IF YOU should ask Chiwetel Ejiofor to describe a typical day on the set of Roland Emmerich’s 2012, he would laugh and tell you: “Well, I’m not sure any day on set with Roland is what you would call typical. But it’s always fascinating.”
Ejiofor has a point. Emmerich is a specialist at crafting blockbusters – Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow – and 2012 promises to be the most spectacular yet, a sweeping epic about the planet facing one cataclysmic disaster after another leaving mankind on the brink of extinction.
Emmerich is the master of a filmmaking circus the like of which Ejiofor has never experienced before.
For some directors, says Ejiofor, the responsibility of delivering a big-budget special effects-laden film on such a scale would be too much. For Emmerich, it’s what he does and he does it with skill, charm and enthusiasm.
“The responsibility of delivering this kind of film is massive,” Ejiofor says. “And most of us wouldn’t be able to sleep at night because of it. And yet Roland would turn up invigorated and refreshed every day over a very long shoot.
“And then he would talk to us about the nuances of the characters we were playing as well as see the overall picture of what he wants to achieve on this massive scale. Frankly, I found that remarkable.”
He adds that the movie gave him an understanding of the scope of Emmerich’s imagination. “When the rest of us see maybe five helicopters and a little bit of grass, he’s perceiving complex, richer and far more cinematic landscape.
“I think it’s extraordinarily exciting for directors to be able to accurately create this visual realm. And I think some of the technology in the film is really pushing the boundaries even further.”
Ejiofor also stresses that Emmerich is equally concerned with characters and his story as he is with the special effects.
“You are working on the characters all the time, just as you would with any other film. You have this epic, grand drama about the destruction of the world but you also need smaller, more intimate, philosophic, moral debates, questions, relationships and so on, that really facilitate the drama.
“And I feel films like this have an excellent opportunity to do both those things really well. Obviously, visually and cinematically, there’s incredible stuff that’s accomplished in movies like this.
“And when you put that in the context of real nuance and relationships, then I think you have something potentially exciting and I think you have that in this film.”
Ejiofor, 35, was born in London and began acting in plays at his school, Dulwich College. He attended the National Youth Theatre and later, studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
He made his screen debut in the television drama, Deadly Voyage, in 1996 and, after working consistently on the London stage, went on to win a key role in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad in 1997.
Since then, Ejiofor has starred in numerous films including Dirty Pretty Things, Red Dust, Kinky Boots, Love Actually, Inside Man, Children of Men and Redbelt.
In his latest role in 2012, Ejiofor plays Dr Adrian Helmsley, a geologist who becomes aware of the deepening crisis that is going to engulf the world, and takes that to the US president (played by Danny Glover).
“And then as it gets nearer to the date, he ascends the ranks within the presidential context and becomes a chief science adviser to the president,” says Ejiofor.
“So he [Helmsley] is very hands on when things inevitably start to fall apart.”
On his character’s emotional conflict, he says: “It’s a terrible moral conflict for my character – do you just let the ensuing crisis occur or should the people be told?
“And what I liked about that is it’s not straight-forward. He [Helmsley] is a pretty moral man himself but the argument has two definite sides to it and he can see that. So it’s the ultimate moral dilemma and I found that interesting to play.
“We would be discussing this on set when we were making the film, asking each other: ‘What would you do?’ And some of those arguments we raised with Roland and Harald [Kloser – the film’s co-producer and co-writer with Emmerich] ended up in the film – which I think is great.”
Technology and special effects play an important role in an epic film like this. Does he feel upstaged by these?
“No, I didn’t feel that. I feel that when people watch movies they are drawn in by the story, by the people, the characters, and the emotions.
“In a film like 2012, the special effects are as important as in any other film and Roland knows that better than anyone. But the effects are great and they can be thrilling and engaging, and even more so, if you care about the characters who are facing these terrible disasters.
“I think the characters in 2012 are fascinating and they are facing some very, very interesting questions and, at the same time, there’s this huge epic unfolding. That’s very exciting.
“I’ve seen the film and I just think it’s great. I think it’s really extraordinary. And I think people are going to really enjoy it.”
The film also stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thomas McCarthy, Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton and Oliver Platt.
