Director Duncan Jones on the set of Moon.
Photo: Mark Tille Copyright © Lunar Industries/Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics
Now that I have made a film, I feel kind of guilty about this, but bare in mind I was about 7 years old at the time. When I was a kid, we had this huge behemoth of a machine called a SONY U-matic. It was one of the very first video tape players. My dad had managed to wrangle us a copy of Star Wars: Episode IV on tape to Switzerland where we were living. The one film resided on a huge pair of Sony U-matic tapes, and I and my school chums would watch the film again and again on a huge TV in the front room. There would always be a dramatic pause half way through the film as we were forced to change tapes due to the limitations of the ancient technology. I never did get to see Episode IV at a theatre, but those days were perfect just as they were. I was crowned Prince of the Nerds, and those Star Wars tapes were my scepter.
What did you think of Star Wars when you first saw it?
I was brought up with Star Wars, seeing it at an age when I totally accepted it for what it was -- a vision of a galaxy far, far away. The idea that it was "created" was completely beyond me at that time. All I knew was that it was the most exciting place in existence, and hopefully one day the Millennium Falcon would pull up outside the house and Chewie would come and get me to go on an adventure with the rest of the gang.
Which character in Star Wars resonated with you the most?
It's changed with time. Originally it was Luke, of course, then Han Solo. I always had a crush on Leia -- some years more than others. There was an inverse relationship between how much of a crush I had on Leia and how much Han Solo bugged me.
Were you the kind of kid who would play with Star Wars toys? Which one was your favorite?
I did, of course! The Millenium Falcon was an amazing toy, as were the AT-AT pilots. I also had the multilayer Death Star play set with the foam-filled garbage disposal. I loved dumping various figures in there and then screaming as I crushed them. Not sure what that said about me.
You've mentioned in other interviews about your love for all things robotic, from 2000 A.D. to Star Wars; in fact you wrote a paper in college called "How to Kill Your Computer Friend: An Investigation of the Mind/Body Problem and How It Relates to the Hypothetical Creation of a Thinking Machine." What is it about robots that interests and excites you?
I'm not entirely sure I know, to be honest. I think I just like the idea of replicating lifelike behavior in synthetic forms. I love watching video footage of things like Big-Dog and Penguinbots. I actually did my B.A. and three years of graduate school studying philosophy, and working on papers about how and when to apply ethics to sentient machines. I am sure deep down there in my formative years, my empathy for R2-D2 and C-3PO must have played a part in creating that ongoing interest. I would imagine their imprint had a lot to do with what would become the personality of Moon's resident robot, Gerty.
What are some of your other favorite sci-fi films and what made you love them?
Blade Runner is one of my favorite sci-fi films, and though it is very different than Star Wars, I love it for the same reason. It had a fully-realized, believable world that felt like we were getting only a glimpse of. There was no sense that if you panned the camera a foot left or right you would see the crew standing around and the light stands wobbling in the artificial wind. I love any film that creates that believable a sense of place, but in sci-fi, it is a truly unique challenge. When it's done properly, it's magic!
How has Star Wars, and other sci-fi movies, influenced you as a filmmaker?
Moon is my first film, and is a testament to my love of sci-fi. It's a love letter in reality. From Peter Hyams' Outland to Silent Running, from 2001 to Alien, Blade Runner and beyond -- the sci-fi I grew up with has informed our film. But as important as those great films are to me, I would say that watching Star Wars was the experience that made me want to make movies in the first place. That was the film that made me want to create worlds and tell stories in places no one else would ever get to visit. Star Wars did that for me.
Why do you think sci-fi and fantasy films like Star Wars are so important -- especially as a creative muse?
For me it's the freedom to let the imagination run wild. On the other hand, I believe the very best sci-fi and fantasy films are disciplined in keeping to their own set of rules. If you can get that balance of imagination and discipline right, you can create "alternate realities," which is what we tried to do in Moon. Set a story in such a place, and the chances are, you will be giving your audience a trip worth attending.
