Rock Stars Interview C-3PO

Members of Lostprophets, Fall Out Boy and Filter interview Anthony Daniels aka C-3PO.

Posted Wednesday, 17 February 2010 in

Rock Stars Interview C-3PO What do you get when you cross a three-storey tall high-definition LED screen, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a choir and the best music and moments from all six Star Wars films? You get Star Wars In Concert, the unique multi-media tour that will be rolling through the UK in March and April.

To get excited for this monumental event Rock Sound got in touch with narrator Anthony Daniels, better known to fans as C-3PO and let a load of giddy rockers ask him whatever they wanted. Check out the results below...

What do you think of the new trilogy?
Lee Gaze, Lostprophets
"Call me old fashioned, but there are some terrific things in there. Personally I wanted Darth Maul to stay in one piece since he’s the only bad character in the saga who actually is really evil - more than a costume. He hurts for fun and Iain McCaige’s design was thrilling. 10-year-olds love Jar Jar, I’m over 10, but can you imagine sitting down to write the opening chapters. A homework nightmare. The fight scenes between Ewan and Hayden were beyond thrilling to watch on set. And following Anakin’s fall from grace was very interesting as it lead us up to Episode IV."

What was your favorite Star Wars film to be involved in?
Neil Starr, Attack! Attack!
"The Empire Strikes Back. Some of the problems of the gold suit had been fixed but I did learn that running around slippery ice corridors, filled with smoky explosions wasn’t a good idea with a hangover. I loved the ice walls - all polystyrene and salted candle wax. What price blue screen! Interacting with Han Solo made for an interesting dynamic change, since R2 had gone off to a swamp planet with Luke. At least Harrison had some real dialogue that I could react to. I remember the wrap party was on Hoth which, by then, had actually turned into a real swamp with its own wild life, only yards away from Borehamwood High Street, which also had its own wild life I suppose. We got a bit muddy walking around with our party bags. The huge joy was Irving Kirshner who directed with crazy enthusiasm and energy, like Kermit on speed. A lovely man who made everyone’s favourite episode."

How did you create the personality of the character? Was there someone you were inspired by? How does C-3PO want to be remembered? A lover, a fighter or a witty golden droid who would do almost anything for his friends (except for the time in Return of the Jedi when he was bailing on R2 leaving him in the sand to burn)?
Kenny Bridges, Moneen
"I’ve always wondered where Threepio came from myself. Myself I suppose, I had the script for six months, so plenty of time to think about it all. Actually, not enough time. I liked his forlorn personality that shone out of the early concept art, but somehow his nervousness came out of the tension of his always being in the wrong place. Always out-of-place. His special qualities were just not required in a world of dramatic adventure, which lead to a permanent sense of frustration and tension. It was George’s script but some kind of magic happened as the character came off the page. A combination of the words, the voice, the beautiful figure, the situation, the drama. I remember him as a loyal and devoted friend who was not always appreciated for his devotion: funny, only because he lacks a sense of humour, though telling Captain Solo that he was about to become an Ewok snack gave Threepio a certain wry pleasure."

Is there any possibility of C-3PO returning to the big screen for Episodes 7, 8 and 9? They would surely be the most anticipated sequels of all time?
Richard West, Threshold
"I very much doubt it. But certain in this galaxy, nothing is."

Do you personally find it weird that a large number of people mark their religious views as 'Jedi'? How does it feel to have played a big part in what are arguably most succesful string of films ever?
Jay Styler, Fei Comodo
"Curiously, it has taken this moment (rather an extended moment perhaps) of being involved (to put it mildly) in Star Wars In Concert to make me understand the power of the simple story line and the huge and loving affection that the saga has created around the world. At every performance of our show I can study the film montages and revel in the music. How lucky is that! I can’t actually be a fan because I was so closely involved in the nit and grit but I see thousands of people each night who demomstrate that they love what we all did. And I’m a part of it. That does feel good. I do feel pride. Sir Alec was always rather worried by the Jedi thing. He really was religious, even converting to Catholicism. I think George’s idea of the Force was inspirational but I don’t think he meant people to become true believers."

