ST The Interrogation Room -- 7SA Member Interview Thread -- Current: EHT

Great read, Mr. Of Disapproval. I know you never want a jawa to reveal his or her face, but would object to one showing a little leg from time to time?

 

Another great interview guys!

 

Great interview!!!

 

Yes, you can find it HERE. Conducted by the Guest Interrogator Circular Logic

 

Great job, both of you. I wish that I have not been trained to automatically pass the sticky threads. I am a few days late in getting here! Too bad that there isn't a way to highlight this thread a bit more when a new interview goes up.

 

Also, the first post in the thread (HERE) contains a list of all of the victims interviewees so far, with interview dates.

 

Good stuff A Chorus of Disapproval. Hard to beat the classic Universal monsters. The Invisible Man freaked me out as a kid!

 

I viewed part of Village of the Damned the other night on TCM. I felt like I had seen you in a film, Chorus. "Hey, there's Chorus."

 

I'm counting on you to change your avatar to The Village of the Damned Christmas Special for 2014, too.

 

I just have to say that every time I read Utinni in that interview I couldn't help but hear it in a Jawa's voice.

 

For whatever reason I missed this thread at the top... probably just programmed not to look at the sticky. Nice interview!

 

I can stay silent no longer. I volunteer as tribute!

Erm, I mean...I volunteer to be interviewed!

 

Oh, this one was way too much fun....Jedi Jawas for the win!

 

>> COORDINATES LOCKED IN <<

>> PROBE STANDING BY <<

>> LAUNCH SEQUENCE INITIATED <<

>> STAND BY <<

>> PROBE DEPLOYED <<

ATTENTION ALL SENTIENTS

Part of our ongoing operation of reaching out to the primitive natives of the wild Spoiler Rim Territories requires that a trust be formed between them and the Imperial Spoiler Surveillance Fleet. This, of course, means that we need to be sure we can trust you. Therefore, we have initiated a subtle, non-intrusive, completely legal and absolutely mandatory information gathering program.


In case you had any doubts about that fact.

That being the case, we have brought along a specialist, who will also be this week's motivational speaker. A man who knows about cameras and how to hide them in the bushes - we present to you Jedsithor !


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1. How did you first come across the Jedi Council forums?

It's a boring answer but basically I typed "Star Wars forum" into a search engine and TFN was the first site that came up. I lurked here for a few years before I finally joined in 2005, just before the release of Revenge Of The Sith on DVD. That was when we got broadband in our home. Before that I used to hang out in an internet cafe, coming to the site to read rumours. When I finally joined, I spent a lot of time in the fan films section, which served as a free film school for me (until I eventually went to an actual film school) and was recruited by another member to help out on a machinima edit of the Knights Of The Old Republic video game, a movie trilogy based on the BioWare classic (the third and final part of which will be finished in January). I also spent some time in the Fan Fiction section. Between Fan Fiction and Fan Films, it wasn't enough for me to love Star Wars, I wanted to create just a little bit of it.

Here's a teaser for KOTOR Episode: 3 that contains footage, not found in the game, from a sequence the team created for the movie.


2. That sounds very interesting. Besides the KOTOR machinima, did you create any other Star Wars stories, in either film or fanfic form?

I remember working on a collaborative script called "A Droid's Quest" a few years ago. The idea was to write a script with crews around the world each filming a section, then integrating it seamlessly into the whole. We managed to get a first draft script and we had a few designs for the main character, who was a droid, but like most fan film projects, it ultimately didn't go anywhere. Frankly, I never expected it to but writing for it was a fun exercise.

As for fan fiction, I haven't written a whole lot of Star Wars stuff to be honest, aside from the PT/OT scene re-write contests back in 2007. I did write a story this year called Planet Of The Kings though.

You can find it on Fanfiction.Net here: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/10178068/1/Star-Wars-Origins-Planet-Of-The-Kings
It's also here on TFN: http://boards.theforce.net/threads/planet-of-the-kings-au-pre-republic-complete.50018953/

I'm currently working on a new story, currently untitled, that's going to be a mini-novel. It tells the story of a Sith Lord during the thousand years of relative peace after Darth Bane created the Rule Of 2, who infiltrates the Jedi Order on behalf of his master. Fan fiction is a strange thing for me. I come up with ideas for stories and since the chances of seeing those stories being told in any official capacity are slim, I have a compulsion to tell those stories in any way that I can. It's not something I spend a whole lot of time on but when that need to tell that story becomes too much, I have no choice but to write it down. The same is true of original stories. I've often found myself coming up with ideas for short films that I allow to gestate for weeks, even months, until eventually, I write the entire script in a single session, usually in the early hours of the morning.

3. What is your fondest Star Wars related memory?

Seeing Star Wars for the first time. It's a cliche but it's true. I was born the year after Jedi came out and through my entire childhood, I never came into contact with Star Wars. I grew up in an era where it had kind of gone away. People from the generation after Star Wars sometimes say that Jurassic Park was their Star Wars and that was certainly true for me. It wasn't until 1997, when the Special Editions came out, that I finally saw it for the first time. But unlike the moviegoers in 1977 or 1997, I didn't see it on the big screen. I was sick on the week A New Hope: Special Edition came out and I missed it and once I'd missed that one, there wasn't much point in watching the others. So I had to wait for the VHS release. A couple of classmates of mine were fans and told me I should definitely check them out. So I begged my mother to get me the box set for Christmas. There was of course every chance that I'd hate the movies but that didn't matter. I had to see for myself. So, as parents do, she bought the box set and hid it until Christmas. I was 13 years old. I knew they were somewhere in the house, I just had to find them and after much searching, the box set was in my hands. It was wrapped of course so with as much skill as a Gungan in an X-Wing, I opened it up - 2 weeks before Christmas - and put the first tape into the machine. It wasn't the big screen, it wasn't THX-approved sound, it was a small TV in my room, a TV/VHS combo, but when I pressed play and that opening crawl started, I read every single word, absorbing as much as I could and when that blockade runner flew past the screen, I was amazed. Then came the Star Destroyer......and the rest is history.

