Connie Chung interview with LUCAS

Does anybody have a video or atleast a transcript of the Coonie Chung interview with George Lucas. I heard she asked him some tough questions that he wasnt expecting, and that is what got CNN kicked off the premiere. I never saw this interview but would very much like to see it. I dont know why, but Connie Chung has always rubbed me the wrong way. Thanks.

 

Perhaps Connie asked him why Natalie Portman can't act?

Or why the romance was so bad?

Maybe it was about all the digital effects at the expense of the story?

It was probably why he thinks he can still direct, when, after two movies, its apparent he still can't.

then again, Connie Chung is married to Maury Povich.

 

No idea what you're talking about. I particularly don't know what you mean by "got CNN kicked off the premiere." If you mean this interview is what launched CNN in to its current status, though, I can tell you that most people wouldn't agree. That honor would go to the Gulf War.

 

repeugh, trust me you do NOT want to read the transcript (I searched it on google).

That has to be the worst interview ever.

*shakes head*


EDIT: Oops that was just what it was like, not the actual interview. My bad.

 

If you are refering to the pre-Attack of the Clones interview special that I remember seeing on TV, than it ranks amongst some of the worst interviews that I've ever seen - really dreadful stuff.

It was obvious that she didn't take the subject matter seriously, and had not taken the time to do any research.





Mace Windy,
too windy for spoilers!

 

Yeah, that is what I heard from a lot of people.

 

I remember Connie asking George if he had "daddy issues," for one thing. He said that he didn't, and why should he need to - he's creating myth, not a commentary on his own life?

Plus, only a few weeks before the release of a brank spanking new Star Wars film, we want to hear about the FILM Connie, not the psychology of GL's childhood. (or lack there of)






Mace Windy,
too windy for spoilers!

 

TF.N posted a link to the transcript.

The interview was moronic, and of course CNN attributed their subsequent banning from Skywalker Ranch to Lucas "not feeling he got enough of a wet sloppy kiss."

CNN has gone out of its way to be as nasty as possible to Lucas since then. When CNN reviewed Hayden Christensen's movie "Shattered Glass," the first sentence in the review was a vicious swipe at Lucas.

 

Here's an excerpt:


CONNIE CHUNG: Now, Rob, you basically took Yoda right at the point at which you need to make him walk, to shoot a gun. I mean there were all of these various activities.

ROB COLEMAN: Well, he wields a light saber. He doesn't shoot a gun.

CHUNG: Oh.

 

You have to love the "rushed transcript" warnings and the messed up lines from the movies.

QUEEN PADME AMIDALA: Are you glad to have left? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi.

DARTH VADER: It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself destroy it as Obi-Wan did.

Connie has no qualms about asking rude and obnoxious questions.

CHRISTENSEN: Nice to meet you.

CHUNG: Good to meet you. Now, Hayden, you weren't born when the first three "Star Wars" came out?

CHRISTENSEN: That's right.

CHUNG: When did you finally see them and what did you think when you saw them? And you have to tell the truth.

CHRISTENSEN: I saw them when I was seven or eight. And my older brother was a bit of a "Star Wars" fan, so he introduced me via VHS. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. You know it's -- he created such a fantastical universe that it's easy to lose yourself in.

CHUNG: You're not just saying that?

CHRISTENSEN: No, I...

CHUNG: You didn't turn to everyone and say, what's the big deal here?

CHRISTENSEN: No, I mean - to be honest, I didn't watch it every weekend thereafter. But when they digitally remastered them and re- released them theatrically, I was really thoroughly excited to go see those because I remember really enjoying the films, but still didn't have like a vivid memory of what it was - exactly going on. I actually became a fan when I saw them then.

What is she cross examining him? It's like he's on trial. She even goes so far as to suggest he is lying about having enjoyed the original SW films. Man, maybe they ran out of puppies for her to kick in the dressing room that day.

CHUNG: You know, the casting director has really made the point of saying there was real angst before they found you because they were looking for somebody who was sweet but also had this toughness, someone who had sort of this evil lurking - an undertone that would come out later as Darth Vader. So is there evil screaming to get out of you?

CHRISTENSEN: Absolutely not, no. I mean I'm an actor. I just pretend. You know, that's the...

CHUNG: So what is it that they think they saw in you, this sort of intrigue or mystery that could change you from this very sweet- looking person to Darth Vader?

