1. Which actor was originally considered for the role of Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s Titanic before Leonardo DiCaprio was cast?

a) Matthew McConaughey

b) Chris O’Donnell

c) Billy Crudup

d) Christian Bale

e) All of the above

2. In Blade Runner 2049, director Denis Villeneuve and his team used which technique to create some of the film’s memorable and eerie soundscapes?

a) Using bullroarers to generate deep
atmospheric tones

b) Recording sound waves from
electromagnetic fields

c) Manipulating whale songs into
futuristic ambient noise

d) Synthesising human voices into
mechanical hums

3. Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity is known for its long takes and immersive cinematography. How long is the film’s breathtaking single take?

a) 5 minutes

b) 7 minutes

c) 12 minutes

d) 13 minutes

4. David Fincher’s Seven famously ends with a shocking revelation. What was one of the conditions Fincher set before agreeing to direct the film?

a) The film must be shot entirely in low-light conditions

b) The original bleak ending must remain unchanged

c) Brad Pitt must be cast as the lead

d) A twist ending had to be included

5. Todd Haynes directed Kate Winslet in which project before collaborating with Cate Blanchett in the 1950s film, Carol?

a) Little Children

b) Mildred Pierce

c) Finding Neverland

d) Mare of Easttown

Answers

1. The correct answer is e.

Matthew McConaughey was a strong contender for the role of Jack Dawson in Titanic before Leonardo DiCaprio was cast. He was close to landing the part, even auditioning alongside Kate Winslet. McConaughey thought he had a solid chance, but in the end, it was DiCaprio who landed the role.

Chris O’Donnell was another name in the mix for Jack. Back then, he was best known for playing Dick Grayson in Batman and Robin. Unfortunately, the failure of Batman and Robin hurt his chances for this iconic role.

Billy Crudup turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts. He was busy filming Without Limits at the time—a project that ended up making less than $1 million on a $25 million budget. Even though Titanic went on to rake in over $2 billion globally, Crudup has said he has no regrets. He believes that taking on the role would have compromised his privacy, something DiCaprio still struggles with to this day.

Christian Bale was also a contender for the part of Jack Dawson but ultimately lost out to DiCaprio, just as he did for several other roles during that period. Bale has since admitted to feeling a bit envious of DiCaprio’s success, even calling him his “nemesis.” To add insult to injury, director James Cameron reportedly passed on Bale because he didn’t want two British actors in lead roles—since Kate Winslet was already on board as Rose. It was the casting of Leonardo DiCaprio alongside Kate Winslet that made Titanic an iconic love story, with their immediate chemistry convincing director James Cameron that they were the right actors for the role(s).

2. The correct answer is a.

Denis Villeneuve and his incredible soundtrack team dug deep into a variety of natural sound sources to create the unique landscape of Blade Runner 2049. One of their unconventional techniques was the use of bullroarers— described as ancient instruments that create deep, droning sounds when spun through the air. The low, unique vibrations they produced added to the films’ eerie, otherworldly vibe, perfectly enhancing the electronic score by Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch. Sound played a crucial role in the film, because the idea was to evoke a sense of claustrophobia and tension from start to finish. Like a carefully constructed character, Villeneuve’s team built upon this idea by incorporating sounds of metal creaking and groaning, along with a recording of an actress screaming underwater.

3. The correct answer is d.

The opening shot of Gravity, which stretches on for almost 13 uninterrupted minutes, showcases director Alfonso Cuarón’s meticulous approach to both cinematography and storytelling. This complex scene posed a significant challenge for the production team. Cuarón instructed Gravity’s cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki to begin with a brightly lit Earth, gradually introducing shadows and twilight as the tension escalated. The lighting was dynamic, with multiple actions unfolding simultaneously with the actors spinning, the shuttle rotating, and the Earth both spinning and orbiting the Sun. It took months of preparation and years of work to get this shot right, highlighting the incredible effort that went into creating the film’s groundbreaking visuals.

4. The correct answer is b.

David Fincher was determined to keep Seven’s original dark ending intact, even when the studio pushed for a different conclusion. He fought hard to preserve that infamous box scene, refusing to budge on the film’s uncompromising vision. When Fincher first read the Seven script, he was captivated by its depiction of evil and its unapologetically brutal ending. However, he was later presented with an alternate ending—something he strongly opposed. Brad Pitt agreed to take on the role, but only on the condition that the ending remained as it was. He believed it was crucial for his character, Mills, to act out of raw emotion rather than moral justification, which added depth to the film’s chilling final moments.

5. The correct answer is b.

Todd Haynes directed Kate Winslet in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce before teaming up with Cate Blanchett for the film Carol, which was set in the year 1952. In Carol, Blanchett portrays a middle-aged mother who embarks on a romantic relationship with a younger woman, played by Rooney Mara. Even though the film hit theatres in 2015, Blanchett revealed that it took five long years and several directors before the project finally came to life, largely due to the challenges of securing funding.

Now, nearly 14 years after Mildred Pierce, Haynes and Winslet are set to join forces again for Trust, a limited series currently in the works at HBO. Haynes will not only direct but also write the series, with Jon Raymond co-writing. The show is based on Hernan Diaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, published in 2023, and both Diaz and Winslet will be on board as executive producers alongside Haynes and Raymond.