Thursday, January 23, 2014

Mark Hamill Reddit AMA Highlights

3 comments
By: Benjamin Hart

In case you missed it, Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, hosted an AMA(Ask Me Anything) on Reddit! Mark gave many fascinating answers about his past with Star Wars, his first impressions of Harrison Ford, odd fan experiences, blue milk, beards, hitchhikers and he even tiptoed around some Episode VII questions too! Featured below are the questions and answers pertaining to Star Wars. If you would like to see his answers about Batman, Avatar: The Last Airbender and marriage advice, be sure to head over to Reddit and read the entire discussion!

Oh, and by the way, take a look at that photo up there! He looks great, doesn't he? Perhaps almost good enough to wear a Jedi robe and wield a Lightersaber again... *Wink wink*

---------------------------------------------------------------

JSK23:
Hello Mark and welcome to Reddit, from the huge Star Wars fanbase over at /r/starwars . Thanks for doing the AMA

Mark Hamill:
My pleasure! You know, Star Wars fans over the years have become so familiar to me. And they are so warm and so supportive, they're almost like family. I'm so grateful to them in so many ways. You're always taken aback because I don't think of it on a day to day basis, then you go to one of these celebrations or fan conventions. I call them UPF's, ultra passionate fans, and they are very special to all of us, me especially.

Peter Mayhew: 
Hi Mark, the people on reddit were very kind to me when I did my AMAA, hope you enjoy this community. Speak soon I'm sure. Cheers,

Peter Mayhew

Mark Hamill:
Thanks Peter, they've been great and I'm really enjoying it. I love you and you have been a life-long friend. And I'm convinced there's no one closer to a real life wookiee in the most positive sense.

Also, I loved those pictures you released! I've got a ton of old pics from the set upstairs that I want to go through now.

Roy_SPider:
This is my dream. I feel like I'm on the Falcon with Chewie and Luke.

Mark Hamill:
Next time, we'll have to get Han on here.

---------------------------------------------------------------

tmoss726:
Did you ever expect Star Wars to be such a critical success?

Mark Hamill:
I didn't expect it to be a critical success, I thought people would like it, because it took so many elements from movies we were familiar with, pirate, cowboy movies, war movies, and added humor. That's the thing that got me. Science fiction usually isn't funny. They have an 8 ft furry dog driving a spaceship, he's naked except headphones, that's funny. Even if it doesn't get great reviews it'll be a cult movie. People will go watch it at midnight because its so unique. I thought it would be popular but never thought it would be on the cover of Time magazine.

---------------------------------------------------------------

seamslegit:
What is your favorite Lightsaber Color?

Mark Hamill:
I just worked with Samuel L Jackson and he reminded me he had a purple lightsaber, which nobody had, I thought that was cool that he got his own color.
My favorite is green, I'm happy with what I had. You don't need to give me lavender or raw umber or whatever.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Vorlux:
Mr. Hamill, when I was six, all I wanted to be was you (Luke) and save the galaxy in my starfighter.
Who was your hero when you were six?

Mark Hamill:
I used to watch superman on TV, and i loved the idea of flying. i used to wonder if i wanted to fly like superman or peter pan. Peter Pan looked like it was more fun, superman was so bolt straight. And i loved Zorro, the old Disney Zorro. What is it with guys with secret identities who go out and fight crime? And James bond. I loved all that stuff.

---------------------------------------------------------------

JWL1092:
Apparently Carrie Fisher let it slip that you guys will be in Episode 7, any response?

Mark Hamill:
The only character I know for sure is returning is my friend R2-D2. He hasn’t stopped beeping about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------

PaulStephenRudd:
waves hand "You do not want to ask me any more Episode 7 questions."

Mark Hamill:
Haha. I’m not being coy, really. When I find something out, I’ll let everybody know. But nothing has been decided yet.

---------------------------------------------------------------

TheLieLlama:
How proud are you of the Star Wars Holiday Special? Did you know at the time of shooting it that it would turn out the way it did?

