Filmmakers Toast The Power of 'New Year's Eve

By Michael Lopez

2012 is coming early this year, at least at the local Cineplex. The ensemble rom com New Year’s Eve is hitting theaters and, at a recent press conference, director Garry Marshall and writer Katherine Fugate explained their inspirations for the film.

"We all connected so well on the set," Marshall said when talking about his massive cast. "I've actually worked with a lot of these people before."

Stars Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, and Hector Elizondo were all in New Year’s unofficial prequel Valentine’s Day, albeit in very different roles. Here, they're joined by a host of A-listers, including Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sofia Vergara, and Zac Efron.

And, as Garry explained, wrangling such a massive amount of talent for the shoot wasn't easy.

"Everyone in this cast had other jobs going on, so they weren't all available. We had to make the whole shooting schedule around when they were available and when they weren't. There was one scene where Sofia Vergara had to leave for another job, so we had to cut her part down."

The premise of New Year’s Eve is definitely one that can be appreciated by everyone. On the night of December 31, we get to see a wide range of characters, all hoping to experience the most memorable night of their lives. And, by the time the credits roll, most of them accomplish that goal.

Katherine went on to explain how, despite the many story lines, there is still one underlying message she hopes to convey.

"Anytime I write anything, I try to look at the whole," she said. "What's the message? Here, it's about taking risks and new beginnings. Then I look at the characters and think how can this pie of people bring us to the same message? These are all people that I know in my own life."

Marshall praised Fugate's writing style and her ability to unite such a wide range of characters. He even offered a bit of film-making trivia on the styles of New Year’s Eve and his previous hit, Valentine’s Day.

"The term I like to use for these movies is portmanteau," he explained. "It’s actually a French term and it's used often by European filmmakers. It refers to a series of stories that come together and have one universal conclusion. Love Actually is a modern example of a movie that’s used the technique."

And something tells us if New Year’s Eve is a hit, you can expect to see it a lot more. We're still keeping our fingers crossed for a Cinco de Mayo sequel.

Are you planning on watching New Year's Eve? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Garry Marshall, Holidays, Katherine Fugate, Movies & CineMás, New Year's, New Year's Eve, Tr3s Exclusives, Valentines Day