Interview:
Thomas Negovan,
producer/reconstructionist,
"Caligula: The Ultimate Cut"
Produced and reconstructed by filmmaker and art historian Thomas Negovan, Caligula: The Ultimate Cut presents a version of the controversial 1979 Roman Empire-era tale of corrupted power that hues closely to the artistic vision of its creators. Directed by Salon Kitty's Tinto Brass, who collaborated with star Malcolm McDowell to adapt Gore Vidal's screenplay, the violent and sexually charged account of the reign of Roman emperor Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was hijacked during post-production by producer and Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. Working from Caligula's shooting script, and taking inspiration from archived interviews with the film's key creatives, Negovan spent three years reconstructing his Ultimate Cut from 90-100 hours of footage shot by Brass. The end result is a Caligula fully assembled from alternate takes—edited to restore narrative sense, extend or excise scenes and subplots, and enhance performances—but minus the hardcore pornographic footage Guccione shot behind Brass' back and inserted into the 1979 theatrical version of the film. (Negovan does retain the explicit sex and nudity shot by Brass.) The Ultimate Cut also features the addition of an animated prologue sequence by Dave McKean, based on scenes written by Vidal but not filmed by Brass, and a new score by composer Troy Sterling Nies. Caligula: The Ultimate Cut, which premiered locally at last year's Fantastic Fest, opened Aug. 23 in Austin. Producer/reconstructionist Thomas Negovan will participate in live-streamed Q&As after the 6 p.m. Aug. 23 and 6:10 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Alamo South Lamar. Aired: Aug. 21, 2024. Web sites: https://drafthousefilms.com/caligula https://drafthouse.com/austin/event/fantastic-fest-presents-caligula-the-ultimate-cut-w-livestream-q-a |
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