So it’s been 27 years since Jurassic Park opened in theaters and the Jurassic Park universe is still thriving. What do you think makes this franchise both magical and relevant for nearly three decades?
Thanks for saying that. You know, I think a couple of things. One is that every day, so many new dinosaur fans are born, and the advantage is that dinosaurs were real, and they were here. And kids are introduced to them, oftentimes you know, just in life through other means other than the films that we make and now this show that we created. And that’s what’s very exciting, we get to play in a world that’s based on our own scientific reality and I love how much it gets kids to recognize the value of the natural world. And how very briefly we’ve been here compared to how long the herds existed.
Can you share with us a little update on the third Jurassic World film and what was it like filming during this time?
You know, it is a time of great solidarity amongst the people who are making this film. And yes, there are really pretty strict protocols that we put in place, I’ll be the first to admit. And maybe we’ve gone beyond what is absolutely necessary. But that’s a choice that we made. Because we just want everyone to be as safe as possible. And we want to be able to finish this film. And, you know, it’s the livelihoods of so many when it comes to our crew and people working for us. I’m just astounded and really moved by how everyone’s risen to the occasion on this movie, and we all show up. We wear masks every single day, and we are tested three times a week and we take our temperature checks every morning when we show up and I’ve been quarantined away from my family for four months. I’ve seen him for two days out of those four months. And all of these things we’ve done because we care so much about it. And I really believe it’s going to show up in the movie that we’re making.
There will be a new generation, younger audiences introduced to the Jurassic universe through this Netflix series, so this will be their first look at the Jurassic World, compared to the kids, now adults, that grew up with it. What do you think makes this series in particular stand out among the other Jurassic material?
Well, I think at different times different ages, we may respond differently in each of those films. Jurassic Park, it’s for adults, and it’s definitely for kids. But it’s a science thriller. It approaches the ethical questions when it comes to cloning life in general in a very complex way. And I think that kids probably read it differently and process it differently as they get older. And our films, they’re more action adventure films, and I’m sure kids deal with the issues we bring up in that a little differently as they age. And so what we wanted to do with this show is really create something that wasn’t really a massive leap when it came to being universally understandable amongst children. So we focused on the emotions and what it’s like to be a young kid and to be in a world that feels unsafe and to feel lost and alone sometimes. And all of the emotions we go through as children. We really wanted to play out in this drama that is, that is with some comedy and that’s set on a dinosaur island.
A lot of kids go through a phase when they’re super obsessed with dinosaurs. Did you ever go through that phase?
I was a dinosaur kid, but but mostly in the context of how those dinosaurs can help my other action figures, fight various battles and get around it. So I would kind of mesh dinosaurs together you know, with my Star Wars figures and various others. So yeah, they’re very helpful in war even though I don’t necessarily support that storyline in the movies were making when I was a kid. Yes, dinosaur in snow battles were a big deal. But I think the reality of it is is that kids’ obsession with dinosaurs, I think, doesn’t have much to do with us. I think that they show up to our movies already being obsessed with dinosaurs, and we get to that entertain them in the context of their love for these creatures, but I think that happens on its own. That’s just my opinion.
If you can share anything, what are your plans for season two?
Oh, I’ll only know that we have a season two if people like season one! That’s the exchange. So if this goes well, I will probably tell you on the end of next weekend. If kids watch it, and they love it, and they want more, we’re definitely ready to entertain them further. But we need your permission!
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous premieres September 18, 2020 on Netflix.
