[read previous entries first]


George Lucas called me "Anakin" today. It wasn't a big moment on set, but for me, as I'm sure any fan like you will appreciate, that is monumental.

Even though he just said, "Anakin, take one step forward", when setting up the scene, it still made me smile a huge childish smile, just to myself of course.

If you'd told me when I was a youngling that one day I would be - in a small way - actually helping make a Star Wars movie and Mr Lucas would call me Anakin, I'd have said, "NO! That's impaassible!", in true Luke Skywalker style!

Back to the start of the day though, and the first scene is on the 'Naboo Main Square' where "Sio Bibble walks behind the Queen of Naboo in the Funeral Procession". At this stage, whose funeral it is I do not know, not many people do, but this scene is nostalgic for me because I am back on Naboo for the first time in six years! I assume the 'main square' is 'Theed Plaza' from Episode I, which as I will come to at a later date, was my first encounter with Star Wars, and was built on the runway at Leavesden Studios, North London, England. It's good to be back! And my how it's changed! It's entirely green now!

I will never forget arriving at Leavesden back in 1997, and driving through the security checkpoint (I didn't even have to use an old Jedi mind trick on them, they had my name on the list!). Then as I drove along the road that ran parallel to the runway, I saw a strange new land being built. It didn't remind me of 'Star Wars' per se, but it was definitely Star Wars. It looked like an Italian town, but with a big tank (of Gungan design I later discovered) being painted ready for production the following month, in August. Can you imagine what it was like, the very first time you walk onto a Star Wars set? Well good, because I can't describe it!

I went to explore and introduce myself, and ended up walking through outdoor Naboo corridors, up stairs, through doors, and along the plaza. I had no idea what any of it was, but I didn't care! I recall then heading to the costume fitting inside the main studios, but got sidetracked by what I saw through the doors to A Stage. Inside they were working on... what looked like submarines. Craftsmen and electricians were busy beavering away on what I later discovered were Naboo Fighters. At that point I had only been called in to be a Footsoldier. Little did I know that my part would be upgraded to that of a Pilot, and I'd soon be filmed flying one of these 'submarines'! And there in the back, who did I see?

R2D2. Right there in front of me.

Okay, this was definitely Star Wars. Wow.

Well, after that trip down memory lane, we then move on to finish the Mace vs. Palpatine fight sequence from yesterday. At one point they bring on Ian MacDiarmid again, and this time he is in the seriously scary half-Darth Sidious prosthetic make-up. But Hayden isn't ready (thank you Hayden!) so I stand in his space, on the part-built set, Samuel L Jackson to my left, and Ian as The Emperor to my right. Oh. My. Gawd. He looks seriously evil (Palpatine not George), but he recognises me!... and smiles... which is strange. When he's in this full evil make-up, you can still see the shy theatre actor coming through! Bless. He sits awkwardly against the curve in the set's window, where he is about to film the lightning scene, unsure of himself, and looks embarrassed. Quite frankly he should be ashamed of himself, being able to spit and cackle in such an evil way when really he's really so nice.

Then George has his 'Anakin' moment with me, and 5 minutes later tells me to look at him.

"Look at me", (see, told you).

He says this when setting an eyeline for Hayden (the position he should look, which looks like he's gazing at Palpatine from the camera's POV). It's always gonna be surreal when Lucas talks to me, so I just have to keep mentioning it

I come off stage as Hayden arrives, and Colin Fletcher (1st A.D.) turns to me and says, "You're doing a great job there. I might have to bring you to Australia with me. We don't have proper stand-ins there". I reply, "If only. Thank you, that means a lot", and walk off beaming! Who knows if he means it, or if he's referring to more Star Wars shooting which is rumoured for January 2005, but I don't mind - he said it and that really did mean a lot. Gee I'm happy enough, without people praising my 'work' too - I mean, it's 'play' really. I feel like a kid in a candy shop every day.

Then after the scene (of Hayden realising what he has done after contributing to the death of Mace Windu as an act of sacrifice to save his wife) has been filmed, a moment that will stay with me a long time...

Hayden comes off stage after doing this very emotional scene in which he cries, "What have I done? Help me save Padmé's life, I won't let her die" and I am surprised that as I walk past him, Hayden himself is actually crying for real as he steps down off the set. He wipes the tears from his eyes with a sob that will also stay with me. Aw He clearly got very into the role, and perhaps was feeling what someone trying to save their pregnant wife's life by killing a dear friend would feel. Whatever that is! I am impressed... part of your natural instincts when someone you know is crying in front of you is to comfort them, to give them a pat on the back or something. Maybe even a hug. But I don't. He might choke me.

Still, powerful stuff. This is going to be one hell of a movie.

That scene's over, much to Hayden's deligh no doubt, so I go and take a seat in The Emperor's Throne, that's right the one from Return of the Jedi! I am not sure it's the same prop, but it's the same one in the story that's pretty certain. It seems that just like you and I take our favourite sofas with us when we move house, so does Mr Sidious It's quite comfy too, and I play with the lights on the side which flash when you push them. Then I recount with Sam's stand-in the lines from Jedi. "Yesssss, YEEESSSSS, you want this!" ... "Oh, I'm afraid the Death Star will be quite operational...", etc...

We then move onto the Jedi Council Chamber which is really just one seat on a blue screen, and I adopt the standard seated pose (you know - leaning forward, hands clasped in thought). Colin then tells me I'm actually to be looking out of a window, and I help him decide where the 'window' should be by telling him the room is round and pointing out the shape. He checks the monitors then returns to me and asks if I'm a big fan, on account of how I knew the room was round! Oops, I gave it away. "Yes, pretty big", I reply, glad to have helped set up the positions!

Hayden arrives and I stand up out of the seat, commenting to him, "There, I've warmed the seat up for you", to which he laughs and says, "Cheers!". He's getting used to the British sayings then! And then onto the 'Anakin gazes out of the window' scene, where I have another exchange with Hayden. To set this scene, I basically stand with my back to camera and do nothing for a long time - not very demanding! When I'm done, our conversation goes something like this:

Me: (Exits the window as Hayden arrives to take over)
Eddie (3rd A.D., shaking my hand): Some of your finest work there Christian!
Hayden (smiling at me): Frickin' amazing!
Me: Thanks

Hayden: (Exits after doing the scene as I take over again)
Me: Superb, Superb
Hayden: Cheers mate

We end the day with a thank you from Colin for a great week's work, as we have a day off tomorrow. Beer and Champagne is kindly provided by Lucasfilm for us, and we all mill around chatting. The fact we are making Star Wars is never far from anyone's lips. I talk to Colin and Eddie a bit, then head off home, smiling to myself and shaking my head saying to myself, "Great fun, great fun".

Well it was.


[Thanks again to all of you who have emailed me to ask whether I will be appearing at Celebration IV & Europe, and expressed such a wonderful and humbling interest in chatting more with me in person about life on a SW set. No guests have been announced at the time of writing.

For images and another viewpoint on this day Hyperspace members can read Pablo Hildago's excellent set diary also]