The Force Awakens Williams talks about The Force Awakens

[Maurizio 5,893]

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/john-williams-star-wars-the-force-awakens

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Cool!

Though why is JW doing the Hitler salute?

[Director of Poltergeist 8,125]

His latest instruction to me was, “Just do your thing.”

Thank fuck.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

That comment was a bit worrying to me. I hope JW is atleast being challenged here.

"Just do your thing" could be an invitation to JW autopilot scoring.

[KK 3,310]

Considering the expectations riding on this, I'm sure JW is challenging himself to reinvent a new language for the film, just as he did with TPM. I don't expect to hear much autopilot.

[Director of Poltergeist 8,125]

You're right, Williams can't do autopilot well. Really, only Goldsmith could.

[Jay 42,473]

Considering the expectations with this film, I'm sure JW is challenging himself to reinvent a new language for this film, just as he did with TPM. I don't expect to hear much autopilot.

Agreed.

[Not Mr. Big 4,818]

There are some scenes where we do make reference to earlier thematic pieces. We haven’t done it yet, but we’re planning to do it. It’s something that I think will seem very natural and right in the moments for which we’ve chosen to do these kinds of quotes. There aren’t many of them, but there are a few that I think are important and will seem very much a part of the fabric of the piece in a positive and constructive way.

This quote is very encouraging to me.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Jerry on auto pilot was atleast more fun to listen to. Mainly because he often did that for action flicks

[RedBard 71]

I know the material--I think I do. I have my take on it, so to speak; I have my feelings about it. So I haven’t had to consult the old scores. It’s really been a comfortable transition in each case.

Of course he can autopilot. Why couldn't he autopilot?

[Marian Schedenig 10,164]

Though why is JW doing the Hitler salute?

He isn't doing it very well. There's a number of current Austrian politicians who could teach him how to do it properly...

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Well he's had back pains

[RedBard 71]

He's waving to somebody. That's all.

You people and your Nazi-driven context clues.

[Code 000. Destruct. 0. 4,261]

You seem very eager to dismiss it. Perhaps you are a Nazi?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

John Williams doesn't wave! He gets waved at!

[Hlao-roo 390]

You're right, Williams can't do autopilot well. Really, only Goldsmith could.

In fairness, Goldsmith had more practice.

[karelm 3,190]

This is very cool!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

You're right, Williams can't do autopilot well. Really, only Goldsmith could.

In fairness, Goldsmith had more practice.

Take that sort of comments to FSM!

[Tom 5,615]

"Just do your thing" is the best instruction Williams could have possibility been given. JJ knows what he is doing. Williams does not need to be micromanaged. This will be the freshest SW score since TPM--perhaps even the freshest score period. I'd bet the proportion of old themes to new will be about the same as TPM as well, which I thought was just about right.

[Hlao-roo 390]

When was the last time a John Williams score was micromanaged?

[King Mark 3,834]

Harry Potter 3?

[Tom 5,615]

I don't know if one has been--that is not the point. The point is the JJ could have gone that route. I was worried about such things after the LSO and intermittent scoring sessions announcement.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Many high level meeting were held at Disney to see if Williams should be allowed to use a G flat!

[nightscape94 967]

"We’ve had a few preliminary meetings, and I’ve played him some music at the piano, which he seemed to like very much."

I would like to see footage similar to the E.T. meetings with Spielberg!

[King Mark 3,834]

So basically now we know that the old themes won't be used that much

[mrbellamy 7,321]

Fine by me.

[Jay 42,473]

So, what John Williams says here about writing in a sequel score being like adding a paragraph to a letter?

That's something you will never hear a film composer say 30 years from now.

[King Mark 3,834]

why, because paper won't exist?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Paper will always exist!

[Jay 42,473]

Because people don't write letters any more.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Soon children won't be taught to write by hand in schools.

[Not Mr. Big 4,818]

So basically now we know that the old themes won't be used that much

This is good news.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

But will there be a lot of new themes?

The prequels didn't have all that many.

[Not Mr. Big 4,818]

The Phantom Menace had a lot of new themes.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Anakins Theme, DOTF....

Thats it, right?

[Director of Poltergeist 8,125]

All the other motifs were pretty forgettable and underrepresented by Williams standards.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Exactly!

[indy4 159]

Trade federation march!!

[Red 75]

Anakins Theme, DOTF....

Thats it, right?

Trade Federation theme, Qui-Gon's theme, Flag Parade.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,948]

Flag Parade isn't a recurring theme though.

[Not Mr. Big 4,818]

Better than the 2 or so from Return of the Jedi.

[Red 75]

I'm not going to judge the score based on number of themes, new or old. It's about how they are used. The execution is most important.

[Not Mr. Big 4,818]

I'm not going to judge the score based on number of themes, new or old. It's about how they are used. The execution is most important.

Agreed.

[Jay 42,473]

I'm not going to judge the score based on number of themes, new or old. It's about how they are used. The execution is most important.

This.

[gkgyver 1,647]

His latest instruction to me was, “Just do your thing.”

Sounds like Snyder's and Nolan's instructions to Hans Zimmer on Man Of Steel: "It's just another movie, Hans, get real!"

Sounds like lazy direction, too. Williams isn't god, who can do no wrong. Give the man inspiration, your vision, and not just "do your own thing". Lincoln and Book Thief were meandering as fuck, give the man a challenge!

[RedBard 71]

You seem very eager to dismiss it. Perhaps you are a Nazi?

I did Nazi that coming.

[Thor 9,308]

STAR WARS, SCHMAR WARS.....great to see him mentioning CINDERELLA LIBERTY. Oh, how I wish we'd get an extended interview that went deeper into his past.

[leeallen01 2,207]

As much as the nostalgia would be lovely in scenes with Leia's Theme, Luke and Leia's theme, Leia and Hans love theme, and the force, I really want it to be as much new stuff as possible! Small statements of a 30 seconds each for a scene for those characters is enough. Total time would be around 5 minutes of old stuff then we can get over an hour of new stuff! Depending on the length of the album.

I've been championing Abrams to tell Williams what he wants and how he wants it to be a good director. If he doesn't 'Direct' Williams then he's not doing a very good job. It makes me wonder how he 'Directed' every one else. Did he say to Disney "do what you want?" Did he say to Harrison "do what you do best." He needs to 'direct' his vision rather than give people free rein

[karelm 3,190]

I've been championing Abrams to tell Williams what he wants and how he wants it to be a good director. If he doesn't 'Direct' Williams then he's not doing a very good job. It makes me wonder how he 'Directed' every one else. Did he say to Disney "do what you want?" Did he say to Harrison "do what you do best." He needs to 'direct' his vision rather than give people free rein

" Ive been very impressed with him in meetings with a great variety of people. His generalship is assured and warm and inviting and inclusive. "

[Incanus 5,858]

Isn't that kind of free but supportive creative environment in which a composer would thrive in? It is not like Abrams just said Williams "Just do your thing." without having those spotting sessions and discussing the music with him first. I think the suggestion to "Just do you thing." came afterwards meaning there would not be continual micromanaging of his work like with most modern film productions. It is a show of trust, not of lax management on Abrams' past I think.