Lawrence Kasdan
Lawrence Kasdan is a writer, producer and director. He is the co-writer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens that opened today in the US. Kasdan c0-wrote other Star Wars films.
He wrote and directed The Big Chill. Earlier this year Kasdan was recognized for his work by Silicon Valley’s Cinequest Film Festival, which ia where we got to speak to him about Star Wars, George Lucas and writing screenplays.
I wondered what winning an award meant to Kasdan. “So, when there is an external sign that someone values what you have done …it is a nice relief from a normal, lonely process,” he responded. That answer by Kasdan reminds you that we often forget that writing is a lonely and demanding process.
LISTEN TO LAWRENCE KASDAN ON STAR WARS, GEORGE LUCAS AND FILMS
There is an interesting story of how Kasdan became a writer and how Arthur Miller “the playwright” of the day as he puts it influenced his decision to go to University of Michigan (U of MI). Kasdan joined U of MI to study under Professor Kenneth Thorpe Rowe, who was Miller’s teacher.
Kasdan has worked extensively with George Lucas. Why were Lucas and Steven Spielberg drawn to Kasdan’s writings? They both read Continental Divide and probably responded to the slightly Hawksian relationship between the heroine and the leading man he says. When Lucas and Spielberg read the script they wanted that tone, which was a hallmark of Howard Hawks films points out Kasdan.
Tune in to find out what Kasdan has to say about writing for films, Star Wars, George Lucas and if he is an iPhone or an Android user.
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