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Star Wars Insider - 2018 Special Edition
Star Wars Insider - 2018 Special Edition
T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E
SPECIAL EDITION
2018
U.K. £9.99
© & TM 2018 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization.
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WELCOME... EDITORIAL
Editor / Jonathan Wilkins
Senior Executive Editor / Divinia Fleary
Art Editor / Oz Browne
Copy Editor / Simon Hugo
Editorial Assistants / Tolly Maggs,
Jake Devine
LUCASFILM
Senior Editor / Brett Rector
Image Archives / Newell Todd,
Erik Sanchez, Bryce Pinkos,
Nicole LaCoursiere, Tim Mapp
Art Director / Troy Alders
Story Group / Pablo Hidalgo,
Leland Chee, Matt Martin
CONTRIBUTORS
Simon Hugo, Tricia Barr, Michael Kogge,
Amy Ratcliffe, Pablo Hidalgo, Claudia Gray,
Chuck Wendig, Thomas G. Smith,
Martin Eden, Mark Newbold, Michael Price,
J.W. Rinzler, Neil Edwards, Gus Lopez
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Erich Schoeneweiss at Random House,
Joseph Taraborrelli at Marvel Comics,
Tracy Cannobbio and
Chris Argyropoulos at Lucasfilm
TITAN MAGAZINES
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Production Supervisor / Maria Pearson
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You are holding in your hands a collection of some Production Assistant / Natalie Bolger
of the very best interviews and features from the pages Art Director / Oz Browne
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of Star Wars Insider. It’s our mission statement for this Direct Sales & Marketing Manager
Ricky Claydon
magazine to deliver the complete Star Wars experience. Subscriptions Executive / Tony Ho
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By that I mean that we cover all things Star Wars from Commercial Manager / Michelle Fairlamb
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movies to books via TV series, video games, and comics. Advertising Assistant / Tom Miller
U.S. Advertising Manager / Jeni Smith
This special edition features a typically wide range Publishing Manager / Darryl Tothill
of Star Wars material, including a complete episode guide Publishing Director / Chris Teather
Operations Director / Leigh Baulch
forThe Clone Wars that will have you delving back into the Executive Director / Vivian Cheung
Publisher / Nick Landau
classic show—or experiencing it for the first time!—and
DISTRIBUTION
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STAR WARS INSIDER SPECIAL EDITION 2018
(USPS 003-027) (ISSN 1041-5122)
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moving pieces. Wearing a mask is quite What sense did you have of taking on
a challenging thing. It was very scary such a role?
and terrifying, so it wasn’t something The idea of doing it is a scary thing.
that immediately seemed like a “yes.” Even though J.J. mapped out what that
Actually, I thought about it quite a bit, character does, he left out a lot of things
even though it was kind of a no-brainer, for us to discover. He wanted to get my
but I didn’t want to take it lightly. input, which was a huge thing also in
a movie of this scale. Suddenly you have
How much was J.J. Abrams able to a director who wants you to be involved
share with you after you signed on? in making it, and given the history of
J.J. Abrams pretty much walked me these movies, that’s very exciting.
through the whole thing. He talked I was a fan of the Star Wars movies
about how he wanted to start it and when I was younger, so suddenly to
the themes that he was going with. work on it in my adult life and have
He talked about things that inspired input seems unbelievable.
him that he and Lawrence Kasdan were
already working on. There have been Did you enjoy working on practical sets?
small changes since then, but it’s all Everything is so real. I think grounding
pretty much the same. J.J. had ideas everything in a reality is more effective.
that were very clear in his mind about Not to get on a high horse about
the conventions that he wanted to technology, but sometimes it’s in place
upturn and things that grounded Kylo of something that’s real and tactile and
Ren as a character. Character was I think that people take it for granted.
INSIDER 7
much as possible. The first week was read-through that things would
like four hours a day of fight training; just come to life when the original
just stretching and going over the training characters read their parts.
with sticks and slowly building up to the Suddenly I just wanted to sit back
lightsaber. Then I went to New York and and watch and enjoy the movie, but
worked with people they sent there. then I realized I had lines to say and
Whenever we’re not on set, I’m always with a part to play. I got to act across
the fight guys. It’s almost like a play in a from people who have no idea
way, the dancing part of fighting. There’s a that they are very much a part
structure and it’s important to know where of my youth.
everything’s going. You always learn new
things about it, and for me this has been What makes Star Wars great?
a process where a lot of the external At the end of it, I think the great
things have been formed that gave me thing about Star Wars is that, yes,
more information. Usually I feel like I try it’s a long time ago in a galaxy far,
to work internally and try to think about far away and there are spaceships
how it feels from the inside out, but for and lightsabers, but the family story
this there are so many tactile things that and the friendship and sacrifice
I can actually hold on to that give me a elements are really big, human
lot of information. The fight choreography themes that make it enduring.
was one of them. All those human things are what
connected people to those movies
Was the table read a surreal experience? in the first place. It’s never been
Seeing everybody all in one room for taken lightly, and there’s
the table read was surreal; I just wanted always been a conversation
to sit back as an audience member that starts with putting the
and listen to them. I remember in the humanity in it.
10 INSIDER
ANNIVERSARY
40TH
BALL
The Death SStar is one of the most iconic elements
in Star Wars. TTake a look inside the technological
h g terror
that lies at tthe heart of the Empire’s
p war machine.
12 | INSIDER
FELICITY JONES
G
eorge Lucas has 1 / Stormtroopers of Star Wars, and a cultural icon Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
always acknowledged guard the that ranks alongside Darth Vader’s modelmaker Colin Cantwell.
Millennium Falcon.
the sources from helmet and lightsaber duels in At this point, the Death Star
which he drew 2 / An Imperial Death terms of instant recognition value. was not really defined beyond
Squad Commander
inspiration for Star Wars. The So how did the Death Star being a “space fortress”, but
at his station. (See
opening text crawl is drawn from opposite page.) come about? Lucas based several following conversations with
Flash Gordon serials, the bickering of his ideas for Star Wars’ outer- Lucas, Cantwell set about building
3 / The Death Star’s
droids echo the main characters superlaser fires. (See space aesthetic on the paintings of a spherical styrene prototype.
in Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden opposite page.) celebrated sci-fi artist John Berkey, Painted in shining silver and
Fortress, and the climactic attack who died in 2008. Lucas bought dotted with circuit board-style
on the Death Star owes a great several of Berkey’s illustrations detailing, the finished prototype
deal to World War II movies The in 1975, and commissioned is far less “clean” looking than
Dam Busters (1955) and 633 further originals. Though Berkey the final prop, owing to the larger
Squadron (1964). Yet the moon- didn’t depict a Death Star-style scale of the details (which were
sized Death Star itself has few globe in full, one of his paintings cobbled together from mass-
obvious parallels in other works does show a rocket ship diving produced model kits). Cantwell’s
of fiction. toward a high-tech planetary model did, nonetheless, capture
Sure, plenty of villains surface, which could be an entirely the essentials of the now-familiar
have an impressive base, and constructed world or a heavily Death Star shape, including for the
superweapons that must be augmented one. first time an “equatorial trench”
stopped provide the against-the- around the center.
clock impetus for many a movie. DEATH In interviews, Cantwell has
But the audacity of the Death STARCHITECTS explained how this trench was
Star—its pure, simple shape and The job of fully visualizing the born of necessity: when he was
its mind-boggling scale—make it Death Star then fell to concept molding the upper and lower
one of the most original elements artist Ralph McQuarrie and halves of the sphere, both sections
14 INSIDER
3/
INSIDER 15
6/
16 INSIDER
suffered minor shrinkage at the 4 / The rebels discover the Death Star’s surface, not the Star with an equatorial superlaser
the trash compactor.
edges. Making the two pieces into equatorial trench. before the decision was made
(See opposite page.)
a perfect fit would have been a to move it, and a photo of that
very intricate and time-consuming 5 / An X-wing soars DISH AND painting formed the basis of Cuba’s
over the vast surface of
job, so instead he proposed a the Death Star. DISCREPENCY animation.
definite break in the center, and Of course, that doesn’t mean Once the Death Star design
Lucas swiftly agreed. 6 / Luke Skywalker and we can take General Dodonna’s was finalized, it fell to ILM to
Princess Leia swing
However, Cantwell’s further across a seemingly briefing graphics as gospel, either. create the sequences in which it
suggestion that this happy accident bottomless chasm Look closely, and you’ll see that, in appeared. This was achieved using
inside the battlestation.
led directly to the film’s trench this scene, the Death Star is shown a combination of matte effects and
(See opposite page.)
run finale is most likely wishful with its other iconic feature—its model photography—with one full
thinking. Looking at the computer superlaser dish—located at the Death Star prop measuring about
graphic of the Death Star that equator, rather than in its northern 4 ft across, and much larger, more
General Dodonna presents to the hemisphere. That’s not a mistake detailed models for the trench run
rebel pilots before their attack on the part of Larry Cuba, who scenes. In the fall of 1976, ILM
at the movie’s climax, it’s clear created the then-cutting-edge filmed its first Death Star footage,
that the battle station’s famous computer animation for the and on October 16, a shot of
weakness is meant to be accessed briefing scene. Rather, it reflects the battle station firing its laser
from one of its poles, not from the fact that, until relatively late cannons became the first finished
the equator. Also the scale of in the day, that’s exactly where effect for the movie. Shooting the
the narrow trench in which the the Death Star laser was going trench run and the surrounding
rebels attack is far too small to be to be! McQuarrie got as far as battle took place between
visible from any great distance, working up a matte painting (a February and April 1977, and
so it must be one of the many backdrop intended for use in the concluded just weeks before Star
smaller channels that crisscross actual movie) showing the Death Wars opened in theaters. a
INSIDER 17
T
he first R2-D2 took k shape p
Right: R2-D2, the in a tiny studio
o in K
Kensall
versatile utility droid, Rise in London,n, when
equipped with a George Lucas came e to th
the
he
h
variety of tool-tipped U.K. in 1975. Five of uss set up shoph
appendages. in a tiny studio, and [art
rt director]
dirrrectorr]
Les Dilley and I were given
iven the taska
Opposite page: of making a mock-up.
