Bruce and Carrie on Blue Peter
After watching a sneak clip of Han, Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO flying through asteroid field, the camera of the British children's show Blue Peter cuts to close up shots of Bruce and Carrie sitting on a green couch with Sarah Green.
"And watching that hair-raising sequence with me is none other than Princess Leia herself, otherwise known as Carrie O'Brian, and her darling husband Bruce O'Brian, alias Han Solo and director of the upcoming Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back."
The camera extends outward to show a playful children's set in a nautical theme. Sarah is between Carrie and Bruce with Goldie the Golden Retriever laying peacefully in front of Carrie who was carefully holding a turtle while Bruce was happily holding a gray and black cat.
"Thank you very much for having us Sarah. Mark told us this was his favorite interview for the movie so we were very much looking forward to attending." Bruce complimented.
"Thank you very much for the kind words Bruce." Sarah said beaming, then switching focus to Carrie who gently held and pet the turtle, "Carrie, tell us, what was it like acting with robots?" Sarah asks, leaving Bruce to happily play happily with the tabby cat undisturbed.
"Well it's a bit like acting with people really, they're very human. I mean, some people are very robot like and some robots are very human like. ILM created some very great and revolutionary technology to make them more life like and dynamic; and Anthony and Kenny did a great job showing their emotions with body language and timing, so it was really easy." Carrie answered.
"Yes, they've got some very smashing personalities in the film haven't they. What was the hardest part of the film for you to shoot?" Sarah asks.
Carrie gives a knowing stare to Bruce who stares off to the side in playful ignorance, "Well, there's this one scene in the third act where we were in what's called a carbon freezing chamber. I can't reveal much, but let's just say it was the focus of probably my most dramatic and powerful scene, so I have to be at the top of my game while the room is so scorching hot. It was probably more than 100 degrees, or I guess 40 for our audience at home. And I was sweating like a mule while right next to Chewbacca whose fur also began to stink and sweat heavily. We eventually got something beautiful out of it, but let me tell you throughout I was having very strong flashbacks to the trash compactor scene."
The answer made Sarah laugh heavily at the vivid description, "Well at least you didn't have to film in Tunisia like the boys last time?"
Carrie shakes her head, "I don't know what it is with George Lucas. When it comes to Star Wars we have to film when it's very hot or very cold, never just right." Carrie joked.
Sarah then turned to Bruce to question, "Bruce, I know filming takes a very long time-" Sarah began, then paused in slight bewilderment as she, Carrie and the production crew observed Bruce O'Brian, the man who knocked out Muhammad Ali, being very affectionate in a goofy and silly manner with the tabby cat.
"You're a very beautiful kitty cat, yes you are! So nice, fuzzy and warm, that's a very good girl." Bruce whispered in cute talk with the cat really taking to Bruce, snuggling and nuzzling with the Irishman who in return received belly rubs and scratches along with a kiss to the head from Bruce.
There was an awkward pause as Sarah was unsure on how to address Bruce while the camera crew actually wanted the interaction to continue as much as possible to milk it for ratings.
After about ten seconds, Carrie as much as she adored the sight of her husband being so sweet, decided to reel him back to continue the interview, "Bruce, honey."
"Yeah Carebear?"
"We're still on the air." Carrie gently reminded.
Bruce looked up in confusion then panicked when he saw the cameras and realized he had shown his mushy side to millions of Britons, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry about that." Bruce apologized, his skin adopting a pink hue of flushed embarassment.
Sarah laughed, "It's quite alright Bruce. I take it that you're quite a cat person?" Sarah asked.
Bruce nodded sheepishly while the tabby cat purred and burrowed itself in Bruce's lap, "Yeah. I've got a Scottish Fold back home named Ginger and we've been in England a few weeks so I do miss her terribly." Bruce admitted.
"And what's Ginger like?"
