The only way for an independent director to capture the audience is to constantly make original films. This is what M Night Shyamalan means, who since the breakthrough with "The Sixth Sense" has jumped between genres.
I've been offered to direct films in big film series and I say "you don't want me, I'm not that kind of director", the 53-year-old tells TT.
The new film "Trap" is an example of how he has twisted a genre film. Josh Hartnett plays a serial killer who goes to a concert with his teenage daughter. After a while, he realizes that the whole arrangement is a trap. The police have found out that he is there and have set up a iron ring around the venue. How can he get out of there with his daughter?
Josh is an actor who makes you feel sympathy with the character despite doing terrible things. He is an actor who is completely fearless, willing to take any risks, says Shyamalan.
Working with his daughter
The director's daughter Saleka plays Lady Raven, the fictional megastar who is on stage during the concert. Father Shyamalan pours praise over her.
She is so incredibly brilliant in everything she does. I asked her to write fourteen songs for the film that she would perform parts of on stage. She did, he says and continues:
In a family, daughters often decide over their fathers, but during this filming, we inspired each other. And I treated her as I always treat all newcomers, I go through everything carefully and I surround them with skilled professionals, like Josh in this case.
Brushing off criticism
Shyamalan believes that his striving for the unique is the key to drawing the audience to the film.
It's hard to be hyper-original, but if you succeed, what you've done will stick with the audience who will remember the film. I also make sure to make trailers that don't look like others, he says.
Shyamalan is in a productive phase – the last ten years, he has made six films, including some flops. He means that such setbacks do not affect him.
I can't put any energy into that. I can't think "should I do it like this so that the audience likes it?". No, I must be focused on making my films the way I want them, he says.
"Trap" has its cinema premiere on August 2.
Gunnar Rehlin/TT
Facts: M Night Shyamalan
TT
Age: 53.
Family: wife, three daughters.
Lives: Philadelphia.
Occupation: screenwriter, director.
Previous films: "The Sixth Sense", "Unbreakable", "Signs", "The Village", "Lady in the Water", "The Happening", "Split", "Glass" and "Knock on the Cabin".
Currently with: "Trap", which has its cinema premiere on August 2.