A rough sketch of From the script, it was
as clear
l
R2-D2 by George Lucas that George didn’t have eam movie
and Bill Harman; without R2-D2 and C-3PO.3PO. They
T
George Lucas standing were the storytellers. W We kknew
next to the first prop that C-3PO would work k
ever made for Star because of the robot in n
Wars, a wooden R2-D2. Metropolis (1927), but
R2-D2… He had to be
under four-feet tall and d
we couldn’t make him
do everything he needed ed
to do using radio-control,
rol,
so we had to make
him work around
a small person.
George hired Kenny Baker, e
who is 3’ 8”, and we recruited
ecruiited
ecru
Bill Harman, the carpenter
penter e
who made everything for f Monty
M y
Python and the Holy Graill (1975) 5 on
18 INSIDER
MORE TO SAY
Cinema Alchemist is available
as an ebook and a hardback
edition from Titan Books.
HAVE YOU?
INSIDER 19
20 INSIDER
INSIDER 21
I
mperial Star Destroyers loom in villainous characters you have, up until On hiss home planet of Lothal, Ezra
space. A hologram of Darth Vader now, been unaware of.” Bridger
er (Taylor Gray) sees a Star
(James Earl Jones) appears before Destroyer
royer overhead and makes his
the Inquisitor (Jason Isaacs) and In April 2014, Filoni revealed more way into
nto Capital City. There, he helps
speaks to him about his task to about creating the Inquisitor, telling a merchant
rchant who is being harassed by
hunt down Force-sensitive children and Nerdist: “It’s not just about giving the occupying
ccupying Imperial forces, before
eliminate them along with any Jedi that someone a red lightsaber… You have his attention
tention is caught by a group of
might be training them. “So it will be to figure out what makes them tick.” strangers
gers who are stealing
done,” says the Inquisitor. Comparing the new character to Darth Imperial
rial supplies.
Vader, he said, “The Inquisitor is more in
Opening on a Star Destroyer is a Star the intellectual realm. He’s a combatant, Ezra’s
ra’ss journey
journ
jou ney iss att the h
Wars tradition of sorts. Four out of the yes, but he’s actually somewhat elegant heartt of Rebels.
Reb
ebels
eb el . AnAn orphan
orph
phan
p
seven Star Wars films to date feature and he likes to dissect you… To him, scraping
ping
pi ng out
ouu a living
li ing alone
liv alone
the ships in their opening shots. knowledge is power. The more he learns on Lothal
otthal
al for
for atat least
leasst half
leas half
about you, the more he learns about how his life,
fe,
fe
e he is resourceful
resou
re souurce
rceful
ful
u
It is later revealed that the Inquisitor to defeat you and your friends. And that and always
lway
wa s on on the
the lookout
lookou
loo kou
out
ou
is, in fact, the Grand Inquisitor, the leader makes him a particularly nasty kind of for opportunities
ppor
portun
tu iti ties
es to
of a bigger force. In the Season Two spider to trap.” improve
ove
ov e his
h lot.. According
Accco
cccordi
rd
d ng
episode “The Future of the Force,” we to Season
asson
son OnOnene exec
e
executive
xeccuti
utive
tive
v
see other Inquisitors hunting down “Spark of Rebellion” was trailed with producer
uccerr Greg
Gre
rreg Weisman,
W issman,
Weis
Force-sensitive babies. four shorts on Disney XD introducing “He iss very much
mu
muc u h a street
uc s rree
st et
the crew of the Ghost. “The Machine in rat. We used ed to o talk
lkk abo
about
bout
ut
The first look at Star Wars Rebels was the Ghost,” “Entanglement,” “Art Attack,” him as Aladdin
Aladd
ddin
d without
witthou
ho t
revealed at Celebration Europe in July and “Property of Ezra Bridger” are currently the monkey
mo onke
nkeyy or
nk or the
the music.”
music.
mus ic.””
ic.
2013, and the character of the Inquisitor available to view on the Star Wars In thee episode
ep
piso
sodede itself,
itself
its elf,,
elf
was announced three months later at YouTube channel. Ezra isis described
desc
desc
escrib
ribed
rib ed ass
New York Comic Con, a full year before both a “street
“stre
“s tre
eet rat”
rat” and
and
“Spark of Rebellion” aired. During a panel The prologue with Darth Vader was a “Loth-rat.”
th-r
h-rat.
at.””
at.
at
at NYCC, series executive producer Dave originally exclusive to ABC, which
Filoni said, “Every era of the Star Wars aired “Spark of Rebellion” on October 26, Ezra’s
ra’s
a s line,
liine,
ne “I
“I li
like
ke
e
saga seems to have its own marquee 2014, and was not included when the show the sound
ound d of that,”
that,
t ” is
is
villain; a character that really captures the debuted on the Disney Channel and Disney a callback
ba k tto
bac oHHan
an
an
idea of the enemy and what evil is... In this XD earlier in the month. It was the first Solo’ss use
usse ofof the
the
e
time period between Episodes III and IV, time that James Earl Jones had provided phrase in The
same phrase he
he
there is the possibility that there are the voice of Vader for an animated series. Empirer Strikes
re r ess Back.
Sttrik Bac
B a k.
22 INSIDER
INSIDER 23
The
he pi
pilot
lot is HeHera
ra Syn
Syndul
Syndulla
dulla
la (Va
(Vanes
(Vanessa
nessa sa
Marshall),
M sha
Mar hall)
hall)
ll),, and ship is the Ghost,
and the ship Ghost
Gh ost,,
which
w ch
wh
whi h she owns.owns. Speaking
Speak
Sp eaking
ing to Ne Nerdi
Nerdist
rdistst
before
bef
e ore the
the episode
episode
epis ode aired,
aired
aired,, Mars
M
Marshall
arshal
halll
said:
sa d: “She’s
sai “She’s the the brass
brasss tacks
bras tack
ackss ofof tthe
he
operation…
ope
o perat
ration
ion… … She
She can fly real rreally
eallyly wel
well, l,
and she’s
she’s alsoalso a great
greatt fi
grea figh
ghter
ter in
hand-to-hand
hand-t
han d-to-h
o-hand and cocomba
combat
mbatt andand wit
with h her
her
blaster.”
blaste
bla ster.”
r.” Sh
She e cont
ccontinued,
ontinu
inued,
ed, “H“Hera
era is
very
very upset
upsett about
upse aboutt the
abou the lives
lives tha
thatt have
have
been
been lost,
lost,, and
lost and that
that seems
seemss to
seem to real
rreally
eallylyy
motivate
motiva
mot ivate
te her
her.”.”
This mmarks
arks
the firstt
canonical
canonicca al
mention n of
of the One
Onee of the
the inhabitants
i h bit
inha bitantntss of
of
ISB, the Empire’s
Empire r ’s
re Tarkintown
Tar
a kin
ar kin
ntow
own resembles Ral
ow Ralphph
own
o secret
s cre
se r t police,
poli
olice, McQuarrie’s
M uar
McQ u rie ear y Star
i ’ss early S r Warss
Sta
and
a the first
an rsst appearance
appeeara ance
ncce concept
con ncep
c t art rt for “Luke e Starkiller,”
Stark
arkiller,”
of
o one
one of its top age agents,
ents
nts,, the
th character
ch that would uld evolve
evolv l e into
nto
Kallus.
Kal
Kaallus
lu
us. Weisman
Weisei man a described
deescr
c ibeb d Luke
Luk
Luuke Skywalker.
Skyw
Skywalk alkker.
er The
Thhe grassy
gras
ra sy landscape
lan
andsc
dsc
dss ape
p
Kallus’
Ka
Kal
allus
l ’ role
lu ro le to Star
ole S r Wars
Sta rss Insider
Ins
nside
ide
derr in off Lothal
Lo hal
Lot a also harks
har
a ks back to M
ar McQuarrie’s
cQuQ arr
Qu r ie’
es
issue152:
iss
ssue152:
s 2:: “Kallus
“Kall
a uss andnd the Inquisitor
Inqu uisitor
torr concept
con
o cept paintings,
on s as does ess th
th look
the k of
o
have
hav
a complementary
comp plem
lement
entary
ent ary
ry bu
b
butt diff
different
fere
erentn Capital
C pital City and vvarious
Cap a ous
ar
ari us other
her
e asaspe
aspects
pects
pe
responsibilities.
r sponsibili
res i tie
es.
s Kallus’
Kallus
Kal lus
us’
s’ job
job
o isis to roo
root
oott of
o the
t animated ted se
series. s. Att Won
Wonder
Wo
WonderCon rCon in
out
o anyan hintint of rebellion,
rebel
bellio
bel lio
on, so the ac a
actions
tions
tio 2014, Rebels ar a
artt director
directot r Kili
K
Kilian
ilian Plu
il
ili Plunkett
unkett
that
tha
h t our
our guys are e taking
ttak
king
ng
n g are w what
hat
at br
bring
brings
i s said: “We e went
w nt
we n back
bacck toto vvery
ery
ry early Ra Ralph
alph
lp
them
the
h m toto K
Kallus’
alllus’
all u at
us a
attention.”
ten
ntio
io
on.”
