John Williams interviewed on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace on CNN, Sunday March 5

[aviazn 267]

Wow, another appearance, a full episode on Chris Wallace’s show. Streaming now on HBO Max! Airing on CNN Sunday night. This is really a full-court press.

 

Online story here:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/03/entertainment/john-williams-indiana-jones/index.html

 

 

[pete 697]

Little snippet here... Spielberg is many things, but ....

 

 

[Fabulin 3432]

Very few artists have been in a position to say something like this:

Quote

“There’s one thing I would say about working in film, a film like Indiana Jones can take six months. Six months when you’re 91 is a long time. So, you’re asking somebody to make a commitment from what a large percentage of the time, the earthly time you may have left.” —John Williams

[aviazn 267]

Fun interview. Is this the first time in history that an interviewer tells the "they're all dead" story to Williams? 😅

 

Prompting him with the film clips was a nice interview technique. I don't know that I've ever heard him say he wrote Luke's Theme from Star Wars "out of desperation". I dream about someone one day doing an interview with him where they give him a piano and just ask him all sorts of technical questions.

 

Also was he about to drop an f-bomb? I heard: "Music just means so much more to me every passing day. You just wish you could share that with people — how fffuu…cky we are to be working in something that you truly love."

 

EDIT: OK, listening again, I think he started to say “fortunate” and then shifted mid-word to “lucky”. With headphones, I hear “ffflucky” But the way it comes out, I totally thought he was going to say “how fucking lucky we are,” and in my mind, I think I will remember it that way. 🥹

[BB-8 1718]

What an interview extravaganza over the past couple of days!

[Marian Schedenig 6213]

12 hours ago, aviazn said:

EDIT: OK, listening again, I think he started to say “fortunate” and then shifted mid-word to “lucky”. With headphones, I hear “ffflucky” But the way it comes out, I totally thought he was going to say “how fucking lucky we are,” and in my mind, I think I will remember it that way. 🥹

 

Coming soon:

"She's not a woman you can say fucking no to."

"I know, but the fucks are all dead."

"I wrote a fuckton of 5 note variations."

[Thor 5774]

I hope more of this gets available, also to us living on the other side of the pond. Not expecting much from any of these short press junket interviews in terms of new information, but a full episode seems to have a potential, at least.

[Alex 2387]

A decent 25 minutes of interview. Some actually interesting questions and JW was on good form, although he does look tired.

[eitam 339]

2 hours ago, Alex said:

although he does look tired.

 

Probably because of the 13 interviews he's done in the past week

[JoeinAR 1848]

He was interviewed last night on CNN. He looks every bit his 91 years. He definitely needs some grooming.

[Tom 3363]

He should be ashamed of himself for looking his age.  

[JoeinAR 1848]

I was in my car when this came on and I was switching channels when i heard his unmistakable voice. His voice is filled with warmth and gentleness. As soon as I got home I screamed to Dave to turn on CNN, John Williams is being interviewed. 

 

Tom looking 91 is okay he can't control that, but looking disheveled is something he can.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ricard 1952]

31 minutes ago, JoeinAR said:

Tom looking 91 is okay he can't control that, but looking disheveled is something he can.

 

The show's hairstylist didn't do a good job, that's all.

 

 

[Thor 5774]

Gosh, I shouldn't have kept my expectations up. That clip from the interview was about as trite as any odd mainstream news interview I've seen and heard in the last 30 years. I thought maybe the extended running time would allow for a little bit of extra perspective, just a tad little tidbit out of the ordinary, but alas. Still, I'd love to see the rest regardless. I believe the whole thing is about 30 minutes.

[Brando 856]

He's kept himself pretty busy with interviews lately.

[Richard Penna 2486]

The clip from Wallace there was pretty good actually, even if the questions were a tad on the generic side. Williams seemed to enjoy going through his thoughts on how he interpreted the scenes, musically.

 

Someone in his team is really hell bent on getting him another oscar though, with the sudden deluge of interviews. If this media round were in recognition of an enthralling Indy 5 score, I'd be right there with him.

[Tom 3363]

I always feel a little bad for him when he loses.  But after this blitz, I am going to feel as bad for him as I did with Memoirs.  

[Marian Schedenig 6213]

2 hours ago, Brando said:

He's kept himself pretty busy with interviews lately.

 

He's done with Indy and therefore done with film scores (at least until Spielberg has a new project or something else grabs his fancy). Perhaps he's bored?

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

He's gotta do something between the cookie deliveries. 

[BB-8 1718]

The escape velocity from a shark flying with luft or lift over the moon can be many things...

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

On 06/03/2023 at 10:16 PM, Marian Schedenig said:

 

He's done with Indy and therefore done with film scores (at least until Spielberg has a new project or something else grabs his fancy). Perhaps he's bored?

 

He wants to finally cash in the acnowledgment he deserves.