Seeing The Phantom Menace on the big screen is a close second. That movie gets a lot of flack, but as a 14-year old with an enthusiastic audience, I had a blast. I still really like that film.

4. What is your favorite Star Wars possession? (toy, poster, costume, books, comics, various merchandise, etc.)

I've seen other answers to this question and I've been intrigued by people's stories. I've never been a big merchandise guy. I bought an X-Wing after I first saw Star Wars and a couple of vehicles from The Phantom Menace but I got into Star Wars just as I was getting out of toys. To be completely honest, my favourite Star Wars possessions are the movies themselves...and my ForceFX lightsaber. Come on, it's a lightsaber! It makes noises and everything!

5. So. A Sequel Trilogy, who would’ve thought. Before the announcement, did you actually expect this to ever happen?

Certainly not in Mr. Lucas' lifetime. With his daughter being involved with Clone Wars, I felt that there might be more Star Wars in the future if and when his children were given the keys to the kingdom although I remember reading that Lucas had given specific instructions for that not to happen.

6. What was your initial reaction to the news of the Disney sale and the upcoming Sequel Trilogy?

Shock, fear, excitement, dread. It surprised me. It surprised everyone. Lucas had spent his entire career working to free himself from the Hollywood system. The prequels were the culmination of that dream. Independent blockbusters, financed out of his own pocket with Lucasfilm dictating distribution terms. Whatever people thought about the prequels, they were entirely his. So for him to sell his company back into the system he's worked so long to get out of, was a real shock.

As for selling to Disney, well people tend to point to Marvel and Pixar as examples of Disney taking a hands-off approach. With all due respect to those studios and the amazing work they do, Star Wars is a different beast and between new trilogies and spin-offs, the last thing I want to see is for the franchise to be run into the ground. I hope that doesn't happen. On a selfish level, I have a strangely morbid desire which is that no new Star Wars movies should come out after I'm dead, simply because I don't want to miss anything.

7. Were you around for the PT speculation? If so, what’s your favorite moment from that period?

I was lurking at that time but I do have a few vivid memories of speculation. The one that comes to mind first is the assertion that Darth Sidious and Chancellor Palpatine aren't the same person. One must be a clone of the other. I also remember a lot of people claiming that Lucas had left things too late rolling into Revenge Of The Sith. Palpatine still had to turn Vader, kill the Jedi, end the Clone War, create the Empire. It was too much. It never seemed to occur to anyone that all of that was actually connected and that Palpatine's plan was so grand, he could accomplish his ultimate goal with a single move.

8. Just how spoiled do you plan to be for Episode 7?

I'll look at concept art, watch trailers, read rumours etc. Would I read the script if it leaked? I'm not sure. The thing about spoilers is that they can enhance excitement for the film or they can deflate you. If you hear a rumour that suggests an event or plot thread that isn't something you want to appear in the movie, then it becomes tough. I'm going through that right now. I don't want to see stormtroopers or any semblance of the Empire. I want something completely new. Due to recent leaks, I'm having to readjust my own thoughts. We all have an idea of what we think these movies should be. At some point we'll have to acknowledge what these movies actually will be. Animosity over the prequels showed that it can be very difficult to separate what you want from what you get. For me, being exposed to a few spoilers may help to prepare for aspects of the films I may have been vehemently against, walking in.

9. What is your favorite theory concerning Episode 7 from these boards?

This will come up again in a few questions time, but Han and Leia having a daughter who becomes the central protagonist is something I'm all for. In both trilogies, the female kind of gets sidelined in the third movie. Padme spends Sith standing around, worrying about the future until she dies. Obviously, Padme was pregnant and there are deleted scenes that show her being a part of the first stirrings of rebellion but in the finished film, she doesn't have enough to do. Leia certainly has her moments in Jedi and she does get to kill Jabba, but I actually think her character would have been better served at Endor had she been on the Death Star with Luke as part of his final trial against the Dark Side and perhaps her own. Women in Star Wars are generally strong and quick-witted but the third act tends to become all about the boys.

10. And the least favorite?

I'm not a fan of the Empire existing 30 years after Jedi, which shows us a galaxy rising up against the Empire and the deaths of the Emperor, his chosen successor and Vader's second-in-command. But my least favourite theory is Darth Luke. Luke turning to the Dark Side would be a complete betrayal of everything that had gone before. Remember, the Emperor didn't offer to save the rebels if Luke turned. Unlike Anakin, Luke wasn't offered a carrot. He was given the stick. He was told flat out that his friends were all going to die and he was going to have to watch. He was told flat out that his sister would be made to turn if he didn't. At that moment, Luke gave into his anger but when he saw what he would become, he pulled back. If killing his family and friends and dooming the galaxy to tyranny wasn't enough to turn Luke, nothing will. Of course, nobody is immune to the Dark Side. Even Yoda has the potential to turn. But Yoda has the will to resist and so does Luke. Luke turning to the Dark Side would make a mockery out of what he went through and what he achieved at Endor.

11. We now know (probably) all of the most important cast members. What are your thoughts on these new faces? Who do you think will play who?

