Neill Blomkamp filmography

I actually think Johannesburg represents the future. My version of what I think the world is going t Show more I actually think Johannesburg represents the future. My version of what I think the world is going to become looks like Johannesburg. Hide

If there isn't a deep core reason for a film existing, what is the point? For me to be known as a fi Show more If there isn't a deep core reason for a film existing, what is the point? For me to be known as a filmmaker that makes films that have a point, I'm stoked. Hide

I think that in the realm of commercial, popcorn cinema, the amount of message or smuggling of ideas Show more I think that in the realm of commercial, popcorn cinema, the amount of message or smuggling of ideas you can get in there is quite limited. Like, if you think you're going to make a difference or change anything, you're on pretty dangerous thin ice. Hide

If I wanted to make something that actually made a difference roughly in this industry, I would make Show more If I wanted to make something that actually made a difference roughly in this industry, I would make a documentary. That would be the closest I could come to actually try and make a difference. Hide

District 9 (2009) was a singular anti-Apartheid metaphor, and Elysium (2013) is a more general metap Show more District 9 (2009) was a singular anti-Apartheid metaphor, and Elysium (2013) is a more general metaphor about immigration and how the First World and Third World meet. But the thing that I like the most about the metaphor is that it can be scaled to suit almost any scenario. Hide

I just watch movies I like over and over. It seems to be a lot of sci-fi stuff. My favorites are pro Show more I just watch movies I like over and over. It seems to be a lot of sci-fi stuff. My favorites are probably - besides the first two Alien (1979) films, I watch 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), I watch Star Wars (1977), the first ones, because those actually had a huge effect on me as well, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) especially. Hide

[on using motion capture in Chappie (2015)] Think of the animation like really, really expensive mak Show more [on using motion capture in Chappie (2015)] Think of the animation like really, really expensive makeup. The actor drives the performance: they are completely and utterly captured in the process of rotomation.[2015] Hide

If you just compare South Africans to the rest of the world, I think that white South Africans, and Show more If you just compare South Africans to the rest of the world, I think that white South Africans, and especially English-speaking white South Africans, are exactly the same as Brits or Australians or New Zealanders or Canadians or Americans. Hide

District 9 (2009), Elysium (2013) and Chappie (2015) were all born out of some visual concept first. Show more District 9 (2009), Elysium (2013) and Chappie (2015) were all born out of some visual concept first. "Chappie"(2014) is the imagery, because I think I'm a visual person first, of this ridiculous robot character. It's much more comedy based and in an unusual setting. Hide

My favourite stuff is visual, and I always want to work with visual artwork. I think it depends on t Show more My favourite stuff is visual, and I always want to work with visual artwork. I think it depends on the person, but for me, photographs of an image of something interesting or inspiring is worth a lot more than words to me. I think every concept I've come up with and turned into films or that will be hopefully become a film comes from images first. Hide

Johannesburg is weird, because half of it is like Los Angeles. It feels like just wealthy parts of L Show more Johannesburg is weird, because half of it is like Los Angeles. It feels like just wealthy parts of L.A. But half of it is severe slummy, something like Rio De Janiero or something. So it's kind of weird, because it's both happening at the same time. Hide

The first film that I can remember seeing where, like, I just couldn't stop watching it - and it did Show more The first film that I can remember seeing where, like, I just couldn't stop watching it - and it didn't necessarily make me want to be a director because I was so young, but it made me know that that's what I wanted to be doing - was 'Alien.' And I saw that when I was probably just over 10 years old. Hide

I'm not particularly interested in working with movie stars. It depends on where you come from, I su Show more I'm not particularly interested in working with movie stars. It depends on where you come from, I suppose. Why are you making films? The reason I want make films is because they convey ideas. I think some directors make films because they want to hang out with movie stars and be part of Hollywood. They want to be a star themselves. Hide

I don't want egos and personalities on the set that make it more difficult to make the film. I don't Show more I don't want egos and personalities on the set that make it more difficult to make the film. I don't want people who take the focus away from the movie and the ideas behind the movie. Hide

Satire also allows you to make fun of every different aspect. It allows you to make fun of both side Show more Satire also allows you to make fun of every different aspect. It allows you to make fun of both sides. It allows you to make fun of everything, really, so you can do it in a harmless way. Hide

[on Los Angeles] Joburg Light [2013] [on Los Angeles] Joburg Light [2013]

There is something fundamentally fascinating about the mechanics, I guess, of the human body and whe Show more There is something fundamentally fascinating about the mechanics, I guess, of the human body and where consciousness and mind exist, and what you can do with the mechanics of the body while keeping those intact, and where those two cross over. Hide

I have zero strategy for my career - like, zero. I could get as much satisfaction about doing a $20, Show more I have zero strategy for my career - like, zero. I could get as much satisfaction about doing a $20,000 shot film the same way I could do a $100 million film with a bunch of effects. Hide

If something is as smart as you, do you treat it differently if it isn't a human? If something is as smart as you, do you treat it differently if it isn't a human?

I think there's a lot of crazy stuff on the Internet. You read stuff that is wild speculation, and t Show more I think there's a lot of crazy stuff on the Internet. You read stuff that is wild speculation, and there's an element of it that makes me not trust it because there's this undercurrent of insanity to it sometimes. Hide

I think the world of District 9 (2009) has a lot of race and oppression-based ideas that I would sti Show more I think the world of District 9 (2009) has a lot of race and oppression-based ideas that I would still like to explore in that world. Hide

The only genre of movie that I could see making that doesn't have anything magical or otherworldly a Show more The only genre of movie that I could see making that doesn't have anything magical or otherworldly about it would be a war film. I'm very interested in history, and a war film could be something that would lure me in. Hide

A lot of America is kind of done. People have been making films about it for 100 years. Everything t Show more A lot of America is kind of done. People have been making films about it for 100 years. Everything to me feels used up. But Jo-Burg feels unbelievably inspirational to me. Hide

Obviously I don't want to make a film that offends people, but the whole world is so politically cor Show more Obviously I don't want to make a film that offends people, but the whole world is so politically correct - I'm not going to not do something because it may be politically incorrect. At some point, the metaphors and allegories break down. They disappear, and you just have science fiction. Hide

The main stuff I like is from the late '60s to the early '90s. That's the stuff I love. It's the 'Ja Show more The main stuff I like is from the late '60s to the early '90s. That's the stuff I love. It's the 'James Cameron''s and the Paul Verhoeven stuff. I guess when I was younger, Star Wars (1977) had an influence. Hide

I just want to make films that have enough of a budget to pull off high-level imagery but also have Show more I just want to make films that have enough of a budget to pull off high-level imagery but also have a budget that is low enough that I can do what I want. Hide

In a lot of the really impoverished areas of Johannesburg you see these packets of cheesy puffs whic Show more In a lot of the really impoverished areas of Johannesburg you see these packets of cheesy puffs which are like 6 feet long and the width of a basketball, and they're transparent and they have like 10,000 cheesy puffs in them, and you can buy that for like 50 cents. It's kind of a weird treat that you'd see people having in the townships. Hide

If you don't have something that glues the audience to the screen, you're in trouble. If you don't have something that glues the audience to the screen, you're in trouble.

What I do is spend too much time thinking. Most of the time I just walk around annoyed. Would I desc Show more What I do is spend too much time thinking. Most of the time I just walk around annoyed. Would I describe myself as relatively happy, I suppose, but society gets to me. And the people that have mastered life seem to not care, and then they die, and then the grenade goes off. Hide

I don't put any pressure on myself in terms of what people or fans do or don't want. It really just Show more I don't put any pressure on myself in terms of what people or fans do or don't want. It really just doesn't occur to me. I honestly just want to make the films I want to see as a fan. The film will survive or fail in my mind by how much I like it. Having said that, everyone wants their films to do well and to be well-received. Hide

There has to be the popcorn genre element, or I don't engage the same way. I like action and vehicle Show more There has to be the popcorn genre element, or I don't engage the same way. I like action and vehicle design and guns and computer graphics as much as I like allegory. It's a constant balancing game. I want audiences to be on this rollercoaster that fits the Hollywood mould, but I also want them to absorb my observations. Hide

