J.J. Abrams on the Controversial Lightsaber and the Amount of CG Effects in Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
During the Visual Effects Society Awards last night (that we already told you about), Abrams shared even more info about the upcoming Star Wars movie, this time with Collider. See what he had to say after the jump.
From Collider:
On the crossguard lightsaber:
“I will say that what’s been funny is, since the lightsaber’s come out, I cannot tell you how many contradictory emails I have received from people who have both defended it with unbelievably detailed graphics…I’ve gotten things that are nuts, and I’ve gotten people who’ve shown how it’ll kill you and how it doesn’t make any sense. It’s been the funniest thing to see the arguments that have developed over this thing.”
“It was a number of conversations [that led to the design]. It was a sketch that became a whole thing and, you know, this was not done without a lot of conversation and it’s fun to see people have the conversation that we had, but in reverse.”
On IMAX:
“It’s really one sequence so it’s not a ton [of IMAX footage], but it’s a good sequence.”
On practical and CG effects:
“I feel like the beauty of this age of filmmaking is that there are more tools at your disposal, but it doesn’t mean that any of these new tools are automatically the right tools. And there are a lot of situations where we went very much old school and in fact used CG more to remove things than to add things.”
“There are obviously an enormous amount of CG effects in the film, and I can’t wait for you to see the combination. But it was very important that we build as many sets as we could and that the film have a tangible, sort of authentic quality that you believed that these things were actually happening in a real space with real sunlight, if it was an exterior scene, or if we could build a big portion of a scene and not have anything be blue screen, do it where we could. It was a very important piece of work.”
On Episode VIII and IX:
“I wouldn’t say 8 and 9 are my baby, Rian will be working at least on 8, but I’m executive producing those films, yeah.”
The last bit is especially interesting. I’ve heard that the initial plan was Rian Johnson to direct both Episode VIII and IX. There were even rumors about an upcoming announcement on that, but obviously things changed, I wonder why.
Special thanks to Collider for the great interview.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
“There are obviously an enormous amount of CG effects in the film, and I can’t wait for you to see the combination. But it was very important that we build as many sets as we could and that the film have a tangible, sort of authentic quality that you believed that these things were actually happening in a real space with real sunlight, if it was an exterior scene, or if we could build a big portion of a scene and not have anything be blue screen, do it where we could. It was a very important piece of work.”
This alone is why it will be at least good.
“There are… enormous amounts of CG in this film…”
Ha ha ha, take that PT haters. Look like you’re going to have to face the 21st Century after all.
People don’t hate the pt because cgi they hate them because they sucked.
It is nice to hear JJ commenting more on the movie. Up until now it has pretty much been comments like “I’m so excited, Star Wars, wow, pressure” and the odd hand written note here and there.
Since Rian isn’t confirmed for 9, he’s just repeating public information. He didn’t want to make news. It doesn’t mean anything.
Why would they get one guy to make the last two films?
I don’t care how hip Looper was, no one deserves that kind of leverage.
Or JJ comes back to do 9 is just as likely. Starting on 8 while 7 isn’t even complete yet is impossible given the release dates.
But by the time 7 is complete and all the press and marketing for the release are done there’s plenty of time for JJ to turn around and start work on 9.
Or Spielberg is doing EpIX?
I didn’t like Looper 🙁
Oh you know why they would: Ca$h money. If E9, by some crazy circumstance… ends up making the. It’s money of any Star Wars movie and any movie ever, they will rehire him for the third.
Besides, the Harry Potter movies had different directors up until the last few. Maybe 8 and 9 will be like one long movie too and it will make sense to have one person tell the story.
Yeah there are lots of reasons.
JJ directing episode 9 after the new Star Trek?
oh god please not
Get over yourself.
get over yourself
Get over yourself.
get over yourself
Get over yourself.
I really thought that was going to go on a bit longer … shame … I have so much free time on my hands (I have a feeling I know what the next reply will be). I’m going now … to get over myself)))
Thank you
lol.
JJ is not directing the new Star Trek film.
Has it been confirmed that JJ is definitely not directing Star Trek: Adventures In Space?
Yeah he said in an interview that he will not be directing but that he will be executive producing it, much like he is going to be doing with Star Wars.
Is that water in the desert shot?
Not after some of that “enormous CG” is finished with it!
