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X-Files 2 Finishes Filming And Brushes Off Fans

By Josh Tyler: 2008-03-14 00:11:32
X-Files 2 Finishes Filming And Brushes Off Fans The upcoming X-files sequel has finished filming, unless of course this is another convincing lie cooked up by Chris Carter and his team. They've admitted it by the way, that those photos leaked out from the set showing Mulder and Scully liplocked were concocted by him. The story comes from The National Post, where Duchovny flat out says, “We staged that.” I’m betting they’ve staged a lot of other stuff too.

If you’re wondering why someone might invent fake stuff to feed to their fans, well the answer is pretty obvious. The X-Files 2 team doesn’t care about their fans. Of the film co-writer, producer Frank Spotnitz says: “We're not doing an exercise in nostalgia to appeal to the fans of the show.” He doesn’t want his now over 30 fans, he wants hip, young kids. Spotnitz admits, “We saw this as an opportunity to introduce the characters to people who may have been too young . . . It has a reason for being, even if there'd never been a television show before.”

It’s a disappointing stance, but it’s not an entirely unique one. Maybe they've taken it to the extreme by actually lying to their fans about what they're doing, but shutting fans out has become the new thing on productions with heavy fan investment. JJ Abrams for instance has kept Star Trek under lock and key, refusing to let Trekkies have even the slightest notion of what he’s doing to something they’ve invested decades in.

It’s an about face from the revolution in Hollywood/fan interaction which seemed to be underway a few years ago, when people like Peter Jackson and Bryan Singer basically flung the doors open on the sets of Lord of the Rings, Superman, and King Kong to let their fans in on everything they were doing. It worked with Lord of the Rings, but apparently Hollywood doesn’t think Superman and King Kong were big enough successes, and word on the street is that they’ve blamed a lot of the perceived failure of those films on how open the directors were with fans beforehand. Ridiculous really, when you consider that both of those movies made a helluva lot of money.

So now we’ve gone from inviting fans to be excited about and involved with the movies they care about to shutting them out entirely, lying to them, and courting a young, hip, ironic t-shirt wearing demographic instead. Call me a whiny fanboy, but that rubs me the wrong way.

Is X-Files 2 finished filming? Maybe. If you want to believe the people actually making X-Files 2. Ok, they probably has no reason to lie about that. Here’s something that probably is a lie though. Yet another anonymous email dropped into my inbox this evening claiming that X-Files 2 is all about werewolves. Yeah right. I get at least one of these a week now. Here’s what this particular random, would-be scooper had to say in an email titled “From X-Files Producer”: “I just learned the "shocking" ending of the movie -- that Scully finds Mulder in a hospital where he has disappeared, and uses her medical expertise to perform a life-saving operation on him. The movie ends with a classic "X-Files" cliffhanger when the audience discovers in the final scene that Scully hasn't in fact saved Mulder at all -- that he has actually turned into a werewolf!!” The sad thing here is that even if our scooper was actually able to confirm that he’d gotten this information from one of the X-Files 2 movie’s producers, there would still be no reason to believe it.

UPDATE! One of our commenters below was kind enough to post the URL of a video recording of the entire press conference. Watch it here.


RELATED: chris carter, sequel, x-files

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Comment on “X-Files 2 Finishes Filming And Brushes Off Fans”

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  1. Eleanore Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 01:28

    I'd consider checking out the actual conference (which IS available online, and has been since yesterday) as opposed to quoting a choppy, inaccurate article. (The National Post took everything out of context, and misquoted to boot. Lovely!) Oh, and the "staged" comment? A joke from Duchovny. You can blame the Post for that one as well. Excuse me while I roll my eyes in their general direction for causing so much false press so quickly.

    In short, I don't blame Carter one bit for attempting to circumvent everyone wanting to know everything. The Internet community is rather obnoxiously demanding about wanting to know more and more about films. I miss the days when I could actually be surprised. And again, Carter is doing exactly what was done for the first film back in 1998. It seemed to work fine then.

  1. Rosemary Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 01:32

    Look, I see what you're saying. The secrecy thing is getting old. But you've misquoted ALOT here, and I think you ended up misrepresenting Chris Carter. These quotes came from a press conference yesterday. David said the thing about the staged photos, added "maybe," and he was joking. And Frank Spotnitz made the comments about the audience being too young, etc.

