[read previous entries first]


Well today starts out quite fun - I get to fly my Jedi Speeder. Okay, it's blue and made of wood (no not Matthew Wood) but hey! Who's complaining?! The scene is Anakin running to the ship, climbing up the wing (as you do) and jumping into the cockpit (as one does).

But there's a problem. The blue behind me looks black meaning when they come to superimpose the cockpit seat, it will merge into Anakin's similarly 'dark' cloak. The solution is a couple of fluorescent 'Kino-Flo' tubes neatly stuck beside my arms onto the ship, so the blue is lit up more brightly to contrast with my robe. These tubes are handheld and have a cable at each end so they can be turned on permanantly and held in the hand... rather like a certain Jedi weapon! As the lighting director goes to put it in place, I thank him for my lightsabre Ironically these are the only real ones ever seen on set.

When I leave I get comments from a couple of crew members along the lines of, "Nice ship!". It reminds me so fondly of working on Episode I as Lt. Gavyn Sykes (Bravo 6) where I sat on my very own Naboo fighter to the envy of the other actors below I remember what a perfect moment that was. I was perched up there with my feet on the yellow ladder, sitting on the side of the cockpit, watching the crew preparing a shot down below. As my ground crew walked around below me one of them looked up and said, "Looking good Christian, looking good!", warmly. That was quite a moment in time, to have come from being such an admirer of these films, to actually sitting on my own ship in full costume. I am sure you can relate

As Hayden shoots the scene in this other ship, he jumps in then pretends to steer with the imaginary controls, and as is quite common starts to laugh at himself. It is a bizarre situation but I can't help wonder how many shots will have to be cut short during editing because the actors start smirking at the ridiculousness of filming bluescreen work, which essentially mimics how we all acted as children after watching the old Star Wars films, jumping into our pretend wooden ships, and steering with our imaginary controls The Force really does bind the universe together hey?

Next up we have to run down the elevator shaft as the ship we are on is crashing, and to create the effect of the ship tilting as we run, the A Camera is simply pivoted. It looks great on screen, trust me - a low tech solution to a high tech problem. Charles (Palpatine's stand-in) then tells me Rick McCallum has just sat in my seat (a folding one I bring wiht me) and was on the phone, so Charles didn't want to sit next to him. He goes on to tell me he heard Rick say to the caller, "Well, I've just had a blazing row with George!!". I wonder what that was about. I can't imagine George having a blazing row with anyone, he always seems so calm and cool, but we are all human at the end of the day, and George is certainly passionate about Star Wars, as is Rick. I shall just be sure not to question anything myself!

Then Richard (OB1's stand-in) comes to me and says, "This is the scene where you and I get intimate".
"Pardon?!", I remark worriedly.
He then takes me to the monitors and shows me that Anakin is hanging from a rope with a semi-conscious OB1 holding onto Anakin's shoulder for dear life. Oh dear, he's right. And sure enough, up we jump to the elevator set and George positions me on the platform (without a row), holding a rope, and Richard latches on behind me. Oo-er. What a strange way to earn a living!

Ewan McGregor really makes me laugh when it's his turn to do this scene. He clutches onto Hayden then in a really girlie voice cries, "Saaaaave me Anakin!", as Hayden laughs with a nervous and embarrassed expression.

The next scene is a continuation as George directs me in the art of throwing a grappling hook. He shows me how to spin around as I throw the hook, which with the wind will look like it is happening just as Anakin and OB1 fall rapidly down the shaft. I do the twist on the 4-inch wide foot ledge very cooly, and George is happy with my performance so we stand by to shoot. Actually, it does feel like we're in the 'shooting' or should I say firing line, up against the wall with our backs turned to the crew. Richard says to George, "don't shoot us!".

This scene is reminiscent of A New Hope (Episode IV) where Luke has to thrown the grappling hook across the Death Star chasm to help Princess Leia and himself swing across. Only in this scene, OB1 is Princess Leia, which makes Ewan's earlier girlie voice even more appropriate!

Hayden comes up to me and says hey, and I take the opportunity to ask him, "How did it feel yesterday when George told you that you were in Jedi?".
"Pretty cool huh?", he replies.
I go on to say, "It's cool enough being in these three films but now you're in the original trilogy too!", and he laughs shyly.
I ask him if he'll get a credit in that movie and he virtually puts his finger to his chin in a 'hmmm' expression.
"You better speak to 'the man'!", I say and he laughs again. I'm not sure if he ever did.

Then it's off to lunch, but not before a quick and irresistible photo opportunity with the Emperor's Throne which goes onto become his favourite piece of furniture as seen in Return of the Jedi.

Christopher Lee is in! For one quick scene! He has to do some hand acting, that is all. He does a few takes of raising his hand and lowering it to break a platform down onto OB1's leg, and that's it. There's something strange about seeing such a legendary actor just responding to commands of, "move your hand up, now down, now to the left, now faster, now slower". Yet in the finished film the end result will be quite wonderful, and his presence on screen just as legendary as always.

Next up is me and OB1's stand-in with the stunt-man variety of Christopher Lee in a scene where he kicks Anakin out of the way, and freezes OB1 in mid air. Once we've done our bit, Ewan is attached to a rope via a harness under his costume. During the scene he is quickly winched up, and again all too soon he starts to laugh and squeak, as if the air is being squeezed out of him by the harness. But apparently it's "perfect" according to George so I assume it's a very quick cut out of that one again, and we won't actually see OB1 having the giggles whilst almost dying.

The rest of the day goes pretty quickly, the nicest bit of which is where I am called to stand in not for Anakin for once, but for Mas Amedda because he is so tall. Jerome Blake is in for this shot, but before he comes on I stand there holding a Jedi 'pole'. It's like a tribal stick but is taller than I am, and I'm told by Alex the props guy that the person carved into the top of this wooden pole is an ancient Jedi. And I thought Christopher Lee was the only one

Soon enough it's time for home. It's remarkable how quickly even the biggest Star Wars fan can let normality sink in. A month ago I would have done almost anything to get this job. Now it seems almost like a regular 9-5 (well 7-7). That should be consolation to those of you reading this who would kill to be in my shoes. Not a day goes by where I don't thank my lucky stars for it nonetheless! I hope to be back again in January 2005 if reshoots take place as planned! That will be my third first day on a Star Wars movie, in a way, and the first day is always the most exciting. I know how lucky I am, and that rejuvenates my excitement as I write this. Roll on tomorrow!...


Well the entries will continue, but in the meantime I am excited to let you know that I will be appearing at the following conventions in the upcoming weeks and months, and it would be fantastic to meet with you in person and share my experiences further:

8 June 2008
Film & Comic Con, Wales, UK
http://www.mercurypromotions.co.uk

*** CANCELLED ***
21-22 June 2008
Events Toys Show, Belgium
http://www.events-toys-belgium.be

18-20 July 2008
Lazy Dragon Con, Texas, USA
http://www.lazydragon.com/con

24-27 July 2008
San Diego Comic Con, USA
http://www.comic-con.org

[Thank you for reading my insight into the making of a Star Wars movie. As always I greatly value your feedback and will do my best to answer any questions you may pose.

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