Director John Gulager talks about PIRANHA 3DD

Starting next Monday, Gulager and his crew begin filming the sex, blood, and guts fueled sequel to Aja’s Piranha 3D.  Though barely making a splash at the box-office, the original garnered just enough money to appease fans craving a sequel.  John Gulager (Feast) is the man behind the camera this time and seems to be very excited about a return to the deadly waters.  In an interview with Dread Central, the director talks about shooting in  real 3d and his approach to reeling in the sequel.

To read the entire interview with the enthusiastic director, click here.  Below, you can read some of the highlights regarding the production.  Piranha 3DD opens everywhere November 23, 2011.

“We are just worrying about weather and stuff like that, because it was pretty cold up until just a week ago, and we are dealing with lakes and water. We have more night scenes than in the original(referring to 2010’s Alexandre Aja-directed redux). The first one was so ‘daytime’, so we put more night stuff in this one, but it’s been cold, so I’m kind of hoping it’s going to warm up.”

“There’s a certain location that’s part of the story (a water park allegedly called Wilderness Waters!) that we could not find in Louisiana, and a lot of it is also because of what’s going to be in Piranha 3DD,” Gulager explained. “At first people are like, “Oh, it’ll be fun if you shoot here!’, but at some point they need to read the script and then they see what is going to be shot, and you know it may be a little raunchy or rough or gory, and then they aren’t really down for that, and you know, I’m kind of banned from a certain town in Louisiana, and I don’t think I’m really welcome back there”

“It’s maybe not that different than shooting The Creature from the Black Lagoon, because we actually are doing a lot of physical stuff. Obviously there are places where we are going to use digital effects, and I thought the fish in the first movie were pretty cool, but we are doing a lot of practical effects (in this one). It’s all a mystery that that will unravel before us, like any film really. It’s a matter of finding the things that work and finding solutions.”

I really love the idea of a water-park.  Having it there will certainly add a level of claustrophobia compared to the vastness of the ocean in the original.  All in all, I am excited about the idea of Gulager taking over the sequel.  Aja’s film had a great set-piece towards the end of the film with the chaotic attack on the spring-breakers.  Yet, I think Gulager’s sense of style will take that great scene and expand it through the entirety of the film.  What do you want to see in the sequel? Leave your comments below.