Saturday, January 29, 2005

Fatal Frame .. aniacs?

What do you call yourselves?

For the fans of one of my other movie projects (not me, I have no fans, but the project does) -- we have a script that Mr. Spielberg likes. He plays the game with his son, by the way. He also knows what a "zergling" is. How cool is that?

We've brought a director on board. I don't think his deal's locked yet, but when it is, we'll announce.

Meeting yesterday on some script questions, honing, etc. Two young writers did the first draft, I batted clean-up. When I finish Transformers, I'll shine that sucker up and the director'll go off to prep while I begin my next project (which I'm not yet locked on, so I'll push off saying it). All told, we're really hoping to get Fatal in front of cameras for later this year.

Spoilers? No. But I will tell you, it happens in Japan, the camera's there, the mansion's there, and a variant of the backstory is there.

Now go follow the red butterfly into the village. I have work to do.

48 comments:

david golbitz said...

I knew I had heard somewhere that they were making a Fatal Frame movie. Sounds like you're all intent on keeping it close to the style of the game. Good deal. Nothin' like a good ghost story, y'know? None of this Grudge garbage. I watched that movie a couple of nights ago, and I kept waiting for Buffy to kick the crap out of these freakin' non-scary ghosts, and she was a wuss! Feh.

The Others, now that was a good, creepy, atmospheric ghost story.

Anonymous said...

I'm only familer with the basics of "Fatal Frame" but points to you for keeping it set in Japan. I used to live there and Japan is a great setting for horror stuff. I think it's becauase the ancient is right there, shoulder to should with the modern. That's something you just don't get in a young country like America.

Anyway, good luck with that project. There need to be more *good* movie adaptations of video games.

Personally, I'd love a big screen adaptation of "Skies of Arcadia." It's big sprawling adventure with a lot of great characters. But most of all it's fun. The heroes manage to stay upbeat despite all the bad things that happen and actually try to have fun on their adventure.

So few movies and video game today have a real sense of fun and wonder. That's rather sad, in my opinion.

Okay, enough rambling.

Unknown said...

Is there an American console version of Arcadia?

david golbitz said...

Skies of Arcadia is a Gamecube game. Came out a few years back, so it's probably pretty cheap by now, $20 or so.

Anonymous said...

Skies of Arcadia originally came out on the Dreamcast. I don't have a Gamecube so I've only played the DC version.

david golbitz said...

Yeah, that's right. I thought there was a different version of it, but couldn't remember what system.

Anonymous said...

The long and the short of it is the Dreamcast had the original version. A few years ago Skies of Arcadia was re-released on the Gamecube as Skies of Arcadia Legends.

"Legends" is generally considered to be "the director's cut" of SoA. It had new mini-games, locations, characters and so on. It generally adds about another 10 hours of gameplay. Last I heard a copy of the Gamecube version does indeed go for about $20.

That's a great deal for sure a fun game. I recommend it 100%!

http://www.planetdreamcast.com/soaworld/ has about the most complete info on all things Skies of Arcadia on the net. So if you want to learn a bit more about the game before giving it a shot you might want to drop by.

Anonymous said...

a video game movie?

I beg you not to sign onto, or write anything for any movie that includes Uwe Boll or Paul WS Anderson!

Unknown said...

Uwe Boll is a GOD. his rage is pure, like the rage of ZEUS!

Anonymous said...

Thankyou so much for posting this Mr. Rogers, it means a lot! :) I'm sure a lot of fans will appreciate it. ^_^ Heh, and it's cool to hear that Spielberg and his son play the games too. That's neat. Best of luck to you both!

-Laurean
PS. Several of the fans tend call ourselves 'Fatal Framers' or 'Framies'.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree with Laurean. I'm one of those 'Fatal Framers' and have been waiting to hear information on the movie. My friends and I thank you for your information so far on the project and good luck with Fatal Frame. ^^

And for the Transformer fans in my little circle, good luck with the movie! They can't wait to see it either.

Anonymous said...

Please, please, PLEASE, by all means, when you make the movie, do NOT turn it into a sex flick like they made Resident Evil Apocolypse, Final Fantasy X-2 or Thirteen Ghosts. For christ's sake, we want to se ghosts scare the life out of us, not Miku running around in a bikini like in the X-Box version of Fatal Frame 2 so when she gets grabbed by the ghosts it doesn't look like she's getting molested. I don't have a problem with women looking pretty, but PLEASE don't let that become the whole plotline of the story. Fatal Frame is a wonderful game and I can't wait for the movie to come out, but make sure you don't let Dreamworks or anybody go into the whole "sex sells" crap and stick to the "You don't need a bunch of blood and guts and guns and knives to make a scary game" theme. People who watch the movie will LOVE that.

