Cixx
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Drew Struzan: The Force Awakens is Far and Away Probably The Best Star Wars you’ve Ever Seen!
Drew Struzan:
"I got to read the script and subsequently I’ve seen half of it
(THE FORCE AWAKENS) and I can tell you and the fans this,
honest to god, it is far and away probably going to be THE BEST
Star Wars you’ve ever seen"
Just a few hours after the exclusive poster art by Drew Struzan was unveiled at D23, the Australian site Movie Weekly managed to speak with the legendary artist at the Anaheim Convention Center. Read on to find more on Struzan’s work on The Force Awakens and what he thinks about the movie.
From Movie-Weekly:
RICHARD: I could geek out and be a fan boy over you all day but we don’t have time for that and I’d like to talk to you about Star Wars, as it seems it’s pulled you out of retirement once again…
DREW: Well, you know, when I had retired – because I was old, tired and cranky – I did say that if any of my supporters over my life and career would want me back, I would have to do anything they wished. So when they said Star Wars again and everybody was involved, I said of course I have to do this. Although a pleasure, I’d do it for George, for the fans and for Star Wars.
RICHARD: And that’s the undeniable power of Star Wars isn’t it? It is that. And your contribution being so pivotal to it’s identity and now with the a new slate of films …What was your process with this latest piece for THE FORCE AWAKENS, that was released at D23?
DREW: Well, see it started about a year ago or more, a year and a half ago. I got a call from J.J. Abrams who I have never met, and he was in England shooting the film and he goes ‘Hi, I’ve always loved the work’ and Blah, Blah, Blah, sounding like you, you know, like a fanboy (laughs). And we were talking along and he just goes ‘…Well, would you?’ and I said ‘…If I was asked.’ And that was the conversation (laughs). By the end of it, there were no other words.
SWTFA Poster
So about a year later, we get together and meet and he says we’re using all the original people – John Williams, Kasdan, Harrison Ford’s in it, everybody’s in it and everybody’s writing and making the music and we have to have your art to make it the real thing. So, of course, I’ve got to do it for George and I’ve got to do it for Star Wars. I’ve never worked with J.J before and so we started working on it and he showed me like half the movie and it was just… a wonderful film and I know it’s going to be grand. I got to read the script and subsequently I’ve seen half of it and I can tell you and the fans this, Honest to god, it is far and away probably going to be THE BEST Star Wars you’ve ever seen. It’s beautifully made and it’s a wonderful story.
RICHARD: You’ve excited fans once more by showing the character Finn wielding a lightsaber for the very first time. Was there much discussion about this among you, J.J, and the studio?
DREW: Ah, none what so ever (laughs). I worked for seven months on all different kinds of concepts with the studio and J.J and if you really want to know the sacred truth, after I got started and I saw the film and read the script, I was going over it in my mind for weeks – How do I feel about it? How can I represent this film really well? And I did this, like many creatives do, I came up with the concept in my sleep.
To me it represents the film. The spirit of the film, the new characters, the battle again to find the truth, to grow up, to find the purpose in life. It’s all those things that Star Wars had to be and is still. And I hope to represent that again to a new generation..
Star-Wars-Drew-Struzan-Posters11
RICHARD: Which you’ve done that again by beautifully depicting both the light and dark sides of the force. But what compels you to combine such opposites in the way that you do?
DREW: I think you put the good next to the bad and the good looks better and the bad looks worse. (laughs) That is the story of humanity, is it not? That it’s our choice. Which side we’re going to choose to be on and the battle that goes on between the two. I think what’s lovely about literature, art and Star Wars is that the good prevails by being good. Good is always stronger than the bad and that’s what makes it a beautifully universal theme and I’ve got to show that’s still our Star Wars.
RICHARD: Finally, with more Star Wars films on the horizon, if asked, would you return to this galaxy once more in the near future?
DREW: I have hope and desire if they should ask and want me back, I would consider it. If I’m able and capable… you’ll find me here (laughs).
For the full fantastic interview make sure to go to Movie-Weekly.
