On May 12, producers Jennifer Todd and Suzanne Tood (they’re sisters) took time out to have an online chat with journalists, ElasticPop.com included. Done just a couple of weeks before the Blu-ray and DVD release of Alice In Wonderland, this is what the duo had to say:
Q: Suzanne, As children, did you wonder in awe even at the ‘simpler,’ animated version of Disney’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’?
A: Suzanne Todd – We had seen the animated version as children and I remember being both in awe of the creativity and sort of confused about the story. I loved the character of Alice and had actually dressed up as Alice for more than one Halloween.
Q: Suzanne, How involved are producers in the development of DVD /Blu-Ray features?
A: Suzanne Todd – Producers are very involved in the creation of additional bonus materials, putting together the featurettes that you see, and adding insight to the behind-the-scenes process.
Q: Suzanne, How often do you come across a script that you love but as producers – you know won’t work in the mass market? And are you free to make it thru the indie route?
A: Suzanne Todd – There have been a few occasions when we found material we truly loved that could not be financed and released through the traditional studio model. ‘Memento’ was the first indie movie we had made, and even though we had to work for free, we were very happy with the result!
Q: Suzanne, This interpretation of ‘Alice’ has a definite darker, adult twist – was this the vision from the outset or did that evolve? How much did Tim Burton’s unique style and interpretation affect this?
A: Suzanne Todd – Linda’s script had some already “dark” elements – the notion of the oversized body parts and the floating severed heads, for instance, but it naturally followed the course of Tim’s taste and sensibility after he came on board.
Q: Jennifer, As women in a male-dominated industry, what are qualities needed to survive Hollywood?
A: Jennifer Todd – Good question! I think you have to have a tough will and a very strong spirit. Movies are so hard to get made. I do think women make great producers though; we are good multi-taskers and caretakers.
Q: Jennifer, What did you learn working alongside, director, Tim Burton, for ‘Alice in Wonderland’?
A: Jennifer Todd – I learned from Tim that you can never aim too high. He really reached on this film from his own comfort zone and the results were magical. I learned you can never stop pushing the envelope.
Q: Suzanne, What attracted you to Alice in Wonderland? Especially since it had been done many times before.
A: Suzanne Todd – Yes, it’s true that ‘Alice’ had been done many times before, but we felt that Linda’s take on the story took a fresh look at the time honored tale, and that the coupling of modern technology with Tim’s genius vision would make for fascinating entertainment.
Q: Suzanne, Can you tell us what it is like to work with Johnny Depp?
A: Suzanne Todd – There just aren’t the proper adjectives to describe the magnificence of Johnny Depp. He is the most incredibly talented actor yet also kind, down to earth, and hard-working.
Q: Jennifer, Can you tell us what it is like to work with Johnny Depp?
A: Jennifer Todd – Johnny’s such a sweet, likeable guy and a tremendous talent. He’s so affable; he makes you forget what a giant movie star he is.
Q: Suzanne, Where does your creative inspiration come from?
A: Suzanne Todd – My creative inspiration comes from so many aspects of my life – art, music, literature, pop culture, my children, my friends, and lots of travel and adventure!
Q: Jennifer, As I understand it, ‘Alice’ is the first time Tim Burton has filmed on a green screen. With so much of the film shot against green screen, combined with demanding VFX, how much pre-production time was involved and what were some of the challenges foreseen?
A: Jennifer Todd – We prepped the film for about 6 months; it was a long prep to get everything organized for the shoot. Even then we still came across a lot of difficulties on set, with Alice shrinking and growing and taking into account the Queen’s head and all the fake characters, it felt like a complicated math puzzle every day.
Q: Jennifer, As children, did you wonder in awe even at the ‘simpler,’ animated version of Disney’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’?
A: Jennifer Todd – Absolutely – I loved the original and I always loved the Disney ride! It’s amazing how far filmmaking has come since I was a child.
Q: Jennifer, Where does your creative inspiration come from?
A: Jennifer Todd – It comes from all over – films and books I’ve loved as well as the artists in my life. Now it also comes from my children.
Q: Jennifer, What were the biggest problems as a producer with getting the final product?
A: Jennifer Todd – One of the biggest problems was getting the film done in time. We had our release date locked very early, and we could not change it. So the last few months were very stressful waiting for the final FX to come in.
Q: Suzanne, What were the biggest problems as a producer with getting the final product?
A: Suzanne Todd – Like almost all movies, and certainly big tent pole movies, it always comes down to time and money. Luckily for us, with Tim directing, we never lacked for creative vision, so the task for everyone involved was to work their hardest to bring Tim’s vision to the screen – within the schedule and resources that we had available.
Q: Jennifer, What do you feel 3-D did for ‘Alice’ in Wonderland in a new generation?
A: Jennifer Todd – I’m happy that 3D has excited a great deal of people to go to the movie theater. And I think that being one of the first big 3D films out in the US after Avatar helped our film tremendously.
Q: Jennifer, Were you surprised with the overwhelming success of ‘Alice’ at the box office?
A: Jennifer Todd – I was – although I expected the film would do well as I knew how good it was. But no one can predict the kind of numbers the film did. I wish I could!
Q: Suzanne, At what point in the process did Mia Wasikowska become involved? Was she always first choice for the role, did she audition etc.
A: Suzanne Todd – Tim had a very specific vision for the role of Alice and met with and read with a number of actresses. Although there were many famous actresses who wanted to play Alice, Tim wanted someone that would bring a timeless quality to the film. Mia demonstrated the perfect blend of strength and fragility, bewilderment and wonder, and is beautiful yet accessible.
Q: Jennifer, Did you find it more or less difficult to oversee production on a film with Burton’s whimsical touches? On a film that was mostly digitally created?
A: Jennifer Todd – I actually felt it was easier as Tim still had the freedom to make changes after we filmed the movie. That’s one of the upsides of a mostly digital film. He could make changes you could never make in a traditional live-action film.
Q: Jennifer, You’ve spent a significant time working in independent film – a far cry from Disney and blockbusters like ‘Alice in Wonderland.” Can you tell us what the transition was like for you, and whether or not your indie sensibilities informed the production of ‘Alice’ at all?
A: Jennifer Todd – They are such different film making experiences, but yet I like them both. Obviously you always want to tell a great story, no matter how big or small. I love the intimacy of small films and I love the reach of big films like ‘Alice.’
Q: Jennifer, Alice has such a long history on the big and small screen, was it daunting to create this new version?
A: Jennifer Todd – It was – it’s a bit scary to take on such a famous piece of literature. But at the same time we re-imagined it in a way that we thought would feel fresh to an audience.
Q: Suzanne, Were you surprised with the overwhelming success of ‘Alice’ at the box office?
A: Suzanne Todd – We could tell that there was a pretty voracious appetite for the film from the time the online campaign had launched. The facebook fan page was burning up and people were hungry for anything and everything about the film. Although we did have a sense that it would be well-received, no one dared to dream that we would approach a billion dollars worldwide!
Q: Jennifer, If you could go back to the beginning now, is there anything you’d want to do differently?
A: Jennifer Todd – I can’t say there is. Because of the success of the film, I’m just thrilled with it all.
Q: Suzanne, If you could go back to the beginning now, is there anything you’d want to do differently?
A: Suzanne Todd – There isn’t really much I would change about the production – I’m beyond thrilled with how everything turned out! I guess I would add time in the schedule if that was possible so Tim wouldn’t have had to work literally round the clock to finish the movie on time.
Q: Jennifer, What turned out to be favorite scene in the film, and is it surprising?
A: Jennifer Todd – Hmmm…that’s so hard. I love the introduction to the Red Queen when she’s playing croquet, I also love the end with Alice and the Mad Hatter.
