I am sure that this interview may be interesting not only to those who liked the web series, but also to all other fans "Mortal Kombat". The director is in it Kevin Tancharoen talks about the characters in the next episodes, about a possible second season, about his plans for a feature film and about the release of the series on DVD / Blu-ray.
I would immediately like to warn readers that some questions/answers related to another project Tancharoena, not related to “Mortal Kombat”, were skipped as unnecessary...
I really enjoyed the episodes that came out and the response to them has been quite impressive. You've probably attracted more viewers than some of the shows from CBS and Warner Bros.
Kevin Tancharoen: [laughs] Thank you. Yes, the response was huge, and I’m glad that people still continue to watch the series. It's interesting to see which stories people are drawn to the most, which episodes they enjoy the most, etc.
After part two of Kitana and Mayleena's story, shall we move on to the tournament?
Kevin Tancharoen: No. After that there will be Raiden, Scorpion and Sub-Zero, and then the robots. I want to save the tournament for the second season if possible.
I figured we'd see some of the tournament in these episodes. It turns out that before it starts there will only be backstories of the characters?
Kevin Tancharoen: Exactly.
After what you said, I really wanted to watch the episode with Cyrex and Sektor.
Kevin Tancharoen: It's coming out after Scorpion and Sub-Zero, so the robot episode will have to wait a little longer. I must say that creating 3D models of robots takes a lot of time.
Then what are your plans for the finale? Will it all end before the tournament starts, when everyone gets together?
Kevin Tancharoen: We always strived to first present the stories that needed to be introduced to the viewer before the tournament. We want the viewer to be intrigued before the start of the second season, if we are lucky with one. When we bring everyone together at the tournament, you will already know what each character's backstory is.
In the second season, have you already clearly decided on the winner of the tournament? Or will the approach be slightly different?
Kevin Tancharoen: The approach is a little different. I don't have any specific winner. What I want to say is: I don’t want to feel backed into a corner if I have to beat, for example, Liu Kang [laughs]. We've seen this before, and if you know how the film ends, it won't be interesting to watch.
So, you have discussed a second season with Warner?
Kevin Tancharoen: We have creative discussions all the time. I guess it all depends on whether the leaders agree or not. So far everything is going well and we just hope that they will allow us to continue working.
Have you discussed a possible DVD release? I know you filmed a lot of extra footage and I'm sure the fans would love to see it.
Kevin Tancharoen: Yes. We are preparing DVD and Blu-ray, and there will be many extras. We'll show some fight rehearsals and stuff like that. This way the audience will know how much depended on the choreography.
Have you already decided on the time?
Kevin Tancharoen: I don't know the exact date. All I know for sure is that there were negotiations about this, negotiations in terms of when they would need to release the discs and how. Every day I learn something new, but so far everything looks good.
When we spoke for the first time, you said that you made the short film alone because you were sure that no one would need something like this. Can you talk about what changes have occurred since the release of the short film and the series? Have there been any offers that would not normally have been made before?
Kevin Tancharoen: Now they probably see me as a genre director. I began to consider things that I might not have considered before. I've always wanted this. In general, this was the idea of the short film, to show that I am capable of something in this world. As it turned out, this was beneficial.
Can you tell us what elements of the production were the most unpredictable, or how you “fitted” into this project?
Kevin Tancharoen: You know, oddly enough, everything “went like clockwork,” and all because filming, in the end, depends entirely on choreography. Be that as it may, staging what is happening, directing the actors, where they need to go, how long they need to wait there, this is all choreography. This topic is close to me, especially when it comes to the choreography of fights. In part, it's the same thing, only it's not related to music. The same kind of rhythm, the camera has to be moved at a certain time, to a certain point or in a certain way. Very similar feelings. I talked to a few people about this because I thought that in fighting the kind of rhythm in general is different compared to music, but, nevertheless, it is still rhythm. I can easily catch it.
If there is a second season, will you introduce viewers to any new characters?
