Stranger than fiction?
Sometimes things are just what they seem
Sometimes, documentaries feel too convenient, as though the filmmakers are trying to force a certain viewpoint down your gullet. In Kong, Steve Wiebe almost makes too good a hero, while Billy Mitchell appears more peacock than champion. But sometimes things are actually what they seem.
"We tried to mirror the narrative to our experience, as it unfolded--which is to say, we met this sort of king of videogames, and he was revered by everyone," said director Seth Gordon, who along with Wiebe sat down for an interview with CityBeat during Comic-Con. "But as we watched his behavior to everyone around him, and towards Steve, it was something other than regal. That was essentially what we witnessed, and we just tried to stay faithful to the story we saw. It was more of a case of a remarkable series of events we just happened to be present for...."
As for Wiebe, he is pretty much the guy you see on screen. "I was represented as who I am," he said. "What you see on the screen is basically a family guy going for something that felt like fun to start off with--till it got crazy. I had no idea what was lying ahead; otherwise, I might not have wanted to go there."
And Billy Mitchell? "We don't think that Billy has seen the movie," Gordon said. "We've offered several times. He refuses to watch it. Which is a shame because, frankly, I'd love to hear what his thoughts are after he sees it. I think he's read some online reviews. He's not painted in a very pretty light, and he's probably come to some conclusions as a result. But I'd love to see if he feels that way after he sees the film."
Published: 08/28/2007
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