I hope that Daisy Ridley is playing Han and Leia's daughter and that she will be the protagonist. I'd like to see the central protagonist be female this time around. Of course, there's no reason to assume that they only have one child so perhaps Gleeson is her older brother. Some have suggested that he could be Luke's son but I don't think Luke will or should have offspring. I suspect Driver will play a villain. There's an assumption that Von Sydow will play the villain because...well...Ming The Merciless. While that's not out of the question, it wouldn't surprise me to see him play a Republic general or politician. Even if he is a villain, Von Sydow will ultimately play second fiddle to Driver. Why do I say this? Because someone has to fight the good guys with a lightsaber and while the Christopher Lee head-replacement was fine in short bursts, longterm, I think the villain will need to be physically imposing and in the kind of physical condition that will allow them to train for and take part in epic duels. Plus, while I don't necessarily think we'll see Sith (nor should we), we've never actually seen the apprentice overthrow the master before. Vader fought Kenobi but Kenobi was a Jedi.

12. Describe your ideal Villain in the ST?

This is where I get a bit long-winded. To describe my ideal villain, I need to describe what I'd like the sequels to be about. We've had two trilogies and in both, the Sith have been the villains and the plot has centred around civil wars. Lucas' films showed how democracy can fall from within and how tyranny can be overcome. So let's take the end of Jedi at face value - the Sith fall, the Empire crumbles, the Republic is restored. Thirty years later, the last remnants of the Empire have been dealt with and the restored Republic is in a state of relative peace. So what's next? It's got to be big, right? There has to be a war (it's in the name) and there has to be bad guys with the Force. But the Sith are gone. Any Darth Vader cults or Sith-worshipping fanatics are only going to be a pale reflection of the true Sith. But the Sith exist within one galaxy. We've seen war within one galaxy. There's an entire universe out there. There may be civilisations in the universe with an entirely different perspective on the Force. Perhaps they don't see the Force as being about light and dark. What if they look at Jedi and Sith alike and see only heretics infecting an entire galaxy with their lies?

We've had two civil wars. Perhaps it's about time for an invasion story. My ideal villain for the next Star Wars is someone not driven by greed or power, like the Sith, but by ideology, by pure, unflinching belief. Sure, Palpatine believed in the Sith and the power of the Dark Side but ultimately, it was a means to an end. Destroy the Jedi, rule the galaxy. What if there was a villain who didn't care about ruling the galaxy? What if the villain only wanted to burn it? Make him charismatic, have him draw people by the millions to his cause. Maybe he's not an enemy of the Jedi, maybe he's an enemy of the Force. This is getting into really high fantasy and may be too far for those who prefer the Force to be in the background rather than act as the driving force in the story, but I'll pose a question - if the Force is created and sustained by life, what would happen if life was extinguished? Perhaps the villain might want to find out the answer to that question.

13. And the Hero?

I guess this is part 2 of my Star Wars pitch. So let's imagine that the stakes are as high as they can possibly be. The Force itself is in danger. This is not just another civil war or battle between Jedi and Sith, this is the Star Wars equivalent of Ragnarok. If Star Wars was the Bible, this is Revelation. You've got a villain who wants to destroy the Force or at least wipe out practitioners of the Jedi Arts and all those who follow them. The hero would then need to be someone who exists to protect the Force, protect the galaxy, protect life. That someone is a Skywalker.

The prequels introduced an element to the Star Wars story that changed the very nature of the films we had already seen. Vader wasn't just a Jedi who betrayed his friends, he was a miracle. In Star Wars, the Force is created by life but for the first time, life is created by the Force through the midichlorians. The prophecy says this chosen one would bring balance to the Force, but is that all the Skywalkers were meant to do? Anakin had the most direct connection to the Force of any life form outside the midichlorians. His children have that same connection, as would their children. They are attuned to the Force more than any Jedi past, present or future could ever be. If you believe in God and are a Christian, then you believe that Jesus is that son of God. What if Jesus had children? They would have a direct link to God, not just as their ultimate creator, but through their ancestry. That's a profound idea, one that could definitely work for the Skywalker Saga. Were the Skywalkers only meant to restore balance? Or were they meant to do more? Are they meant to be defenders or champions of the Force?

As I said, some may feel that it takes Star Wars too far into fantasy territory but as long as the characters remain grounded in the reality of the world they exist in, such a story could work. The hero in this scenario has to be a Skywalker of course. If Daisy Ridley's character is indeed the daughter of Leia, she'd fit the bill nicely. Yes, I've thought about this stuff way too much.

14. Every Star Wars movie needs awesome supporting characters. Any ideas for those?

I believe Luke, Leia and Han should be the supporting characters. I'd probably kill Luke in the first film of the trilogy, maintaining the tradition of the mentor being killed in the first movie. I'd actually like Han to survive the trilogy. Ford wanted Han to be killed off because he was the guy who had nothing to really live for beyond himself, so let him make a noble sacrifice. I disagree. Han's arc in the original trilogy was clear. He went from ruthless smuggler who only cared about himself to a genuine leader and hero. If nothing else, he had to survive for Leia. What I'd like to see for Han in this trilogy is to see a man, 30 years after being a hero, feeling like a man who has contributed all he has to contribute and now being utterly useless, a man longing for adventure, for one last ride. But instead of it being one last ride, have it be the beginning of a whole new chapter. If he has kids, he has to protect them. He has to protect the galaxy from the new threat. I'm not sure that Ford would even want to do all three films but I'd love to see him have a proper arc across the trilogy, rather than returning just to die.