"Oh she's an absolute sweetheart. Sure she can be a little mischievous and often times acts like she owns the house and sits wherever she wants; but she's a very sweet girl whose always willing to keep you company, very playful, and knows just how to cheer you up. We also have a Dalmatian named Natalie who Carrie adopted before we met, a very good girl whose very loyal and protective." Bruce said.
"A few weeks into our relationship, I set up a date in the park where I brought Natalie to kind of see how good Bruce was with animals. They instantly got along and acted like they were friends their whole lives with Bruce being so sweet and gentle. Right at that moment I couldn't help but think, 'That's the man who I'm going to marry." Carrie shared, producing some "Awww"s in the background of the set.
"Anyways, what were you asking about?" Bruce questioned, wanting to get the interview back on track.
Sarah snapped in alert, "Oh right, Well what I was going to say, Bruce filming takes a very long time and reportedly you spent nearly a month filming in Northern Japan during the middle of winter. Was that difficult for you as both a director and actor?"
Bruce shook his head, "Not really. So we were filming on Hokkaido, which by the way is a very gorgeous and beautiful island that everyone should visit if they go to Japan on vacation, and from the start the Japanese Ministry of Culture had been very gracious hosts and cooperated with us fully to help make the best movie. We had help from the Japanese Self-Defense Force whose involvement helped to create one of the best battle scenes in all of film, and the local people were very hospitable so we had a strong support network to get us going.
The weather was actually pretty calm for the first half, but then in the middle of it we had a freak snow storm, the strongest this decade. While it was a challenge at first, it was one we overcame through resilience and creativity that ended up making better scenes than without. Also, I am very grateful to George who had the great foresight of cold-proofing the cameras which really helped to save production because we couldn't have done anything with the old cameras."
"And how exactly did you keep warm." Sarah asked.
"Well, our costumes provided three layers of clothing so except for our heads and faces we were decently warm. We had tents set up with heaters for actors and crew who were on break at the time and Hokkaido has some great hot springs to warm up during the night. When all else fails, some loving hugs and cuddles from my loving wife would keep the cold away." Bruce complimented, with the camera zooming in on a madly blushing Carrie who was once again caught off guard by her husband's flirts.
"And how long did filming take?" Sarah asked.
"Start to finish it was around four months, which was a nice improvement from the original Star Wars where it took us half a year to film everything. The speed was helped by many factors, by us being rather comfortable and familiar with the scope and setting, George's presence and support as Executive Producer who guided me to getting the right feel for the sequel, our props and set team who did tremendous artwork and helped to keep everything in motion, and the cast,
most especially Carrie, who gave some of the best acting I've ever worked with so we didn't need to really do much retakes and a scene could be done in a day or two." Bruce said, as he continually pet the purring Tabby.
"And after Empire Strikes Back, I believe we have one more Star Wars film left?" Sarah began.
Carrie nodded her head, "That's right, Return of the Jedi."
"Return is going to wrap up everything that was left open in Empire and from there a great confrontation between Luke and Vader and the overall Rebels and Empire. It's not going to be the final Star Wars media that's ever created though. As you know we have the wonderful Marvel Comics and the start of our books with Splinter of the Mind's Eye and the Han Solo Adventures. While I can't definitively guarantee just what will be coming after the third film, we have a very large universe to play with and there are many stories of a galaxy, far, far away that our viewers will have the chance to grow up with, and maybe some new Star Wars works to share with their kids." Bruce shared with an aura of mystery and excitement.
"Speaking of kids, you two are both the proud parents of one year old Mary O'Brian correct?" Sarah questioned.
Both O'Brians nodded, "Yes, our darling little angel and having been born on December 29th, the best late Christmas present I ever received." Carrie said fondly.
"Well as the daughter of Han and Leia, is Mary immersed with Star Wars much, does she watch it all the time?" Sarah asked, producing giggles from Bruce and Carrie over the memories of the turbulent "Lying Things" Saga that they had been doing their best to work with, most of the progress being done from her friendship with Wally and his love of Star Wars.
