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Upfall (4/?) - Obikin fic

Title: Upfall - chapter 4 - line me up in single file with all your grievances

Characters: Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka, Satine, Barriss, Padmé

Relationships: Obi-Wan/Anakin; Obi-Wan/Satine; Anakin & Ahsoka; Ahsoka & Barriss

Word Count: 17,000 thus far (chapter 4 is 5,800+)

Tags: Obikin, Obitine, Anidala, Polyamory, Jealousy, Hypocrisy, Unreliable narrator, Anakin is a mess, But I want to help him with that, Tag updates as we go long, I’m here for the long haul

Chapter Summary: In which Satine has better things to do than entertain Jedi on a mission, Ahsoka has questions that cannot be easily quelled, and Anakin is still trying to keep himself together.

Excerpt:

The sheets are coarse, the mattress rough. Anakin’s used piles of leaves more comfortable than this pillow. Nothing like what he enjoys at Padmé’s. It’s even a bit rougher than the one in his room at the Temple, not that he ever sleeps there. But Obi-Wan is warm, and he smells clean, and he doesn’t seem to mind when Anakin slips an arm over his side. Anakin closes his eyes. Breathes in the scent of Obi-Wan’s hair. Shifts his legs so that they’re tucked in behind Obi-Wan’s.

He could almost pretend. That it’s like any other night. That he doesn’t already know. Anakin shifts again, restless. But he does. He doesn’t know enough. Who is she?

“You can ask,” Obi-Wan says. He sounds peaceful. “I’m ready.”

Something like lead sinks in Anakin. He doesn’t know that he’ll ever be ready. But he can’t not ask, either, no more than he could keep from throttling into hyperdrive on a faulty drive. He has no setting but fast, faster. Even if he’s headed straight for a crash.

Read the story here!

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“[…] Gurland initiated the Anakin search by viewing videotape or film submissions from hundreds of young actors. Physical characteristics were among the things Gurland was looking for—a blue-eyed, blond-haired actor who looked like a mature version of actor Jake Llloyd, who had portrayed Anakin as a  young boy in Episode I. Age was another important consideration. The right actor had to be old enough to engage in a romance with twenty-four year old Padme, as played by Natalie Portman, yet young enough to make believable his student-mentor relationship with Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“[…] ‘There were many things to consider: the actor had to be right physically, and he had to be the right age, but he also had to have an innate sensibility about him. He had to have a bit of an edge, yet be vulnerable. The role was really a person teetering on a fence—he is this, but you know just by looking at him that he could turn into that. Most actors have one or two characteristics that come to the forefront, but we had to find someone who could play all these different aspects of a personality.’

“Out of fifteen hundred submissions, Gurland selected four hundred actors with whom to meet in person, chatting informally with each for twenty minutes or so. ‘At those meetings,’ Gurland said, ‘I tried to gauge what the actor was like as a person. If I thought someone was a serious contender, I videotaped the next meeting. I ended up taping about one hundred actors, then chose thirty who fit all the requirements, and then gave those tapes to George and Rick.’

“From those thirty, Lucas selected the actors he thought had the most potential, all of whom he subsequently videotaped as they read scenes from the movie. Lucas then narrowed the field again. Finally, during the first week in May 2000 – just seven weeks before filiming—five Anakin finalists were given a screen test. ‘I brought that small group in to do a scene with Natalie, and shot it, just as we would the movie,’ Lucas said. ‘At that stage, there was a certain amount of dart-throwing, because all the actors were very good.’

“Among those finalists was a young Canadian named Hayden Christensen, a virtual unknown […] Though the ultimate decision would rest with Lucas, Gurland had been privately rooting for Christensen from the moment she had first met him. ‘I had a very strong sense about Hayden right off,’ Gurland admitted. ‘He was incredibly charismatic and nice—but there was something more than that. He had this easygoing, vulnerable side, but you could see him developing into something serious.’

“Gurland’s belief in Christen’s potential only magnified after the screen test. ‘When I saw him on camera, Gurland said, ‘he just popped! You could almost feel the electricity coming off the screen. […] Lucas, too, had a strong initial reaction to Christensen and chose him as one of the two final actors in contention for the role. ‘One of the actors had a more lighthearted way about him,’ Lucas explained, ‘and would have had to play darker in this movie, and even more so in the next movie. I chose Hayden, who had more ofa  dark side, knowing I would have to play up his lighter, more naïve side at the beginning of this movie, then gradually let his darker side come out.’

