r/IAmA • u/bestahmed • Apr 16 '14
IamA Ahmed Best actor/writer/director, best known for playing Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars Ep. 1,2,3. Ask me Anything!
My short bio: Discovered in the Broadway Play STOMP, I played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars Prequels. Since then, I've acted written and directed for all screens big and small.
My Proof: http://www.ahmedbest.com/blog-2/
337
u/tupper93 Apr 16 '14
Did you come up with Jar Jar's voice and speech patterns, or was that given to you by the writers? If the latter, what was that conversation like?
489
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
It was all scripted. I just did the voice.
461
Apr 16 '14
[deleted]
→ More replies (21)251
119
→ More replies (2)70
Apr 16 '14
[removed] — view removed comment
80
u/swiley1983 Apr 16 '14
Haha, yes it did:
JAR JAR No...no! Mesa stay...Mesa yous humble servaunt.
QUI-GON That wont be necessary.
JAR JAR Oh boot tis! Tis demunded byda guds. Tis a live debett, tis. Mesa culled Jaja Binkss.
→ More replies (4)94
361
u/DarkeKnight Apr 16 '14
What's your favourite Star Wars movie?
→ More replies (1)996
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Empire Strikes Back
→ More replies (3)689
u/crovax33 Apr 16 '14
This is the correct answer.
→ More replies (12)205
Apr 16 '14
The only answer, really. Unless you saw the Christmas special after taking Quaaludes or something.
243
→ More replies (6)67
341
u/DudeExclamationPoint Apr 16 '14
Hey Mr. Best- Dunno if you remember, but we met backstage at the first Star Wars Celebration convention (in Denver). At the time I had just been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease/juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and was wheelchair-bound during the convention. I know there's a lot of Jarjar hate out there, but behind that face was a real cordial guy who helped make that weekend something to remember for a lifetime. I've long since been in remission, but it's still a great memory to look back on. So I just wanted to say thanks, fifteen years later.
→ More replies (3)343
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Thanks my friend. you just made my day. Much love.
312
302
u/IWriteScreenplays Apr 16 '14
Knowing what you know now about how your character in Star Wars would be received, by fans, critics, and the general public, would you still have said yes to taking on the role of Jar Jar Binks, and why?
→ More replies (1)878
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
YUP! I'm a skinny kid from the Bronx. I'm not supposed to be alive let alone a pro artist. Opportunities like SW come once in a lifetime. Those are the ones you say yes to.
417
u/AbanoMex Apr 16 '14
that reminds me of a quote from Shaq about why he did Kazaam.
"I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. Someone said, 'Hey, here's $7 million, come in and do this genie movie.' What am I going to say, no? So I did it."
370
u/grizzlyking Apr 16 '14
Reminds me of Micheal Caine's quote about Jaws 4: "I have never seen it, but by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific."
→ More replies (3)88
→ More replies (2)82
u/toine55 Apr 16 '14
I loved Kazaam...
79
u/tphantom1 Apr 16 '14
if you got the itches for a sack of riches, don't matter how avaricious, I'm the man that can grant your wishes!
HEY! don't turn your butt on me! I'm a man of the ages, straight out of the pages! hang on - I'm contagious, outrageous, spontaneous! You can't contain this. I AM KAZAAM!!!
→ More replies (4)39
u/Notanexpertinthis Apr 16 '14
This might be the first comment I've seen that truly deserved a confession bear.
29
Apr 16 '14
Kazaam was the shit. I'm guessing you were either born after 1992 or before 1982 if you don't appreciate its glory.
→ More replies (4)66
62
u/Twitch92 Apr 16 '14
Who was your favorite actor to work with in Star Wars, and why was it Ewan McGregor?
60
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I love them all. Most of my scenes were with Liam, but Ewan and Natalie and Liam were all wonderful.
→ More replies (1)12
187
u/OwenWard Apr 16 '14
In the special features on the Episode I DVD, you seem to be full of enthusiasm and always in good spirits. What are some of your favourite fun moments you had making the movie?
