Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Untitled Star Wars Film

[TalkingHead]

Just read her bio and filmography, bewildering stuff. Handing over a tentpole SW feature to a activist journalist? Is the goal to turn SW into didactic edutainment? Step one to fixing the franchise should be hire someone who makes movies, understands the medium of narrative popcorn flicks, y’know the ones that make money and first and foremost entertain people. As if expectations couldn’t sink any lower. What will be the belabored excuse when this makes less than Ep 9?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Just read her bio and filmography, bewildering stuff. Handing over a tentpole SW feature to a activist journalist? Is the goal to turn SW into didactic edutainment? Step one to fixing the franchise should be hire someone who makes movies, understands the medium of narrative popcorn flicks, y’know the ones that make money and first and foremost entertain people. As if expectations couldn’t sink any lower. What will be the belabored excuse when this makes less than Ep 9?

It's my understanding that one of the reasons Marvel will go after indie filmmakers is that they can be more easily controlled by higher ups who have an overall vision of the franchise in terms of look, story, characterization etc. The lack of experience with big budget projects is not an issue, because there are others who have that and can allow the director-proper to focus on the day-to-day basics.

Highlighting this line from the original press release for what started this thread:

"Lucasfilm has been pretty clear they want to make sure the next series of films has a story they are happy with and don’t see a need to rush out that next franchise."

The director of these movies is largely given a thankless job. Yes, some individual mark is left on the final product, but think about how there is a consistency to the look, tone and feel of MCU titles. The same is true here. Hiring up and coming indie directors also gives these projects some PR buzz and it's great for these director's resumes to be given these big promotions and potentially big hit films.

Regardless of who is directing this particular movie, it will still be a Disney-produced Star Wars that will have to fit within the company's and Lucasfilm's expectations. It's how we sometimes end up with the development and post production issues of movie like Solo and Rogue One.

 

[Prince-1]

You missed the whole point. By history I meant with knowledge of the brand. I agreed with you on the directors, I made that clear. Having a good knowledge of the IP can be extremely helpful though. But it isn't the end all be all. That's why I said the story group needs to be better. So someone who might not have the knowledge like Jon or Kevin have, they have a place to go and get answers.

Nope, I got the entire point. Favreau did not have any history with SW before Mando and he hit a homerun and we have no idea if Chinoy is a secret SW fan and dresses as Leia for Halloween or if she has never watched a second of any film or show. And even if she is a huge fangirl it doesn't mean she will deliver a great film or a bomb. Time will tell what she does.

 

[erasure fan1]

Nope, I got the entire point. Favreau did not have any history with SW before Mando and he hit a homerun and we have no idea if Chinoy is a secret SW fan and dresses as Leia for Halloween or if she has never watched a second of any film or show. And even if she is a huge fangirl it doesn't mean she will deliver a great film or a bomb. Time will tell what she does.

You are insufferable. Someone can't even agree with you without you still finding the need to twist it to be argumentive. Oh well. Here's one for you.

 

[Screamface]

It's my understanding that one of the reasons Marvel will go after indie filmmakers is that they can be more easily controlled by higher ups who have an overall vision of the franchise in terms of look, story, characterization etc. The lack of experience with big budget projects is not an issue, because there are others who have that and can allow the director-proper to focus on the day-to-day basics.

What has been the biggest issue with Disney produced films, handing over too much control to writer/directors. The problem we have is that there is zero confidence in the producers brain trust at Lucasfilm.

Rumors are suggesting the TV stuff all got side lined with Boba, Obi-Wan and Mando 3 by too much influence by the producers. So it's a double edged sword. When they have good people, don't interfere.

Also the reality is, they are probably going down the Marvel route where they will just storyboard the film separately from the director. Action is all done by action people. The director is just some oversight of day to day decisions of a larger production decided by others. Makes sure actors say the lines.

Even with TFA and JJ. I spoke to people who were working on it during post. They literally were saying JJ wasn't even directing the action and visual effects. It was just the visual effects coordinator. Contrasting it to productions like Transformers where Bay would literally spend a few days a week at ILM for the Transformers films. Where he'd literally just live there a few days a week. Wasn't often able to explain what he wanted but knew it when he saw it. They said he was an but very good at what he does. Where as with JJ, they were just like, "someone else is directing it."

 

[Phroobar]

What has been the biggest issue with Disney produced films, handing over too much control to writer/directors. The problem we have is that there is zero confidence in the producers brain trust at Lucasfilm.

Rumors are suggesting the TV stuff all got side lined with Boba, Obi-Wan and Mando 3 by too much influence by the producers. So it's a double edged sword. When they have good people, don't interfere.

Also the reality is, they are probably going down the Marvel route where they will just storyboard the film separately from the director. Action is all done by action people. The director is just some oversight of day to day decisions of a larger production decided by others. Makes sure actors say the lines.

