It depends whether you believe in such a thing. "Cyberpunk" has
become a historical word, one of these words which you use to
describe a definite period of time. The risk is that it could suddenly
become outdated, passe. Now it is a very fashionable thing to say:
wearing cyberpunk outfit or behaving cyberpunk has become hip:
you see it on MTV. I was never comfortable with this interpretation.
Billy Idol (ED. he released in 1993 the album "Cyberpunk") has
turned it into something very silly.
Finally, I think that cyberpunk is one of these journalistic terms,
that media like to rely on. I am aware that most young writers
are delighted being considered cyberpunk authors. But I'm older.
I remember well the Sixties. I know that once you have a "label"
attached onto you, it is over.
Let's go back to "Johnny Mnemonic". Which direction have you
given the screenplay ?
"Johnny" is about the politics of Information. It's an action film
of course, but it doesn't forego for flashy and graphic FX: there's too
much of that already on MTV. Besides, Billy Idol burned that look.
We preferred opting for an anti-realistic look: we want to plunge
the audience into a very strange but consistent universe. In short,
we have decided to tell a story. That's what science fiction
literature has often managed to achieve, unlike most films.
Which science fiction movies you like most ?
I like "Blade Runner", Andrej Tarkowski's "Stalker", Chris Marker's
"La jetee", and also the British pilot for the "Max Headroom"
series. (ED. it was directed by Rocky Morton & Annabel Jenkel)
"Johnny Mnemonic" has a superstar, Keanu Reeves. What do you
think of his portrayal of your character ?
Keanu is fantastic! I have this problem: I have never been able to
describe the character of Johnny, until he came aboard. One day in
the early stages of developement, we were discussing the character,
and I wasn't making a good job of doing that. But he really
got Johnny from day one. It helped me better understand this
person that I had imagined, so I was able to make small
adjustments to the story. I have always had a good attitude
towards actors, and Keanu helped me reinforce that idea.
Once "Johnny" got its second chance, Robert (Longo) and I have
talked to each others on the phone at least once every day.
Subsequently, I was often on the sets during the filming, doing
rewrites. The sets of this picture were awesome! Everything was
