Talking The Thing: Expanded With Director Ian Nathan

Well, my story goes back a long way. In a nutshell: I managed to transform a childhood and teenage years (which haven’t exactly ceased) adoring film into working for the movie magazine Empire for over twenty years, that evolved into books and some work as an expert witness on matters of genre on TV and in docs. Through the latter I met Robin Block from Creator VC, the company behind the excellent In Search of Darkness series of docs. Robin decided I was the right fit to write and direct the first in a new series of deep-dive docs into a single film rather than an era – the Expandeds. Together we felt Aliens was the ideal starting point. After the success of Aliens Expanded, The Thing called to us as a sci-fi/horror masterpiece that demanded the same long-form treatment. So now I have two docs to my name.

 

What were the greatest challenges you faced with each?

So many! Learning to curb my more detail-orientated writerly habits for the flow of a visual format. Trusting what to leave out. Convincing talent is always a challenge requiring patience and persuasion. And learning to follow my instincts – to get over the panic that the fans know it all already. One of the biggest things that I have come to understand about documentaries is that they must be both documents of fact and entertainments. You have to enjoy their company. So it as much about how the talent says things as about what they say.

 

What did you learn from Aliens that helped with The Thing?

Trust the timeline. The Expanded format is based on the idea of examining a finished film we know and love. So we are essentially travelling through the chronology of the film and drawing out into a wide and ranging discussion of what we see. It was crucial for the watcher not to lose their sense of where they are in the film. We couldn’t venture too far from the scenes in question. Also as I mentioned above, I really learned to trust the flavour of the talking heads to convey so much. It’s interesting, I watched The Thing Expanded with an audience in a cinema and I never realised it was so funny (in a good way).

 

A recent documentary I was in took years as new interviews and material was constantly being added. How do you balance having enough material with constantly looking to add to it; yet staying on budget and schedule?

Well, we build in the discipline of a schedule and budget. And a loose release date. Our films are financed by many devoted and supportive backers, who are literally owed a finished film. So there is a time constraint, which helps you focus. Concessions were made around the schedules of the bigger talent, but only so far. It’s a demanding process – to accumulate enough in the time. You do finally have to get to place when you have to work with what you have. So far, it has been more than enough.

 

What did you learn about The Thing that you did not know prior?

So much! I never knew that Tobe Hooper and John Landis were potential directors (if Carpenter had said no). Indeed, that the concept didn’t originate with him. Or how young Rob Bottin and his team were – and what it took to get those effects made. That John and associate producer Larry Franco have a number of unknown cameos.One the most striking revelations for me was John’s savage rewrite of the material halfway through production, and the more conventional film he transformed.

 

What were the hardest interviews to obtain and how much did you consult with John Carpenter?

Kurt Russell took us the longest to land, but then he was shooting two television series during the time we were in production, so you have to cut him some slack. John Carpenter was the first, though he took persuading (he is not one who enjoys talking about his own work). I consulted with him, and also with co-producer Stuart Cohen, whose recollection was remarkable.

 

How is the use of footage for a documentary sorted out to avoid issues and what kind of permissions are needed when making a film documentary?

You gain the permission of everyone you speak with.

 

How long did the project take?

We began in the spring of 2024 and finished two years later.

 

Why do you think Aliens and The Thing have remained such iconic and popular films?

Firstly, simply because they are both superbly made, endlessly intriguing films. There is also something about the era in which they were born that has left a lasting impression of so many of us. Finally, there is something about the characters of both films that never leaves you – we relate to Ripley and Mac, Hudson and Childs, Hicks and Garry.

 

What do you have upcoming and how do you select your projects?

I have a new book coming out this fall on Sofia Coppola (a lovely contrast), and have big plans coming togetherfor a future book. And indeed there are big plans underway for the next doc(s). Watch this space as they say

 

Will you be attending conventions this summer and which upcoming Movies are you looking forward to?

No conventions are planned, but let’s see. As for movies coming up: The Odyssey, obviously; Joel Coen’s next film I am very excited about: Jack of Spades; The Rivals of Amziah King, the new one from the guy who made Vast of Night; Digger; Werwulf.

I appreciate all your time

You are welcome.