Van Sant said that he originally wanted to film a shooting for the Internet TV station in the 1999 Columbine High School in the suburbs of Denver, but the executives expressed concern about showing violence on TV. Later, HBO signed a contract and decided to make a fictional film based on facts. So although the movie is fictitious, many of its details come from the shooting on the campus of Columbine Middle School. The name of the film refers to the 1989 BBC film "Elephant" about political violence in Northern Ireland of the same name. The filming took only 20 days and only one camera was used. There was no filming outline and script. Most of the actors were from Portland. For local high school students, the dialogues are all prepared temporarily. Van Sant asks the students to use their own actual life experience to create characters. The children in the film basically have no experience in acting. The name they use in the play is Real name
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Elephant background creation
2022-04-21 08:01
Extended Reading
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Eric: I ain't putting shit down!
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[We've been following Benny down the hallway and watch as he comes upon Eric berating and standing over Mr. Luce]
Eric: Yeah, you did, and I should shoot you right now for it, you know I should. But I think I just might let you live, maybe, because I want you to know this... and the next kids that come up to you with their problems... that they're being picked on, you should listen to them... no matter what twisted shit they say.
Eric: [Turns and shoots Benny through the heart] Fuck! Anyway, Mr. Luce, whatever. You know there's other like us out there, too. And they will kill you if you fuck with them like you did me and Gerry. Get out of here, before I change my mind. Go!
Eric: [Mr. Luce gets up and runs for his life. Eric changes his mind and shoots him down] Bitch!