n. Th
The e Inqu
IInquisitor,
nqu
q isis tor
or,
o paintings,
painti
pai tings
ing , and
andn thatt sort
sortt off palette
p let
pa le te e
meanwhile,
m nwh
mea n ile, is specifically cal
ally
al ly foc
focused
ocuse
oc use
s d on on informed
inf
nfor
n ormed all ll off thee characters,”
char
char
ha act
acters
ers,”
ers ,”” add
adding
dingg
apprehending
app
p reh hend
ending n Force e users.
u ers
us e . that
tha
h t his
hiss art
art team got to o ex
explo
explore
plore
plo re “mu
“m
“muchchh
happier,
h pie
ha
hap er,, brighter
bri
right
igh
ghter colcolors”
lors
rss” tthan
h th
han theyy did
d
The shanty
s ant
sh a y town
town whwhere
here
r ththe
he rebels
rebels render n The
in e Clone
Cl e Wa
Cl Wars
W rss TVV serie
series.
rie
rie
ries.
es..
aid
d is called
ca
alle
ll d T
Tarkintown,
arkkint
intown
w , afte
a
after
fterr Gran
fte G
Grand
rand
ran dMMoff
off
f
Tarkin,
Tar
a kin
kin, the
thee governor
governnorr of
o the
th Outer
O terr Ri
Ou R
Rim.
m It
m. “Ezra’s
“Ezra’ ’s Theme”
Them me” can
ca be he heard rd in
was
a inspired
inspi
in spi
pirred
e by
b the
th
he real-life
r al-li
real -life
fe shanty
sh ntyy towns
sha towns
wns the
thhe Tarkintown
Tarki
rkinto
rki n wn seq
nt nce. Rebels
ssequence.
quen
en R els
Reb lss
that
thaat formed
form
formmed in the United
Unite
Un itedd States
S a es dur
Stat during
ing th
the
he composer
ccom
ompos
omposser Kevin
Ke
Kev
e in
n Kiner olld Ins
K er told
Kin ttol IInsider
side
id
d r ababout
bout
ut
Great
r at Depression
Gre Dep
e res
ression of
sion of the 1930s,
the 193 30s,
0 wh
0s which were
h we
w re the development
developm
p ent of th
pm music
that mus sic
ic in issue
i iss sue
e
referred
refferr
erred
edd to as “Ho
“Hoovervilles,”
“Hoove
overvi
rville
lle s, after
les,”
s,” after
e 155:
155 “Ezra’s
“Ezrra’s
a s th
theme
e came aboabout
a when
utt w hen
President
Pre
r sid n Herbert
sident
ent Herbe
He rt Hoover.
rbert Hoover
Hoo ver.. they
they were
were giving
ng away
givin
gi w some
away some fruit uit to
fru to
24 INSIDER
INSIDER 25
INSIDER 27
ED
T H O M A S G . S MITH, INTERVIEW
E R IL M M A N A G E R (1980-198 5 ),
L L IG H T & M A G IC , THE ART OF
FORM IA
G IN 1 9 8 5 F O R H IS BOOK, INDUSTR ). WHILE PORTIONS OF THE
JON BER 6 , D
E
EL REY/BALL ANTIN OR THE FIRST TIME, IS THE
F F E C T S (1 9 8
SPECIAL E U N D IN THE BOOK, HER
E, F
C A N B E F O
INTERVIEW Did you have a metal
C O N V E R S A T IO N !
FULL When did you first try to make
a creature yourself?
armature inside with
joints and all?
homas G. Smith: When did you first I first started sculpting with clay Oh yeah. I found a
28 INSIDER
Did you ever think when you were in high school that
you would have a career in movies?
High school seemed so irrelevant to my life. I wasn’t
a good student at all. I was bored in high school and
something like building the armature was more
interesting to me. I got called into the high school
principal’s office. He said, “Why are you getting
‘Cs’ when tests tell us you ought to be doing
a lot better?” My parents were worried, too.
While both of my brothers were working
on cars and doing normal stuff kids might
do, I was spending my time making a
rubber monkey!
INSIDER 29
30 INSIDER
Here ea are
r the
re he In
Indus
Industrial
dustri trialal Light
Lig
ight & Magi
M
Magic
agicc
agi
models; they had to be animated, walk, would later be expanded and become (ILM)
(IL
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LM)
M areproductions
produc the
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tions
Industrial
i whi
in w
which
Light
chh Ber
Berg
&gMagic
and stand up without falling over. In what we jokingly called “Go Motion.” participated:
par
a (ILM)
ticipap productions
ted
ed:: in which Berg
some scenes, we needed two of them. The wampa was mainly Phil’s work. participated:
This required machined parts. To build it, He is a genius and one of the best artists Star
Sta
t r Wars
Wars:
a : Epi Episod
Episode
sode e IVIV A New Ho H
Hope
p
pe
I had to use my experience as a machinist, I know. He kept it as simple as possible. (1977) Star Wars: Episode IV
a tinkerer, and a stop-motion animator. He said, “Get the carpenter shop to build (Creature
(Cr
C eatureu Abu New
build
builder,
ilder, Hope
er, stop
st op(1977)
motion
mot ion
That was my main job. And after I built a frame and put in a crowbar,” and then animator)
a
ani mator)
mat
(Creature
or) builder, stop-motion
them, I animated them a frame at a time. he built a muppet head with wax on its fur animator)
to look like snow. The wampa is seen in one Sta
t r Wars
Star a : Epi
Wars: Episod
sode
Episode e V The e Empi
E mp re
mpi
Empire
Was this a bigger challenge than very quick shot, but the effect is startling Str
t ike
k s Back
Strikes aStar
ack k (1Wars:
(1980
980)) Episode V
(1980)
animating a regular puppet? and works in the context of the scene. (Creat
(Cr The
eature
eat
(Creature ureEmpire
re
e bubuild
ild eStrikes
lder,
builder,er
er, opBack
sstop
st motion
mot ion
(1980)
Since they were in the middle of a large animat
mator)
animator) or)
(Creature builder, stop-motion
snowfield, the trick was to reach it without Where did you film it? animator)
messing up the snow. We built a trap-door We shot it just outside the door of St
Sta
Starr Wars a s: Epi
Wars: Episod
sod
o e VI
Episode VI R eturn
etu
Returnrn of the e
so I’d pop up, do my animation, then close ILM, in sunlight with the blue sky as JJeddi ((1983)
di
Jedi 98Star
198 3 Wars: Episode VI
3)
the door and go below while the camera a background. There was a photo of (CreatureuReturn of ltant)
e consultant)
consu
nsulta thent)Jedi
) (1983)
shot the exposure. We used small glass the camera set-up in the American (Creature consultant)
pellets, macro balloons, for the snow. Cinematographer magazine. It showed The
h Ew Ewok ok Adventure
Advent
Adv en ure (1 ((1985)
985
8 )
Going up and down through the trap door, ILM’s neighborhood in the background. (C
(Cr The
ure Ewok
eature
(Creature build
bu ilde
builder,eAdventure
r, stopop mot
moti ion
ion
motion
(1985)
I still had to remember where I was in the From this photo, one of our fans figured an
ani mator
animator or and builder,
(Creature actor
ac tor plp ayi
y ng
playing g the
he
stop-motion
last frame and where I was going. out where ILM was. Its location had always Gor
o ax.)
Gorax.) )
animator and actor playing
been secret. We were in an industrial area the Gorax.)
Did you work with Phil Tippett on the of San Rafael and there were no signs on Star War ars:: E
Wars: ode IIII Re
pisode
pis
Episode even
enge
Revenge ge off the
h
he
tauntaun and wampa in Empire? the front of the building to indicate it had Sit
i h (2
Sith ((2005)
005)
005 Star
) Wars: Episode III
Phil did most of that and I helped a little. anything to do with making visual effects M delRevenge
(Mo
(Model maker
ma ker)) of the Sith (2005)
maker)
I helped on the animation. The tauntaun or Star Wars. Even the front door had a (Model maker)
is the first place we tried motion control sign that said, “Kerner Optical.” Kerner
while animating a puppet. This concept is the street where it is located.
END NOTE
Jon left ILM in 1980 after working long
hours on The Empire Strikes Back. He
returned from time to time to do special
creature assignments and to act as a
consultant. In 1984, he built the apelike
Gorax monster for Lucasfilm’s ABC film,
The Ewok Adventure. He not only designed
the creature, he built an ape suit and
played the monster on a miniature set
with Joe Johnston directing the second
unit. He had come full circle. Among the
50 million Americans who saw this film on
their TVs, he was probably scaring kids the
same way he was scared when he first
saw Mighty Joe Young in 1949. And of
course ILM is no longer in the San Rafael
industrial building where the wampa was
filmed for The Empire Strikes Back; it is
now in the San Francisco Presidio, where
it’s preparing to tackle… Episode VII! a
INSIDER 31
CLAUDIA GRAY’S
STAR WARS NOVELS
Star Wars: Lost Stars (2015)
Star Wars: Bloodline (2016)
CHUCK WENDIG’S
STAR WARS NOVELS
Star Wars: Aftermath (2015)
AUTHORS CLAUDIA GRAY AND CHUCK WENDIG HAVE DONE MUCH
Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt (2016) TO EXPAND THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE AFTER THE EVENTS OF
Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire’s
End (2017) RETURN OF THE JEDI. INSIDER LISTENS IN AS THEY DISCUSS
THEIR LATEST BOOKS, BLOODLINE AND AFTERMATH: LIFE DEBT.