Reassuring to say the least 🙂 JJ was certainly the right choice.
Feels good to finally have confirmation that JJ will be executive producing 8 and 9.
I knew he would be involved in some way and I wouldn’t be surprised if he directs number 9.
If you watch the video over at Collider, you’ll notice J.J. seems to have gotten the “Presidential aging” from a high-stress job. I want this movie to be amazing for obvious reasons, but also for J.J. because I know he’s put a lot of blood and sweat in this.
Ooops forgot to post the video.
Fixed. 🙂
I’m betting J.J. directs Episode 9 as well.
Actually you’ll be surprised who directs that one.
Kathleen Kennedy or speilberg
GL
No, but it is interesting that Ep7 opens on Spielberg’s birthday.
Uwe Boll.
From an Australian Paper/Journo
http://i.imgur.com/zue0yg9.jpg
I hope not. 3 different directors is part of what made the OT astounding.
Lucas directed Ep. 4 and Kershner definitely put his footprint on Ep. 5 but to be fair Lucas really overshadowed Marquand during the making of Ep. 6. It’s all in the ”Making of’ book by J.W. Rinzler.
Yeah yeah, but who’s credited as “Director” of Jedi?
Giving Lucas almost 100% of creative control in the prequels contributed to them being awful.
He didn’t have almost 100% creative control. He had absolutely 100% creative control of the PT. And in regards to the OT, Lucas was very unhappy with some of the decisions that Kasdan made during the making of Empire. Kasdan even argued and went against suggestions that Lucas gave him. For Jedi Lucas chose someone that he could control. So yes Marquand is credited as the director but in reality Lucas had final say on EVERYTHING.
At least the prequels dared to be different…..something Rebels and (I fear) Episode VII can’t become with Disney and OT diehard idiots breathing down their necks.
Yeah “different” than good
Well a head strong British director isn’t the way to go if you want to control someone. The truth is, Marquand had quite a bit of control. Lucas, being the reserved guy he is, wasn’t the confrontational control type people assume.
http://youtu.be/D1q6SAavppc
I am not denying that Marquand had his input as an artist, but again Lucas overshadowed him in the creative process.
Perhaps they want to see what Rian Johnson does with episode 8 before signing him up to do episode 9.
I think they should get a new director for episode 9. Just to give more directors a chance at directing a star wars film.
Let Alfonso Cuaron have a crack at it.
That would b great
One of the things i find when watching the OT is that each film has a different feeling to them and at the same time feel like that belong together as a whole. That is what makes the OT better than the PT is that different directors brought their own vision t this world.Don’t get me wrong i like the PT a lot but imagine what other director could have done with the same matrials.
Yeah. I totally agree. I think the three different visions remained cohesive, but at the same time, the changes helps give the impression of growth to the characters.
Alfonso Cuaron would make a perfect pick for Spinoff 2#
No, I’d keep him on an episode film.
And then he went to 30 other interviewers who all asked him the same questions. It’s got to be exhausting.
He does look like he’s lost some weight. Maybe stress. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing.
he’s gonna make a great movie….so excited!!
I still think Duncan Jones was a missed opportunity!
There is still a chance for him. Episode IX? Third spin off?
My understanding was that Rian Johnson was signed to write Episode 8, and to write a treatment or first draft for Episode 9. This seems to go right along with that.
It also sounds like Abrams has just the right idea as far as balancing modern CGI with practical effects and sets. You’re always going to get a more natural look from real light hitting real objects than you will with a computer interpretation of the light and the objects. And, of course, there will also always be shots that are just a helluva lot easier to do with CG effects.
My biggest concern with CG effects is that when you take away all physical limitations in terms of camera interaction with the object being filmed, the result is often distracting or unnatural camera movements “because we can.” IMHO, it’s never a good idea to have the camera upstage whatever or whomever it’s filming.
I’m still not real crazy about the Millennium Falcon shot in the teaser for this very reason. The Falcon was already doing a really cool loop move (as seen in the stabilized version of the shot that’s been online since a day or two after the teaser’s release) and that move really tends to get lost in all the corkscrewing that the camera is doing.
BUT… it sounds like there will be a very healthy blend of practical and CGI effects in TFA. Hopefully the camera won’t end up mugging for itself too much.
Well said, with CGI the restraints of physics are always in danger of being ignored.
