WGTC: Would you be interested in working on a bigger budget, studio film in the future, or are you interested in staying with the independent movies?
Caradog James: No, give me as much money as you can!
WGTC: Caity Lotz plays two roles in the film, first as Ava and later as the title character. What was the casting process like for her?
Caradog James: We met lots of actresses. It was such a great opportunity for an actress to get to play Ava and the machine. In a sci-fi movie, it’s such a strong, iconic character.
We saw a lot of actresses, but frankly, Caity was so much better than all of the other ones, that we knew instantly that she was the one for the role. We were so thrilled that she came on board. I can’t imagine anyone else doing as good of a job as she did.
WGTC: Did you work with Caity at all before you began filming the movie, to help her develop her two characters?
Caradog James: Yes. Both Caity and Toby came over for about eight rehearsal days. Caity and Toby got together to build some chemistry, and the three of us all worked together. One of the key things to a good performance is trust, and that’s hard to build once you get the high pressure on set as you begin shooting.
So they spent the eight days to start to get to know each other, and build that sense of being a team. Actors have to be able to take risks to give great performances, and trust is an important part of that aspect.
WGTC: Caity did all of her own stunts while you were filming. Do you feel that having her do all the stunts helped her in her performance overall?
Caradog James: Without a doubt, yes. If we had to cut to a stunt double, the film wouldn’t have had the same film. When Caity did the stunts, it was incredible. You believe she’s a machine, because she’s doing extraordinary things. I think the audience won’t be able to grasp that Caity’s doing these extraordinary things; it’s not CGI.
WGTC: What was the process of creating those stunts on set? Did you have to rehearse them with Caity?
Caradog James: Of course we had to rehearse. But it was such a tight schedule, so she was often rehearsing three or four stunt sequences at the same time. As we were changing the camera, she’d be rehearsing the next one. I think it’s because she has muscle memory from being a dancer that allowed her to pick stuff up. Without that experience, there would have been more trouble, and a lot less spectacular than they are.
WGTC: You mentioned Toby Stephens, who plays Vincet in the film, earlier. What was the casting process for him like?
Caradog James: Again, we had a lot of successful actors we met, but Toby was just awesome. He had all of the qualities we were looking for. I think he showed a different side that not a lot of people knew about. A lot of people know him as a villainous character, and he brought a lot of vulnerability to this role.
WGTC: Would you be interested in working with both Toby and Caity again in the future?
Caradog James: I’d be lucky if I only got to work with them because they’re so special and fun to work with. They’re so good, and I couldn’t have wished for better actors.
WGTC: In the story, you have China warring with Britain in a new Cold War over science. What was the process like of choosing what country would serve as the antagonist in the story?
Caradog James: That just came from the research. That’s where the world’s going, in terms of economics-China holds so much of the debts of the States and the U.K. It seemed as though they would be the next super power we brush up against, in terms of trying to protect our economy. They seemed like an interesting place to talk about, and that’s where the problems may occur to us in the future, in another Cold War.
WGTC: Did you do any particular research on The Cold War from the last century as you were preparing to make the film?
Caradog James: Yeah, I did a lot of research, particularly about what would happen if this happened now. Taiwan is a place China has its eye on. There’s always been a dispute over who owns it. If there was another Cold War, Tawain would be a part of it, as there’s so much trade and money there, which leading the West and China to turn to it.
WGTC: What do you hope audiences will take away from the movie?
Carado James: Well, there’s nothing in this film that I don’t think can’t happen in the future. I think it’s amazing the rate at which technology is advancing. Who knows when it will happen, but it’s in our nature to strive to create life, and this type of machine isn’t that far away. All of the questions the movie brings up is fascinating. The topic of what it means to be human and be alive needs to come up, but we tried to have with it in this movie.
WGTC: What was your reaction when you found out the moview as going to be playing at the Tribeca Film Festival?
Caradog James: I was absolutely thrilled. Coming to New York is in every filmmaker’s imagination. It’s a truly cinematic city, and there are so many great filmmakers here, like (Martin) Scorsese, who’s one of my favorite filmmakers of all time. So it’s an absolute dream to be premiering our film in this festival, and we’re so lucky.
That concludes our interview, but we’d like to thank Caradog James for taking the time to speak with us. The Machine is still awaiting distribution, so be sure to check back here for more updates.
