Going CSI on the 'Episode VII' picture

Posted Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 5:23 PM Central
Last updated Friday, November 6, 2015 at 10:29 AM Central

by John Couture

Welcome to 2014 and the age of social media.

This isn't your Dad's Star Wars film, although his cast is back, so at least Episode VII has that going for it. No, this is the age of instant release and feedback. Case in point, earlier today in London they had their first table read for Episode VII and they tweeted, facebooked and old-fashioned updated their website with a picture.

To give you an idea of how strong the force still is, StarWars.com got hammered and their site is barely online hours later. It's like they went back in time to the days of dial up connections. Ask your parents what a dial up connection is.

Back in the days of the original trilogy, we had to wait until the "cool" (subjective use) industry magazines went to the set, snapped the pictures, traveled back home, developed the film and published them in their next issue two months later before we got to see anything from the set. These days, the information is shared worldwide in less than a blink of an eye.

We also live in what I like to call the CSI era of existence. Nothing is ever over until we scrutinize every last pixel of the picture. I mean this is J.J. Abrams after all, so I wouldn't put anything past him.

First, let's take a look at the picture. Thanks to some trusty Bothan spies, I've gotten my hands on a high-res version of the photo, but it's far too large to post here. For now, you can use Tim's annotated version for reference (click for a bigger size).

EXIF Data:

• Shot on a Canon EOS 5D Mark III
• Date: 4/29/2014
• Time: 3:54 PM (London time presumably)
• No Flash
• Shutter Speed: 1/50 second

OK, not much to go on there. However, it is interesting to note that the picture was taken mere hours ago and by the time you get here, it's probably been seen by a couple million people already.

The Background

Let's get to it. First, let's start with the background. We can assume that they are probably on a soundstage at Pinewood Studios near London. This being the case, the otherwise boring plywood pieces take on new meaning. In particular, the two pieces behind R2-D2 appear to be Imperial era door frames. They bear the designation "MK 4" which could simply be an arbitrary numbering system or it could refer to an ancestor of the Mark VI starfighter which looks like an early version of the Imperial Tie Fighters.

Either way, their inclusion lends credence to J.J.'s promise that this film will feature more practical effects and less computer generated material that predominantly made up the prequel trilogy.

One last thing to note about the background is R2-D2's custom box. There is writing on the door and even in high-res it's hard to make out, but it appears to be a log of where it has been. The first entry says, "Created 6/96 Industrial Light & Magic Marin Co. California ZM Model(?)/Creature Shop." The second entry is more interesting. It reads, "8/96 Leavesden Studios Star Wars Episode I."

As you'll recall, they filmed Phantom Menace over four weeks in June and July of 1997, but production design started at the studio in August of 1996. So, it would appear that the same R2-D2 from the prequel trilogy is going to be used for the new films. I hope they at least let Kenny Baker out every now and then for fresh air and whatnot.

Oh yeah, there are rolled up concept drawings on the set piece behind Abrams and Kasdan. If only we could get a little peek, eh?

Forming Allegiances

Let's turn our focus to the main part of the photograph, the cast. Right off the bat Abrams and Kasdan are sitting in the "head" of the circle. They are clearly in the power seats as they should be given they both wrote the film and J.J. is directing. Interestingly, producers Kathleen Kennedy and Bryan Burk are sitting together at the opposite end of the circle. Between the four non actors on one side are Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley and Peter Mayhew.

It's not surprising to see Ford take the seat immediately next to Abrams. I think it's safe to say that Han Solo is going to be primary focus of Episode VII. Newcomer Daisy Ridley doesn't know anyone, but she's sitting right between Ford and Fisher so it's not a complete stretch to postulate that she will be playing Han and Leia's daughter. Chewbacca is never far from Han's side, so that explains that grouping quite well.

On the other side, I find it interesting that Adam Driver is sitting by himself on a couch with Kasdan. More interesting is the body language exhibited by both John Boyega and Oscar Isaac. They are both leaning away from Driver, keeping a safe distance between them.

This is odd since we know that Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac are friendly already. In fact, they like to sing about not going to outer space interestingly enough.

That clip is going to be gold soon. Two of those kids are in a Star Wars film and Justin Timberlake was a part of 'N Sync, a boy band who filmed cameos for the prequels but were left on the cutting room floor. Again, ask your parents about 'N Sync.

With Adam Driver already being slotted in as a baddie, perhaps even a Sith Lord, I guess you can see why those two would want to keep their distance. So then, who are John Boyega and Oscar Isaac playing? I'm thinking that they could be young Jedi training under Master Skywalker along with Han and Leia's daughter and whomever Domhnall Gleeson is playing.

Andy Serkis is deep in thought in his script. It's probably the first time he's seen it. The real question is will he be playing a character or simply doing his thing with motion capture.

Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels are getting chummy, but Mark is keeping his eye on Kathleen Kennedy. Smart man.

Domhnall Gleeson may look lost, but he's really pining over Daisy Ridley and really why wouldn't he? She's gorgeous and fresh-faced. I predict that he will play her love interest. Because there's always a love interest in Star Wars remember that.

If I Had a Hammer

Looking at the table in the middle of the group, it looks like it was roughly hewn together moments before the picture was shot. It probably was. Remember, before his big break Harrison Ford was a set carpenter, so he most likely manufactured it right there. This could also explain the sweat stains on his armpits.

On the table is expensive looking water that Adam Driver and a few others are enjoying while fashionably using Star Wars coasters. If you want to get your own collection, you can order them here.

I'm sure we could glean more from which coaster each actor chose, but the resolution and the cups are making it hard to discern which one each actor has. But still, it's fun to imagine.

Daisy Ridley is wearing Chucks, so she immediately becomes my favorite new actor in the series. Notice too that she's wearing a loose shirt revealing a black bra. A simple afterthought you say, but I say subconscious message. Will she turn to the dark side at some point? I sure hope so.

Notice that everyone has their script except for Carrie Fisher, while Harrison Ford has an extra one under his chair. What does that mean? Is he going to smuggle the extra one out and sell it on eBay? Or perhaps Fisher doesn't have many lines because Leia tragically dies early on in the film. I mean, the women in her family have had it pretty tough over the course of these now seven films.

Those Darn Nuts

Peter Mayhew wins the award for being the super fan of the bunch. That's right, he is wearing a Star Wars shirt to the Star Wars table read. Awkward. That's like wearing a band's t-shirt to their concert, but worse. You know that he has to be psyched to get back into that furry costume.

In front of Kathleen Kennedy is a glass with almonds and cashews. I'm not really sure of the significance of those yet, but I'm sure there has to be a reason, no?

What about you? Do you notice anything that I've missed?