Photo courtesy of filmschoolrejects.com

As the March 20 release of the sci-fi thriller Knowing approaches, Australian film director Alex Proyas prepares to show the world his progression in Hollywood. The film, starring Academy Award-winner Nicolas Cage, tells the story of a teacher who opens a time capsule containing predictions for every major catastrophe on the planet, including those that have not yet occurred.

“(Science fiction) is really just my own sort of personal comfort zone,” Proyas said in an exclusive interview with The Lumberjack. “I grew up on science fiction and consider it a part of my psyche creatively. I feel comfortable working within the genre. Science fiction is a little bit more grounded in the rules of the real world. I really like the sort of confines of that world.”

Proyas said the attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001 did not influence the theme of the movie.

“The screenplay, I believe, was written before those tragic events occurred,” Proyas said. “In the wake of 9/11, it’s an impossible event to ignore when you are telling the story about the major disasters that have occurred over the last 50 years. We touch upon it very briefly, but it’s not about 9/11 in any way.”

The director explained how closely he worked with the casting process to secure Cage for Knowing. Proyas said he had been eager to work with the actor for many years.

“We’ve actually almost worked together in the past,” Proyas said. “It’s almost always obviously about people’s schedules and whether or not everything fits together into that innate package. For this instance, Nick read the script and he loved it, and he too was very interested in working with me, and so it was a great marriage. He came on board at a very early stage and was a perfect match for that character.”

Having previously worked in the capacities of director, writer and producer, Proyas said he likes to be as involved with the storytelling process as possible for all of his films. 

“I just relate it as an integral part of the process,” Proyas said. “Partly why it takes so long to get the movie done is because I really tinker with the screenplay a great deal until I am totally satisfied. I like going into a movie knowing it’s as well-crafted as we can make it. It’s often a result of ripping it apart and putting it back together repeatedly.”

With the rise in popularity of sci-fi films, Proyas thinks people are interested in science fiction due to their concern for the future. 

“In certain times, it’s something that we dwell upon,” Proyas said. “I think that everyone is generally concerned, and the movies are a reflection of that, really. It’s a way of both analyzing the situation in whatever dramatic form and helping us perhaps find a solution. I really think that it’s a sign of the times, perhaps.”

Knowing hits theaters March 20. For more information, visit www.knowing-themovie.com.