EXCLUSIVE: 'The Force Awakens' Director J.J. Abrams Reveals Which 'Star Wars' Music Cue Made Him Cry
J.J. Abrams. Steven Spielberg. George Lucas.
No, we're not just randomly listing renowned directors -- this regal trio stepped out to honor legendary composer John Williams, who received the AFI Life Achievement Award on Thursday night. The televised event will air on TNT June 15 at 10:00 p.m.
"Watching him talk to the orchestra is a lesson in expression. It's a lesson in communication," said Abrams of working with Williams. "I was amazed by how gentle and kind and humble he is. He was like that every day we worked together."
EXCLUSIVE: Steven Spielberg Confirms That John Williams Will Return to Score the Fifth 'Indiana Jones'
Abrams and Williams, of course, collaborated on the most recent installment of the Star Wars franchise – Episode VII, The Force Awakens. And while it felt slightly mad to ask Abrams to choose his favorite piece from the film's soundtrack, he definitely had some standouts.
"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," said Abrams, who got to take a piece of the Resistance home.
"He actually gave me [the Resistance] score, bound, in this leather-bound book," revealed Abrams.
The emotion Williams is able to insert in the films he scores is unmatched -- many of us have cried while listening to his music. We asked Abrams to reveal the first piece that required tissues.
"There are so many. I mean, I guess the first one that made me cry was the Force theme, when Luke is looking over the Binary Sunset," he shared, referring to the Stars Wars flick that started it all, 1977's A New Hope, directed by Lucas.
WATCH: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Actor John Boyega Says It's 'Crazy' to Have Your Own Theme
Williams has certainly made his mark in cinematic history, having also collaborated with director Steven Spielberg on films like E.T., Jurassic Park, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark -- just to name a few. But surprisingly, when asked which film Spielberg would choose to score his life, he went rogue! (Pun intended.)
"Star Wars!" Spielberg said confidently.
Well… Spielberg is a Star Wars fan. He even had a part in discovering our new Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich. Spielberg tells us why he thought the young actor had a future in comedy in the video below: