Speculation Michael Arndt Quotes & Speculation

By examining Arndt's writing and approach to writing it might help get an idea of what VII is all about.

http://www.eyecrave.net/features/interviews/3062-interview-with-writer-michael-arndt-toy-story-3

What films have made the most impact on you, growing up and as an adult?
Michael Arndt: One of my favorite films is LATE SPRING by Yasujiro Ozu. To me, it represents film as art.

Did you work on the final draft of the script and how much input did the other writers have on the final version?
Michael Arndt: I worked on every draft of the script, of which there were dozens. But it was a deeply collaborative effort, with Lee Unkrich guiding the process every step of the way, John Lasseter and Andrew Stanton keeping us on course, and a whole team of story artists offering up jokes and ideas.
You've said in earlier interviews that even comedies should be about something, or have values and take a stand. What do you view as the values or position that you were taking when writing "Toy Story 3"?
Michael Arndt: One of the biggest challenges of Toy Story 3 was figuring how the hero -- Woody -- would change over the course of the story. In the first Toy Story, Woody had to learn to share the spotlight with Buzz. In Toy Story 2, Woody faced and came to terms with his own mortality. For Toy Story 3, what we finally figured out was that Woody begins the story thinking that love means always being there for Andy. He's similar to Lotso, in that he equates physical presence with the genuine expression of love, which is why he is so adamant in insisting that the Toys should "always be there" for Andy. It's only at the very end, when he witnesses Andy and his Mom saying goodbye, that Woody realizes you can love someone and still let them go, and that sometimes letting someone go can be the most loving thing a person can do. This is a universal experience -- we all go through our lives getting to know people (childhood friends; high school sweethearts; college professors; work colleagues) that we can feel intensely connected to for part of our lives, but whom we have to let go of as we move through life. Recognizing this, and learning to accept it, is a fairly mature sentiment for Woody, and one that (to me, at least) nicely completes the arc of his character across all three movies.
(This one's funny!!)
How much pressure did you feel trying to deliver a solid 3rd film in the Toy Story franchise?
Michael Arndt: It was basically more pressure than I've ever felt -- or that I imagine I'll ever feel -- in my entire writing life. There were never any moments of panic or despair, but I really, really, really didn't want to let anyone down, so the pressure was pretty agonizing for the entire four years of making the movie.
Can you tell us what is on your plate next or is it top secret?
Michael Arndt: It's top secret. (Sorry.)
How much of your personal experience do you draw upon when writing a script?
Michael Arndt: You have to draw on everything you have as a person. That's less about specific moments and experiences, and more about remembering specific feelings -- especially those feelings that can seem private and particular. But my experience is that the more you can be truthful about those memories or feelings, the more other people will respond to them. The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.

 

Good stuff. The answer to the second question pretty much makes me think Han is toast.

 

I hope he is. Someone has to die and Han has the least to do.

 

I can handle that - *sniff* - as long as it's given the emotional resonance the character deserves.

 

The most important question here is whether or not Arndt is familiar with EU. I mean, we don't want him to spend next few years reading the books and trying to fit EpVII story in order to pacify a tiny segment of the audience that actually read them

 

He does not need to know the EU. I would think there would be plenty of people around him that do know every detail of the EU and they will offer up every tidbit when asked. He is the main writer, but he will have a damn good team around him to help.

 

As for the EU, I am sure he has access to vast resources from Lucas, that help him keep it all together There is probably a Star Wars bible of some sort, that keeps track of everything. That is of course, assuming that the EU stuff will even be considered canon. StarWars.com seems to suggest that only the movies, plus the clone wars TV series are canon.

 

"It's only at the very end, when he witnesses Andy and his Mom saying goodbye, that Woody realizes you can love someone and still let them go, and that sometimes letting someone go can be the most loving thing a person can do. This is a universal experience -- we all go through our lives getting to know people (childhood friends; high school sweethearts; college professors; work colleagues) that we can feel intensely connected to for part of our lives, but whom we have to let go of as we move through life. Recognizing this, and learning to accept it, is a fairly mature sentiment for Woody, and one that (to me, at least) nicely completes the arc of his character across all three movies."

Post prequels these are all important issues. Remember Lucas's concept of "rhyming scenes". Not that a rehash of Anakin's fall is in store, but there's still many ways attachment/detachment can be worked into the story. Does Luke learn that it is harder than he imagined to be an "attached Jedi"?

 

Let's not get side-swiped into an EU discussion.

 

There's also indication that Arndt writing treatments (if not scripts) for the entire trilogy. Many of the problems with the character development in PT, I felt, stemmed from the fact that Lucas made it all up as he went along instead of thinking everything through. So we got non-essential characters taking more spotlight than they should have, villains introduced haphazardly, etc.

