Star Wars: The Force Awakens (12/18/15)

[IrishJedi]

Let us all take a moment and be very thankful Khev does not work for Disney.

Not that it would matter since Disney aren't the ones making the creative decisions for these movies.

 

[Rorywan]

Not that it would matter since Disney aren't the ones making the creative decisions for these movies.

No, but they are making the marketing decisions which in turn dictate a lot of the creative decisions?
I love Kennedy but Iger rules the roost.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

The First Avenger was pretty disappointing though. Of course it was a critical disappointment (some would say embarrassment), but financially, as well.

 

[xipotec]

All this is silly talk.....

Is anyone else concerned that news says they gave total script control to Rian?

I keep reading it like they just said do what ever you want? Surely they have the story fleshed out till the last film? Surely the are not givi g total creative control of the story arc to different directors for each film?

Surely this cannot be true also? Itunes get the first digital sales a month before anyone else? I don't wanna use Itunes movies it sucks...
https://dorksideoftheforce.com/2016/02/24/star-wars-the-force-awakens-is-coming-to-itunes-in-march/

 

[rushmore223]

All this is silly talk.....

Is anyone else concerned that news says they gave total script control to Rian?

I keep reading it like they just said do what ever you want? Surely they have the story fleshed out till the last film? Surely the are not givi g total creative control of the story arc to different directors for each film?

Surely this cannot be true also? Itunes get the first digital sales a month before anyone else? I don't wanna use Itunes movies it sucks...

I would doubt it, given how much they have riding on this, but at the same time, it's nice to know the Director has some control over the movie instead of some executives. That is until it gets handed to Treverrow.

 

[IrishJedi]

No, but they are making the marketing decisions which in turn dictate a lot of the creative decisions?
I love Kennedy but Iger rules the roost.

As President of Lucasfilm Kennedy reports directly to Iger, yes. But she's powerful enough and he trusts her enough that her and her team at LFL (and the filmmakers she hires) have complete creative control over Star Wars right now. And after the monumental success of TFA thats not likely to change anytime soon.

Iger, Alan Horn and other Disney execs are much more directly involved in Marketing and Merchandising, which actually don't drive the creative decisions. In fact, Disney folks haven't attended LFL Story Group sessions in quite a while. As it stands today, LFL is actually a lot more autonomous creatively than Marvel Studios or Pixar, and Kennedy is the 2nd or 3rd more powerful person in the entire Disney corporation.

Is anyone else concerned that news says they gave total script control to Rian?

Not at all, because he's awesome. I'm way more concerned with what Treverrow will do with EP9, though Johnson is also writing the Treatment for that.

 

[jye4ever]

In Irish I trust.

Rory too sometimes.

 

[Rorywan]

Nah, TFA was a carefully constructed marketing success. That led the script first and foremost. Like the way they are now creating Chinese characters to appeal to that untapped market.

That's what Disney wanted. No risks, first time out. A basic reboot of the OT. It's a credit to JJ and co that they did such a good job of remaking and condensing what fans already knew and wanted into a new movie. That came down from the top at Disney. As did the constant and completely silly reminders that this film was practical not digital.

It's foolish to think that Iger and Co are not directly in control of what's going on. Even Lucas commented on it? Albeit in a hilariously inappropriate way. "selling his children to slavery"
Kennedy is great and her taste has been completely on the mark so far with the new trilogy, but her pay packet is paid by Disney now. Lucasfilm is not an autonomous company working alongside Disney, it's a part of Disney. I'm hoping Kennefy and Rian will be given a little more freedom now that TFA was a smash. Although judging by the stories coming out of the Rogue One camp about Iger insisting on reshoots and more commercial script doctoring who knows.

 

[The Ween]

The First Avenger was pretty disappointing though. Of course it was a critical disappointment (some would say embarrassment), but financially, as well. Set your goals a little higher, Khev. You're better than that mediocre excuse for a movie.

I loved it. One of my favorite Marvel movies. Thank you, Khev.

 

[Rorywan]

In Irish I trust.

Rory too sometimes.

Nice edit Jye!

 

[IrishJedi]

Lucasfilm is not an autonomous company working alongside Disney, it's a part of Disney.

That's gonna be news to several people I know at LFL who often forget they're even part of Disney now. Seriously, they are pretty damned autonomous. It's been over 3 years and Disney hasn't even changed the HR structure there (though they did dissolve a lot of waste, including LucasArts... which was a long time coming). LFL is still LFL, it's just owned by Disney shareholders now instead of grumpy Lucas. Now, that may change at some point in the future, and they may indeed become absorbed into Disney, but as it stands today Kennedy has been able to keep them silo'd.

