behind the scenes – Page 9

May 26, 2009May 26, 2009

Flashback: The original Star Wars script

Mystery Man on Film devoted yesterday to a repost that I’m pretty sure I linked before… But it’s still worth a second look. The premise, if you will:

Let it be said, my friends, that the early drafts of Star Wars should be a rich source of encouragement to every aspiring screenwriter the world over – because they royally sucked.

And they do. One example: Annikin Starkiller punches the princess in the face. Sure, she’s a hell of a lot more Vespa than Leia at this point, but… In the face. Oh George, no.

Read on for a compare and contrast of the scripts from 1974 and 1977. The difference is nothing short of amazing.

If your trainwreck syndrome is strong, you can find many of the early drafts at the Jedi Bendu Script Site.

May 19, 2009

Remembering The Phantom Menace madness

First up, nineteen pages of production notes, with lots of pictures and video clips from the belly of the beast. Then we have a look at the ‘One’ advertising campaign, and their ten favorite Phantom Menace posters. (I still say that teaser is one of the best posters for any of the movies.)

Over on Twitter, @starwars is soliciting fan memories.

Meanwhile, don’t forget our own TPM poll!

April 30, 2009

Natalie Portman starts filmmaking website

Entertainment Weekly‘s Popwatch points towards a new site co-founded by the actress, MakingOf. The site goes behind the scenes with a variety of filmmaking insiders and looks at upcoming films. It only launched last week, so there’s not much yet, but they do have interviews with Ron Howard and Portman herself.

April 3, 2009June 12, 2010

io9 digs up an old Kurtz interview on ROTJ

I think I remember reading this back in 2005, but it’s worth a second look – Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back producer Gary Kurtz on another ending for Return of the Jedi – one that leads into another episode where Luke and Leia aren’t siblings.

December 23, 2008December 23, 2008

Vanity Fair discovers the Holiday Special

First The Force Unleashed, now The Holiday Special? How many fans does Vanity Fair have over there? (It is by the same writer, contributing editor Frank DiGiacomo. He even mentioned the Wookieepedia back in May.) That said, the article is a pretty interesting look at the special’s development and production.

November 13, 2008

Video: Behind-the-scenes at Robot Chicken

The only video Adult Swim has on their site for Robot Chicken Star Wars II! Curses! Well, at least we can watch an Ackbar scene at StarWars.com.

October 30, 2008December 28, 2011

Alien reruns: Gotal and Jawas and Biths, oh my

So if last week StarWars.com was celebrating the Millennium Falcon, this week’s pet topic seems to be aliens: Cantina roll-call (originally published on the site back in 2003,) alien collectibles (Hyperspace,) and an old drunk driving PSA.

October 21, 2008October 21, 2008

Falcon week continues behind-the-scenes

This morning, StarWars.com takes Hyperspace members back to the making of The Empire Strikes Back with The Last Corellian Shipyard, an article reprinted from the UK Star Wars magazine (at least if Wookieepedia is to be believed) on the the full sized Falcon set built for The Empire Strikes Back by actual shipbuilders in Wales.