With CG, size / real-world impracticality make almost no difference for the budget. The real killer is detail, which means it’s hard for things NOT to look like plastic, plus the fact that you get directors who want the most awesome stunts in their films, which usually doesn’t help the believability factor.
It sounds like they were actively trying to strike a balance here though.
“Do, or do not. There is no try.”
I don’t know. The puppet taun taun and the giant space worm seemed to go again natural laws of physicals. Watch that scene when the taun taun falls down dead (it takes nearly 10 seconds to fall, as if the forces of gravity were different for stop-motion puppets.)
“It also sounds like Abrams has just the right idea as far as balancing modern CGI with practical effects and sets. You’re always going to get a more natural look from real light hitting real objects than you will with a computer interpretation of the light and the objects. And, of course, there will also always be shots that are just a helluva lot easier to do with CG effects.”
Sorry but that is just another variation of the same talking points that they have been going through again. We know that most of the movie is shot in studio, on sets with relatively little location work just like all Star Wars films have been.
This is for the simple reason that it’s not Earth. This idea of “real” light, hitting “real” objects is also nonsense. Movies now including JJ’s Trek film are graded virtually every inch of the way. Look at the STID enhanced commentary and see what he shot picture in picture and what the final movie looked like.
Again this practical effects talk is a red herring. Each single prequel had more practical effects than the entire OT combined. Tons of sets, vehicle props, make-up and costumes, creatures in masks, models and miniatures galore.
“Real” light is a nonsensical term. In studio you create your lighting. It’s not real at all. Then in post you grade it to exactly what you want it to be.
Another fallacy of “real” light is that what is the “real” light of Mustafar, Kamino. Geonosis, Coruscant, Utapau and all the other planets that are not simply more Earth-like?
It’s really not at all different from the way the prequels did things but some people simply don’t want to believe it. It seems they can’t accept that as large as you build a set in studio that to really get it to seem real you have to extend it with miniatures and matte paintings.
The OT sets look great but so many look just like that. Sets. Nothing wrong with that at all. That is the best they could do. Now you can make even the briefest scene look like a place the characters are actually walking through. For whatever reason some people can’t accept that because they know it’s “not real” like the studio sets are somehow real when you know they really are not.
I meet someone last might who insisted that what works for him best is when he doesn’t have to suspend his disbelief to watch a scene. This of course is nonsensical. You have to suspend your disbelief because you know it isn’t real.
If your level of suspension is stuck at the OT level then I don’t know how people will be able to justify it if it turns out that they actually like TFA. Something somewhere is going to annoy them.
One can only assume that these people must thing that those who went to Avatar and all the other movies that are far more “All-CGI”
(which itself is a ludicrous term) than the prequels ever were must be out of touch with “reality”
i trust jj but my only fear is if he put time travel in the movie
New Rumor on Making Star Wars! Wish this were true.. “Rumor: J.J. Abrams Asks Disney to Move Up Release Date for Star Wars The Force Awakens?
The folks at ikwiz are reporting that J.J. Abrams wants Disney to move up the release date for Star Wars The Force Awakens.
As far as I’m aware, this is the first report regarding anything like this. According to ikwiz, Abrams announced at “a recent Hollywood industry event” that he asked Disney to move up the release date due to his frustration with leaks.
Again, this is just a rumor. I’m not sure that’s really even viable at this point. I can also imagine a scenario where Abrams may have quipped something like that to a group just as a reflection of his annoyance at the leaks.
As a smart man once said…”that would be nice.”
It won’t happen, they want the extra dough the christmas market will bring.
he wants to do it, because sites like this are going to end up ruining it for everyone making it less special…which i understand…but what he doesnt understand,,,,is that people are going to go see this movie regardless….and probably as many times as they can that day…lol. but the early release date wont happen…they will not go up against the Avengers and Jurrasic park..not that those movies will hurt sales…but i think releasing star wars would hurt the sales of the Avengers.
nice one!
