The Star Wars Episode 7 Production In Review: A Writer’s Roundtable (Part 1 of 3)

ActionA little movie that people might want to go see went into production this summer on May 16th, 2014. Sure, it will be an easy piece of cake, ’cause like no one in the world is going to be scrutinizing every last detail of that. Yeah, right! Make the jump to take a walk with us down memory lane as the StarWars7News team reviews the busy and eventful production thus far.

 

 

On October 30th, 2012 the world wide web EXPLODED with news that more Star Wars, specifically Episodes VII, VIII, & IX, would finally, at long last, be made. From that point forward fans all over the globe began anticipating the moment the film would premiere. However, like the loyal, die-hard fans that we are in this unprecedented age of total information awareness, we find ourselves watching every second of the hotly anticipated production. Here, now, we present The Episode VII Production In Review:

 

MARCH 18th, 2014 > The Official Site announces that Principal Photography is set to begin in May of 2014, with the production’s base of operations being Pinewood Studios in London, England. Episode VII may not be premiering in the traditional May slot, but nonetheless keeps its ties to May.

 

Second Unit

MARCH 21st, 2014 > Viral Hide reports, via JediNews, that Star Wars: Episode VII will begin filming in Iceland. Without JJ Abrams and a full cast and crew it is presumed that this is second unit photography, most likely scenic shots for digital environments or matte paintings etc…

 

Some 2nd Unit photography was done in Iceland . . . What do you suppose Iceland is going to be used for?

 

Pomojema: I can’t say for certain, but I doubt that it’ll be Hoth. Maybe it’ll be used as the planet where the final act of the film goes down, according to certain rumors? I imagine that they could go back there to shoot a handful of scenes.

 

Viral Hide: Definitely some establishing shots for a snowy planet. I doubt it’ll be Hoth. The Iceland scenery is much different from Hoth and Hoth doesn’t make much sense. It was a temporary refugee base for our heroes. There’s nothing else there.

 

Echo-07:  Agree with both of you, NOT Hoth – broaden the galaxy by introducing more planets.

 

APRIL 5th, 2014 > Disney Chairman Alan Horn announces that Episode VII is already filming, presumably, second unit shots in Iceland! Approximately one month later, around May 4th, it was revealed through Twitter, as well as some other sources, that there was a small “incident” with a helicopter during the shoot while filming around the glacier. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The helicopter landed in a mishap at Eyjafjallajökull. Crew were not injured. The helicopter, which is of type TF – HDW Ecureuil was in filming on the glacier. According to sources Dab Trés here to discuss taking a team of Star Wars VII under the direction of Marc Wolff , specializing in film grips from the air. Last Mission Everest Wolff was directed by Baltasar Kormákur. (Google Translation)

Hoth

Through the same Icelandic article it was also revealed that the second unit director is Marc Wolff. All the reports of glacier shots prompted a storm of speculation around the net that Hoth would come into play at some point as well as the following, and mildly SPOILERIFIC, rumor via BleedingCool:

Because I kept reading about the Iceland shoot and would bring it up in pretty much every Star Wars chat I’ve had, I’ve been included in a few off-the-record conversations about the location. Nobody could go so far as to tell me which characters would turn up in the scenes, however, and it wasn’t until today that I got some idea.

 

The best lead on who we might see in action on Hoth is probably (and improbably) 2000AD and Warhammer alum Gordon Rennie. According to a recent Facebook update, he’s been chatting to an unnamed member of the 2nd unit team who has been shooting in Iceland and they revealed to Rennie that the scenes will feature Chewbacca and “old skool” Stormtroopers.

APRIL 11th, 2014 > Viral Hide reported via THR that filming was getting set to begin in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emerits. The desert conditions of the locale immediately suggested that this was a return to Tatooine.

 

APRIL 16th, 2014 > Star Wars fans receive an exciting surprise as an Abu Dhabi newspaper, The National, breaks the story of Episode VII filming, complete with our first production photos that appear to show a practical set piece of an AT-AT foot pad, which is pretty exciting as they’ve never been seen on Tatooine up to this point:

 

First Episode 7 Production Photo

 

How did you feel when the first pictures were leaked from the early Abu Dhabi 2nd Unit shoot? What’d you think about the alleged AT-AT foot pad?

 

Pomojema: I really hope to see more armored vehicles like the AT-AT in the Sequel Trilogy as a whole; I felt that they were underused in Return Of The Jedi, which is my favorite Star Wars film.

