The Force Awakens RUMOR: Williams has already written 3 reels of The Force Awakens

[Not Mr. Big 4,719]

Ford A. Thaxton posted this on FSM

OK, the rumor I heard from a fairly good source is that he is indeed working on the score already and has already finished the first three reels.
Given how long this film has been in production and that it's going to be done by the summer or very early fall it makes sense that Williams would be working on it.
The Big question is will it be recorded in LA or London.
Given the film was shot there and the history with the LSO, I suspect it will be done there.

Ford A. Thaxton

[John Dutton 7,207]

Get NORAD on the line. Tell them we've upgraded to DEFCON 3.

[Balahkay 629]

Is that the same guy who provided wrong information about the teaser he supposedly got a from a reliable source?

[Not Mr. Big 4,719]

He was right about the teaser for the most part.

[Tom 4,956]

Thaxton is as good of an unconfirmed source as we are going to get. It seems reasonable that Williams was shown at least a very rough edit in mid-November. Williams has publicly stated that he no longer is able to write the two minutes of music a day he once did. I think Abrams et al are going out of there way to provide him with as much time as possible.

[King Mark 3,666]

Williams has publicly stated that he no longer is able to write the two minutes of music a day he once did.

he has?

[Balahkay 629]

But Abrams said there is no rough cut of the film yet... unless if he was lying or trying to throw people off...

[BloodBoal 7,540]

Maybe Williams is writing stock music for them to put wherever they want in the film.

[Thor 8,101]

Williams has publicly stated that he no longer is able to write the two minutes of music a day he once did.

he has?

Yeah, where did he say that?

I think he will finish in time. I am also 99% sure that Williams will not travel to London to record with the LSO. It's more likely that they record in LA, or -- if they're really crazy and have the money -- get the LSO to come to LA!

[Unlucky Bastard 8,479]

What is this fetish people have for the LSO? The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will suffice.

[Not Mr. Big 4,719]

I just hope that the orchestra is more up to the task than it was with KOTCS.

[Giftheck 1,002]

What is this fetish people have for the LSO? The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will suffice.

It's tradition. The LSO did the previous six films, so people want them back.

[TownerFan 4,998]

Williams has publicly stated that he no longer is able to write the two minutes of music a day he once did.

he has?

Yeah, where did he say that?

There was an interview from 2 or 3 years ago where he said that he slowed his writing pace a bit as the years are passing by, but he still writes every day (I'll search for the exact quote).

Anyway, I'm sure the production staff of EpVII is giving him all the time he needs to write the amount of music requested.

[Unlucky Bastard 8,479]

What is this fetish people have for the LSO? The Sydney Symphony Orchestra will suffice.

It's tradition. The LSO did the previous six films, so people want them back.

Still sounds very OCD to me.

[Wojo 2,456]

Are they going to track down every single person that played with the LSO on all six scores, or is the assumption that if you're good enough to be in the LSO, that's enough?

[crumbs 14,629]

Maybe he just writes slower because he's not scoring four films in one year anymore?

[Thor 8,101]

Maybe he just writes slower because he's not scoring four films in one year anymore?

That was my thought too. Fewer projects, but not necessarily an inability to compose 2 minutes a day if that's what's required.

[Incanus 5,785]

Maybe he just writes slower because he's not scoring four films in one year anymore?

That was my thought too. Fewer projects, but not necessarily an inability to compose 2 minutes a day if that's what's required.

Well he is 83 and writing everything still by hand. I would not wonder if he would have slowed down a bit. Even if mind would be willing and quick the physique might not.

[TownerFan 4,998]

From a 2013 interview:

Williams seems to have little trouble maintaining energy or avoiding writer's block.

"I don't have that problem," he said. "Maybe I should, from time to time. I rarely go a day without scribbling something down. But I have to tell you, the production gets a little slow."

Many composers today speed up some things by using computer technology that can get notes on paper with a click of a mouse. Not Williams, who uses very last-century pencil and paper.

"I used to do scoring in pen, but the eraser is too useful," he said. "I have colleagues who can write a 90-minute score in three or four weeks with a computer. It would take me three or four months. I have been, happily, fully occupied for all these working years and have not had the time off to retool and learn the technology that has come along. That is kind of a lame excuse, but there it is."

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-06-01/entertainment/bs-ae-john-williams-interview-20130601_1_john-williams-baltimore-symphony-orchestra-concert-hall

[pete 947]

I don't read that as meaning he's slowing down. Rather, the process of composing music is a slow one. Of course he is 83!

[Jay 38,812]

Wow, I like that quote

[BloodBoal 7,540]

"That is kind of a lame excuse" doesn't sound like something JW would say. More like something a JW fan would say.

[mstrox 6,808]

But Abrams said there is no rough cut of the film yet... unless if he was lying or trying to throw people off...

They probably haven't finished the first cut of the entire movie, but they can send the footage they HAVE cut to Williams at any time.

[Hlao-roo 389]

From a 2013 interview:

Williams seems to have ... trouble maintaining energy or avoiding writer's block.

