My earlier conversation with Shutter Island author Laeta Kalogridis took a turn for the silly once we got into a heavy SPOILER ZONE. I promised her I wouldn't run that part of the interview until the movie had been out for a few days, but as we were wrapping up we got into some other projects.
This is the woman, after all, developing the script for Avatar 2 and Ghost in the Shell. (And, yes, she also brought us the Vikings vs. Native Americans epic Pathfinder.)
While reading this in print it may seem like I was being a colossal douche, trust me, she was giggling the whole time.
Laeta Kalogridis: I'm gonna' get in trouble!
I'm gonna' get in trouble.
Jordan Hoffman: Who's gonna fuss, c'mon, who will make waves with the woman
who is actively writing Avatar 2?
Laeta Kalogridis: No! Nope nope! I have nothing to say.
Publicity Flak:
Jordan, sorry, I have to cut you off, if you have one last question?
Jordan Hoffman: Cut me off? I wanted
to speak Na'vi to Laeta.
Laeta Kalogridis: Uh-huh. Yeah.
Jordan Hoffman: You can't say anything about Avatar 2?
Laeta Kalogridis: Call Jim.
Jordan Hoffman: Can you talk about Ghost in the Shell? Is it happening?
Laeta Kalogridis: I'm writing it. It
is happening for me, at least. I can say
that Ghost in the Shell was a seminal visual experience. It has spawned so much amazing - not just
direct stuff, like the television series - but The Matrix and the evolution of
cyberpunk. For me, it is an meaningful
as [William Gibson's] Neuromancer. So, I'm writing it and
let's hope that Dreamworks likes it.
Jordan Hoffman: Are you in a race with the Akira live action film? Will you throw the gauntlet right now,
Laeta?
Laeta Kalogridis: I most certainly will not.
It would be a horrible, horrible shame if people thought there was only
room for one --
Jordan Hoffman: There are room for many, of course, but you wanna be
first. Come on. Hey, don't you hang out with Jim Cameron,
can't you be more Type A about this?
Laeta Kalogridis: Being first is not as important as being best. And that is exactly what Jim would say if he
were here.
Jordan Hoffman: Okay, fair enough.
And I know you have to go, but I gotta say I enjoyed Pathfinder.
Laeta Kalogridis: Agggggggghhhhhhhhh!
Jordan Hoffman: I had five Coors Lights and had a blast! I'm serious!
Laeta Kalogridis: That's just cruel.
Jordan Hoffman: I speak the hard truths.
Laeta Kalogridis: Oh my God, go away.