    If you're going to complain, at least get your facts straight.

  1. Tina Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 01:32

    Would you people please check the *original* source before publishing rubbish like this? Watch the the actual news conference. (http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/bc/ondemand/video/bc-080312-xfiles-CLIP.wmv) Then you'll realize:

    1. It was Duchovny who made the "It was staged comment", which was promptly followed by a "maybe" and a smile. AKA 99% chance it was a joke.
    2. The nostalgia line comes from Frank Spotnitz, who used the word "just" before "doing", meaning they are not simply dump everything they had and start anew.

    At least I agree with your stance on the werewolf story...

  1. JoshT Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 04:03

    Thanks for the heads up folks. I did my best to clarify where the quotes came from. Accuracy is important.

    I don't really think it changes anything though.

  1. Char Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 04:15

    If you're going to do a report on a press conference based on reading a factually incorrect report about the same press conference then you really need to question why you're writing it at all. It's obvious you have no interest. It's lazy and sloppy and gives journalists a bad name.

    You say accuracy is important yet you stand over your/National Post's story? Anyone with half a brain cell could look at that press conference and KNOW he was joking about the staged pictures and you've taken Spotnitz's comments completely out of context.

    As for Peter Jackson's approach to fans on the films you mentioned- the plotlines were already out there. No spoilers would have been released because the book was written or the story was told before (pssst King Kong was a remake) and trying to pretend otherwise would have been ridiculous. Carter wants to keep this a secret. Last time round the Enquirer published lock, stock and barrel about the film. He's trying to avoid that now. But then I wouldn't expect you to do any research. Based on this article, it's clearly not your style.

  1. JoshT Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 04:22

    Char,

    Just because you were sent over here by a fan site, doesn't mean you have to act like a stereotypical, hysterical fan.

    ------------
    You say accuracy is important yet you stand over your/National Post's story?
    ------------

    No, I don't. I don't work for the National Post. I have nothing to do with their story. It is not my story, I do not stand by it. I only stand by my report of what the National Post said. If what they said is incorrect, then take it up with them. I wasn't AT the press conference, I wasn't aware that a video from the press conference existed (and had no way to know) until this story was already written. This story was written with the information provided by the National Post as a source. As far as I know, they are a reliable source. If not, again, take it up with them.

    ------------
    As for Peter Jackson's approach to fans on the films you mentioned- the plotlines were already out there.
    -----------

    Yes, many of them were. That's why I also referenced Superman Returns, a movie which we knew nothing about.... and still didn't know the plot until after we saw it. That in spite of the fact that Singer basically invited fans onto his set with his BlueTights.net site. The need to keep the plot under wraps is just an excuse, and you're buying it.

  1. Stuart Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 04:32

    I think this comments bank just proved why the production team wants to disassociate itself with the fans.

    Talk about ironic.

  1. Char Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 11:20

    "Just because you were sent over here by a fan site, doesn't mean you have to act like a stereotypical, hysterical fan."


    lol. first of all- no one sent me over here. How presumptuous of you to presume a- that i was and b- that all such fans are like that.
    Second of all- how have I acted like such a fan? Nothing I have stated is remotely hysterical.If you wish to dismiss my comments as trivial then please base that in some fact. Point out what you perceive to be hysterical.

    You have not reported on, but rather written an opinionated piece about, a conference that you not only didn't attend, but you didn't even have the initiative to search for it online to gain an objective view. Instead you base this "report" on a report written by someone else-which many news sources do. That is common practice. Laughably however you have formed an opinion of the press conference and ranted about it based on a factually incorrect report of the conference you read and you're calling me hysterical?

  1. Matt Daddy Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 12:56

    Char.... we can follow traffic to our site and see where it came from. You came from a fan site. Stop sounding like a person who still lives in their parent's basement. Try dating someone besides your Mulder plush toy tonight.

  1. Kate Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 12:56

    You wrote: "The X-Files 2 team doesn’t care about their fans."