CHRISTENSEN: I don't know. I mean I was auditioning for the role and I was aware of sort of the sensibilities that were required for the role. And you know I wanted to play the part, so I think maybe I was trying to impose certain sensibilities that weren't necessarily there so that I could get the part. But no, I'm not - I don't have really evil lurking deep within.

Hayden actually had to explain the difference between movie making and reality to her.

Just a bewildering example of how journalism can go wrong.

 

I remember this and I'm pretty sure I've got it on VHS somewhere. It wasn't as bad as some people make it out, but it was awkward.

I have never seen an on-air personality make as many blunders as Connie Chung did when she was on CNN. She might be a nice person but I used to watch her and wonder how much she was being paid to be that awkward. Maybe she was just stressed about being 'live' instead of pre-recorded. Whatever the problem was, her show was appropriately yanked.

 

Thanks for the link Shelley. I will have to actually see the video to judge the interveiew more appropriately. A big chunk of criteria would have to be HOW the question was asked, and what her tone of voice was. Some of her questions were indeed pretty ditzy and stupid, but that doesnt warrant her getting kicked off the ranch. But I can definately see George getting uncomfartable when she was accusing him of having "daddy issues" and "women issues" with the Forbidden Love thing. He is a shy and private man. Probably the only thing that ticks me off about the words alone is the non fair and non balanced statement that TPM was a disappointment. It would have been much more accurate if she had said that TPM polarized the fans. If she is going to make that kind of accusation, than she should have asked George about it. I think it was probably the reporting of the racist accusations that ticked him off. I dont think it was what was in the interview itself. And I will say he had a right to be mad about that. If she was going to mention it to the audience, she should have given GL a chance to defend himself. And no criticism upsets George mmore than the racist criticisms. She should have given Goerge a chance to defend TPM.

 

I would say a lot of this had to do with tone of voice, non-verbal factors, et cetera. Because certainly, the questions seem rather run of the mill. It seems pretty standard to ask about thematic messages in any movie, so I don't see why Lucas should have been surprised or offended by the question.

As for mention that people didn't like TPM, and that there were accusations from some corners that it had racist elements--well, what do you want? A good number of people didn't like the movie (even if they didn't like it just to be popular, that doens't make their not liking it any less true) and there were accusations made that it had some racist elements. I don't see how it's wrong to mention things that are true to put the film in context. . .

 

It seems pretty standard to ask about thematic messages in any movie, so I don't see why Lucas should have been surprised or offended by the question.

Asking him if he has "women issues" or "daddy issues" is standard? If so, journalism has slipped even further than I thought. Those seem to me to be gossip-mongering, something that Lucas has no use for whatsoever, particularly when it's gossip about himself.

As for mention that people didn't like TPM, and that there were accusations from some corners that it had racist elements--well, what do you want?

Balance, and for the interviewer to stay on topic rather than dredging up irrelevant issues.

A good number of people didn't like the movie

And a good number of people did like it, something the media consistently neglects to report.

(even if they didn't like it just to be popular, that doens't make their not liking it any less true)

Actually, if they didn't like it just to be popular, it does make their not liking it less true.

and there were accusations made that it had some racist elements. I don't see how it's wrong to mention things that are true to put the film in context. . .

Which film? They weren't discussing TPM. They were discussing AOTC. Perhaps if you were discussing the movie that the accusations of racism were lobbed at, it would make sense. And perhaps if that issue hadn't already been beaten into the ground ad nauseum.

 

I thought it was the worse Interview, Connie kept cutting him off... sometimes. lol. Blah. Why did they bring her back? lol. Idiot...

 

GL should have asked her why she keeps getting fired.
Or why can't her husband come up with a topic for his
show that doesn't involve a DNA test for babie's mommas.

I think she was trying to out Barbra Walters, Barbra Walters. "George, if you were a tree. What kind of
tree would you be?"

George: "If I were a tree, I'd leave" .

 

Here is the main beef that I had with the interview:

Connie Chung and CNN were granted EXCLUSIVE access to Skywalker ranch, a.k.a, they had the only interview. Obviously, with only a few weeks prior to the release of Attack of the Clones, George and Company were allowing an interview for the fans, to wet our appetite and get us excited, and for publicity, to get word out regarding the film. Connie Chung asked no questions to get us excited about the movie, and barely asked any questions regarding the film at all. Do any of you remember her interview of Sam Jackson? It was mostly talk of golf!

