When you look at the box-office receipts from both National Treasure movies, the numbers are HUGE. Between National Treasure in 2004 and National Treasure: Book of Secrets in 2007, well over half a billion dollars has been made to date... and that doesn't include DVD sales. With National Treasure: Book of Secrets about to bow on DVD and Blu-Ray on May 20, the numbers will undoubtedly grow as Disney expands on one of their most successful adventure franchises beyond Pirates of the Caribbean.

A while back, The Deadbolt was invited to take part in a virtual roundtable discussion with director Jon Turteltaub, helmer of both National Treasure movies, to get the skinny on the making the sequel with mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the locations they got shut out of, whether HD and Blu-Ray has changed the way he makes movies, and the recently canceled TV series Jericho. AND... (our favorite) Turteltaub also shares a couple of thoughts about working with John Candy on the 1993 comedy Cool Runnings.

Jon Turteltaub on the locations they weren't allowed to film:

"We really wanted to film inside the White House and in the Rose Garden. That was the only location where we were simply told "no". However, there were others that had too many restrictions. For example, even though we shot inside the Lincoln Memorial, we were only given 45 minutes to do so and we had to shoot between 7am and 7:45am... even though the sun didn't rise until 8am."

Turteltaub on how he felt when Helen Mirren accepted the role:

"It felt like the prettiest girl in school said 'yes' to going to the prom with me. And like in that situation, the goal is to not ask any questions for fear that it's all a mistake."

On whether HD and Blu-Ray has changed his job:

"Not yet. It will. The technological leaps we're taking are having a huge effect on the future of our business. You're going to see it effect television very soon. From Blu-ray to V.O.D. to internet streams to iTunes, movie and television productions are going to have to adjust the way they work."

From his experience, the DVD extras people love the most:

"Without question, people love outtakes, bloopers, and deleted scenes... which are the things I hate putting on a DVD. It's like being asked to put together an album of all the wedding pictures where you look fat and your eyes are closed. As a director, I really want to protect the actors and not show their mistakes. As for deleted scenes, while some are worth showing, most are deleted for a reason! If they were such great scenes, they'd have been in the movie."

Turteltaub and his favorite location they visited:

"For me, the opportunity to climb Mt. Rushmore and stand on top of George Washington's head was unforgettable. It had significance as an American... to be in such a special place in a National Monument... but also as a filmmaker, knowing that this was where North by Northwest took place. And by the way, George Washington has an amazing view from up there."

On how they got access to Buckingham Palace:

"There is no amount of begging that a movie company won't stoop to. However, no amount of cash or pleading can give us access to the places we want to go. Buckingham Palace was very kind about letting us shoot OUTSIDE their gates. Going inside was a different matter. Everywhere we shot had restrictions because they are all important and irreplaceable landmarks. But the thing that was always the most important factor for the Parks Service was whether or not we would be obstructing the ability of the public to enjoy the venue. They knew we would be careful not to blow-up Abraham Lincoln's nose... but they didn't want to prevent the family on vacation from Iowa from enjoying the site alongside of us."

On how he copes with the pressure and fear of steering a big budget franchise:

"Oddly enough, there's less fear with the more expensive movies. Once they start costing this much, the studios have no choice but to support them. My fear was when I was making smaller movies like "Cool Runnings" and "While You Were Sleeping". Those films ran the risk of completely disappearing and ending my career. Huge movies like this, while running the risk of being colossal failures, have a lot of support behind them. And after all, it's not MY $100 million dollars I'm spending. Disney should be afraid, not me!"

Jon Turteltaub on whether he and Jerry Bruckheimer always saw eye-to-eye:

"Nope! Not always. And I think that's part of the reason why the films have turned out so well. Conflict leads to excellence. If one person has his way all the time it's often likely that the film will fail. Films need to be born of struggle to ensure that the best ideas win."

The most difficult scene to shoot in National Treasure 2:

"The scenes underwater in the City of Gold were actually easy and extremely fun. Possibly because we knew how hard they would be we kept our expectations low. But the special effects team had done such a brilliant job that it actually was fun to spend 10 hours a day underwater. The hardest logistically was the car chase in London. What a nightmare. Everyone pulled together and pulled it off... but the restrictions were extraordinary. If it weren't for the tenacious efforts of the locations department and the 2nd Unit Director (Keir McFarlane) we never would have shot a thing. Frankly, for me, the hardest scene to shoot was the little scene in the house when Ben cites Lincoln's sacrifice and decides to kidnap the president. It's a simple scene, but we hadn't written it until halfway through shooting it. Directors don't like that."

Deciphering the "Book of Secrets" with Director Jon Turteltaub Page 2