Please don't let us down. I can't wait for the movie to come out. Do a good job, kk?

-Rose Dincht

Anonymous said...

Y'know here in Europe (or in tha game's native Japan for that matter) we can't be called 'Framers' no matter how ingenious a pun that is. Honestly. Punbelievable. It has the far more interesting and ambiguous title 'Project Zero' inherited from the Tecmo team responsible (as if you Framies... Framers... whatever didn't know that already). In the game perfectly timed shutter chances are still called fatal frames, but the title is, you know, less cheesy. Honestly, alliteration in Horror? There's a reason it's not called The 'Devious' Dead...

I guess here we could be called 'Zeroies', or 'PZers'... No they suck. 'Project Zero Fans' does us fine.

Let's hope that they're not as generally crap as videogame to film conversions so far invariably have been. Shame on you Resident Evil, Super Mario Bros., Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Tomb Raider etc. especially Resident Evil. George A Romero wrote a script that was rejected. ROMERO! YOU IDIOTS!

That post should be long enough.

Anonymous said...

hei. I just love Fatal Frame and why do they have to change title on video games? Like Resident Evil is somewhere known as Biohazard. Can't wait for the movie to be made, and it's hopefully going to be better than the Resident Evil flops, by my opinion.

Hope some great director, like mr. Spielberg, will do a video game-based movie for a change. That would have been something! Right? Any one has any idea who should play Miku if she's in it? Or the Twins from Crimson Butterfly?

Are you looking forward to Fatal Frame 3?

Anonymous said...

I agree with Rose. Fatal Frame shouldn't be one of those sex movies. It ruins the whole Fatal Frame storyline. It should be so terrifying you could go wee-wee in your pants while watching it. I have high expectations for this movie, please don't ruin it with a sex scene. Teenagers will probably watch it, so don't go and make it rated R...or as far as it goes. Thank You.

Anonymous said...

fatal frame is 1 of my favorite games for ps2 and xbox. when i heard they were makin a movie i freaked out. fatal frmae has the best story. its good their makin it in china. they should use chinese or japanese actor to do the parts. i also love japanese horror movies. fatal frame has the koolest and scariest play. who ever came up with camera that captures ghosts the were geniuses. my friends say the game isnt scary but it was scary to me. when the movie hits theaters i hope it will be an awsome movie cus im seein it alot. fatal frame the movie i hope will be awsome. spieldburg should play the game in fromt of the cast so they can get idea of the movie. it should be at least 2 hours. fatal frame rocks.

Anonymous said...

Okay.

Fatal Frame is the scariest video game ever created.

I'm begging you, PLEASE stay as true to the plot as you can. I don't want this to end up like the Resident Evil movies or the Doom movie that's coming out, where the real story plots are just thrown out the window.

I may not be in the position to give directing advice, but here's something I think would help. Concentrate on the ghost's faces. That's what makes them incredibly disturbing and scary. The most frightening moment for me in the entire two games of Fatal Frame was in the relative beginning of 1 where you open the door and Koji is standing behind it, and his face is just ICK. Also, try to make the movie scary the whole way through. A lot of horror movies have this thing where they're scary in the beginning, but as the tension builds they turn into "dumb action flicks". Keep in mind that there's not much action to these games, it's all about atmosphere.

Anonymous said...

OMG i am SO excited about this kuz mee and my friend ahve been playing both FF games for the LONGEST time and we r like SO all over the idea of the movie!! But question... Well two, 1. Are you going to use the actual mansion in which it happened?!?!?!?! That would b awsome!! and 2. If it sells well will there b a sequil? Kuz FF3 is coming out either late this year-early next year. And 2 was a prequil. So... AH!! I am just so happy!! ^^

richard said...

Personally I prefer to be called Richard, but that’s just me. I guess I’ve never really identified myself by the video game I was playing at the time. I mean I’m also a big fan of T. S. Eliot -believe it or not some of us out there who play video games do actually read sometimes even good literature- and I don’t refer to myself as a waste lander.

But anyway… I can’t even begin to explain how many times I’ve been playing this game -and silent hill which I also hear is in the works- and thought to myself what a great movie it would make. I’m glad someone else had the good sense to realize it too. Particularly since it was someone who actually is in the business of making movies. Furthermore hearing it was to come out of the company who released the last really good horror movie -the ring- in close to ten years if not one of the best horror movies ever was a great big ripe cherry on top. Just try to remember the lessons learned from the ring two, which was a great story but not even remotely scary.

