AFICIONADO CLASSIC BEHIND THE SCENES INFO PART TWO

GRUNDY PARK SCI-FI COLLECTORS FAIR - 31.08.08

By Ian Trussler

Grundy Park Leisure Centre in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire is home to a once very busy and regular Sci-Fi collectors fair. Now in somewhat of a decline, it does still attract some good guest signers.

The most recent event had four Star Wars guests, most of them rare and infrequent signers: these being Pam Rose, Stephanie English, Phil Herbert and Paul Bannon.

Sadly, the event was very poorly supported this time but that gave me a chance to chat freely with the guests.

A make-up/test shot of Pam Rose in costume for the Cantina scenes of the original STAR WARS. Image: Pam Rose.

Pam Rose

Pam played the role of Jeesub Sivin, known simply as "Weird Girl" during production, in the Cantina sequence of Star Wars. She can be seen very briefly on screen, most easily during Luke and Bens conversation with Han and Chewie when hiring the Falcon. She is behind Alec Guiness' right shoulder, standing in profile talking to another cantina patron.

Pam was aged 30 when she filmed the role in 1976 and enjoyed her time on set. She got the role via her agent and the normal audition process. She had started as a model in the 1960's and then moved into film work.

She spent 5 days from a Monday to a Friday filming the sequence. The days were long as she was required to be at Elstree for about 6am to then spend two hours in make up, having the prosthetic head applied together with the facial make up and then getting into costume (image of her in character opposite).

Pam’s make up and prosthetic was applied by Stuart Freeborn and had to be treated very carefully as there was only one actual head piece, the only thing that was renewed on a daily basis was the skin/membrane that attached and covered the join between the head piece and Pam’s forehead. Thankfully it only took an hour each day to remove the make up.

Prior to filming Pam attended Stuart Freeborn’s workshop to have a life cast taken of her head, an experience she likened to being buried alive, very unpleasant. Stuart kindly gave Pam her head cast after she completed her role, and she has kept it all these years and had it with her at the show on display.

Pam’s costume consisted of having to wear a black leotard with black riding boots, over the top of which she wore a silver tunic style dress. The outfit was reasonably comfortable to wear and the head piece was very light, so that wasn't a problem either.

She recalls George Lucas being extremely quiet on set and nobody really took any notice of him as they didn't know who he was, despite his success with American Graffiti. Pam recalls briefly meeting Harrison Ford but told me how her then friend, Jenny Creswell, who played Han Solo’s girlfriend in the film, found kissing Harrison Ford to be most unpleasant, something I'm sure many people around the world would find hard to believe.

Pam said that all the extras were treated very well on the film and well paid for the work, unlike today where you are poorly paid and treated like cattle much of the time. Pam is still quite active in the world of extra work her most recent film being the Frances McDormand movie "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day". Pam’s other work includes a recurring role in Space:1999 and Superman 1, 2 and 4 (she adored Christopher Reeve, saying he was lovely to all the cast, although he had a huge problem with sweating, which often delayed filming) among many other productions.

This event was only Pam’s third appearance at a convention, although she would very much like to do more, especially abroad, but it seems that she is rarely asked to attend, and like all the guest’s told me it seems the correct convention protocol is to wait to be asked, never to approach a promoter yourself. She is a little disappointed that her character hasn't been made into an action figure yet as she would really like that happen sometime.

Although still involved in the film business, Pam spends most of her time running her Fun Casino business for parties and events. She was a delight to chat to, very much a rough diamond, very down to earth and full of stories from the many productions she has worked on. It would be great to see her at a Star Wars Celebration one day.

Stephanie English (seated) with Ford and Bruce Boa during a scene from EMPIRE.

Stephanie English

Stephanie played the part of a Rebel Controller in the Hoth Rebel Base Command Centre sequence of The Empire Strikes Back. She can be seen on screen with the likes of Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Bruce Boa.

She got the part just by being sent up for the audition by her agent, she really didn't know what it was she was getting involved with. Despite the already huge success of Star Wars she didn't really have much knowledge of it. This was just another job for her.

She spent a week on set at Elstree and doesn't have a huge amount of memories of the time but did meet Harrison briefly during one of their scenes together and also recalls being told off by Anthony Daniels for smoking in between takes one day.

Although they were not really allowed to take photos on set, many people did and Stephanie told me she has several photos of her behind the scenes on Empire. Sadly she didn't bring them to the show as she didn't think people would be interested. I told her how wrong she was and that fans love to see rare pictures, so she vowed to bring them to the next event she does. (See them here: Stephanie English Retro Star Wars tribute,)

Again, Stephanie has done very few conventions due to not being asked and has only recently started appearing after the son of a friend of hers returned from a Celebration event and told her about all the autograph guests, upon which she piped up with "I worked on The Empire Strikes Back" and then started to make enquires about getting involved in the convention circuit.

She is still involved in film and television work, and recalled to me that her favourite star she met was Donald Sutherland, but she didn't care for Kiefer Sutherland much when she worked with him on Chicago Joe and the Showgirl.

A very nice and friendly lady, still amazed at work popular Star Wars is, hopefully we will see more of her and those rare pics at future conventions.

Paul Bannon

Paul Bannon is still very much a working actor and has the pleasure of being in the first episode of each of the Star Wars trilogies, those being the original Star Wars (as a Stormtrooper) and The Phantom Menace (as a pod racer).

Paul worked for three weeks on the original movie at Elstree and Shepperton, where he played a Stormtrooper on the Death Star and also a Rebel Guard during the Medal Ceremony. He is one of the green dressed rebels standing behind Leia and General Dodonna. Paul was asked to stay on and work for a further few weeks on Star Wars but decided to move on as he'd had enough of the very uncomfortable Stormtrooper costume. The scene that he particularly recalls working on is the Death Star docking bay when the Falcon has just been captured. He remembers going up and down on the docking bay lift quite a bit as well as having to stand in line with the other troops. Aside from that he doesn't recall exactly what other trooper scenes he is in as it all sort of merged in to one after a while.

Like others have said, nobody took any notice of George Lucas on set, he was very quiet and Paul noticed how George never argued with anyone, even if they disagreed with him, saying George would just quietly say "well, we'll talk about it later".

Paul enjoyed his time at Leavesden working on The Phantom Menace as he had previously worked there on the James Bond movie Goldeneye. He only worked on the studio based Pod Race scenes as he didn't go on location to Tunisia.

Paul is still very busy as he has a recurring role as a stand in for one of the regular actors in the Harry Potter movies and has also just wrapped work on Star Wars luminary Joe Johnston’s remake of The Wolfman, starring Benecio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins among many other stars.

Hermi Odle makes an impression in Jabba's Palace!

Phil Herbert

Phil played Hermi Odle in Return of the Jedi and I had spoken with him before and didn't gain any new information regarding Jedi, so see my previous blog from Collectormania Milton Keynes for background info.

Phil was in a much brighter mood this time though and talked of how he wants to get more involved in the convention scene, again lamenting the situation of not being asked very often.

We spoke about how he felt disappointed that so much of his work on Jedi was cut out but he accepts that is the nature of the business. He was in fact very upset recently that his role in the Clive Owen movie Children of Men was completely cut. He was invited to and attended the London premiere fully expecting to see himself on screen, only to be asked by his friends after, "where were you?": no one had told him he'd been cut.

Phil has just filmed a public service anti-smoking commercial, playing a pub landlord up to his knees in giant cigarette butts. Ironic given that Phil himself is a smoker.

CHECK OUT THE FAN AND CONVENTION AREA OF THE MAIN AFICIONADO SITE FOR IAN'S PICS FROM THE EVENT AT:

http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/grundypark.html

ARCHIVE BLOG: 'STAR WARS' STARS AT THE COLLECTORMANIA 2008 EVENT (MILTON KEYNES)

Actor Jack McKenzie signing his ESB picture at COLLECTORMANIA. Image: Ian Trussler.

by Ian Trussler

The long running Collectormania events have a history of getting many Star Wars cast and crew to attend and do signings. The latest event in Milton Keynes over the May bank holiday weekend was no exception. This time round they had some of the usual suspects (Dave Prowse) along with some very rare convention attendees.

With a couple of people I had to meet attending for one day only, I duly made the trip north armed with questions, not just of my own but from Aficionado cohorts Scott Weller and Chris Baker as well.

What follows is a write up of the conversations and info gathered from the attending cast I had the pleasure of meeting.

Jasper Jacob as Imperial Shuttle Pilot Captain Yorr from RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Jasper Jacob - Captain Yorr - Shuttle Pilot - ROTJ

Jasper was very friendly and talkative- very happy to be doing the convention as he has done so few. He hasn't bothered doing shows in the past when offered because he felt that he had such a small role that nobody would be interested. How wrong can you be?

Jasper told me that he spent two days working on Jedi during March 1982. His scene was directed by Richard Marquand on both days, whom he said was extremely nice to him and very understanding. Jasper found it very difficult to memorise his dialogue and this lead to a large number of takes being done following his fluff ups. Jasper had more dialogue to learn than we see in the film as the scene was cut down in the finished movie. He confirmed that he did film the extended scene where he asked the Death Star controller to deactivate the shield as his passenger (Lord Vader) was getting impatient.

