Robert Rodriguez and Rosa Salazar interview: Bringing 'Alita: Battle Angel' to life

Photo courtesy of Fox

I sat down to interview director James Cameron fifteen years ago and among the many bits of knowledge he gave me that day was a glimmer of his next project, an adaptation of the popular manga series “Battle Angel Alita.” Several years and a huge “Avatar” movie later he decided against making the film in favor of future “Avatar” sequels but the project stayed alive via a directing surrogate.

This is where filmmaking pioneer Robert Rodriguez (“Sin City,” “Desperado”) stepped in and took over the project with Cameron’s full support as a producing partner and advisor. The final film is now “Alita: Battle Angel” and after a long and arduous process, the story of a young mechanical girl who is found in a trash heap and discovers her power to save humanity, has come to the screen. Rodriguez tackled the task by giving his take on a James Cameron film and it doesn’t hurt that he also had regular Cameron collaborator Jon Landau on his side too. Wrapping up the trifecta of “Alita’s” success is leading lady Rosa Salazar, who has been onscreen but has never headlined a movie before. According to her, the pressure was insurmountable but Rodriguez and Cameron helped take the edge off.

I recently sat down to talk with Robert Rodriguez and Rosa Salazar about the task of making “Alita” and the following is a transcription of that conversation.

Q: Robert, your past movies have been adult fare like “From Dusk Till Dawn” and family entertainment like the “Spy Kids” series. “Alita” seems to strike a balance between those two worlds. How easy or difficult was it to balance that?

Robert Rodriguez: This is my first PG-13 movie which is something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s more in line with the types of films Jim (Cameron) does like “Titanic” and “Avatar.” This was a project that he was going to do and I read his script and his vision for it and it was the first time I felt I could do something in that range. Something that small children and grandparents could watch. It’s a four-quadrant story that has wide appeal. When I saw what he was doing with it I saw it as an opportunity to learn from him. I tend to do things that are whimsical and full of dream imagery. His stuff is more grounded and very real.

Q: Since he had been developing this prior to you coming on board, was there a close collaboration between you and James Cameron or did you decide to make your own story?

Rodriguez: He really wanted me to make it my own but the reason he knew I could take it on was because he saw what I did with “Sin City.” I wanted to make this the lost Jim Cameron movie the rest of us got robbed of seeing because “Avatar” was too successful.

Q: Rosa, what’s your favorite part of Alita as a character?

Rosa Salazar: Her sensitivity. She’s devoid of any kind of memory and even though she has this martial arts training it’s not her first instinct to use it when there’s trouble. I like that her first approach is wonder and sensitivity to everything around her. She’s moving through things completely by her heart and that’s why I admire about her.

Rodriguez: When I read the script I really responded to the father-daughter aspect of this little girl who has to grow and the father figure has to prepare her to leave him. At first he tries to protect her but then realizes she’s light years ahead of him. But then I also identified with her character of someone who thinks they don’t have a chance in hell of getting anywhere in the world, you have everything against you, and then you find you do have an inner power that you can influence people.

Salazar: Being a Latin actress and being able to do that is special.

Q: Robert, are you planning to bring back the ten minute film school and cooking school for “Alita’s” DVD extras?

Rodriguez: I would love to.

Q: I miss those things and this film would definitely benefit from bringing those special features back.

Rodriguez: I completely agree with you and from your mouth to Fox’s ears.

“Alita: Battle Angel” is now playing in theaters nationwide.