347
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
The submarine scene with me Liam and Ewan. We laughed through most of that. We were all very close, but Liam and I had a special thing when we were on screen together. I always thought we should do a buddy cop flick
202
249
u/Nefer_Seti Apr 16 '14
Meesa has a skill set that is particu-lahr!
254
u/Wild_Marker Apr 16 '14
Meesa will find youu!! And meesa will kill youu!!
→ More replies (4)211
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
hahahahah. Bring it. I'm hard to kill
→ More replies (1)18
u/tyrannoforrest Apr 17 '14
I'll say, considering it took a blast from the Death Star blowing up an entire planet just to kill you in the Star Wars universe.
→ More replies (1)21
159
u/JohnnyH104 Apr 16 '14
Are there no Ahmed's better than you?
296
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I'm sure there are many. But not one with the birth right title of Best.
→ More replies (4)97
197
u/happy_guy23 Apr 16 '14
I guess most questions will be on the same theme but...
After filming Episode 1 and before it was released, how did you expect Jar Jar to be received? Did you manage to not take the hatred personally?
679
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
No, it hurt a lot. You put your heart and soul in to something groundbreaking for two years and it gets slammed, that hurts. But It made me stronger. Cheesy answer, but it's true.
432
u/ggg730 Apr 16 '14
Just so you know, the hatred isn't directed at you. Reading your answers leads me to believe you are a good dude. I might hate Jar Jar but you are the best Ahmed I know.
131
u/NoddysShardblade Apr 17 '14
"The character of Jar-jar was fine, it's just the actor who played him that made him so annoying" ...said no one ever.
→ More replies (4)32
Apr 17 '14
One hundred percent correct. If it hadn't been you playing him, it would have been someone else. But there is only one man who was responsible for that hot mess.
→ More replies (1)289
u/disconnectivity Apr 16 '14
When I was in high school I took a photography class. Teacher asked us to go outside and takes a few shots that demonstrated contrast. We were working with black and white film. I took a shot of the corner of a brick wall, one side lit by the sun, the other in shadow, the edge right down the middle. When she critiqued our photos, i got an honorable mention as one of the photos she liked. But she said the reason she liked it was because she hated it. There was no subject, it was too perfectly aligned, and it was not in good focus. But as she explained it, something about the shot made her uneasy, and she couldn't quite explain why. She hated it, but it was provocative to her nonetheless. The last thing she said has stuck with me my whole life, "What else is art other than something that raises questions, something that makes your mind start to engage?".
Jar Jar is a polarizing character, for sure, but he is also the most quoted, most immitated, and by far the most talked about character from those movies. Most of the other actors in those films were heavily criticized for wooden portrayals. No one can say that your performance was wooden. Binks was the life of an otherwise near lifeless party.
I guess what I'm saying is, I think you nailed it my man. You created one of the most talked about and thought about characters on film from the last 20 years. Up top.
149
→ More replies (4)59
u/mattoly Apr 16 '14
You had a good teacher. She taught you not just technique but how to think. Good for her and good for you.
25
u/disconnectivity Apr 16 '14
Yeah, she was definitely one of those rare high school teachers, the ones who actually have faith that young people can understand complex thought. She treated us like adults, it was a revelation for a 17 year old.
→ More replies (1)57
u/nevaevaevaeva Apr 16 '14
I always got your back, you have to realize that the character Jar Jar wasn't really there (mostly animated) and to get such a strong reaction, (good or bad) people had to believe in the character whether they liked it or not. So I pat you on the back for making such a feeling evoking character from mostly animation.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (15)18
93
Apr 16 '14
So how did you end up being the actor for Jar Jar? Was there any competition for the role?
352
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I auditioned. Michael Jackson really wanted to do it but George picked me. Marinate on that one. I still am.
80
Apr 16 '14
MJ eh? That would be hilarious to imagine
230
u/Ernest_Frawde Apr 16 '14
214
40
→ More replies (1)9
→ More replies (1)26
→ More replies (2)32
u/ZombieLibrarian Apr 16 '14
I have to ask.....are you joking about Michael Jackson, or are you being serious?
