So how many cars did you wreck in this movie?
I just wanted to make an exciting, fun movie that would hopefully fulfil all audiences.
So no, it wasnt an objective.
Which one are you guys talking about, because theres been about six franchises that have worked.
It must beMortal Kombat,the one everyones thinking of.
ButResident Evilhad five movies, so obviously worked very well.Tomb Raiderdid very well…
I just wanted to make a great car movie.
And the great thing for me is that the videogame has zero story.
Because sometimes you make a story for a videogame, and its designed for that genre.
It couldnt be better to have one of the best car racing games for the title.
Or did you have complete free rein to do what you wanted?
EA was a partner.
Games attract very, very faithful disciples.
They can be very geeky about it.
Have you had reactions from fans of the game?
Yeah, theyre over the moon about it.
Theyre appreciative that it wasnt Hollywood ruining a great franchise, so its been fantastic.
And theyre sometimes more protective of the game than the manufacturers that make it.
Did you do it in 3D to make it feel more like a game more immersive?
Im not normally a 3D fan.
And I was like, sure, Ive nothing to lose!
And so I went in to see it, really early on in the editorial process.
I was going, Oh my gosh, Ive never seen something like this.
I always say that I take a stab at be better than 3D, but in 2D.
But then I saw my work done in 3D, but tastefully everythings in the screen.
Nothing comes out at you.
Its easy on the eyes, and visceral.
Because in some of the first-person driving [shots], you are now literally driving the car.
Like, you feel like those are your arms steering the car.
As a former stunt driver, was it important to you to make the crashes feel real?
I got a real sense of how nasty and painful they are when they do happen.
Heres the way I approach directing.
You sit back and watch stuff, watch the wrecks.
I want you to be inside it, because thats where my life has really been.
And I feel its just an immersive angle.
Whether youre first person or attached to the car, or its coming right at you.
And also because its real its not CG.
I think it makes people lose weight from sweating!
How sexy is a car?
I find it really interesting, that in our culture, cars are an extension of our personality.
For me, I was a stuntman, so theyre a big part of my world.
Have you driven some of the cars we see in the movie?
Ive driven some of them, yeah, I did.
I didnt drive a lot of them, because I was so busy making it.
I did drive the Koenigsegg, and that was fantastic.
I still drive a 1970s Chevelle.
Im an old-school classic guy.
Im an analogue person.
I still love that.
Many action movies concentrate so much on special effects and action movies rather than characters and plot.
I think in this case its well done, because its interwoven.
I think thats really important, right?
Some movies are just total popcorn thrill rides, right?
Theyre all explosions and people walking away from explosions… Ive done stunts in a lot of those movies, so I know what youre talking about!
So how did you interweave the action with the drama?
This is why I was so pleasantly surprised when I read the script.
Im 43 years old, and its boring.
It doesnt excite me as much as a great script and great characters.
Especially when you get to work with the talent we attracted to the film.
I feel like I was able to work with the next generation Pacino and De Niro.
How did you choose them?
Id see him there, and he was as cool as it gets he had this aura around him.
I wanted to find someone who had that kind of aura.
Steve was a simple guy, he was a jeans and t-shirt dude.
Aarons name came up to play the bad guy.
And they were like, What do you mean?
Havent you seenBreaking Bad?
And I said, Ive no idea who Aaron Paul is!
So they showed me a tape of him, and I was like, Wow, hes fantastic.
I said, the bad guys the most obvious choice, but the more interesting choice is the lead.
He has everything Im looking for.
The casting people said, Nah, the studio will never go for that.
I said, Really?
He defines the kind of movie I want to make.
They were, No, no, I dont think so.
And he saw Aarons for Dino, and he goes, Wow, this kids fantastic.
Why dont we consider him for the lead?
Dominic was always part of that world.
And then getting Imogen Poots to play the lead female I wanted somebody who was strong.
Because that character was so important to me.
She wasnt what you thought she was from the beginning.
Imogen and I talked about that a lot.
Did you talk to Steve McQueens grandson to see if hed be interested in a part?
I talked to Steven, yeah.
I think hes 19, 20, if I remember right?
I wanted someone older.
I know his father Chad, and hes a great guy.
What would you say to critics who would argue that youre promoting reckless driving?
I would say to them that we should stop making movies in general.
Because if you takeOceans 11,that promotes raiding casinos in Vegas.
Theyre just trying to find a story.
As a director and a stuntman, do you gotta be an adrenaline junkie to do this job?
You have to get your heart rate up a little bit.
Im just looking for a great story.
Like, popcorn movies, I dont go to see.
If I see a big action-fest, Im not interested.
Id rather go see something thats got a lot of heart drama, comedies.
Its just the truth.
I did that, right?
Its like, when I leave the set, I dont drive fast.
I got my thrills out on the set.
Even now, and I retired 10 years ago.
I still race Motocross, but thats my hobby that I thoroughly enjoy.
Im more aShawshank Redemptionkind of kid.
I came from the theatre.
I dont know why I enjoy going to the theatre and losing it.
I do, though.
I was on the plane the other day watching this movie.
I cant remember what the film was.
The guy next to mes going, Whats wrong with him?
[Laughs] Because Im bawling!
But I love that.
I enjoy being moved.
Were you concerned about comparisons to theFast And The Furiousfranchise?
No, not at all.
Its a completely different movie, a huge, successful franchise.
I always liked that those movies were realistic.
There was no CG, it was all in-camera.
There was no music, it was motor noise.
They were fun, great stories.
I analysed those a lot.
When my dad was still alive, I was always asking him questions.
Like, How did you guys do this?
You get injured theres no way around it, and thats partly why I retired.
You get tired of breaking bones and hurting your back, your neck.
You know, you always remember your swansong, right?
Because thats a definitive moment in your life where you go, Okay, this is it.
A stunt coordinator called me, and he was a dear friend of my fathers.
He knew I was retiring, and Id be directing from here on out.
This was back in 2005.
I was like, Oh, oh no.
What is it, Ron?
And he said, Its a 110-foot high fall backwards onto a car top.
I was like, Youre kidding me, right?
And he said, Its gonna be great.
Think about it, right?
You wont forget it for the rest of your life!
[Laughs]
He was totally right.
And it was great, because I left the set going, Im done.
I dont have to do this ever again.
And that was it.
Scott Waugh, thank you very much.
Need For Speedis out on in UK cinemas now.
