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The Lightsabre Interview Jesse Jensen
Welcome to
Lightsabre. He's the actor who
portrayed Saesee Tiin in
Attack of the Clones, as well as being the production designer and a producer
on the hugely successful Survivor.
Please welcome to Lightsabre Jesse Jensen. Q - Jesse, welcome to
Lightsabre. A – Thanks
it’s a pleasure to be involved with your website. Q - You joined the
Star Wars party with your brother Zach during Attack of the Clones in
Sydney. How exciting was that? A – It was great even being involved in the project in a behind the scenes capacity but when both Zac and I ended up becoming real Jedi masters it was really unbelievable, a childhood dream come true…especially when we were both involved… Q - Tell us something
of your career. How and where did you
begin in the industry and what led you to where you are today? A – I
travelled through out the world for seven years spending a lot of time in
Asia, Japan in particular where I did some art department work. On returning
to Australia I moved down to Sydney and worked my way into the film industry.
It was here while working art department on Attack of the Clones I managed
to become Saesee Tiin.
Not long before that I was lucky enough to work on the first season of the US
reality TV show Survivor which did extremely well and hence has remained a
fairly steady job for the last 7 years.
Allowing me to travel to all ends of the earth filming the show. Q - Being on set with
your fellow Jedi must have been thrilling?
What special memories did you take away from your Star Wars
experience? A - I was
actually working on a few of the major sets before and after acting in the
movie, in particular I spent a few months building the “solar sailor” the
space ship that Count Dooku and Yoda had the final
battle on before the count flew off in it! So I actually and to and from the
art work shops and get wardrobe checks etc. But that’s what made it great I
had been working behind the scenes for years and all of a sudden I was on the
other side of the camera and on Star Wars as a Jedi Master no less….amazing
stuff. The vibe with everyone working on the movie was great, everyone knew
it was a once in a life time experience to be part of the star wars universe
and you could feel that positive energy from the moment you went into work
until you went home. That energy wasn’t just restricted to the cast but ran
through the whole crew from workshop assistants’ right up to actors like
Samuel Jackson.
Q - What has it been
like to be a part of the Star Wars phenomenon? A -. It has
been such an honour to be apart of the Star Wars phenomenon. Amazing from day
one but it wasn’t until years later when I was invited to attend a convention
did I realise how deep the fan base and extended universe went and now I’m an
even bigger and more knowledgeable fan than when I first got the role as Saesee Tiin…. Saying that
though I only scratch the surface compared to some of the true fans die hard
fans out there …..may the force be with them all!! Q - Of the six
movies, which satisfied you the most? A - I like
the first three originals simply because that is what I grew up with. I’d
have to say Empire Strikes Back is my all time favourite. Although I
obviously have a place in my heart for Episode II where I made my Jedi Master
debut. Q - Travelling the
world and visiting conventions must be something you didn't expect when you
signed up to play Saesee. What do you make of the fans? A – No I
didn’t even know that world existed. I love it though and the fans couldn’t
be a nicer bunch of people. I have made a lot of friends and had some awesome
times at the small number of Conventions I have done over the years. I just
wish my 'real' job didn’t prevent me from
attending so many of them...it is all ways nice to be a celebrity for a
day or so. Q - What were your
feelings on Revenge of the Sith? Was
it a satisfying conclusion to the saga? A – Well as
far as Saesee Tiin and
Kit Fisto’s parts in the movie go I would have
liked them to put up a little more of a fight! I’m sure we are a lot tougher
than that sequence gave us credit! Same goes for a lot of the other Jedi that
were killed quite easily in that film. Other than that I think it was a great
film, lots of amazing action and yeah it was a satisfying conclusion to the saga
or perfect prelude to the original trilogy! Q - Saesee appears to be a very stolid character. How did you get into the right frame of
mind to portray him? A – To tell
the truth once you put on those Jedi gowns and hold a Lightsabre it doesn’t
take much imagination to really believe you hold the force within you and you
slip into that character quite easily….the make-up did a lot of the work
making Saesee Tiin who he
is! Q - The make-up must
have been a unique experience the first time it was applied. How did that first session go? A – it went surprisingly well. It took about 4 hours to be
totally done but being involved in something so incredible such as being
transformed into a Jedi Master could never be tedious; I loved every minute
of it and was amazed at how I was transformed. Once the contact lenses went
in I totally lost my self in the make-up.
Q - What lies ahead
for you in the future? A - I’m off
to Asia for the year to film the next two Survivors
series then not sure, maybe head back to my place in Tahiti and relax a bit
and let the force build up in me until my next project! Q - A quick question
about our site, Lightsabre. Any
comments? A – Awesome
website one of the best in the known universe I’d say.
Q - It's been a great
interview, and thanks for being our guest on Lightsabre. Just one final question. Saesee Tinn and Kit Fisto are sparring
in a Jedi training arena. The crowd
are spurring them both on and they furiously push each other to their limits,
but which one succeeds in winning the contest? A – Hahahaha I was waiting for that one I used to say I’d
take him as I’m the “older” brother but to tell the truth I’d have my work
cut out with Kit Fisto, he is one cool Jedi Master...I
must say he lasted seconds longer than me with Palpatine
if that means anything? Either way it would be a close one I’m just glad we
are brothers in arms! |
