Ian Liston
Wes Janson, AT-AT Driver (The Empire Strikes Back)
Interview: 2006
For the Empire Strikes Back, you were originally only cast to play an AT-AT Driver, but then something happened that got you the role of Wes Janson. Can you tell us all about what happened?
The actor playing Wes fell ill and I just happened to be the lucky guy on the spot. I’d been filming in a suit that didn’t show my face so, as I was free and didn’t have any other work at the time, I was able to take the part at a moment’s notice. It was only meant to be for a week or so but all in all it involved many trips to the studio over a twelve week period.
Your character survived the Battle at Hoth and is still alive in the Star Wars Expanded Universe books and comics. Do you keep up-to-date with the new adventures of Wes Janson? And what do you think of them?
I love the books. Starfighters of Adumar and Iron Fist are amongst my favorites. I’m a great fan and I love the way in which Aaron Alston and Michael Stackpole and other writers developed Wes’ character with so much fun and good humor. Wes is quite a loopy character!
Do you see any Ian Liston in Wes Janson?
Only in the sense that I like a joke and a have a very well developed sense of humor.
Is it true that Michael Stackpole has made a personal nod to you in the books?
I think it was Aaron Alston and perhaps there’s a coincidence in the way his surname is spelled and mine?
You knew Star Wars: A New Hope was a big hit when you were asked to do the Empire Strikes Back. Would you have accepted the Wes Janson part if Star Wars: A New Hope hadn’t been such a blockbuster?
At that time none of us knew how ‘big’ they would become so it was really — at the time — just another job. I fell onto Wes by accident, having originally been booked for a couple of days, to do the casting director a favor. At that time all the other parts were cast, but nobody could have foreseen someone falling ill.
And, what if they had asked you to originally take a role A New Hope, knowing absolutely nothing about Star Wars?
Like any out of work actor, I would have accepted it!
It is said you never met Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles, your snow speeder pilot) on the set as your scenes were filmed against a blue screen. Is this true? Which actors did you meet on the Empire set and how were they?
I can’t remember much about Denis on the filming and he’s left Star Wars far behind him, so more than that I can’t say.
I have recollections of hanging around the main stage and being
especially impressed by Carrie Fisher. She was a very nice person. So,
too, Peter Mayhew.
Kenny Baker, I have now known for over forty years! – We first worked together on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
on ice in 1966! Kenny is still a great mate and we’re both members of
The Grand Order of Water Rats, the UK’s very prestigious show biz
charitable order. Rusty Goffe is one of our brother Rats.
What are your thoughts in filming against the ‘nothingness’ that is a blue screen?
You just ignore it and concentrate on what you have to do … and try to imagine your surroundings. It was VERY hot on that set!
During the filming of A New Hope, George Lucas preferred as few takes as possible, while Irvin Kershner had a lot of scenes shot more than once. Did this either bug you, or did you enjoy it, doing your scenes over and over again?
With blue screen in those pioneer days, it often had to be done many times, to get it right. Particularly to avoid ‘fringing.’ I’ve nothing against large numbers of takes … as long as it’s not me causing them and that we get it right in the end.
The Empire Strikes Back is considered to be the best of all the Star Wars movies by many fans. Actually, it is even considered to be one of the best movies overall. How does it feel to have been a part of this?
Very flattering and a huge honor. Empire Strikes Back IS the best of all the films…and I’m not just saying that because I’m in it!
During your Japan trip, you were with first-ever autograph guest
Kyle Rowling. Did you ‘show him the ropes?’ What would be your advice
to new Star Wars celebrities as they begin to make the convention
rounds?
Kyle is a ‘natural’ and a great guy to share time with. He’s got a
tremendously warm personality and has time for each and every fan that
he meets. And, he’s not averse to getting away from the desk and showing
off a few well choreographed fight moves…in fun of course!
Anyone who’s on the rounds, as you put it, is a privileged guest.
Everyone should always bear in mind that we’re there to meet the fans
and talk them as friends and not just strangers who pay us money to give
them a signed picture. Working with Kyle on his ‘first-time’ reminded
me of my first time….with Michael Sheard. His untimely death was very
sad and he is sorely missed by Star Wars fans and guest celebrities everywhere.
What wisdom did Michael impart for you when meeting the ‘apps’ (appreciators)?
Always impart warmth and friendliness … and be tolerant and understanding. It sometimes takes a great personal effort for some ‘apps,’ who can be a little overwhelmed at times, to meet and ask questions.
You have done conventions in the UK, the USA, recently in Japan, as well as a lot of other countries. Are the fans different in all those places? And if they are, what are these differences?
