Page 61 - Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2020)
P. 61
J.J. ABRAMS ON
LAWRENCE KASDAN
“One of the most surreal and wonderful
things was getting to know and
collaborate with Lawrence Kasdan.
He’s one of the most thoughtful,
brilliant, considered, opinionated, funny,
collaborative people I’ve ever met. He’s
a hero of mine. If the movie didn’t go
forward or if something went wrong,
I wouldn’t have changed the investment
of time. If there were an auction to work
with Larry Kasdan in this way, I’d never
stop bidding. There I was working on
scenes with Han Solo, and Larry would
be like, “I don’t think Han would say that.
It’s not very Han.” I’d be like, okay, and
I’d think, Well, he would know. He wrote
Han Solo in some of the best moments in
cinema history.”
Clockwise, from
top left: Kylo
Ren surveys the
destructive power
of the Starkiller;
Finn and Poe
prepare for battle;
Rey and BB-8 meet
on Jakku; Maz
Kanata passes
Luke Skywalker’s
lightsaber to Leia.
neuroses. I don’t think anyone can What is your hope for this film? me laugh, made me excited, and
watch Harrison walk back onto the I used one word from the beginning, the images affected my body in a
Millennium Falcon as Han and not be it must “delight.” When you have way I have no control over.” That’s
thrilled. He looks so right and so John Williams writing the music, what great movies do. That’s what
comfortable. you’re part of the way there. When anything that really hits the chord
In the same way, Carrie Fisher you have this group of craftsmen does. You sit in an auditorium with
had a cerebral nature at 21 and creating the images, you’re part of an orchestra, or a single guitar, or a
she’s got it now. We’re trying to have the way there. When [director of rock concert and they are somehow
everyone come through with who they photography] Dan Mindel shoots a capable of touching something in
are. The dream in a movie is to bring movie, you’re going to be delighted you that you have no control over.
out what’s best in an actor, whether and when J.J. directs a movie, you’ll It’s beyond reason, beyond
they’re 12 or 70. Acting is magical; be delighted. We all know that criticism, beyond preconceptions
it’s mysterious. Why someone can there’s going to be an audience for or disappointment. I was engaged,
do it, I could never figure out, and this movie, but we want them to feel I was enraptured, I was delighted
I spent my whole life with actors. satisfied when it’s over. We want for a certain amount of time. If we
I wanted to be an actor and I couldn’t. them to say, “It delighted me, made do that, we’ll have succeeded.
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