Time Out of Mind: The Lure
Together with four other journalists (almost all the international level) were the privileged who had hung around his neck a distinction where TOOM (Time Out Of Mind) fake to fool the people of the area that was in Almería, with the name read so that no one knew the actual shooting was neither more nor less than Assassin’s Creed.
So, we are in Almeria, near the end of the shooting of the film. It is forbidden embargoed take pictures of the sequences we saw or actors, which rest in long white caravans of considerable size, spaced along this wonderful desert. The film went through other previous places like London or Malta, but everyone of technical and artistic team seems happy because the thing is about to end and in Almeria in its last phase with good prospects and without major problems (despite the heat within the ordinary).
It is not easy to adapt one of the most successful sagas of recent times video games.During the day of shooting we could enjoy were lucky enough to chat and meet Michael Fassbender, Ariane Labed, Hovik Keuchkerian, Justin Kurzel director and executive producer Patrick Crowley, among others.
Michael Fassbender, actor, producer. The soul of everything
Fassbender, who plays the character in the video game Callum Lynch also serves as a producer on tape and you risk a lot in this project, despite his charisma and having options for any other film.
So, when you have the opportunity to see face to face the actor, dressed in his suit for the film in the break between sequences in the desert of Tabernas, the question is forced: “Why embark on this ambitious project and yet so expensive not only as an actor but also as a producer? “. Imposes a little talk with so admired type and circumspect character, which we can also say that is the soul of this whole project Assassin’s Creed. So is seen after listening long time.
This responds to us the actor, nominated for an Oscar for his work on Steve Jobs: “I guess I became a producer because I wanted to work on something that could know and see start from the beginning when I was introduced to the guys at Ubisoft, who originally introduced me. in this world of Assassin’s Creed, we got to talking about everything that would be needed to make it and who should be included in the project, etc … But above all there was to find a story and a lot of things. it was all very exciting and thrilling but in many ways also exhausting just to make that process could move forward. ”
It all started in 2011
Watching closely face Fassbender, affable, certain air of tranquility but also some fatigue the day of shooting is perceived and some nostalgia while left wondering how it all started: “I sat down with the guys at Ubisoft in 2011 five years ago. so I know it’s been a long road and a hard process to get here, just as at the end of filming “.
Fassbender has been involved in the writing of history, which will take place in two different parts of importance depending on the season. It will be 65% of it set in the present and about 35 remaining% will be everything that happens in the fifteenth century Spanish via Animus. The actor told us about it: “The contribution to the script as a producer is one of the things that I liked, apart from also joining the team greatly enjoyed that.”. For this scenario, in addition to changes that might occur in the final and any part in the filming itself, a lengthy previous work three years he was writing.
Differences between the games and the film
Fassbender clarified… “Logically there were many things in the game we wanted to respect but at the same time we also wanted to give a personal and own part’re not trying to make a video game but a movie and are different things because we wanted to give you a cinematic experience So I guess really the hardest thing was to simplify the story and shorten because the public has a lot of information about the universe of Assassins and Templars Create a simple and original story. was so difficult because it is the first film. and this took a lot of energy “.
For Fassbender, the idea is that the saga grow: “Hopefully we can do more but in this case was presented to the public this world who knows both the game and the no.”.
The dual character
Fassbender’s role as protagonist has a dual role. On the one hand is Callum Lynch in the present but thanks to a special technology can see in your mind a first-person adventure with one of his ancestors. This ancestor is Aguilar de Algarrobo, who lived in the time of the Spanish Inquisition. “This character has been special to me. In a sense was different because I’ve been developing the script. I was already know a lot before shooting and I was drawn to this regression of the character when it becomes Aguilar in the past,” he says the actor.
“It was fun but to avoid injury or accidents there are many stunts and fight where I needed to be in touch very attached to the specialists, because we could not take the chance that I could twist your ankle or have a problem to do the shoot to stop. anyway the actors do all the scenes that we can as far as we can “.
In this regard, the desert itself Almeria where conference this December day (with an atrocious heat despite the month) we are witnessing one of the most spectacular sequences, where Callum jumps from a wagon driven by galloping horses to another and the scene is performed by a double with a perfect physical resemblance to Fassbender (at least back and as for constitution). The jump is quite dangerous.
Indefatigable, from project to project
Fassbender seems tireless and asks him where he gets the energy to be in so many projects and with the mind and body in each particular place. “I love doing what I do and try to stay in shape. I guess that helps to always have the energy to do it,” he adds.
