Djimon, Staz, and Elise, I think what’s great about these films, especially this one, is that you all have some very emotional scenes. Are those scenes generally moving when you’re filming them? It certainly seems like the emotion there is raw.
Djimon Hounsou: Absolutely. This was a vivid sort of resemblance, certainly in terms of story. It was amazing to be able to organically connect to it. And the story is what drives all of us. And so, the fact that the narrative of Rebel Moon mimics so much our reality today speaks volumes for me — and certainly, that was my connection to the story.
Staz and Elise, what would you say?
Elise Duffy: Yeah. I’m so happy that you got that sense because that’s absolutely what it was like shooting those scenes. I mean, so honest and personal, and the levity that was there as well. I think those were some of my favorite scenes to shoot at night when we were all together.
Hounsou: The scene for all of us to be able to really connect. And I think that night we’re all connected on a level that was quite special, and completely outside of the months we’ve been filming. That was the moment of unity. Yes, indeed. Right after that, we went into battle.
NetflixStaz Nair: I think when you are having to, or lucky enough to perform these kinds of more dramatic, honest scenes, not with everyone, but at least with myself and I know a lot of us, you are using an opportunity to channel your own personal experiences through the guise of another story, and finding the intersections between yourself and the character.
When that happens, I really believe, you are comfortable enough to do it honestly and share it with people as opposed to try and share it, or look like you are sharing it. There’s a catharsis to that because I’m telling my story without telling my story. And there’s a safety in that as well because it’s vulnerable; it’s honest. You’re not saying, «This is exactly what Staz did.» You’re sharing your story through Tarak’s story or Djimon’s is through Titus’ story.
When you get to do that and you get to do it with actors as great and as wonderful, and people as nice as our cast, it’s a really wonderful thing. And I’m glad like you said, I’m glad it translated because it very much was that. And the back stories, they’re heavy to access sometimes as well because they often live, as Djimon said, in a world that’s very similar to our own personal experiences.
I’m trying not to get any of you busted, but from the production design to the costumes, there’s so much beauty in this film from the craftspeople. Were you allowed, or did you sneak any props? And if so, what?
Nair: I stole a feather from the Bennus [which is a large griffin]. I asked, though, but I want to sound cooler and say I stole it when I didn’t. Also, I was lucky enough that Zack [Snyder] very kindly used a pendant that my wife gave me as a gift before I started the job because we knew I was flying a Bennus. So, she got a griffin pendant, and Zack very kindly allowed it to become the family crest for my people. So, I get to have that with me all the time. But it was originally a gift from my wife and then became the emblem of the Decimus royal family.