Nemesis Game

[jobranham1964]

I didn't see a thread for this - and wasn't sure where else to post. If the mods want to close this and tell me where else to discuss it, that would be fine.

I just watched this movie last night. Adrian is a fantastic actor. A lot of times when someone has played a role as he played Duncan McLeod for so many years, that is who you automatically think of when you see them in something else. Not Adrian. And that - to me - is the mark of a really good actor. Making me believe in each character he portrays.
This was such a "thinking" movie. Personally, I hated the end. I spent the whole movie thinking Vern was seriously trying to save Sara... And I'm still not sure he wasn't.
When he first sees the riddle in his room and goes to the website - he was alone, so he wasn't putting on a show for Sara like he didn't know what was happening. He seemed totally freaked.
Then again, thinking back about when she was playing the game before he knew it, it seems like she was being videotaped...
So what's the general thought here? Was Vern in it all along - pushing her along? Or did he just lose it in the abandoned building - when he figured out the final answer?

[MeridianXO]

Slightly Spoilery, so look away if you haven't seen this movie yet:

I believe it was the latter. The only ones playing people were the ones that had already gotten the 'final answer' in terms of setting Sara and Verne up to play into the game.

~Heather

[EROM]

I also have to go with the latter version. But that is just because I really did not want Vern to be in on it all along as I developed some sympathy for that character. The ending is always a shock for me on this movie, even though I have watched it several times. I just want it to end so differently. But I guess that is why they call this a tragedy!

And not for one moment does one see Duncan in this movie. Why does Adrian not get more recognition for his real talents. He is a very versatile (sp?) actor.

[Barney]

I agree with you all. If you remember that guy in her class, he said I know where you go, which would lead you to think that he was the one that was following her and not Vern. I think he was dragged into the whole scheme by those already involved and because I feel he genuinely liked and cared about Sara. It is still one of my favorite "Adrian" movies.

I agree that Adrian doesn't get the recognition that he deserves. He is incredibly talented. It reminds me of that old saying, "a wonderful character actor stuck in a leading man's body". I think that describes Adrian's career. Personally I like character actors rather than stars of today. Most are too one dimensional. You watch a Tom Cruise movie and you know exactly what you are going to get, Tom Cruise! You shouldn't see the actor playing the role, not if they are truly any good. That's what I like about Adrian's acting. He becomes the character and makes them so real that he completely disappears.

[jobranham1964]

thanks for your input. that's the way i was leaning, too, because - like i said - the scene where he finds the msg. in his house and then goes to the internet really wouldn't have made sense otherwise.

this isn't a movie i could watch again and again. maybe in a few years. it was just too disturbing. altho, i can see watching it again and again hoping the ending will change. :rolleyes: at first, i thought she'd find him dead. then when i saw he had taken the time to actually write the answer on the wall... i got worried he'd broken and became part of the game.

barney, i sooo agree with you about tom cruise. kevin costner and mel gibson- at least in the lethal weapon series - too.
another actor i always liked - altho he's kind of a jerk now - was alec baldwin. he was gorgeous when he was younger and he could play all these different characters. i remember watching The Marrying Man and laughing at him - then watching Miami Blues and hoping the cops blew him away. he's gotten more recognition than Adrian, but usually it's more about his problems. no one mentions his acting ability.
another fave of mine is Vin Diesel - Adrian and Vin are my fave actors. most people have branded him an "action hero" - like bruce willis - but if you watch The Pacifier, he is sooo funny. And then Fast and Furious - if you look beyond the cars and racing and actually pay attention to the dialogue, Vin's character is very deep, compassionate... sure there's action in his movies, but his characters are more than the action...
just like with Vin and the action hero tag, i think most people have branded Adrian as DM and don't bother to give him a chance to be someone else - they don't take the time to check him out and see what a great actor he is.

[Barney]

I rewatched this movie the other night and thought I'd post a diary Adrian wrote while filming the movie. This is still one of my favorites.

