The Croods – Interviewing Directors Chris Sanders & Kirk DeMicco [Audio]

I had an excellent time interviewing Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco, the directors/animators for DreamWorks and 20^thCentury Fox’s upcoming flick The Croods. In a fairly intimate roundtable including myself and two other bloggers, I managed to ask about their thought process on the paint-like opening scene, the sound-oriented character names, their paleontology research, and Ryan Reynolds’ character. Starring the vocal talents of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener and Cloris Leachman, The Croods surrounds the evolutionary struggles of a prehistoric family.

I always say this and I keep saying this, but I love, love, love interviewing the people behind the scenes, especially the creators. They’re the writers, directors, producers and animators who construct the shows/films/plays we love to watch. I love discussing narrative and asking if my thoughts aligned with theirs. This time around it didn’t. Work on The Croods started in 2005, when John Cleese and Kirk DeMicco penned the initial version. However, it’s undergone multiple revisions since then. Throughout the interview, Kirk dropped miniature hints about the initial script’s form. Although the first version followed two different families/villages, the current version, due March 22, focused on the main family in the ‘lesser’ village. I loved the characters’ names such as Eep (the female lead, played by Emma Stone), Guy (her evolutionary love interest, played by Ryan Reynolds), and Grug (her loving, protective father, rocked utterly by Nick Cage). I wondered if they called Eep, “Eve”, because of her adventurous personality. Short Answer: No.  Long Answer: No. They liked giving the characters primitive-sounding noise-oriented names without any historical references.

I’m stoked about meeting Chris Sanders who worked as an animator with some of my favorite shows/films/production companies — Muppet Babies (eff, yea!), Marvel Productions, Fantasia 2000, Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. I have a secret crush on his drawing style and wish he hadn’t stopped writing/drawing Kiskaloo, a whimsical Calvin and Hobbes-esque web-comic. The same amount of thought placed into the script, went into the animation itself. They deliberately modified Grug’s physicality to reflect his new mental state towards the film’s end. Plus, they used the interstitial fantasy world as analogous to transition. I wondered if they constructed the film’s opening crayon-esque scenes for a deliberately juvenile feel. No. They wanted a style to differentiate from the CGI, while evoking a cave drawing feel.

Because I’m an academic, I loved how matter-of-factly they treated death. I wondered if they did any additional research outside of what’s general knowledge. Short Answer: No. Long Answer: initially, but not afterwards. I greatly enjoyed the film I saw; but, the earlier versions sounded equally awesome. Because of Guy’s evolutionary progress (physically and mentally), I wondered if he were the Missing Link between yesterday’s cave men and today’s human. Short Answer: No. Long Answer: No. Interim Answer: They actually had a character called Missing Link.

I greatly enjoyed this interview, especially the casual, intimate feel. They are the nicest writers/directors/animators ever. They offered to take a photo with me, stood patiently while my malfunctioning camera malfunctioned, and did soundbites for the other bloggers. As I wound my scarf around my neck, they casually conversed with each other about their upcoming train trip and with the other writers. Although DeMicco and Sanders no doubt make more money than me and are in far better shape than I’ll ever be, I greatly appreciated their down to earth nature. They seemed surprised that I watched the film, which I caught the previous night. I loved their interactions with the kids at the screening. Yes, watching an adult man do the Stitch voice is slightly creepy; but, I loved the child audience’s enthusiasm.

Another reason I enjoyed the roundtable is the reason I love Philadelphia — the writers, journalists and bloggers are all incredibly down to earth and accessible. In past roundtables/conference calls I’ve participated in, there’s typically a push to get your two-three questions out first before settling down and allowing others to get theirs out. But, at this roundtable that didn’t happen. The other bloggers in the room were perfectly civilized and willing to trade off questions in an actual roundtable fashion as opposed to a covertly savage free-for-all. Huh. I know. Whodathunkit?

Another reason I love talking to writers and directors? The ability to go business casual without needing to slap on make-up and heels. I tentatively considered it, but then I realized #1) I needed to walk and #2) I wanted to be comfortable. That casual, good-natured vibe permeated the room and the surrounding staff. I can’t say enough about The Croods’ multi-titled directors/writers/animators Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco.

While I’d love to say tons about The Croods itself, you can check it out on your own. The Croods hits theatres on March 22nd in 3-D. For the whole interview, listen below!