Jason Cope Biography
Jason Cope is a South African actor who is best known for his appearance in the 2009 Academy Award-nominated science fiction film District 9
In 2004, Cope assumed an assortment of jobs in the second period of the SABC1 satire demonstrates The Pure Monate Show. In 2008, he played the character of Howard Weaver in the MNet miniseries Ella Blue. The title character of the miniseries was depicted by entertainer Nathalie Blott, who might go on to costar with Cope in the film District 9. Since 2010, he has additionally played a “Field Reporter” on eTV’s humorous news show Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola.
In the 2009 film District 9, Cope played an assortment of characters including the outsider Christopher Johnson, made totally through CGI utilizing Cope’s movement caught execution. This procedure makes a character displayed on the exhibition of an on-screen character or entertainer, taking into consideration on-camera exhibitions incorporating association with the other cast individuals. He likewise played the character Gray Bradnam, one of the storytellers of the film, and gave most of the foundation voice work in the film, including the cameraman Trent.
In an erased scene of the motion picture, Cope additionally played a specialist at a center visited by the film’s hero, who was trying to have his arm cut off due to being tainted with outsider DNA. The scene is included as a component of the motion picture’s DVD “additional items.”
In 2010 he additionally had a co-starring job in the South African-created film Spud, inverse veteran entertainer John Cleese. In 2012 Cope had a minor job in DREDD 3D as one of the hooligans murdered during the film’s presentation grouping. In 2015, he played a Tetravaal Lead Mechanic in Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi film Chappie.
Jason Cope Age
He has not revealed his birthday yet. He was born in South African
Jason Cope Family
He has not spoken of his family yet, he lives a low key life that there is no information about his family members
Jason Cope Height
Cope has an average height of 6′ 1″ (1.85 meters) tall
Jason Cope District 9
Cope was cast as Christopher Johnson, a District 9 prawn who assists Wikus in fighting MNU in the 2009 science fiction action film District 9. Cope also performed the role of Grey Bradnam, the UKNR Chief Correspondent and all the speaking aliens, as well as for the cameraman Trent
Jason Cope Net Worth
He has made a good fortune from his acting career. His net worth is still underestimation and will be updated soon
Jason Cope Interview
Interview with Jason Cope (District 9)
District 9 was one of the most popular and acclaimed blockbusters of 2009, with The Los Angeles Times declaring that ‘District 9 is very smart sci-fi, but that’s just the beginning; it’s also a scathing social satire hidden inside a terrific action thriller.’
Based on the South African short film Alive in Joburg, written and directed by a-then twenty-six-year-old Neill Blomkamp, District 9 was produced by Academy Award-winning Kiwi filmmaker Peter Jackson, whose mastering of digital technology on the Lord of the Rings trilogy proved invaluable in the development of the movie.
Nominated for numerous BAFTA, Golden Globes and Academy Awards, District 9 received almost unanimous praise upon release. In the dual role of UKNR Chief Correspondent Grey Bradnam and Christopher Johnson, one of the alien resident ‘prawns’ that have made Johannesburg their new home.
Jason Cope talks about his experience making both Alive in Joburg and District 9.
How did you first come to work with Neill Blomkamp and how did Alive in Joburg originate?
Alive In Joburg was a concept that Neill had been thinking about. As a sci-fi fan, he had been thinking of the concept of creating a science fiction story in and around the environment that he grew up in. At the time I worked on the production side of visual effects, for a company owned by Sharlto. Neill came to Johannesburg to shoot his idea as a creative exercise, and we helped him to put it together.
Due to your involvement in the short film, were you a part of District 9 from the very beginning and how did the project first originate? What part did Peter Jackson play in the overall development?
Sharlto and I initially helped from a production side – It was clear that for alive the budget was going to be very small, and that we’d need to be creative. Sharlto and I were old hands at maximizing extremely small budgets – We’d simply just do everything ourselves – wardrobe, art department, acting – a non-stop do-everything-right-now approach, combined with much creative networking, was the way we used to shoot. On the piece I ended up playing some of the aliens and a UN soldier, Sharlto played a sniper – while doing these we’d constantly be on our cellphones; organizing the way ahead.
