Posted 01 April 2005 - 06:11 PM
I'm not crazy about the team surrounding GL during the making of the prequels. He got help with the script for AOTC because there was so much criticism of his TPM script, an area where he admits he has the most difficulty.
It seems to me that GL is surrounded by yes-men. No where in the DVD commentaries and documentaries do you see anyone question Lucas. They all stand around with their knees knocking afraid that something they say or do will meet with GL's disapproval. Not a good thing for the creative process which should be challenged.
In the new Art of ROTS, there was a quote where someone challeneged an artist's interpretation of the scene. GL hesitated and then said something akin to "A good Jedi wouldn't do that." A supportive group (especially an artistic one) ought to challenge the director, but admittedly it's a difficult proposition. I think the only way collaborative artists can sway GL is by proposing an idea and hoping "the Maker" will latch on to the idea. I still have a suspicious feeling that the artistic team is populated by a bunch of gushers.
One thing that comes to mind is the reason why Chiang, who did a lot of conceptional art for TPM and AOTC, left LFL just before ROTS. Obviously he had his own book he wanted to work on, as well as some video game, but there must be something else so difficult of challenging for him that he thought it was better to leave ship at that point rather than wait out a third film which would concievably pay the bills and still allow him artistic freedom down the line. He has created his own SFX company and is trying to do is project Robotica, but again, couldn't that have all happened later after EP 3?
When I worked at the Supreme Court, I learned from several clerks (skilled lawyers fresh out of law school who often draft court opinions which the Justices then re-write) that I met that some Justices choose the best candidate based on their resume, while others choose one conservative, one neutral, and one liberal for perspective. It's also possible there's a litmus test in terms of reflecting a conservative or liberal bent. Basically, how you create your support team creates a particular kind of process.
The basic artistic consideration, however, is how much does an artist get to control his art. Even men like Leonardo and Michelangelo had teams of artists who helped them create their art. A sculptor in training might be told to create the hands, while another would be given responsibility for the feet. Guiding the whole process, and of course taking credit, was the person who envisioned the piece. Isn't that GL in the case of SW?
Essentially, we the audience (especially we here at this website), don't like his prequels and we're not afraid to say it, and I'd even say we're pretty intelligent about our criticisms. At least we're bashers with reasons to back up our opinions. But again, ultimately it's GL who has control of his art, and we can either kiss his ass or not watch his movies. But who in here is not going to see ROTS, if even to amass more reasons to hate it?
I'd say we do have a role in the artistic process because I believe that no art is complete until the artist releases it to the public for their opinion. Otherwise, it wouldn't be art, it's be a personal project which can be good or bad artistically. Who's to say if it isn't shared?
To get back to the point of this thread, I don't think GL being cash poor would have helped him much. Somebody is going to criticize his movies no matter what. So the best thing an artist can do is just make the art the way he wants it done and then either flip off the critics publically or in private. Personally, I don't have much sympathy with those who really think that GL robbed them of their childhood.
Could others have done it better? Yes! But until GL gives up the reigns to SW, that's not a thing we can do about it. I think this is already the most sophisticated forum of critique for the SW universe, and it hasn't made any (outwardly visible) impact on any of the films. Personally, I love the fact that I can feel perfectly at home in a place where I can intellectually tear up something my heart tells me I love.
(OK, so I'm rambling)
Author: Sword Fighting in the Star Wars Universe.