‘Smile 2’ Director Parker Finn Says His Sequel Was ‘Like Fitting a 10-Gallon Movie Into a Five-Gallon Bucket’: ‘I Tried to Push Everything to its Absolute Extreme’

As a seasoned cinema enthusiast with a penchant for horror movies and a soft spot for underdog success stories, I must say that the journey of Parker Finn and “Smile 2” has been nothing short of exhilarating to witness. The first film’s triumph against all odds was a testament to Finn’s unyielding vision and knack for storytelling within budgetary constraints.

Director Parker Finn beat the odds with the first “Smile” film.

The 2022 horror film was produced at a cost of $17 million, but it went on to earn over $200 million globally, making it a blockbuster. When shooting “Smile 2”, Finn followed the same strategy, stretching his budget and timeline to their limits, which he compared to trying to cram a large movie into a smaller container, stating that it was like “fitting a 10-gallon movie into a five-gallon bucket.

Finn mentioned, “We had some additional tools at our disposal and a greater variety of playthings. Yet, I find myself consistently stretching my budget and timeline. Essentially, I was aiming higher than usual. As a result, it seemed just as or even more pressured due to the ambitious project we took on.

Accompanied by Naomi Scott and the principal cast of “Smile 2”, Finn stepped onto a black carpet situated outside Paramount Studios in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, marking the celebration of the movie’s premiere.

In the sequence titled ‘Smile 2’, we follow global pop star Skye Riley (Scott), who takes over as the host of a chilling, grinning entity right before embarking on her world tour. The challenge for her is to stay sane amidst this enigmatic presence while navigating life on the road.

During the initial phase of plotting the sequel, Finn generated numerous concepts within the first month of brainstorming sessions, deciding that if these ideas were surfacing so rapidly, they were too apparent. However, one night, out of the blue, the concept of Skye Riley struck him with sudden inspiration.

One evening, the concept of Skye Riley, a pop star character, struck Finn suddenly, as if by a flash of lightning. He became captivated by it. “I’m fascinated by how this scenario, which is unusual for a horror film, unfolds,” he explained. “The glamorous, sparkling world of a pop star seems like such an intriguing contrast with ‘Smile.’ I can’t wait to explore where this idea might lead.

In my preparations for filming Skye Riley’s songs and choreography, I had merely a handful of weeks to get ready. As I navigated the process of discovering my own unique sound and style, I was cautious not to draw inspiration from a single source out of concern for being overly reminiscent of a specific pop star. Instead, I chose to trust that the multitude of artists I’ve absorbed throughout the years would be there subconsciously, guiding me along the way.

For me, the most enjoyable aspect was the singing and dancing, as Scott explained. He chose to keep things natural by blending his own voice with the existing choreography and costumes, ultimately discovering Skye’s unique talent in this setting.

2024-10-19 21:16

‘Smile 2’ Director Parker Finn Says His Sequel Was ‘Like Fitting a 10-Gallon Movie Into a Five-Gallon Bucket’: ‘I Tried to Push Everything to its Absolute Extreme’

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