It was all smiles and laughter between the film's stars Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner -- both actors are reprising their roles from the original "TRON"-- Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, Garret Hedlund and directors Joe Kosinski and Steve Linsberger.
The group seemed quite satisfied with the vision and direction provided by Hollywood newcomer Kosinski, an architect-turned-director in his first major film. However, at ComiTron the protagonists were careful not to reveal too much of the plot except to reiterate that this is a sequel made to stand alone, and that a major part of the plot involves a father-son relationship.
The original "TRON" motion picture was considered technologically forward when released back in 1982; the lighted suits, ring games, light cycles and grid were conjured up in the imagination. All of these iconic props are back in the sequel and have been updated to match, or perhaps surpass, our imagery of the future.
Olivia Wilde mentioned that the body-hugging space outfits they wear in "TRON Legacy" have integrated fiber optical lighting that, when turned on, made a sound which drove the sound crew crazy, and caused the director to have to first instruct the actors to light up, and then call "action!"
Besides getting a feel for the cast's camaraderie, we got a glimpse of both directors, past and present, sitting side by side with only a generation gap between them -- a gap filled by the technology one was dreaming about three decades ago, while the other has practically lived with it his entire life.
At the press conference I asked Lisberger, director of the original "TRON", what the legacy of the movie "TRON Legacy" would be for the new generation of fans. Will it be the innovative technology used to make this movie, or is it the movie's message?
Steve Lisberger said, "The difference was that when we made the original movie, all we had to do was dream about what technology might do, but we really didn't get involved with what the technology would do. As time went by, we've know reached the point where John and Joe (Kosinski) and their generations have had to make this real.
Technology is all about bringing people together. Supposedly. Now, there's a sense that technology has a dark side that keeps us from connecting with each other. And I think this film examines that problem."
Essentially, it sounds like the anticipated mega blockbuster "TRON Legacy" will not only be heavy on the technology front, but might also carry a weighty message alerting this generation to the possibilities and perils of the technology-dependent culture we have become since the first film -- a very current theme given our love-affair with machines.
From Guillermo Del Toro’s press conference:
I had the chance to sit in a press room at Comic-Con with other members of the media while Guillermo Del Toro and Troy Nixey leisurely talked to us about how their collaboration for the upcoming horror film “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” came to be.