Nemesis Game

Day 1 - It's Friday. It's very early. A 7:30 am pick-up from the apartment. This is going to be a long day. Today we're shooting on a lot that I'm familiar with, its where I did War Of The Worlds some 12 years ago. Coincidence or what? Today's filming focuses on the point when my character first appears on screen. Inside one of the studio hangars, the set department has constructed my character's shop - a cult comic book and video store stocked with obscure videos, literature and other items. It looks really authentic, like it was put together by someone with a vast knowledge of B-films, obscure comics and cult memorabilia. The atmosphere on the set is really good. It's a small cast and crew, very easygoing and friendly. Being a New Zealand co-production, most of those at the helm are from New Zealand, with most of the crew being based in Canada. It's a good mix. Even with a tight budget, there's a strong desire to create a high-quality movie. A lot of emphasis is put into character development and imagery. This is a character-based thriller which will rely much on the performances of the actors, as well as the vision of the director and the director of photography to create a truly memorable film noir. This movie is different from recent productions I've done. The character of Vern is very different from either Duncan MacLeod or Cole, and because of that people are going to see me in a totally different light. I'll even throw in a completely new look that's a realistic interpretation of the type of character Vern is. There's little action or special effects in the movie, and since I'm only involved as the lead actor, I can spend time concentrating and focusing on acting and creating the character. Judging by the quality of the scenes that were shot today, this could well be one of my most memorable roles yet.

Day 2 - Another early start. It's 6:30am and we're back at the studio on the same set. Today shooting centers around the two lead characters, Vern and Sarah, played by myself and Carly Pope. As soon as I arrive, they call me to the set for blocking. As soon as I arrive on set, I find that I'm prepared for the wrong scene! For some this could be a problem, but I know the material so well that it only takes me ten minutes or so to get my bearings of where Vern is at this point in the story and what he's doing. I guess all those years of shooting out of sequence taught me to be prepared for anything! Director Jesse Warne allows us to explore the various avenues where we could go with our characters, and lends to the mix by adding his own ideas as to how he feels the scene should be done. Having written the film himself, it provides an added dimension to the process, as he can bring to the table an extensive knowledge of the story and its characters. After a further couple hours of preparation, costume, makeup, rehearsal, we begin to shoot the scene. Although the dialogue remains the same, each take is different as we slightly alter our performances in order to explore different dimensions of the scene. Believe it or not, this short sequence takes all day to shoot. It is an intense scene, very powerful. I think the performances we give, along with the lighting and camera movement, will make for compulsive viewing. It will be interesting to see how it pans out when the film is released. By the time we wrap, its early evening, but I'm not finished yet. I get to spend the next few hours having some special effects makeup applied to get ready for a short sequence that we'll film tomorrow.

Day 3 - I have to be at the studio early again, 7:30am, even though filming doesn't start for a few more hours and the crew isn't due to arrive until after 11:00. The first shot today will be that short sequence that I started getting ready for last night, no dialogue, just a camera pan. But my early call is to have more of the SFX makeup applied, which takes awhile. Once I finish, I go on set to film the shot. The irony is that, with the makeup done both last night and this morning, I've spent over half a day getting ready for a scene that doesn't even have any dialogue and only takes about 30 minutes to shoot! After the first shot is in the bag, we move back to the set of Vern's shop, where the rest of the day's filming will be done. Again, there's only Carly and me on set. We're due to film another one-on-one scene between the two leads, but we're at a different point in the script and this is a much more lighthearted moment between the two. The whole mood is more relaxed than yesterday when we were doing the intense scene. The contrast is interesting and lends to the theory that when "Cut" is called, our focus is such that we stay very much in character between shots. Of course, that begs the question of how do we leave it behind us at the end of the day... Filmmaking is a quick-quick-slow business. You spend time rushing around to get everything prepped as if you're on a deadline, only to spend hours waiting for the next thing to happen. Since I'm mostly acting this time, I find that I'm spending more time than usual waiting. Hmm...my third early call in a row. A perfect chance to get some R&R, especially since I won't be finished tonight until after 11pm. I could go back to my trailer where it's more comfortable and definitely a lot quieter, but maybe I'll just go over here to the set that represents Vern's bedroom and borrow his bed for a quick nap...

