John Williams doesn't need any award for people to recognize what a legend he is and how much his work has influenced millions, but the renowned composer definitely deserve the accolade. On Thursday, Williams was honored by renowned directors including J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, receiving the AFI Life Achievement Award.
Among Williams' most iconic works are the Star Wars soundtracks, and in an interview with ET Online, The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams shared his experience working with Williams on the award-winning film. The filmmaker spoke of the Williams' humility in spite of his accomplishments, saying:
Watching him talk to the orchestra is a lesson in expression. It's a lesson in communication.
I was amazed by how gentle and kind and humble he is. He was like that every day we worked together.
Abrams was also asked his favorite piece from The Force Awakens soundtrack, and the director answered the hard question while also sharing which score in all Star Wars films made him tear up the first time.
He said:
The two cues I love the most are 'Rey's Theme,' and he did a theme for the Resistance that was just…an incredible thing. He actually gave me [the Resistance] score, bound, in this leather-bound book.
...I guess the first one that made me cry was the Force theme, when Luke is looking over the Binary Sunset.
Abrams is referring to a scene from George Lucas' A New Hopein 1977, the film that started it all.
Hear it below:
It isn't surprising that one of the very first scores Williams created for Star Wars made Abrams cry. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if all of them made some fan tear up at one point. Abrams even said that "there are so many" Star Wars scores that evoked so much emotion.
Williams' ability to insert emotions in the films he scores cannot be paralleled.
He has been a fixture in the film and television industry since 1956. His work has influenced millions of people, with fans creating their own tributes and renditions, such as this young pianist. Aside from the film scores included in the tribute video link, Williams also composed music for films such as Superman, Jaws, Schindler's List, and The Adventures of Tintin. He's currently the laureate conductor for the Boston Pops'. The 50-time Academy Award-nominee has won 5 Oscars, 4 Golden Globe Awards, 7 British Academy Film Awards, as well as 22 Grammy Awards.
John Williams recently said that he would like to return to Episode VIII because of actress Daisy Ridley, since he doesn't want any other composer to make music for her.
Read: John Williams Returning To Score Star Wars: Episode VIII, Indiana Jones 5 & Ready Player One
Read: John Williams Is Back As Indiana Jones 5 Composer
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