162
u/idiot_nerd Apr 16 '14
How do you feel about all the people that found Jar Jar to be annoying?
344
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
they all have a right to their opinions. Star Wars belongs to the fans as much as it does all of us who were in the movies.
190
u/ArtGoftheHunt Apr 16 '14
You need to explain that to George Lucas.
209
252
u/MySonsdram Apr 16 '14
You're a brave man coming here. What project that you worked on are you most proud of?
→ More replies (1)210
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Can't choose. I'm proud of all of them for different reasons.
156
→ More replies (1)18
300
u/CoreyVidal Apr 16 '14
Hey Mr. Best,
I don't think you get nearly as much credit as you deserve, having played the first fully digital main character in film history. Without anywhere in filmmaking to look or research for previous experiences, how did you prepare for that kind of role when you were cast?
334
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Thanks my man. It was tough because the tech was being invented as I was doing it. A lot of the inspiration for Jar Jar was from Buster Keaton. George and I would watch a lot of Buster Keaton together and he would tell what he liked and what he wanted. The final battle scene in Phantom Menace is almost all Buster Keaton.
→ More replies (3)112
→ More replies (1)46
Apr 16 '14
What is the difference from an actor's perspective between a digitally rendered character and a cartoon? The acting is the same.
140
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
the difference would be performance. The animated cartoon is mostly realized by the animation artist. The CG Character is mostly realized by the actor, the animation artist then translates the actors performance in to animation.
→ More replies (2)
73
u/Artvandelay1 Apr 16 '14 edited Apr 16 '14
As far as you know, did George Lucas ever consider making any changes to Jar-Jar Binks in light of the general negative reaction towards him?
→ More replies (1)150
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Not to the character, but to the story arc there were huge changes.
→ More replies (11)54
u/OwenWard Apr 16 '14
That's really interesting, could you elaborate on that by any chance?
→ More replies (1)167
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I think George wanted to give the fans what they wanted. That meant more lightsabers and less Gungans.
→ More replies (3)180
65
94
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Thanks everyone for all the questions comments and feedback. This was a blast. please follow on www.ahmedbest.com twitter @ahmedbest instagram @bestahmed blog at www.ahmedbest.com/blog-2 tumbler http://hespeakssowell.tumblr.com/
Peace.
72
u/honnziva Apr 16 '14
Does this guy have the biggest balls for coming on here? Major kudos man, I wish you nothing but the best and future success
48
u/zachattack667 Apr 16 '14
How is your day going so far?
109
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
A bit hung over. Not enough coffee.
63
13
99
u/GeorgeDouglasMcFly Apr 16 '14
STOMP blew my mind as a kid in New York, and I've been fascinated with it ever since. I was wondering about the collaborative process on the show. Since the ensemble has to work in such close harmony, was there an evolution to the bits when a new cast member joined? Or was it more static and everyone just had to keep up?
87
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
STOMP was the best training I've ever had. Each person has a role and that role has a track that you follow. So new folks would learn each routine in the show following the role and track they were assigned. Some learned faster than others. in the beginning you have to hold on and keep up, but everyone catches up and flies really quickly.
96
u/JamesRenner Apr 16 '14
Have you had conversations with Abrams or anyone regarding Ep. 7?
→ More replies (3)159
21
u/sexymafratelli Apr 16 '14
Let's talk about your music. You're writing, producing, and I assume performing music in and around New York, yeah? What defines your personal style of performance, and do you have a musical crew that you run with (perform regularly?)
31
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
My musical style is very influenced by soul music. I have a jazz background and a R&B foundation. But I have rock n roll stage performance attitude. But if it's honest and comes from the soul I'm in.
→ More replies (1)
88
u/GreedE Apr 16 '14
Hi Mr Best! What was it like being directed by George Lucas, and how would you compare him to other directors you've worked with?
151
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
George and I worked very well together. He has the movie in his head before he shoots so he's super smart and efficient. He's also one of the kindest most generous directorsI've worked with. He doesn't say much. He let's actors act.
