Movies: 'Blood Diamond'

Ed Zwick
Director/Producer
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 12:00 PM

In "Blood Diamond," opening in theaters Friday, Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou star as African men in pursuit of a rare diamond. The film, set in 1990s Sierra Leone and also starring Jennifer Connelly, was directed and produced by Ed Zwick.

Zwick was online Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006 at noon ET to discuss the movie as well as his career in Hollywood. His previous directing credits include "Glory," "Legends of the Fall," "Courage Under Fire," and "The Last Samurai." He also has served as producer on such films as "Shakespeare in Love" and "Traffic."

A transcript follows.

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Fairfax, Va.: Mr. Zwick

When will your great film "Special Bulletin" be released on DVD? I videotaped it when it premiered in 1983 because I had read very positive reviews, and was not disappointed. But my tape is now 23 years old and wearing out!

I remember the network worrying about whether viewers would think it was really happening and the disclaimers that were run throughout the telecast. Just a wonderful and gripping film.

And thank you for "Courage Under Fire" and "Glory," two of my favorite films (on DVD, thank goodness!). You and Denzel Washington work so well together.

Ed Zwick: As best I know, it was once released many years ago. Don't know if it will reappear. Thanks for the thought.

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San Antonio, Tex.: What made you want to make this film? How long did it take you and your screenwriters to write the story? When you crafted the storyline, were you aware of Greg Campbell's 2004 book, "Blood Diamonds"? Do you make any ties in the film between the conflict diamonds and al Qaeda?

Ed Zwick: I did know Greg's book. It was extremely valuable. So was a book called, "In the Land of Magical Soldiers." Also, a documentary by Sorious Somura called, "Cry Free Town."

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Manassas, Va.: Thank you for bringing to light the atrocities that diamonds could let humans perpetrate on innocent humans.

Is it true that even though this movie is about 1990's Sierra Leone, not a single scene was shot in that country?

Sierra Leone is a very safe and stable country now with a lot of tourist potential that the making of this movie would have added to.

Thanks.

Ed Zwick: If you watch the film you will see that we did indeed shoot some scenes in SL. And the film ends with the words, "Sierra Leone is at peace." I, too, have only the best wishes for the future of the country. Investment in industry, tourism, all of it.

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Washington, D.C.: How long did it take for Leo Dicaprio to mimic the South African accent? Did he have a vocal coach?

Ed Zwick: Leo worked with a very talented dialect coach. His name is Tim Monnich -- who once taught at Julliard. He also spent a lot of time hanging out with former mercenaries, soldiers and smugglers. He claims they drank copious amounts of Jaegermeister.

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Macomb, Ill.: How much of what you hear from audiences in test screenings do you end up using to re-cut your movies before their official release? My grandma attended a test screening of "Blood Diamond" in Chicago. She enjoyed seeing the guy get killed by the shovel (what can I say -- she's a cool grandma) but she thought the film ran a tad long.

Ed Zwick: My feeling about test screenings has less to do with specific comments (unless they seem overwhelmingly unanimous) than it does with the feeling you get just sitting in a crowded theatre. You're right about the first test screening in Chicago. We, too, felt it was a bit long and we trimmed about ten minutes. And tell your grandma I liked the bit with the shovel, too.

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Fairfax, Va.:

I understand the picture was actually filmed elsewhere, but did you visit Sierra Leone before filming began to get a feel for the country, talk to survivors of the civil war, people involved in the diamond trade, etc.?

Thanks

Ed Zwick: I spent a great deal of time talking to those who had endured the war, particularly some of the child soldiers.

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Washington, D.C.: Why do Hollywood feature films, supposedly about events significant to other cultures, so often make the typical Hollywood type leading-man the primary, pivotal character such as in the movie "Glory," "Cry Freedom"?

Ed Zwick: I'd have to take exception to your statement when it comes to this particular film. I feel that Solomon Vandy's story (played by Djimon Hounsou) is equal to that of Danny Archer (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). Not only is the Mende man the moral center of the film. He also begins and ends the story. The tale of a good man trying to keep his family together amid the chaos of war is a universal one, and not limited to race or ethnicity.

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Washington, D.C.: I heard diamond sellers are worried sales will be lower this year at Christmas time because of your movie. Do you think this will be true? Was this your goal? Did you release it this time of year on purpose?

Ed Zwick: Our release of the film at this time of year has everything to do with the number of people who go to movies over the holidays and nothing at all to do with the diamond industry's sales.

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Washington, D.C.: I believe that "Glory" has the best movie/music moments ever -- haunting, stirring and memorable. I can still hear the music from the march in Boston, battle at Fort Wagner, and the burial of Shaw. Do you envision or anticipate the music when you make a movie or direct a scene? How important is the music to your process?

Ed Zwick: I often begin listening to music while shooting. In this case, James Newton Howard and I didn't have much time to talk because I was so far away. We did, however, spend a great deal of time together once I came back to the States. He's an enormously talented composer and his score to Blood Diamond is a very provocative fusion of the modern with the traditional.

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San Antonio, Tex.: Do you think the Kimberley Process Certification Program is working?

