This transcript is from the original character development sessions at Lucasfilm studios in 1997 between George Lucas and a studio executive, discussing the characters in the proposed script for Episode I.
George: So did you get a chance to read the script?
Executive: Yes, and I’ve got to say I love it. The characters are so deep.
George: Well what did you like the best?
Executive: First off, the interaction between Quai Gon and Obi Wan is terrific. It reminds me of Hector and Paris almost. Anakin is such an interesting person too. He’s what eight years old but he talks like Voltaire and has the resolute determination of Napoleon Bonaparte. And that Gungan character Jar-Jar he’s like Enkidu and Hiawatha mixed together.
George: I’m glad you got those impressions. I drew a lot from classical literature again for inspiration.
Executive: Yep. I do have a few notes though.
George: Ok shoot.
Executive: First off Anakin needs to be more like a whiny kid trapped at the mall shopping with his mom for women’s clothing. He needs to talk like a waif and go ‘yipeee’ at least once.
George: Uhhhhh…
Executive: Oh and the Quai Gon-Obi Wan dynamic needs to be like a hippie father raising a ROTC son. He tells him all the time about awesome psychedelic stuff but all the kid wants to do is fight.
George: Ok but…
Executive: And Jar-Jar needs to be a bumbling idiot. I will give no further explanation on that point but if it doesn’t happen all your funding will be revoked.
*silence*
END OF TRANSCRIPT