Mark Hamill:
Oh yeah. I thought it was a mistake from the beginning. It was just unlike anything else in the Star Wars universe. And I initially said that I didn't want to do it, but George said it would help keep Star Wars in the consciousness and I wanted to be a team player so I did it. And I also said that I didn't think Luke should sing, so they cut that number. And now, I think we shouldn't be ashamed of it. They should put on the extra of the DVD's - it shows how incredibly fallible we are! At that same time, it did introduce Boba Fett in an animated sequence, so it's significant in that respect. Plus Art Carney was in it, who is one of my favorite comedic actors of all time.

---------------------------------------------------------------

mercatormapv2:
What was your reaction when you first met Harrison Ford?

Mark Hamill:
Well I'd seen him in American Graffiti, and I did the screen tests with him. We just fell into our character roles. Luke idolizes Han Solo, it was such a great role because Hans was the cynic, he was the modern role in this fairly tale. It was just the right element in the stew for all the cynics in the audience.

I just thought Harrison was fantastic, so perfect for the part. We fell into the role of mentor/student. they couldn't have made a better choice, and he can do no wrong. He's got a great sense of humor, it was fun to try to make him laugh.

---------------------------------------------------------------

ghost_movement:
This is an intensely personal question I've often thought about asking you.

You are going to be immortal, man. Long after all of us are dead, the image of you as Luke Skywalker will be like Superman, or Harry Potter, or Gandalf, or Jesus. Even if the films are remade, your depiction of Luke will always be a spectre over whomever is playing him.

Are you humbled by this? Terrified? Typecast? Would you rather be known as a fictional character or the person portraying him?

Mark Hamill:
Great question. Well, I'm all those things. I'm certainly humbled. But's hard to really wrap one's head around. I didn't get into this business to be famous, I got in because I really like communicating. I wasn't even sure I was going to be an actor. So I look at that as Luke, not really as me. Luke is immortal and I'm just an actor who got the honor to play him.

You just have to just stay focused on what challenges you and what inspires you. And that's why I went to Broadway because I thought I'd get to explore new things. I'm not really somehow who goes back and re-watches old stuff I've done. I haven't seen any of the films since they were in the theater - originals or prequels. I thought the prequels are amazing by the way. If we were a garage band, they were a philharmonic. As George said, Star Wars is the most expensive small low movie ever made. Sorry, I think I got off on a tangent on this question.

---------------------------------------------------------------

mangarooboo:
Mr Hamill, it's such a pleasure. I have one question for you.
Do you possibly remember, in 1976 (or 1975, I'm not sure which) driving to the doctor to get your shots so you could fly overseas to shoot the first Star Wars movie? Do you remember that exact trip?
The reason I ask is because on that (or on one of them, if you had multiple), you stopped to pick up a hitchhiking woman who was on her way to a job interview.
You showed her the gargantuan script that you had in the front seat and she leafed through the first few pages and may not have seemed very impressed. She also may not have seemed very impressed that you were headed overseas, or that you were an actor. Or, for all I know, she could have put on a polite face and said that it was interesting.
I'm telling you this second-hand because this is a story I have been hearing from my own mother for the vast majority of my life - the time she got picked up and driven to an interview by the one and only Mark Hamill.
If you remember this happening, it would thrill my mother to no end to know that you remember her. If you don't remember, it's totally fine. She'll probably be mad at me for asking you either way - she's strangely embarrassed by the whole ordeal and tends to get mad at me when I bring it up.
She was so, so excited to see you in the movie the following summer and was VERY pleased to be proved wrong about you and your movie (she thought the few pages she read were dreadful and thought it would flop).
(On a side note, I have never confirmed this with her (again, she gets miffed when I bring it up) but I think it's because of you driving her to the interview and subsequently seeing you on the big screen that my sister and I grew up watching the Star Wars movies. I am an enormous fan and treat Star Wars like a religion (I'm not of the real Jedi faith but I find a particular solace in discussing the universe with others that is very similar to how at peace I feel when discussing religions with others) because of how much of my life has been dedicated to Star Wars.)
Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Hamill.
Edit: I texted her about this and she hasn't responded. I'm in trouble. OH WELL

Mark Hamill:
One key question, did she get the job? I hope so.