I'll post more notes from behing the scenes of Nemesis Game soon!:)

[Coolwater]

Thank you, Barney! I really enjoy AP's descriptions, and hadn't seen the diary. Did he continue it? It never occurred to me that people could actually use the set furniture.:D

Spoiler Alert! Highlight the text to see my comments.
I liked Nemesis Game a lot. I'm trying to remember: do we actually see Vern kill Sara? I mean, do we know she's dead for sure? We don't see Vern killed, either, do we?

I had assumed that he was a good guy, and that in following Sara to rescue her, he was exposed to the computer program and got his brains scrambled.

I'd love to see a sequel that picks up with Vern having competed a term in a facility for the criminally insane, dutifully taking his meds and checking in with his therapist or parole officer or whomever, and then someone tracking the riddle program hunts him up and gets him back involved. Closure is good, both for us and for Vern.

[brilliant!MacLeod]

thank you ,Barney,that was a treat!!:D
I didn´t know this diary.
Are there similar ones of other movies?

[pukkie]

Thanks Barny !!
Nice to read it !!

[Tessa]

Adrian is such a great descriptive writer and I love his diaries. Thanks so much for posting those entries Barney. I remember reading them way back in 2002. I think they were in one of the late issues of the PEACE magazine. At that time the fan club was still issuing a hard copy 4 times a year but it was nearing the end. There were some wonderful features written by Adrian himself in so many of them.

As disturbing as this film was, I think it's one of Adrian's best film performances to date. The character of Vern was so unlike any he had played before and there was not a trace of Duncan or Cole to be found in Vern which, as someone else pointed out, is the mark of a truly great actor when they can make you forget them and any character they've played in the past and that's exactly what Adrian did in this film. It was an amazing role for him and clearly he completely embraced it! I thought the film was an excellent thriller, intricate and complex, with a strong supporting cast and you had to pay attention and think about it and it really does require a few viewings to sort out exactly what you *think* is going on! Everything about the film worked to create the atmosphere, the sets, the music, the camera angles. In my opinion, this film was very much under rated and it's a shame it didn't go to theatres because I think it would have done well. I think that phrase *a character actor in a leading man's body* is very true about Adrian Paul because he is a very skilled and talented actor who can play any kind of character well and doesn't get the recognition he deserves. I'm going to make it a point to watch Nemesis Game again soon!

[Barney]

Nemesis Game (continued from Adrian's diary)

Day 4 - A change in the routine. Not only is call time late afternoon, which means we'll be working through the night, but we're filming on location in the city of Hamilton, a steel town some 40 minutes outside of Toronto. Although the town doesn't have the trappings of a happening city like Toronto, it's a welcome change after spending the last three days cooped up in a small studio. Again we only have the two leads on set, and filming centers around a scene in a back alleyway somewhere downtown. As with most exterior locations, this attracts attention from the local residents and passersby - curious to see what is going on, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone famous. Fortunately a local law enforcement officer is on hand to ensure that filming can continue unheeded and uninterrupted. It's just as well, really, as one of the properties backing onto the alley happens to be the rear entrance for a peep show store, which, as it gets later, begins to attract more colorful customers to its doors. Luckily, we don't have to wait around that long. Today we're only scheduled for two scenes, this one in the alley and a crane shot, just a bit of action and no dialogue. It only takes us a few hours to finish for the day. As I'm saying my goodbyes, someone reminds me that I have tomorrow night off while everyone else films in a Toronto metro station. With the weekend approaching, that means I'll get a few days off in a stretch! Just in time to watch the World Cup Finals being played in Japan and South Korea!! Sorry, USA fans, but when it comes to international football, there's only one team I'll truly support.:)

[I]While Adrian had a few days off, he had a visitor from across the ocean. Since Adrian was facing some intense shooting days after his break, he asked his brother Robert to pen the diary on his behalf for the final days of filming.

