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Kooky John Williams Interview


Mr. Brown

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I recently came across this rather funny interview.

"Dreamworks studios... where Steven Spielberg made JAWS and JURASSIC PARK..."

Poor Mr. Williams. You can tell he's a really sweet and humble guy, putting up with that zany introduction. Nice enthusiasm from the host, though. I'd probably act the same way and then piss myself with excitement.

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I felt the same. Williams seemed engaged and interested, probably as a direct result of the rather peculiar and eccentric manner of the interviewer.

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Yeah, I remember when that was posted a couple of years ago.

I have three issues with it. 1) the zany interviewer, 2) the often predictable questions and 3) the endless Hollywood gushing, which always makes me uncomfortable (and most Norwegians, since it's not very common here).

That being said, I still like it because it provides some insight into Williams' early years, in particular.

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There's pretty much no way to interview JW that doesn't sound cliched, obvious and repetitive.

I disagree. I know which questions I would ask, and they wouldn't really be any of those.

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There's pretty much no way to interview JW that doesn't sound cliched, obvious and repetitive.

I disagree. I know which questions I would ask, and they wouldn't really be any of those.

Maestro, if you had to describe your last toilet visit with a song title, what would it be?

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I have seen this before and the interviewer's zany style seems to be directed at 10 year olds. His introduction sounds just as condescending as it is excited. Or perhaps condescending is not the right word. He seems to talk down a bit to the audience at times.

But the little personal information Jon Jacobson gets out of Williams' early years and of his first epiphanies of writing music is indeed great.

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Is it from a show directed at children? The intro wouldn't be out of place on Sesame Street and during the interviewer does say later that a lot of young children will see it.

That aside, i really enjoyed the interview and Williams seem very relaxed and appeared to enjoy the chat.

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He, he...my questions would not be representative of the quirky JFWAN stylings.

what would you ask him?

Well, I'm not going to say yet, but they would deal with his early years, specific titles and more general aesthetic (but still specific) issues. I would not gush (at least desperately try not to), and he's so eloquent and smart that I know he would give some great answers. Unfortunately, people like me/us will never get such an opportunity. Interviews seem reserved only to the big media outlets, and they don't usually ask the smartest or most original questions.

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Didn't you hear The Book Thief? He is!

You brute!

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I've watched this interview many times, it's one of my favorites. I love how amused Williams is looking at Jacobson when he's being introduced.
My favorite part is around 11:13.
Jacobson: "That was my next question. So you've been reading in my script!"
Williams: *leans forward* "Oh!"

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I've watched this interview many times, it's one of my favorites. I love how amused Williams is looking at Jacobson when he's being introduced.

My favorite part is around 11:13.

Jacobson: "That was my next question. So you've been reading in my script!"

Williams: *leans forward* "Oh!"

Well, I'm not surprised that Williams guessed it, because those two questions are some of the most-asked (and IMO stupid -- no offense to Jacobson!) questions by non-film music savvy people - how do you compose your themes? and what is the favourite of your own scores?

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My questions would be like:

Hook. How do you feel about this?

Spielberg rejected a bunch of your music from The Lost World. How do you feel about this?

Your scores were altered significantly for the Star Wars prequels and an album was released of your music as it was edited to appear in the film. How do you feel about this?

There are people that want your complete scores. How do you feel about this?

You constantly edit out great parts from you cues when they are released on album. For example. How do you feel about this?

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My questions would be like:

Hook. How do you feel about this?

Spielberg rejected a bunch of your music from The Lost World. How do you feel about this?

Your scores were altered significantly for the Star Wars prequels and an album was released of your music as it was edited to appear in the film. How do you feel about this?

There are people that want your complete scores. How do you feel about this?

You constantly edit out great parts from you cues when they are released on album. For example. How do you feel about this?

And you would be kindly but forcefully escorted out with John Williams' beatific smile and silence following you all the way to the front door. How would you feel about that?

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My questions would be like:

Hook. How do you feel about this?

Spielberg rejected a bunch of your music from The Lost World. How do you feel about this?

Your scores were altered significantly for the Star Wars prequels and an album was released of your music as it was edited to appear in the film. How do you feel about this?

There are people that want your complete scores. How do you feel about this?

You constantly edit out great parts from you cues when they are released on album. For example. How do you feel about this?

And you would be kindly but forcefully escorted out with John Williams' beatific smile and silence following you all the way to the front door. How would you feel about that?

He, he....exactly!

There is one way to ask this, though, that isn't so confrontational in tone....and that is if you do it more generally -- i.e. how do you relate to soundtrack presentations (do you prefer to re-arrange it or to have all of the music in the film's order)? I've done this in several of my composer interviews. Of course, we know what the answer will be, but he could be given the opportunity to expand a little bit on the views.

Of course, I'm completely on Williams' side on that particular issue, so I would have a great time listening to his reasoning which most likely correspond to my own. :)

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That is nice of you, Once. Alas, it will probably remain a pipe dream (but I'm not giving up!).

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Your scores were altered significantly for the Star Wars prequels and an album was released of your music as it was edited to appear in the film. How do you feel about this?

We already know: Artistically betrayed. ;)

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I'd also ask why he never performs the love theme from Empire Strikes Back and why he thinks Psycho isn't a good score.

JW Interview, the Hard Talk Edition. It would never see the light of day.

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I'd also ask why he never performs the love theme from Empire Strikes Back and why he thinks Psycho isn't a good score.

He may just don't like it very much and the mention of PSYCHO as 'no great music but a great score' - i heard that by Williams and Goldsmith - most likely refers to Herrmann's incessant ostinati writing that gets tiresome to listen to easily but works like gangbusters in movies.

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