32 INSIDER
INSIDER 33
34 INSIDER
INSIDER 35
36 INSIDER
INSIDER 37
MORE TO SAY
Claudia Gray’s website is
www.claudiagray.com and her
Twitter handle is @claudiagray
General Leia
leads the Chuck Wendig’s website is
http://terribleminds.com/ and his
Resistance
Twitter handle is @ChuckWendig
against the
First Order. HAVE YOU?
38 INSIDER
DIARIES
40 INSIDER
S
tar Wars Insider: How did the I think it ended up taking about the same We weren’t expecting to see so much of
Vader’s Little Princess book come amount of time, about eight or nine months young Han Solo! How do you see his role in
about? Was it commissioned at the —not including all the time spent coming up the book?
same time as Darth Vader and Son? with ideas, which had begun probably when Since this book was covering life into the
Jeffrey Brown: When I was showing I was still drawing the first book. teenage years, it was important to show Leia
the first sketches of Vader and Son to having relationships beyond the parent-child
Chronicle Books and Lucasfilm, everyone In real life, you have a young son. Did focus that dominates a four-year-old’s
kind of looked at each other and had the you find it a bit trickier writing about existence. Han Solo also gets to be a foil to
same thought: that there should obviously young Leia? Vader as the protective father.
be a sequel where Leia gets her own book! Yes, but fortunately I have a few friends
The reception of Vader and Son made it an with teenage daughters who provided There are lots of Star Wars cameos in the
easy call. It was officially commissioned some ideas. I also just tried to think book. Who was your favorite background
just after Darth Vader and Son came out. back to my own teenage years and what character to draw?
I observed. The tricky part was trying Boba Fett is still a ton of fun to draw and
How long did the book take you to do? Was to keep the ideas from feeling too clichéd I was excited to find a place to draw a
it quicker than Vader and Son? while covering a lot of different elements. tauntaun, but my favorite may be IG-88—I
wish I’d thought of more places to fit him in.
Y
COMMENTARY BY JEFFRE
BROWN: “Le ia’s Hal low een
costume would be her
bounty hunter Boussh
we
outfIT of course, but
te hav e the spa ce
didn’t qui
for this one.”
INSIDER 41
ADY A
“THERE WAS ALRE “I REALLY WANTED
NG GA G, SO TH IS ONE TO DRAW THE STRI
P WITH
CLOTHI LEIA CHECKING OU
YI NG TO SHOP T VADER’S HEAD, BU
WITH VADER TR WOULD BE A LITTL T IT
TH LE IA GO T CU T.” E GROSS TO USE
WI IN
THE BOOK.”
Your son is six now—has he seen the Star Wars movies yet?
We have started watching them—so far he’s seen A New Hope
and Empire. He was pretty upset about Obi-Wan Kenobi being
42 INSIDER
And you’ve got another Star Wars book coming out in the
Fall—Jedi Academy (Scholastic)—can you tell us a bit
about that?
It’s a book about middle school set in the Star Wars universe,
with Yoda teaching and a host of new characters. The book
mixes comics, journal entries, and faux papers (like pages
from the school paper) to tell the story of Roan, a kid who
wanted to become a
pilot, but ends up
having to fit in at the
Jedi Academy
on Coruscant.
44 INSIDER
INSIDER 45
FRESH FROM HER SUCCESS AS JYN ERSO IN ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY,
ACTRESS FELICITY JONES DISCUSSES HER WORK ON THE MOVIE, WHAT ATTRACTED
HER TO PLAYING THE ROLE, AND HER THOUGHTS ON HER CO-STARS!
48 INSIDER
50 INSIDER
DONNIE YEN
AND JIANG WEN
The moment Jyn and Cassian meet Baze,
he has a huge blaster that could shoot
them off the face of the planet. Once
she knows that’s not going to happen;
it’s an instinctive thing. She also finds
them amusing. They’re a good double
act. At that point when they meet,
she’s seen Chirrut take down multiple
stormtroopers. So, she thinks, this guy
can be very useful on the team. He has
some real skills.
It felt on Rogue One like everyone
had such fervor for the characters they
played. It wasn’t one of those films where
you feel like people just turn up and are
phoning it in. Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen
brought so much heart and humanity, and
you see it on the screen. There’s a real
affection for what they’re doing. They’ve
worked together before so they have a
good chemistry between them.
MADS MIKKELSEN
I loved working with Mads. He’s very
paternal, and we immediately felt a
connection when we met. He brought
such warmth and humanity to the role,
and it felt like we were very much on
the same wavelength when we were
working. He likes to try out different
things. He’s open, not dogmatic,
which I really like in actors. I like when
someone is prepared and does the work,
but then brings something unknown.
You always felt like that with Mads.
When you watch the films he’s in, he
has a wonderful quality where you
never know what he’s going to do next.
52 INSIDER
ALAN TUDYK
Alan’s just brilliant. He would be
improvising all the time. Throwing
different lines in that cracked us up. We
did a scene once, and trying things out,
he suddenly referred to Jyn as “the little
one,” which being five foot three I took
great offense to. He’s just so wonderful.
I’m a big fan of Alan’s.
FOREST WHITAKER
Saw Gerrera is the closest person Jyn
has to a parental figure. He’s someone
Jyn grew up around as a teenager. In
many respects, she learned about life
the hard way. Not having her parents
around, she had to learn to be very
self-reliant; and Saw Gerrera showed
her that not only does she have to rely
on herself but she also has to have
strong convictions and to defend those
convictions. When Jyn and Saw meet [on
Jedha], there’s an incredible connection
between them: a closeness, a bond. But
there’s also friction. You can see Jyn is
trying to forge her own way. Ultimately,
Saw gave her the ability to do that.
Forest is so brilliant technically,
but also the most soulful human
being I’ve ever met in my entire life.
Cassian Andor (Diego He brought humanity and complexity
Luna) and Jyn Erso
to the character. I feel speechless
(Felicity Jones) in
Imperial disguise. talking about him. I had a fantastic
time with him.
INSIDER 53
S
tar Wars: The Clone Wars has of The Clone Wars that debuted on television, eye-opening facts: these production numbers
recently celebrated its 100th then “Revival” is the 100th episode produced. often have very little to do with the order in
episode—the fifth season premiere It was the 93rd episode broadcast, and which the episodes are meant to be watched,
“Revival” was heralded as the actually the 104th in the production run if you or the order in which they were aired. And
milestone, but some number-crunching count the feature film. there are more episodes produced per season
viewers may wonder if that math adds up. Trivia-minded fans may wonder where than aired.
Counting Star Wars episodes never other episodes sit in comparison to “Revival” At any given time, there are many
seems easy—pop quiz: Which is the first Star in the production order, so with that mind, episodes of The Clone Wars in different phases
Wars movie? Which one’s the fourth? There Star Wars Insider presents for the first time of production at Lucasfilm Animation. To stay
are many points of view that can shape the ever, a guide to The Clone Wars series far ahead of the broadcast schedule, the team
way you add up The Clone Wars. Several presented in production order. produces 26 episodes per season, though
episodes qualify as the 100th, so you need to Production numbers are vital book- typically only 22 air. This creates a cushion of
be specific in your inquiry. Do you mean keeping statistics to track resources and episodes as more seasons air, giving the team
100th episode in production? Do you count budgets allocated to each episode. Each the flexibility to swap episodes in order to
the episodes that formed the theatrical three-digit number identifies it as part of a produce a desired flow of multi-episode arcs.
54 INSIDER
8.“AMBUSH”
“Great leaders inspire greatness Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell Director: Justin Ridge
in others. ” Written by: Tim Burns Written by: Steven Melching
Padmé Amidala and C-3PO are On a distant outpost, a squad
Director: Dave Bullock taken hostage by General Grievous, of rookie clones must believe in
Written by: Steven Melching leading Anakin and Obi-Wan to themselves to defend against a
Jedi Master Yoda and a trio of clone infiltrate the cruiser Malevolence droid commando invasion.
troopers are outnumbered by droid and continue their mission to First appearance of the clones of
forces on the coral moon of Rugosa. destroy the warship. Domino Squad
56 INSIDER
The Best of Star Wars Insider The Best of Star Wars Insider The Best of Star Wars Insider The Best of Star Wars Insider Star Wars: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four Lords of the Sith The Official Mission Debrief
ISBN 9781785851162 ISBN 9781785851179 ISBN 9781785851896 ISBN 9781785851902 ISBN 9781785851919 ISBN 9781785861581
25. “TRESPASS” 27. “THE HIDDEN ENEMY” 30. “HOSTAGE CRISIS” 32. “THE DESERTER”
Production Number: 125 Production Number: 201 Production Number: 204 Production Number: 206
Broadcast Number: 15 (January Broadcast Number: 16 (February Broadcast Number: 22 (March 20, Broadcast Number: 32 (January 1,
30, 2009; Season 1, Episode 15) 6, 2009; Season 1, Episode 16) 2009; Season 1 Finale, Episode 22) 2010; Season 2, Episode 10)
“Arrogance diminishes wisdom.” “Truth enlightens the mind, but “A secret shared is a “It is the quest for honor that
won’t always bring happiness to trust formed.” makes one honorable.”
Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell your heart.”
Written by: Steven Melching Director: Giancarlo Volpe Director: Robert Dalva
Anakin and Obi-Wan get caught in Director: Steward Lee Written by: Eoghan Mahony Written by: Carl Ellsworth
the middle of an escalating conflict Written by: Drew Z. Greenberg Bounty hunters led by Cad Bane While searching for General
between the Talz and the Pantorans Anakin and Obi-Wan discover seize control of the Senate building Grievous on Saleucami, Clone
on the icy planet Orto Plutonia. evidence of a traitor in their ranks and take hostages, unaware that Captain Rex encounters Cut
Joel Aron joins the series as CG while attempting to liberate the an unarmed Anakin Skywalker is Lawquane, a clone deserter.