Day 5 - After a welcomed few days break, we return to Hamilton to recommence filming on Nemesis Game. Passing the time during the ride to set, Adrian listens to a taped recording of his lines for the day. Having worked extensively with a voice coach to perfect his accent for Vern, he continually reviews the intonation of the dialogue. Because he taped most of the sessions, it provides a perfect medium for practice. Hopefully by the time we film, the accent will come naturally and he can concentrate on other aspects of his perfomance. The set is located in an abandoned office building. Presumably left unused for many years, the building is creeping with damp. Plaster and paint hang precariously from its walls, the slightest movement threatening to bring down the lot on our heads. The floor is covered in years of dust, and clouds are kicked up as we walk around. The smell of decay is overwhelming. As shards of light peek through cracks in the windows, I can't help but admire the location manager for coming up with this one. It's a perfect location for today's sequence. Unfortunately the dust does nothing for the delicate machinery used for filming - not to mention our lungs - and face masks are distributed among the cast and crew as a safety precaution. Who know what sort of ailments we could pick up from breathing the dank, dusty atmosphere all day. We're filming a heavy scene today involving our two lead, and although everyone is relaxed, between takes the actors seem somewhat subdued, almost lost in the moment. Progress seems slow with frequent pauses due to outside noise, lighting and set changes, or dust problems. Again, with each take the actors bring something else to the table, adding elements to their performances which allow the director to have options during editing. By mid-afternoon we're ready to shoot the last sequence for the day, a shot which involves Vern knocking over a hidden paint can as he walks around a room. A simple task you may think, but due to the tight camera angle, and the fact that Adrian can't look directly at the can and has to sense its location on the floor, it's a tricky shot that has the potential to take a long time. However, as Adrian steps up to the task he has an air of confidence that seems as if he knows he can pull this off in a couple of takes and be on his way home within five minutes. Take 1: Adrian steps up to the mark and manages to kick the can. Perfect, but just in case there's a problem with the take, let's do another, asks the director. Take 2: Again he steps up to the mark, and kicks the can over. It rolls out of shot. Great, but wouldn't it be great if the can rolls towards camera..."No problem," say Adrian. "Piece of cake." Yet all of us know that the chances of him pulling it off in one take are remote. It's a matter of luck more than anything. Take 3: Steps up to the mark, the can falls and rolls directly into the camera lens. Perfect!! His arms are raised aloft like he's scored the winning goal, the director calls wrap, and we can all go home. Adrian is happy to take the applause and gratitude from the crew for an early finish but in truth can't believe that everthing fell into place at the right time.

Day 6 - We're back in Hamilton and back in the derelict building. Today promises to be another very intense day for Adrian. We'll be shooting the climax of the most powerful scene for Vern's character, one which will require him to express a gamut of emotions. Quiet and subdued when he arrives on set, he seems to be in his own zone, almost as if he's shut himself off from all the commotion around so that he can prepare for the task ahead. Today's not the day for fun and games and , respectful of the frame of mind Adrian needs to be in, the crew goes about its business professionally, moving out of earshot if they want to chat casually. As each take passes, the scene develops and evolves, each one the same, yet different in its level of intensity. Adrian's mood, the sense of decay in the building, the lighting and the camera movement all combine perfectly and the footage displayed on the monitor permeates a distinctly eerie sensation up my spine. And that's without any music or sound effects! Between takes Adrian steals himself off to a corner of the room, lost in reflection, occasionally discussing quietly elements of the scene with director Jesse Warne. The sequence takes all day to shoot. As nighttime falls and cut is called, Adrian walks back to his trailer, emotionally exhausted, but content with the performance he'd put in that day. Explaining his shell-like behavior, he said, "I had to do that to stay in the moment. It's not always easy to do scenes like those unless you're mentally prepared for them. It's no good joking around between takes because when it comes to perform you can sometimes be in the wrong space. So it's important for me to stay focused, otherwise I can't do it properly. I think it went well, I'm happy it panned out."

