Without “Star Wars,” there would be no Classic Ross Amico. I owe a very great debt of gratitude to George Lucas and all the technicians that made the original “Star Wars” the experience it was. And most especially to John Williams for bringing the London Symphony Orchestra to the fore. I spent countless hours drawing, writing, and dreaming to the double-LP soundtrack album as a kid. And the post-modern approach to the music, with its many allusions to the Romantic and early 20th century classical repertoire, revealed new worlds, richer and more limitless than even those portrayed onscreen. My single-minded absorption in this score would determine my life’s path. This was music that was so hip, so in tune with Lucas’ homage-heavy film school chock-a-block, it took years for my developing mind to unpack everything. Pop music didn’t really grab me as a kid. I had no exposure to classical music, but I was always attracted to film music, thanks to old movies that mesmerized me from earliest childhood. I never missed a television broadcast of “King Kong” or “The Bride of Frankenstein” or “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” But experiencing “Star Wars” in the theater was something else entirely. For me, May 25th (the anniversary of the film’s opening in 1977) will always be Star Wars Day. However, for today, I’ll go with the pun everyone seems to love: May the 4th be with you!
Tag: Star Wars
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Patrick Read Johnson 5-25-77 Interview
Finally, finally, FINALLY, the much-postponed Patrick Read Johnson was our guest last night on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. This time, neither wild horses nor Fios-munching squirrels hindered an hour of absorbing anecdotes about Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and the making of 5-25-77.
We covered a lot of ground, with Johnson talking about the long and winding road to the realization of his autobiographical coming-of-age tale that coalesces around the opening of “Star Wars,” on May 25, 1977. Even so, there’s plenty of material we never touched on. Perhaps at some point there will be a sequel? For now, you can enjoy what we’ve got, here:
Next Friday, Roy’s guest will be Bonnie Moss, who will share stories about her longtime friendship with actor Leonard Nimoy.
Then on Sunday, Roy and I will reconvene on a special night to talk about James Cameron’s first sequel to surpass expectations, “Aliens” (1986). Is it better than Ridley Scott’s creepy original? It certainly is a fresh take, and a thrilling one.
Cameron, of course, would go on to prove it was no accident with the successful sequels “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
We’ll do our best to Alien-ate everyone, on “Roy s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner,” when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., next Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 EST!
https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner
Trailer for Johnson’s “5-25-77”
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5-25-77 Filmmaker on Roy’s Sci-Fi Corner
Filmmaker Patrick Read Johnson (bottom right) will be our guest tonight on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, when we talk about his movie 5-25-77. The opening of “Star Wars” on May 25, 1977, was a watershed moment for Johnson, already a teenager obsessed with “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Jaws,” as evidenced by his own home movie spin-offs.
The compulsion led him to Hollywood, where he actually got to meet special effects legend Douglas Trumbull, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” era Steven Spielberg, and John Dykstra, whose revolutionary effects for “Star Wars,” at the time still being created, would change the industry forever. Johnson became one of the first people outside of Dykstra’s Industrial Light and Magic to be shown a rough cut of the movie.
After that, there was no looking back. Johnson returned to carve out a career for himself as a writer, director, producer, visual effects artist, and sometimes actor. (He plays his own dad in this autobiographical film.)
Unfortunately, he had to reschedule from January because of connectivity issues, but now all systems are “go” for a jump to light speed with Patrick Read Johnson. Any kid who could figure out “2001: A Space Odyssey” could grow up to answer anything. So bring your questions to the comments section, when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Friday evening at 7:30 EST!
https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner
Trailer for Johnson’s “5-25-77”
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Patrick Read Johnson on Roy’s Sci-Fi Corner
Roy and I are thrilled to be able to welcome Patrick Read Johnson as our guest on the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner. Johnson’s own youthful obsession with science fiction propelled him to a career in Hollywood. His pet project, “5-25-77” (2022), reflects his coming-of-age as an aspiring filmmaker in a small Midwestern town around the time of the release of “Star Wars” (on May 25, 1977).
A couple of weeks ago, we used the film as a springboard to discuss our own boyhood fascinations with “2001,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Star Wars,” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and how they informed our parallel experiments in making Super-8 films. Now we’ll have a chance to hear all about Johnson’s career (including his work on the “Dragonheart” franchise) and hopefully plenty of behind-the-scenes nuggets, like the details of his real-life meetings with Douglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, and Steven Spielberg – and what it was like to be one of the first people to be shown a rough cut of “Star Wars” before it was ever distributed to theaters.
Everything was very hands-on, back in the day, when your mom could pick up the phone and get you an appointment in Hollywood, or you could revolutionize the world of special effects by working with models in a hot garage, reeking of burnt coffee.
Listen with rapt attention as Johnson talks about old times and how he strove to recreate that bygone era in his most personal film (18 years in the making!). Ask away in the comments section. We’ll share your questions when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Friday evening at 7:30 EST!
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Destination Moon & Sci-Fi Nostalgia
We made it there and back again last night in our discussion of “Destination Moon” (1950). But unlike the astronauts in George Pal’s scrupulously scientific sci-fi classic, we were blithely unconcerned about stripping down our vessel for the return journey. For one thing, with a cup of coffee in me, there was no chance of running out of fuel. Hence, another two-hour conversation about a 90-minute movie.
Highlight of the night: when Roy’s dad joined us by telephone to share his recollections of seeing the film in the theater on its original release as a ten year-old boy – the same age Roy and I were when we first saw “Star Wars.”
Check out the movie, if you’ve never seen it, and marvel at everything they got right, even as you acknowledge everything they didn’t, years before anyone had ever been to space. And note the difference in tone from that of the grim world we live in today. A more hopeful time? Or an optimistic pose to suit the story?
Then enjoy our exchange, with contributions from Mr. Bjellquist and viewer commenters, at the link.
Next week, we’re very excited to welcome Patrick Read Johnson, whose own youthful obsession with science fiction propelled him to a career in Hollywood. His pet project, “5-25-77” (2022), reflects his coming-of-age as an aspiring filmmaker in a small Midwestern town around the time of the release of “Star Wars” (on May 25, 1977). A couple of weeks ago, we used the film as a springboard to discuss our own boyhood fascinations with “2001,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Star Wars,” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and how they informed our parallel experiments making Super-8 films.
Now we’ll have a chance to hear all about Johnson’s career (including his work on the “Dragonheart” franchise) and hopefully plenty of behind-the-scenes morsels, like the details of his real-life meetings with Douglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, and Steven Spielberg – and what it was like to be one of the first people to be shown a rough cut of “Star Wars” before it ever reached a theater.
Bring your nostalgic awe to the next Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, and bring your questions to the comments section, when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., next Friday evening at 7:30 EST!
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