[GerateWohl 2473]

When you just watch this Kind of interviews you get to think, Williams has just scored six movies in his career. Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Raiders, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park.

[BB-8 1718]

It appears that today the use of Leitmotivs is more frequent in his interviews than in his scores.

[crumbs 12574]

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

When you just watch this Kind of interviews you get to think, Williams has just scored six movies in his career. Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Raiders, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park.

 

It's certainly frustrating. It felt like most questions were setups for Williams to recite anecdotes he's recounted ad nauseam over the years. 

 

There was a glimmer of intrigue when Wallace asked for a more technical explanation about how he came up with Main Title from Star Wars, but that's about it. 

 

I wish interviewers would ask about the lesser known scores from time to time. What's the point of an interview that covers the same territory as dozens of existing interviews? It makes me question how much preparation these journalists do.

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

While writing the score to Heartbeeps, what was your preferred lunch dish?

 

How often du you sharpen your pencil?

 

What's your favourite position?

[bigjimwilson 135]

Not to derail this thread.... but aaaaaanyone else raise an eyebrow at the use of the original theatrical print of Star Wars in that interview? No "Episode IV" subtitle. What an interesting choice.... could that mean it's finally coming?

[TolkienSS 184]

4 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

What's your favourite position?

 

Viola 3rd finger position.

[bollemanneke 2867]

6 hours ago, crumbs said:

 

It's certainly frustrating. It felt like most questions were setups for Williams to recite anecdotes he's recounted ad nauseam over the years. 

 

There was a glimmer of intrigue when Wallace asked for a more technical explanation about how he came up with Main Title from Star Wars, but that's about it. 

 

I wish interviewers would ask about the lesser known scores from time to time. What's the point of an interview that covers the same territory as dozens of existing interviews? It makes me question how much preparation these journalists do.

Yes, they should really have asked the Classic FM guy to do this interview. You know, for a bit of profundity.

[Tom 3363]

These interviews were meant to be as populist as possible for the purposes of winning an Oscar.  Novel and in-depth questions were not only not a goal, it was likely such questions were explicitly to be avoided. 

 

I don't like it.  it just feels like groveling for an award, and to use my oft-repeated description of late, it just feels beneath his dignity.  And yes, I know that he is voluntarily agreeing to do them...

[Brando 856]

2 hours ago, bigjimwilson said:

Not to derail this thread.... but aaaaaanyone else raise an eyebrow at the use of the original theatrical print of Star Wars in that interview? No "Episode IV" subtitle. What an interesting choice.... could that mean it's finally coming?

Pulled from YouTube most likely. @Manakin Skywalkerwas telling me it looked like the '06 bonus disc version to his eyes.

[GerateWohl 2473]

3 hours ago, bigjimwilson said:

Not to derail this thread.... but aaaaaanyone else raise an eyebrow at the use of the original theatrical print of Star Wars in that interview? No "Episode IV" subtitle. What an interesting choice.... could that mean it's finally coming?

No. They just showed to him the version that he actually scored.

 

I just had to smile, when Williams mixed up the attack scene from Jaws of the Kindner boy with the initial attack scene with Chrissie.

I am sure, newer films he scored he would remember better.

They should stop discussing with him these 40+ year old scores over and over again.

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

10 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

When you just watch this Kind of interviews you get to think, Williams has just scored six movies in his career. Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Raiders, Schindler's List and Jurassic Park.

 

He also did CE3K.

[Tom 3363]

7 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

He also did CE3K.

Is that the one with five notes? 

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

1 hour ago, Tom said:

Is that the one with five notes? 

 

Yes. You could say he could have done more. 

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

On 05/03/2023 at 4:58 PM, Thor said:

I hope more of this gets available

 

You want the C&C release, eh?

[BB-8 1718]

I'm just wondering whether and how such interviews could influence the Oscar decision-makers. I think interviewing the wise old JW may make Spielberg look less narcissistic and more innocent and childish.

 

The general notion could be like: "Ah well, but JW's had his 5 Oscars, he's white and male, The Fabelmans is an insignificantly short score which will be hard to justify as a winner. So let's give Spielberg an Oscar for his autobiography instead, in the sense of a life-time achievements award..."

[Richard Penna 2486]

Particularly when the examples used are all big themes which remind voters that they already gave him oscars for his classic scores.

 

That's why, with my 'JW should get another oscar' hat on, I wish this media push were about the finale of Indy because it would be far easier to suggest JW gets one more for the completion of a franchise, much like Shore & co were rewarded for the LotR trilogy as a whole.

 

Or look at it as a career retrospective award (and he damn well deserves that). But I think that this score alone, taken amongst his collected works, isn't going to have the appeal it needs, unless voters want to celebrate the film more widely.

[A. A. Ron 832]

On 5/3/2023 at 8:58 AM, Thor said:

I hope more of this gets available

 

14 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

You want the C&C release, eh?

I didn’t realize Thor even knew the “M” word.