 

This guy sounds solid, especially with his response in the third paragraph. The same could be done with Luke, as Woody was the main character in TS3.

 

So do we think his top secret project from this interview was Ep 7? I know, that's a stretch.

Also, are there any possible quotes about his opinions on the prequels?

 

It could have been that unnamed Pixar project.
The interview was taken in Oct 2010, so who knows.

 

Well, Luke already knows how to let go. In ANH he lost his aunt and uncle and his reaction was initially sadness, then anger, then resolve. His reaction to Obi-Wan's death was actually stronger, but hearing that Force ghost voice helped in his acceptance. His attachment to Han and Leia in ESB proved to be his Achilles Heel, leading him to act impulsively. He proved again in ROTJ that you DO NOT mess with Skywalker family members...but it's been several years (presumeably) since then. I'm sure that his experiences plus the rest of his time has taught Luke how to let go...something that dear old daddy never learned.

 

http://fora.tv/2007/02/15/Little_Miss_Sunshine_Shooting_Script

Some of Arndt's principals of writing:

+ Never talk down to the audience
+ Never create characters you don't care about (he talks about creating characters just to put them down, and I agree with him that that's a real dead end)
+ The story has to be about something

It sounds like he'll really be examining the motivations of all the characters. This could be crucial to adding new dimension to SW. We've never really heard the story from the antagonist's POV, between EIII and EIV we're left in the dark about Anakin's life and experiences, and he "dies" before he can tell us anything more than that he did indeed have "good" in him; what if Arndt takes us into the antagonist's lives, makes them to some degree sympathetic? What if Luke believes he can enlighten or redeem their enemies, as he did his father, against pressure to simply retaliate? Young Boba was handled brilliantly on TCW, it really revealed a character you could sympathize with and understand; something like that would really up the stakes beyond "good vs. evil".

I am also intrigued to know what EVII will be "about". The PT/CW saga is a sprawling historical epic - it has themes like personal destiny, the rise and fall of empires etc. Those are big themes, but apart from EpI ("letting go"), I've never heard GL encapsulate what the other two are "about". This is really central to making a strong SW movie at this point. I'm excited to think that the Pixar method will be (to some extent) carried over and applied to GL's world-building and mythmaking - what a potent combination! I'm not a huge Pixar fan but I think their intensive story sessions are a good idea, since one of the things that dragged down Disney after Walt's death was how enclosed the creative team was, there was no criticism, projects simply went forward and were released. Kind of what happened with SW. I'm sure Arndt has already pinpointed what VII is "about" from GL's outlines and is focusing the script on that.

Previous Overarching Themes:

PT : Letting go; the dangers of not being able to let go of things
OT: Redemption; never giving up

The ST will surely follow on these themes. What might be the next logical thematic development?

 

We haven't seen how Luke might feel if he fears his son or daughter might fall to the dark side. That's a variation on previous themes: we know Luke isn't going to turn to the dark side, but can he let go to allow someone he loves follow their own path...

 

I like that! It would tie in with the PT well with Anakin's fear of loosing people, Luke may fear he would loose people he loves to the dark side.

 

Would it be repetitive to deal with another potential turn? Maybe but there must be a way to make it fresh. Where it could be good is that it gives Luke a different quandary to wrestle with.

 

I'm hoping GL was only talking about the EU when he said Luke "doesn't get married, doesn't have children". I think Luke needs to have children to really carry the story forward.

 

I'm sure Arndt has some idea of what he's doing and what he's working with, have you noticed how the garbage incinerator scene in Toy Story 3 plays out almost identically to the garbage masher scene in ANH? I wouldn't be surprised if Arndt has been influenced by SW and will be just as respectful of it as he was with the Toy Story series.

Personally, I can't wait to see LotsoHugginSith come on the screen. You just know he'll be a fun baddie.

 

It also ties into the resonance of George=Luke, which I think has to be part of what his character in the ST is about. Whether it's Arndt, the director, or George himself, I don't know how you write an older Luke without commenting on George's later years somehow.

 

It would be fresh if it wasn't a turn "to the dark side", but an ideological turn, siding with the "enemy" for good reason, walking a different path.

Not in the convoluted way the EU handled it but in a way what is compellingly dramatic. Not an easy transition; there's a great line from a Dylan song, "sometimes you just find yourself over the line".

Judging from his comments, Arndt is definitely going to look for a strong, organic, central "issue" to pin the drama on. I think the family angle is strongest; also getting away from "Republic Good / Empire Bad".

 

Especially if that character ends up walking/ crossing the line but managing to pull it off and win the day for the good guys ultimately.

 

That would complicate things nicely for VIII.

 

We've never seen someone tap into the power of the dark side and still remain in control and in the light have we?