I'll be back with a fnal installment on the making of Nemesis Game.

[brilliant!MacLeod]

Wow!!!
The style is different in some ways and still isn´t really(do you understand what I mean?).
To have a direct and caring report about the way Adrian is working and his absolute professionality-great!!You can feel the(well deserved) respect and admiration for a marvellous talent and love for a wonderful brother throughout all the report!!!:)

[Coolwater]

Very interesting. Thank you, Barney. :)

Would have been harder, if there had been another team after the paint can.:D

[Barney]

Final Installment of Nemesis Game Revisted

[I]Note: As the crew headed into the final two days of shooting, Adrian's brother Robert was reluctant to give up the writer's pen. His final installment is as follows:

Day 7: We arrive back in Hamilton around 3 pm to pick up where we left off the day before. Or, I should say, to film the sequence leading up to the scene's climax that was filmed yesterday. We're back in the derelict building again and it feels like it's becoming a second home...except you definately wouldn't want to live there! Adrian is much more relaxed today. With the more intense part of the scene already filmed, the difficult bit is over, and today can be spent trying to build up to the emotional climax in the scene. The crew is more at ease, too, and even the dust and smell of rotting plaster fails to dampen their spirits. It's interesting to watch Adrian as I wonder how hard it must be to film the end of a scene before filming the beginning. Again, experience in shooting scenes out of sequence and good preparation have honed his ability to know exactly what his character is going through at any given moment. As each take passes, slowly and surely the footage that was captured the day before starts to fall into place and I begin to get an understanding of where the cuts are going to take place. The day finishes on time - about 3am! It has been a productive day as such, but not as eventful as the day before. I wonder if this is Adrian's equivalent to just a normal day at the office.

Day 8: It's the final day of filming on Nemesis Game. We're back in Hamilton, but thankfully out in the open, the derelict building is no more than a memory. It's early evening when we arrive and the mood on set is very light-hearted. Although there's still a lot of work to be done, the sense that the end is in sight seems to put a spring in everyone's step. There's only one main scene to cover today, plus some other smaller inserts which won't take too long to film but may take some time to set up. It's unlikely that we'll be finished until after 4am, but (as Adrian points out) it conveniently gets him home in time to watch England in the World Cup before going to bed! The main scene is the last in which our two leads, Adrian and Carly, will appear together. After blocking and rehearsals, filming commences and progress is quick. With the use of a steadicam, the scene is completed without much fuss. Not too much time is spent readjusting cameras and lighting, and it's down to the actors and the cameraman to adjust their actions to create the required cut. Within a couple of hours the main scene is completed. All that's left is a handful of small set-ups. There's a lot of hanging around while each set-up is prepared, and it allows the chance to have a final chat among the crew. Surprisingly, time seems to fly by, and before we know it, the last set-up is ready to be shot. Adrian is in a jovial mood. There's a lot of joking around between him and the crew, despite the fact that it's 4am, their spirits are high. Within 10 minutes the shot's in the bag and as First Assistant Director John Rainey calls, "That's a wrap folks!" applause and a huge cheer go up amongst everyone. It's been a job well done. It takes another half an hour before we can leave. There are a lot of "goodbyes" and "thank yous" to say, and of course the customary crew photo. Working on Nemesis Game has been extremely good for Adrian. For the first time in a while he has been able to concentrate on his true craft, that of acting and it has been a welcome change from the physicality of working on an action production. It also has given him the opportunity to create a character much detached from the roles that we're used to seeing him in, allowing him to stretch his acting muscles and add another string to his bow. Certainly those used to seeing Adrian on screen will be surprised by his latest role. And although no one really knows how the film will turn out until it's released, hopefully his fans and those in the industry will never look at Adrian in the same way.

