It started as they all do, with a somewhat innocuous yet potentially fight-worthy statement. More appropriately, it started with someone stating their opinion on Twitter then devolved into utter chaos from there.
The Combatants: Warcraft director Duncan Jones and Star Wars: Episode VIII director Rian Johnson.
The Topic: The merits of “shooting on film.”
The Result: Utter hilarity.
To be honest, this is why we love filmmakers like Jones and Johnson. They aren’t on social media simply to have a marketing presence for their films. They enjoy the discourse that can be achieved 140-characters at a time. The kinds of discussions that make “Film Twitter” such a fun place to live at times. There are dark corners of the internet that will often pollute an earnest conversation about the art form we all love (like that time a bunch of racists tried to boycott Star Wars: The Force Awakens), but if you take to the discussion with an open mind and in good humor, as these two filmmakers do, you can have a great time.
For your viewing pleasure, here’s how it all went down:
“Shooting on film” is just vinyl for movie hipsters. Discuss.
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 19, 2015
@ManMadeMoon YOU’RE just vinyl for movie hipsters. – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 19, 2015
@rianjohnson JJ gave you all his short-ends to shoot on, didn’t he?
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 19, 2015
@ManMadeMoon Did you do Warcraft on the 6 or 6s? – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 19, 2015
@rianjohnson Oh! We’re doing this? How tough was it convincing the committee to let you frame up your own shots? pic.twitter.com/WIGO4tzl54
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 19, 2015
@ManMadeMoon Is your release going to be multi-console? – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 19, 2015
@rianjohnson says the guy who made the movie following the guy who followed up those 3 other movies that came after the ones we loved.
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 19, 2015
@ManMadeMoon All kidding aside, I’ll be there opening night. I am so curious to see how you squeezed a fourth movie out of The Hobbit. – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 20, 2015
@rianjohnson Haha!! Just laughing at how depressed your accountants going to be when all that Star Wars money skips right past you to Lucas.
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 20, 2015
@ManMadeMoon The dusty banner above the Warcraft toy aisle: “HOPE YOU LIKE ORCS!” – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 20, 2015
@rianjohnson Feel for you, Rian! Everyone will already have all the plastic crap they need by the time people stop buying merch from Ep VII!
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 20, 2015
@ManMadeMoon You laugh, but when the 8th installment in the Warcraft saga is coming out you’ll be facing the same challengeshahahahahahahaha – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 20, 2015
@rianjohnson So Ep 8. Guessing THIS time, the baddies will be chasing a princess who’ll get help from a reluctant hero & his droids. Close?
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 20, 2015
Things eventually escalated, bringing in responses from other notable film voices, many of whom share these same qualities (the good natured-ness):
@ManMadeMoon @rianjohnson can you guys go back to discussing the difference between film and Splenda? – ChristopherMcQuarrie (@chrismcquarrie) October 20, 2015
@ManMadeMoon it seems like an odd thing to demand before you have a script.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) October 19, 2015
@ManMadeMoon “Releasing on film” is vinyl for movie hipsters. “Shooting on film” is “made with all real instruments.” – Keith Calder (@keithcalder) October 19, 2015
In the end, it all ended cordially:
That was better than therapy! Thanks @rianjohnson! ;)
— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) October 20, 2015
@ManMadeMoon pic.twitter.com/p6YwKqDdmN – Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) October 20, 2015
For our part, we hope you guys never change. Keep making movies however you want to make them and we’ll be there with bells on. But not until after we rewatch that Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer…