If you look at the most meaningful science fiction, it didn't come from watching other films. We see Show more If you look at the most meaningful science fiction, it didn't come from watching other films. We seem to be in a place now where filmmakers make films based on other films because that's where the stimuli and influence comes from. Hide

I think that, if there are topics that are just on people's minds, things manifest into reality out Show more I think that, if there are topics that are just on people's minds, things manifest into reality out of the sort of global consciousness of being aware of those topics. Hide

[on _Elysium_] I feel like I fucked it up, I feel like ultimately the story is not the right story. Show more [on _Elysium_] I feel like I fucked it up, I feel like ultimately the story is not the right story. I still think the satirical idea of a ring filled with rich people hovering above the impoverished Earth is an awesome idea. I love it so much, I almost want to go back and do it correctly. But I just think the script wasn't... I just didn't make a good enough film is ultimately what it is. I feel like I executed all of the stuff that could be executed, like costume and set design and special effects very well. But ultimately it was all resting on a somewhat not totally formed skeletal system, so the script just wasn't there. Hide

The concept of even having fans is still kind of weird to me. I really just feel like a filmmaker th Show more The concept of even having fans is still kind of weird to me. I really just feel like a filmmaker that is only just finding my foot in and is beginning to participate in Hollywood and making films. So the idea of any kind of fandom or people that are waiting for something that I may release is very distant in my mind. Hide

I think the reason you use an actor is if they are right for the role. Most of the high-profile star Show more I think the reason you use an actor is if they are right for the role. Most of the high-profile stars tend to be good actors. That's probably what led to their fame. So if they are right for the movie, you can certainly use them. But I don't want to, not at all. Stardom and Hollywood overpower the ideas and the film. Hide

A lot of parts of L.A. are interchangeable with suburbs in Joburg. Very big, ostentatious houses wit Show more A lot of parts of L.A. are interchangeable with suburbs in Joburg. Very big, ostentatious houses with palm trees and lawns. Lawns are very important. Never underestimate lawns. Hide

I think that Elysium (2013) the movie is unrealistic, with the space station and everything. I think Show more I think that Elysium (2013) the movie is unrealistic, with the space station and everything. I think "Elysium" the metaphor is completely realistic: it's exactly where we're going. Hide

I still really love the world and the universe and the mythology of 'Halo.' If I was given control, Show more I still really love the world and the universe and the mythology of 'Halo.' If I was given control, I would really like to do that film. But that's the problem. When something pre-exists, there's this idea of my own interpretation versus 150 other people involved with the film's interpretation of the same intellectual property. Hide

Chappie (2015) would be like RoboCop (1987) but hilarious. If you mixed "Robocop" with E.T. the Extr Show more Chappie (2015) would be like RoboCop (1987) but hilarious. If you mixed "Robocop" with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and it was... funny, that's what it is. Hide

There's no question that how Johannesburg operates is what made me interested in the idea of wealth Show more There's no question that how Johannesburg operates is what made me interested in the idea of wealth discrepancy. Elysium (2013) could be a metaphor for just Jo'burg, but it's also a metaphor for the Third World and the First World. And in science fiction, separation of wealth is a really interesting idea to mess with. Hide

There are loads of sociopolitical, racial, class and future-planet situations that really interest m Show more There are loads of sociopolitical, racial, class and future-planet situations that really interest me, but I'm not really interested in making a film about them in a film that feels like reality because people view that in a different way. I like using science fiction to talk about subjects through the veneer of science fiction. Hide

I'm a massive hater of 3D. I don't like it at all. For me, you go to a movie theatre and you want to Show more I'm a massive hater of 3D. I don't like it at all. For me, you go to a movie theatre and you want to be taken to a place and transported to a place and be in that environment, and I know 3D is meant to do that, but the effect for me is the reverse. I feel like I'm looking though muddy water, and I can't really see the image. Hide

