As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has traversed the silver screen for decades, I must confess that few performances have left as indelible an impression on me as Sigourney Weaver‘s portrayal of Ellen Ripley in the “Alien” franchise. Her career-spanning masterclass at the Venice Film Festival was akin to a walk down memory lane, revisiting the iconic moments that defined her acting journey and cemented her status as a cinematic legend.
On Thursday, Sigourney Weaver shared insights from throughout her illustrious career during a masterclass at the Venice Film Festival, naturally including her tenure as Ellen Ripley in the “Alien” series.
Ridley Scott directed the initial movie in 1979, and seven years afterward, James Cameron took charge of the sequel “Aliens.” This was their first encounter, with Cameron later directing Weaver in the “Avatar” series as well. They quickly became friends, but there was one misunderstanding: Weaver wasn’t aware that Cameron had included so many guns in the script for the film.
“Weaver praised Cameron for his receptiveness to my ideas and his incredible intuition. However, one aspect that didn’t sit well with me was the frequent use of guns. In my eagerness to immerse myself in the story, I often skipped over stage directions that were heavily laden with gun references.”
In her own words, Weaver stated that one time, Cameron introduced a collection of firearms on set. Upon questioning, she asked, “What are these for?” To which he responded, “Well, what do you mean?” She explained, “I’m an advocate for gun control and I have no intention of handling a gun,” to which he replied, “You haven’t read the script.” She clarified, “I have read it, but I haven’t gone through all the parts about guns.”
To persuade her, Cameron led Weaver out into the backyard and showed her a machine gun, firing off several hundred rounds. Weaver described this encounter as unfortunately captivating. Later on, Weaver recalls Cameron mentioning, “I want you to witness what happens to her,” alluding to Ripley’s transformation after she starts handling firearms.
She acknowledged that she believed it was necessary for her to protect herself, yet she also grasped his reason for preferring firearms. However, it’s important to note that using guns wasn’t her preferred option.
On Wednesday evening, during the opening event of the festival, Weaver received the Golden Lion award for a lifetime of achievements.
“She expressed her disbelief, saying it seemed like a dream as she accepted the award. ‘This recognition serves as rocket fuel for my motivation,’ she added.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the actress who played leading roles in “Alien” and “Avatar” held a press conference where she became visibly moved after being told that her acting work may have contributed to Kamala Harris becoming the first female President of the United States.
“She expressed joy when considering the possibility that her work might’ve played a part in her success, since it’s indeed true. Many women often approach her to express their gratitude.”
Renowned figures like Peter Weir (who will also be awarded a Golden Lion) and Ethan Hawke are among those leading workshops at the Venice festival. This event continues until September 7th.
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2024-08-29 19:21