Director Duncan Jones and Others Offer MOON Twitter Live-Commentary

2013 looks to be a pretty packed year for sci-fi, but one of the more innovative/exciting films of the genre from the past decade is certainly director Duncan Jones’ 2009 film Moon.  Jones made excellent use of miniature effects to create the lunar landscape on a shockingly small budget ($5 million), and star Sam Rockwell turned in a powerhouse performance as he commands nearly the entirety of the film’s screentime alone/opposite himself.

Moon recently aired on BBC2 and Jones, being the generous and Twitter-friendly person that he is, took it upon himself to offer a live commentary on Twitter while the film aired.  The filmmaker offered some fascinating insights into the film, including how they finally convinced Kevin Spacey to voice Gerty and the fact that Paddy Considine (Hot Fuzz, The Bourne Ultimatum) was poised to tackle the lead role should Rockwell back out at the last minute.  Jones was also joined by some of the film’s technical collaborators on the Tweet commentary as well.  Hit the jump for some of the highlights.  Obviously, major spoilers for Moon follow.

Here are some of the highlights gleaned from the Twitter commentary:

So this opening ad is not in the script.at all!Was somethign I came up with while we were in the edit, and needed a way to… #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

…get the exposition out the way without having to do a text crawl, like SOME other films that are playing after Moon! #MoonBbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

This was always going to be a low budget film,so we came at it from an unusual angle.Budget first, then number of actors… @moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

…what kind of effects we could achieve best on our budget, then a script!Arse backwards, but it worked in this unique case. #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Somebody just asked how we got Kevin Spacey involved.Well, we couldnt, at first.He was understandably cautious.#moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

We actually werent able to convince KS to be Gerty until after the film was completed & he saw Sam Rockwells performance #MoonBbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

The girl!Yes… Its Eve.The idea is that the Sam clones, like identical twins, have some slight weird connection between them #Moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Chesney absolutely a conscious choice.After doing it, I decided to use it again in Source Code, & now, it will be in everything! #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

So yes, you WILL be able to spot “One and Only” in other films in the future.. maybe. #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

A question about Gerty’s voice and Hal.I wanted Gerty to be the anti-Hal.Use the audiences expectations against them! #Moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

A couple of scenes didnt get in the cut, that arent in the dvd extras either, unfortunately.One of Sam peeing blood.Grim! #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

How does an sf film come out of personal experience? Moon does.Long distance relationships, and worries about wasting your life. #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Sam was working alone in many ways, but we did have a terrific acting body double by the name of Robin Chalk who made it possible #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

We only ever really see Robin, the doubles body when we are shooting over his shoulder.Otherwise its varying split-screens #Moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Watching a “very poor mans” steady cam shot poor Gary Shore pulled off with camera hung around his neck.i think we broke him! #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Someone asking if Sam Rockwell was the first choice.Not only first choce, written FOR him!But we had a contingency… #moonbbc

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

If Sam R decided last minute not to do the film, & that was a very real possibility, we were seeing if Paddy Considine would do it #Moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

The model miniature vehicles were shot on a single miniature lunarscape set.Was about 20′ x 20′ @gav? #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Q about the escape shuttle.Its NOT an escape shuttle at all, Sam just believes it is. Actually a furnace, to burn him up! #moonbbc2

— Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) December 30, 2012

 

Sam’s models – We cleaned out a model shops stock of American Train set buildings #MoonBBC2

— HA! (@hide2k10) December 30, 2012

 

@thomaswinward All the Harvesters are Miniatures (there was only one), with CG lights and dust #MoonBbc2

— Gavin Rothery (@GavRov) December 30, 2012

 

@mr_clark Gerty’s eye was a mechanical camera lens on a shutter release cable. Spent ages lying on the floor operating him #MoonBbc2

— Gavin Rothery (@GavRov) December 30, 2012

 

This robot lady’s voice is actually Duncan pitch-shifted #MoonBbc2

— Gavin Rothery (@GavRov) December 30, 2012

 

Seem to remember the titles being attached to the background being slightly inspired by the titles used in Fringe. #MoonBBC2

— Barrett Heathcote (@Bazzybazbazbaz) December 30, 2012

 

For the full rundowns, visit the Twitter pages of director/co-writer Duncan Jones, co-visual effects supervisor/concept artist Gavin Rothery, art director Hide Kiarichi, post editor Barrett Heathcote, and composer Clint Mansell.