I don't have any specific memory of that, but it sounds like something I would have done. I don't recommend people to hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers now. I'm surprised I would have shown anyone the script, but there was no secrecy those days. If it were sitting in the front seat, she could have picked it up.

It would help if it were more geographically specific, because I know where I lived and where I would have been driving.

But of course it's true! Never doubt your mother.

mangarooboo:
Los Angeles somewhere. I believe she was on or near a bridge when you pulled over for her.

According to her story, you "plopped it in her lap." because you had a bit of a messy car (but that anybody is judging you!) and couldn't find a spot to put it because it was so big.

Oh oops! Edit: she didn't get the job. I don't think. Like I said, she's not really taking to me at the moment and I won't see her for another hour or so, if not longer, so I won't get the straight answer for a while. I remember asking her once and being disappointed at her answer. I think she was applying to a pharmacy? She works as a pharmacy technician in Santa Barbara for a while when she moved there from LA a few years after this happened.

Mark Hamill:
Just based of the description of a messy car, I know it was me and she's telling the truth. I was single living in a one-bedroom apartment in Malibu trying to make ends meet off of TV money then. And in those days, I was much more likely to pick up hitch hikers. And the fact that she remembers the messy car is what sold me!

---------------------------------------------------------------

erikbro:
Hi Mark. I am a wish grantor for make-a-wish. Thank you for what you are doing for the org and kids.

If you could change one scene from the original trilogy what would you change and why?

Mark Hamill:
There was a scene at the beginning of the first movie that was cut out. When you're first introduced to Mark he's on the farm and he sees the Robots, when R2 and C3PO eject he races to the club, and you see what his life is like on Tataouine. This beautiful actress calls him wormy. I loved it bc you saw that he wasn't well liked by his peers, and he bumps into Garrick Hagon, and Luke is really excited bc he has joined the empire, and Luke is so anxious to get off the farm and find his lot in life. He's thrilled that Biggs has joined the Empire, and feels as soon as he'd get the chance he'd join the rebel alliance. this shows that Luke is apolitical, and joining the empire is even attractive to him.

They changed to get to the plot faster, so now it goes straight to the 4th scene. The only place you can see it is the novelization of the screen play. With all the tweaking and adaptations, why not put it in to add detail to the story that's not there?

---------------------------------------------------------------

polvitos:
Would you rather fight 100 Ewok sized AT-AT's or 1 AT-AT sized Ewok?

Mark Hamill:
Probably the one AT-AT sized Ewok, because you'd probably have a better chance, if you had a 100 little things they could swarm all over you like ants on a glob of honey. Maybe you'd have the chance of hiding and not catching his attention, or you could climb up behind him and hang on and hope he gets tired. Obviously I've given a lot of thought to this.

---------------------------------------------------------------

governortarkin:
Are you still upset that you weren't able to pick up those power converters?

Mark Hamill:
I get ribbed for that line because it was so whiney. And I remember at the time, I had to make it as juvenile as possible so that I can show how Luke matures later. So it should be embarrassing. It should be whiney and childish. But boy, has it come back to haunt me. I don't think I ever got the chance to finally pick them up.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Munch3D:
Question: Was Yoda just as wierd IRL? ;)

Mark Hamill:
I never thought of him as weird, he was unexpected, because the audience and Luke both thought a Jedi Master must be 6'5" with a formidable physical presence. But that was the whole point, he was a little toad like creature. Frank Oz and the people who imbued him with life were spectacular, I loved that whole experience. I could tell it was a monumental character to be introducing in the 2nd installment, I loved it. The minute I looked at him, he was real to me. You notice that with small children, the puppeteer isn’t hiding what he's doing but the kids are zeroed in on Oscar or Grover or whoever, again its that childlike ability to believe and I never want to feel like I lose that. I was marveling at what a breakthrough puppet it was with the movement and the way they could build something like this, but if it hadn’t been for Frank Oz and Larry Kasdan writing that script it would have been a much different story. And I loved Yoda and still do.

---------------------------------------------------------------

darthrevan:
Older Luke Skywalker: beard or no beard?

