Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Pre-release)

[Darth Lars]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Actually on that note (Ha! "note") I was hoping that Abrams would bring in Michael Giacchino to take on the score.

Michael Giacchino did the soundtrack for the new Star Tours (Star Wars-themed ride at Disneyland).
Yes, the music is very "lounge-ish" (for the line to the attraction, I suppose), but I think that he did a pretty good job.

While still an incredibly talented composer, I think Williams lacks the original touch that he did when scoring the OT.

Yes. Williams has his periods... The other work he did in the '70s sounds like Star Wars, and the other work he did in the early part of this century sounds like AOTC and ROTS.
Compare Star Wars (1977) with Superman - I could not tell them apart when I was a kid. Then compare AOTC with some of Harry Potter.

The guy that did the soundtrack for SW:TOR comes to mind, whoever he is. As terrible as that game was, he did an outstanding work in that department (that ties in to my point above too). That music sounded more like Star Wars than most of the prequel soundtracks did. IMO.

While I love that soundtrack (it is on my favourite playlist), I don't agree that it would work.
What the fans crave is a movie and a soundtrack that feels like the old trilogy. What is needed of the new composer is to create a replica sound, not bring so much of his own character into it.

 

[ImThatGuy]

Star Wars Episode VII

Some info on why JJ switch writers

http://io9.com/j-j-abrams-explains-the-star-wars-episode-vii-writer-1460324366


People have been wondering why J.J. Abrams took the Episode VII screenwriting duties from Toy Story 3's Michael Arndt. According to Abrams, there's no insidious conspiracy and Arndt wasn't doing a bad job (at least that they're admitting to) — it's all about the scheduling.

You'll recall we told you that Disney wanted Star Wars: Episode VII to come out in 2015 no matter what, and therein lies the problem — Arndt apparently wasn't going to hit the very quick deadline. As Abrams explained at a conference call:

It became clear that given the time frame and given the process and the way the thing was going that working with Larry in this way was going to get us where we need to be and when we needed to be. Working with Larry Kasdan, especially on a Star Wars movie is kind of unbeatable. ...

Working with Michael was a wonderful experience and I couldn’t be a bigger fan of his or adore him more, He’s a wonderful guy and was incredibly helpful in the process. [This event] doesn’t preclude working with Michael again in the future, he is one of the best writers around.
Of course, this doesn't preclude the possibility that Arndt work was terrible or something, but again, given that Abrams is going to be in a terrifying rush to get the movie finished by 2015, and Kasdan has had more Star Wars screenwriting experience than everybody besides George Lucas, this does make a lot of sense. And I also can see Arndt not wanting to churn out a rush job just for Disney CEO Bob Iger's Excel spreadsheets.

Still, the biggest problem remains: Can Abrams make this movie in a little over a year and a half, and still make it good? We aren't going to have to wait that long to find out.

 

[mistymills]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

So I admit. I have not read this thread. I've actually been trying to avoid it, really. But I thought I would share that there's an open casting (cattle call), probably for extras, for what is rumored to be Ep7. I thought I would share in case anyone wants to go. Usually I'm eh about open casting calls, but Star Wars IS the reason I became an actor in the first place so I'll go to it. Here's the info:


TheForce.net: Rumored Episode VII Casting Call Appears Headed For The U.S.

American fans, rejoice. Club Jade spotted a new website for the same casting call that surfaced yesterday, and this site lists several "meet & greet" opportunities in the United States. The website is registered to a professional casting and talent agency and it describes the same roles, "Rachel" and "Thomas," that appeared in yesterday's casting call.

Also on the website is a section where you can request more information about the two roles. Fan site Furious Fanboys registered and received a PDF with casting "sides," which are script excerpts that actors read from when they audition. Check out their site to read the excerpt, which hints at a kind of love story.

Here are the dates, times, and locations for the U.S. casting calls for this Walt Disney Pictures film, which we believe to be Star Wars Episode VII.


November 7, 2013
Ramada – Minneapolis Airport Mall
2300 E. American Blvd.
Bloomington, MN 55425
3pm - 8pm

November 10, 2013
Sheraton – St. Louis City Center Hotel
400 S. 14th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
12pm - 5pm

November 14, 2013
Park West Theatre
322 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
3pm - 8pm

November 17, 2013
Somerset Inn
2601 W. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, MI 48084
12pm - 5pm

November 22, 2013
Hilton – Austin
500 E. 4th St.
Austin, TX 78701
3pm - 8pm

November 24, 2013
Sheraton – Nashville Downtown
623 Union St.
Nashville, TN 37219
12pm - 5pm

We are still trying to independently verify that this casting process is for Star Wars Episode VII and will let you know as soon as we hear anything.

 

[third3ye]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Dec 18, 2015, mark your calendar boys and girls!

So Bob Iger still gets his 2015 release date... barely :lol

 

[Brent M]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Wow, wasn't expecting that bit of news! Well, by pushing it to the very end of 2015 that gives them a little over 2 years to work on it which means it doesn't really have to be a rush job after all, especially considering JJ has already been in place as director for almost a year. If they're not going to start shooting until spring that's a few more months for them to polish the script and hopefully get it exactly where they want it to be....I'm sure Kasdan will be a big help in that department. Assuming they finish filming in 4-6 months that still gives them well over a year for visual effects, reshoots, etc. so I think it actually seems like a reasonable time frame.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I know I'll get burned at the stake for this, but I'm not that upset at a non May 25th release date.

