An Interview with Marvel Studio’s Avengers: Infinity War Executive Producer Trinh Tran at Madame Tussauds Hollywood

During my trip to LA last week Marvel Studios went and made Avengers: Infinity War available on digital with the release of the Bluray coming on August 14th. To celebrate this launch we went to Madame Tussauds in Hollywood almost directly across from the El Captain Theater where the movie premiered. There we got to explore the new Marvel Super Heroes 4D installation. We also got to make wax Infinity Gauntlets and sit down with Executive Producer of Avengers: Infinity War, Trinh Tran. She spoke with us after we took a look at a few of the special features from the upcoming Bluray. This was all part of a press trip that I took as a guest of Disney. My airfare, hotel and food were compensated. I received no money from the trip or the posts written afterward. I will include some Amazon affiliate links to the movie and other products within this post and I have edited the interview for easier reading and length.

Before we met with Trinh we had a light breakfast and got to explore the Super Heroes area. There were a bunch of wax figures of everyone’s favorite Marvel Avengers and even the Hugh Jackman Wolverine figure. From the current MCU we had a Tony Stark Figure, Nick Fury, Thor, Captain America and Iron Man. Everyone had a great time posing with these figures. There were even some props that you could use to make the photos more fun. I gave it a try to pick up Thor’s hammer. As you can see, it did not go that well.

One of the special things that we were able to do at Madame Tussauds other than explore the entire place, was create our own Wax Infinity Gauntlets. I went first and had to make a standard hand in the wax. Foils that went later were able to put their hands in different positions. I would have made a fist like Thanos does with the actual Infinity Gauntlet. But, it did end up coming out pretty cool in the end.

My friend Mitch had a lot of fun photographing me and even filming me when I had the wax hand removed. It had caught much of my arm hair so I yelped a bit.

My finished Infinity Gauntlet. I was even able to keep this safe for the return flight.

We made our Infinity Gauntlets after we met with Trinh and after we saw some of the Bluray special features. Our interview with Trinh was a lot of fun and the special features that we saw were some deleted scenes and the gag reel. There are over two hours of special features in this Bluray and I don’t even think that included the full audio commentary track, which is very informative.

We were in a small theater at Madame Tussauds which is used for the Super Heroes 4D show. I would have liked to have been able to see that because I do enjoy those sort of shows when I see them at different parks. The seats ere all rigged up to give you that 4D experience. I had brought my large camera and long lens for the trip but only needed it for this one event. So the image above is from me. Trinh was very animated and personable. She has been with Marvel Studios for a very long time and she has worked her way up through the organization from assistant to Executive Producer.

Trinh Tran – Photo credit: Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

This was a rather strange interview for Trinh because for the past two years she has had to keep quiet about the movie for fear of revealing spoilers. This was one of the first times that she could speak freely about the outcome of the movie. Personally I think it would be very hard not to reveal anything about Avengers 4 and we did not press her for any of that info. But, filming the two movies back to back under such secrecy because of what happens in the movie has to be stressful. She even said that she would maybe be hesitant because of having to be secretive for so long. She did say that she has enjoyed that fans are embracing the movie even if the good guys lose in the end. This is the first major defeat in the MCU and it has major consequences.

We also asked about what her responsibilities were for the film and what it was like working on the film. Trinh said, “It’s amazing because I’m able to be a part of the whole journey from beginning to end. When the idea first came out, we were finishing up, shooting Civil War. We came back and we were in the story room with Joe, Anthony, Steven, and Chris, our writers. We started just hashing out ideas so being a part of that creative process and sitting together with the Writers and Directors and coming up with the beats and ideas and then just really taking it all the way through shooting. Being in Atlanta for a year and a half. That was the longest time I’ve ever been away from LA. Being on set every day, just really making sure that Marvel’s vision was there and that we were following through with the stories that we wanted to tell. Following it through in post production, being in Editorial every single day, night, holiday, you name it. I remember actually the last day we called Wrap and we had a big cake there and everybody made speeches. As soon as the AD called Wrap, Joe and I ran straight to the airport because we had a 10 AM Editorial call. And we went straight into post production, that’s how intense it was. But it was just being there every single day, every step of the way, which was the most exciting part.”

As we know, not every character survived the movie. So I asked Trinh how intense it got while they were in story meetings to determine who survived and who did not. She said, “It was pretty difficult. Sitting in the story meeting we really had to make the decision of who we want to survive, so that we could tell the next story. We sat there and we boarded it out, we brainstormed, we’d sit in the room, we hash it out every single day. In pre-production it was really trying to figure out how this was going to connect to Avengers 4 and we wanted to be able to tell a story. There is a specific reason why some of these people survive.”