Ed Zwick: I defer to those from Global Witness, Amnesty International and the Partnership Africa-Canada who tell me that, although it has made great strides, that much more can be accomplished. According to them, there needs to be much greater transparency on the part of the industry and much more vigilance on the part of individual governments. My inclination is to believe those whose motive is conscience rather than profit. I have never had much faith in any industry's ability to police itself.

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Hyattsville, Md.: Thank you for bringing attention to Sierra Leone. It is a very beautiful country as you have seen. Hopefully the end of the civil war and this movie will bring renewed interest and tourism back to Sierra Leone. Thank you for doing such a wonderful job!

Ed Zwick: Sorious Somura said that the real reason this film can help Sierra Leone is because they have never really forgiven the children who became soldiers and did such horrible things. Because the movie goes to great lengths to explain what these children were forced to endure, he believes that when people come to understand this...they will more readily find it in their hearts to allow them back into their homes and villages.

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Washington, D.C.: In 2001, Post reporter Doug Farah wrote about the dark alliance between al-Qaeda and Liberia's former outlaw president Charles Taylor, who traded diamonds for military supplies and weapons. Was Farah a consultant for your movie? How much did you rely upon his groundbreaking work in the book, "Blood From Stones" about terrorists' secret financial network?

Ed Zwick: Doug Farrah's book was very helpful. So was a book by a Dutch journalist called, "How de Body," as well as one by Peter Godwin called, "Mukiwa."

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Boston, Mass.: I saw a test screening, and I did enjoy this film plus your previous movies, but I sense a theme. Most white men are bad, except a tiny handful of main characters, and most black people are good except one or two. Is this your intention?

Ed Zwick: It's funny if this is indeed a theme. In my television work I've occasionally been pilloried for not having enough characters of color, good or bad.

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Falls Church, Va.: Admire your work. When starting a film project do you select actors first or stories first? Or does it depend? Leo D. is among a number of fine young leading men in the biz these days. Do you have favorite leading men from the golden era of films in the '40s and '50s, why, and any comparisons to contemporary people?

Ed Zwick: I have believe that the story and script come first. That said I can't help but sometimes imagine a particular actor playing a part. After three films with Denzel Washington this wasn't too hard to do. With Leo it was more of a leap of faith on both our parts. What I like most about his performance is that it honors a tradition of sympathetic leading men taking the role of the ante-hero: Henry Fonda in "Fort Apache," Kirk Douglas in "Ace in the Hole," Burt Lancaster in "Sweet Smell of Success."

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San Jose: Hi Ed

You've done such wonderful work over the years, I was wondering if you have a film you consider your personal favorite.

Ed Zwick: I have so many favorite films. The Seven Samurai. Rules of the Game. We All Loved Each Other So Very Much. The Godfather. Jules and Jim. The list is endless...

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Washington, D.C.: Shaw: "If this man should fall ... who will lift the flag and carry on?"

Thomas: "... I will"

Best scene ever.

Also, what is your advice on breaking into the film/TV industry?

I am excited for "Blood Diamond" this Friday. Keep up the good work.

Ed Zwick: My advice to anyone who can write is to write. These days, though, with the availability of video and final-cut, if you truly have a vision, you're going to be able to show something.

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Lansdowne, Va.: Was any part of the film shot in Sierra Leone and were there any extras or actors from Sierra Leone? If no, why not? (I have not seen the movie yet.)

Ed Zwick: We used several actors from Sierra Leone in the movie and did a lot of second unit shooting there. Given the state of the country it just wasn't possible to shoot on such a large scale there.

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Bethesda, Md.: If I want to avoid purchasing blood diamonds, are there any retailers with a zero tolerance policy regarding these? Mervis has been running ads about how they don't purchase these. Can you name anyone else? I am thinking of getting my girlfriend something in a little blue box -- are they clean?

Ed Zwick: Amnesty International has a Web site that includes a "buyer's guide." I'd refer to it when selecting a jeweler.

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NYC: Did Leo stay in character as far as the accent [when] went off-camera?

Ed Zwick: Remarkably he stayed in character (as far as the accent was concerned) all day long. It got a little odd sometimes when talking about something apart from the film -- but this is how he was able to be so free in his performance -- to find the range of the emotion and still keep his dialect consistent.

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Ottawa, Canada: The diamond industry in Canada is concerned that your film will have a negative effect on the entire industry. Do you think their concern is justified?

Ed Zwick: In 1999, when Global Witness and the Partnership Africa-Canada first brought images of amputated limbs into the public consciousness, the diamond industry howled that it would ruin sales. In 2000, diamond sales were the highest on record. I believe that, to raise awareness about this issue will ultimately be to the benefit of everyone -- producer, consumer and host nation.

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New York, N.Y.: As someone who has followed the issue of conflict diamonds for years, I was a bit apprehensive watching the trailer for the film in a movie theater preview. Is "Blood Diamonds" anything more than another white man saves Africa story?

Ed Zwick: You might want to read some of the reviews that are coming out in the next few days. Yesterday there was a very positive notice from David Denby in The New Yorker and another from Richard Roeper. Of course there are also some mixed notices -- but none of them, even when they don't seem to like the film, don't take the position you fear.

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Ed Zwick: I've got to sign off now, but I want to thank all those who have offered questions, and to apologize to those whom I haven't had time to answer. I hope you'll all go see the film, and maybe we can do this again sometime.

Edward Zwick

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