentinatodirect,write,produceandstarinASSASSINATIONTANGO.Theactorisworld-renownedasadevoteeoftheclassictango.

DuvallrecentlyproducedthefeatureCRAZYHEART,starringJeffBridgesandMaggieGyllenhaal,withTBoneBurnettcomposingthesoundtrack.HewasalsorecentlyseeninFOURCHRISTMASESwithVinceVaughnandReeseWitherspoon.

GUYPEARCEasTheVeteran

Oneofthemostversatileactorsofhisgeneration,PearcemadehismarkoveradecadeagoplayingaprettyyoungdragqueeninTHEADVENTURESOFPRISCILLA,QUEENOFTHEDESERT.Thefilmwasacriticalandbox-officehit,becomingoneofthe10mostsuccessfulAustralianfilmsofalltimeandreceivinganOscar,twoGoldenGlobenominations,twoBAFTAsandnumerousAFInominations.Guy'sdiversearrayorrolessincethattimeincludeEdExleyintheslickcrimedramaLACONFIDENTIALandthecomplexamnesiacLeonardShelbyintheintelligentthrillerMEMENTO.MorerecentlyPearcestarredasCharlieBurnsinJohnHillcoatandNickCave’sIFAward-winningfeature,THEPROPOSITION.

PearcealsoappearedinTWOBROTHERS,fromacclaimedFrenchdirectorJean-JacquesAnnaud(SEVENYEARSINTIBET);theHGWellsadaptationTHETIMEMACHINE,directedbytheauthor'sgreatgrandsonSimonWells;thebig-budgetadaptationoftheDumasnovelTHECOUNTOFMONTECRISTO;andthedramaFIRSTSNOW,shotinNewMexicoforfirst-timefeaturedirectorMarkFergus.In2006,GuystarredasAndyWarhol,oppositeSiennaMillerintheEdieSedgwickbiopicFACTORYGIRL,directedbyGeorgeHickenlooperfromTheWeinsteinCompany.

MICHAELKENNETHWILLIAMSasTheThief

Williams'careerbeganwhenhewasaNewYorkCitystreet-dancerandchoreographer,workingonover50musicvideosandnationalconcerttours.CatchingtheeyeoffashionphotographersDavidLaChapelleandStevenKlein,Michaelwasliterallypulledoffthestreetandintoamodellingcareer.Hesoonbeganworkinginnumerousrunwayshowsandfashionshoots.ItwasthroughtheseearlyphotographsbroughthimtotheattentionofTupacShakur,whochoseMichaeltoplayhisbrotherinthefilmBULLET.ThatpictureledtoaroleinBRINGINGOUTTHEDEAD,directedbyMartinScorsese.

Earlyinhiscareer,Michaeladdedhisloveoftheatretohispassionforacting.HeworkedwiththeLaMamaTheatreinNewYorkandappearedinvariousproductionswiththeprestigiousNationalBlackTheatre.

NamedbyUSATodayasoneofthe"10BestReasonstoWatchTelevision"andBarackObama'sfavourite,MichaelKennethWilliamsplayedOmarLittleonHBO'sTHEWIRE,andisoneofthefewseriesregularstohaveappearedonallfiveseasonsoftheshow.Achievingcriticalacclaimandaloyalfanbase,Michaelhasbeennominatedfora2007NAACPImageAwardforOutstandingActorinaDramaSeries.DirectorJJAbrams,ahugefanofTHEWIRE,createdarecurringrolejustforMichaelonhisABC-TVseriesALIAS.Inaddition,WilliamshashadrecurringrolesandspecialguestappearancesonLAWANDORDER,LAWANDORDER:SVU,SIXDEGREES,THESOPRANOS,CSI,BOSTONLEGALandrecently,asthegiftedsniperinKILLPOINT,starringoppositeJohnLeguizamoandDonnyWahlberg.

Hands-onstarEdwardNortoninsistedonMichaelfortheroleastheHarlemBystanderinTHEHULK.Michael'sotherrecentfilmworkincludesascene-stealingcameoinITHINKILOVEMYWIFE,directedbyChrisRock;asympatheticdetectiveinGONEBABYGONE,BenAffleck’sdirectorialdebut;MIRACLEATST.ANNA,directedbySpikeLee;andastarringroleoppositeSanaaLathanandMatthewBroderickinWONDERFULWORLD.HecanalsobeseeninthenewMichaelCuesta(L.I.E)film,TELLTALE,starringoppositeJoshLucas.MichaelrecentlywrappedworkonBROOKLYN'SFINEST,directedbyAntoineFuqua(TRAININGDAY),withDonCheadle,RichardGereandEthanHawke.

UpcomingfilmreleasesforMichaelincludedirectorJonathanD.Rosenbaum'sTHEPERFECTAGEOFROCK'N'ROLLandtheUNTITLEDTODDSOLONZPROJECT.

