Emma Tammi Joins the Conversation and Discusses ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ director and co-screenwriter Emma Tammi talks about how the story required a keen balance between humor and horror, and how she rose to the occasion.
Video games are a popular art form that has become lucrative as film and television series adaptations. Scott Cawthon’s Five Nights at Freddy’s is the latest form of interactive storytelling to be adapted for the big screen. There are nine games in the series and four spin-offs. The minimalist, atmospheric introduction to Freddy Fazbear’s Chuck E. Cheese-like netherworld first came out in 2014 and has garnered a loyal following. It was ripe for adaptation.
Writer/director Emma Tammi got involved by “getting into the conversation.” Jason Blum hadn’t yet found a director for the project and after speaking with Emma, he put her in touch with the game’s creator Scott Cawthon. “We talked about a vision for the film, where the script was at and where it could be expanded to. And that's how it began,” Emma told Script Magazine.
Emma Tammis’ first film, Fair Chase, came out in the year that the first FNAF game came out, 2014. Since then, she’s directed television, another feature, and a podcast. She now lends her talents to Five Nights at Freddy’s, a story that requires a keen balance between humor and horror, and she rises to the occasion.
On Directing a Podcast
Directing The Left Right Game was so fun. That was my first time directing a podcast, but it was an ensemble piece, and we were fortunate enough to get a lot of the cast in the same room for a lot of the recordings. It almost felt like workshopping a play. I loved the format. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
On Crafting Something Familiar Yet New
When I spoke to Scott Cawthon, he was very clear on what parts of the lore he wanted to include and what elements of the game he wanted to bring into the feature adaptation. He was also really specific about the character of Mike, our lead protagonist, and his relationship with his sister Abby. That really struck a chord with me emotionally and I felt like that really was the anchor for our character drama throughout the film.
I did my due diligence after speaking with Jason and played the game. I did my homework. The jump scares totally get you, but what I actually loved so much that was in between the jump scares was the atmospheric creepiness that the game establishes, which is so effective and cinematic. I thought it was a great horror world to create for a film. I was really excited to bring that to life.
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The format of a game is totally different from a film. We knew the structure was going to be its own thing for the movie. We really wanted to nod to the game as much as possible, but also really make a film that stands on its own. That required doing some things that were just for the movie, which was also exciting because it was crafting something new.
Visually how I was seeing Freddy's was as a maze of sorts. Mike gets trapped in there and eventually Abby as well. We wanted to evoke the sense that the game started when the movie started.
Focusing on the Script
When I first sat down to work on the script, I focused on a couple of things. We really wanted to make sure the characters felt real and layered and complicated and that they had an amazing journey throughout the film. On top of that, we knew we needed to deliver on the scares, and we knew there also needed to be humor. So, we were trying to track the characters' stories and then made sure that special blend of scare, creepiness, and horror were mixed with the fun and funny elements of the film.
On Utilizing Her Early Acting Experience
I acted when I was a child, and my parents were both actors as well. Since I grew up around actors, I see that perspective of the filmmaking process pretty vividly. For me, it's the most important part. Obviously, every element is super essential, but I feel like if the performances aren't there, everything else crumbles. I always want to make sure that working with the actors is first and foremost when I'm on set.
On Directing the Children in the Film
Even though they had similarities, each kid was different. We had some kids on the set that were very different personality wise from other kids. You have to figure out which mode each kid has and how to help them succeed in the scene or the moment. For the most part, all these kids were so focused and excited to be a part of it. They all knew of the FNAF world.
On the Theme of FNAF
I think Mike is grappling with loss and the guilt associated with a past trauma. The main theme is really a haunting, but I see it on an internal, psychic level with Mike as well as the external haunting of the pizzeria.
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On the Type of Material She Likes to Direct
I love directing other people's work, as well as my own. Great characters and great stories excite me as a director. Whether or not I wrote them, I feel like I help create it in the production stage, so I really enjoy both.
The film stars Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Matthew Lillard.
In the U.S., the film will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Peacock by Universal Pictures on October 27, 2023.
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Sonya Alexander started off her career training to be a talent agent. She eventually realized she was meant to be on the creative end and has been writing ever since. As a freelance writer she’s written screenplays, covered film, television, music and video games and done academic writing. She’s also been a script reader for over twenty years. She's a member of the African American Film Critics Association and currently resides in Los Angeles.
