The secret to a great Star Wars soundtrack? Kazoos. Lots and lots of kazoos…
Say what you will about Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but I think we can all agree the film had one hell of a soundtrack. This comes as no surprise considering it was scored by veteran composer John Williams, the man responsible for nearly all of the music heard throughout the entire Star Wars franchise. For over 40 years the legendary conductor has provided visceral audio experiences to countless hit franchises, cementing himself as one of the greatest musical composers of our time.
But what is it like working with an incredibly talented individual carrying such an illustrious reputation? A new piece of VR content from Disney, Scoring The Last Jedi: A 360 Experience, answers that exact question via a behind-the-scenes trip through Williams’ creation of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi soundtrack.
Developed by Pasadena, CA-based creative studio SunnyBoy Entertainment, the 7 minute 360-degree experience gives a glimpse at the creative process of the academy award-winning composer as he takes the reigns of a 100+ orchestra to create a 183-minute score bursting with raw emotion.
“Well I don’t feel any different than I might have done 40 years ago,” states Williams in the video. “I’m no less excited about bringing it to life with the orchestra, maybe more so. You can never stop learning. You don’t want to retire from music anymore than you retire from breathing.”
“This is probably the only time in the history of cinema where a composer has had the opportunity to do eight episodes of something, using material from episode 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and then adding something new every time.”
One of the best moments of the VR experience comes when Williams utilizes an assortment of bizarre musical creations and arrangements to build source music for the scenes at the Canto Bright casino planet, something Rian Johnson was certain Williams would be uninterested in participating in. Surprisingly the intricate musician was more than happy to lend his assistance, employing the use of everything from plastic trumpets to a handful of kazoos physically strapped to a variety of horns.
Of course the experience is also full of behind-the-scenes shots packed with stormtroopers, bizarre aliens, massive explosions and an adorable moment between Williams and a 360-degree camera.
Scoring The Last Jedi: A 360 Experience is available now for free via the official Star Wars YouTube page.
