There ’s a set to revel in Carrie Fisher ’s The Princess Diarist , her very frank , very telling Holy Scripture about life during the making of the first Star Wars film . Below , we ’ve have an excerpt of Fisher ’s verbal description of her tryout , her first impression of George Lucas , and what was so sympathetic about Princess Leia .
This excerpt is from the chapter title “ upside down and unconscious with yellow eye . ”
George Lucas held his auditory sense for Star Wars in an office on a lot in Hollywood . It was in one of those false - Spanish cream - colored buildings from the thirties with coloured orange - tiled roofs and black - smoothing iron - grated windows , lined with sidewalks in turn line with tree — pine tree tree diagram , I suppose they were , the sort that pour forth their needles munificently onto the street below — and interrupted by sear bandage of once - green lawns .
Everything was a little bad for the wear , but good matter would happen in these building . Lives would be conduct , business sector would prosper , and valet would attend meetings — hopeful meetings , meeting where big plans were made and ideas were proposed . But of all the merging that had ever been hold in that peculiar post , none of them could compare in Earth shock with the project calls for the Star Wars movie .
A plaque could be placed on the exterior of this edifice that states , “ On this spot the Star Wars motion-picture show conducted their cast sessions . In this construction the actors and actresses entered and buy the farm until only three remained . These three were the actors who ultimately play the lead share of Han , Luke , and Leia . ”
I ’ve tell the news report of getting cast as Princess Leia many times before — in interviews , on hogback , and in cardiac units — so if you ’ve previously get wind this story before , I apologize for requiring some of your coveted store of patience . I know how closely most of us be given to have on to whatever cache of forbearance we ’ve deal to amass over a lifetime and I apprise your ware some of your cherished cache here .
George gave me the notion of being smaller than he was because he spoke so infrequently . I first encountered his all - but - silent presence at these auditions — the first of which he held with the director Brian De Palma . Brian was spue his repugnance film Carrie , and they both required an actress between the eld of eighteen and twenty - two . I was the right age at the right meter , so I scan for both George and Brian .
George had direct two other feature films up till then , THX 1138 , starring Robert Duvall , and American Graffiti , star Ron Howard and Cindy Williams . The function I meet with the two managing director for that first day were Princess Leia in Star Wars and Carrie in Carrie . I imagine that last theatrical role would be a funny casting coup if I got it : Carrie as Carrie in Carrie . I doubt that that was why I never made it to the next level with Carrie — but it did n’t serve as far as I was interested that there would have to be a goofy film poster advertising a serious repugnance film .
I sit down before the two manager behind their respective desks . Mr. Lucas was all but mute . He nod when I entered the room , and Mr. De Palma need over from there . He was a grown man , and not just because he spoke more — or speak , period . Brian sit on the left and George on the right , both bearded . As if you had two choices in director size . Only I did n’t have the option — they did . Brian cleared his large throat of bigger things and said , “ So I see here you ’ve been in the film Shampoo ? ”
I knew this , so I merely nod , my face in a tight ashen - toothed grinning . Maybe they would inquire me something require more than a nod .
“ Did you enjoy working with Warren ? ”
“ Yes , I did ! ”
That was easy ! I had enjoyed ferment with him , but Brian ’s look evidence me that was n’t enough of an solvent .
“ He was . . . ”
What was he ? They require to cognize ! “ He help me exploit . . . a lot . I mean , he and the other film writer . . . they act with me . ” Oh my God , this was n’t going well . Mr. De Palma wait for more , and when more was n’t forthcoming , he attempted to avail me .
“ How did they work with you ? ”
Oh , that ’s what they wanted to love ! “ They had me do the scene over and over , and with intellectual nourishment . There was eating in the scene . I had to offer Warren a baked apple and then I ask him if he ’s seduce it with my mother — sleeping with her — you know . ”
George almost smiled ; Brian actually did . “ Yes , I know what ‘ make it ’ means . ”
I flushed . I deal stopping this interview then and there . But I soldiered on .
“ No , no , that ’s the dialogue . ‘ Are you make it with my mother ? ’ I asked him that because I hate my mother . Not in real living , I hate my female parent in the motion-picture show , partially because she is slumber with Warren who ’s the hairdresser . Lee Grant played my momma , but I did n’t really have any scenes with her , which is too tough because she ’s a capital actress . And Warren is a great actor and he also write the picture show , with Robert Towne , which is why they both go with me . With food . It sounded a tidy sum more natural when you talk with food in your mouth . Not that you do that in your pic . possibly in the scary movie , but I do n’t know the food post in space . ” The coming together seemed to be going well .
“ What have you done since Shampoo ? ” George ask .
I repressed the impulse to say I had written three symphonies and find out how to perform dental surgery on rapscallion , and instead tell the accuracy .
“ I went to school in England . Drama school . I go to the Central School of Speech and Drama . ” I was dyspnoeic with information . “ I stand for I did n’t just go , I ’m still pass . I ’m home on Christmas holiday . ”
I stopped short to breathe . Brian was nodding , his brow headed off to his hair in something like surprise . He asked me politely about my experience at school , and I responded courteously as George watched impassively . ( I would come to discover that George ’s aspect was n’t so-so or anything like it . It was diffident and discerning , among many other thing , including intelligent , studious , and — and a word like “ pet . ” Only not that Son , because it ’s too young and androgynous , and besides which , and most important , George would detest it . )
“ What do you plan on doing if you get one of these jobs you ’re meeting on ? ” go forward Brian .
“ I entail , it really would depend on the part , but . . . I guess I ’d give . I mean I get it on I would . Because I stand for — ”
“ I experience what you intend , ” Brian disrupt . The meeting continued but I was no longer fully present — utterly convinced that I ’d screwed up by revealing myself to be so disloyal . Leave my school properly in the middle for the first task that came along ?
shortly after , we were done . I shook each man ’s handwriting as I move to the door , leading off to the gallows of obscurity . George ’s hand was truehearted and cool . I give to the KO’d part knowing full well that I would be going back to school .
“ Miss Fisher , ” a throw off helper said .
I froze , or would have , if we were n’t in cheery Los Angeles . “ Here are your sides . Two doors down . You ’ll read on video . ” My heart pounded everywhere a pulse can get to .
The view from Carrie need the mother ( who would be memorably played by Piper Laurie ) . A dark scene , where the people are not okay . But the scenery in Star Wars — there were no mothers there ! There was authority and assurance and command in the uncanny language that was used . Was I like this ? Hopefully George would think so , and I could pretend I thought so , too . I could pretend I was a princess whose life went from topsy-turvyness to crisis without looking down between chaoses to find , to her relief , that her attire was n’t deplume .
Excerpted from THE PRINCESS DIARIST by Carrie Fisher © Deliquesce , Inc. 2016 . Reprinted with permission of Blue Rider Press . Learn more about the bookhere .
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