Sunday, 1 October 2023

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE PRINCESS EMERGES!

Out from the shadows, Princess Leia fights back!

Custodian of the stolen plans that will restore freedom to the galaxy, Rebel hero Princess Leia Organa fights a hopeless situation as her diplomatic vessel is now boarded by Imperial forces. Thankfully, a little astro droid is at hand to continue her vital mission imperative, during the now eternally classic beginning to the original Star Wars of 1977...

This sequence was part of a busy filming period at the London Elstree Studios, on what was called the 'Rebel Starfighter' interior in the call sheets, located on Stage 9, during the 9th and 12th July, 1976. The deep core set seen here cleverly re-used existing props prior used for the Death Star interiors, as well as floor plating from the Millennium Falcon hold interior. 




Importantly needing a close-up of Leia transferring the Death Star schematics data card into Artoo, ILM production assistant Penny McCarthy became Carrie Fisher/Leia's hand double for a later shot insert.


Friday, 29 September 2023

'STAR WARS REBELS': BEWARE THE SITH HOLOCRON!


The legacy of the Sith Holocron could be used for good in the right hands, and to potentially be used to destroy the Empire, but young Jedi-to-be Ezra Bridger soon has his hands full with it and its latent powers bringing initiations of fate and prophecy, especially when Darth Maul manipulates him with the device at a vulnerable time that will place another young Jedi and his elder custodian potentially in danger on a far off desert world, during the popular Season Three holocron arc episodes The Holocrons of Fate and Visions and Voices.

Wednesday, 27 September 2023

EPISODE IX: RISE OF THE VILLAINS!


Assembled villainy has never been nastier in the sequel trilogy than with the combined forces of the First Order, under the brutal command of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (with assistance from his onscreen underused Knights and the shady General Hux) and the original First Galactic Empire, under the command of Allegiant General Pryde in the name of the resurgent Emperor Palpatine. The galaxy will quake under their terrifying future plans...

Monday, 25 September 2023

'SOLO': READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP!

On location in the Canary Islands.

To play the younger version of an established icon character as Han Solo was a challenge that young rising star Alden Ehrenreich ultimately took on with pleasing gusto, delivering a fine performance of vulnerability and cocky assuredness that the character's onscreen originator Harrison Ford would ultimately approve of by the time that Solo: A Star Wars Story was released in 2018.


Saturday, 23 September 2023

EPISODE VIII: THE NEW RESISTANCE LEADER...



In what could never be a worse time for the Resistance, now almost at the point of extinction, and with the near death of their bold and spirited leader in General Leia Organa, desperate times require desperate measures as an intriguing new choice of leadership in Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo takes the seat of fleet command decision, in this memorable moment from The Last Jedi


Thursday, 21 September 2023

ROGUE ONE: SPACE DOCK CONFLICT


The battle is brutally joined between Rebel X-wing fighters and TIE fighters in and around the busy Star Destroyer space dock platform above the natural resources mined world of Scarif, in one of the original concept art pieces for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's developing story conclusion, crafted by the ever-talented visualist, Ryan Church.

Tuesday, 19 September 2023

EPISODE VII: MAKING THINGS RIGHT AGAIN...


Desperate times require help from the past, as top Resistance pilot Poe Dameron makes an urgent trip for General Leia Organa to the far off realm of Jakku and a secret meeting with the enigmatic Lor San Tekka, who holds the potential key as to the location of the missing Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, during the beginning to The Force Awakens.


Sunday, 17 September 2023

HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

The original theatrical version of Battlestar Galactica, now available on impressive 4K UHD.

It started off as an idea for a smaller scale space hippy-ish science fiction series called Adam's Ark in the late sixties, then thankfully went on to become something bigger, greater, more spectacular and more resonating with audiences by the time it metamorphosed into Battlestar Galactica by 1978, following in the post cinematic arrival of Star Wars. Creator Glen A. Larson's finest series continues on in its titular spaceship's journey for sanctuary and strength looking for that shiny, long lost planet called Earth. And its beloved fans worldwide continue to enjoy every aspect of that very special singular season journey and the characters within it (especially its visual effects and designs from so many of the talented team headed by the original Star Wars US special effects veteran John Dykstra)...



And even now, the show is still attracting new UK TV audiences and appreciation, what with another classic run airing on digital TV during these past few months of 2023...

For more on the series, check out this great site: 


HAPPY 45TH ANNIVERSARY, 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'!

EPISODE III: DROIDEKA ATTACK!


Now aboard the Invisible Hand enemy cruiser, Anakin and Obi-Wan, on their way to rescue the Supreme Chancellor, soon encounter more enemy attack fire, this time from newly arrived, formidable Droidekas, in this scene from EPISODE III.

Friday, 15 September 2023

'JEDI' AT 40:THE MAKERS OF MONSTERS!


Two of film's greatest visionaries and pioneers in monster creation, from the UK and US - Stuart Freeborn and Phil Tippett - combine forces beautifully to create a splendid menagerie of grotesques for the memorable opening to Return of the Jedi, set within Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine. And there's no greater and monumental grotesque than Jabba himself, specially built as an incredible feat of puppet engineering by Freeborn and his team at Elstree Studios. 

Two great behind the scenes images presumably taken either during the creatures dress rehearsal day at Elstree on 16th January, 1982, or possibly on 23rd January, or at the end of filming on the sequence by early February, 1982.


New British and American created aliens (plus re-used previous aliens created by Freeborn for the original Star Wars) gather for this memorable posed imagery.