"Well she's seen some bits of Star Wars, but she hasn't watched it in entirety because until around last Christmas, Mary could never watch anything for more than half an hour without falling asleep unless it was the Muppets or Sesame Street. We took her to see her first movie with the Superman premiere, which she enjoyed greatly, and we're now just trying to gently nudge her into experiencing more movies so she can watch Star Wars all the way, which I think will be soon." Carrie informed.
"Contrary to what people believe, no we didn't paint our daughter's nursery in Star Wars." Bruce said, to laughs from Sarah and Carrie, "She's got a few Star Wars toys, her most favorite being this little stuffed Bantha she likes to use like a horse. Though she only really plays Star Wars when she's playing with her friend Wally, George and Marcia Lucas' son, and he's the one whose a super fan for Star Wars. Also when Carrie's sisters come over to visit they usually rope Mary into a Star Wars game where she plays a dragon companion to their Jedi Knights."
"Well Bruce, Carrie, thank you both very much for your time here today, we felt extremely blessed just to have Mark on three years ago so we're really grateful to have you both spend some time with us." Sarah said in gratitude.
"Well, on our mornings off of filming, both with the first Star Wars and with our filming in Empire, we both liked to lounge in bed and watch Blue Peter, so it was our pleasure to visit. Just really wish that they showed Blue Peter in America so Mary could watch everyday." Carrie complimented.
"If more shows had pets to play with then I'd definitely be doing a lot more interviews." Bruce joked, giving great laughs from the two accompanying women.
Sarah thanked both for their time and was about to end the interview until a producer quickly jumped in and introduced Bruce and Carrie to a Blue Peter cookbook, two copies being given to them as gifts to promote a food drive to Cambodia,
"And there's one recipe which I think you both will like on Page 57, it's called 'Star Wars Stew'. And it was sent to us by 7 year old Elspeth Bruford of Edinburgh, and she said it was invented when her and her family wanted a hot stew after standing in line for hours in the cold to see Star Wars." The producer informed.
"And we've got some right here for you Carrie and Bruce, it's piping hot and a wonderful mixture of sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, onions, sweet corn, chips, potatoes and cheese." Said one of the show's host Simon, who brought in a rolling table full of several servings of the stew for the stars and company.
"Bruce, you're the first one to dig into the dish, how do you fancy it?" Asked the other co-host Christopher, to Bruce who took a spoonful and looked very please.
"It's actually pretty great, a really nice balance of flavors paired with a good broth." Bruce said, then taking a couple of large servings and enjoying himself to the amusement of those present. "I'll tell you what, Elizabeth is it?" He asked to Sarah.
"Elspeth." Sarah corrected.
"Well Elspeth, I tell you what I'm going to do. When I get back home, I'm going to write it in my O'Brian family cookbook and every night we have stew this will be our first choice." Bruce said to the camera.
After filming ended, Carrie reached up on her tiptoes and gave Bruce a large kiss on the cheek.
"What was that for?" Bruce asked with a goofy smile.
"For being so sweet and making that little girl's day by acting like you loved the soup and giving those compliments." Carrie said adoringly.
Bruce looked at his wife in confusion, "Make it up? I actually really liked it."
"Really?" Carrie asked in bafflement.
"Yeah, it didn't beat mom's soups but it was still pretty great. Did you not like it?" Bruce asked.
Carrie shrugged her shoulders, "It was okay I guess, just nothing too amazing. Seasoning was a bit off and I felt the portions weren't balanced. I much prefer your potato soup, but I guess you can always improve on it. Still, it was pretty sweet that you said those words. Are we gonna have it too often though?"
Bruce shook his head, "Probably a couple times a month maybe. I guess it depends on if Mary's fond of it.
While Mary wasn't much of a big fan as she ate only the potatoes and sausages and waged war with Bruce over finishing the rest, in Scotland young Elspeth was the happiest girl in the world as THE Han Solo had eaten her Star Wars Stew and now had it in his cookbook, a delightful story she would share for the rest of her life.
A/N: The above Omake is based on an interview Carrie and Mark did for Blue Peter OTL.