 

Viral Hide: My first thought was: That’s a helluva big set prop that probably will end up in the BG of a certain shot. I sense Jawas.

 

Echo-07: (Laughs) UTINNI!!! I LOVE Jawas! I want to see a Jawa Jedi! Just kidding, but you can’t have Tatooine without Jawas. 

 

Dekka129: Well, first of all it was a major rush to see some of the first images of a new Star Wars film production – it’s been awhile since we had something like this to enthuse over. The specific image of a walker foot, though, sent images spinning through my head of an old desert battlefield with all but a few larger chunks of wreckage like this foot pad probably reclaimed by the elements… and THAT just sounds massively cool (though whatever they were actually filming could also be a million and six other things besides this…)

 

APRIL 22nd, 2014> Alan Horn announces that the second unit shoot in Abu Dhabi is complete!

 

APRIL 26th, 2014 > Excitement builds as Harrison Ford is spotted in London, home of Pineweood Studios and home to the Episode VII production! In subsequent days Mark Hamill and then Carrie Fisher are spotted as well, all but declaring that the production is beginning to ramp-up!

 

Table Read

APRIL 29th, 2014 > The Official Site releases the first Official Cast Announcement, which confirms that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, and Anthony Daniels all reprise their legendary roles! This announcement is accompanied by a “Table Read Photo” as well as the list of the new cast members to include newcomer Daisy Ridley, Domnhall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, as well as Andy Serkis and acting legend Max Von Sydow.

Director J.J. Abrams says, “We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.”

 

What did you think about the OFFICIAL cast announcement? Any surprises? Anything shocking or disappointing?

 

Pomojema: I was more relieved that Disney didn’t go with hiring any of their Disney Channel stars, not that I really expected them to. I love the so-bad-it’s-good masterpiece of a film that is Flash Gordon, so Max Von Sydow’s presence was a real treat for me. I also liked that they hired Andy Serkis, not only because he’s a good actor, but because his presence likely means that there will be a degree of CGI in the film (though a more reasonable degree to make sure the actors have something to react to).

 

Viral Hide: I expected plenty of new unknown actors, but honestly I expected 1-2 names that are really famous. Surely Max von Sydow and Oscar Isaac are famous but I expected even more. Something from the ranks of Gary Oldman and Michael Fassbender (just for example).

 

Dekka129: I was relieved that we didn’t get any of the big tween heartthrob names that had previously been bandied about, for a start. I admit to being a bit apprehensive about the fact that so many of the younger cast members don’t have much of a body of work from which we can get a sense of what their acting chops are like, but I think that’s only natural. Plus… Max von Sydow in a Star Wars movie? Hell yeah!!

 

What did you think about Dennis Lawson snubbing Disney? Surely he passed-up a BIG payday?

 

Pomojema: It’s his call – or, in my opinion, loss – that he didn’t want to come back for more, and I can respect his decision. What makes no sense to me, however, is that he dismissed the possibility of showing up for a Star Wars role again as being “boring.” Why would being a part of a Star Wars movie be boring in any capacity?

 

Viral Hide: This guy is taking his job too professional. Obviously he never felt anything for the franchise. He is better off.

 

Echo-07: I think it’s a shame. He’s missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

 

Dekka129: As a fan of his work, both in Star Wars and elsewhere, I was disappointed. However, I can also completely understand his decision. Since his appearances in the original Star Wars trilogy, Lawson has built himself a very respectable stage and TV career and I can certainly see why he wouldn’t want to go back to doing glorified extra work in Star Wars.

 

MAY 4th, 2014 > JJ Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan release a May the Fourth Day video greeting to fans from London and also reveal that more casting announcements are forthcoming.

 

Second Character

MAY 5th, 2014 > Bob Iger reveals the SECOND photo of a character from Episode VII – Chewbacca!!! Peter Mayhew looks right at home.

 

These were the exciting days of pre-production that led us into the official start of production on May 16th. Watch for Part 2 as we roll into the heart of Principal Photography, continuing our first ever Writer’s Roundtable!

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37 thoughts on “The Star Wars Episode 7 Production In Review: A Writer’s Roundtable (Part 1 of 3)

  • August 13, 2014 at 10:44 pm
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    Biggest Secret kept so far is Max Von Sydow, hope he is a villian

    • August 14, 2014 at 2:35 am
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      Perhaps Max is Obi wan Force ghost!

