CRISIS OF INFINITE JEDI KNIGHTS

LegalDispatch 118

Dec 06, 2024

Howdy.

I’m writing this having just sent off a whole mess of Star Wars related docs: The lettering draft of Jedi Knights #1, revisions on Jedi Knights #6 addressing LucasFilm’s notes, and the first draft of the script for Jedi Knights #7.

My excitement for this series just grows with every passing issue and with each page of stunning artwork that the team of Madibek Musabekov and Luis Gurrerro turn in on the regular. I’m dying to show off their work, but there’s a Disney sniper team visible just outside my window.

Fortunately, editor Mark Paniccia has gotten approval to share some teaser images over on Twitter.

The first are three pages from Jedi Knights #1:

Art by Madibek Musabekov & Luis Gurrerro

Art by Madibek Musabekov & Luis Guerrerro

And here’s a glimpse of our Free Comic Book Day story:

Jedi knights getting mugged. Oh, this should be fun…

FEEDBACK

Aidan Middlebrook writes:

Hi Marc,
Not sure if you remember me, but my girlfriend and I met you at New York Comic Con last month. We’re both seniors at NYU Tisch, hoping to break into the film industry.

Yes! I remember you both. I’ve learned that I have horrible recall for names and faces, but remember moments reasonably well…

Firstly, let me say I’m so glad to be subscribed and reading your newsletter. It’s great to see that, despite everything going on in the world, you’re still able to give to so many exciting projects.

Thank you! And thank you for subscribing!

Your mention of implementing “a new combat use for the Force,” in Jedi Knights made me think of The Last Jedi, in which Rian Johnson delivered force projection. It’s inspiring to see writer’s like yourself taking risks and exploring beloved worlds in new ways. There are always ideas to be had!

Indeed. And Rian’s use of the Force was one of the many new ideas I thought he brought to the franchise. It’s one of the reasons I truly love The Last Jedi despite the hate it (incorrectly) gets from some corners.

My question to you is, with so many projects, what are your strategies for giving equal, passionate, energy to each one?

Oh, that’s a really great question. I think it starts with doing my best to avoid projects that don’t ignite my passion. But that’s easier said than done when trying to make a living and build out a career, so sometimes I find myself having to psych myself up for a given project. Typically, this involves me reminding myself why I chose to come aboard a project in the first place, what initially attracted me to it.

All that being said, I’ve been writing for so long now that I know how to do the work even when I’m not feeling inspired or passionate. This was very much the case after ABC passed on my passion project, a reboot of LA Law, in May 2022. For several months afterwards, I had simply no interest in working, much less being creative. But as I’ve said in previous newsletters, being a professional means showing up even when the muse doesn’t.

PS: In relation to the Hozen from Arrow Season 2, I once received a hand crafted rock shaped like it. I received the gift from someone who knew how much I loved the show. Pretty neat right!?

That’s very cool! Thank you for sharing that.

Leave a comment

Michael Finch writes:

How're you doing? I've been reading your newsletters every time I get them. I agree with your comments on our nation’s current status, but not so sure [the alternative] would be any better [the] other way either. I hate politicians.

I think we all pretty much do at this point. The further out I get from the election, the more disappointed I am in the Democratic Party. I’m certainly sensitive to those who just throw their hands up and say, “They’re all bad, it’s all broken, and I’m not dealing with it anymore.”

However, as tempting as this impulse is, it’s important to remember that the darker forces in our country depend on exactly that kind of thinking. They want to encourage that kind of apathy and cynicism because it leads to lack of engagement and lack of engagement leads to lack of opposition and that’s how they win. Donald Trump didn’t win because he got more votes than he did in 2020; he won because 19 million people who voted for Biden four years ago didn’t come out to vote this year.

Here’s a telling reality: Democrats, by and large, don’t say that “all politicians are bad.” That’s Republican rhetoric. And while it may be true — or, at least, often feel true — you have to ask yourself why Republicans keep banging that drum while Democrats don’t.

As far as a question asked of you, on adaptations, what if you create a 90 minute film script based off a 18 page short story? Is that good?

I think it depends on the short story. Some short stories, regardless of length, can form the basis for a satisfying feature-length film. Other stories, however, don’t have enough plot to sustain 90 or 120 minutes of cinema.

FROM THE VAULT

I was looking through my iPhone photos the other day and came across this little gem:

This is the Batcave set from Hour 2 of Crisis on Infinite Earths. You’ll note how the Batwoman art department very cleverly created the impression that we had the Batmobile from the Tim Burton-directed Batman movie from 1990 under a tarp. I thought this was absolute genius and a wonderful Easter egg.

But at this point you might be thinking, “Wait. I never saw that.” Well, there’s a story there…

The Arrowverse crossovers (like Crisis on Infinite Earths) were shot simultaneously, with each show being in production contemporaneous with its brothers and sisters. I was up in Vancouver for the production of a different hour, but I called one of the other writer-producers to ask how the Batwoman shoot was going. I specifically asked, “How does the Batmobile look?”

The writer-producer’s answer: “Oh. We’re not really facing in that direction.” Meaning that when they blocked out the scene in the Batcave, the cameras were mainly pointed away from my precious baby.

In post, I milked the footage we did have for every frame that included the Batmobile. But, admittedly, there wasn’t much to show off, so this remains a “blink and you miss it” moment.

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CRISIS OF INFINITE JEDI KNIGHTS

LegalDispatch 118

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