|
The Lightsabre Interview Anthony Daniels
Welcome to Lightsabre. We present the third part of our interview with a man who has become synonymous with Star Wars. He's been there since the very beginning, played his role in every film and television series and is about to embark on yet more Star Wars adventures, as well as finding the time to fill out of very busy CV of acting roles. Please oil your servomotors and welcome back to the site Anthony Daniels.
Q - There's one famous scene, I interviewed Irvin Kershner a couple of years ago very luckily, a fantastic fella, and I asked him about the Carbon Freezing scene in Empire Strikes Back. Were you on set that day? A – Yes, it was a disgusting set because it was so steamy, there was a very big smell of wet rust in the air, it was actually not very pleasant. I was on Chewbacca's back, so there were shots there. I didn't like that, it was orange and smelly. Q - Was it as difficult to work on that set as Alan Arnold indicated in his Once Upon A Galaxy making of book? It seemed to be a hot set, a difficult day. A – It was steam, set at a certain temperature. Dark, claustrophobic, orange. Jabba's Palace, the big thing there was smoke. Ahh, jeez, there were some scenes there you can just see my right side. The rest of me is behind a pillar with a wet towel. There was atmosphere, fog or incense. Day after day after day.
Q - So that was a hard set to work on. If any, what was the easiest set to work on?
A - In the Millennium Falcon cockpit it was too crowded, that was claustrophobic. Anything with a smooth floor was great.
Q - I guess anywhere was difficult to get your pace and walking rhythm going in that suit.
A - Oh no, I can do it but I do rely on the floor being modular, and if there's a step I need to know it hasn't been moved. You get used to planning it out and rehearsing it by myself, walk through, because part of my job is to be this unit. Not to keep everyone waiting I fill in the time by doing it, and then I do it.
Q - So everyone's got to hit their marks?
A - Oh yes please.
Q - (Laughs)
A - It's easier with some than others. On the last film rather sweetly they gave me marks that were different. Sometimes it's marks of tape on the floor, a beanbag, and mine would often be beanbags that I could nestle up to with my toes. But on the last one they gave me t-shaped, rather flat things but in gold because they thought I should have gold marks. That's a nice souvenir. You can pick them up. I can feel a little through the feet. I would count steps, I would work it until I had a body memory of how to do it, how far to go and stuff. And occasionally you get it slightly wrong.
Q - I can imagine it's like being Donald Pleasance in The Great Escape, plotting your route across a room.
A - (Laughs) Yes, but as a performance of course acting blind becomes difficult, keeping your eyes unfocused. Literally plotting the moves, and plotting where Artoo was, because I often couldn't see him. If I had bent down all the time it would have looked a bit old and tired. so everything had to be rehearsed. Ewoks were a bit of a problem in that way, they had to discipline themselves. (Laughs)
Q - Inherently naughty. Well now that you're doing the Clone Wars Threepio's adventures can continue throughout that time period and possibly on to other shows, are you pleased about that, are you happy to be his voice again?
A - I'm very pleased, I'm pleased they look so good. The artwork on those cartoons is terrific. The scripts are going to get even better. We've talked a lot about the storylines. I'm very, very happy. The film had a bit too much gunfire action for my taste, but I'm not the target audience really so hopefully they will become a little more...not cerebral, not intellectual but a little less bang-bang.
Q - The television show seems to have been better received than the film, people seem thrilled with the TV show.
A - Yes, and I'm very chuffed to be a part of that. I think also the performances, not that I would comment on anyone else's performance, I really enjoy listening to them, to the other actors. And because it's a CG worlds you accept it, so that works well for me. And yes, I have fun doing it, and I don't have to dress up.
Q - And you're happy to see where Threepio's life goes? You wrote a comic for Dark Horse about 10, 12 years ago, The Protocol Offensive. That must have been interesting?
A - Talk about hard work, that was. I'm sure people don't know how comics are made but they start off the sixe of telephone directories and then get squished down, there's a description of everything. And I wrote it with Ryder Windham, a terrific guy originally from Dark Horse. It was a tremendous learning experience but I can't be bothered. And of course I write all the stuff in my website, the Wonder Column, things like that. True stories and fun things to remember. I tend not to write about the darker side of it all.
Q - Threepio's always seemed to be a good fit for you, because you're clearly a storyteller.
A
- Yeah, I'd had a thought about that. Everybody said he wasn't much
good at telling stories (in Threepio voice) not at making them interesting
anyway. Little did I know in those days what it would lead to.
And of course because of that I've fronted up so many Lucasfilm events
around the world, these wonderful exhibitions that they make, especially the
Science Beyond Imagination exhibition. That has taken me to Japan,
Australia, America and Europe because I can actually talk, and I think what
worried me in the beginning was I was meeting people who thought that (in
American accent) 'If you're a robot you must be really kind of stupid, are
you an actor? Does the suit do it? Do you walk like that because
of the suit? Oh, you're acting?' Just like the Kate Winslet
thing, she's a Nazi all of a sudden. No she isn't, she's an actress
playing a Nazi. Well, I'm an actor playing a robot.
