by Arigon Starr

Explosions, amazing stunts and balletic gunplay are staples of the incredible films of John Woo.  His films also depict intense loyalty, friendship and a heroic sense of duty. A maverick film director and writer who honed his skills in Hong Kong cinema, Woo's Hollywood films have both thrilled and shocked audiences.

On June 14, 2002, MGM will release "Windtalkers." Woo brings his cinematic expertise to the film which stars Academy Award-winner Nicolas Cage and Salteaux actor Adam Beach. "Windtalkers" is the story of unsung Native American heroes of World War 11, the Navajo Code Talkers. Everyone seems to know the tale of Ira Hayes, the young Pima Marine who [helped] raise the flag at Iwo Jima but almost no one has heard of the men who used their native language to help win the war in the Pacific theater.

Recently honored with Congressional Gold Medals, these brave men were prepared to keep the story of their services secret forever. With the declassification of the project, the Navajo men were finally able to tell their own families the gritty details and the resounding success of their secret military work.

John Woo has all of the necessary skills and heart to tell this story. He uses a heightened sense of excitement to tell very human stories. This thread runs through almost all of his films, from "The Killer" to "Face Off." Woo's films are reminiscent of American director Martin Scorsese, whose films  are filled with compelling characters who happen to have very violent jobs (see "Mean Streets" or "Good Fellas"). His films have pushed the envelope of what action-oriented movies suppose to be.

On a summer afternoon, John Woo welcomed Renaissance Indian into his spacious offices. Movie posters and stills from his illustrious career lined the hallways. His capable staff welcomed myself, on-camera interviewer Natalie Noel, plus a film crew.

Editor's Note: Special Thanks for this interview which was made possible through the cooperation with The Four Directions In Hollywood Production and Executive producer Natalie Noel

John Woo is not a violent or volatile man. On the contrary, he is soft-spoken, self-effacing, well-mannered and extremely charming. He is also very thoughtful and truly considered each of his responses unlike some of the characters in his films who literally shoot from the hip. Seated in his tastefully furnished office, he spoke about his Hollywood experience and what it took to bring the story of "Windtalkers" to the screen.

Q: Tell us about all the extras and all of the bombs you had going off. Weren't there 150? Tell us about that, because that was really awesome.

John Woo (JW): Yes, There were 280 bombs and over a thousand Marines and Japanese. They were  fighting, charging, shouting, shooting and there were bombs blowing up everywhere.

Q: And you did that all in one long shot?

JW: Yes, because we only had one chance. For that shot, we took two days for the set-up and to prepare everything and rehearse the whole scene. We used about 13 major cameras, plus two or three smaller cameras. Some of the cameramen dressed as Japanese and marines. They grabbed handheld cameras and ran into the field and went with the actors. They grabbed all of their close-up shots and also made it feel like a documentary. We also had a helicopter with a camera. That was a pretty amazing scene. That scene was so expensive and needed a lot of time to prepare. That's why we only got one chance.

I was so amazed about all of the actors. All the actors did their own stunts. They learned from the Marines. They learned about teamwork. For the big shots, since the set was so big and there were so many people, I suggested [to the actors] we use stunt doubles. But they refused. Even Nick Cage, Adam Beach, Roger Willie, Christian Slater, Brian Van Holt, all the other actors---they were willing to do it by themselves. I said, "The shot was so wide and the camera won't see you. They all said, No, no, no----we work as actors and also work as real Marines." So, they learned from the real spirit. They got into the feel and did the shot. Since all of the actors did the shot, I asked a few of my cameramen: "Everyone dress as a Marine and follow them, get the shot, get the movement." It was very touching. The whole movie making is about teamwork. It was so amazing that they cared about each other, they all loved each other. They all worked together so well.

Q: The writers John Rice and Joe Batteer said to me that the story was "basically a love story between these two men (Cage and Beach)." What is the story about?

JW: I think it's mainly about friendship. How to work with different cultures and different kinds of people. Trying to find a way to work together, with more understanding. Nicolas Cage plays the role of Joe Enders, and he learned a lot from the Navajo. He learns about love, family and dignity. Besides this, there is something great about this script. There is something we have not heard before or even cared much about the contribution s from the Navajo People. What they have done for the Marines, by their work, they saved lots of lives. It's a great way to learn something we've never heard about before Also, it's great for me t learn more about the Indian and the Navajo people and learn a lot from their great spirit. That's all you can see from the movie.

Q: How did you decide to do this project?

JW: John Rice is good storyteller. When he pitched his story to me, I was crying. I always wanted to make a  movie about humanity, about love and about friendship. So when he told me the story, I was moved. I was so impressed about the Navajo people's work and the contribution and the spirit. I also liked the theme. It's all about people.

I also like challenges. I like to do something I have never done before. I always dreamed of making a war movie. Even though I've made a movie like "A Bullet In The Head," it doesn't count. I wanted to make a real war movie. After they approached the story to me, I was impressed and we approached the studio and they all loved the idea. This is the time we should make this kind of movie. This is the time to let the people know more about the Indians. Let them know about their true spirit.

Q: Do you think this movie will pave the way for more stories about Native Americans?

JW: Yes. It's played out very well. It's a great concept for the film. To let the people know we should all come together and work together. We should also learn from each other. That's the great thing about this movie

Continue