THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: THE HUTT RETINUE!

When it comes to star power in launching the Boonta Eve Classic, there's surely no one greater or more powerful on Tatooine than the Hutt clan, and especially their main planetary resident, the repulsive Jabba, seen here with his 'Major Domo' in Bib Fortuna, clearly enjoying the crowd adulation whilst the female Gardulla the Hutt lurks in the background. As with his cameo appearance in the 1997 Special Edition of A New Hope, Jabba would be CGI rendered for his few scenes in EPISODE I, though looking much better here thanks to technological improvements in ILM creature-making several years on.

A longer view of Jabba's retinue, which includes several well known ILM staffers in the background.

CGI render of Jabba with snack!

Resident Lucasfilm employee Matthew Wood, a sound designer who started off as a games tester for the company, played Fortuna for this sequence, shot at ILM. Originally, Fortuna was played by Alan Ruscoe in UK scenes linked to the later set in the film Republic senate, but those never made the final cut and Fortuna instead returned to Jabba on Tatooine.

Danny Wagner and colleague go to work on Wood's transformation at ILM. Note the earlier British made facial appliance of Alan Ruscoe's face mould as Fortuna in the right corner.

Wood hams it up in this fun behind the scenes image.

Matthew Wood Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8Wb9lHDSgw

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: FILMING THE POD RACE ASSEMBLAGE

A freak on location storm may have temporarily damaged the colourful and diverse pod racers shipped over from the UK, but the specially built props were quickly back up and running for filming in the desert of Tunisia, in material shot by George Lucas, whilst his old friend Roger Christian (formerly an Oscar winning set director on A New Hope, later a film director in his own right) came out to head the film's second unit material.

Roger Christian handles the camera.

A duo of aliens add to the background technicians.

Danny Wagner on location rehearsal as the pod racer Mawhonic.

Mawhonic as ready for filming.

The various pods as assembled prior to filming.

Lucas watches as Anakin's all-important Pod is put into position

The flag attenders parade in front of the Pods. Note that the puppet Threepio was added to the group in post production.

Wald (Warwick Davis) and the numerous background pod race aliens gather for a posed image.

Wald, Kitster and Artoo prepare to watch Anakin in competition.

https://www.starwars.com/news/start-your-engines-star-wars-podracing-drivers-part-1