Jesse Alexander: Appreciating the "Heroes" of Star Wars
Words: Bonnie BurtonSOURCE:
Starwars.comAs a writer and producer for such hit shows as "Alias," "Lost," and "Heroes," Jesse Alexander is not only one of the geek elite on the Hollywood scene today, but an avid
Star Wars fan. Alexander took time out to chat with Starwars.com about his love for the
Star Wars franchise, the origins of transmedia, the collectibles he'd save in a fire, playing it cool around Carrie Fisher, his childhood visit to ILM, why he'll never make fun of Porkins and which "Heroes" character he thinks is most like Luke Skywalker.
What was your first introduction to Star WarsI remember when I was 10 years old seeing the commercial on TV and getting a glimpse of the lightsaber fight between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan; and then some footage of a TIE fighter shooting at the
Falcon. I was completely blown away. I couldn't figure out what it was. I was fascinated by something I wasn't sure what I had seen. My father later took me to Grauman's Chinese Theater to see
Star Wars in 1977 shortly after it opened. The theater was so crowded that we couldn't sit next to each other, so as a 10-year-old I was kind of freaked out that I was in a strange city in a theater and I had to sit away from my dad. But then watching this amazing movie energized my life creatively and helped me become the person I am today.
When you went home did you immediately draw the characters, write your own stories, and play out your favorite scenes with your toys?Absolutely! The challenge for all of us who were part of that first generation of
Star Wars kids that even though George Lucas had a vision of creating a property with merchandise to support it, there was nothing coming out yet to the stores. We were all obsessed! I was into drawing so I would sketch out TIE fighter and X-wing battles, and stick figure lightsaber duels constantly.
At the time I was also into making Super-8 movies with all my friends. That was the way I expressed myself as a super geek. So me and my friends would make our own Star Wars films and got really ambitious with what we were trying to do with effects. We turned our parents' cars into spaceships. It really expanded the way I envisioned how I could be creative with the tools that I have within my grasp.
When you were using your toys to act out scenes and make new Star Wars tales, which toys were your favorites to cast in roles?
I was so into hunting down and collecting the toys that some of my most critical Star Wars memories revolve around getting to the toy store in Santa Barbara, the town where I grew up. When I saw that landspeeder on the shelf, I couldn't believe it when I had it in my hands. That landspeeder was so well-made as a toy and beautifully lived up to its potential. It still has a place of honor on my shelf of toys. I look at that toy so fondly not only for the memories it gave me but for the ideas of what was possible in terms of bringing a piece of mythology into the physical world. And I definitely miss my Imperial Troop Transport which had the sound effects in it. That for me was an iconic toy because it was Expanded Universe before that concept even really existed. The fact that it had sound effects and an amazing design that felt like it really was part of the Star Wars universe made it really stand out. They have one for sale at a store near me and I look at it constantly and think about picking it up. But I'll have to win the lottery to allow myself to get it.
Jesse Alexander's Star Wars collection
Most
Star Wars fans have probably thought about this question. I would probably grab the landspeeder and my Han Solo blaster. And there's a Luke Skywalker figure that's an Early Bird Special vintage I would save, plus the plush Chewbacca I used to sleep with as a little kid. I'd also save my Harrison Ford autograph that I got as a kid. I wrote him a fan letter and I got a picture of him and someone wrote a signature with a thank you note. I just loved it whether it was real or not.
I'm really thinking of this as "How can I fill my arms as I flee the fire?" If I can carry one item, I can carry three! (laughs)
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