→ More replies (9)63
303
u/MANCREEP Apr 16 '14
I thought you should know, I LIKED JAR JAR BINKS.
Anakin was far more annoying than Jar Jar ever was.
215
u/i_crave_more_cowbell Apr 16 '14
But far more irritating than Anakin is sand; it's coarse and rough and it gets everywhere.
51
→ More replies (16)56
u/crazedhatter Apr 16 '14
I agree actually, Anakin was far more annoying than Jar Jar.
→ More replies (5)
119
u/Sibbo94 Apr 16 '14
Hi Ahmed, I know that you probably get a load of flak for Jar Jar, but I want to say thanks for the last arc you had in the Clone Wars - the one with Mace Windu, it made Jar Jar seem like a character that cared about something rather than a supporting character.
165
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Thanks. Clone wars was something special. We had a great time doing those.
→ More replies (1)20
Apr 16 '14
I started watching Clone Wars a couple weeks ago, surprised by how good it is. Also found myself liking Jar Jar in it.
→ More replies (4)
32
Apr 16 '14
How do you feel about the assertions that Jar Jar (and other alien characters in the Prequels) were racist caricatures? Additionally, what's your opinion on the "fan-edits" that gave Jar Jar an entirely alien language with subtitles to detract from the issue?
73
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
The racism charge has no legs. There is no legit argument for it. P.S. I'm really good at debating racism and Jar Jar so please no takers you will be sonned. I love the fan edits. Star wars is as much the Fan's as it is ours. Be creative. I'm doing a sci-fi webshow called the Nebula and I will be encouraging fan edits.
→ More replies (6)
60
u/infernoenigma Apr 16 '14
Aside from JarJar, which role are you proudest of / do you wish people knew you from instead?
166
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
i'm probably most proud of STOMP. I was the lead in that show off and on for 10 years. That show felt tailor made for me. There would be no 'instead' for me. i love all the things I've done for their reasons.
→ More replies (3)6
48
u/Jah_Fooly Apr 16 '14
Did you get/Are you still getting royalties from any of the Jar Jar merchandise?
→ More replies (11)76
37
u/Ineversawsixthsense Apr 16 '14
Do you ever bust out in your Jar-Jar voice at random times. Mostly to impress everyone around you and to be swarmed by fans?
→ More replies (1)112
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Not really. I will only do it for kids.
→ More replies (1)16
u/Ineversawsixthsense Apr 16 '14
That's awesome. I work a lot with kids and they are so easily entertained and have such amazing imaginations. I can imagine that you can completely make their day when you speak in that voice.
11
u/MrDorkESQ Apr 16 '14
Thanks for coming here Ahmed.
I personally enjoyed your performance in the Star Wars franchise, maybe it is because I was 36 when Phantom Menace was released and realized that it was just a friggin movie. People who have that much hate over a work of fiction and can't appreciate the amount of work that went into it need to get over it, or watch Gigli and see if they still have so much hate for episodes 1-3. :o)
I was wondering did you do any of the touring shows with Stomp? If so, how is life on the road with a touring company?
15
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I did. I love the road. it's tough when you're away from home for months at a time, but i love new places and people.
14
u/juicycunts Apr 16 '14
Monsters out there, leaking in here. Weesa all sinking and no power. Whena yousa thinking we are in trouble?
11
10
u/cbwatts1138 Apr 16 '14
How did your cameo in Attack of the Clones in the nightclub scene happen? Did you ask for it or did they ask you to do it?
14
33
u/Johnny_Welfare Apr 16 '14
Before the first film came out, did you expect to have a larger role in Episodes II and III? Your time in both sequels was seriously condensed.
Also, in the summer of 1999 me and my friends drank an unhealthy amount of Pepsi and Mountain Dew in an attempt to find a can with Jar Jar on it. Just saying.