As for Leia, I've actually thought about her character quite a bit. It's generally assumed that she'd rebuild the Republic, serve as Chancellor for a couple of terms and train to become a Jedi. She may very well do that. But when I think of Leia, I think of someone who never had a chance to stop. She watched her entire planet explode, killing millions but she had no time to grieve. She found out that one of the men responsible was her own father, a man who has terrorised the galaxy and hunted the rebels from one side to the other. Then, when victory was won, she probably had to take a leading role in healing the galaxy. So she played her part. She did what had to be done. And when it was over, then what? Presumably she had at least one child with Han. Fast forward to thirty years after Endor. Where is Leia now. Frankly, I think she'd be retired. While Han might be itching for a chance for more action, Leia is content to live in peace. She can finally slow down and take the time to breathe. I actually imagine Leia having a relatively small role in Episode VII. But if Luke dies, someone has to take up the mantle of the Jedi. Someone has to lead them against the great evil threatening the galaxy. For me, that's what Leia's role should be. If Luke does die, Leia takes on the mentor role.

Then there's Lando. I'd actually make him president/chancellor of the Republic. I think there's a list. Leia, Ackbar and Mon Mothma would be the obvious choices but Episode VII is set 30 years later. They would have had their time in office. Lando is a war hero, a former administrator of Cloud City and the smoothest talker in the galaxy. Politics would be a natural fit for him. As leader of the Senate, that would inevitably mean that he and the other heroes would drift apart over the years as Lando became concerned with the business of politics. That being said, it would be cool to see Lando, Han and Chewie in the Falcon together. Speaking of Chewie, I'm sure he'd be wherever Han is, or at least be by Han's side when needed.

I'd like to think that Artoo would have stayed with Luke or have been passed on to another pilot in the Skywalker line. Threepio would of course stay wherever is safest and inevitably be dragged into the action.

As for new characters, there's not really much to say. It's generally assumed that John Boyega will play one of the three central protagonists in the story. I don't really have an opinion on him or Oscar Isaac. I actually think Isaac may be a villain alongside Driver, with Boyega, Gleeson and Ridley playing the protagonists but that's pure speculation. The previous 6 films have established the different kinds of roles there are. You've got politicians and Jedi, droids, aliens and soldiers. You'll have pilots for the space battles (it's a shame Lawson won't be returning), both heroic and villainous admirals, foot soldiers and scoundrels.

15. Any special cameos or easter eggs you’d like to see in Episode 7?

I wouldn't be against Ashoka Tano showing up in some capacity. When she was first introduced in Clone Wars, I wasn't a big fan of the character but by the end of the series, she had become one of the most well-developed characters in the entire saga. If Darth Vader's legacy plays a part in the film, it would make sense for Ashoka to have a role. Do I think it will happen? No. I think it's much harder to bring an animated character to live action than it is to translate a character from the movies to an animated series.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Jar Jar make an appearance, maybe as the Naboo's Senator in the background of a Senate shot or something. I never hated Jar Jar. One thing I don't want is for this film to be a love letter to the original trilogy. Let it be new and let any appearances from previous films or shows make sense.

16. This one’s a bit tougher than it seems at first glance. We don’t have any facts so let’s just go by gut feeling. How good do you think Episode 7 will be? Are you optimistic? Pessimistic? Reserved? Will it be great? Abominable? Average?

I've never been a huge fan of Abrams. I think his first Star Trek is OK...mostly because it's basically Star Wars but I get the sense from his work that his style isn't really his. A lot of his work seems to involve trying to recreate the tone or feel of other directors. Super 8 was his Spielberg film, Star Trek was his Star Wars film (until he landed Star Wars of course). But while he's channeled other people's styles, he's never quite lived up to them. So on the one hand, you would think that he is capable of recreating the Star Wars vibe which is a good thing, but on the other hand, is he going to bring anything original to it? Is everything he does simply going to be about recreating The Empire Strikes Back or is he going to actually bring something new and fresh to the table? I think the jury's still out. Look, it's Star Wars. I'm going to be there on opening day and I can't wait to see it. So on that level, I'm excited. But I think Abrams was too safe a choice and nothing he has done has astounded me. I maybe be cautiously optimistic or optimistically cautious. Take your pick.

17. Is there a particular, weirdly specific scene that you’ve come up with in great detail that you’d love to see in the ST, regardless of how plausible that is?

Oh, I have a lot. I could probably give you a rundown of what all three films in my Star Wars trilogy would be like. I won't...but I could.

So I'll pick one. This is from an Episode VII treatment I wrote for a competition here not long after the new forums opened. First I'll set the scene:

So the story is, Han Jr. (let's call him Jacen for now, just because I haven't thought of a name yet), is a Jedi Knight, with a strained relationship with his father after he joined a special Republic Task Force created to hunt down the scum of the galaxy. On a mission, he's come across a mysterious Force Cult, apparently led by an alien of unknown origin, known as The Voice. They get captured by the cult and upon learning that Jacen is part of the Skywalker bloodline, challenges Jacen to a duel, promising that if he wins, he and his friends will be released. Jacen accepts....and then gets his ass thoroughly kicked. So he and his friends are lined up to be executed but just in time, the Millennium Falcon appears overhead, piloted by Han, and Luke and his apprentice, Jacen's sister (I won't say Jaina, let's use Kira Solo instead since that's the rumoured name for Ridley's character) jump down to rescue Kira's brother and his companions. So of course, The Voice immediately challenges the great Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker. It's a fierce duel, two masters of the Force using every bit of skill and power at their disposal. Meanwhile, Kira frees the prisoners and they start to fight their way out of the cultist's encampment to where the Millennium Falcon has now landed. Lots of action, lightsabers spinning, blasters shooting, Force pushes and all that good stuff as John Williams conducts the orchestra as only he can.

Luke and the Voice are fairly evenly matched but Luke has a slight edge and is able to win the duel though he doesn't achieve a decisive victory. Unfortunately, there are dozens of cultists standing between our heroes and the Millennium Falcon. Han and Chewie are picking off as many as they can from the landing ramp of the ship but our heroes are being overwhelmed. So Luke does what the greatest of heroes do best. He shows off an awesome display of skill and power, the full strength of a true Jedi Master being revealed as he pulls all the enemies to him, allowing the others to get back to the Falcon. You can see where this is going. The Falcon takes off and moves over Luke's position so he can jump up to the boarding ramp but the cultists are all strong in the Force and they reach out, trying to crush the Falcon and everyone inside. With the biggest Force push ever seen in Star Wars, every single cultist is flung backwards through the air...everyone except the Voice, armed with a lightsaber, ready to stab Luke in the back. But Luke is ready for it. He closes his eyes, the Voice strikes, Luke disappears, leaving only his robes and his lightsaber behind. Everyone is stunned. Hearing a voice on the wind, Kira reaches out with the Force and is able to grab Luke's lightsaber before the Falcon escapes into space.

Back on Coruscant, word of this Force cult and a huge threat coming from beyond the galaxy has spread, as has news of Luke's death. As the heroes mourn the loss of Luke, Leia holds her brothers lightsaber. Questions are asked. Who are these alien cultists? Who is The Voice and who is his master? Can the Republic stop them? Who will finish Kira's training? Who will lead the Jedi against this new threat? Prompted by a voice from beyond, Leia replies: "I will." Roll on Episode 8.

18. It has been confirmed that "The Force Awakens" is the title of Episode 7. What are your thoughts on this?

Well first, allow me to pursue my shameless quest for Youtube hits. When the news broke, I created a mock-up of what the opening crawl for The Force Awakens could look like.



As for what I think of the title, I'm still getting used to it. It is certainly a slight departure. The titles for the first films in the previous trilogies referenced specific people. The Phantom Menace referred to Darth Sidious and A New Hope referred to Luke Skywalker.

So the question is, what does the title actually mean? Is it actually about the Force itself taking a more active role in the galaxy? Or perhaps a move by the Force to create more potential Jedi in a galaxy that has been without them for too long? As I've mentioned already, the notion that the Skywalkers are direct descendants of the Force is something that intrigues me. If the title implies a greater exploration of the Force then I think it's a fine title. However, if it's simply meant to refer to a Skywalker heir becoming a Jedi as in "The Force Awakens in Kira Solo" or something, I'm not sure it would fit. Obviously the name, identity and even existence of a character called Kira Solo is pure speculation, I'm just using it as an example. If the title does refer to a new generation of Jedi or Luke Skywalker returning from a self-imposed exile or something, I'd prefer something more specific to the person.

Titles are hard though so while it does bear too much of a resemblance to a certain over-the-top video game that, had it remained canon, would have undermined Vader far more than saying "Yippee," I'd be inclined to give it a pass, even if it doesn't quite match up to previously established Star Wars title conventions. Ultimately, it's not the title that's going to make or break these films. Look at Attack Of The Clones and The Empire Strikes Back. The former sounds like a 50's B movie, along the lines of It Came From Outer Space while the latter could have come from a Flash Gordon serial.

19. We also know that Rian Johnson is directing Episode 8. What are your thoughts on that?

I really liked Looper and I think he's an excellent choice. I only wish Lucasfilm hadn't played it so safe while choosing the director for Episode VII though I'm willing to give Abrams the chance to make me eat my words. I really hope he does.

20. Who would you like to see direct Episode 9?

Alfonso Cuaron. He was my top choice for Episode VII. Prisoner Of Azkaban is my favourite of the Harry Potter movies and Gravity speaks for itself. My second choice would be Brad Bird.

21. What do you think will be Abrams’ level of involvement with the franchise as a whole?

I hope it's none. I think Johnson and whoever follows should be allowed to make their own mark. When Arndt left the project, it was rumoured that it was because Arndt's draft focused on the new characters with the OT cast in supporting roles and Abrams wanted the OT cast to have one last ride. I'm with Arndt on this one. Star Wars is a generational story and the decision to have Luke, Leia and Han be the stars is one that feels as if Abrams is trading on nostalgia for Empire rather than looking to the future.

Side Note: I also don't want to see logos apart from the Lucasfilm logo at the beginning of the film. No Disney, no Bad Robot. The 20th Century Fox fanfare has been ingrained in peoples minds as being associated with Star Wars. When I go to the cinema and I see a Fox movie, that theme always reminds me of Star Wars. There is no Disney logo at the beginning of Marvel movies so I believe the sequels should begin with the Lucasfilm logo with no music, then "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." Now that the Fox theme is gone, let the first piece of music we hear be the Star Wars Main Title theme.

22. The Spin Offs are quite an unknown at this point. What are your thoughts on those? Anything specific you’d like to see? Something you hope NOT to see?

I actually don't want to see a Boba Fett movie. I think Morrison is too old to play a young Boba Fett (no post-Jedi stories, he died in the pit, get over it! ) so unless he has his mask on for most of the movie, with occasional cgi face enhancement for brief periods where you see his face, I don't want to see it. I certainly don't want another actor to play him now that his face has been established at multiple ages. Even then, Boba doesn't interest me unless he's part of an ensemble or something.

What interests me is the ancient past and far future. I'd love to see the ancient Jedi-Sith conflict or to see a story set in the galaxy a thousand years after the Skywalker Saga, where the Skywalkers and the Force are seen as mere myths that have to be rediscovered.

23. The big EU reboot. It has been a somewhat divisive issue among fans, quite understandably so. What are your thoughts on this? Do you plan to follow the new EU?

