Working with director Brad Peyton for Rampage made actors Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris fall in love with the film more. By Team Viva
You have raised the bar in the monster genre. Tell us about it.
Dwayne Johnson: Yes, this was one of the goals. There have been some great monster films in the past but we tried to defined ourselves through this genre. In this sense, raising a bar is just a narrow thing.
How was it working with Brad Peyton?
Dwayne: We have a relationship of buddies, friends, collaborators, business partners and also children. We are two kids living their lives who don’t take anything for granted. Whenever we get together, we’ve been able to do pretty intense and big action scenes. This is what fans can count of us as a pair. We are also trying to do things that push a level up the envelope.
Naomi Harris: He has such infectious energy, passion and enthusiasm that it made me fall in love with the film more and more. I was overwhelmed to be a part it.
Tell us a little more about the practical sets?
Dwayne: We built practical sets everywhere we could possibly and added a little bit of green screen to help as a performer. It wasn’t valuable because there is destruction, debris, twisted metal and concrete everywhere. There were smug machines. You are in that film with this setting. I appreciate that Brad and I have this shorthand and we make sure that everything is just practical and real as it could be, and we are not putting anybody in danger.
Naomi: There were so many sets which blew my mind. I’ve never been in something like a helicopter or a plane that has been recreated, which can go up with hydraulics and tilt to some angles. Then you are strung up to the ceiling and flying around that very plane. There were so many ‘pinch myself’ and ‘wow’ moments in the film.
Tell us about the script.
Naomi: I absolutely loved it. During the process, I just fell in love with George, and how intelligent, rounded and strong Kate is. You don’t get a lot of female characters like that. So I loved her and the whole journey that they went on. Also, I think I got emotionally involved too. This was rare to have an action film with so much heart.
(Watch the film on Sony PIX on August 2 at 1 pm and 9 pm.)