GARRETDILLAHUNTasGangMember

GarretDillahunt'sresumeshowsdiversityfromanactorwhocanmorpheffortlesslyfromroletorole.HeisprobablybestknownforhisworkonthecriticallyacclaimedHBOseriesDEADWOOD,whereheportrayedtwoentirelydifferentcharacters - theassassinJackMcCallandthecomplexanddeadlyFrancisWolcott.RecognizingDillahunt'stalentinhisfirstincarnation,executiveproducer/writerDavidMilchcreatedasecondcharacterforhim.Dillahuntalsoco-starredintheHBOseriesJOHNFROMCINCINNATIfromproducerMilch.

HeportrayedaveryaccessibleJesusChristinthecontroversialNBCseriesBOOKOFDANIEL.DillahunthashadrecurringrolesonER,USANetwork'sTHE4400andF/X’sDAMAGES.HehasgueststarredinmanyTVseries,includingNUMBERS,LAWORDERandCSI.

Previously,hegarneredattentionfromthecontroversialSundanceGrandJuryprize-winningTHEBELIEVER,andtheOscar-nominatedshort,BYCOURIER.HealsohasbeenseenintheCoenBrothers'Oscar-winningdramaNOCOUNTRYFOROLDMEN,oppositeTommyLeeJones.DillahuntportrayedabefuddleddetectivewhoworkedwithJonesandprovidedsomemuch-neededcomicreliefinthefilm.InTHEASSASSINATIONOFJESSEJAMESBYTHECOWARDROBERTFORD,DillahuntportrayedEdMiller,aJamesgangmember - asimple,brutalbutloyalmanwhosuffersthewrathofhisboss'paranoia - oppositeBradPitt,.

DillahuntstarsastheTerminatorintheFoxBroadcastingseriesTERMINATOR:THESARACONNORCHRONICLES.”HerecentlycompletedfilmingasthebadguyKruginWesCraven’supcomingfeatureLASTHOUSEONTHELEFTandoppositeWynonaRyderinWATERPILLS.

Hehasanimpressivetheatricalresumeaswell,havingperformedextensivelyon-andoff-Broadway,andatsuchrespectedtheatrecompaniesasSteppenwolf,ACTSanFrancisco,SeattleRep,HuntingtonStage,WilliamstownandtheBerkshireTheatreFestival.

BorninCaliforniaandraisedinWashingtonState,hestudiedJournalismattheUniversityofWashingtonandwentontoearnhisMFAatNewYorkUniversity'srenownedgraduateactingprogram.HeresidesinbothLosAngelesandNewYorkandismarriedtoactressMichelleHurd.

MOLLYPARKERasMotherlyWoman

Anactressoffierceintelligence,aswellasbothstrengthanddelicacy,MollyParkerconsistentlygarnersacclaimforhercraftaswellasherbold,diversechoicesincharacters.SheiscurrentlystarringonthehitCBSdramaSWINGTOWN,fromcreatorAlanPoul(ROMEandBIGLOVE).

Parker’sfilmcreditsincludeHOLLYWOODLAND,withBenAffleckandDianeLane;MattBissonnette'sindependentfeatureWHOLOVESTHESUN,oppositeLukasHaasandAdamScott;RodrigoGarcia’sNINELIVES,whichtoppednumerouscritics’bestfilmsof2005lists;GilliesMacKinnon'sPURE;WayneWang’sCENTEROFTHEWORLD,whichgarneredheranIndependentSpiritAwardnomination,BestFemaleLead,oppositePeterSarsgaard;theGoldenGlobe-nominateddramaSUNSHINE,inwhichsheco-starredwithRalphFiennesandRachelWeisz;KeithGordon'sWAKINGTHEDEAD,withBillyCrudupandJenniferConnelly;NeilLaBute’sremakeofTHEWICKERMAN,starringNicolasCage;MennoMeyjes'MAX,co-starringJohnCusack;andMichaelWinterbottom’sacclaimedWONDERLAND.

ParkeralsostarredinWiebkevonCarolsfeld'sMARIONBRIDGE,whichearnedheraGenieAwardBestActressnomination;LOOKINGFORLEONARD,whichshealsoexecutiveproduced;thecomediesMENWITHBROOMSandLASTWEDDING,forwhichshereceivedGenieAwardnominations;RAREBIRDSwithWilliamHurt;JeremyPodeswa'sTHEFIVESENSESwithMaryLouise-ParkerandtheVeniceFilmFestivalentrySUSPICIOUSRIVER.ParkermadeherfeaturefilmdebutasanalluringnecrophiliacinLynneStipkewich'sstunningKISSED,forwhichshereceivedaGenieAwardforBestActress.

ParkeriswidelyknownforherworkonHBO'scriticallyheraldedseriesDEADWOODasAlmaGarret,theformerNewYorksocietywomanwhoreinventsherselfbyworkingherclaim,adoptinganorphangirlandfallingforSethBullock(TimothyOlyphant).ShebeganarelationshipwithHBOwhensheappearedasRabbiAriontheaward-winningseriesSIXFEETUNDERandsubsequentlystarredwithHilarySwankandAngelicaHoustonasayoungsuffragetteinIRONJAWEDANGELS.AdditionaltelevisioncreditsincludeTWITCHCITY,theFoxminiseriesINTENSITYandthetelefilmSERVINGINSILENCE,withGlennClose.