I’m a huge fan of the horror genre and seeing as how the two best horror videogames out there are already in pre-production I don’t really have any other games to suggest for adaptation. However I do know of some great books. Anything by H. P. Lovecraft would be beautiful, as he’s only gotten the B-movie treatment so far. Out side of horror the Richard Bach novel Illusions: the adventures of a reluctant messiah would make a perfect movie as a vehicle for both amazing special effects and important content. Particularly in this day and age of religious fundamentalism. I’ve also always felt the Herman Hesse novel Narcissus and Goldmund would make a great movie. It’s got everything a studio could ask for, sex -which I only mention because people say it sells-, self discovery, the search for truth, friendship, death, and even the damn plague. But that’s all just food for thought. Hopefully for this little movie lover you’ll at least take a nibble at it.

Looking foreword to Fatal Frame with growing anticipation.

Well take care

www.saffirepassafist.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I was hoping that you would've posted more info about what is going on, as we have been in the dark for months now (not that we Framers mind being in the dark) has the production even started? I'm kind of scared that we don't know who is in it. Please do not pick Sarah Michelle Gheller of Katie Holmes. They cannot act. Period. Let's not turn what is an absolutely wonderful game into a sad sad day for all Fatal Frame Fans everywhere.

We Love You. lol

Anonymous said...

I am OBSESSED with Fatal Frame, but if they don't make the movie (graphics-wise) like the game? I won't like it. I'm sure. I don't want any stupid actors playing Miku, I want the well drawn Miku from the GAME in it. ^.^

Anonymous said...

Fatal frame hits the top of my list of favourite games. Always.

Many elements in part 1 and 2 have had scenes where suspense is built up right before a sudden action - the thrill that is achieved from that is brilliant.

Furthermore, the reverb and echoic kind of feel that has been added to the background music was a very great idea - especcially at the face that a lot of it had music that had creaky and distant creepy sounds with it.

I'm sure that great care will be placed into this to have precision on the thrilling effects of a freaky movie

Best hopes on the project,
TN

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy and excited that somebody finally decide to give Fatal Frame the respect it deserves and I really can't wait until the movie is in theaters! But I truely hope that Fatal Frame sticks to the horrifying plot like in the game, but I have no doubt that the backround will be any less scary! The one thing I'm alittle worried about is if you are going to use an American or Japanese cast. I pray that you decide to use an all Japanese cast or at least some mixed Asian actors. That way, the movie will seem more authentic, and it won't look strange having an American girl by the name of Miku. And I'm sure that would also make many, many other Fatal Frame fans very happy. I wish you much luck with this new movie!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey! Any news on progress? What story line will it follow? An original one, or from one of the three games? Anyone tried the third installment yet? Does it live up to the high expectations?

Have a nice day and a fairly good weekend... just don't exaggerate...

Anonymous said...

Yay Fatal Frame on the big screen. I can't wait! A good director and cast is all it needs now... and a soon release date!

Anonymous said...

I pray and hope that the facts from the gameplot follow through into the film. For example, don't change relations between the characters or change the characters' roles around. Keep the facts as clear and true to the game as possible. As for the cast, I believe sticking with an asian cast would benefit and make the film look more, as some have said, authentic. Also, it might also be nice to have some characters transfer over from the game. Just don't...make up a whole bunch of new characters and plot them into the storyline. It's too much like Resident Evil. The main characters in the game...should stay as the main characters in the film. A few new faces here and there might be okay...but if the story is set around those new people and not the main characters...it's definitely a let down for me and people who think like me. All in all...I hope the movie is created based on what Fatal Frame fans want and not what the rest of America wants. *nods*

Anonymous said...

January 2005 eh? Please tell me this is still under production, and that this is really the blog of someone involved.

I just got Fatal Frame 1 for christmas 2005 (yeah I know I'm running behind here - I guarantee that is about to change with the Fatal Frame series).

I am a huge horror fan, and almost nothing has made me jump like this in a long time. I could name two games and two movies in the last seven years that did anything for my adrenaline. Until now. Make that three games (and soon to add Fatal Frames 2 and 3).

Anyway, Yes, please do not change the storyline significantly. Please do not tamper with the characters significantly. Please no sex-fest ala Resident evil. Total agreement with the person who posted about so many ruined video game storylines (like Mortal Kombat). This has got to be the best horror game I have played yet (and I have played a LOT of them). Please stay true to the game, and could we please have an update letting us know that this is still happening here?

