CHARLES PORLIER
(Key Makeup Artist)

PART #2:

- So many scenes were shot which are not in the final release. Do you remember having participated in sequences that ended on the cutting room floor?
- Yes, as with any film, that happens - sometimes you're saddened, sometimes you rejoice.
- Did you participate in additional photography on this movie?
- Yes, I was involved in all of the reshoots! We shot two additional pickup scenes, at John McTiernan's ranch, in Wyoming, in November and December of 1997. Then, in L.A., in January and July of 1998, we shot a few more additional scenes for the film.
- I really would like some more precisions about "who" directed "what" (scene) "when" and "where"...
- Sure.
- First, the November/December 97 reshoots, at McTiernan's ranch. I assume these scenes were shot by McTiernan himself...
- Yes, all of the scenes shot at McT's ranch were directed by him alone.
- So, what were exactly these "2 additional pickup scenes" you mentioned? I think one of them could be a tent scene where Buliwyf cuts off some would-be-king's chest...
- No. The only scenes shot in Wyoming are shots of the riders during their travels to show time passing - long shots of all of them on horseback on arid plains and hills while the snows of winter are starting to blow in, or during rainstorms, etc., etc., etc. Many of the characters were played in these Wyoming scenes by doubles (except for Vladimir Kulich, John Desantis, Tony Curran and Mischa Hausserman).
- OK. Now, the January 98 reshoots in L.A. Again, I assume McTiernan was the director on these ones too, and I think he reshot the Wendol Mother scene, with Vladimir Kulich and NY actress Susan Willis (plus, possibly, Yolande Bavan as the "Wendol Mother Companion"). Am I right?
- Yes, McT directed these reshoots of the Wendol Mother's scenes, with Vladimir and Susan and Yolande. Also, a shot from the cave entrance, with Daniel Southern (I remember had to lay on a beard to match, as he had shaven his off!). These were the only shots done during the January reshoots.
- And, finally, the July 98 reshoots in L.A. These ones must have been directed by Michael Crichton, right?
- As far as directorial credit for the July reshoots, that's a tough one, as both men directed - sometimes in turns, but never together, sometimes one doing a second version of the other's just-completed scene. It was very uncomfortable at times for the crew, trying to maintain two different loyalties to two men who had differing visions!
- I guess they reshot the Wendol Mother scene with Vladimir Kulich and Kristen Cloke, on stage, in the valley, as well as new material with the Wendol Mother's son (with his antlers) for the second night battle scene and for the final battle sequence (plus several close-ups of him in the woods), on location...
- All that is correct. However, you can also add the scene in the tent of Buliwyf slicing the man's chest open you mentioned earlier (actor with chest was Lance Gilbert), and the scene where Ibn finds the bodies in the hut (both shot at Santa Clarita studios in Valencia, California), as well as the beheading sequence of Hyglak/Albie Woodington (whose severed head I made, by the way, in my makeup lab in Vancouver - as well as the head of Ragnar/John DeSantis. The other heads and body parts - gory effects for the first battle with the Wendols - were made by my good friends Howard Berger and Greg Nicotero over at KNB Effects Group in L.A.).
- Who played the Wendol Mother's son for the reshoots?
- The Wendol leader was played by [stuntman] Vladimir Orlov (in prosthetic makeup).
- Another source recently told me that the Wendol leader was played by Jason Glass...
- Yes, that is correct. Orlov was the leader in the L.A reshoots with antlers; Jason Glass was the leader during our principal photography in Canada. There is a shot in the film with Glass, where he rides up and pauses before riding away - that shot was done in Canada, and they added CG antlers to him in post, to match what we did in L.A. The antlers were added to the Wendol leader after it was determined he needed to be more identifiable...
- Didn't they used green screen to add Orlov to footage from principal photography?
- Yes, they did use CG to add the Wendol leader into existing footage - although he also had some added battle shots and one where he looks through some trees.
- Various people told me about several other scenes allegedly from the reshoots, including the scene where they resurface after swimming through the tunnel out of the Wendol Mother cave (possibly shot at Point Dume, Zuma Beach)...
- Correct.
- ...more cave scenes with Banderas and Dennis Storhøi...
- I don't recall doing more cave scenes, except for the exit onto the beach, which you correctly described (a shot of them after exiting the cave, after diving under water).
- ...an alternate Buliwyf's funeral scene...
- Correct - shot at Pacific Palisades.
- Is this the funeral scene - shot under the rain - briefly seen at the very end of the final cut?
- Yes.
- ... and new farewell scenes between Herger and Ibn.
- Correct - on the same beach as the cave exit.
- Asbjørn Riis told me they reshot the Herger/Angus swordfight duel...
- We only added a couple of shots, as I remember - but done in Campbell River.
- Also, the storyboard artist who worked on the reshoots mentioned to me some additional scenes he boarded (but he think they were not filmed): a lovemaking scene with Ibn and the Merchant's wife (Arabian beauty), at Baghdad...
- Not that I remember.
- ...spotting the desert people on the horizon...
- Again, not that I remember.
- ... and a fight between Buliwyf and the Old King in the tent before he meets Ibn.
- Not that I remember.
- Finally, there are rumors of the Second Oracle scene (the old witch they go consulting in the woods) first being shot with NY actress Suzanne Bertish by McTiernan, during principal photography, then being reshot later by McTiernan, with Anne Bancroft, during 1998...
- No, that was never shot with Anne Bancroft! I did Suzanne's crone makeup myself (strictly painted age, no latex stretch stipple) and many people remarked on set at the time (shot in Squamish, B.C. in 1997) that Suzanne strongly resembled Ms. Bancroft!
- Someone also told me about Crichton doing some reshoots in Mexico, but I think this is not true, right?
- I don't believe that ever happened!
- Do you know why they did all these reshoots (several alleged reasons are invoked, from Antonio Banderas' back problems during original filming to very bad test screenings...)?
- I don't really know why, I have only my own conjecture, but I would expect it was the test screening issue.
- During some chat on the net, Antonio Banderas' photo double, Alejandro Abellan, told fans that you can tell which footages are from principal photography and which are not by looking the "hair thing". Allegedely, Banderas' hair is shorter in the footage from the re-shoots... Did you notice such a thing in the final version of the movie? I must confess I didn't, but your eye may be more sharper than mine...
- I didn't notice either, but then, I'm a makeup artist, not a hair dresser.
- Now, shall we talk about the Wendol Mother scenes?
- Why not?
- So, McTiernan (and Crichton) reshot the Wendol Mother scene with 3 different actresses (1/Luise Grav; 2/Susan Willis; 3/Kristen Cloke), I assume with a new makeup look each time.
- Yes.
- Could you please elaborate on the main differences between the 3 makeup looks?
- Louise' makeup was a Neanderthal-style makeup, with dirt and "decorative paint" similar to the [Wendol] warriors. Susan Willis' makeup was, as I recall (I may be wrong here), a white and black Zebra style body and face paint, with black contact lenses [Note: see exclusive photos of this make-up here]. Kriten's was as seen in the film.
- I am told that Luise Grav was a "large" woman, not an actress but rather an extra (with no agent) who got "bumped up"... Any truth in that?
- Yes, she was an art teacher in Campbell River.
- Also, I found this on the net: "In accordance with the book, John McTiernan's version of the Wendol Mother was an old woman. When Michael Crichton took over and did the reshoots, they decided that brutally killing off an old lady did not reflect very well on the heroes. Crichton decided after the fact to make her younger, sleeker and tougher." Does this scenario sound likely to you?
- Absolutely!
- Why didn't they update the ending credits for the final cut? (Susan Willis is still credited, but not seen, like several other actors...)
- Contractual requirements, probably.
- Various anonymous scooper, who attended an early test screening of the movie, remember the Wendol Mother being attended by another woman (or two, depending on the sources) in her scene. Was Luise Grav alone in version 1 of the scene? If yes, their descriptions would better fit version 2 (where Susan Willis was attended by a "Companion", played by Yolande Bavan). Because, in the final version, Kristen Cloke is only attended by a (male) Wendol Guard...
- Yes, the Wendol Mother was alone in version 1 (not including the male warriors outside her chamber). I can't remember who the Wendol Guard was played by in version 3...
- But was there actually three women (Wendol Mother plus two Companions) involved at some point in the same scene?
- I can remember in version 3, I think there were two "ladies in waiting"... I believe there was only one companion in version 2.
- Also, I wonder if there was a real fight choreography involved in the first two versions, between Buliwyf and the Wendol Mother... Was there?
- Some, although much less was required than was in the last version.
- From one version of the scene to another, did they also change the set decoration and props, or only the actresses and their makeups and costumes?
- Yes, the sets were rebuilt each time, although similar, not alike.
- Finally, what was your favorite version of the Wendol Mother scene?
- I liked the makeup from the first one, but the last one made more sense.
- There are rumors of disputes between Michael Crichton and John McTiernan, and that McTiernan was fired at Crichton's request... Did you witness any conflict on the set between the two men? Do you know what were the reasons of the trouble?
- Both men are brilliant, passionate individuals who care greatly about what they do. Some creative conflicts were inevitable - who was the author of the movie: the writer/producer or director? It was one of those things that was there but not really talked about.
- Do you know why they finally changed the title of the movie, from EATERS OF THE DEAD to THE 13TH WARRIOR? (They allegedly considered "THE VIKINGS", "WARRIORS IN THE MIST" and "BATTLEGROUND" as replacement titles...)
- I hadn't heard about the alternate titles, as I was busy with other projects, but we all knew, when making "EATERS OF THE DEAD", that the title would require alot of selling.
- Finally, what was your greatest challenge on this show?
- The remoteness of the location, the long hours, the mud, the rain, you name it.
- How did you feel about the finished/released version of THE 13TH WARRIOR?
- As a story, I was hugely disappointed that the audience never got to know who each of the 13 warriors were - which one was which - and there was much more character development shot than ended up in the film. Some great warm moments between the characters, which would have involved audience more, making their deaths in battle, etc. more meaningful. But, as a makeup artist, I will always be very proud of my work on that show. It showcased our craft brilliantly, and I will always be thankful to Jeff Dawn for involving me in the project.
- Anything you would want to add about your work on THE 13TH WARRIOR?
- I'd love to do it all over again!
- Ooops... I forgot to ask about something very important: the mass suicide scene of the Wendols! Some guy (who saw the film on a test screening) told me about a scene, towards the very end, where all the Wendols killed themselves by slitting their own throats with knives. Any truth in that?
- We definitely did not shoot a "mass suicide" scene or anything of the kind! When you see the Wendols retreat into the mist, they are actually (supposedly) going back down into the ground. It was contemplated only briefly doing a scene where the Wendols self-destruct, but the feeling at the time was "if the movie is very successful, the Wendols once removed, would be once less story idea for our continuing choices." I hope this removes one unsolved mystery from your slate! (laughs)
- Actually, it does! Well, thanks a lot, Charles.

GO BACK TO PART #1 OF THE INTERVIEW...

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