Argento’s FX and music team arrives
The Argento film “family” gathered in force last night.
Latest arrival was special prosthetic make-up man Sergio Stivaletti who drove 6 hours from Rome with his van loaded up with severed heads and an Asia mannequin. Dario told Sergio he wanted his work to accent the violent aspects of the vampire legend. For while Dracula 3D hews to the basic Bram Stoker story as we all know and love it, the fantasy add-ons are what Dario wants to make the most impact. I so want to reveal what those are but would face the maestro’s wrath if I did!
Sergio really wants Dracula 3Dto be a huge hit because then Demons 3D would become more viable. He and Lamberto Bava (pictured) have that project all ready to go. A visitor to the set last week was Claudio Simonetti who, true to form, has already composed much of the soundtrack. The ex-Goblin is excited by the fact it will all be orchestral and lush. The scenes being shot last night were the two final ones and I have to state for the umpteenth time that the collaboration between Dario and Luciano Tovoli is paying amazing dividends from a visual point of view. If nothing else the movie looks absolutely gorgeous, in a post-modern Hammer style.
Tovoli told me he wants it to be classic, expressionistic, romantic and naturalistic all at the same time. By the way Tovoli’s son Lorenzo is his assistant. Still waiting for Rutger Hauer to find space to fit an interview in with me, last night again had the actor on perpetual call. But everyone agrees a major star is emerging from Dracula 3D: Marta Gastini, innocent purity personified as Mina, her emotional scenes have touched everyone. After she finished last night the entire cast and crew broke out in spontaneous applause, Dracula for me is becoming a wonderful series of such unique magical events.
A shift in location today – a disused sportswear factory on the Biella outskirts is the base now. Here in the cavernous spaces where old offices used to be the various art departments are working on dripping wax from giant candelabras and carving crucifixes and coffins. The main scene being filmed tonight is Van Helsing on a literal stake-out in the crypt set built in the basement. It’s a long, thin, gloomy corridor filled with graves etched with such names as Elisabetta Lovinescu. Very atmospheric but with barely enough room to swing a cat o’nine tails! Not sure how we’re all going to fit in with the extras all dressed in funereal black. I’m waiting outside Asia’s trailer for her imminent arrival…
Source: Alan Jones
