#76 - Star Wars (1977) with Special Guest Eduardo Sánchez!
Nov 1, 2022
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Guest Eduardo Sánchez, known for directing The Blair Witch Project, discusses the influence of Star Wars on his career and the experience of creating a promotional video for Disney. They also talk about the pronunciation of 'Han Solo,' the impact of credits as a marketing strategy, childhood impressions of the movie, the appearance and hygiene of Han Solo, costumes, iconic quotes, endings in movies, and the blend of genres and humor in Star Wars.
Establishing a made-up world allowed for storytelling freedom in Star Wars.
The contrast between Han Solo and Luke's characters created dynamic interactions.
Introducing the dark and light sides of the Force added depth and stakes to the story.
Killing off Obi-Wan Kenobi helped create emotional moments and showed the stakes of the story.
Deep dives
The Importance of Setting
In the early drafts, the story took place in the year 3300. However, George Lucas realized that he needed to establish a made-up world to have freedom in storytelling.
The Importance of Contrast in Characters
By making Han Solo cynical and world-weary, it created an important contrast to Luke's good-natured, idealistic character. This contrast allowed for more dynamic interactions and character growth.
The Significance of Premise-Specific Tactics
Originally, the Force in Star Wars was only about intuition, but by giving it physical powers and introducing the dark and light sides, it created a premise-specific tactic that added depth and stakes to the story.
The Impact of Character Deaths
Killing off Obi-Wan Kenobi in the final draft helped create emotional moments and showed the stakes of the story, allowing for growth and development in the remaining characters.
The Power of Limiting the Story
George Lucas initially planned to include the entirety of the prequels and the original trilogy in one movie. However, he realized the importance of limiting the story to what mattered most, allowing for a focused and impactful narrative.
The power of 'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away'
One of the most surprising things I learned from this podcast episode is the power of the opening text 'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.' It sets the tone and transports the audience into a fantastical world, enhancing the experience and making it more engaging than if the story were set on Earth.
R2D2 was never supposed to talk
Another interesting thing I discovered is that R2D2 was never intended to talk. This revelation was surprising because the character's non-verbal communication and beeps have become an iconic part of the Star Wars franchise. The decision not to give R2D2 a voice contributes to the comedic moments and adds to the character's charm.
The significance of the five-point finale
The concept of the five-point finale outlined in Save the Cat Strikes Back was explored in this episode. It consists of gathering the team, storming the castle, the high tower surprise, digging down deep, and executing a new plan. Star Wars exemplifies the effectiveness of this structure, providing a compelling and satisfying ending that follows these five points.
Jamie, Jimmy and Bob don't have a bad feeling about this episode because joining in on the script talk is Star Wars super fan, filmmaker Eduardo Sánchez, director on such projects as The Blair Witch Project, Lovely Molly, V/H/S/2, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Lucifer, Supernatural, Yellow Jackets and the upcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds!
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