Lighting and FX Supervisor. planet
lanet Christophs
Christophsis. still inside.
ies prequel to ThThe Clo
Clone
A serie
series
Warss feature film.
33.“LANDING AT POINT RAIN”
26.“BLUE SHADOW VIRUS” 31. “SENATE SPY”
Production Num
Number:
mber: 1266
Broadcast Number
Number:r: 17 (Febr
(February
ruary
28. “MYSTERY OF A
13, 2009; Season
n 1, Episod
Episode 17) THOUSAND MOONS”
“Fear is a disease;
sease; hop
hope is
its onlyy cure.” Production Number: 205 Production Number: 207
Broadcast Number: 26 (October Broadcast Number: 27 (November
Direcctor: Gianc
Director: Giancarlo
carlo Volpe 16, 2009; Season 2, Episode 4) 4, 2009; Season 2, Episode 5)
Written
Wriitten by: Craig
Crraig Titley
“A true heart should never “Believe in yourself or no one
be doubted.” else will.”
Director
Director:
or: Brian Kalin O’Con
O’
O’Connell
Written
en by: Henry Gilroy
Gilroy;
Wend
Wendy
ndy Meracle
The Jedi pursue
purs Cad Bane,
Bane
who iss kidnapping Force-sensitive
FForce-sens
children evil
ldren as part oof an evi
Sith plot.
58 INSIDER
INSIDER 59
60 INSIDER
Production Number: 313 Production Number: 316 Production Number: 319 Production Number: 321
Broadcast Number: 61 (February Broadcast Number: 65 (April 1, Broadcast Number: 70 (September Broadcast Number: 72 (October
11, 2011; Season 3, Episode 17) 2011; Season 3, Episode 21) 30, 2011, Season 4, Episode 4) 14, 2011; Season 4, Episode 6)
“He who seeks to control fate “Without humility, courage is “Who a person truly is cannot be “Who’s the more foolish, the fool
shall never find peace.” a dangerous game.” seen with the eye.” or the fool who follows him?”
Director: Steward Lee Director: Dave Filoni Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell Director: Steward Lee
Written by: Christian Taylor Written by: Bonnie Mark Written by: Daniel Arkin Written by: Steve Mitchell; Craig
The Son renews his efforts to convert Ahsoka and a group of abducted Because they bear a strong Van Sickle
Anakin to the dark side, even giving younglings find themselves trapped resemblance to one another, Jar Jar C-3PO and R2-D2 continue their
him a glimpse into the future. The on a Trandoshan moon, prey in an Binks assumes the role of the bizarre caper, visiting bizarre
reign of the Force wielders comes to elaborate and cruel hunt. indisposed Gungan leader—and worlds, staring down pirates,
an end as the Father uses the Mortis comes face-to-face with and stumbling upon a
Dagger to destroy himself.
69. “CITADEL RESCUE” General Grievous.
This was at one point to be the
Separatist attack.
62 INSIDER
Production Number: 323 Production Number: 325 Production Number: 401 “Those who enslave others inevi-
Broadcast Number: 68 (September Broadcast Number: 73 (October Broadcast Number: 75 (November tably become slaves themselves.”
16, 2011; Season 4, Episode 2) 28, 2011; Season 4, Episode 7) 11, 2011; Season 4, Episode 9)
Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell
“Only through fire is a strong “The first step toward loyalty is “The wise man leads, the strong Written by: Henry Gilroy;
sword forged.” trust.” man follows.” Steven Melching
Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and
Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell Director: Steward Lee Director: Kyle Dunlevy Rex go undercover to infiltrate the
Written by: Jose Molina Written by: Matt Michnovetz Written by: Matt Michnovetz slavers of Zygerria.
Anakin Skywalker and his Jedi Anakin is forced to temporarily turn Realizing there is a better plan than
team have been overrun by the
Separatists on Mon Calamari.
over command of his clone troop-
ers to the fierce General Krell on
following General Krell’s deadly
tactics, a group of clone troopers
83. “ESCAPE FROM KADAVO”
Ahsoka Tano and young Prince the embattled world of Umbara. carry out a rogue, covert operation.
Lee-Char must hold out until
Gungan reinforcements arrive.
78. “THE GENERAL” 80. “CARNAGE OF KRELL”
76. “PRISONERS” Production Number: 402
Broadcast Number: 76 (November Production Number: 405
18, 2011; Season 4, Episode 10) Broadcast Number: 79 (January 6,
2012; Season 4, Episode 13)
“Our
O actions define our legacy.”
Production Number: 326 “Great hope can come from small
Broadcast Number: 74 (November
mber Directo
Director:
or: Kyle Dunlevy sacrifices.”
Production Number: 324 4, 2011; Season 4, Episode 8) Writtenn by:
b Matt Michnov
Michnovetz
ovetz
Broadcast Number: 69 (September With two of his men fafacing Director: Danny Keller
Direc
23, 2011; Season 4, Episode 3) “The path of ignorance is guided execution
ution for disobeying Gene
General
ner
eral
al Wri
Wr
Written
riitte
ttten bby:
y Henry G
y: Gilroy;
by fear.” Kr ll’s orders, Capt
Krell’s Captain Re
Rexexx Steven Melching
“Crowns are inherited, kingdoms must
ust confront his
h over
overly
rlyy
rly Anakin tries to
are earned.” Director: Walter Murchrch aggressive
essive comm
co
commander.
mmandandeer
er.
r. convince the
Written by: Matt Michnovetz
novetz Zygerrian
ZZyygerrian Queen that
Director: Danny Keller General Krell orders Clone
ne Captai
Captain
aiin sshe
he too is a pawn in
Written by: Jose Molina Rex and his troopers too conque
conquerer an
a evil Separatist
Ahsoka and Prince Lee-Char must a heavily fortified airbase,
rbase, an pplot.
lot. Meanwhile,
unite the fractured people of Mon almost certain suicide
de mission. Obi-Wan
O
Obi
Ob -W n toils in
-Wa
Cala in order to overthrow the the
he sslave
tth lave camps
Separatist invaders. PRODUCTION
TION ooff Kadavo.
SEASONN FOUR
INSIDER 63
(EPISODESS 79-104)
Director: Dave Filoni “One must let go of the past to Production Number: 414
Written by: Christian Taylor hold onto the future.” Broadcast Number: 88 (March 16,
Ahsoka Tano tries to stop Lux 2012; Season 4 finale, Episode 22)
Bonteri from making a big Director: Steward Lee
mistake. He seeks out vengeance Written by: Katie Lucas “The enemy of my enemy is
for the death of his mother by At Count Dooku’s behest, General my friend.”
teaming up with a fractured Grievous launches a vengeance
Death Watch. strike against the Nightsisters of Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell
Guest-starring: Jon Favreau as Dathomir, leaving Asajj Ventress Written by: Katie Lucas
Pre Vizsla, and Katee Sackhoff directionless and alone. Savage and Maul, now reunited,
as Bo-Katan pursue Obi-Wan Kenobi in search
90. “BOUNTY” of revenge, and the Jedi Knight
must ally with Asajj Ventress to
85. “DECEPTION” 87. “THE BOX” defend against the deadly brothers.
64 INSIDER
INSIDER 65
C
inuiing In
ontinuing
onti
ont IInsider
nsi
sid
iderr’s Starr
id
Wars: The Clone
Clon ne Wars epepisode
pisode
guide using production 105: “EMINENCE”
numbers to keep track of Production Number: 501
installments produced (as opposed Broadcast Number: 102 (January 19, 2013;
to, say, episodes aired). This method Season 5, Episode 14)
of organizing Clone Wars episodes
results in unique groupings, as the “One vision can have many interpretations.”
Production Seasons of 26 episodes
each differ from the broadcast Director: Kyle Dunlevy
seasons, which are sometimes Written by: Chris Collins
22, 20 and, most recently, 13 After barely escaping their encounter with the Jedi
episodes long. and the pirates alive, Savage Opress and Darth Maul
Now that Star Wars: The Clone are found by Death Watch. Both parties forge an
Wars: The Lost Missions have alliance when they realize they have a common
triumphantly debuted on Netflix, enemy in the Jedi general Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Star Wars Insider revisits its listing, Guest-starring: Jon Favreau as Pre Vizsla, Sam
picking up on the 105th episode Witwer as Darth Maul, Clancy Brown as Savage
produced in the series, the first Opress, and Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan.
in Production Season 5.
“Alliances can stall true intentions” “Morality separates heroes from villains.” “Humility is the only defense
against humiliation.”
Director: Bosco Ng Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell
Written by: Chris Collins Written by: Chris Collins Director: Danny Keller
With the backing of the Hutts and an army of Using Duchess Satine as bait, the vengeful Darth Written by: Brent Friedman
the galaxy’s most vicious criminals—including Maul lures Obi-Wan into a trap. Drunk with R2-D2 is part of a team of Republic droids
the Death Watch, Black Sun and the Pykes—Pre power, Maul declares himself the true Sith Lord, chosen for an important mission led by the
Vizsla and Darth Maul lead an attack on the a claim that will not go unanswered. diminutive Colonel Gascon to obtain an encryp-
planet of Mandalore. Conquest of Mandalore Guest-starring: Jon Favreau as Pre Vizsla, Sam tion module from a Separatist dreadnought. The
strains the tenuous alliance between the Sith Witwer as Darth Maul, Clancy Brown as Savage droids must overcome numerous challenging
and Death Watch. Opress and Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan. obstacles to succeed in this crucial assignment.
Guest-starring: Jon Favreau as Pre Vizsla, Sam
Witwer as Darth Maul, and Clancy Brown as This is the last episode Ian Abercrombie Although produced after the Maul arc, the
Savage Opress. recorded as Chancellor Palpatine. D-Squad arc aired first in Season Five.