I think it's great. I wasn't a big fan of EU. There are a few good stories but the whole thing is so convoluted and anytime Lucas did something in the films that contradicted EU, it just made EU less credible, especially when writers would desperately try to find a way to reconcile the differences. I feel sorry for the authors who put in such hard work over the years but ultimately, everything begins and ends with the movies.

The Old Republic EU in particular had gotten ridiculous. It was an endless cycle of Sith Lords rise, Jedi and Republic win the day, Sith Lords fall...Sith Lords rise. You essentially had the same story over and over and when you have Sith Lords who eat planets or whatever, it all serves to diminish the importance of the movies, turning the Clone Wars and Rebellion into just another skirmish, rather than the epic conclusion to the Jedi-Sith conflict.

Will I follow the new EU? If there's anything set between VI and VII then I'll check it out. Wiping the slate clean has provided a neat starting point for people new to that side of the Star Wars franchise.

24. Episodes X, XI and XII - yea or nay? Why?

Both. As I mentioned above, I'd like to see a Star Wars story explore a time period beyond the Skywalker Saga. I wouldn't give that story episode numbers though since I believe the numbers should be strictly limited to the Skywalker story.

25. Congratulations. You’ve been contacted by The Powers That Be to create a ten episode Star Wars series. Live action, animated, CGI… it’s up to you. Give us a short synopsis.

Short? OK...allow me to cheat a bit. I'll give you a synopsis for each episode.

Now that EU has been set aside, I'd love to retell the story of the ancient Jedi/Sith conflict that started everything.

Star Wars: The Great War

Part 1: 2000 years before the Saga, the galaxy is in a state of constant interplanetary war. Darth Ruin and 50 other Jedi leave the pacifist Jedi Order, hoping to bring peace and order to the galaxy. Consumed by power, they fall into darkness and spread across the galaxy, seeking out Force-sensitive individuals to recruit to their ranks as they seize control over the galaxy and enslave those without power. Known as the Dark Lords Of The Sith, there is no central leadership or united Empire. Instead, each Sith Lord dominates part of the galaxy and fights other Sith Lords as well as meeting challenges from within, in an endless cycle of interstellar war.

Part 2: Five hundred years after the rise of the Sith, a young Sith apprentice challenges his master and loses. Though he escapes with his life, he is critically wounded and near death until he is found by a mysterious monk of the Jedi Bendu, the pacifist order that has remained hidden since Sith rule began. As the young Sith tells the stories of the horrors of Sith rule, the Jedi Bendu decide to put aside their pacifism and free the galaxy from the grip of the Dark Side. No longer monks, they become Jedi Knights, adopting the weapon of the Sith, the lightsaber, as their own.

Part 3: It begins on Ansion. A coordinated attack by the Jedi Knights catch the local Sith faction off-guard. Other Sith across the galaxy take little notice, assuming it's just a rival Sith Lord waging a war to expand his territory. When the Sith are defeated, the now-freed people of Ansion, inspired by the Jedi Knights, volunteer to join the Jedi in freeing the galaxy from the Sith.

Part 4: With each world the Jedi free, more people join their ranks. The Sith have finally realised that it isn't a Sith faction waging war, it's their old Jedi brothers. While they try to respond, the Sith are divided and continue to fight each other even as the threat to their rule grows ever larger and conscripted soldiers in the Sith's slave armies defect by the thousands to the Jedi forces.

Part 5: On a world ruled by an evil Sith Lord, a young warrior doesn't want to wait for the Jedi to liberate his world. Instead he leads a massive slave revolt against the Sith, determined to drive the Sith from his world. His name is Mandalore. Meanwhile, a Jedi Seer has a glimpse into the far future and foresees the coming of a child born of the Force.

Part 6: Rising through the ranks and achieving the title of Sith Lord, Darth Bane realises that the Sith cannot win the war as long as they fight each other. After gathering the Dark Lords to a summit to broker a truce and unite them against the Jedi, Bane instead uses the opportunity to wipe out every single Sith Lord, taking a single survivor as his sole apprentice and declaring himself the one and true Dark Lord Of The Sith.

Part 7: With countless worlds now in open revolt and slave armies no longer reliable, Darth Bane oversees the transition of the Sith army from slaves to droids, knowing that he cannot win the war but that he may buy enough time to train his apprentice to embrace his vision of a rule of two. True to her Masters teachings, Bane's apprentice learns all she can from him before striking him down.

Part 8: Deep in the mountains of Alderaan, a Force healer tends to wounded soldiers. When the apprentice to the Dark Lord arrives with an army to capture her, a dozen Jedi Knights are all that stand between the Sith and their target.

Part 9: Almost 500 years after the Great Force War began, the latest Dark Lord in Darth Bane's line and his apprentice retreat to Moraband, hoping to channel the Dark Side in a last desperate attempt to snatch victory from defeat. The entire galaxy bears down on them, but only one will escape alive.

Part 10: With a final push, the Jedi Knights defeat the last droids of the Sith army. For the first time, the galaxy is truly united and with rebuilding and healing to be done, the many thousands of worlds, liberated by the Jedi, agree to work together to ensure peace and prosperity for the galaxy and unite under the banner of a galactic republic, with the Jedi Knights to serve as guardians of their new democracy. Yet, deep in the bowels of the city-world of Coruscant, the last of the Sith, hidden from the Jedi, finds what he's been looking for - an apprentice.

26. Let’s talk about the Saga in general a bit. A classic question - favorite movie?

A New Hope. Most people say Empire but for me, there's something truly magical about the first film (that's actually the fourth film). It's not just my favourite Star Wars movie, it's my favourite movie, period.

