GVK: Did you see the
Phantom Menace, and what did you think of it?
PM: Yes, It was the
first chapter of a book, and as such it was an introduction
to the larger story of Star Wars. Parts of the film were
good, but some parts were not as good.
GVK: How do you think
the new films will compare to the original series and how do
you think they will be compared in the future?
PM: I do not think
they compare at all. The new films are different stories and
they have a greater emphasis on effects than the earlier
films did. I think that in the future, the original series
will still be considered good films.
GVK: What have you
been doing of late, and do you have any projects in the
works?
PM: Lately I have
been attending many conventions the world over. It is always
great to be able to meet the fans and be able to speak about
my Star Wars experiences. I had some theater projects that
I have been looking into as well, but they are currently on
hold and there is nothing to say about them.
GVK: If you were to
be given the chance to play Chewie again, how would you like
to see the character used.
PM: It would be the
same as before as Han's sidekick.
GVK: When the
decision was made to kill off Chewie in the book series,
were you contacted about this and what were you thoughts on
this?
PM: Yes, I was
contacted about this. I saw that a character needed to be
killed in order to jostle the other characters and add an
element of freshness and danger to the series and Chewbacca
was the most likely to go, as they could not kill Luke, Han,
or Leia.
GVK: If you could
change anything about your portrayal of Chewie, what would
it have been and why?
PM: I would not
change anything as I was happy with the character and my
work bringing him to life.
GVK: Do you keep in
touch with the original cast and do you have fond memories
of the experiences?
PM: Yes, to both
questions. The freiends and experiences I made and
encountered were amongst the best in my life.
GVK: Do you think
that Star Wars has faded in terms of popularity over the
years?
PM: No, it has not
faded, in fact, based on recent happeneings such as the new
films, and the book series, I would say that the interest is
stronger than ever.
GVK: What would you
attribute the staying power of the series too?
PM: Having a good
story and great effects as well as characters that are
likeable, interesting, and memorable. It is a fairy tale
battle of good vs. evil, and in that, it will always be
timeless.
GVK: Are you and
Chewie alike and how much input did George Lucas allow you
to have in the character?
PM: Yes, Chewie and I
are alike in some ways. I would say that the character and
the input are one in the same. By combining 50% of myself
and 50% of what was given to me for Chewie, I was able to
create the character and personalize him.