Interview with Graham E. Hancock, author of LEGO Star Wars: The Force of Creativity
Posted by CapnRex101,
5008878 LEGO Star Wars: The Force of Creativity will be released tomorrow, providing plenty of behind-the-scenes information and interesting anecdotes about the development of LEGO Star Wars.
Shortly after reviewing the book in April, I had a chance to speak with its author, Graham E. Hancock, pictured speaking with Design Master Henrik Andersen, about how the book was created and his experience interviewing so many people related to LEGO Star Wars.
Brickset: How did the book come about and how did you become involved?
Graham: I was contacted about working on a book for the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars and it was really exciting to be asked because I could immediately see the potential of a book intended for adult fans. DK does a great job with the LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary and other LEGO Star Wars books, but to work on something specifically for adults was an incredible opportunity for deeper insights into the brand.
I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of new information in the book, so how much influence did you have over its content?
I was very happy with the level of freedom and support from the publisher. My initial response to their email was quite short, just saying that I was interested. Then I went to the gym and could not stop thinking about potential content, so the structure of the book really crystalised quickly over the course of a couple of hours. As soon as I got home, I sent another email describing exactly what I thought we should do.
Fortunately, the publishers were pleased with my ideas and it all came together pretty quickly. They had some thoughts and there was a bit of back and forth, but I was lucky that they were happy with the format I suggested and seemed to think it would be possible, working with The LEGO Group.
Having interviewed many LEGO employees in the past for Blocks Magazine, were you pleasantly surprised by how open designers and others were in providing information for the book?
It was fantastic just to get people talking about their experiences. It was a mix of interviews conducted in person and online, but over the course of three days in Billund, I managed to speak to loads of people working on LEGO Star Wars. As you will know, in-person interviews tend to be easiest because the conversation flows well and they are often more open, which was super helpful.
Actually, lots of people I spoke to were eager to reminisce about the early years of LEGO Star Wars because many of those stories had not been told before. Søren Dyrhøj, for example, worked on a lot of early Ultimate Collector Series sets and was keen to explain the challenges of building larger models in those days, such as 10143 Death Star II. Obviously, there was not a huge variety of structural elements available back in the early-2000s, so Søren ended up using pirate ship wheels as connectors at the poles of the Death Star. There are lots of unique part uses in sets nowadays, but rarely for such important structural features.
On that subject, the book gives a lot of information about how LEGO design processes have changed over time. Was that something you set out to include in the book?
I expected some of those changes to be apparent from talking to designers about sets they have worked on over the years, but maybe not to such an extent. I have always been curious about set development times, as an example. Back when LEGO Star Wars was launched, sets normally needed two or three years of development, but the first wave of LEGO Star Wars had to be completed much sooner.
That was a topic I wanted to explore in the book and learning about the sketch models that designers had already been working on, before the partnership was necessarily finalised, was amazing. In fact, some of the sketch models described did not make it into the proper range for a couple of years, like the Imperial Shuttle, which I found really interesting.
Maybe the biggest surprise about design processes changing relates to minifigures, as the graphic designers explained that minifigure styles were not really codified in the early days. There used to just be three or four designers working on the whole LEGO portfolio, but as more people came on board, the styles needed to become more consistent between designers and themes. The book is primarily for LEGO Star Wars fans, but I think there is lots of information about product design that will interest all LEGO fans.
We can see that codification of minifigure design continuing today, with the recent changes to Sith eyes.
Yes, that came up when talking to the current LEGO Star Wars graphic designers. They had a certain way of representing yellow Sith eyes before, but only recently realised that it did not adhere to the modern guidelines, so they updated it for 75352 Emperor's Throne Room Diorama. That is something that really comes across in the book, I think, as LEGO Star Wars is still developing and changing, rather than standing still.
From reading the book, it sometimes feels like the designers quite casually brought up pretty significant information, such as them having come quite close to producing a Naboo Royal Starship, but stopping when chrome elements were retired. Did you often find yourself wanting to interrupt them and follow up on those stories?
Absolutely! There were so many things I wanted to ask about like that and the team was very generous with their time. Of course, they could not always go into full depth about things that had not been released, mainly because those past discussions within the company could still influence products in the future. It is true that the designers often mentioned some very exciting things in passing though. Stories that are fascinating to us are everyday occurrences for them!
The book also provides a lot of information about some of the issues LEGO Star Wars has encountered, showing the cancelled Buildable Figures, among other things. Was it difficult to persuade them to talk about or show items like those?
I would not say it was difficult because people who had worked on those sets were keen to share them. Also, the team was completely aware that fans are excited to learn about those sorts of sets and how LEGO Star Wars might have been different, so they were understanding when asked about the entire range of LEGO Star Wars products from through the years.
The design team also discusses the Planets series in the book, commenting on how the idea seemed natural at the time, but was not quite right for its intended audience. The ingredients were right, but the way they came together was not the right product offering, so they adjusted and Microfighters is similar in that there is a minifigure and a micro ship in there. It was just adapted in a way to make more sense for children.