27. Which scene from the Saga did have the strongest emotional impact on you?

I think the binary sunset stands out, because who hasn't looked out to the horizon and wondered about their future? There are many great moments to choose from but if I had to pick one, it would be the trench run. A New Hope has, in my opinion, the best third act in any movie, ever. It's action-packed, it's exciting, it's dramatic, but when Luke, Biggs and Wedge fly into the trench, I'm right there with them. As far as I'm concerned, that sequence is perfect. The music is amazing, Wedge gets hit and has to pull away (dammit Wedge, worry about those fighters!) so now it's just Luke and Biggs and Biggs is moving left and right, trying to cover Luke, but the exhaust port is still so far away and then Biggs is killed. He's Luke's old friend but we never really got to know him. What's important isn't that he died, it's that he's now left Luke alone. And then Ben speaks and Luke switches off his targeting computer. The music picks up, Artoo is hit, Vader is closing in. He has him! Wait...here's Han from out of nowhere! Now let's blow this thing and go home! I defy anyone to find something better.

Plenty of movies will make you feel something. They may make you laugh, they may make you cry. Star Wars has plenty of great moments across all six movies and Clone Wars. But that trench run was the culmination of the greatest movie-watching experience of my life, in my bedroom, with a box set I wasn't supposed to have yet, watching this wonderful and wondrous film. As far as I'm concerned, it's perfect and I still get excited whenever I watch it.

28. If there was one thing you could change about anything in the Saga - what would it be?

I went to see The Phantom Menace again on the big screen for the 3D release. I saw that movie multiple times when it first came out and loved it, flaws and all. I still like it. But watching that 3D screening, it really hit me how poorly paced the film is. For all its faults, it's the pacing that I think kills it for some people. The second act in particular is pretty slow right up to the pod race. If the dialogue was snappier, if events moved at a quicker pace, a lot of the flaws, while they wouldn't disappear, would be more tolerable to people. It felt like there was too big a wait between the really fun parts. A New Hope slowed down on Tatooine as well, but at least there you had Ben Kenobi talking about the Force. So if I could change one thing, it would be the pacing in the prequels.

29. What was your least appropriate use of a Star Wars quote in real life?

Before the release of The Phantom Menace, my English teacher was grading assignments and suggested to one of my classmates that he should try harder. I'm not sure why I said it, or why I said it so loud, but almost instinctively, I interrupted her and proclaimed in all my wisdom: "There is no try!" She then of course called me out to explain myself and, being 14 at the time, I explained that it was a Star Wars quote. Needless to say, she told me to sit down and shut up. It didn't end there though. At the end of my next English class, she called me aside and gave me a folder containing magazine cut outs and posters featuring The Phantom Menace, including a poster that I have to this day of Obi-Wan fighting Darth Maul on Tatooine.

30. If you lived in GFFA, what would be your ideal occupation?

Well in real life I work in film and video production, so I suppose I could create a show for the HoloNet or something along those lines. Everybody wants to be a Jedi of course but if I could have any job, I'd love to work in the Jedi Archives. History fascinates me and since the Jedi Archive is the biggest library in the galaxy, I could spend hours in there, learning about the history of all those different worlds, then going out and finding new information to place in the archives for future generations. Of course I'd have to add a disclaimer that I don't want to be working there during Order 66....you know...because of the murdering.

31. Favorite Force ability?

Telepathy. Moving things with your mind is fine but being able to sense or even influence someones thoughts is far more useful. It only works on the weak-minded of course but while I'm 30 years old now, there were times in my youth where being able to wave my hand and say "you don't need to see my identification" would have come in really handy. Actually, I have used that line before. It didn't work but the bouncer had a good laugh.

32. Let’s move away from Star Wars for a bit. Have any hobbies or interesting pastimes?

Well I'm a filmmaker. I currently have a short film about cyber-bullying doing the rounds at festivals and I'm currently doing research and writing notes to prepare to embark on my next film.

33. Any other favorite franchises, besides Star Wars?

I'm a comic book geek. I'm a huge Superman fan (no, I didn't like Man Of Steel. Too cynical). Batman and Spider-Man are also high on my list. I enjoy other comic book films, Lord Of The Rings, The Matrix, Star Trek, Indiana Jones and too many others to mention.

34. Any specific goals you hope to achieve in the near future?

I'll be setting up a small production company and moving into a new office in a few weeks with a few friends so I'm hoping that will be successful. It's a scary thing but it will be well worth it. I'm also hoping to get my next short film off the ground and following on from that, my aim is to start work on a couple of feature films.

35. I saved this for the very end. The filmmaking. I know this is going to be a tough one, but what films and/or directors would you set apart as having a particular influence on your work?

Well, I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for Star Wars so Lucas has had the biggest influence, just in convincing me to try my hand at telling stories. But in terms of the actual content of my work, I draw on everything. I love Sergio Leone's use of extreme wide shots in his spaghetti westerns, I love the way Tarantino and Kevin Smith insert random, seemingly pointless conversations into their films. I love the fun of Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Back To The Future etc. I saw Interstellar a few days ago and I was astounded and amazed, not just at the visuals, but the integration of real science that's as profound as the Force, into a major blockbuster. Kubrick of course explored the wonder of space in 2001. I could go on and on and on.

I don't believe in following a particular style or focusing on a particular influence. For me, everything starts with the story. The story dictates what kind of film you are going to make. You can look at paintings or the work of directors and cinematographers for ideas when it comes to shot composition, but it all has to serve the story. So I'll look at everything and it's possible that I'll take little bits and pieces and there are certainly films and directors that have inspired me, but when I make a film, I'm not making a Fincher film or a Lucas film or a Tarantino film. It's my name that's on the film.