    They came down to WonderCon in the midst of filming (literally after shooting all night) with footage for the fans-- some pieces of which, they hadn't seen yet. That was at the end of February. Wednesday they did the press conference having just wrapped most of photography on the movie. In two weeks, Chris and Frank are doing the Paley fest for the fans.

    How does all this translate into the team not caring about the fans? Because Duchovny made an obvious joke about photos being staged, or the inaccurate quote from Frank by the National Post?

  1. JoshT Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 13:20

    No, because of their words and actions Kate.

    You actually believe all the stuff that's been floating around as leaked is real? Because none of it is, and almost all of it came from them.

    They came to WonderCon to advertise their movie and get its name in the headlines. That doesn't mean they care about their fans. That means they care about advertising.

    To be fair, I'm sure they'd be happy to have fans buy a ticket. Their money is still legal tender just like all the 15 year olds they REALLY want to see it. I just don't think they're going to go out of their way to get you there, or for that matter do anything that fans might actually want.

    Maybe I'm wrong, but all I have to go on is what they've said and done so far. And so far this has not seemed to have been a fan friendly production.

  1. Justin Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 16:20

    Why are they going to address the 2012 thing in a future film if they don't care about the fans of the television show?? Also Gillian Anderson did some charity auctions where fans went on set and even did one where fans could be extras in the movie. And they could have easily just released that footage from WonderCom online if it was all about advertising and not meeting the fans. Your article makes no sense.

  1. JoshT Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 16:21

    Justin: So they could get people like you to defend them in internet forums, even when they say flat out they aren't courting fans.

  1. KMH Says:
    March 16th, 2008 at 23:28

    At the risk of sounding like a "hysterical fan," I have to say I really don't get the negative, jilted vibe you've got going on, Josh. I clicked the link, watched the press conference, and Frank didn’t even come close to saying they didn't make this movie for the fans of the television show. What he said was they made this new film not JUST for the show's fans, but with the hope that it will appeal to a whole new demographic, as well. And the fact is this movie had better appeal to younger demographic if the folks with an interest in the franchise have any hope of keeping it alive beyond this new movie. I came away from watching the press conference with the feeling that all three men on that stage have deep respect and affection for the stories and the characters they created and developed, and all three have a strong desire to return to those characters and keep telling their stories. As a fan, I can't ask for more loyalty or higher compliment than that. And as a fan, I hope they succeed in attracting a broader audience, because, like them, I'd love for the stories to keep coming.

    That said, they'd better get off their butts, title the movie, and come up with a kickin' trailer that'll to appeal to the newbs.





  1. brovi Says:
    March 18th, 2008 at 16:58

    X-Files 2 Finishes Filming And Brushes Off Fans - A quick buck flick!

    A REAL NAZI HOLLYWOOD 'X-FILES 2' - STILL!
    says brovi:

    "I'm tired of fighting it" (Gillian Anderson, Feb. 2008)

    WonderCon 2008 is a Con
    The 'horse and pony act' opened with Spotnitz as the first to be introduced. He then entered from stage left. Carter's introduction came next. He then made his entrance. Both uneventfully took their seats side by side at the end of a long table which stretched the length of the stage, facing the Sci-fi audience. The noisy room jumped to being more rowdy and steady with moderate applause and shout-outs.

    Anderson then suddenly took the stage without being announced and it was clear that it wasn't by accident. She refused to be heeled onto the stage. The house exploded into riotous appreciation. In the deafening confusion Duchvony hastily slipped onto the stage at a half run coming up from behind her. The roaring crowd then noticeably muted ever so slightly a notch or two. Anderson's stride across the stage was relaxed with calm radiance looking neither left nor right and she seemed almost oblivious to the malay going on around her. Noticing the drop in the sound level she whipped a sharp glance over her shoulder, almost flinching at Duchvony's rushing in on her unexpectedly.

    A bit startled but not surprised, in a spontaneous split second an expression snapped across her face in the direction of his feet. She was less than amused. Simultaneously she remained unruffled, and gracious to a point, just short of striking out in reflex. The stalking Californication celebrity looked done in and unkempt while taking his questionable fill of her thunder. Duchvony pretended not to notice as he found his way to his chair and nervously gaged the room while mechanically acting his jacket onto the back of his chair.

    His 'grasping at straws' entrance correlates famously and congruently with his kind of professional ethics. This could be the sum of his inner working dynamics with Anderson as a whole then and now, a microcosm or summation of their decade old rift; a palpably weird and tense moment. His 'X-Files 2' stage debut was an embarrassing and blatantly awkward moment, tripping them both up. It immediately brought back 2002 flashbacks of Duchovny's past intolerable uneasiness with Anderson's popularity overshadowing his own, his then demanding higher pay, and then his exiting from the TV X-Files first (knowing she wisely had resigned.) Not much has changed between GA & DD.

    As a prelude to the panel event: For those who may not know, old Hollywood has stalked and threatened Anderson with this project for years. Consequently throughout the panel discussions Anderson displayed a near morose demeanor and tone. She mixed it up with an occasional pouty lip of pointed displeasure. She at one point interjected a show stopping (literally) comment relating to them wanting to fire her during the X-Files TV series. More importantly, her absolute refrain from ever endorsing the movie spoke volumes.

    This holds true especially for those who are familiar with the facts. Old corp. Hollywood, along with their X-Files projects, has a tarnished and documented history. It's extremely oppressive. There's no love lost between them and Anderson. This coincides with the hostilities injected and lack of support from coworkers on the set of the TV X-Files, in Anderson's fight against departmental injustices relating to women's rights for working mothers. All the boys on the WonderCon 2008 'X-Files 2' panel showed the world precisely were they stood (or rather sat) in 2002 when Gillian Anderson stood up for herself, more importantly for her first newborn child and for women's rights.

    Taking the bizarre further, corp. Hollywood's suspiciously handpicked members [or should we say paid actors] of the audience and/or questions stunk of methodical foul play. On average, Carter and old Hollywood's 'X-Files 2' marketing voice and promoter Duchvony received the sophisticated beautifully scripted glorifying questions. Anderson got the star-struck fan on behavioral meds spewing garble.
    IN EXAMPLE (to paraphrase):

    'David haven't you almost got your Doctorate Degree and you're famous. Tell us how you do it! Can you please give us your secret?'

    'Gillian I've watched you since I was three ...garble, garble ...and X-Files series ...garble, garble ...I wuvvy you ...goobby, wooby, oobby! ...ooh!'

    The entire 'X-Files 2' broken WonderCon panel affair [Spotnitz, Carter, Anderson and Duchvony] was captured on video and spread widely on the internet.

    The unedited professionally shot full version (that you could actually see unhindered)revealed such a truthful state of affairs indeed. It highly emphasized the reality that this group is so sadly lacking in mutual comradery and continuity that the video immediately disappeared off the net. "Sorry video no longer available" started popping up everywhere and rightly so [that telling version is no longer to be found.]

    This WonderCon panel's dirty laundry of bygone X-Files days captured digitally said it all. No amount of minute Hollywood office congeniality and/or smiles, backhanded jesting (mostly directed at GA by DD to include an oral copulation jab), or poses for the still shot could ever hope to mask the disjointed lameness of this forced gathering of people.

    The WonderCon panel video was killed within 24 hrs and replaced with a flood of -the same- half dozen giant beautiful photos showing friendly smiles now plastered all over the net.

    These smiley-face mili-seconds caught digitally were carefully chosen and constructed as 'real time' to misrepresent the truth of the moment and paint a facade of solidarity and success. Not even the trick photography of old Hollywood can put that wonderland back together again. Overall this 'X-Files 2' group of broken pieces was an example of forced association at its best.

    There's little doubt that this 'X-Files 2' movie sequel has all the indicators of cheap graphics, a lot of Connolly and Peet, a little of Duchovny and just a hint of substance, Anderson. Oh, and a substantial amount of public rip off.$

    You can bet that old Nazi Hollywood is merely throwing together a corroded piece of horse crap. 'X-files 2.' More likely than not they're using Gillian Anderson's and the X-Files' TV series as box office appeal (their standard formula) to play the public as suckers while making themselves a quick multi-million dollar payday. You can also bet that it's only redeeming quality will be Gillian Anderson's between the lines message relating to that discussed here.

  1. Mulderlovesporn Says:
    March 26th, 2008 at 11:56

    Brovi, get your shrink to up your dosage! You are nuts.

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