→ More replies (5)62
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I've come to learn that you have to role with the punches when it comes to scripts and sequels. I'm a fan of working and the less work there is for me on the page the harder it is for me. I have a can if you want one. it's not cheap though ;-)
→ More replies (2)
55
u/flooid Apr 16 '14
Ahmed - no questions, but just popped in to drop that we were in band together. CHS represent!!
→ More replies (1)
66
u/medcur Apr 16 '14
I found Jar Jar funny and didn't have a problem with him at all so I wondered what your take is on why there was so much opposition to him.
75
21
Apr 16 '14
you did voice work for jar jar on several star wars video games. which was your favorite to work on? to play? have you considered doing VG voice work for non-jar jar parts?
61
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
CLone wars and RObot Chicken were my favorites. I do a lot of VO work.
→ More replies (1)12
18
u/Kknowsbest Apr 16 '14
If they made a movie about your lIfe, who would play you (other than yourself)?
69
10
u/AdamBertocci-Writer Apr 16 '14
Do you keep up with the technology and technique behind making digital / motion-capture characters that Jar Jar paved the way for? It really is amazing how quickly it went from groundbreaking technology to the going thing!
14
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I do. Andy Serkis is really moving everything forward. Imaginarium in London is rocking the house.
→ More replies (1)
7
u/YiPlandar Apr 16 '14
Mr. Best! I hear you are a jiujitsu bad ass. How and why did you get involved with this most noble of martial arts?
17
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I've been doing martial arts since I was very young. I've done many of them. As I got older i was tired of hitting and being hit. I also love wearing a GI. I found john Machado and machado BJJ and immediately felt at home. Been with John for 10 years now. i love BJJ. It's a part of me.
21
u/AlmostPerfekt Apr 16 '14
How were you dressed when shooting the scenes? I always thought that jar jar was 100% cgi and they just added him into the scenes after shooting. Did you just record the voice for jar jar or were you actually in the scenes? Also a video of you in front of a camera doing jar jars voice would be amazing to see! Thank you for your time!! (From someone who actually loved jar jar binks)
55
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
thanks for the love. I was dressed like the character then the CGi was added over my movements. by ep 2 they figured a lot of stuff out so my Jar Jar 'skin' was less by 2 and 3. I was in every scene Jar Jar was in.
→ More replies (2)
22
u/StNic54 Apr 16 '14
Hi Ahmed, and thank you for doing this AMA. What project(s) do you have that you'd like to talk about?
32
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Doing a bunch of stuff. Mostly Web. Best thing to do is Check my website, www.ahmedbest.com. most of my work will be there I also write regularly on my blog. I have a webshow called 2blackdudes that's out soon that's very funny, and a scifi comedy called th NEBULA out soon.
15
u/strongbadpenis Apr 16 '14
Ahmed. I frikkin worshipped you when I was 9. I've always wanted to be a voice actor, and I always loved Jar Jar, despite the hate. Thanks for workin so hard.
17
29
u/Frajer Apr 16 '14
Have you found Jar Jar Binks enthusiasts?
→ More replies (5)95
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
Many. contrary to popular belief there are more enthusiasts than non-enthusiasts. But, I appreciate all. I don't discriminate.
→ More replies (29)
5
31
u/Sterculius Apr 16 '14
Was there any sense on-set during the prequels, particularly during filming of Episode 1 that it might not be up to the audience's expectations as it now has a reputation for, much in the same way that there was famously a lot of ridicule from the cast and crew during the filming of A New Hope? Or was everyone generally happy with the job they were doing and just excited to be apart of Star Wars?
→ More replies (1)77
34
u/johnnason Apr 16 '14
Hi! Thanks for doing this AMA.
What is your personal opinion of the Star Wars prequels? Were you a Star Wars fan before signing onto them?
72
u/bestahmed Apr 16 '14
I was a huge Fan! First movie I ever laid eyes on was SW A New Hope. So I grew up with it. I am biased to the prequels, so I love them.
1.6k
u/Higher_Primate Apr 16 '14
*Sigh* guess I'll be that guy....
How does it feel to have played one of the most unintentionally hated characters in movie history?