The anecdote about the Planets series is fascinating, as children apparently struggled to engage with sets featuring a minifigure, a microscale vehicle and a planet, all at different scales. I suppose that might tell us something about why the Starship Collection sets do not come with minifigures.
Yes and I like to think that is one of the book's main qualities. Information like that will hopefully inform fans' conversations about LEGO Star Wars and improve our understanding of the theme from the outside. Like everyone else, I want to understand LEGO Star Wars and working on the book definitely helped.
The book also comes with a Time Capsule, containing a selection of items from LEGO Star Wars history. How were its contents chosen?
This was a dialogue between The LEGO Group, Lucasfilm, the publisher and myself. Initially, the idea was to include some exclusive prints, but those sorts of things have been done before, so my feeling was that telling the story of LEGO Star Wars should come with artefacts relevant to the story. There is a section about the very first LEGO Star Wars product, distributed at New York Toy Fair in 1999, in the book, so including a recreation of that was a natural choice.
Minifigures and bricks were off the table, unfortunately, but a replica of the box was perfect for the format of the book. Similarly, I thought instructions for the Yoda Fountain would be brilliant because they had never been distributed before and exclusive items like that are exactly what the most passionate LEGO Star Wars fans love, in many cases!
A fun question to finish: if you had been able to choose something like a unique minifigure to accompany the book, what would you have picked?
Well, this would not really make sense with the book, but if I had a completely free choice for a LEGO Star Wars minifigure, I would choose Vilmarh Grahrk from the old Dark Horse comic run! He is pretty obscure nowadays and will clearly never happen, but he would be my pick.
That is an unexpected choice, but an interesting one! Thank you for speaking with us!
5008878 LEGO Star Wars: The Force of Creativity will be released tomorrow and is available for pre-order now.
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30 comments on this article
I can't believe it, finally someone who loves the Dark Horse Comics!
@Anonym said:
"I can't believe it, finally someone who loves the Dark Horse Comics!"
There are dozens of us. Dozens!
Let’s show some love for a Zayne Carrick figure too
Vilmarh would be great though
@AcademyofDrX said:
" @Anonym said:
"I can't believe it, finally someone who loves the Dark Horse Comics!"
There are dozens of us. Dozens!"
Perhaps even scores of us! Marn and Zayne minifigs, please.
@ForestMenOfEndor said:
" @AcademyofDrX said:
" @Anonym said:
"I can't believe it, finally someone who loves the Dark Horse Comics!"
There are dozens of us. Dozens!"
Perhaps even scores of us! Marn and Zayne minifigs, please."
Don’t get carried away. :)
@Anonym said:
"I can't believe it, finally someone who loves the Dark Horse Comics!"
Plenty of us out there. I’m one of many.
Had a look thru the book with Graham a week ago.
https://youtu.be/ayPnmWsbUgU?si=yNvAZUNClMtmzCzP
Sooooo much Lego Sw goodness in it. A great celebration of the first 25yrs.
lmao someone who remembers "Uncle" Villie Grahrk! Star Wars: Republic and Star Wars: Dark Times remain unbeaten.
@AcademyofDrX
"before the dark times… before the Cowboy hat"
What a shame those 2 Buildable Battle Droid and AT-RT sets never released. Easily the 2 best of that line, and would have been easy purchases for many people. Especially that AT-RT. Just amazing
Very interesting. And the part about the planet series hopefully that might shut people up who complain about the starship collection not including Minifigures.
Sounds fascinating! Now I’m really interested and then I clicked the preorder link to find it’s $150. Talk about luxury tax… Hopefully I can find it at Ross or Ollies in a couple of years like most of the other DK Lego books.
Why is there a bowl of green bricks on the table?
I love the Dark Horse comics. If they could make a great film or three based on those I’d be made up.
@Nikolaevna said:
"Why is there a bowl of green bricks on the table?"
That's a LEGO tossed salad (without the scrambled eggs)
Thinks we did the topic of the cost of this to death when it was first written up. I was notified yesterday that my copy was on way. Just have to hope it arrives in a pristine condition! (That's not a new hope BTW)
@Nikolaevna said:
"Why is there a bowl of green bricks on the table?"
It’s art, innit?
@Nikolaevna said:
"Why is there a bowl of green bricks on the table?"
Brick-filled bowls and vases like that can be found throughout all LEGO office buildings, at least in Billund. Officially, they are there so employees in meetings always have immediate access to physical bricks, reminding them of what the company is all about and connecting them with how children play, or so I was told.
Based on how dusty they tend to be when I have visited though, I suspect they are more for decoration.
Considering they released Labria, a different Devaronian, it might be possible to recreate the character the author wants.
I don't know much about the different species, so when I looked up this character I had assumed it was the same one in Mos Eisley set, but I guess just the same species.
Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information.
@Belboz said:
" @Nikolaevna said:
"Why is there a bowl of green bricks on the table?"
That's a LEGO tossed salad (without the scrambled eggs)"
Could this be an Easter egg that we may be getting a Frasier set?! :o)
@StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
Me thinks the Fel Beast has finally been felled.
@StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
What would you ask a LEGO Star Wars designer, out of curiosity? Bear in mind, they are under no obligation to participate in interviews, so if they find questions too accusatory or personal, they may just refuse to continue the interview.
I am not sure whether an interview has ever been stopped altogether part way through, but I have seen the tone of an interview suddenly change and the designers clam up.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
What would you ask a LEGO Star Wars designer, out of curiosity? Bear in mind, they are under no obligation to participate in interviews, so if they find questions too accusatory or personal, they may just refuse to continue the interview.
I am not sure whether an interview has ever been stopped altogether part way through, but I have seen the tone of an interview suddenly change and the designers clam up."
Exactly my point. I undoubtedly was a bit curt in my comment so my point may have been lost.
How does one get good answers about corporate practices? Investigative journalism? Congressional inquiry? Or, perhaps my specialty, the litigatory deposition?!
None of those suit the moment, nor your profession. I have always appreciated what you do. I wish I could say the same for lego SW.
What I really want to know is: why should I be interested in purchasing this book? I suppose if nothing preceding this has piqued my interest, then it's probably just not for me.
I'll have to think more about your question, nothing immediately springs to mind.
@yellowcastle said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
Me thinks the Fel Beast has finally been felled.
"
I finally got an email from a CS supervisor. She said the original rep did everything right and told me all I needed to know.
Yet, no one has bothered to explain (including the supervisor) how an order placed and confirmed within 15 minutes of the release was not fulfilled because it was sold out even though they continued to sell the Fell Beast for at least another 12 hours, and why I wasn't notified that my order was sold out until a week after it was confirmed?
To be continued....
@StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
Me thinks the Fel Beast has finally been felled.
"
I finally got an email from a CS supervisor. She said the original rep did everything right and told me all I needed to know.
Yet, no one has bothered to explain (including the supervisor) how an order placed and confirmed within 15 minutes of the release was not fulfilled because it was sold out even though they continued to sell the Fell Beast for at least another 12 hours, and why I wasn't notified that my order was sold out until a week after it was confirmed?
To be continued...."
Thanks, but you can continue on your personal blog.
You should have asked in the interview if the book will come out in retail for 1/3 of the price after all the hard-core fans have been ripped-off. It's the same children books publisher Ameet as for the Ferrari book so you can bet that the same hardcover version without the unnecessary "premium" fold-out case and cardboard prints will come out later on for much cheaper. A book costs less to print if a high volume is made.
NO LIKE = NO BUY
NO LIKE PRICE = NO BUY
Simples
@Belboz said:
"NO LIKE = NO BUY
NO LIKE PRICE = NO BUY
Simples"
LIKE BUT NO LIKE PRICE = ?
@R0Sch said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
Me thinks the Fel Beast has finally been felled.
"
I finally got an email from a CS supervisor. She said the original rep did everything right and told me all I needed to know.
Yet, no one has bothered to explain (including the supervisor) how an order placed and confirmed within 15 minutes of the release was not fulfilled because it was sold out even though they continued to sell the Fell Beast for at least another 12 hours, and why I wasn't notified that my order was sold out until a week after it was confirmed?
To be continued...."
Thanks, but you can continue on your personal blog."
MySpace.com/Thisisacounselorship.style/blog
LEGO experiences are always welcome here and are often helpful to other community members going through similar situations.
@yellowcastle said:
" @Belboz said:
"NO LIKE = NO BUY
NO LIKE PRICE = NO BUY
Simples"
LIKE BUT NO LIKE PRICE = ?"
LIKE BUT NO LIKE PRICE = TS (Tough.....)
@yellowcastle said:
" @R0Sch said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @StyleCounselor said:
"Softball interview about a book of softball interviews. Of course, that's to be expected. Except from the good Cap'n, from whom we have come to expect pertinent and useful information. "
Me thinks the Fel Beast has finally been felled.
"
I finally got an email from a CS supervisor. She said the original rep did everything right and told me all I needed to know.
Yet, no one has bothered to explain (including the supervisor) how an order placed and confirmed within 15 minutes of the release was not fulfilled because it was sold out even though they continued to sell the Fell Beast for at least another 12 hours, and why I wasn't notified that my order was sold out until a week after it was confirmed?
To be continued...."
Thanks, but you can continue on your personal blog."
MySpace.com/Thisisacounselorship.style/blog
LEGO experiences are always welcome here and are often helpful to other community members going through similar situations."
YC to the fore!
What happens to one, will surely happen to more. If you don't care when they come for me, who will care when they come for you?
Perhaps that's outside the realm of German understanding?