Was C-3PO, at any point, informed that his creator was actually none other than the Lord Vader himself?
Toby Hayes, Shoes And Socks Off
"No. And if he ever finds out it would destroy him for sure. So please, don’t tell."

What acting roles would you still like to do? What would you have focused during those years if had George Lucas not created Star Wars?
Tyla Campbell, Tiger Please
"I was shown a path I never thought to find. It became a road far longer than expected with corners that keep revealing new opportunities. Of course there are roads I didn’t take. Who knows what was there. Who knows what’s ahead. I’m still travelling hopefully and happily."

Has being C-3PO ever hindered your ability to find other work as an actor?
Kevin Devine
"I didn’t want to meet George Lucas in ’75. I thought a robot was not a role that an actor would want to take - if he took himself seriously, which I must have done back then. I’m sure some people think that playing a robot isn’t really acting, so they probably wouldn’t want to ask me to play Hamlet. I only ever wanted to act so, as long as I’m performing, I’m happy."

Why does everyone else in the cast not love Star Wars as much as you? You seem to be the one Star Wars actor who still participates and interacts with fans?
Adam Russell, Story Of The Year
"I really am very fond of the character that I play in the saga, so I’m more than happy to keep him alive, well, active I suppose. And we would never have had more than one Episode without the fans. I am hugely lucky that Threepio’s personality and skills are relevant to so many new projects around the saga, whether it’s The Clone Wars, Disney’s new Star Tours ride, the new Star Wars Tom Tom sat-nav, the new Las Vegas Star Wars gaming machines…and that’s this month alone. The continuing success of the whole thing is due to a huge affection from the fans. I wish there was another word for everyone who enjoys our two trilogies. ‘Fan’ seems to be used negatively by those who want to dismiss the whole idea of group enjoyment. There aren’t that many crazies that I have met. Mostly people just want to say thank you. There does seem to be huge emphasis on autographs but personally, I don’t want to spend my life writing out my name, there has to be more to the films’ legacy than that! I’m happy to get involved in projects that maintain the standard of George’s original. That sounds stuffy. But, as with Star Wars In Concert, I feel responsible as a representative of the films not to cheapen their image. If that sounds stuffy too I don’t care, because I care."

Which of the films is your favourite to watch these days?
Josh Middleton, Sylosis
"These days I don’t. But every night on stage I watch the themed film sequences so brilliantly edited from all six movies. They really are like family albums, especially the originals. Harrison looking so young. Mark, even younger. Carrie’s hair. They make me smile."

Do you think George Lucas will had over the directing rains to someone like JJ Abrams for episodes 7, 8 and 9 if they happen?
Richard Patrick, Filter
"George seemed to enjoy directing I, II and III so I think the reins are very firmly in his grasp, whatever the weather. It’s a very, very big if."

Is it true that you were not a big sci-fi fan before C-3PO? I've also read countless interviews and seen many documentaries that most, if not all, of the cast thought this film was a joke and going to turn out to be garbage. What did you think about George's 'vision' at the time?
Joe Trohman, Fall Out Boy & The Damned Things
"Vision wasn’t a word any of used or even thought, we were blind. We did the scenes nicely because we’d said yes in the first place. Had the medium existed in those days, it would at most be a straight-to-video movie, we would have thought. We were wrong. One of the lessons from the whole SW phenomenon is George’s determination and self-belief, and his ultimate achievement. He kept trying. He didn’t sink under the rejection from all those studios that turned him away. I bet a lot of executive self-kicking followed. And yes, I was wrong about 2001- A Space Odyssey, too. I watched it twice last year. A terrific movie. I still don’t understand the end. There’s a lot I don’t understand. But I keep trying."

Star Wars In Concert will be at the following venues:

MARCH
09 - LIVERPOOL Echo Arena
10 - SHEFFIELD Arena
13 - GLASGOW SECC
15 - MANCHESTER MEN Arena
APRIL
02 - BIRMINGHAM LG Arena
03 - LONDON The O2 Arena
04 - LONDON The O2 Arena
06 - NEWCASTLE Metro Radio Arena

For more head to www.starwarsinconcert.com.