New Framer/Zeroer/whatever.
01/11/2006

P.S., If you are filming in the same mansion the story was based on, you are NUTS! Maybe that's why no word lately? You all got roped?

Anonymous said...

I heard that Fatal Frame is gonna flop and that you guys have had your thumbs up your asses for the past year. So blow me.

Anonymous said...

Ill try for a post-pubescent and slightly less immature post on the TOPIC that I know is lost somewhere way up there above all the nonsense.

Fatal Frame is by far my favorite horror series. I am very glad to lose the guns and chainsaws and take on a more intelligant perspective of horror. Im sure that if properly adapted, a film will be a masterpiece of horror in the Asian Port genre.

I have been increasingly converting over to Asian horror, which has given me the thinking scares that American pop-horror infestation has completely forgotten. I am glad to see so many US remakes and originals that are based on the Eastern ideas of what is terrifying. The older and refined audiences need something like this and I think that popularity will increase with saturation.

Give me a motiveless, unwavering, intelligent evil spirit over a shotgun and zombies anyday!

Anonymous said...

Ok - so what's the current news with this one? I haven't heard anything in OVER a year. I want to know if it's still a go, or otherwise???!?!?!?

Anonymous said...

azita
please sombody told me whats the cod of fatal frame1. the first door of that.i cant find it its too hard if some body know please pm me to azita_chester_linkinpark
thanks

アンド said...

I am less than optimistic. So far America has managed to destroy any horror movie they tried to remake or based on a game with their unique talent for removing anything that makes it what it is. American filtration so far has left me disappointed.

I mean…did you guy’s see “The Grudge”? Despite having the same director as the Japanese version, they still managed to extract the point of the story. The Americanised version was just confusing, and didn’t explain any of the finer, more interesting, points of the story.

With Fatal Frame, will the plot remain? Will the stars be Japanese? Are we looking forward to a film version of the game? Or is this just a very loose connection? Or are we to expect Team America to save the day?

”A ghost!”
”Eat flash scumbag!”
”U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!”

Anonymous said...

i just started to learn about the game yesterday....how loooonnnggg is this movie gonna take 2 comeout, will there b a fatal frame 2 and 3 movie in ur mind?will this movie stay on a path like the games...or will ppl twist it until it majorly suxs?

Anonymous said...

What happened to the Movie?

Anonymous said...

I watched the Silent Hill movie yesterday and felt very disappointed as a Silent Hill fan. It just didn't have the eerie atmosphere that put me on the edge the entire time when I played the game. I'm saying this because I just don't Fatal Frame to end up like that, too. I'm an extremely obsessed fan of the series and have always thought that it would make a kick ass movie. I agree with the "don't-make-it-focused-on-sex-or-sexyness". And please have awesome camera shots. I'm picky with camera shots.(Silent Hill would have been an awesome movie if Gans and his crew knew how to effectively use close-ups to creep out the audience.) I know it's going to be hard to make Fatal Frame not like the Ring, but if you stay as close to the original plot as possible (pretty please) I'm sure that it will work out. America is just stupid if they confuse any of the ghosts with Sadako (or "Samara" as they would say here.) I'm giving you major props for keeping it in Japan and I hear rumors of an Asian cast (It's alright if their not all Japanese, but Asian actors/actresses I'll take!)The movie industry has proven two things to me so far: 1) They just can't make ANY video game into a movie successfully and 2) They just can't make ANY Asian movie remake successfully! I'm handing over my beloved game for you to do what you can with her, so please, don't screw this up! Good luck!

Anonymous said...

What's going on? Are we still making a movie or is that not happening now?

Anonymous said...

I'm both ecstatic and wicked disappointed. Disappointed because I was hoping I'd be the guy they pick to direct it when the time came to make a Fatal Frame movie. Ecstatic because I just found out about this and as a filmmaker and a paranormal researcher I think Fatal Frame and Dreamworks is a great combination.
I throw down the gauntlet to whoever you guys pick to direct this film then. I hate to sound like everyone else on this thing chucking the same advice over and over again but if Fatal Frame is going to live up to it's namesake it has to go beyond being a game movie.
Forget that Fatal Frame was a game. Say it was a story that served an excellent combination of well-drawn characters, deep mysteries, and defenseless fear. If the movie has these three it can be a major hit in the states. I'm hoping I can take my friends to see this and throughout the whole movie feel tormented by the thought of what could happen if the main character fails (gets her limbs torn off, kills her twin sister, gets spirited away to a frankenstein mansion in another dimension for all eternity, that kind of stuff).

Anonymous said...

I have yet to see a scary movie that scare the leaving crap out of you from beginning to end. The RING is scary but on certain parts...like when Samara came out of the well and then everything else is just chatting and nothing happening. I want a movie that constantly scare the leaving crap out of you like Fatal Frame did in video game. That's why i think Fatal Frame game is not only the scariest game ever created, but the scariest thing i ever experience game or movie wise!!!

Anonymous said...

Man i can't wait for peple to start making the movie! it would be the greates! just like the movie that they made of silent hill! it was great people were so imprest by the fact that it kind of fallowed the game's camara modes, and it was just to impresive...i wish for fatal frame to become a movie! i'm sure that many people will love it for it is one of the scariest gave i have EVER played ^.^

Anonymous said...

wher wher wher is the movie? one year has passed :'(

Anonymous said...

Okay, You SERIOUSLY need to update! Is there or is there not going to be a movie? Its been forever! I mean the 3rd game is out! Come on! And The Grudge rules by the way! Yay, the second Grudge is coming out october 13th! Woot! Today is sept. 18th, 2006. Write back and answer me please! Is there a movie?

Anonymous said...

dont screw it up! make it just like the video game and dont put to much hollywood in it please fatal frame fans will be crushed to find out that the movie was ass! Please dont be cheesy like the other movies make it LIKE THE GAME!!!!

Anonymous said...

the real good think about the game is the story plz dont change the story like another movies based in games i ll give u a example
TomB Raider, Resident Evil.
If u gonna change somethin plz just let some principal characters of the game and dont change much the history of the game u know the great thing about Fatal frame is the History behind the ghosts and plz try to make THE MOVIE LIKE THE GAME dont TRY TO DO A NEW FATAL FRAME try to do a sequel of the history but plz dont create new characters to take place of the principal characters of the game
make we know we are wacthing a movie based on the fatal frame cuz tomb raider and resident evil just sucks a lot i just don like of NEW CHARACTERS TAKIN PLACE OF PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS OF THE GAME it just make the movie worst.

Anonymous said...

great stuff about the fatal frame are the sounds the music and the visual of the ghosts another think dont use american actors THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS THEY ARE JAPANESE

Anonymous said...

and u have to be based in japanese legend another important think is the history of Fatal Frame is based on hope not in romance or love but how to win the pain of losing someone to death.

Anonymous said...

DONT DO IT!!!!!THE GAME IS FAR 2 GOOD TO BE MADE INTO A MOVIE ESPECIALLY IF HOLLYWOOD WANTS TO GET THERE HANDS ON IT !!! HOLLYWOOD WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING AND MORE THAN LIKELY MAKE IT PG-13 DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!LET SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY PLAYED FATAL FRAME DIRECT ATLEAST THEY KNOW WHAT THERE DOING

Anonymous said...

Has there been any progress with this movie? The last post I saw about it being made was in 05'! Don't get me wrong, I loved the game. I'm just dying to hear some news! A few pictures, actors names, a trailer..anything at this point.
I would definitely agree with some of the previous posts. Please don't make a cheesy "PG" rated movie, where the ghosts would look better it you had someone running around with a sheet over their head.
'The Grudge' was such a disappointment. 'Ju-on', was of course, the original version of that. I still believe that the Japanese make the BEST horror films. And I love the fact that 'Fatal Frame' is taking place in Japan. Stay true to it's roots.
And for all you Japanese horror fans..here's a few good ones:
-Audition
-Dumplings 1 & 2
-The Maid
-Dead Waves
-Dark Water
-OldBoy

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Rogers:

A couple things: First, being a die-hard Transformers fan, I LOVED your, Orci's & Kurtzman's contribution to the Transformers story.

Secondly, I've been visiting your blog for the past 3 years, hoping to hear an update on the "Fatal Frame" movie. Is it in development hell? Just wondering as it is one of my most favorite games, and with Spielberg behind it, considering he loves the games, that is a good thing.

Thirdly, I recall you saying there was a script - it is in the final draft, or is it still going through rewrites?

Finally, if this film progresses (I hope it does), please, please do not do the following: cast US actors as the characters in the game. One of the things that really ticks me off is when you have non-Asians playing Asians, and specifically if you were to have Non-Japanese people playing Japanese people. I heard a rumor that Courtney Webb was starring in this - uh, NO! There's an actress who was in the Japanese film, "Crying Out For Love in the Center of The World" you may want to look at, she played a character named Aki.

Good luck. Looking forward to hearing back.