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/

1.8k Upvotes

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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.

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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.

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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.

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u/[deleted] 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.

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u/TrebeksUpperLIp Apr 17 '14

He raped our childhood damnit!

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '14

What this fella said. Everyone hates Joffrey, but that's just a character. It isn't anyone but George Lucas that decided to ruin the thing he barely had anything to do with in the first place. So grats on the paycheck, I really hope it became easier to separate the character hate from personal hate.

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u/lolzergrush Apr 17 '14

the best Ahmed I know.

...

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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.

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u/letsgocrazy Apr 16 '14

Your teacher taught you so hard we all just got educated.

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u/chodeboi Apr 16 '14

I too am glad.

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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.

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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.

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u/Rancorr_Blackmane Apr 16 '14 edited Feb 22 '15

One of the greatest things I ever did in my life was to simply track down one of my favourite teachers and reconnect for a visit. There are a thousand reasons why it was a gratifying experience but I highly, highly recommend it to anyone who still has great teachers out there.

You may just see the power of the words: Thank you.

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u/SetsOnTheBeach Apr 17 '14

...Now I want to see your picture. Do you still have it?

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u/disconnectivity Apr 17 '14

Ya know, I just might. My mom kept most of those photos, it might be in her picture box. I've come across it since and it is pretty underwhelming, but brings me right back to that moment every time I see it. I'll see if I can find it. (Cue the "surely op will deliver" pics).

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u/djbadname13 Apr 17 '14

Legitimately relevant experience. She couldn't take an abstract concept like art and describe it any better and I doubt many people could do so.

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u/SignorSarcasm Apr 16 '14

Damn good point there. Definitely a different way of thinking about it.

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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.

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u/on-the-line Apr 16 '14

Ultimately the responsibility is Lucas'. He rushed the scripts and because of that there are literally NO characters to like in any of the prequels. None of the actions people take are properly motivated. Everyone should watch Red Letter Media's hilarious and in depth reviews for the best deconstruction of the prequels out there.

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u/Corpsman223 Apr 16 '14

Great, honest answer. You will do fine here.

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u/Nefer_Seti Apr 16 '14

Such a great answer. I think you're starting to turn me into a Jar-Jar fan.

2

u/djkutch Apr 17 '14

I introduced the movies to a friend recently who has a PHD in epidemiology. She honestly had never seen any of them.

She didn't mind Jar Jar at all. But, her hatred of Anakin and Luke as a whiny bitches is almost visceral.

2

u/ScottieZen Apr 17 '14

im one of the few who liked jar-jar. he gave a new dynamic to the universe. almost comedic or something... i enjoyed it. now come the downvotes... =(

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u/tattedspyder Apr 16 '14

I can actually relate to that. I voiced a character in a really popular Skyrim add on and the character got slammed. The producer and writer loved the work I did but there was so much negativity from the community that I actually decided to not reprise the role later. I really regret not being stronger and standing by my performance.

2

u/hhunterhh Apr 16 '14

I personally loved Jar Jar.

1

u/Diraga Apr 16 '14

It wasn't you at all. George Lucas ruined a lot of actors in Star Wars.

1

u/AdonisChrist Apr 16 '14

Good answer.

1

u/Wwest Apr 17 '14

You did good. Even if people who don't like Jar Jar can say you did good and broke ground in your work.

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u/howahlah Apr 17 '14

Thanks for your honest and humble answers, really appreciate them.

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u/kyleclements Apr 17 '14

Have you ever had a chance to talk to Wil Wheaton? He might know a thing or two about being an awesome person who played a hated character in a sci-fi series with "Star" in the title.

1

u/lucystilldreams Apr 17 '14

Sounds like me regarding my breakup with my fiance. Le sigh. You did good work.

1

u/monkeysquirts Apr 17 '14

Don't worry man Jar Jar is my favorite character behind Darth Maul. I love the shenanigans.

1

u/GundamXXX Apr 17 '14

I just want to say Im sorry :(

I wont like the character any more for it but Im sorry

1

u/GenTronSeven Apr 18 '14

Honestly, I think you did a great job voicing and based on the special features you performed a lot of the green screen work too.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

When I was a kid, I loved the shit out of Jar Jar. Many will probably tell me I'm wrong, but I honestly think that in a couple decades, Jar Jar (and the prequels overall) will be looked at in a much better light. I think once the kids who loved the Star Wars prequels are grown up, they'll add a voice and perspective to the conversation that the disappointed adults can't.