I know I thoroughly enjoyed both Adrian's performance and the movie itself!:D

[brilliant!MacLeod]

Thanks again ,Barney,that was wonderful.
"The equivalent of a normal work day at the office"LOL

[Tessa]

Thanks Barney! It was a treat to read that diary again after so many years.:) Now everyone go and watch NG! After reading this, it makes you appreciate Adrian's performance even more!

[pukkie]

Thanks Barney !

[BlackCloud]

Thanks Barney. But may I pick up the question of brilliant!: Are there other diaries and where could we get/read them?
Thanks a lot for telling us!:)

[Tessa]

Adrian did a diary for fans when he was in Vilnius Lithuania filming *The Source* way back in 2005 as I recall. I think it was up on his website at one time. I think Carmel also had a diary on the Highlander WW official site too as she was there during the filming and she shared her experiences.

[Coolwater]

Wingfield commented to his fans that it was good to be working with the HL cast again, and how it felt to be Methos. Jim Byrnes announced that he doesn't do e-stuff, and then contributed an wonderful collection of photos he took playing tourist in Lithuania. :D

[Tessa]

Wingfield commented to his fans that it was good to be working with the HL cast again, and how it felt to be Methos. Jim Byrnes announced that he doesn't do e-stuff, and then contributed an wonderful collection of photos he took playing tourist in Lithuania. :D

That's right, I remember that too. I wonder where it all is now?? I remember Adrian's diary was very interesting. It would be nice to read that again. I might have printed it off now that I think about it. Maybe it's stashed away amongst all my highlander stuff. There's LOTS of that!

[Coolwater]

Most of it was on Highlander Worldwide, wasn't it? And was reprinted on the HLbb. It was all great fun to see, and sadly, better than the film.

[Victoria]

If you have not read Adrian's diary from the Source it is a great read. The entire diary is on APnet. Click on the link below and go towards the bottom of the page and you will see another link to the diary.

http://www.adrianpaul.net/movies/source.html

While your there do not forget to have a read of the interviews from the ever wonderful David Abramowitz and Adrian's Sifi Vernon Rieta.

Enjoy and let us all hear what you think ;)

[Coolwater]

(slaps forehead) DUH! It was posted here. Of Course, it was posted here; where else?:o

[brilliant!MacLeod]

(slaps forehead) DUH! It was posted here. Of Course, it was posted here; where else?:o

Oh OH,Cool,having a senior moment?
(I know what I´m talking about,having a senior blonde day today!):D

[Tessa]

I found the diary! It's fun to read Adrian's detailed account of making *The Source*! I remember reading this the first time around. :)

[irishunicorn65]

Thanks Barney!

I love reading the diaries, about what Adrian was doing and thinking.
I agree with all of you, Adrian should be recognized for his ability in becoming the characters he portrays. I own the movie and I love thrillers! The character of Vern had his own demons to deal with, so it really was no surprize to me what was going to happen when I saw the video camera just sitting there with no one around. I figured one of two things: Vern was either dead or he was going to kill Sara. The last riddle pushed him over the edge.:eek: The movie did keep you guessing
until the last minute. I'd say some of Adrian's best work to date! My other favorite actor is Harrison Ford, again another character actor. Harrison did a movie called, "What Lies Beneath" where a person didn't see Indiana Jones the hero. I like watching Adrian's movies because his characters are different from playing Duncan and he's not afraid to try new things.:D

PEACE:)

Kellie

[Tessa]

Nemesis Game was on cable channel *Dusk* this afternoon here in Canada and I just caught the end of it. I really must pop the DVD in one day soon and watch the film again. I watched it a few times years ago but it has been a while. I very much enjoyed the film and found it just kept you glued to the screen and on the edge of your seat with the suspense and the eerie atmosphere. Adrian's performance as Vern is one of the best he's ever given in my opinion. As you said IU65, Vern is nothing like the noble-hero type at all, which Adrian plays so very well. I sometimes forgot he was Adrian Paul and totally believed he was *Vern* !