APRIL 6, 2007ÑHow would you react if a psychic said you were going to die in a matter of days?
ThatÕs the dilemma facing Guy Pearce in First Snow, a thriller that marks the directorial of Mark Fergus. Pearce is a salesman who kills time by visiting a psychic. Only the psychic tells Pearce that his life with end with the arrival of the first snowfall. Pearce slowly goes from disbelieving to paranoid, especially when he learns that a disgruntled ex-business colleague has been freed from jail and could be heading his way.
Fergus wrote the script with writing partner of 12 years, Hawk Ostby. They recently earned an Oscar nomination for adapting Children of Men from the novel by P.D. James, and have collaborated on scripts for the upcoming Iron Man and John Carter of Mars.
Film South Florida spoke with Fergus in March before First Snow received its South Florida debut at the Miami International Film FestivalÑÒI love festival audiences and I love to be able to watch the film and have people stick around and tell me what they thought,Ó he saysÑand discussed his transitional from screenwriting to directing, the obvious comparisons between PearceÕs Memento and First Snow, and the status of Iron Man and John Carter of Mars.
Film South Florida: What made you decide the time was finally right to direct?
Mark Fergus: Woody Allen said the next stage of writing is getting your story told. I felt it was a natural progression. I was ready to make the jump. We wrote the script back in 1999. Our careers were going nowhere. We were too busy writing scripts to sell them. We didnÕt know how to sell them. We decide to stop all that and write something that mattered. We did it with the intention of mimicking the way Neil LaBute did with In the Company of Men. I doubt that film cost much. It was all writing and directing. It was just a beautiful kick in the ass. So it was inspirational. The shock is that we wrote something good and it got us representation. It was a writing sample that got us other jobs, including Children of Men.
Film South Florida: What was the hardest part of making the transition from writer to director?
Fergus: Getting all the people to trust my instincts.... I went into it pretty fearlessly. I felt confident. The hardest part is the fatigue that comes with of making it happen so quickly. And when youÕre sitting in the editing room, youÕre trying to hold [the film] together and not let people pick it apart. You can lose your way because of the fatigue and repetition, and when people come in and hammer you.
Film South Florida: How was the experience of working under Crash and The Illusionist producer Bob Yari?
Fergus: Bob Yari is so filmmaker friendly. If heÕs willing to take a leap of faith, heÕs going to go all the way. He always trusts your instincts. ItÕs rare to get that kind of support.
Film South Florida: How did you get the idea for First Snow?
Fergus: Hawk had a disturbing run-in with a fortune teller in New Orleans. And we liked the idea of exploring whether or not someone is in control of their own destiny. We both love Hitchcock, so we thought we would make a thriller out of this existential crisis. We thought we would try to bring two genres together.
Film South Florida: Given you were a first-time director, how difficult was it to persuade Guy Pearce to star in the film?
Fergus: HeÕs someone we wanted from day one. We tired to get the script to him in the hope of eventually getting a read. That was the hardest part. He read it, and he wanted to meet with us. We were terrified of him. We thought he would think we were jerks. But he was sweet and down to earth. We had a good laugh, and we became pals very quickly.
Film South Florida: PearceÕs presence surely brings with it the inevitable comparisons between First Snow and Memento.
Fergus: Yeah, thatÕs a blessing and a curse. It was important to [Pearce] that we were not obsessed with [Memento] or that we tried to tap into it. The script was written a long time ago, but Memento proved there was an audience for the film. Memento is a beautiful film. In some ways, we run the risk of disappointing people who want that experience again. ItÕs such an effective movie that we do feel sometimes we are in its shadow. But we are an entirely different film. Guy was scared the producers would push us to do another version of [Memento], but he soon realized I had no intention of letting that happen. He doesnÕt like to repeat himself at all.
Film South Florida: But I imagine you would be happy if First Snow enjoyed a Memento-like response from audience.
Fergus: There is a passionate response to the film. People looking for something thatÕs meat and potatoes arenÕt into it, but those who are into its vibe are genuinely affected.
Film South Florida: With The Count of Monte Cristo and The Time Machine, Pearce followed in the footsteps of L.A. Confidential costar and fellow Aussie Russell Crowe by going Hollywood. Now heÕs turned his back on Hollywood by making such indies as First Snow and The Proposition. Is this where PearceÕs heart really lies?
Fergus: I think he did take that route, as it didnÕt feel like the work provided him with what he wanted to explore as an actor. All he does is pick roles that he wants to work hard on. ItÕs like when people used to have Johnny Depp would not be a big star. Then he found the roles that matched his sensibilities. Guy will make the jump when he wants to.
Film South Florida: Earlier this year, you and Ostby received an Oscar nomination for adapting Children of Men from the novel by P.D. James. Was that consolation for UniversalÕs failure to properly market Children of Men and turn it into a hit?
Fergus: We were glad enough to get a few nominations [Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography and Film Editing]. The Oscars come and go, but the film is powerful enough to stay with us and live on. People will remember this one, but itÕs bittersweet to think that it could have been bigger.
Film South Florida: You and Ostby also wrote the script for next yearÕs big-budget Iron Man Marvel comic-book adaptation. Given his past battle with drink and drugs, Robert Downey Jr. will certain bring his own demons to the role of the superheroÕs alter ego, billionaire industrialist and recovering alcoholic Tony Stark.
Fergus: I jumped through the roof at Robert being cast. Not only does he bring depth to the role, but as an actor he always been awe-inspiring. HeÕs perfect for the character, as he needs depth and gravity.
Film South Florida: Ghost Rider was released in February. This summer there will be Spider-Man 3 and Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer. Next year there will be Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, The Dark Knight and Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. When do you think weÕre going to be superheroed out?
Fergus: ThereÕs always a rush to put out more and more, but each character is so different and unique. If the film is good, people will come to see it. But there are only so many established characters. We have to worry about running out of characters before running out of an audience.
Film South Florida: WhatÕs going on with your script based on the John Carter series of novels by Edgar Rice Burrough? Jon Favreau was once going to direct John Carter of Mars before he ended up doing Iron Man.
Fergus: ItÕs with Pixar, so itÕs in good hands. I would love to stay involved, but thatÕs not always possible. Once a script goes through a new set of hands, you do not always stay to see [the project] through. It will be amazing if and when itÕs made. But we have to wait and see what happens.
Film South Florida: Are you done writing the script for your next directing gig, Switch?
Fergus: WeÕre not done yet; weÕre not been able to lock it away. ItÕs more or a less a follow-up, in that itÕs about fate and free will.