I was born in and live in Ireland. We tend to punch above our weight on the international stage. There's a phrase that's often used in the media: "Ireland's answer to..." and I'm sure it's used for different places all over the world. It's meant as a compliment of sorts but I don't want to be Ireland's answer to anything. I don't want to be the next "insert big name director here." I'm on the bottom rung of a very tall ladder. I have a long way to go before I get close to even those labels. But if I ever get there, I don't want people commenting that I've made an Irish Danny Boyle movie, which to me would mean I'm a second rate Danny Boyle rather than a first rate me. Don't get me wrong, being compared to the best filmmakers in the world, if it ever happens, would be a huge honour, as long as it's not at the expense of my own identity.

36. What are your thoughts on the current state of the film industry?

It's a great time to be a geek. Between Marvel and DC alone, we've got dozens of comic book movies on the way. We've got new Star Wars movies, video game adaptations are starting to be taken seriously, we have contemporary remakes of science fiction classics like Godzilla and the Apes series, book adaptations that become major franchises. Everything that can be adapted is being adapted. As I said, it's a great time to be a geek.

But it exposes a massive problem and that's the lack of originality and risk-taking. I can't wait to see all these adaptations. But where are the original ideas? I'm talking about blockbusters here. Nolan can do what he likes at Warner Brothers. He made Interstellar, which is spectacular (if overly sentimental at times). Cameron was given carte blanche at Fox to make Avatar. Beyond those two and the guys at Pixar, I'm struggling to think of anyone who is being allowed to take proper risks with new and original content. Rian Johnson's Looper doesn't really fit into the "blockbuster" category due to its scale and budget. Disney's philosophy is to invest in pre-existing properties. That means more Star Wars of course, but will their acquisition of all these companies and their assets result in anything original? No. While there is original stuff out there, some of it spectacular, there is far too much focus on adaptations and franchises.

On the other end of the scale, the advent of high quality video from DSLRs has opened up film maker to a whole group of people that otherwise wouldn't have had access to affordable equipment in the past. A movie like Clerks, which was made for under $30,000 and was considered really low budget, could be made today for a tenth of that. Digital distribution has also made it easier for people to get their movies out there. Self-publishing in novels has been around for a while and film is slowly starting to find its feet in a similar way.

Now that the required equipment is more accessible, it's not enough to make a movie. Your movie has to stand out because you aren't just trying to break into the establishment anymore, you're also trying to make a name for yourself against a whole generation of indie filmmakers. While I believe in the democratisation of cinema, it does make it a lot harder to get noticed so you'd better make something special.

37. What is your stance on piracy?

Stealing is wrong. Let's get that out of the way first. When it comes to piracy though, anyone who is computer literate and has access to the internet has pirated. Even people vehemently against piracy have done so without realising it. I remember using cassettes to record songs from the radio. That was piracy. Burning a cd for a friend is piracy. Watching a Youtube video with unlicensed content is piracy. It's not just torrenting.

I do think there is a difference between downloading a movie and creating a video with clips from your favourite tv show and playing a song over them, then uploading it to Youtube. Creativity should be encouraged and I think in those situations, the copyright holders could take a softer view and see such creative efforts as free advertising. When it comes to torrenting and things like that, of course it's wrong. But the internet is strange. For a lot of people it doesn't really feel wrong and when people are called out on it, they always look for ways to justify it.

The real question is, how do you deal with it? Do you go after the torrent uploaders or downloaders? Do you go after the hosting sites? What if it's a kid who has grown up in the culture of torrenting? Do you go after their parents? The hard line attack dog approach doesn't work. Shutting down sites (often illegally) doesn't work. Neither does site blocking. The pirates will always be a step ahead and as long as Google remains a relatively open search engine, even the most inexperienced of computer users will find ways to bypass blocks and find what they're looking for.

Does that mean that piracy should be accepted? No, but the way to combat it isn't to just go after pirates. The way you combat piracy is by offering an alternative. Before iTunes, there was Napster. People would download song after song for free. Napster was eventually prosecuted and forced to go entirely legal, which basically killed it and when Apple released iTunes, the feeling was that it wouldn't work because people would just download albums for free. That still happens of course but iTunes was a huge success. Why? 99c a song. It's not free but it seems so cheap and easy to use that someone who might have pirated the song is more willing to pay. If you give a person a service that is cheap and idiot-proof, they'll check it out. The likes of iTunes and Netflix work because they convince you that you are getting a great deal and by and large, if people think they're getting a great deal, there'll be less of a compulsion to find the same content on a torrent site.

On a personal level, if something I made was pirated, I'm not sure how I'd feel. Obviously, if I put something out there that should be paid for, I want them to pay for it. Still, there would be a certain amount of pride in knowing that a lot of people downloaded my content, even illegally, because ultimately, a film maker wants their work to be seen. So, thanks for watching my movie, I hope you liked it, I'll see you in court.

38. What sort of films would you personally most enjoy making?


Well, given my outlines for Star Wars movies and tv shows, it's obvious that having some involvement in a Star Wars movie would be a dream job for me. I love action movies, I love adventure movies. Westerns, sci-fi, comic book movies, fantasies, drama, comedy. My last film was about cyber-bullying. My next film will be about the moment of death. I like exploring themes, I like to play around with non-linear time. I don't have a particular preference. I just want to tell stories. Sometimes I'll have a specific theme I want to express, other times I'll just want to make something fun.


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That would be all for this week's broadcast, thanks to everyone for reading and thanks to Jedsithor for taking the time to give us these really interesting, in-depth replies! I appeal to our Edit Wizard EHT to do his magic

Star Destroyer Impulsive -- End transmission.

 

I talk too much...

 

Another great interview. Thread title has been updated.