    • August 14, 2014 at 11:06 am
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      Not to change the topic, but i’m confused. The Jedi prophecy said that the chosen one child would be born in a time of despair and destroy the sith bringing balance to the force. Now, the first part.. Was Anakin born in a time of despair ? It seemed like Luke was.. Second it says child would destroy the sith. If more sith are in Ep 7, then how is Anakin the one ? This confuses me….

      • August 14, 2014 at 2:58 pm
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        The Prophecy could be also an ongoing thing…whenever a dark side nexus(One master and his apprentice) or a massive amount of light side Jedi are threatining the balance of the Force, the force will give birth to the One to destroy one side…

        • August 14, 2014 at 6:13 pm
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          Please no Matrix parallels. The PT prophecy must die.

          • August 14, 2014 at 9:08 pm
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            The PT is here to stay. you are the one that must die.

        • August 14, 2014 at 8:00 pm
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          George Lucas has said that it’s the Sith throwing things out of balance, not the Jedi. Of course, the Jedi were partially responsible for their own downfall due to their errors in judgment.

          • August 15, 2014 at 8:02 am
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            exactly what did the Jedi do that was so bad ? they were well organized. respected the leadership. and always talked issues out. the only corruption was Sidious and his poisioning the mind of anakin. but the jedi wasnt corrupted at all.

  • August 13, 2014 at 10:48 pm
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    Not one photo of him, but most of cast has been seen around studios or shoots.

    • August 13, 2014 at 11:44 pm
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      Maybe he is only doing voice work

  • August 13, 2014 at 11:15 pm
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    But I don’t think we have heard enough of MVS, Gleeson or Driver to date. Everything has been about Boyega & Ridley.
    So are the first three going to have more of a feature in VIII do we think? Or have their scenes been more studio shots? Does this then suggest they are more space bound than location?

  • August 14, 2014 at 12:14 am
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    First off, great read. Thank you.

    I’m also very curious regarding Max von Sydow. He’s an incredible actor and certainly was the one I got most exited about when I saw the cast announcement. Here’s hoping that he’s a villain..

    He could be doing voice work for a CGI character that Andy Serkis play aswell though.. Sydow has a very powerful and intimidating voice. While that still would be awesome, I’d much rather see him in action.

    If he’s not a villain he would most probably be some kind of old wise man. However, we already have Luke to partly or fully fulfill that role. If Sydow was to play a wise old man, I would not have been suprised to see him on the Skellig shoot. As he was not part of that, I am starting to get more confident he’s actually playing or voicing a villain.

    Hoping for some information to spur regarding him soon.

  • August 14, 2014 at 12:24 am
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    Hmmm, very interesting. Thank you for posting this

    God Bless (and no rude replies, please)

    P.s. This is off-topic, but I am going to write a Star Wars journal that will include facts and other stuff about SW, but I don’t know where to start? Should I start with a list of characters or lightsabers, or maybe fighting techniques or something else. Idea anyone?

  • August 14, 2014 at 12:48 am
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    Jonny, I’ve been wondering that same thing.

    I suppose it’s possible that JJ and company set it up so that John and Daisy are the only two cast members doing much in the way of sending out tweets and so forth. Because none of the rest of the cast seems to be doing any of that, even the younger ones.

    As air-tight as security on this production is, that seems like it almost certainly must be deliberate. (Or maybe not!)

    • August 14, 2014 at 4:27 am
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      You think!

  • August 14, 2014 at 1:02 am
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    may I please just SEE THIS MOVIE NOW!!!

  • August 14, 2014 at 2:16 am
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    I’m sure time seems to be dragging for some but it feels like it’s flying to me. I mean we’re almost in 2015. The year of a new Star Wars! Sure it’s at the end of it but still!

    What’s going to be agonizing for me is waiting for the Blu-ray release. I’ve got social anxiety big time making it impossible for me to go to a theater. Trust me I tried folks. The last time I was in a theater was Attack of the clones…

    Anywho… I’m still ridiculously excited. Just think the trailer could be 6 or so months away!

    • August 14, 2014 at 2:27 am
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      I think we’ll see a teaser sooner than that.

    • August 14, 2014 at 5:01 am
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      I keep thinking about December 2015, and it just feels SO far away! We are about 16 months away, so for each Prequel movie it would be: January 1998, January 2001, January 2004. That is why I wish this movie was coming out May 2015 instead of December!

      • August 14, 2014 at 1:27 pm
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        In only four months we will be able to say: “Episode VII is coming THIS YEAR”. Psychologically that will feel so much better, hm?