Q: Suzanne, What turned out to be favorite scene in the film, and is it surprising?
A: Suzanne Todd – I have too many favorites!!! I love the resolution to the wedding proposal, the goodbye scene with the Hatter, and I am always surprised by how affected I am when she says “Lost my muchness, have I?”
Q: Suzanne, Did you read ‘Alice in Wonderland’ as a child? Did the storyline have the same affect on you now, as an adult?
A: Suzanne Todd – I did read it as a children and when I re-read it as an adult, it seemed very different than what I had remembered! The movie story is obviously inspired by the Carroll novels but Linda created a structure for the movie that did not exist in the books.
Q: Jennifer, Can you discuss the way in which Tim Burton works on a set, compared to say Chris Nolan or Julie Taymor?
A: Jennifer Todd – Every director is so different, but these three are clearly so talented. Chris is a writer/director so I think he’s very confident in his material when he directs. All three of them are perfectionists – which I think one must be to deliver films on the level they do.
Q: Suzanne, The movie looks amazing, what was it like to be able to bring this classic story to a whole new audience?
A: Suzanne Todd – It has been very exciting to re-interpret a classic story! From the moment Tim signed on, I have felt a bit like I’ve needed to pinch myself to wake up from my own dream, just like our young Alice in the film.
Q: Jennifer, How did you map out the different sides of The Mad Hatter’s personality both in visuals and voice?
A: Jennifer Todd – Well the decision to make his eyes big was Tim’s and is just an amazing effect. Johnny decided the Hatter was a bit of a split personality – his Scottish accent comes out when he’s angry and remembering his past.
Q: Jennifer, You’ve assembled an amazing cast, many of whom are unrecognizable in their roles, was there anybody who turned you down though?
A: Jennifer Todd – No! That’s one of the great gifts of working with Tim – actors are dying to work with him.
Q: Jennifer, Given the relationship between Tim and Johnny, how difficult or challenging was it to collaborate?
A: Jennifer Todd – Once they decided to work together it was very easy. Their friendship and ease with each other made the filmmaking process really nice. It also set a nice tone on the set for the other actors.
Q: Jennifer, How does the experience compare between working on such a behemoth as Alice and a smaller scale movie like ‘Memento’?
A: Jennifer Todd – The time commitment is much greater on a big film. ‘Alice’ was about three years in the process and that’s even quick for a movie of its size. Also it takes so many more people to complete a film like this – ‘Memento’ was such a small, intimate experience, the two feel like very different processes.
Q: Suzanne, The casting of the film was fascinating – not simply because of the little-known Mia Wasikowska. Can you tell us how Crispin Glover became involved?
A: Suzanne Todd – The casting was very unusual because on most films you go through a process of making offers, having actors pass on the project, and then working your way down the list. When you have Tim Burton directing, everyone is dying to work with him so he just picks who he likes and everyone says yes!
Q: Jennifer, We often hear stories of Johnny Deep staying in character throughout a shoot, was he like that for Alice, was he in Hatter mode a lot of the time?
A: Jennifer Todd – He was, although at the end of the day when he was cleaned up and not in make-up anymore he seemed to just be himself.
Q: Suzanne, Did the two of you “produce” anything in your younger days? (Backyard plays are acceptable)
A: Suzanne Todd – Yes! Story telling was always a big deal in our house from a very young age, and I was always an avid reader. We liked to act out scenes from The Phantom Tollbooth, which was one of my all-time favorites from childhood.
Q: Jennifer, Did the two of you “produce” anything in your younger days? (Backyard plays are acceptable)
A: Jennifer Todd – No, but my sister killed me off in a couple of her student films at USC. I was always her main actress, pity for her.
Q: Suzanne, Have you, for one reason or another, passed on any scripts that you later saw turned into great films?
A: Suzanne Todd – No, but the first project I ever did with Linda Woolverton was a great script that I have always still wanted to make – the movie adaptation of the book “Wicked”, which Linda adapted for me in 1996.