Even with TFA and JJ. I spoke to people who were working on it during post. They literally were saying JJ wasn't even directing the action and visual effects. It was just the visual effects coordinator. Contrasting it to productions like Transformers where Bay would literally spend a few days a week at ILM for the Transformers films. Where he'd literally just live there a few days a week. Wasn't often able to explain what he wanted but knew it when he saw it. They said he was an but very good at what he does. Where as with JJ, they were just like, "someone else is directing it."

This is similar to the way Roger Corman would make movies. He would hire inexperienced people and teach them to make a movie with a small budget and very little time. This built up their resumes so they could strike out on their own. This is how James Cameron and Jack Nicolson got their starts. Even Ron Howard got his start in a similar way with George Lucas and Willow.

 

[Screamface]

This is similar to the way Roger Corman would make movies. He would hire inexperienced people and teach them to make a movie with a small budget and very little time. This built up their resumes so they could strike out on their own. This is how James Cameron and Jack Nicolson got their starts. Even Ron Howard got his start in a similar way with George Lucas and Willow.

But isn't the thing now that directors get offered films and then just get shown an animation of the film already done?

Ron Howard is a genius film maker who grew up on sets and decided to learn the craft. Lucas helped him make the jump but he alone is a special talent.

I get your point though and you could be right.

 

[Phroobar]

But isn't the thing now that directors get offered films and then just get shown an animation of the film already done?

Ron Howard is a genius film maker who grew up on sets and decided to learn the craft. Lucas helped him make the jump but he alone is a special talent.

I get your point though and you could be right.

It could be the movie decisions are made higher up by executives and the director is there just to manage the dailies like a second unit director. They do what was already shown to them. That could be why movies are so bad now. The director was always seen as the artist with the vision. Now they just do the basics of setting up the scene and getting as many shots as possible so the editors can piece it together later.

 

[MisterPenguin]

But isn't the thing now that directors get offered films and then just get shown an animation of the film already done?

Ron Howard is a genius film maker who grew up on sets and decided to learn the craft. Lucas helped him make the jump but he alone is a special talent.

I get your point though and you could be right.

There's also the role of the writers of the content.

Yes, there are directors who also write and that gives them 100% control (barring editorial interference from whomever's bankrolling the project). They write, and then they direct what they wrote.

But then there are finished manuscripts in which the author is not involved in the production of the film. A director is hired by the producer to direct a film based on the screenplay. This happens most of the time with traditional Hollywood movies.

For the D+ series, the plot of episodes are mapped out in advance by the writers/producers. Then they hire a director to make it happen. This is definitely the case when they're using "The Volume" because all the completed CGI assets have to be in place before filming. So, most of the D+ series have the "pre-vis" mapped out before the director gets involved.

This is a boon for new directors who haven't staged action scenes previously. The action scenes are mapped out shot-for-shot, and the directors focus on directing the live humans in the shots. And if a director wants to be involved in setting up the pre-vis, they should definitely let LucasFilm know that they want to get into that part of the process.

If a SW director wants to be involved in creating the story, they need to talk to LucasFilm about being a writer or possibly a writer/director.

 

[TalkingHead]

This is similar to the way Roger Corman would make movies. He would hire inexperienced people and teach them to make a movie with a small budget and very little time. This built up their resumes so they could strike out on their own. This is how James Cameron and Jack Nicolson got their starts. Even Ron Howard got his start in a similar way with George Lucas and Willow.

Except Corman actually allowed the directors to direct. All he cared about was not going over budget and having a releasable movie. Directors had leeway in how they achieved that, and consequently (the best ones at least) were creative and discerning in how they did their jobs.

Current Disney/SW/Marvel feature mentality seems to think the director is more like a department store manager. She/he doesn’t have much say in what product is being sold, they simply make sure the product is assembled in a way that can be sold as a stop-gap entry on a never ending franchise conveyor belt.

 

[TalkingHead]

Even with TFA and JJ. I spoke to people who were working on it during post. They literally were saying JJ wasn't even directing the action and visual effects. It was just the visual effects coordinator. Contrasting it to productions like Transformers where Bay would literally spend a few days a week at ILM for the Transformers films. Where he'd literally just live there a few days a week. Wasn't often able to explain what he wanted but knew it when he saw it. They said he was an but very good at what he does. Where as with JJ, they were just like, "someone else is directing it."

^^ The difference between a craftsman and a hack.

 

[Phroobar]

^^ The difference between a craftsman and a hack.

JJ outsourced his own job.