Fassbender had worked with Justin Kurzel in Macbeth and understood perfectly but here the way of working has changed in some points. What Fassbender explains… “The basic difference lies in the script In Macbeth was the sight of Justin with respect to a reference text of Shakespeare In Assassin’s has been different and the way of development has completely changed Here . script has been prepared with much longer and has collaborated most among all in terms of history what is exactly the same is the way of working on the set There we understand very well to each other and also with Marion. – Cotillard, who also worked on Macbeth, so we have worked out equally and dynamically. and of course, the same has happened with members of the technical team to repeat as Adam (Arkapaw, cinematographer) “.
Flattery, cautiously
We know that the actor and also finished filming this summer Alien: Covenant and to have no time to rest. Keeps jumping from project to project and fans continue to multiply and praising their work.
Despite being one of the best known, valued and sought after actors of the moment, Michael Fassbender remains a high dose of humility. Are you accustomed to receiving praise and flattery continuous? “Well, I not say I’m used to it because it is not like that at all. I am very grateful and surprised by the recognition that I receive but I can not get used but are very good.”
Justin Kurzel, rising director
IGN Spain also had the opportunity to speak in Almeria, on the set, with Justin Kurzel. After directing Macbeth, Kurzel not for a second and gets into another even larger proportions of older scrubbing. In the adaptation of the Shakespeare play he had Fassbender as the main actor and to have him here again protagonist. Why he decided to run Assassin’s Creed? “I was always very curious to make a project like this,” says Kurzel. In addition, “I think Assassin’s Creed has a very cinematic concept with a lot of stories in the game that seem very realistic. When you get to analyze and review them , are adventures that are not so great (for example, all the XV century in Spain, which has a very rich universe). it’s like making a specific historical context. “
Kurzel repeated with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, which thanks while comparing his previous project with Assassin’s Creed: “I believe there is much more action here than in Macbeth is best to have two big stars like Michael and Marion is. they can give credibility to any character who put them ahead. “
The scenes point to actual showmanship, though Kurzel will help certain digital technology, of course. He explains. “I like to shoot sequences with most elements and realism possible Although we have a green screen, the action scenes try to be as faithful as possible and there is a lot of work preparation in the sets, as in the case today with the carriages. “
Filming in a mythical and cinephile area
Although Fassbender is one of the producers, executive producer of the film is Pat Crowley, who gave us some important key to the film and was happy to shoot in Spain and particularly in Almeria, in a place almost dreamlike and drank and much film: “along this same desert have been filmed many spaghetti westerns and films like Lawrence of Arabia or Exodus and also where Indiana Jones is attacked by tanks in The last crusade , ” says excited and proud Crowley.
“For today we have the sequence of five different cameras for this sequence. We have prepared the horses for five weeks and have already filmed this persecution for three days,” he said. Crowley did not seem too concerned about the outcome of the film, at least in appearance, and watched with great attention and detail each of the shots that were repeated and tested in combos.
Other key roles
In the film, Marion Cotillard apart from the presence of women is carried out by the young actress Ariane Labed, who explained to us who plays Maria, a friend of Aguilar murderous fighting against the Templars. “I’m basically a killer, so I’m struggling most of the film (laughs). Moreover, in my time I’m the only woman who can see and is always surrounded by men and fighting them. I am very happy and proud of be this strong woman at the time of the past. I like the idea of thinking that is basically the level of the hero of the film. “
By last, a charismatic actor who many still unknown and with such an original name as authentic. Hovik Keuchkerian This former boxer, though born in Beirut, has spent his entire life in Spain and has worked on such films as Alacrán Enamorado or Toro and series such as Hispania or Isabel . It is huge in size and answers in English by respect for the small group of journalists in which we live.
Known to be in this shoot is a privilege and told us with a half smile and cheer her character in the film. “Let’s say I’m the ‘bad guy’ I’m in the middle of the Crusades in the SXV but my character, which is a templario not believe he is doing anything wrong. he faces Aguilar, played by Michael “.
How can both wear in real life ?: “As an actor it’s a very nice guy. We’re working hard hand in hand all the action scenes with double”. Hovik also stressed that there was “a very good atmosphere and environment on the set. We are almost like a big family.”
And we went Almeria seeing some more preparations. We see from afar Carlos Bardem and another group of Templars who meet with Fassbender in a sequence.We leave with a bunch of sensations and a warm reception among renowned figures. The cast, besides the aforementioned Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Ariane Labed, Hovik Keuchkerian or Carlos Bardem is completed by other illustrious names that we had the opportunity to meet like Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Michael K. Williams and Javier Gutierrez. NOTE: (Marion also filmed in Almeria because his character appears in the part of this plot, so we also saw it ).
A short while to discover all the secrets of Assassin’s Creed and we are increasingly impatient. We have to wait until December 23, when 20th Century Fox and Ubisoft eventually lead to theaters this film adaptation of the popular video game series.
