philip j. silvera
Updates On STAR WARS VII; Pre-Viz Light Saber Action By Philip Silvera
News and updates on anything related to writer and director J.J. Abrams‘ Star Wars: Episode VII have been in a constantly fluxuating state. Names and faces of expected cast members ranging from original franchise actors Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrrison Ford, to some new names being circulated for a Jedi lead have all made headlines in the past few months. And with Inside Llewyn Davis actor Adam Phelps and 12 Years A Slave actress Lupita Nyong’o being heavily talked about to portray specific roles in the film, all we can really wait for is an official press release of some kind that will handle all the ins and outs of just what this new production will entail.
On Tuesday however, at least a few other pieces of news have been confirmed regarding the new expected cast of the film, which in some form or another will include “a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces.”, setting the new trilogy thirty years after the first two chapters which capped off at the 1983 film, Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi, according to the latest reports forwarded at ComingSoon.net. Other than that, any news that comes our way is bound to either continue stirring things up in the rumorsphere before we actually receive something solid.
What also awaits is learning who will be designing new trilogy’s signature light saber battles and stunt sequences. And with this, I now bring you at least one video that has been making the rounds this week featuring pre-viz light saber action choreographed by Philip J. Silvera, who also shares credits for at least two Star Wars video game titles in the last several years. Silvera also has an extensive film and TV credit listing as a formidable stuntman and fight choreographer, and although it is unlikely that Silvera will be the one directing the action, judging by the video below, it does bring an otherwise interesting question as to how the new lightsaber battles will be coordinated and shot, considering the ones in the first six films were given such a distinct look and feel. And I also wonder how the hardcore fans of this epic and continually growing space opera will receive it when the film is finally packaged and delivered on December 18, 2015.
Watch Silvera’s concept video below and judge for youself! Also featured are demo performances by Wayne Dalglish, as well as Mickey Facchinello and Gui DaSilva, of which fans can also expect the latter two to appear in the forthcoming independent Star Wars series fan pilot, Dark Betrayal, from creator Noah Fleder over at Force Storm Entertainment very soon.
Stick around, and may the force be with you!
Action Academy Goes Through The Motions With Stuntman PHILIP J. SILVERA
Hosted by Hollywood stuntman Brady Romberg’s online stunt cinema magazine, Action Academy, the latest interview with actor, stunt performer and coordinator Philip J. Silvera was held at the Los Angeles branch of Just Cause Entertainment where stunt performers engage in illustrious feats of action and spectacle that you can find in games such as Star Wars: The Old Republic and other gaming and T.V. properties. Silvera sat down with host Sarah Camatta about life as a stuntman and motion capture performance artist.