Looking a bit skinny JJ, take some downtime where you can
Here is an example of how CGI is not always a bad thing,
I didn’t notice how much CGI was in the film Zodiac, sorry, the resolution is low on the vid for some reason
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW2xhBSfFps
Even less noticeable was the CG in ‘Dragon Tattoo, HD vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDGqKyNV-HU
food for thought
Graphics can do more [or less, from a c.p.o.v.] than blow up space temples.
no doubt– there are only a handful of directors that have the clout to demand that kind of craftsmanship from animators and studios. It also comes down to the cinematography- alot of “bad cgi” is due to bad filming choices- the virtual camera shooting a shot in a totally unnatural environment (peter jackson, and jurassic world trailer) will usually look like crap-
Luckily for those of us on this board…. JJ abrams is one of the best directors for CGI usage and shot choice- I don’t have a single doubt about the look of this film- it all comes down to script and story… I mean come on… the script caused the prequels to be bad more so than cgi- but the cgi is pretty terrible, but again that was due to Lucas being lazy and relying on CGI as a crutch.
I wouldn’t condemn PJ, he’s had some really superb graphics in his movies.
Planet of the Apes [currently getting a kill-billion awards for graphics] would not have been cleared by the studios were it not for the success of LOTR, specifically Gollum.
Also in the Hobbit Gandalf is copy-pasted in every single scene he has with a hobbit or dwarf, which while depressing for the actor, never fails to be convincing.
Also the Moria sequence was very well done, even with the now-outdated rendering power on the Troll and the Balrog, that sequence is very well done [for what it’s worth, the far shots of the Fellowship running down those stairs and across the bridge are using CGI actors.]
Peter has definitely had a rough trilogy, but some other directors are way worse.
Great stuff! I watched all of them fully. Dragon Tatoo was masterfully done! It reminded me of the video about the CGI in Game of Thrones.
Done right… it’s a thing of beauty that really enhances the final product.
Based on this interview, I have faith in JJ’s aims. Time will tell if the RESULT stacks up. Either ways we’ll have a lot of fun bickering for years to come.
This Site will be shut down when Episode 7 come out? Or it will start to give informations about EPISODE 8? The name of the Site will change to STARWARSEPISODE8NEWS.COM?
Thank You!
Not shutting down.
Thanks for elaborating, Duke. Helpful and informative as always.
You’re welcome, Anonymous.
We won’t shut down. We will have a new name. More generic one. 🙂
CGI isn’t the problem. CGI used the way it was in the prequel trilogy was the problem. Even the actors struggled to do their job surrounded by green screens and dots.
“…in fact used CG more to remove things than to add things.” THIS.
“The prison in ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ is called the Kyln,” Gunn told MTV.
“The Kyln was an actual practical set composed of 350 thousand pounds of steel. The only way we could afford to build the set was because we went in, we built it, and then we melted it all down and sold it afterwards back as steel.”
That’s genius.
I’m glad JJ was a little more open about the production… pretty cool!
Do you guys think they’ll really push up the release date? I can wait till X mas… frankly I’m kind of hoping they wait on it & really polish up whatever CGI there is.
They won’t.
Never seen nobody say that, not even a “PT fan”!
Also, every comment from you always say the same PT bashing crap!
Steven Spielberg is the man, baby! No one can touch my Spielberg.
JJ looks totally drained. SW has sucked the bejeebus out of him.
No one cares, why do you bother?
Plenty of people care. These are issues whether you like it or not.
Tim doesn’t get enough attention in real life so it’s his obligation to come on here to express his sexist views and racial remarks.
No “real issues” whatsoever.
A rumor out there suggests JJ wants to move release date to summer due to leaks. What do you think?
The notion of the film being released months earlier … nobody’s going to disagree with it, but it would throw all the tie-in merchandising schedule out of whack – the toys, books, computer game etc. They will have locked down dates for manufacturing and printing, and having to uproot by 4-5 months would cause major headaches. The action figures in particular … they suffer from terrible distribution problems as it stands and Hasbro hasn’t quite recovered from the cancellation of the Episode 2-3 3D theatrical re-releases a couple of years ago.
I think if someone has the power and capacity to adapt that’s Disney. The rumor says Disney is taking the suggestion seriously. Who knows…
Would the movie be ready? If cgi is used more to erase things than add, then is much more rational operation than artistic, and subcontractation wpuld be easier to handle.
So what was JJ’s take on the crossaber? He just mentions that they had conversations on it when the sketch came out.
It doesn’t say he gave his “take” on the saber. It just says Abrams “on” the lightsaber. There is no way he would ever talk about the lightsaber in that way before the film comes out.
