An Alien Encounter

        Today, David Fincher's name is a big deal in Hollywood. He's known for dark and stylish movies like Seven and Fight Club. But his very first movie experience was a whole different kind of scary - Alien 3.

Back then, Fincher was a young guy, just 28 years old. He wasn't directing movies yet, but he was making a name for himself with cool music videos for famous singers.  Fast cuts, dark lighting, and a whole lot of energy. Then came Alien 3. This movie was already in trouble before Fincher even got involved. The original plan for the story and the director fell apart, leaving a big empty space. That's when someone said, "Hey, what about that music video guy, Fincher?"

There wasn't even a complete script yet! The studio kept changing their minds about the story, and different writers kept taking turns trying to put it all together. It was like trying to build a house while the instructions kept getting rewritten.

Even though it was a mess, Fincher wasn't afraid to stand up for his ideas. He argued with the studio about what the movie should be like, which wasn't exactly the easiest thing for a newcomer. Fincher asked for the technical team whom he wished would be more comfortable with him and also wanted to cast Gary Oldman but the studio rejected it as it was an already big franchise and the old crew should be retained to make the wonder it created before. In the end, the movie got mixed reviews. Some people liked the dark and gloomy atmosphere, but others thought it wasn't as good as the earlier Alien movies.

Looking back, Alien 3 might not be Fincher's best work. But it was a super important moment in his career.  The whole experience, though crazy and stressful, taught him a big lesson: he needed to be in control of the stories he told. He decided he would never make a movie again unless he truly believed in it. And that turned out to be a great choice! Alien 3 might have been a bumpy ride, but it helped launch Fincher on a path to making amazing movies that we all love today.