Mark Hamill:
Well based on what has gone before, I have a feeling it's beard, but I have no confirmation of that. My wife said if you grow a beard, you'll cover up your cleft chin. That's not something that occurred to me. But I can only guess. I've never read any of the novelizations or anything but someone said to me, 'you're married, you have children.' Based on Obi-Wan I would have guessed I'd be living in an igloo or something. He was more spiritual, he didn't have a wife or children. And when you find out one of the only eligible women in the galaxy is your sister, it really cuts down on your odds of hooking up with anyone. But that's not what these movies are about. The charm of the trilogy is it appeals to the child in all of us. It goes back to playing in your backyard. It's very primal, it's good versus evil, a high sense of adventure.

---------------------------------------------------------------

caligula213:
Hey Mark, welcome to Reddit, I'm a huge fan!

Was it hard to keep the secret that Darth Vader was Luke's father? I read you were one of the few people who actually knew this before the premier.

Also, another question because it is my cake-day. Do you enjoy episodes 1-3?

EDIT: Best Cakeday Ever!

Mark Hamill:
Irvin Kirshner brought me aside, and said "I know this, George knows this, and you'll be the third person who knows. If it goes out we'll know you leaked it." So i was terrified of being the one to ruin it. I remember when they screened it, Harrison turned around and said "I didn't know that! Why the f*&^ didn't you tell me?!"

Im good at keeping secrets. Especially when the goal it to maximize the enjoyment of the audience. That's why I'm worried about episode 7, they're going after casting sheets! I'm someone who doesn't want to know what I'm getting for my birthday. My sisters would go through the closets at xmas, and i hated that.

Im trying to keep the surprises for the movies, not for the internet. I hate spoilers, I like being surprised. There's a natural curiosity, and a competition to see who can reveal the most. I beg people, please lets keep it a surprise! Don't you want to be surprised? I know I do.

---------------------------------------------------------------

DustyTheTiger:
Hi Mark! Possibly stupid question: Do you find yourself at home trying to move things with the force? Example: TV remote across the room. I ask this because I have done this many times hoping it would finally move. It hasn't. Yet.

Mark Hamill:
That's the thing, that's what fairy tales are made of. You wish you could do all these things, fly like Peter Pan, telekineses i think it's called.

You should always believe. Don't go through life being skeptical. One thing that makes the films distinct is how optimistic they are. The philosophy is very uplifting and very positive. it was a way to approach the subject of spirituality without knocking you over the head with it. The force could be religion, science, magic.

I love that people can make what they want of it, and that they could find courage in their life. I've heard so many stories about what a positive thing it's been for people.

Keep trying to make that remote lift, never give up. One day it will happen.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Outlawed_Saint:
What's the Inside of a Taun Taun like?

Mark Hamill:
You know, warm and cozy. I also got inside a Bantha, those creatures that were outside the cantina. The inside of it was pasted over with newspapers and glue to give it substance, I thought, 'This is really odd.' I also got inside of Jabba, which was like a sauna bath, because it's like a big rubber enclosure. All the puppeteers had gone to lunch and I wondered, 'I wonder what it's like in there.'

---------------------------------------------------------------

AlderaanRefugee:
Wookies or Droids?

Mark Hamill:
Just for the sake of loyalty, it would have to be R2 and C-3PO. Hans had the Wookiee. I love the fact that C-3PO was so unhappy being thrust into these adventures. He’d be so much happier working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. C-3PO was one of the funniest characters in those movies, I thought.

---------------------------------------------------------------

funkseoulbrotha:
Mark,

What did (Bantha) blue milk taste like?


Mark Hamill:
It was ghastly! Since it was a prop, I wanted to matter of factly have a sip, but they used this milk that doesn't need to be refrigerated. It was sweet. It's moments like that when I think, boy, I really am a good actor since I didn't gag. I can't remember the name, it comes in these triangular cartons, it's everlasting milk or something like that. I don't know if they still make it. It's sweet and syrupy and yucky. If you want to try it go to a camping store and drop some blue food coloring in it and there you go.