66 INSIDER
“When all seems hopeless, a true hero “A soldier’s most powerful weapon “You must trust in others or success
gives hope.” is courage.” is impossible.”
INSIDER 67
114: “TO CATCH A JEDI” 115: “THE WRONG JEDI” 116: “THE UNKNOWN”
“Never become desperate enough to trust “Never give up, no matter how dark “The truth about yourself is the hardest
the untrustworthy.” things seem.” to accept.”
68 INSIDER
“The wise benefit from a second opinion.” “When in doubt, go to the source.” “The popular belief isn’t always the
correct one.”
Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell Director: Danny Keller
Written by: Katie Lucas Written by: Katie Lucas Director: Danny Keller
In the sterile laboratories of Kamino, the ailing The body of clone trooper Tup is scheduled for Written by: Katie Lucas
clone trooper Tup and his friend Fives are transport to Coruscant, where the Supreme Fives continues to push for answers regarding
quarantined for examination following Tup’s Chancellor’s own doctors will closely examine the mystery of the clone contamination and
shocking murder of a Jedi Master. With the help it. Fives breaks protocol and defies orders to secures an audience with Supreme Chancellor
of medical droid AZI-3, Fives is determined dig up answers, and discovers that there is an Palpatine. But the situation collapses when Fives
to get to the bottom of Tup’s condition and organic construct of unknown purpose hidden is accused of attacking the Chancellor, and he
uncovers a secret buried deep within the in the brains of all clone troopers. must flee deep into the Coruscant cityscape
Republic cloning program. while pursued by fellow clone troopers.
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“Without darkness there can be no light.” “Wisdom is born in fools as well as wise men.” “What is lost is often found.”
97: “AN OLD FRIEND” 98: “THE RISE OF CLOVIS” 99: “CRISIS AT THE HEART”
“To love is to trust. To trust is to believe.” “Jealousy is the path to chaos.” “Deceit is the weapon of greed.”
Director: Brian Kalin O’Connell Director: Danny Keller Director: Steward Lee
Written by: Christian Taylor Written by: Christian Taylor Written by: Christian Taylor
While on Scipio to fund a mercy mission, Padmé Back on Coruscant, Clovis—known traitor After making a deal with Count Dooku to
Amidala is called upon by an old friend, Rush of the Republic—makes a dubious deal which resuscitate the ailing Banking Clan, Clovis finds
Clovis, to help uncover corruption in the puts him at the head of the Banking Clan. himself as a pawn in Dooku’s designs. Clovis
Banking Clan. They must evade the bounty Anakin’s increasing distrust and hatred of has brought the war to Scipio, forcing the
hunter Embo to escape the planet with the Clovis strains his relationship with Padmé Republic to intervene.
incriminating information. to breaking point.
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“Madness can sometimes be the path to truth.” “Death is just the beginning.” “Facing all that you fear will free you
from yourself.”
Director: Danny Keller Director: Kyle Dunlevy
Written by: Christian Taylor Written by: Christian Taylor Director: Steward Lee
Yoda is deeply unsettled when he hears a voice Letting the Force guide him, Yoda voyages Written by: Christian Taylor
from beyond the grave: the voice of Qui-Gon into the heart of the galaxy to an ancient world After many grueling trials, Yoda next travels
Jinn. Knowing that it is impossible for a Jedi to that is one of the wellsprings of the Force to the ancient Sith home world of Moraband,
retain his identity after death, the Jedi Council and the source of midi-chlorians. Yoda where he must face an ancient evil determined
begins to worry that Yoda may be corrupted by undergoes difficult trials administered by the to rule the galaxy.
the influence of the dark side. Determined to Five Priestesses, mysterious Force-wielders
find answers, Yoda escapes the Jedi Temple to who hold the secret to immortality. Guest-starring: Mark Hamill as Darth Bane
follow the disembodied voice. and Jaime King as the Priestesses.
Guest-starring: Jaime King as
Guest-starring: Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn. the Priestesses.
SAVING
MR. BINKS
Jonathan Rinzler, author of
“The Disappeared” on writing
for Star Wars: The Clone Wars…
72 INSIDER
BOTH
B OTH ANAKIN AND LUKE DISOBEY THEIR JEDI MASTERS
TO SAVE SOMEONE, BUT THE CHOICES LEAD
AD IN
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
In Revenge of the SSith, Anakin Skywalker destroy his father. Though they both h try to
tries to save Padm
Padmé from dying in save someone close to them, the motivation
childbirth. His cho
choice, however, is made behind their mirrored choices leadss down
out of selfishness, out of fear and greed. two different paths—Anakin to darknesskness
He is willing to sacrifi
sac ce everyone else and Luke to the light.
around him in order
orde to satisfy his own Luke’s willingness to sacrifice himself
imself
desire. His choice mirrors that of his son, for Anakin is the key, and awakens in
Luke, who later seseeks to save Anakin. In Darth Vader the opportunity to rebootoot
contrast, however, Luke’s sacrifice is his original choice. In his youth,
selfless. Luke is willing
w to die for Anakin Anakin decided to join Palpatine as
(Vader), and even to fail in the process. the Sith electrocuted the Jedi Mace
Not only did Anakin
An turn his back Windu. But now, as Palpatine grips his
on the Jedi teachings
teach with his choice, but Jedi son Luke in the thralls of that
likewise Luke disregards
di the instructions same Force Lightning, Vader chooses es
of Obi-Wan and Yoda
Y when he refuses to self-sacrifice and love.
Interview by
Mark Newbold
O T
NaCOMING SOON
TO A THEATER NEAR YOU! a
W
ith Lucasfilm’s announcement of at least
d-alone Star Wars movies
three new stand-alone
on the way, speculation
eculation among fans has
been rampant as to what these new
hich major Star Wars
movies will be about and which
characters they will feature.. Yoda? Boba Fett? Youngg
Han and Chewie? Obi-Wan Kenobi, the lost years?
uch more to the Star W
But, of course, there’s so much Wars
arss
universe than the so-called “major” characters; an and
nd
now that most of the continuity
uity has been erased byy
the keepers of the canon, there’s
ere’s room to focus a
spin-off movie or two on some
me of the lesser-known
lesser-knowwn
characters. Why not give them
em each their own
summer blockbuster movie to shine? Here are
a few modest proposals for future films....
74 INSIDER
“We’ve
We ve analyzed
d their attack, sir, and there is a danger.
Should I have your ship standing by?”
…MILD WORDS, DELIVERED TOO LATE!
Neither spin-off, prequel nor sequel, Simply the Bast is a “same-quel.” It takes
place at the exact same ti time as A New Hope. Our hero: stylishly sideburned
Imperial General Moradm
Moradmin Bast. He’s a good soldier, but he’s got a sixth
sense, a nagging intuition,
intuition some would call it, “a bad feeling about this.”
The “this” he’s got a bad feeling
f about? The Death Star.
Bast spends the film on o a detective story-style quest to make sure the
adver
battle station is, as advertised by his old Academy roommate Admiral Motti,
“the ultimate power in the universe.” Bast sneaks Mission Impossible-style
into Darth Vader’s cubicle of solitude and steals a set of Death Star plans.
n
Studying the plans, he finally discovers the truth—“There is a danger.” He
marches up to Tarkin, tel tells him the bad news… and gets shot down by his
boss two minutes before the Death Star is blown to bits.
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Figrin D’an: A young Bith with a dream Modal Nodes. See how they audition creative mojo gone, Figrin D’an stays in
and a Kloo Horn, his career and life every Jizz-playing Bith in Mos Eisley, the Cantina, hiring a bunch of flunkies
are going nowhere until—like Lennon Mos Espa, Mos Def, Mos Tavern, and and playing the only song that ever
meeting McCartney—he crosses paths every Mos inbetween as they build a mattered to him over and over, while
with another young musical firebrand, killer band. Eventually, they break up Max and Sy find wealth, happiness,
Max Rebo. Together, they form the when Max’s girlfriend, conceptual a steady gig, and ultimately their
nucleus of one of the most popular artist Sy Snootles, comes between demise in the court of Jabba the Hutt.
bands in the entire Outer Rim—the them. With his best friend and his
Sith-teen Candles
S
tar Wars Insider: occasional nuance and
Season Two of Star smartass remarks, I’m simply
Wars Rebels has the voice monkey following
seen Zeb go their brilliance and soaking in
through a lot. How has that the glory! Actually, scratch all
affected his character? that. I’m fully responsible for
Steve Blum: Like any other all of his hairless Wookiee
sentient being, hopefully magnificence. Nothing to see
he’s growing in the process. here...move along.
Personally, it’s opening up
my world big time. Getting The episode “The Honorable
in touch with the Lasat Ones” included a lot of growth
version of the Force, the for Zeb and Kallus. Do you
Ashla, was particularly think Kallus will now pursue
enlightening. Like everyone a path of redemption?
else, I’ve been very curious I think it’s bigger than him. He’s
to learn more about his definitely had an opportunity
species. It’s been for introspection and re-
fascinating to experience evaluation, but the dark side of
Zeb as he begins to let the Force is powerful. I’d like to
down some of his protective believe he’s found a new hope.
walls. At the same time, we Time will tell. Wait...Dave...
get to witness hidden gifts I didn’t say anything! Why is
he has possessed all along. the chip in my neck beeping?
What has it been like for Do you have any idea how many
you to expand Zeb’s range? times you’ve said “karabast!”