Getting the cast together and completing the movie was the biggest challenge that they faced in working with such a large cast and shooting two movies back to back. However she had been working with some of the crew members as far back as Winter Soldier and there was trust built up and everyone pulled together to pull off this massive undertaking.

One of the people that Trinh has worked with the longest is Victoria Alonzo. Trinh was actually her assistant and said that from Day One she really allowed her to just grow. She went on to say that Victoria is an advocate for bringing more women into the Film Industry. “She is a fighter for that which I really love. I’d love to see more and more of that. We’re doing more and more of that at Marvel, which is amazing.”

Just Embrace Your Difference

Trinh also had advice for the next generation of women who want to get into the film industry. “I would say don’t worry. Just go on the journey and don’t worry about the outcome. Because ten years ago, never did I imagine that I would be right here producing two of the biggest Marvel Movies. I thought, Kevin was crazy at one point when he said, do you want to do it, do you want to spearhead this movie? You want me to what? And I think also just embrace your difference. Films are stronger when ideas are generated and questioned by different perspectives.”

We then asked which character’s evolution has surprised her most of all. She found that Gamora had her own moments to grow and shine in this movie. Being able to tell her side of the relationship with Thanos was so important.

If Trinh could be any Avenger she would be Captain Marvel been though she has not been seen yet. “I’m looking forward to her movie and I think it’s about time. It’s only because she’s so strong and what’s so important is that she embodies leadership and we got to have more of that especially female so I’m looking forward to March when this movie comes out.”

My friend Mitch always likes to stir the pot and he asked, tongue-in-cheek, who was the biggest diva on the set. Trinh had nothing but wonderful things to say about everyone. She did say that not much work got done when [Anthony] Mackie came on set because he is so fun. You have to see the gag reel to see some of the humor from Mackie. He’s a riot.

I was able to ask a second question. I wanted to know what was the most satisfying character reunion or interaction for Trinh and also what characters she wanted to see together, but did not connect. Trinh said, “When we worked on the story, we really tried to figure out which character made sense with each other, right? We call that strange alchemy. Putting characters together that you normally wouldn’t see, ever. I think to me and it already did happen, it was really Tony and Strange because I really like those two personalities and I wanted to see the Ego vs. Ego and where that was going to lead. There was a lot of fun sitting in story and brainstorming on these two guys that we call Goatee vs. Goatee. How are they gonna battle each other out. I was really fighting for that. I think everybody did in the story but we really wanted those characters to come together and be on the screen.”

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Trailer for the Avengers: Infinity War Blu-ray

MARVEL STUDIOS’ “AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR” ARRIVES DIGITALLY ON JULY 31 AND BLU-RAY ON AUG. 14

Go behind the scenes of the No. 4 film of all time to gain exclusive access to more than two hours of never-before-revealed details of its unprecedented, ten-year cinematic journey which includes an epic filmmaker roundtable, an inside look at the surprising Super Hero pair-ups, deleted scenes and more!

BURBANK, Calif. (July 10, 2018) — Box office history was made when Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” shattered all opening records, surpassed the $2 billion mark at the global box office in just 48 days, and remains the fourth highest-grossing film of all time. Now, the cinematic event ten-years in the making comes home Digitally on July 31 and Blu-ray on Aug. 14 with over two hours of bonus.

“Marvels’ Avengers: Infinity War” is a must-own addition to every in-home film collection and is packaged several ways so that fans get the most out of their viewing experience. Consumers who experience the ultimate showdown Digitally will join a 30-minute roundtable with Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) directors Anthony and Joe Russo, Jon Favreau, Joss Whedon, James Gunn, Ryan Coogler, Peyton Reed and Taika Waititi who reflect on how their movies contribute to the MCU’s larger storytelling adventure.

The 4K Cinematic Universe Edition’s never-before-seen bonus material grants behind-the-scenes access to MCU members and features the memorable moments when characters first meet, the rationale behind some unexpected on-screen pair-ups, and a funny Super Hero gag reel. Featurettes explore the frighteningly powerful Thanos and two action-packed attempts to prevent his collection of all six Infinity Stones: the struggle on Titan and the massive battle in Wakanda. Deleted scenes and filmmaker commentary reveal even more on-set secrets from Marvel Studios’ monumental undertaking.

The Multi-Screen Edition includes a Blu-ray and a Digital Copy of the film, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices. Those with 4K Ultra HD capability may opt for a 4K Cinematic Universe Edition, which includes a 4K Ultra HD disc, a Blu-ray, and a Digital Copy.

And for those who wish to catch up on their MCU history, select retailers are also offering bundled packaging as well as individual Digital and Physical releases of “Marvel’s The Avengers” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”