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

Thor is many things. One thing he's not, is a person that doesn't know the M word.

[Tallguy 1486]

On 07/03/2023 at 12:02 PM, bigjimwilson said:

Not to derail this thread.... but aaaaaanyone else raise an eyebrow at the use of the original theatrical print of Star Wars in that interview? No "Episode IV" subtitle. What an interesting choice.... could that mean it's finally coming?

 

Absolutely noticed. I doubt that that's what it means. Although... CNN... Disney... I do wonder where they got the footage from.

 

Here's a new potential for heartbreak: We will finally get the original films in 4K... But only on Disney+!

 

Obviously we'll be getting the Ultimate Star Wars Soundtrack Collection soon, though.

 

2 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

 

I didn’t realize Thor even knew the “M” word.

 

What the flucky is the M word?

[Brando 856]

2 minutes ago, Tallguy said:

 

Absolutely noticed. I doubt that that's what it means. Although... CNN... Disney... I do wonder where they got the footage from.

 

Here's a new potential for heartbreak: We will finally get the original films in 4K... But only on Disney+!

 

Obviously we'll be getting the Ultimate Star Wars Soundtrack Collection soon, though.

 

 

What the flucky is the M word?

I believe 'More'

[Jay 30919]

Context clues man

 

On 05/03/2023 at 10:58 AM, Thor said:

I hope more of this gets available, also to us living on the other side of the pond. Not expecting much from any of these short press junket interviews in terms of new information, but a full episode seems to have a potential, at least.

 

[Jurassic Shark 9303]

Thor wants an M&M* release.

 

*More & merrier.

[Muad'Dib 1621]

1 hour ago, Brando said:

I believe 'More'

 

 

[Marian Schedenig 6213]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

Context clues man

 

I didn't get it either.

 

[Jay 30919]

@A. A. Ron literally quoted @Thor's sentence in his post.

 

[TheUlyssesian 2247]

On 07/03/2023 at 1:50 PM, Tom said:

These interviews were meant to be as populist as possible for the purposes of winning an Oscar.  Novel and in-depth questions were not only not a goal, it was likely such questions were explicitly to be avoided. 

 

I don't like it.  it just feels like groveling for an award, and to use my oft-repeated description of late, it just feels beneath his dignity.  And yes, I know that he is voluntarily agreeing to do them...

 

You misunderstand how campaigns work. Some talent is definitely desperate to win an Oscar.

 

We know Williams is not. He does not lack for Oscars. He's supporting the Fabelmans campaign. They want him out there because they maybe see an opening. Every film wants Oscar winner slapped on its cover. Fabelmans looks like its going to win almost nothing, so they are trying everything they can and think Score is a shot for them. Williams is gracious in supporting their efforts.

 

EDIT: There's a campaign team of 10-15 on major awards film. They make all the decisions about which talent appears where and make all the bookings. It's not like Williams is calling up all these networks and setting up interviews.

[Jay 30919]

@TheUlyssesian is absolutely correct.

[Tom 3363]

1 hour ago, TheUlyssesian said:

 

You misunderstand how campaigns work. Some talent is definitely desperate to win an Oscar.

 

We know Williams is not. He does not lack for Oscars. He's supporting the Fabelmans campaign. They want him out there because they maybe see an opening. Every film wants Oscar winner slapped on its cover. Fabelmans looks like its going to win almost nothing, so they are trying everything they can and think Score is a shot for them. Williams is gracious in supporting their efforts.

 

EDIT: There's a campaign team of 10-15 on major awards film. They make all the decisions about which talent appears where and make all the bookings. It's not like Williams is calling up all these networks and setting up interviews.

Yes, I get the process.  They are using Williams as a means to awards, including his own.  It just seems at this point in his career and given his stature, he shouldn't even be asked to be on the Late Night press junket.  He is going to feel obligated to say yes because he is a professional, but the man is equivalent to Beethoven in terms of his prominence to his own era.  Having an aged Beethoven on the equivalent of a Late Show to pitch an opera would bother me too.  

 

I mean asking Williams if these awards are still important to him on a press junket for the awards themselves.  He's a freaking musical genius with very little time left on earth to answer questions of substance, and they spend their time asking him if winning an award would make him happy.  I find it painful, but as always, that might just be my subjective experience shared by few or none.

[Manakin Skywalker 3576]

On 07/03/2023 at 11:02 AM, bigjimwilson said:

Not to derail this thread.... but aaaaaanyone else raise an eyebrow at the use of the original theatrical print of Star Wars in that interview? No "Episode IV" subtitle. What an interesting choice.... could that mean it's finally coming?

 

8 hours ago, Tallguy said:

Absolutely noticed. I doubt that that's what it means. Although... CNN... Disney... I do wonder where they got the footage from.

 

I was able to verify that it's just the 2006 bonus DVD footage. Likely an editor just downloaded it from YouTube or something, which is pretty common.