Q - Just roll with it.
A - Just roll with it and take it really easy. If your suitcase doesn't arrive, it's no big deal, because it never arrives. British Airways - HA!
Q - They call them passenger terminals for a reason I think.
A - I wish I'd said that.
Q - You can have that one.
A - That sinking feeling at Terminal Five, and then the letter saying 'We're sorry we didn't stick to our normal plans, yours sincerely, British Airways'.
Q - Thing is, they did.
A - (Laughs) You're quite good aren't you.
Q - I have my moments.
A - I might steal that one as well. I do like flying Virgin because they're just terrific, and they've never lost my bags anywhere. But also just to relax, and if you miss the plane then it's not the end of the world. But it does mean a slightly longer trip to make sure you're there when required. Part of the job of an actor is to be there.
Q - Is there anywhere in the world, planet Earth obviously, that you've not seen that you'd like to see?
A - Well I was in Brazil last year, it was wonderful, I never meant to go and it just was terrific. I was opening an exhibition there and I would like to go back there. We are trying to get to India on a holiday, that would mean three months. It's difficult, every year we say 'Next year we'll do it', and then things just keep coming up. But you know, there's going to be a point where even I say 'You know what, I think I'm just going to stop now'. And that's when you really can be free, because things have a habit of coming up at the last minute, with me, and suddenly you have to change your plans.
Q - With India I think you really would have to take a good chunk of time to really explore.
A - But the nice thing is I've been able to explore so many countries courtesy of Lucasfilm. That's really good. And my connection with the States, I really enjoy being at Carnegie Melon because that's highly stimulating.
Q – It's clearly close to your heart. A – The students are usually from 25 upwards, mature students, but they're so clever in the computer arts and entertainment arts and they're there to hone their skills and after so many years in the entertainment industry in various forms, not just acting but producing and creating I do have stuff to offer. I had to be persuaded that this was the case, I said 'I don't know this stuff, I'm just an actor' and Don Marinelli the Dean said 'No! Come teach, you'll be good.' And so I trusted him, and I look forward to it every time.
Q - You've really taken to that.
A - Yes, I have the word professor on the door which makes me laugh every time I say it because I'm not a professor. As a courtesy they call me professor. I failed the eleven plus, I didn't go to university, I didn't do any of it, so I'm definitely a late developer.
Q – Oh well, it's not a race. A – You're very wise, aren't you? That's really good.
Q - (Laughs)
A -
When you think that, all those years ago I didn't want to be in the
first film and now not only was I the only person to be in all six but now
I'm the only person to be in all seven, this strange cartoon thing.
But I don't collect...I don't collect anything really, but I don't collect
numbers like that or statistics, but it is weird, and having the first line
in the first movie in '76 and the last line in the last movie in whatever
year that was, again is a nice little bookend and I didn't realise of course
because they fiddle around in post-production a lot and it suddenly hit me
when the film was put together 'Wow, how odd'. And rather nice.
Q - Well that's fantastic, I'm so pleased to have spoken to you.
A - Well I really like the research you've done, you really know about this stuff
Q - Thank you very much.
A - The nightmare interview - 'Was it hot in the costume?'
Q - You know a friend of mine, Barry Eldridge who put on Celebration Europe. We had a chat about a year ago and he said 'For Gods sake Mark, don't ask him what it's like in the costume'. He's doing well, he's on Facebook.
A - Oh come on! Am I ever going on to something like Facebook?
Q - I found a fake Liam Neeson the other day and his email address was quigonjinn@hotmail.com. I called the guy out, but it was a shame because he had 4000 friends. I don't think Liam Neeson's email is quigonjinn@hotmail.com for a second.
A - I don't even want to know about Facebook or things like that. I find real life difficult enough without pratting about on the web all the time.
Q - (Laughs) I'm taking that one.
A - Oh yes, nothing personal.
Q - People spend far too much time on computers.
A - Oh yes, there's a lot of real life to be lived. The nice thing is meeting a young person who's got spots, and they worry about life and whatever and you can say 'This isn't it, there's lots more good stuff coming soon'. Sometimes you've got to go through some of the dreary bits, growing up. Now I think I'm entering an age, a period of my life where I can see it all coming good (Laughs).
Q - But I really think you should do that India trip. From the way you've spoken it would be a regret if you didn't do it, so I think you should plan that one.
A - Yes, well we will, because my other half is insisting, she's
being a bit forceful.
Q - Thank you very much.
A - Good luck with it all and if we ever meet, you do have to tell me.
Q - We actually met at Memorabilia last March.
A - You put that in a note, and I thought...
Q - You met dozens of people (Laughs)
A - But I have a very bad, errr...recognition factor, I can't spell either. Bits of my brain are just not there really. But do remind me that we had a nice talk because we have.
Q - Thank you very much, all the best and have a good day.
A - Bye. |