 

[Jedijax719]

This is great news. Let me explain. Not only does Finn return, but it seems as though they may actually be treating him with respect. For a couple of years, John had been very critical about how his character was treated. Just before the announcement of new movies, he had dialed back his criticism (was a sharp indication to me that something was in the works). Then this. Seems as though Kennedy, and probably the director (along with perhaps Filoni and Favreau who involved with overseeing storytelling now) sat down and discussed what he had envisioned for Finn. And this time they are listening which eased him back into the role. That's how I think things played out. And I think that John's vision matches with many fans' visions.

John Boyega Reportedly Coming Back for New Star Wars Movie

A recent report has suggested that fellow sequel trilogy star John Boyega could be eyeing a return to the iconic franchise.

www.comingsoon.net

 

[Screamface]

This is great news.

Maybe, let me explain why it may not.

Star Wars pivoting to be doubling down on trying to fix the Sequel Trilogy. Turning the TV shows into trying to fix and establish the lack of world building. Now making more films to try and fix the horrible character development and plotting in those films. It's never going to change those films being terrible. It's a massive anchor which is already weighing down The Mandolorian. I can see nothing good coming of this. Let the sequels die. Kill it, if you have to.

For example, the TV shows pivoting to setting up the sequels means there is no ultimate victory. "Oh we defeated Mof Gideon." Doesn't matter Hux is out there cloning The Emporer. "Oh we defeated more imperial remanents." Dosn't matter. "Oh look we defeated Thrawn!!!" Doesn't matter. Where that doesn't matter is engrained into the plotting of the shows. It'd be one thing to just tell these, but by actively setting up and trying to fix the sequels. It underminds the narrative.

While there is scope for sequels to be better, over all the strategy to take multible sections of the franchise in the business of "fixing" the sequels is dumb.

 

[doctornick]

I thought Finn was the best part of Ep VII and then they did him dirty in the later films. I really look forward to get some redemption and actual development for the character.

 

[FutureCEO]

This is great news. Let me explain. Not only does Finn return, but it seems as though they may actually be treating him with respect. For a couple of years, John had been very critical about how his character was treated. Just before the announcement of new movies, he had dialed back his criticism (was a sharp indication to me that something was in the works). Then this. Seems as though Kennedy, and probably the director (along with perhaps Filoni and Favreau who involved with overseeing storytelling now) sat down and discussed what he had envisioned for Finn. And this time they are listening which eased him back into the role. That's how I think things played out. And I think that John's vision matches with many fans' visions.

John Boyega Reportedly Coming Back for New Star Wars Movie

A recent report has suggested that fellow sequel trilogy star John Boyega could be eyeing a return to the iconic franchise.

www.comingsoon.net

He was the worst thing in the Disney Star Wars movies. Rey is fine. I liked the person who played her but watching his acting was hard to watch. Or maybe it was the writers that made it hard to watch.

 

[DKampy]

He was the worst thing in the Disney Star Wars movies. Rey is fine. I liked the person who played her but watching his acting was hard to watch. Or maybe it was the writers that made it hard to watch.

The set up for Finn was great in The Force Awakens, but they did nothing with him in the next 2 sequels and what they had him do was changed for the worse

 

[Phroobar]

I'm reading Shadow of the Sith. It tries to fill in some of the plot holes of Rise of Skywalker. Lando and Luke are trying to save Rey and her mom and dad from Ochi of Bestoon. Lando hopes this will give some clues to finding his daughter. There is a sith want-a-be running around controlled by Palpy. We get the origin of Rey's dad. Ochi wants to bring Rey and her father to Palpatine on Exegol. It is a pretty bad book. There is lots of running around and Lando doesn't act the way he should. If the book was fleshed out better and added Han & Leia, it could have been a decent episode 7.

They really need to stop trying to justify the sequel trilogy and just assign it Legends EU status.
Plot summary here https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_of_the_Sith

 

[Jedijax719]

I'm reading Shadow of the Sith. It tries to fill in some of the plot holes of Rise of Skywalker. Lando and Luke are trying to save Rey and her mom and dad from Ochi of Bestoon. Lando hopes this will give some clues to finding his daughter. There is a sith want-a-be running around controlled by Palpy. We get the origin of Rey's dad. Ochi wants to bring Rey and her father to Palpatine on Exegol. It is a pretty bad book. There is lots of running around and Lando doesn't act the way he should. If the book was fleshed out better and added Han & Leia, it could have been a decent episode 7.

They really need to stop trying to justify the sequel trilogy and just assign it Legends EU status.
Plot summary here https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Shadow_of_the_Sith

Actually it sounds pretty cool. I may need to check it out.

 

[Serpico Jones]

The set up for Finn was great in The Force Awakens, but they did nothing with him in the next 2 sequels and what they had him do was changed for the worse

Agreed. He had the most interesting setup of all the new hero characters but they did nothing with him. I wonder if it was due to low action figures sales, his toys were always warming the pegs.