Movie Weekly
Drew Struzan:
"I got to read the script and subsequently I’ve seen half of it
(THE FORCE AWAKENS) and I can tell you and the fans this,
honest to god, it is far and away probably going to be THE BEST
Star Wars you’ve ever seen"
Just a few hours after the exclusive poster art by Drew Struzan was unveiled at D23, the Australian site Movie Weekly managed to speak with the legendary artist at the Anaheim Convention Center. Read on to find more on Struzan’s work on The Force Awakens and what he thinks about the movie.
From Movie-Weekly:
RICHARD: I could geek out and be a fan boy over you all day but we don’t have time for that and I’d like to talk to you about Star Wars, as it seems it’s pulled you out of retirement once again…
DREW: Well, you know, when I had retired – because I was old, tired and cranky – I did say that if any of my supporters over my life and career would want me back, I would have to do anything they wished. So when they said Star Wars again and everybody was involved, I said of course I have to do this. Although a pleasure, I’d do it for George, for the fans and for Star Wars.
RICHARD: And that’s the undeniable power of Star Wars isn’t it? It is that. And your contribution being so pivotal to it’s identity and now with the a new slate of films …What was your process with this latest piece for THE FORCE AWAKENS, that was released at D23?
DREW: Well, see it started about a year ago or more, a year and a half ago. I got a call from J.J. Abrams who I have never met, and he was in England shooting the film and he goes ‘Hi, I’ve always loved the work’ and Blah, Blah, Blah, sounding like you, you know, like a fanboy (laughs). And we were talking along and he just goes ‘…Well, would you?’ and I said ‘…If I was asked.’ And that was the conversation (laughs). By the end of it, there were no other words.
SWTFA Poster
So about a year later, we get together and meet and he says we’re using all the original people – John Williams, Kasdan, Harrison Ford’s in it, everybody’s in it and everybody’s writing and making the music and we have to have your art to make it the real thing. So, of course, I’ve got to do it for George and I’ve got to do it for Star Wars. I’ve never worked with J.J before and so we started working on it and he showed me like half the movie and it was just… a wonderful film and I know it’s going to be grand. I got to read the script and subsequently I’ve seen half of it and I can tell you and the fans this, Honest to god, it is far and away probably going to be THE BEST Star Wars you’ve ever seen. It’s beautifully made and it’s a wonderful story.
RICHARD: You’ve excited fans once more by showing the character Finn wielding a lightsaber for the very first time. Was there much discussion about this among you, J.J, and the studio?
DREW: Ah, none what so ever (laughs). I worked for seven months on all different kinds of concepts with the studio and J.J and if you really want to know the sacred truth, after I got started and I saw the film and read the script, I was going over it in my mind for weeks – How do I feel about it? How can I represent this film really well? And I did this, like many creatives do, I came up with the concept in my sleep.
To me it represents the film. The spirit of the film, the new characters, the battle again to find the truth, to grow up, to find the purpose in life. It’s all those things that Star Wars had to be and is still. And I hope to represent that again to a new generation..
Star-Wars-Drew-Struzan-Posters11
RICHARD: Which you’ve done that again by beautifully depicting both the light and dark sides of the force. But what compels you to combine such opposites in the way that you do?
DREW: I think you put the good next to the bad and the good looks better and the bad looks worse. (laughs) That is the story of humanity, is it not? That it’s our choice. Which side we’re going to choose to be on and the battle that goes on between the two. I think what’s lovely about literature, art and Star Wars is that the good prevails by being good. Good is always stronger than the bad and that’s what makes it a beautifully universal theme and I’ve got to show that’s still our Star Wars.
RICHARD: Finally, with more Star Wars films on the horizon, if asked, would you return to this galaxy once more in the near future?
DREW: I have hope and desire if they should ask and want me back, I would consider it. If I’m able and capable… you’ll find me here (laughs).
For the full fantastic interview make sure to go to Movie-Weekly.
Movie Weekly
And that was when he was promoting EP.2 Attack of the Clones 