From my perspective, it’s a Has it become part of your day-
magnificent ride. I’m a big to-day life vocabulary?
fan of the franchise and It’s become involuntary at this
have been since 1977, so point. I’m not even aware when
to be a part of the evolution of a new How involved are you in it comes out. I suppose it’s better than
character in this universe is incredibly Zeb’s development? the expletives I used to spout! That said,
exciting. As an actor, it’s the best thing I can’t take credit for that at all. it’s awesome. How often does a person
possible when we get to discover new [Executive producers] Dave Filoni get their own new word?
elements of a character’s personality, and Simon Kinberg, [co-executive
history, and hidden talents. We rarely producer] Henry Gilroy, Carrie Beck, Along with Zeb, you’ve also been
have the luxury of participating in true and all of the masterminds at Lucasfilm Imperial officers, stormtroopers,
character development in cartoons. are responsible for, well, everything! and other rebels. Do you have
This show embraces every bit of And the seeds that were planted in go-to tonal ranges for different kinds
opportunity to fully realize these Season One by [former executive of characters?
beings as complete, flawed, producer] Greg Weisman and company As much as the Imperials would have
wonderful, and believable people. had Zeb’s future fairly well plotted out us fall into predictable lockstep, every
I spend a lot of my time in gratitude! early on! Other than injecting soul is unique, and I try to play them
80 INSIDER
MORE
M TO SAY
Y
Follow Steve on
Twitter: @blumspew
HAVE YOU?
H ?
IINSIDER
IN
INSI
NSSIIDEER 81
81
A
t work on the second storyboard book—Star
Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy—I
finally had a good lead on Alex Tavoularis.
I’d been meaning to contact him for
years, literally, but other work had always Imperial prison of Alderaan, the only
interfered. But now, as we were finishing up the design Alex Tavoularis known visualization of that sequence and
and layout, it felt essential to have his commentary on his hitherto unknown. (The scans come from
Drew Struzan
boards. I mailed (yes, “mailed”!) the same letter the collection of Charles Lippincott, then
to two addresses—and, thankfully, vice president of marketing and
received an email from Alex a couple merchandising for Lucasfilm.) This
of weeks later. He would be happy to iteration of the rescue took place between
be interviewed. the second and third drafts, when Lucas
First a little background. Most of had changed Luke into a girl (who looks
the scenes Tavoularis storyboarded like Leia here).
came from George Lucas’s second draft Judging by my own research and what
script, though a few would spill over Alex remembers, it would seem that he
into the third draft, as the artist worked for six weeks or more, during
responded to Lucas’s descriptions of the spring and summer of 1975. As far
action. Indeed, thanks to our as I know, this is the first time Alex
conversation, Alex sent over six or so Tavoularis has ever been interviewed.
scans of storyboards that were not in Parts of this interview are being used as
the archives—four of which show the commentary in the book, but Insider is
rescue of Deak Starkiller from the publishing here the full interview.
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Left, below:
Tavalouris and Star
Wars poster artist Drew
Struzan at a private
party, circa 1975.
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6.
ROGUE ONE: A
STAR WARS STORY
1. Which character from Star Wars Rebels
makes a brief appearance in Rogue One?
4. Which planet’s name originated from 8. True or false: This is the first Star Wars 10. Rebel pilot Pedrin Gaul is killed
a misspelling on director Gareth Edwards’ movie where the title of the movie is spoken during the Battle of Scarif. What is his
disposable coffee cup? by a character. call sign?
26. Maz Kanata 27. Princess Leia and Sabine Wren 28. Force Friday II 29. The Jedi 30. Because the comic is called “The Last Jedi”
19. Guardians of the Whills 20. Milo and Lina Graf 21. “Screaming Citadel “ 22. Jody Houser 23. “The Enormous Profit” 24. Darth Vader 25. Yoda
11. Lars Mikkelsen 12. Wedge Antilles 13. Genevieve O’Reilly (as Mon Mothma) 14. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul 15. AP-5 16. Phasma 17. Christie Golden 18. Thrawn
Answers - 1. Chopper 2. Jyn Erso 3. Orson Krennic 4. Scarif 5. Death troopers 6. Shoretroopers 7. Bodhi Rook 8. True 9. K-2SO 10. Red 5
88 INSIDER
STAR WARS REBELS 22. Who wrote the comic book adaptation
of Rogue One?
SEASON THREE
23. What was the title of the third volume
of the Doctor Aphra series?
11. Who voices Thrawn
hrawn in Season Three
of Star Wars Rebels
elss? 24. Which character got his own series, again?
12. Which famed rebel 25. Which character engaged in a “Secret War”
pilot made his animated
imated when they were the focus of issue 39?
debut this season?
n?
HOW DID YOU SCORE? 21 – 30 Jedi Master: We suspect you might be the Chosen One. 11 -20 Jedi Knight: The Force is strong with you. 0 – 10 Padawan: You have much to learn.
INSIDER 89
BRYAN
BURK
CO-PRODUCER, STAR WARS: THE
FORCE AWAKENS
S tar Wars Insider: Kathleen,
you go a long way back with
George Lucas— over 30 years.
side, we did the Star Trek reboot,
as well as Cloverfield and Super 8.
We also make the Mission:
How did you first meet? Impossible franchise with
Kathleen Kennedy: I started Tom Cruise.
working with Steven Spielberg
in 1978, and asked to be a part Kathleen, what was it like working
of Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1980. on Raiders of the Lost Ark?
I met George Lucas at that time Kathleen Kennedy: We started
because he was working on the Raiders in 1980 and then went
movie with Steven Spielberg. I also on to do three movies together.
met my husband, Frank Marshall, We all stayed very close friends
so it proved to be a pretty exciting in that process, because, obviously
period of time in my life. But, Steven and George were already
George was incredibly memorable, very close. So, our working
obviously, because I was in college relationship extended beyond
when I saw Star Wars. So, to meet Raiders and into Star Wars. In fact,
George at that point, coming off when we were casting Raiders,
the huge success of Star Wars, George had just come out with The
was very exciting. Empire Strikes Back, and we kept
thinking to ourselves that Harrison
Bryan, how long have you Ford would be perfect as Indiana
known J.J. Abrams? Jones, but we couldn’t cast him
Bryan Burk: I’ve known J.J. Abrams because he’s Han Solo. So, we all
for years, but we actually first walked in to see The Empire Strikes
started working together in 2001 Back together and we walked out of
on the TV series Alias for ABC. the theater and agreed that he did
Ever since then, we have worked need to be Indiana Jones. It’s pretty
on numerous projects and started amazing to think Harrison has
Bad Robot together. We did the TV developed a character as beloved
shows Lost, Fringe, and currently as Han Solo and at the same time
Person of Interest. On the movie created Indiana Jones.
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“Oh, there’s Clint Eastwood playing pedantic and pretentious, so you need
a rock star.” In this case, when we to find a way to preserve those values
started the casting process for Star Wars, and make it fun and have it be an
we did think that we wanted to find some adventure. That’s what we spent our
new actors and some fresh new faces that focus on—isolating all these elements
we could put into the Star Wars universe. inside the Star Wars mythology and doing
Obviously, it worked spectacularly for the best job we could to emulate what
George in the original films. So, in this George had created.
case, we decided to continue that. When
we started the casting process, our Have you ever snuck into the back
casting directors, April Webster, Alyssa of a cinema to see an audiences reaction?
Weisberg and Nina Gold were scouring all Yes, I love to do that. I have quite
the different agencies and trying to find a bit of anonymity, so I can go in the
that needle in a haystack for those young back of the cinema and watch the
actors for this film that we knew were out audience react. I just want people to
there, but we just didn’t know who they scream and yell at the screen and
were. Somewhere in the process, we have a great time. All you can hope
realized if we had an open casting call, for is to go back to those feelings of
we would have an opportunity to see going to movies when you felt like
people who wouldn’t normally have the you were at a rock concert. That was
opportunity to audition for Star Wars or the best. a
96 INSIDER
ART
HARRISON
OF
ELLENSHAW
HARRISON ELLENSHAW WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY OF THE STUNNING Harrison Ellenshaw
MATTE PAINTINGS IN STAR WARS AND THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. stands in front of
the iconic Cloud City
HE HAS ALSO WORKED ON MANY OTHER FILMS DURING HIS CAREER AT air shaft painting
DISNEY—INCLUDING THE BLACK HOLE, WHICH EARNED HIM AN ACADEMY as seen in the
climax to The
AWARD NOMINATION ALONG WITH HIS MATTE PAINTER FATHER, PETER. Empire Strikes Back.
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Below, right:
Ellenshaw is joined
by matte painting
department colleagues
Ralph McQuarrie
and Michael Pangrazio
to film walk-on
cameos for The Empire
Strikes Back.
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Opposite: Most
of the Empire matte
painting team:
Ellenshaw (center front)
and (from left) matte
cameraman Craig
Barron, McQuarrie,
and matte cameraman
Neil Krepela.
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TProduction designer Norman Reynolds’ artwork for Red Ball Jett, as Max Rebo was known then, was labeled “Key musician, Jabba’s” and dated October 1981. Always thinking of how things would be built,
Reynolds also marked, “Practical bellows from blacksmith’s forge, hopefully!” and that some of the valves here and there would be practical.
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SReconstructing the Millennium Falcon, in part; this stage would be “flooded” with
sand for the sandstorm scene—the first scene shot during principal photography.
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SThe bunker on location in northern California as it was being built in advance of the Main Unit’s arrival. It had to
be built sturdy enough to last through the heavy rains anticipated during that time.
S A continuity Polaroid of some food props for scenes shot in Jabba’s barge.
SProduction designer Norman Reynolds and co-producer Robert Watts on the SMark Hamill goes “Hamlet” while filming the rancor scene: “Alas, poor… Gamorrean guard?”
Emperor’s throne set.