Although judging by the stories coming out of the Rogue One camp about Iger insisting on reshoots and more commercial script doctoring who knows.

I'm not sure that is true at all. The only reshoot I'm aware of is 5 days of shooting to accommodate a very minor casting change requested by Edwards.

That said, Disney IS the one who are cutting the first trailers and will presenting the first footage and posters and such to the public. I wish I could be a fly in the wall in that boardroom. Because ROGUE ONE is pretty damn different.


EDIT: By the way, you want to know what Disney's biggest contribution to TFA was creatively? That awful, cluttered release poster. They seriously vetoed a Drew Struzan piece personally commissioned by Abrams for that piece of photoshopped nonsense (which went through like 9 iterations).

 

[Rorywan]

Star Wars is worth billions to Disney, it's crazy to believe they are not in complete control of what's going on.
What they vetoed a poster but had no comments on the script?

RO had a major script rework late in the day because Iger demanded it. Rian was also told to rework VIII to be more TFA related. More of Rey and co.
Also at Igers request. That sounds pretty in control to me.

 

[Khev]

I was just going to say that Disney is clearly in charge of marketing based on the crappy TFA one sheet that is so unlike SW (even effing AOTC got a glorious Struzan poster ) but I see Irish beat me to it. At least I got the D23 exclusive 27x40 Struzan TFA poster before they skyrocketed in price.

Star Wars is worth billions to Disney, it's crazy to believe they are not in complete control of what's going on.
What they vetoed a poster but had no comments on the script?

RO had a major script rework late in the day because Iger demanded it. Rian was also told to rework VIII to be more TFA related. More of Rey and co.
Also at Igers request. That sounds pretty in control to me.

We better damn well see "more of Rey" in Episode VIII.

 

[jye4ever]

Yeah that makes no sense, why would'nt E8/9 be about Rey, she was the main narrative of E7!

E7 was REY!

Oh, and a little bit about that fruitcake Kylo.

 

[Rorywan]

I was just going to say that Disney is clearly in charge of marketing based on the crappy TFA one sheet that is so unlike SW (even effing AOTC got a glorious Struzan poster ) but I see Irish beat me to it. At least I got the D23 exclusive 27x40 Struzan TFA poster before they skyrocketed in price.



We better damn well see "more of Rey" in Episode VIII.

Forget it mate, Disney marketing also retro deleted Princess Leia Slave Girl, so the chances of a bikini clad Rey is sadly not on the horizon.

 

[Khev]

Forget it mate, Disney marketing also retro deleted Princess Leia Slave Girl

I believe that rumor was revealed to be amiss. This was just announced after all, not only a Slave Leia collectible but one that is actually called "Slave Leia."

When I said "more of Rey" I actually didn't mean she needs to be in a bikini (which would be great obviously) or whatever but rather that she better be the main protagonist in the next two episodes. It would be criminal to sideline her just because Luke is back.

 

[Rorywan]

I believe that rumor was revealed to be amiss. This was just announced after all, not only a Slave Leia collectible but one that is actually called "Slave Leia."

When I said "more of Rey" I actually didn't mean she needs to be in a bikini (which would be great obviously) or whatever but rather that she better be the main protagonist in the next two episodes. It would be criminal to sideline her just because Luke is back.

Well that's good news it was probably Carrie Fisher started it for a laugh. Yeah, I certainly can't imagine the next two movies not being completely based around Rey & Co. I guess that's always a concern when getting a new team on each movie. Rian is good though, it's episode 9 I'm concerned about!

 

[jye4ever]

Nice edit Jye!

Well that's good news it was probably Carrie Fisher started it for a laugh. Yeah, I certainly can't imagine the next two movies not being completely based around Rey & Co. I guess that's always a concern when getting a new team on each movie. Rian is good though, it's episode 9 I'm concerned about!

Rey will run in heels in E9.

 

[Rorywan]

Rey will run in heels in E9.

Nooooooooooooooo!!!!

 

[IrishJedi]

I'm still utterly stumped by the Trevorrow hire. Now THAT sounds like an Iger/Disney Exec decision. "Hey, JURASSIC WORLD is pretty bad, but it made a gazillion bucks. Get that guy."