---------------------------------------------------------------

crunchycrunchysmooth:
Who has been your greatest source of inspiration?

Mark Hamill:
It's hard to pick a single person. My older brother, Alec Guinness, Sam Fuller, I don't know. The minute you say one person you think I should mention Harrison, George, Gary Kurtz, the list goes on and on. I love to be inspired by even the smallest aspect of someone's personality. Maybe they have a tenacity or wisdom that I lack. To pick one is impossible.

That questions inspires me to search my soul and contemplate.

---------------------------------------------------------------

JohnJohnMcLovin:
do you ever have second thoughts about not finishing Jedi school ?

Mark Hamill:Ha! I didn't know that i hadn't! Thats the problem, there are people who know more about the Star Wars universe than i do! people will scream at me if I get IG88's name wrong, on the movie it was just the medical droid. We called things the dust bin robot, we had pet names for things. People know so much more about it than i do.

I didn't go to proper Jedi school, I was just tutored by Obi-Wan and Yoda, that was the closest thing to school. Then i dashed off against obi's wishes, he didn't think i was ready. He was probably right.

---------------------------------------------------------------

IAmArique:
The age old question. Who would win in a fight: Batman, Luke Skywalker, or Skips?

Mark Hamill:
Well you know Batman is physically much more formidable, but Luke has that Jedi magic, maybe he'd use mind tricks. I hope it would never come to that, because I think I'd have a hard time beating someone like Batman. My only hope would be mind tricks or running and hiding.

---------------------------------------------------------------

tmiller12:
since Make a Wish just did "Batkid" any chance we'd see a "Luke Kid?" (or Jedi Kid)? Cause that. would. be. AWESOME

Mark Hamill:That would be a great idea! I’m sure as Disney ramps up awareness of episode 7 that would fit in perfectly. My hope is that we can bring back many people from behind the camera and in front of the camera. A Make A Wish Jedi kid would be great, and to involve as many people from the original trilogy as possible.

---------------------------------------------------------------

whaddap:
Hey Mark! Being as recognizable as you are, you probably have a lot of daily interaction with fans. What's the strangest request you're ever gotten from a fan you've met?

Mark Hamill:
There's a lot of nice people who ask me to sign body parts or go birthday parts - and I wish I could accommodate them all. The strangest one was a cab driver who kept tell about the anti-christ and how Luke was blocking Darth Vader's path to taking over the world. He wanted me to help out somehow. I wasn't exactly sure how, but he was very passionate about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------

flyingdragon3:What is your favorite thing about working with the Make A Wish Foundation?

Mark Hamill:
I love the feeling that you can give something back, bc you've been so fortunate in your own life. Working with MAW you feel like, gee, my real career feels so trivial in comparison. It makes you wish you could do that charitable activity all the time.

I love this organization. I've helped them over the years, but they’ll never be able to top Batkid, that was the most amazing feel good story. The way the community turned out. it’s something you can go to when you’re feeling particularly depressed about how rotten people are, usually when your’e watching politics. Then Batkid comes along. The mayor, the sports icons, rescuing the lady that was tied up, it was just too much. It was amazing. That kid couldn’t have been cuter if it was a cartoon that Disney drew.

If you'd like to help me support Make A Wish, and win a chance to tour Skywalker Ranch and hang out with me in LA, you can enter here: http://www.omaze.com/experiences/starwars. It only takes $10.

---------------------------------------------------------------


3 comments:

Unknown said...

Unknown said...

Unknown said...

Post a Comment

 
This site is not endorsed by Lucasfilm Ltd. or Disney and is intended for entertainment and information purposes only. The official Star Wars site can be found at www.starwars.com. Star Wars, the Star Wars logo, all names and pictures of Star Wars characters, vehicles and any other Star Wars related items are registered trademarks and/or copyrights of Lucasfilm Ltd., or their respective trademark and copyright holders. All original content of this site, both graphical and textual, is the intellectual property of The Star Wars Underworld - unless otherwise indicated.
Site template © 2011 DheTemplate.com. Supported by PsPrint Emeryville and homeinbayarea.com