Obviously, Lucas realizes that he made a mistake allowing CNN into Skywalker Ranch, and may be understandably angry. Wouldn't you be? They granted CNN an exclusive interview to give the fans of the series a little treat before the release of the film, and because of Connie's bizzare line of questioning, we recieved literaly nothing new to get excited about or discuss. Going in, CNN and Connie Chung had to know exactly why they were given an exclusive interview, and they denied to deliver. Perhaps they even decieved Lucasfilm as to what the line of questioing during the LIVE special would be. I cannot blame Lucas one bit for being angry and upset.





Mace Windy,
too windy for spoilers!

 

Dose she not know how to give an interview. I could have done a better job. I would have asked about AOTC. I don't really care about GL's family life. I don't even want to know about it.

What made Connie Chung think that's what fans of Star Wars wnat to hear about a week or two before the movie comes out? What makes CNN think that?

Chung: So George how was your home life as a child?

George: I thought we were going to talk about the movie?

Chung: Movie?

George: Yeah you know Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones.

*Chung looks are her notes.*

Chung: So was your dad nice to you?

George: HUH?!?

 

I don't think she ever mentioned "women issues." What the transcript reads is, "I want to get inside your head and figure out, what are you trying to tell us?" That is the essential question for every piece of art. What's wrong with it? About the dad thing, that too is common. When do you not consider how an artist's personal experiences shape their work?

Further, that was actually helping Lucas clear up a common misconception. Look, she said, "This is just people thinking that you did?" to which he replied, "a lot of people assume that." In this way, he gets to dispel a rumor. What's wrong with that?

Finally, while they were discussing AOTC, that film does have a larger context. They were showing what that context was by discussing the other films in the series. The whole first part of the transcript discusses the spectacular success of the OT, and how great those movies were. They balanced that by saying how the PT has had a more lukewarm reception. So that way, the viewer understands what's really at stake with AOTC. I don't think someone could have been fully informed about the Star Wars Saga without knowing about the success of the OT and the criticisms of the PT, whether manufactured or not.

Now it might not have come out well, but from the transcript, nothing seems outside the norm.

 

They balanced that by saying how the PT has had a more lukewarm reception.

?

So that way, the viewer understands what's really at stake with AOTC.

? What's at stake here. TPM made a boot load of money and so did AOTC. So there sure does seem to be a lot of people that liked it.

 

Reading a transcript is one thing. Seeing Chung's on-air decorum is another. I watched her show many times because I was interested in the topics being discussed and she consistantly came across as awkward and semi-competent.

I have nothing against her as a person. I just used to watch the show and wonder how she got the job. Everyone stumbles occasionally. She did it consistantly.

Watching the Lucas interview, I got the impression that she was trying to sound like a serious 60 Minutes reporter, but she was asking questions and seemed not to be listening to his answers.

 

>>>>>>>>>>As for mention that people didn't like TPM, and that there were accusations from some corners that it had racist elements--well, what do you want? A good number of people didn't like the movie (even if they didn't like it just to be popular, that doens't make their not liking it any less true) and there were accusations made that it had some racist elements. I don't see how it's wrong to mention things that are true to put the film in context. . .<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

There were as many people that liked it as there were people that hated it. And among SW fans, I would say that atleast 60% liked it. And I wouldnt have had a problem with her mentioning the racist accusations if she had the guts to ask Lucas about it in the interview. He should have had a chance to defend those allegations.

 

Why did you dig up this old fossil?

As a journalist myself, I was ashamed at Chung's tactics. Regular, run-of-the-mill journalists like myself let the story tell the story. In the case of someone like Chung, who constantly appears on national TV stroking her own ego, the story wasn't about the movie. The story was about how Chung could make Lucas look foolish in light of negative reviews TPM received.

As a journalist, you report news, you don't make news. Chung set out to make news, which is almost the biggest sin you can commit as a journalist.

And I had to laugh at the bit about Yoda shooting a gun. Hehe....dumbass Chung.

 

Holy moly, that has to be the evilest thing a journalist could do! If you take a look at the quotes on Lucas and his "hidden messages", it makes Lucas look dumb and Chung very evil, and we know only one of those descriptions is true....

-KNick

 

Ugh... this is why I hate modern journalism. Absolute egoism and ignorance.