As long as the movie is awesome, I don't care what day/month they put it out.

 

[Lost21stJedi]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

They could always do a May 2016 release date for the blu ray

 

[JD]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I'm not upset at the December date, but I sure would've liked the May date... because it would be sooner and more traditional.

 

[Lutso]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Any idea why there's no mention of California - or any of the Western states, for that matter - on the casting call? Is this a multi-phase program and they merely haven't made it this far yet?

They do know that Hollywood is over here, right?

 

[seelsa73]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Any idea why there's no mention of California - or any of the Western states, for that matter - on the casting call? Is this a multi-phase program and they merely haven't made it this far yet?

They do know that Hollywood is over here, right?

I live in Syracuse and they never even come close to me. What about us? I want to be in Star Wars too!

 

[Brent M]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Yeah, I think it's cool they're actually doing casting calls outside of Plastic-wood for a change.

 

[Goonie]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Dec 18, 2015, mark your calendar boys and girls!

So Bob Iger still gets his 2015 release date... barely :lol

If it's coming out before Christmas, expect Carrie Fisher singing and CGI cameos by Art Carney, Harvey Korman and Bea Arthur.

 

[The Terminator]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Apparently IGN doesn't know that Boba Fett survived falling into the Sarlacc, and they can't spell Chewbacca:

"Darth Maul – another pretty dead character – came second, receiving 12% of the votes cast, while Chebacca came third with 11%."

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/06/fans-want-boba-fett-in-star-wars-episode-vii

Jar-Jar got 5% of the votes and Threepio 2%..... :facepalm

 

[Darth Lars]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Boba Fett surviving is only in the EU, where he got out of the Sarlacc in different ways depending on which book you read..

Also, there would be no need to vote for C-3PO or R2-D2 because their presence is given - it wouldn't be a Star Wars movie without them.

 

[mistymills]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Any idea why there's no mention of California - or any of the Western states, for that matter - on the casting call? Is this a multi-phase program and they merely haven't made it this far yet?

They do know that Hollywood is over here, right?

I am definitely not on the inside as I am not part of the casting team, but TYPICALLY they do these sort of casting calls in other markets that have a high number of SAG members and/or somewhere they are planning to film. However, my understanding in this particular case is that they are attempting to simply cast a wider net to see more people in both the US and the UK. As for why not LA or NY, that is because there is such a saturation of SAG agencies there that they are likely simply going through the traditional agent route for it. This is also potentially (in my mind) backed up by one of my agents (I am in the Detroit market) emailing me a few days ago to ensure I have an updated profile on Cast It Talent which is the website referenced on the linked page of: Nationwide Search For Lead Roles For A Walt Pictures Film.

But like I said, I am not someone who works in their casting office so I can't say for certain, I can just say what my experience has told me. In the list mentioned above, really the only market that surprised me was TN, but they could just want to get something in that region. I would have expected New Mexico or Georgia over it, though.

 

[Zenwalker]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

Too bad the release date won't be in May.

It will be a bit weird having it released in Decemeber.

 

[Jeyl]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

it wouldn't be a Star Wars movie without them.

I'd like them to try.

 

[seelsa73]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I'd like them to try.

They will, but in the EMU (Expanded Movie Universe; see what i did there?) Just probably not in 7, 8 or 9.

 

[blakeh1]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

How Many Days Until Star Wars?

 

[Solo4114]

Re: Star Wars Episode VII

I'm totally fine with it not being in May. The May thing is an arbitrary tradition from a different era, and I think at this point it'd be more likely to hurt than help. It'd either hurt because Disney would think the thing is over budget or not producing money at the right pace because it'd be released May, 2016, or it'd hurt because they'd rush it for May, 2015 and blow it.

As for which characters get used, I'm about done with "It won't be Star Wars without..."


Here's the thing: it's not gonna BE Star Wars: the Original Trilogy. Them days is gone. We cannot and will not recapture that magic, and we definitely WON'T get it back by shoving in old characters just because it wouldn't be someone's personal sense of "Star Wars" without them. I'm sure there's some ******* out there who thinks it wouldn't be Star Wars without Jar-Jar and Ice Cream Maker Guy. Actually, that sounds like the plot of a Star Wars themed sit-com: Jar-Jar and Ice Cream Maker Guy.


To me, Star Wars is about the Star Wars universe. It's the setting, the concepts, the notion of a galaxy-wide struggle, a grand adventure story, and things like spaceships, blasters, and MAYBE a handful of Jedi, but hopefully not the boring-ass superpowered monks on steroids from the PT.

The characters are nice, but to me, Star Wars is WAY bigger than the OT characters. I recognize that, for marketing purposes, some of them will likely return, if only for a supporting role. PErsonally, the only one I think makes sense to see is Luke. Luke's future is the only one that, at the end of the OT, is pretty much assured. We KNOW he's going to restore the Jedi because he's the only one left. Everything else we suspect is all based on or at least influenced by EU stuff. Leia as the leader of the New Republic? Says who? Han and Leia get married and have kids? Not necessarily. Lando stays a general? I doubt it.

We have a ton of pre-conceived notions about what happened after the OT, and most of them are from the EU materials that we've had for the last 20 years. There's nothing, however, that guarantees that what was true in the EU will be true here.