What it does say is that they didn’t just use that design because it looked cool, but they gave it similar consideration to that of the fans, but with less overreaction than we have had I’m sure.
Thank you it makes sense now.
I think it’s safe to say he approves of it.
Little bit off topic here but has anyone else noticed that JJ Abrams nose is the same as a X wing fighters nose? I always thought this whenever i saw him way before he got this star wars gig, i wonder if thats why…
I don’t see how the cross guard thing is “funny”. He’s making Star Wars now, not one of his average movies. I’m not being all too serious about the cross guard, but on the other hand, as a designer it is a major face palm and there is nothing funny about it, it is flat out one of the worst design decisions I’ve ever seen.
Wow. You really need to read that again. He didn’t say the lightsaber design was funny, he said the amount of contradictory feedback he got and the arguments that have sprung up are “funny” to see. He actually said the opposite of what you are implying; “…this was not done without a lot of conversation and it’s fun to see people have the conversation that we had, but in reverse.” In other words, they didn’t make this saber without covering the same ground we have.
It is this kind of fan reaction that makes us look bad. Please get your facts straight before making comments like that.
Let’s not forget that this is Sci Fi not Sci fact. Out of the box ideas are what inspire us to create and imagine for a Galaxy far far away
Holy shit get over it. Its already been demonstrated that the design works. In fact there are so many examples online of how it works just fine that you saying it doesn’t is paramount to ignorant stupidity.
Or if its so terrible for you dont watch the movie and head over to the Jurassic forum. You can bitch about how the new hybrid dinosaur is the “worst design decision ever….”
It’s a Darth Revan remake!
Its just too close to that character to claim originality.
What does a crossguard saber have to do with Revan? No one is talking about Kylo’s design.
“Its already been demonstrated that the design works.”
First let me say I don’t hate the design, but it only works if the non-blade part of the guard can block a saber. The idea that the blade continues into the hilt – thus the blade would block a hit that cut through it – isn’t very practical as he would have to repair the saber after every battle where he blocked with the guard.
The only other explanation is that it is a saber blocking material (like the electrostaffs of General Grievous’s Guards), but they have to convey that in the film in an obvious way (which I think they can do as they did with the staffs, which were a little easier to understand with visuals) or people will be confused. We have seen sabers cut through hilts, so you can’t just expect people to buy it without some in-film explanation. They have to “hang a lantern” on it.
Christopher Nolan will be directing the final installment of this trilogy.
I am sure Kennedy won’t have this terrible choice for star wars.
Star Wars’ not a depressing saga.
“obviously things changed”
Not necessarily. If they haven’t officially announced it, I doubt J. J. “Mystery Box” Abrams is going to be the one to spill the beans early.
best…movie…ever…
You all just wait and see.
Tell’em @Viral. Just wait and see.
cgi or practical – i just hope he holds the damn camera steady for more than 1 second a shot. i want to LOOK at and SEE the beautiful scenery and battles. the luke darth lightsaber duel on bespin is beautiful, it carries on with little camera movement, i fear too much zooming in on starships. star trek had some beautiful ships and potentially great space battle shots, but with the camera shaking and the insane zoomed in shots, its hard to sit back and appreciate the grandeur of the shot. pull back and let the effects work unfold before us from some distance…. meh, my rambling take on it…
Does this guy ever talk about film-making, passion.
Or is everything a summary of attics and personal flaws.
Film making seems like a lot of fun. Somehow when Mr. Abrams tells you this, I get sort of stomach pain.
Not that film making is politics, its not Kindergarten either.
Though, politics are a joke today. I guess visionary longing is over. Its all just remaining stationary and telling about inovation and change. People dont go to the moon anymore. Abrams does not envision dreams, hes selling cars.
He looks pretty stressed. I’ll bet he can’t wait until the rough cut is done.
JJ obviously has other plans that do not include the reporter.
I’m sure his mind was already at some party somewhere. I respect that.
Disney is poking JJ with the pitchfork right now… git r done you little bastard!
I’m no insider but you do know that this episode is just the setup for the big picture. Episode VII is all a cocktease.
Yeah, I said it. Cocktease.
Wherever there is peace and agreement, the living embodiment of NOT-tim snow will come to bring back balance [in the 2jedi 2sith sense of the word]
so it is written…