"I ... have that problem," he said. "Maybe I should [think about retiring]. I [used to] rarely go a day without scribbling something down. But I have to tell you, [i am] a little slow [these days]."

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-06-01/entertainment/bs-ae-john-williams-interview-20130601_1_john-williams-baltimore-symphony-orchestra-concert-hall

[mstrox 6,808]

From a 2013 interview:

Williams seems to have...

...a...

...

... lame excuse,..

Seems like a rude interview, IMO

[Tom 4,956]

I suppose I am making an inference. In the interview (maybe the one with Brian Williams, but not sure) I was referring to, Williams says that he cannot compose all day like he used to do but only 6 hours a day. If he equated two minutes of writing with a full day, then surely he writes less than two minutes with a half-three quarters day. Either way, it doesn't really matter. The important thing is that he is still composing.

[Dixon Hill 4,236]

Can't wait for this to be announced as an LA joint.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,362]

Brian Williams never interviewed John Williams!

[Balahkay 629]

I'm not at familiar with the protocols and methods a composer goes through when writing music for a film. I was under the assumption that the composer has access to a complete cut of the film (which may not be the final cut of the film), discusses the music with the director and then writes the music. Generally speaking, is that how it works? I would imagine giving bits and pieces of the of film to Williams for him to write music to would end up with a disjointed score.

[Jay 38,812]

They probably watched a loosely edited cut of the entire film and discussed the themes and overal shape of the score, and spotting points.

Then, he started writing full cues as fully edited reels starting coming in.

That's my guess anyway.

[Jim Ware 536]

It's not uncommon for composers to spot and score as and when 'reels' are ready, often out of order, although that's not Williams' usual methodology which requires a reasonably complete cut (although he may write the music out of order).

[TownerFan 4,998]

He wrote both Hook and War of the Worlds that way, if I'm not mistaken.

My guess is that a first tentative assembly of the film is already done and that's what was probably spotted by composer and director. Maybe JW preferred to start earlier and score at least the finished reels since a lot of music is likely required (hence he needs at least 10 to 12 weeks to write a 2-hrs score). Also, at some point he has to turn to write the score for Spielberg's untitled cold war spy thriller as well.

[Jay 38,812]

I predict he'll be completely done with Star Wars before he starts scoring St. James Place

[Balahkay 629]

At what point after the score has been written, do they begin recording... generally speaking?

[Jay 38,812]

It really varies from score to score, there are so many factors at play, including how much further editing the director thinks the film needs, etc.

[TownerFan 4,998]

I predict he'll be completely done with Star Wars before he starts scoring St. James Place

Sure. JW never worked simultaneously on two different scores, at least from what I remember.

[Jay 38,812]

Maybe in 2002 or 2005, but even then I'm not sure

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,362]

There was never any report stating that JW worked on scores simultaneously, even in busy years.

[Jay 38,812]

Of course, there are those that argue he must have, due to the AOTC Zam chase music showing up in the HPCOS Snitch chase

[BloodBoal 7,540]

Williams didn't work on COS.

[Jay 38,812]

I can prove he did!

[BloodBoal 7,540]

I didn't ask you to!

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,362]

Officially John Williams only wrote about 40 minutes of new music for COS.

Ive never personally seen any "proof" of this not being the case.

[Jay 38,812]

That is absolutely 100% not official! Stop lying!

[King Mark 3,666]

yeah let it go, there was a press release where he said that but obviously he was brought back in after wards to write the rest of the music. The sessions are out there and it's obvious Williams wrote everything

William Ross (or any composer) just does not have the talent to mimic Williams 100% . If he did he could write the next Star Wars film. There must have been legal reasons why the credits on the c.d. and the score remained that way .Even the "cut and paste" cues of old themes are no different than the ones in Home Alone 2

When another composer is really adapting Williams themes to write new cues it's obvious (Ken Thorne, Alexander Courage,Don Davis...)

[Tom 4,956]

Back to topic, it is really cool to think that Williams is writing a Star Wars score at this moment. The BBC should do a follow up documentary to the one which featured him writing ESB and show him working on the new score.

[Dixon Hill 4,236]

I'm sure CBS will air a 30 second segment on the songs of Star Wars and the guy who writes them (but not the lyrics, someone else did that). Maybe it'll go up to a minute in length if they ask him if the melody or chords come first, but you can count on the faux-cheery voiced reporter litanizing all of those great tunes that you "probably know" Williams from, and then telling us that he's "at it again." Won't their audience just feel so tickled and cultured after that as they settle in for the comedic genius of Two And A Half Men?

[Not Mr. Big 4,719]

I can't wait to hear the Schindler's List story again!

[Dixon Hill 4,236]

I bet your average CBS viewer is the type to swoon upon hearing the strains of Remembrances. It's such a good classical music song. I love how Williams uses the music to convey an emotion in the song. By the way, I have this charming story about John Williams and how he felt unfit to score the film because it was too important.

[Jay 38,812]

Back to topic, it is really cool to think that Williams is writing a Star Wars score at this moment. The BBC should do a follow up documentary to the one which featured him writing ESB and show him working on the new score.

You're assuming Williams would ever want to be filmed for that if he was asked.