Q: Jennifer, Ken Ralston has done an amazing job of VFX. How did Ken get involved in the project – was he a first choice? – and what were some of the challenges cast/crew faced in delivering such convincing performances with so many VFX considerations to work around, such as oversized heads and the varying height of Alice?
A: Jennifer Todd – Ken was the first choice for the film – he’s such an amazing talent and really at the forefront of VFX. The challenges were enormous – every day was like a giant geometry equation of where Alice would stand and be the right size, where the eye lines for the CG characters were, where people could stand and not interfere with the Queen’s head. Thank goodness Ken could figure it all out.
Q: Suzanne, You’ve been involved in the production of notable visual spectacles in the past, particularly ‘Across The Universe,’ how was this production different to those other effect-heavy films?
A: Suzanne Todd – This was different in that there were SO many effects that there was hardly a scene or a shot to be found that had no effects. Alice also represents every type of effect and some mixed effects that hadn’t been done before: motion capture, cgi, hybrid characters, and the idea that no matter what her size that Alice always remains “normal” looking in any environment.
Q: Jennifer, The visual effects are quite in-depth, is it hard to visualize the end computerized result when working with the actors?
A: Jennifer Todd – Yes – I give the actors great credit for acting to a green screen and making it so convincing. One day on the set Mia was running on a treadmill and an AD was yelling out “tree branch” for every time she was supposed to duck – it looked very difficult to me!
Q: Suzanne, I’ve read that motion capture was originally filmed but later discarded in favor of live action and animation – if this is correct, why this decision was made?
A: Suzanne Todd – It wasn’t so much that anything was discarded, but it was a process of discovery to figure out which technologies could best service each of the very different characters.
Q: Jennifer, What attracted you to Alice in Wonderland? Especially since it had been done many times before.
A: Jennifer Todd – I loved this take on Alice – I had never pictured her as a young woman before, and one who would become a symbol for female empowerment.
Q: Suzanne, why a remake of a classic?
A: Suzanne Todd – I don’t think our film is a “remake” on any other Alice film, I think it’s a reinterpretation of a classic tale. But the Alice mythology is resonant around the world and people have shown great interest in modern re-telling.
Q: Jennifer, There’s an interesting quote in the special features we’re seeing, which says of the Red Queen that she is played like a petulant child pretending at being queen, does that describe the theory at the outset, or did that evolve dynamically during the shooting?
A: Jennifer Todd – I think Helena brought a lot of that to the character. She’s written as a woman who is cruel because she is unloved, but I think Helena brought a great petulant quality.
Q: Jennifer, How much creativity did Johnny Depp bring to The Mad Hatter character?
A: Jennifer Todd – Johnny brought so much to the character. We re-wrote quite a bit of the Hatter when Johnny came in, we fleshed out his back story of his family being killed, which explained his motivation and state of mind. Also all the lovely nuances of the character – his accent, wardrobe, etc were all created by Johnny with Tim.
Q: Suzanne, How did you find the right balance to remake Alice, but not isolate the audience with the tragedy within some characters?
A: Suzanne Todd – The characters in Alice, much like in any great literary work, and filled with both good and evil and struggling to find balance. It is that very struggle that we find fascinating and worth taking on this classic story.
Q: Jennifer, Did you get to keep any of the props from ‘Alice in Wonderland’?
A: Jennifer Todd – Sadly no, there weren’t many props to pinch! The Hatter’s tea was so beautiful but it went on tour after we finished filming.
Q: Suzanne, How hard was it to find the right Alice?
A: Suzanne Todd – I wouldn’t say it was difficult but it was a thoughtful and time-consuming process. Tim’s taste is exquisite and he knew exactly what he was looking for and found it plus more in our amazing Mia.
Q: Jennifer, Have you, for one reason or another, passed on any scripts that you later saw turned into great films?
