Interview: Christopher Barcia – Writer/Director of Mortal Kombat Fates Beginning
David Gelmini
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Mortal Kombat has got to be one of the greatest gaming franchises around. Gore, action, fantasy and more gore. So a fan film about the series is a hugely welcome project. You can contribute to the film here and check out our interview with writer/director Christopher Barcia below.
Dread Central: What is it that makes Mortal Kombat so awesome?
Christopher Barcia: What makes Mortal Kombat so awesome is that it always raises the bar for expectations. Everyone expects the special moves, the recurring characters and the violence; yet, every Mortal Kombat has set the bar higher with new content while keeping its original content that made it so popular included.
DC: Do you see fan films as a way for fans like yourselves to truly express your love for a series?
CB: I do agree that fan films provide a great way to express love for a series, but it is also a way to branch out into new forms of media and reach more audience. Some people love movies and hate gaming while others are vice versa. Expanding something cool into all these media forms gives everyone a chance to enjoy what makes a subject or content great.
DC: As this is Mortal Kombat, will there be a lot of gore? Fatalities?
CB: Yes, this is Mortal Kombat and there will be gore and violence, but it will not be the only focus of the film. Mortal Kombat is so much more than just violence, even though the gore and violence is fun and will certainly be included in the film, Mortal Kombat Fates Beginning will also bring the story elements of the series to life visually. We will have violence and fatalities for sure just to reassure everyone, but expect to see more than that tied in to the final cut of the film.
DC: Which characters from the games will appear?
CB: I can say without a doubt that fan favorites like Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Johnny Cage will appear; but I cannot give away all the characters that are confirmed for the cast. I will say this as compensation: A fan favorite will appear that has only been featured in a video adaptation once before in Mortal Kombat history. The fans will be pleased to see said character in the film.
DC: How are you creating the fantastical Earthrealm?
CB: The way we are going about Earthrealm is simple: It’s Earth. The tournament takes place in Earthrealm and will look like home in a lot of scenes, but there will be touches that will keep you feeling like you’re not exactly at home when watching the film.
https://youtu.be/YEsAm7ZX-yA
DC: Storywise, is this connected to the other MK screen adaptations?
CB: Storywise yes and no; we are setting the film to take place in the original 1992 game timeline, but the film has brought so much life to the characters we know and love from MK that there will be many character traits that resemble what we as viewers have grown to love and to expect to see in film adaptations.
DC: I understand that the costumes will resemble that of the game?
CB: The costumes will resemble the game, but we are also making realistic alterations that transition better to film. But we are being respectful of the games’ look and style. There will be costume alterations; however, when you see the characters, you will know right off the bat who they are and will be reminded of the original games.
DC: Did you have any copyright issues with the film?
CB: We have not had any copyright issues with the film thus far because we are making it under fair use copyright law; we are not making any money off the film at all and do not want to either. We are doing this because we love what Mortal Kombat was and has become, and we do not want to step on anyone’s toes. We want Warner Bros. and NetherRealm Studios to be pleased with what we are doing. Should they tell us to cease production, we would respectfully agree to their wishes. Our only intention is to provide totally free, 100% non-profit entertainment for Mortal Kombat fans.
DC: Any word on the runtime?
CB: We are aiming for an action-packed twenty minutes to excite and give the fans what they want. Should they want more, we will make more and a longer runtime for sure.
DC: The Mortal Kombat series has notoriously been restricted in various regions around the world due to its graphic content; do you see this as an infringement of freedom of speech?
CB:I don’t believe it infringes freedom of speech, whereas more it’s an infringement of entertainment. Even since the first game the new bars set of violence have made waves among the masses, but that’s part of Mortal Kombat’s charm. You want to play it because its content is out there; it’s different. Yeah, it’s brutal, gory, and let’s face it… it’s downright violent, but in the end it’s fun among friends using cool martial arts and bloody finishers to have fun. Mortal Kombat is available to those who want it, and as long as fans want the fun it provides, it will always be available somewhere in my opinion.
DC: What else will MK fans love about this film?
CB: MK fans are going to love our story, the original story brought to life for a modern generation. Old fans get to relive their favorite characters fighting the realm on-screen while new viewers can discover what makes MK so great. They’re going to love the cast; we have a cast of Mortal Kombat fans! All of whom are working hard to get into character appropriately for their viewers. People will also love our tip of the hat moments in the story; the script is jam-packed with references to the original games as well as signature character traits that the fans know and love. All in all, we believe they are simply going to love Mortal Kombat that much more after our film.
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