Columbus native Ford in charge of special effects for new 'X-Files' movie

BY SANDRA OKAMOTO - sokamoto@ledger-enquirer.com --

Six years after the "The X-Files" television series ended, the second feature-length film based on the show is set to open Friday.

Columbus native Thomas F. Ford IV warns fans that "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," is scary.

He should know. He's the visual effects producer for the film.

"I think fans will really like the movie," Ford said. "I think they'll like seeing them (FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully) again. It's six years later, and they're in peril again. It's scary. It's a scary one."

Ford, a graduate of Brookstone School, has also worked on "Warm Springs," "Spider-Man" and "Spider-Man 2," "Men in Black II," "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Cast Away," "Stuart Little," "Contact" and "The Ghost and the Darkness." "The Craft" in 1996, was his very first film.

He's currently working on the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," which stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connolly, Kathy Bates and John Cleese.

"It was very exciting," working on "The X-Files," Ford said. "It was a little nerve-wracking at first. I was meeting Chris Carter (the creator of the series and co-writer/co-producer and director of the film) at his house in Malibu. He was incredibly friendly. Frank (Spotnitz, co-writer and co-producer) was, too. They are nice people to work with. It was a thrilling experience to be part of something that is such a pop culture thing."

Much on his shoulders

Spotnitz speaks highly of Ford.

"Tom is a joy to work with," he said. "He had an enormous task. The number of visual effects shots just mushroomed. He had to work on a huge volume in such a short time."

Though Ford and Spotnitz couldn't reveal many details of the film, they offered a few comparisons to the show, which aired 1993-2002, and the first feature-length film, which was released in 1998.

This movie "is more about them (FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully) and their relationship," Spotnitz said.

He wouldn't answer questions about other cast members, particularly the ones from the television series, but he did say the film is not part of the series' mythology (the government conspiracy to cover up the existence of extraterrestrial life).

Secrets off screen, too

Before starting work, Ford had to sign two non-disclosure agreements.

Ford signed the first one when he started his job. The second came a week later when he was granted permission to read the top-secret script.

"Every time I do a deal for a movie, I have to sign a NDA (non-disclosure agreement)," Ford said, but signing two is unusual.

"My first week on the job, Frank gave me permission to read the script. It was kept in the safe in Fred Baron's (the executive vice president of production) office. I had to sign a separate NDA. As a fan, to be one of the only people to read it was one thing, but I had to know the nature of the work. I had to know that this scene is where this thing happens.

"I hadn't even met Frank yet. But he brought me on board."

Ford was astounded at the level of secrecy about the script, until fans of the show found out he was working on the film.

 

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