  • August 14, 2014 at 5:04 am
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    We’ve gotten tidbits about Harrison and Mark, but NOTHING on Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia? My big question to all the fans: Would you want to see Princess Leia using her force abilities in Episode 7? I think if they could pull it off (and that’s a big IF), it would be pretty cool to see Leia wield a lightsaber in some capacity!

    • August 14, 2014 at 7:02 am
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      I’ve thought about that as well. Her Force abilities are a matter that could be easy to overlook for the story and/or not be adapted to the screenplay but JJ doesn’t strike me as the type of guy that would want to leave it out. I honestly can’t see her portrayed in an all out duel but it would be sooooo cool to see her other abilities especially where it would count the most or even be a bit humorous to the scene. I will be more than a little disappointed if she doesn’t at least have a lightsaber shown as one of her side-arms :[

      • August 14, 2014 at 7:18 am
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        It’s also been 30 some odd years since ROTJ. If the story goes that she was indeed trained by her brother then her use and even mastery of her abilities should be evident and on display in some way. If not, she’ll just look like a half-ass Jedi/Force-wielder which may as well not even be shown on screen.

        • August 14, 2014 at 3:02 pm
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          I agree with you guys as it would look ridiculous if Leia was doing Darth Maul Flips in a lightsaber fight, but something more subtle with the force would work better. If she and Han are attacked, it would be cool to see her use the ‘force push’ and use the lightsaber as more of a self defense, etc. That way Carrie Fisher isn’t forced to do some outrageous stunt at her age that would come off not believable. It would also be cool to see Leia use the Jedi Mind trick on someone and she would remark to Han as he looked impressed, “It’s just alittle thing I picked up from Luke through the years!”

          • August 14, 2014 at 3:40 pm
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            Let the record be clear: I don’t want to see ANYONE do those over-the-top PT flips, not just Leia.

          • August 14, 2014 at 9:13 pm
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            So let’s go back to Epidode 4 style lightsaber fighting: standing, no arm movements, like two old men tapping sticks together. Because that’s so much better than PT fighting, right?

          • August 14, 2014 at 11:14 pm
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            Funny how you reference that fight of all the OT ones.

            People complain about it, but I easily prefer it over most of what I saw in the PT.

        • August 14, 2014 at 4:31 pm
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          I see Leia using more mental Force powers myself. I think it would be Force visions of the future, mental communications (especially with Luke, and Han being a little jealous they have that sort of thing), and the like.

  • August 14, 2014 at 11:37 am
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    …ANOTHER great piece guys (is it too early to feel nostalgic about some of the early news reports? – well I do anyway)…every day this is the place I go to first – not my auctions,not facebook,my blog,or my e-mail – but Star Wars7news,LOVE this site:}

  • August 14, 2014 at 11:59 am
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    Liea seems so distant from the force, she never seemed interested or attuned to the force, if you count the end of Empire with her intuition scene to go back for Luke. That could have just have been Luke calling out with the Force. She basically states in the end of Jedi no, but Luke says you will learn to use it as I have, so she has to do something with the force. Kasdan wrote that then and has had his pen in this one, so one can only hope. I hope Liea isn’t dead and not just passed of as a hologram. I would love to see her do something powerful with the force not necessarily battle with a light saber.

    • August 14, 2014 at 5:26 pm
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      She is in tune with the Force. She heard Luke when he called out to her on Bespin, and she had an inkling that she and Luke were siblings.

    • August 14, 2014 at 8:52 pm
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      Leia never showed disinterest in the Force. She just didn’t think she had that kind of power. When Luke told her otherwise, she didn’t reject his offer to be trained.

  • August 14, 2014 at 4:36 pm
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    Seems to be working just fine now, Viral. Thanks very much for your help!

  • August 14, 2014 at 9:57 pm
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    Would be cool to see decent saber fights, can’t see why not. These new jedi would have been trained from infancy not 20 years old like Luke.
    Also cant see why the new Skywalkers can’t fulfill the prophecy. “misread the prophecy could have been”

    • August 14, 2014 at 11:07 pm
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      I’d rather not see more children taking on adult challenges. People should begin training as young adults, fully aware and accepting of the dangers and responsibilities involved, like Luke.

  • August 14, 2014 at 11:25 pm
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    In the real world you would of course be right Master Frogger, but this is a movie, the bad guys wouldn’t wait. Drama.

    • August 15, 2014 at 2:44 am
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      Luke began as a young man. Why can’t he train Force sensitives in the galaxy who are already adult and mature enough to take on the responsibilities, starting with Leia?

      It’s not like the only ones available in the galaxy are children, so there’s no need to wait until they’re older.

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