4:03PM, Oct 28, 2008
Director of the hugely enjoyable Star Wars ™: The Clone Wars™ movie and the man George Lucas calls the authority on all things Star Wars, it was inevitable that Dave Filoni would be The Clone Wars TV series' supervising director.
Here he discusses the joys of exploring new characters and why despite the move to TV, Star Wars is only going to get bigger.
How does this series set itself apart from all other television animation?
Dave Filoni: Well, it’s like Yoda says: “Size matters not.” George has us approaching this series in the same way we’d approach a feature and, more specifically, the same way we’d approach a Star Wars feature.
We didn’t scale back at all to fit the small screen. And because we can do so much with the camera in CG animation, we really push the boundaries. The scope of the production is pretty unique for TV animation, too. We use a previsualization process that is very similar to the techniques used for live-action films, which gives everything a distinct cinematic feel.
So we are combining our traditional, conventional Star Wars methods of storytelling with an interesting new visual style. The blend is something that is both familiar and unique.
What can viewers expect to surprise them in Star Wars: The Clone Wars?
DF: The Star Wars films provided an incredible universe of characters, but the vast majority were limited to background roles, appearing only when they intersected with the story of Anakin and Luke.
In The Clone Wars, we get to explore a lot of these characters and really grow them into three-dimensional individuals. For example, all we know about Jedi Knight Kit Fisto from the live-action films is that he’s got a killer smile. Now we have the chance to find out more, to dig into his story.
Personally, I was always intrigued by Plo Koon, a Jedi who barely had any screen time at all. In the series, though, there can be entire episodes dedicated to him. It’s really interesting to see where each of them come from, and how they individually interpret their responsibilities as Jedi protectors.
Again, this is Star Wars through and through, but we’re going to be exploring sides of the classic story that we haven’t yet seen.
Why are you particularly fond of Plo Koon?
DF: Well, Star Wars has a long history of introducing seemingly minor characters who go on to ignite fan imagination.
In the original trilogy, Boba Fett has just a little bit of screen time and only a few lines, but he went on to become one of the fan favorites. I guess Plo Koon’s kind of like my Boba Fett; there was just something about him that really intrigued me.
In the three prequels, he had less than five minutes of screen time, total, before getting shot down by his own clones. It’s fun to be able to flesh out his character a bit.
What are some of the challenges of creating a new chapter to the Star Wars saga?
DF: With a series like The Clone Wars, addressing the challenges is what makes my job fun. We’re working within a very established universe, so we have to be respectful of that, but we also want to stretch within those limitations to create something new.
Part of our fun has been going back over the stories with George and creating episodes that uncover or reveal ideas that can be quite surprising. Fans will find that the back story isn’t always as predictable as they might like to believe. Think back to Darth Vader’s big revelation at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. That threw us all for a loop, and the fans went wild debating that issue until Return of the Jedi was released.
I like to think that there are some interesting revelations in our series, too, which may make fans look at some of the existing Saga in a new way. Virtually anything is possible. It’s definitely a delicate balance, though, but that’s the fun part.
How do you ensure you’re bringing George Lucas’ vision to animation?
DF: Well, that’s easy. George is always on-hand to ensure that his vision’s being realized. While he’s not involved in every day-to-day decision, he’s got a very hands-on approach, and his influence and direction are definitely still very important to the series.
Actually, when I started on the project, he sat down with some of us to teach us how to make Star Wars. We all had our own preconceptions after growing up with the Saga for the past 30 years, but George is obviously the final word. He knows Star Wars better than anyone, because he is Star Wars. Everything came from his imagination, so it was really interesting to hear from the source, to get an understanding of where it comes from, and how and why.
Is there an underlying “message” or concept behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars?
DF: One of the interesting things about Star Wars is that people really tend to internalise the Jedi philosophy. It’s never explicit or ham-fisted, and it doesn’t come across as preachy, because it’s such an integral part of the Star Wars Saga. In our series, we get to look at the different Jedi, each of whom has a slightly different relationship to the Force and to the Jedi Order. It’s interesting to see those differences, and to examine the nature of the Force from those different angles.
That said, we also open each episode with what we call a Jedi “cookie.” It’s a short phrase that summarises the episode’s theme simply and concisely, as if handed down from the Jedi Order.
By the standard of millions of Star Wars fans across the planet, you’re living a dream. What’s it like to be the padawan to George Lucas?
DF: It’s definitely surreal. I remember seeing A New Hope for the first time in the theater, way back when. Actually, what I really remember is the drive home, because my brother and I were pretending to fight off TIE fighters from the back seat of the car. The movie really made an impact on me, like it did for a lot of people.
Flash forward 30 years, and here I am, working at Skywalker Ranch, discussing the characters and their motivations with George Lucas himself. It’s definitely a dream come true, but at the same time I can’t just “geek out” all the time.
As a fan, I know that Star Wars is important, and I respect that George has entrusted the continuation of his saga to me. That’s a big responsibility, and it’s not something I take lightly. Working alongside George, I get to see learn his techniques, and expand as a director and filmmaker. That’s a healthy dose of strange and wonderful.
TM & © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.
