The Frank Oz Reddit AMA was last night and the great man took all manner of questions from folks all over the world.
Frank’s full Reddit AMA is here. but below are a selection of answers pertaining to his work on Star Wars. For more from Frank, visit his official site.
Q – Hi Frank, i’m from Vancouver, BC. Just wondering what it was like to come back to the Star Wars franchise after all this time and perform with Mark, and also who came up with the page turner line? That was perfect!
Frank Oz –Hey Vancouver, Thanks for writing in. It was a joy and a challenge to come back to perform Yoda. As for Mark, I’ll say it over and over if it wasn’t for Mark, and his belief in the character, Yoda would not be the Yoda we know. I think Mark did a fantastic job in THE LAST JEDI. As for the pager-turner line, that was Rian, the director and writer. All the dialogue came from him. He is annoyingly talented.
Q – Hi Frank! Washington Post here, currently freezing in D.C. Thanks for doing this. Here’s a softball snowball question. In your opinion: Practical effects puppet Yoda or digitized acrobatic flippy floppy Yoda, and why?
FO –Hey Post, It all depends on story. In George’s story in one of the movies the writer wrote that Yoda would have a huge fight. There was no other choice but to do CG at that point because it couldn’t be done any other way. And we’re all slaves to the story. So it all depends on story, which type of character is used, CG or real.
Q – After his identity reveal in Empire, Yoda spoke about half of his lines using perfect language mechanics, but even the ‘backwards’ lines seamlessly blended in and served the character well. In every screen appearance since, nearly all of Yoda’s lines are intentionally and distractingly written ‘backwards.’ Were you ever concerned that Yoda became a parody of himself, or did you welcome this deliberate ‘backwards’ direction with nearly all of his dialogue?
FO –I would get bored of what you called his backward talking if there was not a real, serious reason behind it. And there is a real, serious reason for his talking like that. But there are a lot of questions waiting. I’ll probably answer that at www.FrankOz.com when the time comes.
Q – Do you ever find yourself applying the wisdom of Master Yoda to your own life?
“We are what they grow beyond, that is the true burden of all masters,” really struck me when I heard it. Even though I’m not a parent nor have I ever been a mentor, I couldn’t help but think back on growing up and understanding that it’s okay to separate oneself from the teachings and practices of one’s family. To take what I have learned and not be afraid of becoming my own independent self and find my own meaning in life. Anyways, thanks for all the work you do and may the force be with you! (I’m from Florida.)
FO –Hi Florida, Thanks for chiming in. I’m very lucky that I have amazing writers from George and Larry all the way to Rian. They write those amazing words. And “We are what they grow beyond” — I knew when I first read it was a rich thought. I don’t associate myself with Yoda’s wisdom. My life experiences have created different wisdom in me. But I love what Yoda says.
Q – A question from Florida, Like Mark Hamill, did you agree/disagree with the way your character was used in The Last Jedi?
FO –Hi Florida, For me it was not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing, it was a matter of did I feel that the writing was true for Yoda.