A: Jennifer Todd – I can’t think of any I have – although it’s bound to happen. As a producer you have to accept your own taste and know that you won’t catch everything. I’m sure I would miss a great horror film if it came my way as I’m not good at those.
Q: Jennifer, At what stage of production did you decide to make the film 3D?
A: Jennifer Todd – At the beginning when Tim signed on. He was very keen on making this his first 3D film as the technology had just improved so much.
Q: Suzanne, What drew you to work on a classic such as ‘Alice in The Wonderland’?
A: Suzanne Todd – The Alice story is very present in modern day and appears in so many ways in movies, TV, and video games. We loved the idea of updating a classic with all the finest modern technologies.
Q: Jennifer, Both Johnny Depp & Helen Bonham are both strong, creative actors, it must have been fun working with them. Can you tell us what they both bring to the set in creativity?
A: Jennifer Todd – They are both so dedicated and fearless. They also are both so imaginative to create in the real world what worked for Wonderland. Both of them had so much input in their hair and make-up, wardrobe, props, etc..
Q: Jennifer, You worked on ‘Across The Universe’. Do you envisage a career peppered with interesting semi-animated projects and what is it you like most about semi-animated films?
A: Jennifer Todd – I love creating worlds and still being real. If I can find more movies to do this with I’ll be thrilled. They’re hard to find.
Q: Suzanne, With Helena Bonham Carter screaming so much she seems to have lost her voice a lot. Did you need a Scream Double?
A: Suzanne Todd – She did not have a scream double – but she did have to do some dialogue replacement after shooting was completed. She took on each day with total conviction – never tiring out from such an exhaustive role.
Q: Jennifer, Do you think this version that Tim Burton did of Alice enrich the classic? Did it respect all the guidelines of the book of Lewis Carroll?
A: Jennifer Todd – I think it is respectful. We used characters and plot from both books but only to enrich the plot of the film. I think the whim and the magic are in step with Lewis Carroll’s work.
Q: Suzanne, You’ve produced 18 movies in 18 years–what are you currently working on and do you ever take a vacation?
A: Suzanne Todd – We are currently working on a new film entitled “Celeste and Jesse Forever” starring Rashida Jones and Justin Timberlake. For vacations, I like to go to Disney World or on the Disney cruise – I am a huge fan of all things Disney!
Q: Jennifer, What made you go with Tim B. as Director of this?
A: Jennifer Todd – He was our first choice – he has the vision and the tone we thought perfectly suited the material.
Q: Suzanne, What has been the most rewarding experience you’ve learned or taken from making this movie?
A: Suzanne Todd – It was wonderful to take my ten-year old to the Royal Premiere in London! As a working mom, my children are so understanding about my sometimes hectic schedule and it was fantastic to share that amazing evening with my son.
Q: Jennifer, When working with such a talented director like Tim Burton, is the worry factor less or more pressure because of his quirkiness as an artist?
A: Jennifer Todd – I think there’s less pressure as Tim is such a known artist, and has had great success in his films prior to Alice.
Q: Jennifer, Tim Burton’s visions are always lush and I guess you would say extravagant (in all the right ways!). Were there any times when Tim’s vision had to be altered, either from a budget point of view or a creative one (to achieve a more ‘mainstream’ appeal, for example)?
A: Jennifer Todd – Not really. Tim self edits rather beautifully, and I think what’s great is that his unique vision appeals to audiences.
Q: Suzanne, What was the most enjoyable aspect of bringing to life this darker interpretation of a much loved classic?
A: Suzanne Todd – The response to the female empowerment at the core of the film has been very rewarding. We have heard from so many fans that the film has inspired them to think outside the box, and find courage in adversity – and that is immensely rewarding.
Q: Jennifer, Was it daunting to take such a well-loved classic tale and take forward into a new story line?
A: Jennifer Todd – Yes. The book is terrific but doesn’t lend itself well to a movie plot, so we were forced to reinvision it a bit without losing its magic.