I think growing up in South Africa, and then moving to Canada, I'm just genuinely interested in the Show more I think growing up in South Africa, and then moving to Canada, I'm just genuinely interested in the difference between the First World and the Third World, immigration, and how the new, globalized world is beginning to operate. All of those things run through my mind a lot. Hide

[on Johannesburg] It has this thermonuclear-weapons feel, like it's going to go off at any point.[20 Show more [on Johannesburg] It has this thermonuclear-weapons feel, like it's going to go off at any point.[2013] Hide

When any young director gets hired by a studio to do a $125 million film based on a preexisting piec Show more When any young director gets hired by a studio to do a $125 million film based on a preexisting piece of intellectual property, they're climbing into the meat grinder. And what you're coming out with on the other side is a generic, heavily studio-controlled pile of garbage that ends up on the side of Burger King wrappers. Hide

On one hand, I think people are destined for something incredible if we don't wipe ourselves out, bu Show more On one hand, I think people are destined for something incredible if we don't wipe ourselves out, but I think we're going to wipe 90 percent of ourselves out. Hide

I want to make a film that is commercially successful because that means that the larger cinema-goin Show more I want to make a film that is commercially successful because that means that the larger cinema-going audience around the world like the movie, which is my goal. That's my job, to make films that people respond to. Hide

I think naturally I'm a very visual kind of person. If I wasn't in filmmaking, I'd be in something r Show more I think naturally I'm a very visual kind of person. If I wasn't in filmmaking, I'd be in something related to visuals. And I used to actually work as a visual-effects artist. Hide

I think our problems are inherently unsolvable. We need to change our genetic make-up or create comp Show more I think our problems are inherently unsolvable. We need to change our genetic make-up or create computers that will think us out of it. I don't think humans are able to deal with what we have. Hide

I like where we're going with technology and global integration, but the fact that corporations and Show more I like where we're going with technology and global integration, but the fact that corporations and dollars rule everything in our lives, I don't like it. This isn't the Hollywood I wanted to be part of. Hide

High-level actors can be all about their close-ups and the size of their trailers. I'd heard these h Show more High-level actors can be all about their close-ups and the size of their trailers. I'd heard these horror stories of how a really powerful actor can come in and change your script. Hide

I think that people who make films and think they're changing the world are sorely mistaken. If that Show more I think that people who make films and think they're changing the world are sorely mistaken. If that really is your goal, there are far better ways to do it. I'm making politically observant films for audiences. Hide

[on shooting Chappie (2015) in Jo'Burg] Johannesburg can be both township and completely urban and a Show more [on shooting Chappie (2015) in Jo'Burg] Johannesburg can be both township and completely urban and almost American. You can choose the Johannesburg you want, so I made "Chappie"(2014) exclusively urban. Because Die Antwoord is native to South Africa, I felt the film had to be set there. However, I started to feel that I was treading too close to District 9 (2009) so I moved the second draft to America. But moving the story to America felt like it created a fish-out-of-water feeling for Die Antwoord, so I set it back in Joburg, but with South Africa as the backdrop but not the star.[2015] Hide

If you're not observing the world around you, in some sense you're not really an artist because then Show more If you're not observing the world around you, in some sense you're not really an artist because then that means you're just replicating other people's stuff, or, I don't even know what you're doing. Hide

I think filmmakers in general are, as the tools become more and more advanced, you're able to tell s Show more I think filmmakers in general are, as the tools become more and more advanced, you're able to tell stories in a way that I think is more realistic. The technology just wasn't there up until pretty recently, and it takes a bit of time for the normal artistic way of approaching something to become a mainstream thing. Hide

I never really think of something in terms of what not to do. It's always what's appealing or what's Show more I never really think of something in terms of what not to do. It's always what's appealing or what's cool. Hide

I grew up as an artist. Science fiction allows for design and creatures and guns and all the stuff t Show more I grew up as an artist. Science fiction allows for design and creatures and guns and all the stuff that I like as well. So I think most of the films I make, I'm sure, will be in that category. But I can also see myself making a film like Black Hawk Down (2001) and I could also totally do horror. Hide