Interview from jeanclaude-vandamme.org


Ross, thanks for taking the time to talk to us at jeanclaude-vandamme.org

Q: How did you manage to work in the movie industry, particularly behind the camera?

I became interested in photography when I was about 8yrs and on a day when I was maybe 13 I saw a news crew filming and I thought that would be great for me so I spent all of my school holiday going to TV stations to get to know about the business. I organized all of my own work experience.

Q: Is it harder to work behind the camera these days? More and more people now seem to be doing so.

Definitely yes, and every director wants a different style, even though they may not exactly know how to get what they want, especially new directors. So it becomes difficult to read someone’s mind.

Q: You were born in Australia, but currently live in Hong Kong (which is where you started in the movie industry), is there a reason for moving here?

I went broke in Australia and I could possibly get a job working for a film company in HK, so I packed my bag and went.. I didn’t know one single person and no guarantee of a job, I renovated my bosses house for 3 months before he gave me a job.

Q: Christopher Doyle also lives in Hong Kong. There seems to be a trend of DOP's moving to HK. Are you two familiar with each other’s work and is he someone you look up to and respect?

I have great respect for Chris, I love his films. I’ve had a beer with him but I doubt if he’s ever seen any of my films.

Q: You seem to work in either Bulgaria or Hong Kong on your recent movies, how do these locations compare to each other?

Compared to HK, Bulgaria is like filming in Hollywood as for budget & equipment that I can use, but in HK you really have know exactly what gear you need because the truck will unload and leave, and also the producer will make sure you use everything you ordered.

Q: You have worked with almost every known major martial artist: Van Damme, Michael Jai White, Scott Adkins, Dolph Lundgren and Steven Seagal, are you a huge fan of Martial Arts?

I’m a fan of many different types of films, but action films are both exciting and challenging, not only to watch but to make as well, and I like working with a challenge.

Q: Your biggest role, particularly for a Van Damme movie was Derailed, you were hired as DOP. This film was not received well by fans and critics alike. However, there were many positives to be taken from this film. The camera work for the fight scenes were modern and fresh for a film starring Van Damme. Do you feel that your worked saved this film?

I can’t be blamed for a story or how a director wants to work, I just have to deal with what it is and do the best I can with the time I have. It’s not my favorite film but yes there are some good elements in it.

Q: Van Damme is renowned for wanting to participate in the producing and directing on set, which seems quite demanding?

I’d like to work with him directing as we have a good relationship and can talk about things.

Q: Van Damme's films have lacked martial arts and 'feeling' that his old films used to deliver, what can we expect from The Shepherd?

The Shepherd does have a lot of action and JC is kicking at his best. Isaac wanted to give JC fans exactly what they want to see.

Q: Ross, you recently told a fan that you lost a lot of weight on The Shepherd, was this due to martial arts films being more strenuous than non martial arts film?

Yes it was because I was running around a lot and also because I needed to lose some weight.

Q: Replicant was one of the finest Van Damme films in years and received acknowledgements from fans and critics alike. The budget looked a lot bigger than what it actually was, are you disappointed that this was not released theatrically as first stated?

Yes, everyone was very disappointed, Replicant had so many good points going for it, and it’s still one of my favorites.

Q: Has Van Damme seen Undisputed 2? Was the quality of this film a great factor in him wanting to work with yourself and Isaac?

JC loved U2, and I had missed working on several of JC’s other films for various reasons, but he loved my operating on The Shepherd

Q: You have worked several times with Ringo Lam (Replicant, In Hell and many other well known HK productions), he seems to bring out the best in people. Of late, he seems a little quiet, will you be working with him in the future and what is he like to work with?

Ringo’s taking a break at the moment, I think he’s waiting for the right script to come up.. Ringo is extremely passionate about filmmaking

Q: Your DOP work for Undisputed 2 and The Mechanik were very well received. You even got awards for your work on these, to put it simply, you made these films bigger than they actually were. Are you proud of this work and would you consider it some of your best?

Funny you should say that.. U2 just won a Gold award in Australia for cinematography, It’s defiantly my best work of late, but it’s so much easier when you have all of those positive elements in front of you. I still like the look of “Victim”. But also working with Nu Image they give you a lot of freedom in how you want a film to look.

Q: You have worked with Isaac Florentine and Scott Adkins previously on Undisputed 2, some critics have also called this the greatest western martial arts film since Bloodsport. There are rumors of an Undisputed 3 by Nu Image, will this something you will be attached to?

There are rumors of a U3, in fact I have a script for it. We’re all waiting for it to get a green light and a start date. The pressure is definitely on us to deliver something stunning.

Q: Can you tell us about your most interesting experience on set of one of your films?

It may not be that interesting as to life threatening but while filming Marines the army truck is charging down the hill as the stunt guy jumps out of the drivers seat (they didn’t want to put roll bars in it), The truck was supposed to hit the back of a personnel carrier but missed it by 10 feet, it was also supposed to roll down the embankment… it went up on 2 wheels and then leveled out, that’s when I jumped from a 12ft tower as the truck crashed through the tower and finally stopped a 100 yards down the field in a trench we had dug.

Q: A little bit of a toughie this one I am afraid. If you could work with one actor, one Director in one location what would your answers be?

That is a tough question, Michael Bay would definitely be the director, and I think Leonardo DiCaprio is an extremely versatile actor, putting these two guys together could be exciting. And they certainly have a good budget. I don’t think the location would make any difference.

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all about Ross W. Clarkson under:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0165105/

Nice interview mate.