Q: Jennifer, The original Alice story drew political parallels and satire wrapped up in a children’s story. What were some of the core messages and themes intended to be conveyed in this modern interpretation? Is it just a story about a girl lost in her own world and inner conflict, or do you see something much deeper?
A: Jennifer Todd – Our film is about a young girl at a crossroads in her life and finding the strength within her. It’s her “muchness”, her spirit, which she must tap into to find her way.
Q: Suzanne, Is there a tug of war between producer and director when it comes to creativity?
A: Suzanne Todd – Not when you are working with Tim Burton! He is a true genius and a visionary director.
Q: Jennifer, Is there a tug of war between producer and director when it comes to creativity?A: Jennifer Todd – Not on a film like this, that was dependent on Tim’s vision. We really gave him the script and waited to see what he would come up with.
Q: Jennifer, Do you always look to work together as producers on projects, and are there times when the demands and stress of producing impact on your relationship?
A: Jennifer Todd – We do mostly produce together and I think it is actually quite easy having each other. It’s nice to have a real ally in the film making process as it’s so hard.
Q: Suzanne, Do you always look to work together as producers on projects, and are there times when the demands and stress of producing impact on your relationship?
A: Suzanne Todd – In the many movies we have made together, we have never disagreed about an important creative decision. We have had trying times, like all sisters do, but never based on the work – usually based on some unreturned shoes that had been borrowed or something like
that.
Q: Suzanne, Do you futterwack? I’m a poor futterwacker, do you have any tips?
A: Suzanne Todd – Yes! We all love to futterwacken! Who doesn’t? The best tips are to watch the video on you tube – and enter our contest! You could be a champion futterwacker! Check out www.Disney.com/Alicedance
Q: Jennifer, This is going to be a hard movie to top, will your next couple of projects be deliberately small scale?
A: Jennifer Todd – We really make whatever we can, when we can, but it just so turns out that our next film is quite small, THE ROMANTICS, which premiered at Sundance.
Q: Suzanne, As a producer, does Home video give you a safety net or a catch-all in terms of additional story points?
A: Suzanne Todd – In the case of Alice, we were looking more to the home video as an exciting way to give people a peek behind the curtain of the movie making magic. We were not focused on adding additional story points to the Blu-ray/DVD.
Q: Jennifer, With so many different avenues of entertainment available, is it getting more difficult for producers and filmmakers to green light big budget productions? Is the overwhelming box office success of films like Alice, Avatar, etc. helping build confidence in studios/investors/etc.?
A: Jennifer Todd – It seems right now you are either getting films made at a big level like ALICE or AVATAR or very small like our next film THE ROMANTICS. The middle seems to be very difficult these days.
Q: Suzanne, This ‘Alice’ has been mentioned as a sequel to the younger ‘Alice’ yet it comes over as a darker version even to the point of having Mia dressed in armor in her fight against the Red Queen. Was that your original intention to paint the older ‘Alice’ in this way?
A: Suzanne Todd – Yes, in some ways. Our intention was to present an updated Alice that drew from the bones of what Alice was like in the original stories. We take her empowerment to the extreme, like in the instance of wearing armor to attempt to slay the Jabberwocky.
Q: Jennifer, Is it harder to reinvent classic tales than new scripts?
A: Jennifer Todd – Yes and no. It’s great to start with characters that are already known and loved but daunting that you don’t mess it up and upset your audience. Studios like classic tales as it gives them a pre-awareness for an audience.
Q: Jennifer, Any final thoughts on ‘Alice In Wonderland’?
A: Jennifer Todd – Thank you all so much for your interest and time today. We are thrilled with the success of the film and hope you all enjoyed it.
Q: Suzanne, Any final thoughts on ‘Alice In Wonderland’?
A: Suzanne Todd – Alice has been a true joy to work on! We are thrilled at the response and feel very grateful to be able to make movies like this one!