The other co-pilot in the scene, whom Jasper cannot recall his name, was not an actor but a male model who although British made his living from appearing every year in a series of adverts for Italian television, and was fluent in Italian.

Although only on the film for two days he spent some time with Mark Hamill who was filming at the same time. They spent some time together when Mark suggested Jasper share his car to and from the studio each day. He found Mark to be extremely warm and friendly and liked him a great deal.

Also while on the movie he ran into Gillian Gregory whom he already knew and was the choreographer on Jedi,  she worked on the scenes with dancers in Jabbas palace and the Ewok celebration at the films end.

The Hermi Odle monster in the ILM Creature Shop in late 1981.

Phillip Herbert - Hermi Odle - ROTJ

Someone I had wanted to meet for a while and had been a fan of since his days as Julian Clary's sidekick, the irrepressible Hugh Jelly, Phillip although perfectly pleasant seemed reluctant, to say the least, to talk about his experience on the film. He said he didn't do conventions much because he never gets asked but is always willing to attend when asked to. He said he'd love to go to Celebration Japan if someone would only invite him.

I did however manage to get some info from him regarding Jedi. He got the part via an audition workshop that had been set up by the Mine and Movement organization that he was involved with. They were looking for someone strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy costume. Before filming he had to attend for costume fittings and vaguely recalls meeting Stuart Freeborn. The costume was indeed very heavy and contained an internal camera and monitor so he could see where he was walking. When inside the costume of Hermi, Phillips head came to just below the chin of the creature meaning there was no other way for him to see except via the camera monitor.

Phillip worked on Jedi for four and a half weeks and remembers Richard Marquand well, saying that he was a very kind and caring director, especially to all the people in the creature costumes, appreciating the difficult time they were having. Marquand was very well liked by the crew for much the same reasons. Phillip also met George Lucas whom he also remembers as friendly and helpful to all the cast and crew.

Phillip is very pleased that an action figure has finally been made of his character, as he knows the fans have wanted it for a while and he now gets them in the post to sign.

Finally on a non Star Wars related topic, Phillip is still friends with Julian Clary and had only seen him last weekend, they plan to work together again and it's possible we haven't seen the last of Hugh Jelly.

Frank Henson as one of Jabba's scum and villainy on the Sail Barge for RETURN OF THE JEDI.

Frank Henson - Stuntman - Star Wars and ROTJ

Frank was very friendly and only too willing to chat and answer questions, although he was the first to admit his memory is not what is was now he is advancing in years.

He confirmed that he worked on the first movie as a stuntman and performed as one of many Stormtroopers. His memories of the first movie aren't great and he sadly could not recall much about it.Frank did not work on Empire but played numerous roles in Jedi. He confirmed that he played the human Skiff Guard that challenges Luke on the Sail Barge deck, he was the Biker Scout that Luke throws from the Speeder Bike, he spent many days filming against the bluescreen with Mark and Carrie for this sequence. Frank was also one of the Endor Rebels, the one standing behindHarrisons right shoulder when they are marched out the bunker. One part he said he definitely did not do was that of the Imperial Royal Guard, although he has signed pictures of this many times.

Frank was very honest and said that basically he will sign any picture put before him even it he didn't play the part. He was also one of many Stormtroopers in the Endor battle. Frank said he has no recollection of Lightning Bear working on Jedi and has been asked the question many times.

Frank had a wonderful photo album with him with some great behind the scene pictures from Jedi and his many other films. This album contained great shots of him with Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Harrison and many others. The cast and crew were not allowed to take cameras on set but a friend snuck one on and took some candid pics of him in costume as a Biker Scout and him with two other guys as Stormtroopers. He also has a nice pic of the full size Scout Walker prop on set.

He also notably did stunts on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, acting as stunt double for Amrish Puri (Mola Ram) of which he had a brilliant picture of them both on set, made up and looking like twins.

Frank really enjoyed working on the Star Wars movies and got on well with all the cast and crew he came into contact with.

Jack McKenzie brings bad news in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Jack McKenzie - Lieutenant Cal Alder - TESB

Jack was also very friendly and chatty, saying he had never done a convention before, although he had been asked but had always been busy. He has recently been doing a musical on stage in Germany and enjoyed it very much. He has just auditioned for a major commercial which he is hoping to get the final decision on soon.

Although he only had a small part to play he does recall that he filmed an awful lot more than ended up on screen.

He spent four weeks on set, all on the Hoth Rebel Hanger set which he said was huge and amazing, doing a lot of running around with other Rebels for the battle/invasion sequence. He did have a fair bit more dialogue in this extra footage and is sorry it didn't make the cut.

He doesn't recall ever seeing George Lucas on set but meet the main cast whom were all very nice.