What do you think it was like for George Lucas watching the trailer?

i only just saw this thread today, so it was pretty funny reading through what GL was thinking and feeling about... something he'd never seen lol

not to be cynical or anything, but i bet he doesn't really care anymore. i mean, he sold it all off for a reason, right? i'm sure he's honored in some way shape or form, but probably also relieved to not have to deal with the wrath of the fans again!

 

He doesn't want to play 20 questions with reporters and photographers about all the upcoming Star Wars content.

June 7, 2014

 

Lucas is in an impossible position...

IF he watched the trailer, people would ask him what he liked and didn't like. The reporters would hound him until he was critiquing JJ and the movie... and people would hate him for it, but they wouldn't dare let him go without it...

If he DOESN'T watch the trailer, people will say he is apathetic...

What he SAID was:

From this, it has been extrapolated that he doesn't care... WHERE in what he says does it even hint that? He just said he will wait till the whole thing is in the theaters (and it is too late for any urge to barge in and make changes) and watch it like a fan...

If you were in his position, what would you do?

 

At first I thought it was a bit peculiar but then I realized it's going to be way more interesting for him to wait until it's released.

For the last decade I've been writing and directing plays at least twice a year as well as writing, directing, editing etc the occasional indie film. Needless to say, as rewarding as it all is, it's incredibly taxing and by the time a product premiers, you're so burned out and looking ahead to the next project that you don't enjoy the finished product nearly as much as you probably should (not mention, when you're watching it, you're paying attention to the flaws and the crowd reaction than actually just sitting back and enjoying).

So all that is to say this: this past Spring I wrote the script and handed it off to my old mentor to handle while I took a much needed few months off. I attended the occasional practice here and there and would consult on minor details/confusion, but left 99% of it out of my hands. I watched the opening night and it was so relaxing and refreshing I actually enjoyed myself thoroughly for the first time in years because I wasn't worried about anything.

So with that in mind, I imagine that Lucas (who has spent decades going through those same stresses but on a massive scale) will actually enjoy a Star Wars film like he's supposed to, for the first time ever.

No "yikes that scene still doesn't look right" or "sigh I should have rewritten that" or "that scene doesn't work" or "okay now let's see how the crowd responds to this next bit that I've been worried about...does it hot or miss?" Or "man that transition needed work" or "I wish I could have gotten more out of that actor or that effect."

He can sit there and hem haw with the occasional "meh...I might have done that differently."

It's pretty grand.

 

When George views the film, it would be great to see a camera on him like the videos of people watching the trailer.

 

Couldn't agree more. I come from a similar background (theatre and film) and it's just one of the realities of the thing that as much as you love something, the process of creating it is often so exhausting that you can never look at it the way the audience does. It can be the same for any creative pursuit. Throw in the fact that with the PT Lucas had to deal with a lot of criticism from the fanbase, much more than he had likely ever been used to, and it's not surprising that he's keeping his distance somewhat. It reminds me of this NYT interview* from a couple of years back in which he sounded pretty burnt out from the whole thing.

* The hyperlink function is acting weird so here's the full link to that interview: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/magazine/george-lucas-red-tails.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

[close up of George watching the movie, his face emotionless, for 2+ hours. final credits roll]

GEORGE: good, good. now let's try it again. faster, more intense.

 

Lucas is in a catch 22 as others have stated. I'm trying to remember if James Cameron was asked about T3 in 2003 since Terminator is his baby?

I'll bash Lucas about his changes to the OT, but I'd leave him alone on this issue. Many fans didn't want him involved in SW anymore, and now he is getting bashed for not giving his opinion?

 

i wasn't bashing him (and no, we shouldn't) for what he said.. he is entitled to say what he wants and how he wants. this guy gave us star wars for goodness sake! lol.

i would however, have expected a more 'diplomatic' answer to questions about the ST - but it's no biggie.

"In one word : Great. There was a small part of me that hoped it wasn't good - but another part of me hope'd it succeeded. And it did. And I'm so glad it did. Jonathon's made a great movie. Arnold's in great form. I really like what he's done with it"
http://www.movieweb.com/james-cameron-talks-about-t3-and-aliens-5

he did go on to say that he would have done it differently though, and he hammers Alien3 lol - which is refreshingly honest but not quite as diplomatic.

 

If I was Lucas I'd probably say the same thing, regardless of how true it would be.

 

Guys he watched it

 

George: Should have gone with Darth Icky.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/01/12/george-lucas-strange-magic-movie/21624493/

 

I just reported on this.

 

i just read an article on this subject. Lucas is actually really excited about being a Star Wars fan this time. hes ready to take a step back and enjoy that first moment when a starship fles overhead

 

Yeah a lot of people misquoted him on this and tried to make a big deal out of it... shame really

 

Creepers!! That dude sounds JUST LIKE Georgie Boy!

The nervous chuckle he has spot on!!

DBH

 

You know those adult films where some weird husband wants to see his wife get with another guy and then that other guy whips it out and it puts his to shame? He feels like that husband.

 

NY Post

NY Daily News

 

I think when he watched the trailer he was thinking he was right to create another trilogy.