You know, being the editor of Splash Page isn't all about free comic books and chats with Hollywood types, folks — sometimes it's even cooler than that. Case in point: last week's brunch with "The Last Airbender" director M. Night Shyamalan.
On Thursday morning, the celebrated filmmaker sat down with a select group of news outlets for a friendly, frank discussion of his upcoming live-action adaptation of the hit Nickelodeon animated series "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Scheduled to hit theaters July 2, the film is the first chapter in a three-part story that has the "Sixth Sense" director tackling his first big-budget, effects-driven adventure.
Shyamalan took a break from post-production tweaking to discuss all things "Airbender" with our small group, and while the video will be posted soon, I can offer you a quick peek at what the conversation covered — after all, you provided some of the questions!
Foremost among the topics of conversation, Shyamalan addressed some of the controversy surrounding the film's cast and concerns that the cartoon's racial identity was overlooked in the casting process. His response not only clarified some of the thinking behind the casting, but also shed some light on his overall plan for races and the role they'll play in the "Airbender" universe.
Shyamalan also indicated that he's already well into the script for the second film, but will likely be working on an upcoming thriller (not "Unbreakable 2") between the first "Airbender" installment and its follow-up. He was careful not to call the second chapter a "sequel," and explained why he views the project as a three-part story instead of one film with two sequels.
For those wondering about Appa, the sky bison who made a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in the latest trailer, Shyamalan promised that the character would be just as important in the live-action story as he was in the cartoon series. He specified a few other fan-favorite characters who will make the jump to the big screen, but also revealed one or two minor characters and plot points that might not make the cut.
Given the film's reliance on CGI effects, Shyamalan spent quite a bit of time describing his learning process with the new (to him) technology, and a few key scenes that will make significant use of the effects. He cited one particular scene, in which a character "uses water like nunchucks," and said many of the effects-driven scenes will involve single, prolonged shots rather than the quick, cutaway-heavy style typical of many effects-driven films.
Oh, and for those who asked about it, he said audiences will have to wait until the second film for his trademark cameo.
Keep an eye on Splash Page for video from "The Last Airbender" brunch with M. Night Shyamalan in the near future. You can also check out the following "Airbender" fan sites for more on our brunch with Shyamalan: AvatartheLastAirbenderOnline.com, LastAirbenderFilm.com and LastAirbenderFans.com.
What are you looking forward to most with "The Last Airbender"? Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter!