"This must be the place..."
Randy here!
Those of you that have followed me over the year, know what a fan I am of James Cameron’s ALIENS. I have forgotten how many times I’ve seen ALIENS over the years, but I do remember the first time.
July 18th, 1986-Opening Day, First Show at the Dedham Showcase Theater
My late brother John and I were big fans of the Ridley Scott’s ALIEN. As he was working on the film, I’d read that director James Cameron said to the effect that “ALIEN was a masterpiece, I can’t top it. I’m making my movie.” Now THAT is the way to look at a sequel in my book! So there I was that July day, anxious to see what had been done. As we walked in, I saw that the theater was already half full and still filling up-for lunchtime show. “This is gonna be good,” I said to John.
Now, 25 years later, ALIENS is STILL as good as the first time!
In honor of the anniversary of its release, The New Beverly Cinema screened ALIENS along with The Terminator (making this a James Cameron-Michael Biehn-Lance Henrikson double-feature!). Not only was this a pristine, newly struck 35mm print, but actors Michael “Hicks” Biehn, Lance “Bishop” Henriksen, Jenette “Vasquez” Goldstein, Mark “Drake” Frost and Ricco “Frost” Ross would be doing a q & a. (Producer Gale Anne Hurd was unable to appear due to scheduling Issues).
"This must be the place..."
This would be the front of the line...
Even letting into the theater an hour early, a line had already developed for the sold-out screening. I did catch some members of the Alien Legacy site there, chevyh0tr0d and Stuntman Mike. Decked out in screen accurate Colonial Marine fatigues, chevyh0tr0d was right at the front of the line and I thank him for holding a seat for me in the second row when I finally got in.
My spot in line. I think I see the marquee...
One of the things I noticed while watching the film again in a theater with an audience is just how fast the movie moves! It has great pacing and editing, giving enough time to let you catch your breath before gathering speed and ripping ahead. Plenty of today’s films could benefit from such “old school” techniques..
After the film screened and the actors rounded up, the q & a of the actors began in full. Presided upon by a moderator (sorry I missed your name!), the group also took questions from the audience. Among the things discussed:
Moderator with Michel Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstiend, Ricco Ross and Mark Frost
-The actors hung around with the cast from Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, which was shooting at the same time. The FMJ cast complained about the rigorous shooting they were put through by Kubrick, while the ALIENS cast had a blast. Ricco Ross had to choose between the two movies after Kubrick nixed Ross’ coming in a week later. This probably wouldn’t have affected it much as FMJ was still shooting when they left the UK!
-Ross was impressed with the dedication of Lance Henriksen to keep in character as the subordinate “artificial person” Bishop. Michael Biehn used this to his favor by having Henrikson get them sandwiches and Diet Coke! He seemed to fall back into character by tying Biehn’s shoes at one point during the q & a. Henriksen also mentioned that he had made schlera lens that gave Bishop two pupils in his eye. Cameron filmed a test scene of Bishop looking up while examining a facehugger. Upon viewing the footage he commented that Henriksen’s look “…was scarier than the alien!”
-Jeanette Goldstein and Mark Frost bonded as characters due to back story about being prison “lifers” given a choice between life in prison or In the Colonial Marines (I KNEW I was right about that! Something I read years ago.) Frost said they bonded as people because they were duct-taped into their outfits all day! The rest of the cast got to goof around while they were stuck on their special stools to hold the gear.
-Ross talked about the original actor to play Hicks, James Remar, who filmed for a couple of weeks before being replace. He remembered Remar “…being a different kind of Hicks”, with Biehn coming at it from a completely different direction, obviously owning the role. Biehn mentioned that he got a call on a Friday from Gale Anne Hurd asking if his passport was up-to-date. By Monday, he was on set and shooting!
- When asked about the director’s legendary temper by the moderator, all the actors immediately came to his defense. Biehn and Frost both called director James Cameron a “genius.” Ross said, “With the exception of acting, Jim knows how to do every job on set. But his line readings were never very good.”
Goldstein: “He expects people to come to the set ready to work.” She also related a story working on Titanic with a young child who was dismayed about doing another take of the same shot, having never worked film. Cameron stopped and took the time to explain to the young actor what he was doing, how films have to take multiple takes of the same scene, the kind of shots he might do ending with “Is that all right with you?”
Biehn put is simply: ”I’d take a bullet for James Cameron.”
-Henrikson knew about the knife trick ahead of time, so he had been practicing it with multiple knives (butterfly, folding, switchblades, etc.) and had brought them with him to England. Customs was not amused. While on set to shoot the scene, Henriksen suggested adding Bill “Hudson” Paxton to the mix, since Bishop was a protector & wouldn’t let a human get hurt. Cameron went with it… though, apparently, didn’t tell Paxton about it til the scene was shooting! Henriksen DID manage to injure Paxton. They were brought back to set right before they were to fly out, as the scenes didn’t come out right. Nursing a hangover from a going-away party the night before, Henriksen managed to give Paxton a “blood blister” since “his pinkie was out of place.”
Taking their bows.
As the event wrapped up, all the actors were great about staying for photos, autographs and the like. While I don’t normally care for such things, I was happy to have them sign my lobby card of the cast as well as grabbing a photo with my favorite Smart Gunner! (Thanks to chevyh0tr0d for taking the picture).
Yours truly with Jenette "VASQUEZ" Goldstein. "LET'S ROOOOCCCCKK!!!"
Thanks to the New Beverly Cinema for putting the event together.
Sgt. Randy, Colonial Marines-signing off!
PS-Sorry to say due to a recent injury to my leg (Remember kids-falling down stone stairs is not fun!), I won’t be able to make it to Comic Con this year. I’m sure the rest of AFTimes staff will show you all the best of the show!
(Pictures by Randy of AFTimes, unless otherwise noted. And I swear I had the red eye lighting on!)
