Comic-Con Live: Panel
Panel featuring: Sam Raimi, Amber Tamblyn, Arielle Kebbel, and director of The Grudge 2 Takashi Shimizu.

Check it out for the last live blog from Comic-Con 2006!

12:11PM - Sam Raimi comes on stage to debut the new footage / trailer from The Grudge 2 premiere here at Comic-Con.

12:14PM - The rest of the cast: Amber and Arielle and director Shimizu come on stage. Time for some audience questions. Shimizu must use a translator because he can only speak very little English.

Shimizu: I really like to make great films and scare people, and he just really loves making films.

1 - A guy asked the director if the ending of it wouldn’t be “as lame as the first.” (Audience boos him…)
If you don’t like the part 1 ending, you will love the part 2 ending.

2 - How did you come up with the story for the second film and what were its influences?
I’ve spoke with the producer at the beginning, I wanted people to enjoy this without watching part 1. This is the most difficult in making this film and writing the script.

3 - For the actors: is it hard to transition into a darker, scarier role?
(The audience keeps yelling out roles she’s been in.)
Amber: I’ve had a bit of experience being in roles with scary stuff. It’s a bit of a different atmosphere. It’s hard to sometimes measure that. Shimizu doesn’t like working with a lot of CGI (applause) and works with a psychological scenes and leaving more to the imagination.
Arielle: It starts to get to you because you actually have her (the boy) touching you and you have his hair over you. I think it’s something we’re all proud to have worked on and observed from Shimizu.

4 - For the actors: what was the culture shock like for the both of you being in Japan?
Amber: “I don’t know, it’s sort of like New York times a million.”
Arielle: It’s so stimulating, and you want to share it all. Literally every step you take there is something different about it. It’s about observing everyday and just going with it because “you were there.” Nothing is private there because you have to have a translator.

5 - What horror movies do you wish you could’ve been a part of?
Amber: My favorite film is The Haunting… and The Shining.
Arielle: Although this isn’t horror, but Tremors is in my family and one of my favorites.

6 - With so many psychological tricks to captivate the viewer, were you scared making the film (for everyone)?
Shimizu: I couldn’t watch any horror movies since I was in Junior High School. I didn’t understand why people paid to be scared at the time, but I feel honored to make horror films now. I watched a lot of slasher movies and American horror movies, but [I prefer to] surprise people, not exactly scare [them].

7 - Are you looking forward to moving on to something else beyond The Grudge?
Shimizu: Maybe next time I’ll try comedy. I’ve made a TV series here in the US, too.

8 - For Amber: “I love the shoes in the Twin Peaks DVD.” Are there different expectations for actresses between Japan and the US?
Amber: The most difficult part of the process is the language barrier. There are some other things like the first AD and the second AD are switched.

9 - For Shimizu: do you have any favorite directors from Japan and what are your favorite horror movies?
Shimizu: I have so many films and directors… Akira Kirusowa, Takashimiike, etc.

10 - For Shimizu: are you interested in Sci Fi films? For Amber: are you interested in playing any superheroes?
Amber: Jinx.
Shimizu: I love Science Fiction and am also interested in the time paradox. I also want to take a small white boy with the grudge into space. “May the grudge be with you!”

11 - Were there adjustments in regards to shooting in Japan?
Shimizu: You are correct, so I am getting use to it, but maybe the ladies may have found some challenges.
Arielle: There were a lot of differences but there are some fun things about it. The script is split down the half with American and Japanese. In the hair and make-up room, one half was American one half was Japanese and they  learned from each other.
Amber: Sarah told me that when she was shooting the first Grudge, Shimizu wouldn’t say “action” and she would be confused and she asked him to say something so it was easier.

12 - For Shimizu: what is your favorite American horror?
Shimizu: It’s hard to pick because I love so many movies here. I love horror films, and I wasn’t planning to make horror films when I was younger: ET, Back to the Future, etc. Recently I loved The Eternal Sunshine.

12:53PM - Running the trailer one more time and thanks to all the panelists.

July 23, 2006 - Posted by Alex