I took Neill and Sharlto to meet Dave, a community leader in Soweto that I knew from a TV show that I’d been shooting. Together the small group of us organized everything for the shoot: the actors, the guns, the aliens – we had a couple of days prep and then shot on the fly for a few days. Most of the stock footage in the piece comes from the South African Police video unit – after our shoot, I went and scoured the police archives and picked up some interesting bits and pieces. Neill completed all of the posts on the piece by himself, including doing all of the animations.
Jason Cope PhotoA long while later, and Peter Jackson had asked Neill to direct Halo; an adaption of the video game. By now, Neill was a highly acclaimed commercial director. When the film collapsed during the planning phase, Fran Walsh and Peter suggested that Neill adapt Alive for the big screen.
How many different characters did you portray throughout the movie and how did you prepare for these roles?
I have no idea. It must be close on fifty, perhaps more, but that is rough guess: There’s no real way to count. I’m not sure how I should define a ‘character’ – is it alien scuttling in the background, created using mo-cap? Or is it only the onset aliens with dialogue that count? There were some other motion capture guys that we used for mo-cap too. I did voices for the film too – that was fun – a lot of the reporter, chopper pilot voices and so on – it fools everyone except my close friends.
A friend who came to the premiere was very confused: ‘Why do you do so many of the voices too?’ We laughed, but he was the only one who noticed, so it turned out fine. Whatever the case is, almost all of my time was spent as Christopher Johnson. I spent more time thinking about him than everything else combined.
How were the special effects for Christopher Johnson achieved and how did you perform the character?
Imagine Engine is a fantastic Canadian VFX company. They were in charge of the alien visual effects for the film. The aliens were designed by Neill and the Weta guys, and image engine and I would have to bring them to life. Developing the character of Christopher was a long process. Sharlto and I spent about a month work-shopping the major scenes of the film before we started shooting. I tried out a vast array of alien personas: from raging and animalistic to timid and emotional: During this time we developed a library of movements and states for the creatures.
Christopher was one of the most difficult things I’ve done: The layers of abstraction over his character were intense: He was a star war VFX alien who couldn’t speak English and looked like a giant roach. And yet, the audience would have to end up liking Christopher, and nobody else. Neill wanted a journey for the audience: from revulsion to acceptance: working on then the journey was challenging. We had to create a sensitive, caring dad in the guise of giant roach, and yet not walk an OTT Disney road. With the great writing of Neill and Terry, a powerfully creative environment and an incredible company like Image Engine, we all finally managed to create something that fitted the needs of the film.
Due to the digital effects being added later, was your co-star, Sharlto Copley, present on set for you to interact with or was it shot as normal and then the CGI painted over you?
In the large majority of scenes, I was on camera – especially for scenes when Sharlto and I are talking to each other. I was then painted out and my movements used to provide a reference for the animators.
District 9 is noted for its political subtext, with the aliens being restricted to a ghetto and referred to racially as ‘pawns.’ Would you say that this mirrors the current racial climate of Johannesburg and was Blomkamp making a statement with this story?
Well, the film deals a lot with the concept of the ‘other.’ It’s steeped in apartheid references and littered with nods to South Africa that we grew up in. We’re still a country that faces many problems with xenophobia, and a slew of other toxic social issues. The film was only coincidentally linked to the ethnic murders that took place in Johannesburg while we were shooting.
I think all in all, that one can have an interesting time dissecting the film, but I also enjoy just watching it in a Hollywood way: This is South Africa and yes; we have a twisted and often brutal past: But perhaps we’re getting ourselves a bit and just making an action flick. I enjoy watching the film in South Africa and hearing the audience bellowing with laughter at all of the bizarre things that are aspects of our lives.
The ending of the movie is left open, allowing for Christopher to return to Earth to save Wikus Van De Merwe, yet instead, Blomkamp has allegedly expressed interest in a prequel. Do you know if either is being seriously considered and which would you prefer to take part in?
Well, I think nothing has been decided yet. I’m sure whatever will be shot will be fun to do.
District 9 has been nominated for several Academy Awards. How do you feel about the success and acclaim this movie has received and what effect has it had on your career?
It’s a little strange to us. What started out as a small group of guys making an extremely low budget short, for love of film alone, has ballooned into something global. I feel a little shocked. Then again, it’s wonderful to see the hard work of everybody being recognized. We worked with an extremely dedicated, passionate cast and crew; people who poured themselves wholeheartedly into the picture. Well done to all of them.
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