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| On location in Norway for ESB, Robert Watts has a Wampa friend for company! |
One
of the pleasures of being a STAR WARS fan is having the opportunity to attend
conventions, meet fans and talk to numerous behind the scene people,
actors/supporting artists/extras who worked on my favourite movies (and not
just STAR WARS, but INDY too). Of the last few years, of all the people I have
met, one of the nicest and most amiable people I have met has to be Robert
Watts, a fellow Brit whose impressive list of film production credentials
encompasses not just the first three WARS films but all three classic INDY’s
and several JAMES BOND pictures too (and two of my faves as well-THUNDERBALL
and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE). Finally meeting him, as I thought neither myself or
fans would ever get the chance as so many conventions are more actor orientated
than behind the scenes, at CELEBRATION IV, it was amazing to see just how much
he remembered, all these years on, about the making of the original films and
recalling just how much an enjoyable period of his life it was. The nervous and
I can’t believe that I’ve been involved in all of this nerves of Robert
Watts, amidst thousands of fans equally pleased to see him at that first
CELEBRATION appearance, soon gave way, I feel, to an immense enjoyment and
wonderfully honest candour about his own life in the film industry. Indeed, his
appearances at the STAR WARS REUNION French film screenings, CELEBRATION
EUROPE and JEDI CON 08 were equally as good, and Watts was getting used to
things, even more enthusiastic and enjoying the atmosphere, far more relaxed
and I am sure he has gotten to know many more fans on a regular basis who he
has given advice to as they have wanted to enter the film industry.
Additionally, he has also been kind enough to bring along certain personal
items from his collection (loved that Finse blue jacket from EMPIRE!!) and rare
photos to show us all and enjoy. On behalf of all the fans, I’d like to say a
big thank you for being involved in the STAR WARS/INDY universes. As Obi-Wan
would say: “Good Job!!”.
Thirty
years on from all his work on those landmark Lucas/Spielberg films, its sad to
discover through, not only conversation with Watts, but also reading the wealth
of material over the years on the various behind the scenes front, that,
despite his hard work within the British film industry, his work for LUCASFILM
(and other big movie companies), his nurturing and guiding of new talent, as
well as working hard to get the most out of people in making films that have become
legendary, Robert has not received one single award or accolade outside of
LUCASFILM and AMBLIN for his considerable talents. Whilst other
filmmakers/craftsmen who have worked on the WARS and INDY films have received
career enhancing OSCAR and BAFTA awards, Robert Watts has, as far as I’m aware,
never received anything at all throughout this magnificent, varied and
prestigious career.
Annoyed
by this, after months of mumbling how unfair the situation is to my AFICIONADO
colleagues about this dreadful state of affairs, I decided to do something this
week. I emailed BAFTA (the BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS in
London) and asked if Watts could be considered for some kind of ACADEMY
FELLOWSHIP award for his genuinely unrecognised hard work within the
industry-perhaps some kind of award like the one the BAFTA fellowship
eventually gave to David Tomblin in honour of his being the finest First
Assistant Director in the world-an accolade that I felt took too long in coming
anyway, and sadly he received it only a few short years before his sad passing.
BAFTA have since kindly replied, stating that Robert’s name will certainly be
considered in their next meeting to discuss potential names worthy of receiving
one of the highly prized awards. I feel Mister Watts certainly is more than
worthy of a BAFTA.
If
you feel the same way as I do, then perhaps my fellow AFICIONADO readers in
cyberspace might like to lend support to the cause. BAFTA can be emailed at
their website of: www.bafta.org/contact-us.html In the
nicest way possible, of course, let them know how deserving and talented Robert
Watts is. Let’s see if we can all chip in in getting an award for him that he
so richly deserves...
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