The fans all share an overriding enthusiasm for all these great films. They all have different areas of particular interest, e.g. collecting specialties. Where ever I’ve been in the world there’s always been warmth and welcoming friendship. I enjoy meeting new people and visiting new countries and Star Wars has blessed me with the means to do that.
We understand you have a great love for trains, including having one in your own house! Can you tell us a little bit about this fascination, as well as your thoughts on riding Japan’s famed ‘Shinkansen,’ or bullet train?
I love steam trains and small gauge railways in any shape or size.
The Shinkansen was an amazing experience, not least because I didn’t
expect them to run so frequently (virtually every ten minutes out of
Tokyo) and to be so crowded at 07.00 on a Sunday morning.
They made the journeys so effortless and I was astounded at the help and
assistance they gave our party when a bag of personal belongings was
inadvertently left on the train. There it was, a few hours later,
waiting at our ‘home’ station. Needless to say, [it was] intact and
untouched.
Of all the Star Wars memorabilia that you have ever signed, what was the most memorable?
It must be the full size replica of the X-Wing Fighter at Celebration 3 when I was extremely honored to be made an Honorary Member by The Rebel Legion. There are pictures of that around. It was the most touching and moving personal moment I’ve ever experienced at a Star Wars event.
Do you personally own any Star Wars-related items?
I have a collection of signed photos (over ninety and still collecting), many of the novels, loads of photos taken at conventions etc and many pins, badges, keepsakes etc.
There is an arcade game in which the player pilots a snow speeder and has to gun down AT-AT’s, just like Wes Janson! Please tell us you got the hi-score!
I don’t think this has reached the UK as yet…I’ll keep my eyes peeled and my trigger finger ready.
For all the football-loving (editor’s note: ‘soccer’ for the U.S. readers) Star Wars fans: You were born in Crosby, Mersey. So, what we want to know is: Everton or Liverpool FC?
Up the Reds! Liverpool, of course.
You’re a science fiction fan. Besides Star Wars you’ve also
appeared in Doctor Who, the most popular British sci-fi series of all
time. You also had a strong desire to appear in the Babylon 5 series.
Why this desire? And why did it never happen?
Every actor has a desire to WORK! …and I loved the series.
It’s so sad that the Star Trek and Babylon 5
franchises have come to end. I’d love to have appeared in either of
those series as an alien. Maybe even tried to emulate Vaughn Armstrong’s
number of different character appearances in Star Trek!
You also played a role in one of the best war movies ever, A Bridge Too Far, which had an incredibly strong cast: James Caan, Sir Sean Connery, Dirk Bogarde, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Gene Hackman, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Laurence Olivier, Robert Redford…the list is endless! Did you get close to one or more of these legendary actors and can you tell us more about how it was starring in this movie?
I had a couple of scenes with Anthony Hopkins. He was — is — a very
charming man and I’d love the chance to work with him again.
Unfortunately, my days didn’t coincide with any of the others.
I was part of a group of actors known as ‘The APA’ – Attenborough’s
Private Army. We were all on three month contracts and were involved in
all sorts of scenes as well as playing our own individual cameos. – I
also dubbed a lot of the voices in the battle action scenes.
You currently run a theatre company: The Hiss & Boo Company, for which you played the role of Mr. Chairman more than 3,000 times. First of all: why the name ‘Hiss & Boo’ (it sounds negative) and second: more than 3,000 times the same role, don’t you get bored?
It may sound negative, but it’s got very positive connotations in the UK and the phrase comes from audience reactions to old melodramas, which we used to do at one time. It may be the same role, but every performance is different as we constantly change many of our performers. Also, most of it is unscripted, so we often never know what’s going to happen next. I would never get bored with theatre that keeps me on my toes…and it keeps drawing good audiences and makes for a good living.
What makes live theatre for you, versus film and television acting?
I love the whole creative process of film and TV but nothing is so demanding and requires as much intuitive skill as live theatre.
What are your plans for the future, both as an actor and for Hiss & Boo?
I’m a jobbing actor and am in the very lucky position of being able
to turn work down if it doesn’t interest me. I’ve also been fighting
prostate cancer for a few years (fortunately succeeding – I’m very fit,
well and happy) and that takes up a lot of my time as I’m also a patient
advocate and spokesperson for various UK prostate cancer charities.
Hiss & Boo have the usual crop of pantomimes this year (five in all
at venues all over the UK) and we will be launching a couple of new
‘Revue’ format shows next year. Plenty to keep me busy .. and that’s
without UK conventions and overseas trips.