Kevin Tancharoen: Probably with the Cabal. In my opinion, he has a great story, he's a very cool character, and his hooks are awesome. I think the most challenging character I would like to portray would be Goro. It seems to me that everyone wants to look at Goro, but you have to “play around” with it. The original used animatronics and they looked fantastic at the time. What can get in the way now? Absolutely nothing [laughs]. We need to make him very good, and that's what I'm most excited about, but at the same time, it will be the most difficult task considering what a monster he is by nature.
If you take such a monster and the budget with which you are working, you will most likely have a hard time.
Kevin Tancharoen: Yes, definitely. Doing something like this is extremely difficult, and such things cost a lot of money, but I think that this can certainly be done.
I assume that if you get the go-ahead for a second season, then everyone else involved in the production will be involved as well?
Kevin Tancharoen: Yes! If the company's management agrees, I think they will be happy to come back, and I would like that. Fortunately, no one is against it, and everyone is eager to work together again.
...
When you think back on all this, what is the highlight that comes to mind?
Kevin Tancharoen: Every now and then I think back to the first time I saw Scorpio in a suit. When we shot Raiden, we took a completely different approach, very similar to the style from Rebirth. It's a very dark style and I think people will like it. Most likely, people are “racking their brains” about what Raiden’s image will be like. Sort of like a crazy electrician or something. It won't happen, I promise [laughs]. It will be completely different.
... Are you currently working on the plot for the second season?
Kevin Tancharoen: I'm constantly developing storylines for the second season, I never lose hope that we will be able to make a full-length film...
Do you already have a script ready for the film in case it gets the go-ahead?
Kevin Tancharoen: I have a very detailed outline that describes the entire storyline.
Just to wrap things up, what message would you like to convey to current fans of the web series or those who are still not getting it? Why should they check out Mortal Kombat: Legacy?
Kevin Tancharoen: For anyone who hasn't picked up the series yet or is a Mortal Kombat fan, the mythology of the game characters is sorely lacking. Many people enjoyed the game, but many didn't realize the emotional overtones and how deep the storylines were. We try our best to convey this in the web series within the 10 minute limit or less. I hope they watch it and are intrigued by the characters and understand where the main characters came from, how they got to the tournament, and that it's not just a tournament that happens for no reason. They learn what the characters are fighting for.
That's all I wanted to ask you, Kevin. Thank you very much for your time and good luck with the end of the season...
Kevin Tancharoen: Thank you very much.
Author: Brian Gallagher
Source: movieweb.com
Translation: EvilDollaR
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Tags: Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, web series, Kevin Tancharoen
Tags: Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, web series, Kevin Tancharoen
I don’t understand why Warners don’t give the go-ahead to the full-length... I think the film would have made the budget easily (there’s no need for an exorbitant budget, the actors-fighters don’t require much, and you don’t need a lot of special effects either)
Is there a full-length feature planned? The trailer came out :(
Trailers were only for the first season of the series and the short film. There was NO trailer for the full-length film. It will only be filmed when Warner Bros. agrees.
I just want to shout, “Kevin, motherfucker, stop before it’s too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
""more reality, less fantasy""
Reality was in Rebirth, Legacy is absolutely the same fantasy as the previous Battles
Kevin Tancharoen has already answered the above comment in his penultimate reply :)
I don’t know... but are there really people for whom this series evokes positive emotions... unlike me...
I like the old mortal kombat about Kung Lao better
You read and think, “Wow, that’s great, that’s great,” but you look and think, “What the hell is this???”
Great interview! Thanks for the translation!
After reading it I respected Kevin even more!
God grant that they give the go-ahead for a second season, and a bigger budget - so that the series doesn’t look cheap!...for me personally, this is the only negative.
As it is, I like everything, I don’t criticize him for distorting the characters’ backstory in his own way. I like his principle of “more reality, less fantasy.”
And I’m sure there will be fighting games: I don’t think that Kevin, being a dance choreographer, will ruin everything
It turns out that Tim Man was definitely one of the robots. This is good. So, he left the “delicious” for last. :)