“To prepare for his life-changing role as Anakin Skywalker, Christensen carefully studied the four existing Star Wars films. ‘I engulfed myself in Star Wars,’ Christensen recalled. ‘It was nice because there was so much information—but it was also hard because Anakin Skywalker wasn’t just my character. Other people had played him, and as much as I might have liked to make the character my own, I really couldn’t. So I took note of who else had played the part, their mannerisms, and what they had brought to the role.’”

-- From “Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” (2002)

I realize this is a LOT TO QUOTE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL SO FASCINATING. Just some scattered thoughts:

a) That is a lot of people they screened. They *met* with *400* actors. Can you imagine being one of the hopeful potential Anakin Skywalkers? Can you imagine being the second-placed actor? WHAT CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENT THAT MUST’VE BEEN D:

b) I loved that they picked Christensen because he could do The Charisma AND The Dark <3 And that Lucas picked the one that came with a High Dark setting

c) I also love that Christensen studied previous Anakins <3 <333 He had less than seven weeks to do it! I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW EXCITED HE WAS. You can feel how he respects the weight of the story & character, and all that came before him :D

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Shoutout to my friend Trang for waking up at 6 am for a downtown photoshoot. It was so hot that day but we had so much fun running around millennium park, taking pictures.

Here’s my Padme Amidala cosplay. This took a couple days to make and the dye job made me wanna cry but it turned out so beautiful.

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From “Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” (2002)

I JUST FEEL REALLY SAD FOR EWAN’S DAUGHTER RIGHT NOW. She loves Artoo! She wants to marry him! WHERE IS HE???

What I need right now is that gif of Artoo careening towards a wall and swearing in binary :D

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Not to beat my drum again but--

Is Satine in this?

Then I’m interested :D

If not, then--??

Production on The Mandalorian, Star Wars’ first live-action series, has begun!

http://strw.rs/6008D4Puo

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From “Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” (2002)

I AM REALLY GLAD HE ADDED IN THAT ELEVATOR SCENE. It does just about everything to give context to their relationship– yes, Anakin is testing Obi-Wan and pushing at buttons/boundaries/anything he can get his hands on. And, yes, Obi-Wan is exasperated when he’s acting out! But underneath all that they do like each other; they are friends.

Just for funsies, I watched a bit and picked out another moment of affection ❤

“You’re focusing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts.”

*LONG THINKING PAUSE* Do I tell him, do I NOT tell him…

“She was pleased to see us.”

But beyond that, it was hard to find moments of levity/brightness between them in AotC? They say “May the Force be with you” as they part on separate missions. Other than that, Obi-Wan seems to be reminding Anakin of a lesson, giving him counsel, instructing him to do things differentely, and so on. And Anakin listens (for the most part) but with resistance, like he doesn’t quite believe him. It’s definitely a tense period for them! 

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learnedfromyou -> shouldntwantmore

Just for funsies :D I said to myself, “You know what I REALLY want for my icon? Pretty!Anakin from Forces of Destiny.” It just kind of snowballed from there.

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From “Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” (2002)

HARD SAME, EWAN. Obi-Wan is just a good guy! It’s that simple. :D Don’t need the backstory or details. Monday to Sunday (or whatever the Republic’s equivalent is to that) Obi-Wan’s just doing the Right Thing.

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Surprise!! A lot of people have mentioned Ahsoka as Falcon, and I totally agree because it would be just that awesome :D She has quite a few parallels with Sam Wilson – as war veterans who left the military/order after being disillusioned, with fighting styles that depend on high speed and maneuverability, and just being incredibly kickass.

Ahsoka finds herself back in action when Obi-Wan and Padme come to her for help, while on the run from the Winter Soldier…

Star Wars / Winter Soldier AU: Part 1 and Part 2

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From “Mythmaking: Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Episode 2: Attack of the Clones” (2002)

I AM REALLY GLAD HE ADDED IN THAT ELEVATOR SCENE. It does just about everything to give context to their relationship-- yes, Anakin is testing Obi-Wan and pushing at buttons/boundaries/anything he can get his hands on. And, yes, Obi-Wan is exasperated when he’s acting out! But underneath all that they do like each other; they are friends.

Just for funsies, I watched a bit and picked out another moment of affection ❤

“You’re focusing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts.”

*LONG THINKING PAUSE* Do I tell him, do I NOT tell him...

“She was pleased to see us.”

But beyond that, it was hard to find moments of levity/brightness between them in AotC? They say “May the Force be with you” as they part on separate missions. Other than that, Obi-Wan seems to be reminding Anakin of a lesson, giving him counsel, instructing him to do things differentely, and so on. And Anakin listens (for the most part) but with resistance, like he doesn’t quite believe him. It’s definitely a tense period for them! 

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fic: Upfall (Obikin, 1/?)

I DID THE THING, GUYS.