126 INSIDER
F E AT U R I N G :
CA
ARRIE FISHHER AND JAMES EARL
JONES DISCUSS THEIR ICONIC
ROLES, AND SECRETS OF THE STAR
WARS UNIVERSE ARE REVEALED!
S
tar Wars Insider: Why with Harrison Ford have a good deal raised by the Skywalker family? If they
is Star Wars so ripe of comedy in them. Aside from that, it’s were really trying to hide him from Darth
for parody? incredibly serious—especially in the middle Vader, wouldn’t you send him almost
Michael Price: Everyone section with The Empire Strikes Back. The anywhere but there? I guess Tatooine
knows and loves Star Wars; Prequels are so incredibly serious that it’s is on the Outer Rim and far away from
it’s been around for so long that it’s just fun to find the humor in them. everything, but you’d think Vader would
become a fun thing to talk about. It’s We’ve also become so familiar with have a chance to stop by and take a look
such a vast universe with so many fun the movies and the characters that it’s at his old house!
characters that there’s just so much to fun to laugh at the unrealness of it. I was
pick at and have fun with, in a loving way. wondering today about who came up with Where did the idea of LEGO Star Wars
I think that any of the Star Wars movies the plan to send Luke to Tatooine to be specials come from?
128 INSIDER
Above: Writer
Michael Price
Usually the show comes first, then the characters as LEGO, which became hugely in for a meeting at Lucasfilm about another
toy, and then the game. That’s not what popular. They created these mini-movies that project and they recommended me to LEGO.
happened with the whole LEGO Star Wars were like cut-scenes from the games, but The brief was that the story had to take place
line. LEGO started making their Star Wars also their own sort of standalone, three-or in the Star Wars universe, somewhere in the
toys around the time The Phantom Menace four-minute shorts—The Hunt for R2-D2 and world and timeline of the six established
was released in 1999. Then LEGO Star Bombad Bounty. They were just very silly movies. It needed to have established Star
Wars sets became a big thing, and people shorts with no dialogue, and they became Wars characters, but, other than that, I had
started making their own stop-motion LEGO very popular. free rein.
Star Wars movies that went on YouTube. I came into the picture around the time I watched those little mini-movies,
Lucasfilm and LEGO decided to start making LEGO and Lucasfilm decided to make a TV familiarized myself with the games, and
the videogames with the CGI Star Wars special: The Padawan Menace. I was brought I realized the kind of whimsical tone they
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2
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4 5
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S
tar Wars to get to work with Robin
Insider: Season Atkin Downes (Cham
two of Star Syndulla) and Catherine
Wars Rebels Taber (Numa). It was an
has really honor; I really treasured
been about diving into the work they did on
characters’ backstories. The Clone Wars. It was
How much do you know, satisfying on every level.
or do you learn more
about Hera as you That episode, along
recieve scripts? with other events in
Vanessa Marshall: We season two, showed
learn as the scripts are how Hera has become
doled out. Sometimes we a stronger leader.
have vague notions, but With her new role
nothing’s confirmed or in the Rebellion,
denied. We learn in real time as years. How did you react to that as she’s had to carry burdens like
we record the arc of the season, a fan of The Clone Wars? losing pilots. How is she handling
and then come the secondary I was thrilled to find out more about the different responsibilities
experience of seeing it fully executed Hera’s backstory and what motivated and pressure?
which is like a magic carpet ride her to make the sacrifices that she It’s interesting because the structure
compared to actually reading the did and join the Rebel Alliance and of the Rebel Alliance has grown
text. It’s a two-fold learning process, go at it alone. It was really helpful more organized, and that’s of course
and it’s interesting because we learn for me to get more background simultaneous to the Empire growing
along with the fans since we end up information. But as a fangirl, I loved so it’s not that much of an advantage,
seeing the final product when they the Ryloth arc in The Clone Wars so but I did feel like this season Hera
do, when it airs. It’s exciting. much and I was, of course, curious could somewhat fall back and rely
about what happened to Cham and on their military code and structure.
Hera recently interacted with her Numa. We had so much answered in She hasn’t had to be so covert, doling
father, Cham, for the first time in this episode. I was also very excited out only certain pieces of information
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GREATEST
Hera has developed so much
already, but where do you think she
could stand to learn some lessons?
I think she’s so focused on the
overall mission that at times it
MOMENTS
seems like she doesn’t know how
to unwind. She’s pretty tightly
wound with honoring the agenda,
which is understandable because
there are things in the balance
that make it that important. People
A WOMAN OF ACTION AND STRENGTH, ask about Kanan and Hera and the
HERA HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE
OLE IIN
N status of their relationship, and
I think she is so focused on her
THE FIGHT AGAINST THE EMPIRE!
RE! mission she doesn’t even allow
herself to have anything as, for
WIELDING A TRAY
Y lack of a better term, petty as a
Hera has shown her resourcefulnesss over
over romance. That’s terrific because
and over again. She demonstrated that at skil
sskill
killl she manages to be focused and
n she
to the extreme in “Idiot’s Array” when shhee get a lot done. She’s an incredible
escaped Azmorigan by using a serving g tr
tray
ayy leader, but sometimes I wonder
as a weapon. what it would look like if she just
chilled out, played sabacc, and
TESTING B-WINGS
S mellowed out a little. That doesn’t
Ever the fearless pilot, Hera visited
ed seem to be her specialty.
Shantipole to test a new ship designeded by
b Someone’s work ethic is
an engineer named Quarrie in “Wingss of thethe fantastic until it becomes
Master.” It was a dangerous mission, n bu
n, butt
Hera succeeded in flying the B-wing,n
ng,
which would become invaluable to the h
Rebel Alliance.
EMPHASIZING TRUST
ST
In season one, Hera was responsible e for
f
keeping the secrets of the burgeoning
nin
n ing
rebellion safe. She had to keep things
ngss
hidden from her crew, and though it wasn’t
w n’tt
was
as daring as piloting, the lessons she taught
ta
tau
aught
g
gh
Sabine in “Out of Darkness” about trust
trrustst
were just as valuable.
DARING RESCUES
S
Hera’s used her piloting skills to save
ve
e th
the
he
crew of the Ghost again and again. She
She’s
e’ss
performed so many impressive maneuverseuve
uvers
rs
in nearly every episode; all of them should
houl
ou d
be counted among her best moments. nts
t .
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TRIVIA
a yss Mark
ab
The abyss k Hamill
Ham andannd Carrie
Carriie Fisher
Fis er swung
swungng
was only
over was only around
around 12 feet
fee
eett deep
d
dee
eep
ee
e p in th
thee stud
sstudio—the
tud
udio—
io—the
io— the
e
illusi
s on of the
illusion he long
g drop seen
seen in n the
the finished
nishe
nished fi film was
lm was
created by using a mam tte
e pain
matte p ntting
ing
painting.g.
The iconic 1930s Saturday film serials like Flash Gordon and Zorro were influences on
Star Wars, and George Lucas tried to buy the rights to the former before deciding to
Blasts from the stormtroopers’ laser guns
follow his own vision. Those influences are evident in this scene in particular. It’s not
explode nearby reminding them of the
difficult to imagine Luke and Leia’s predicament here—trapped on a precipice with oncoming danger. Luke fires back at the
no apparent way across, and enemy stormtroopers about to come through the door advancing troops. Leia reaches over and
behind them—as a literal cliff-hanger ending to an episode of one of those serials. In hits a switch that pops the hatch door shut
this case, however, the audience didn’t have to wait another week for the outcome, with a resounding boom, leaving them
as the resourceful Luke uses a rope and grappling hook to swing across the chasm, precariously perched on a short piece
the princess in his arms. It’s a particularly swashbuckling moment, and shows that of bridge overhang. Laser fire from the
from the very start, Star Wars deserved its place among the classics. troopers continues to hit the steel door.
144 INSIDER
LEIA: There’s no lock! bridge overhang across the abyss from LEIA: Here they come!
them. They exchange fire. Two more
Luke blasts the controls with his laser troopers appear on another overhang, Leia hits one of the stormtroopers on
pistol. also firing. A trooper is hit, and grabs the bridge above, and he falls into the
at his chest. abyss. Luke tosses the rope across
LUKE: That oughta hold it for a while. the gorge and it wraps itself around
Another trooper standing on a bridge an outcropping of pipes. He tugs on
LEIA: Quick, we’ve got to get across. overhang is hit by Luke’s laser fire, and the rope to make sure it is secure,
Find the control that extends the bridge. plummets down the shaft. Troopers and then grabs the princess in his
move back off the bridge; Luke hands arms. Leia looks at Luke, then kisses
LUKE: Oh, I think I just blasted it. his gun to Leia. him quickly on the lips. Luke is very
surprised.
Luke looks at the blasted bridge control LUKE: Here, hold this.
while the stormtroopers on the opposite LEIA: For luck!
side of the door begin making ominous Luke pulls a thin nylon cable from his
drilling and pounding sounds. trooper utility belt. It has a grappler Luke pushes off and they swing across
hook on it. A trooper appears on a bridge the treacherous abyss to the opposite
LEIA: They’re coming through! overhang and fires at Luke and Leia. As side. Just as Luke and Leia reach the
Luke works with the rope, Leia returns far side of the canyon, the stormtroopers
Luke notices something on his the laser volley. Another trooper appears break through the hatch and begin to
stormtrooper belt, when laser fire hits the and fires at them, as Leia returns his fire fire at the escaping duo. Luke returns
wall behind him. Luke aims his laser pistol as well. Suddenly, the hatch door begins the fire before ducking into the tiny
at a stormtrooper perched on a higher to open, revealing the feet of more troops. subhallway.
INSIDER 145
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