Trivia / 8mm

• Creator Backlash: Andrew Kevin Walker's original script was largely hated by the studio, who pressured him to make changes to make it "more film-able" (something that Walker was VERY opposed to doing). When Joel Schumacher signed on as a director, Walker knew that Schumacher was eager to do something Darker and Edgier after Batman & Robin and expected the director to take his side. Ultimately, Schumacher did tone down some content to ensure that the film would receive an "R" rating instead of the dreaded "NC-17". Walker disapproved of these changes, and subsequently disowned the film.
• Dolled-Up Installment: 8mm 2 has nothing to do with the film. It doesn't even feature a video camera at any point, let alone an 8mm one. It was shot and produced as a boilerplate softcore erotic thriller (the kind you might see on Cinemax late at night). The 8mm name was tacked on in the 11th hour when the distributors got the rights to that movie, in a last-ditch attempt to make a profit on the film.
• Executive Meddling: 8mm 2 was originally known as The Velvet Side of Hell. It was renamed when Sony (who owned Columbia Pictures) picked up the rights to distribute it, possibly to cash-in on the original film.
• Release Date Change: The film was originally scheduled by Sony for a Christmas 1998 release. However, due to the necessity to cut the more graphic material to secure an R rating, the release was pushed back to February 1999.
• What Could Have Been:
  • David Fincher was the first choice to direct. William Friedkin and Paul Verhoeven were also considered.
  • Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Val Kilmer, Nick Nolte, Charlie Sheen, John Travolta and Bruce Willis were all considered to play Tom Welles.
  • Mark Wahlberg was offered the role of Max California, but he turned it down.
  • Charles Dance, Willem Dafoe, Rutger Hauer, Tommy Lee Jones, Eric Roberts and James Woods were all considered for the role of Dino Velvet.
• Working Title: Sexy World.

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