Title: Upfall chapter 1 - promise to keep it whole

Characters: Obi-Wan, Anakin, and later on, Ahsoka, Satine, Padme

Relationships: Obi-Wan/Anakin

Summary: Anakin is doing just about everything he can to hold himself together; it won’t last.

Excerpt:

Something in Anakin stills. Quiets. Obi-Wan’s deepened their kiss, pushing his tongue against his. It short-circuits his mind. Anakin’s hand relaxes, slowly sliding down Obi-Wan’s throat, his shoulders. Anakin kisses back with all that he has, angling for deeper, more. This. He can focus on the wet of Obi-Wan’s tongue. The roughness of his beard. The soft sound of their robes moving against each other, leather on cotton. Anakin could lose himself in this. But he needs more. More. Anakin pulls Obi-Wan by the shoulders. More touches, more skin, more desire to fog his thoughts into sweet, sweet oblivion.

Read the story here!

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Me: You know what these scenes need?

Me: Indulgent emotional porn

Brain: BRILLIANT

Brain: DO IT

Me: What do you think, is hyperventilating with jealousy taking it too far?

Brain: Do it do it do it

Me: OKAY

Brain: :D

Me: :D

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Why have I never seen this before??

For all you Wild Space lovers out there.

Source.

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while writing fic

Anakin went from completely happy to NEAR DEBILITATING RAGE in, like, less than five minutes. He wasn’t even talking to anyone, he was just thinking.

I was worried about OOCness but honestly it checks out ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Obi & R2.

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Tell me true: is there anything, anything, dorkier in this Galaxy than a) watching the YouTube series “Clone Wars Conversations” (in which James Arnold Taylor, Obi-Wan’s voice actor in TCW, interviews other series VAs) and then b) transcribing it.

I’m feeling hard-pressed to imagine anything Less Cool than this, BUT FUCK ALL Y’ALL, I’M LIVING MY BEST LIFE :D

Some stray observations first: THESE GUYS ARE SUCH VOICE ACTING NERDS. NEEEERDS. :D!!!! *admires nerds* (You should see JAT and Satine’s VA Anne Graves geek out over Shop Talk ❤) 

Also, HOLY FUCKING CHRIST, IS IT MANDATORY TO ALSO BE BEAUTIFUL TO DO VOICE ACTING. THAT’S SO UNFAIR. THEIR FACES ARE AN AFFRONT TO ME. HOW DARE THEY. 

Anyway!!! Let’s get started on some transcriptions :D!

Clone Wars Conversations, Episode 8 - Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker):

LANTER: When I went to the Ranch to talk to George [Lucas], he gave me a couple of specific notes and, I don’t know if I’ve said them before or not, but I’ll keep those notes to myself. But, yeah, it was very much on purpose, to not do what we have traditionally known as Anakin. It was obviously George’s vision, and Dave´s vision, to shape the character a little differently in The Clone Wars and give Anakin a little more depth than what we just got to see on the four hours of the movies. 

TAYLOR: And also, dare I say, a little more heart. And that is not knocking the film version, but we needed to, because on a regular weekly basis he was going to be coming into our living rooms and we need to see those sides of him. LANTER: Storytelling at its core is you have to connect with the characters that you are going to be living with. We have four hours to connect with Anakin, and it’s hard, because, first of all, he goes in this downwards spiral from Good to Worst Villain in the Galaxy in the course of two hours. Prior to that, I’ve heard people say that he’s whiny, so it just wasn’t enough time to take a guy from Teenage Angst into Worst Villain. We needed more. George and Dave understood that we gotta connect with the character, especially if we were gonna sit with him for six seasons.

I really appreciate this insight/background information about how the creators themselves approached shaping Anakin’s character in TCW! I’ve gone on about this before (see: I’M A GIANT DORK :D) but I’ve been mystified at how Anakin went from the Teenage Murdering Mess that he is in Episode II to the Confident General Dude in The Clone Wars. 

It’s neat to see that this was always the intention. My sense from this transcript (including the segments I’ll post later) is that Anakin in TCW is damage-control from the way his image, um…. took a beating with the Prequels. That Lucas saw the fan reaction to this character he’d been working on all these decades and said to himself– hey, they have it wrong, he’s more than a Whiny Guy Turned Villain (he had a lot of bravado in between!!!). TCW is giving the extra material to show what we’d missed. And this is, I must confess repeatedly, dorky of me, but I do appreciate that they took the time & resources to do so. 

Don’t get me wrong, I still think it’s a huuuuge leap between Episode II and TCW Movie, but it’s nice to have the confirmation that the different approach was intentional.

Finally: what were the notes Lucas shared with Lanter. Why won’t he tell us. D: