At the Wellginton Armageddon Pop Culture Con, Richard Taylor spoke about his enthusiasm for the Evangelion live action movie with a fan:

Thanks Tino!

I watched this video of a panel from Tekkoshocon, and I’m surprised to say that the word on the Live Action Evangelion Project seems pretty good. I’ve had severe hesitations, and have on more than one occasion acted as a sort of harbinger of doom in regards to the project, convinced that there is no way in hell that the project would amount in anything of significance or worth. Based upon some of what is being said by Greenfield, I’m starting to think differently. His statements about how the project is currently progressing are actually quite impressive, and make me somewhat at ease to know that at the very least, some amazing talent will go into realizing this project. I’m still skeptical as to whether or not the production can or will capture the same essence of what Anno expressed through Evangelion a decade ago. Nevertheless, it seems like something to keep an eye on in the coming months more than ever, as Greenfield ultimately states that a director will most likely be signed on by the end of the year. Very exciting times appear to be ahead in the Live Action Evangelion Project.

Here are some notes in brief from the panel in regards to the project:

• Matt Greenfield says that Weta approached ADV about approaching Gainax to do a live action Eva movie.
• Three “A List” directors that are also fans of Evangelion approached ADV about the project, not the other way around.
• Greenfield talks about getting their pitch package together and that “the first thing is Robin Williams talking about Evangelion”, who is apparently a big Evangelion fan, and the appearance of the Mass Production Eva toy in One Hour Photo is entirely his doing.
• Celebrities have been inquiring directly to ADV about being involved in Live Action Evangelion.
• The director to be signed will most likely be the first to have room in their schedule.
• Greenfield acknowledges the uncertainty of the final product due to the nature of film making being driven by the director.
• The slug script was written by a well known writer who has written several well known sci-fi movies. The slug script will be re-written to fit the tastes and vision of the director selected.
• Greenfield acknowledges that the children will most likely be age appropriate. The kids will be picked and then the adults will be cast to work well with the children.
• Tiffany Grant asserts that Weta gets 20 times more email about Evangelion than Lord of the Rings.
• Greenfield says a director will most likely be signed by the end of the year.
• Greenfiled says they don’t want to make it for profit, but because they want to do it, and they want to do it right, and do it justice in the same way that Lord of the Rings did.

Source: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4…537030524950783

IGN have published an article concerning the live action evangelion movie adaptation. It focuses on Richard Taylor, head of Weta Workshop, and his thoughts and plans for the movie.

Taylor: “I’ve just been to Japan pursuing this, [...] I think that is the great untold story to the world. It is sublime. It is arguably some of the most beautiful and poignant animation ever created, and a huge percentage of the pop culture world now know it, but only through a live-action feature film will it transcend that and receive the recognition for the art piece that it is.”

Richard Taylor, who views the anime as an exquisite art piece wants this film to be made right - so much so that he himself will guide the production and oversee the entire process.

“Now, actually achieving it as a live-action feature film is extremely difficult to imagine. Technologically, sure, it’s doable. But at an esoteric, universe level, it is an unbelievably impacting and dramatic story concept. [It's got] pseudo-religious overtones, and all these wonderful motifs are woven into it. It’s something that you can generate over 26 hours of animation, but trying to encapsulate that down into a feature film would be a massive challenge. But … with the right director, I think it could be a very beautiful movie. …And that’s my big pursuit at the moment. I’ve put an awful lot of energy into it.”

With a man like this behind the wheel we should all have some confidence. Taylor is dedicated to the cause and he is unlikely to sell out or make unimaginable blunders as this film is a direct representation of his company. But most importantly he is somebody that loves the original anime; this Evangelion film could still be something great.

“We’ll be blessed just to work on it. But it would be an opportunity for us to look at it at a different level if [Weta helped produce the movie].”

Source: IGN: Weta Head hopes to Co-produce Evangelion
Thanks to Chris Davis and ‘The Dit’

Fortune.com have just recently published an article entitled “Anime Explosion“.

“From Pokémon to Full Metal Panic, the anime industry is doing everything the rest of show biz isn’t: embracing technology, coddling fans—and making a killing.”

Daniel Roth discusses the current state of the anime industry in the west, the approach to piracy, new technology and fanatical otaku. The article centres on John Ledford, CEO of AD Vision; primarily his business strategies, his encounters with fans at his door at 2am and of course, the live action Evangelion movie. The article goes on to mention fan-subbers, the entertainment industry and various ADV acquisitions. In discussing otaku (extreme anime fanatics), Roth gives brief mention of the live action evangelion situation:

“Since 2003 [Ledford’s] been shopping the idea of making a live-action version of Neon Genesis Evangelion, […] Ledford signed on the Weta Companies, […] to come up with plans for what the Evangelion world might look like. But instead of micromanaging the project, Ledford had Weta answer to two Evangelion fanatics at his company.”

Through badgering and extensive communication with Weta it shows that ADV are taking this film very seriously. This isn’t going to be a cheap knock off; ADV simply cannot afford to offend the great majority of their customers. And to that means it seems they want to do things right, with or without Hideaki Anno.

“Richard Taylor, Weta’s co-founder, says he’s never experienced anything quite like it. Twice a week he’d have a conference call with the fans at ADV, sending them renderings of his designs for things like the 100-foot-tall robots and getting in return their encyclopedic take on the interpretations. “These are people who could be considered scholars on the world of Evangelion,” says Taylor. “We had to appease them and find their approval.”

It follows on to mention a meeting between Taylor and a proposed producer at the San Diego Comic-Con in an attempt to ‘jump-start’ the production. Budgeting is also mentioned and it seems ADV has raised $100m of the $120 million they need.

The fans are also making themselves heard – a lot. Even more so than those who enjoyed Lord of the Rings:

“We get a lot of e-mails, a lot of letters from people around the world about Lord of the Rings. But we get 25 e-mails about Evangelion to every one we get about Lord of the Rings,” says Taylor. “And Evangelion has not even been made yet.”

A fan even consulted Taylor during his meeting with the producer, asking whether or not anything was being done about the movie:

Taylor turned to the producer and said, “This is why we have to do this movie.”

Source: Fortune.com
Thanks to Derek

This past October, at Supanova, Australia’s pop culture convention, Matt Greenfield of ADV Films, and Richard Taylor of WETA Workshop spoke about the prospects of Live Action Evangelion.

You can download podcasts of the panels below:

Richard Taylor
Panel abstract

Podcast:
http://www.supanova.com.au/podcast/files/0…a_Podcast_3.mp3

Skip to 19:00 for Live Action Evangelion.

Matt Greenfield:
Panel abstract

Podcast:
http://www.supanova.com.au/podcast/files/0…a_Podcast_8.mp3

Skip to 22:00 for Live Action Evangelion.

There hasn’t really been any substantial news concerning the live action Evangelion movie. As we all by now know, this is due to the stringent and secretive process of signing a director for this project. Contracts, interviews, shortlists and talks have to be made and all three parties involved must be happy with the final decision. Until then no one can make any sort of public declaration or provide any news that would get us all excited or riled with anger.

“Galaxy Anime” ( http://www.gatv.tv/ ) have just recently put up an interview with David Williams, currently an ADR Director for ADV Films as well as DVD Producer. The interview is in a windows media player streamed audio format and takes place following his panel at a recent convention. The interview talks about the down swing of the anime industry over the past six months, new ‘gateway’ shows, the upcoming releases and how the industry is on its way back up. The interview wraps up with a brief talk concerning the live action adaptation. To summarise he states that there is nothing new to talk about and that they are in negotiations with a particular director. Should this director sign and take on the project and Gainax, ADV and Weta all agree with the decision, then the ball will be set rolling and we may get some real news.

While still nothing exciting, it does show that behind the scenes cogs are still working and that things have advanced from a mere shortlist of directors. Forums members are also talking about some more positive and less neutral replies to the bombardment of emails sent to ADV suggesting that significant news is just over the horizon. We’ll see. (Thanks Triston Ordway)

Just got this email, an interesting read, nothing new, A-list directors:

Hello,

I don’t think anybody is officially covering O-Chibicon this weekend (being a newbie con and small), but
it does so happen that ADV is headquartered in Houston, TX.

ADV, apart from other events they did there, also had a 2 hour panel which included Matt Greenfield, Janice Williams,
Tiffany Grant and other ADV staff.

Most of the stuff they covered had already been posted at other cons, but there was, I believe, some new information.

Below are some of the questions and answers of interest I covered with Mr. Greenfield:

—–

Q: “Matt, assuming I have my information correct, you are a producer [live action Evangelion]. Will you
be making a cameo in the film? Traditionally this is the case [for producers]

A:
Matt commented on what seemed to be an inside joke on his possible appearance in the film, but he did directly comment on:

“We are definitely trying to have all of the VAs involved in the film. Both Japanese and American voice actors.
We hope each one can have a cameo of some sort. Of course, this will all depend when we actually get
closer to the project [production]. Scheduling and so forth.”

——-

Q:
When answering questions on the film, he reiterated, as he did in other cons and venues, that actors are not currently
being seriously considered as the project is in its earliest pre-production. He cited the kids from Harry Potter as a good example of what can happen in a few years.

He did comment directly on:

A:
“Before any of that we need a Director. We are currently talking to 7 to 8 directors. These guys are all ‘A lists’”

He went on to say that, of course, casting choices would be made by the Director.

——
I pointedly asked:

Q: “Matt, what kind of financial risk will the live action Evangelion be to ADV films?”

A:
Matt went on to say, more or less, that it is not a financial risks because IT IS Evangelion.
He believes that the high production values of Weta, the passion for the project and its worldwide
following will guarantee its success.

——

(Personally, I asked the above question because I fear that if the film does flop it could bankrupt ADV, but anyhow.)

I hope some of the above stuff is useful.

Fernando Gonzalez Jr.
mk2000