Star Wars Insider #179

11. What is the name of the PICTURE ROUND!
communication module used by
o
p
d
a
n
3PO units? Can you identiffy the movie in each picture, based on whhat image oof C-3PPO is shownn?
A: TranLang III
1. 2. 3.
B: CommUnit-X
C: Translator Core
D: Language Modulator 3000















12. With what weapon are
IG-100 MagnaGuard droids 4. 5. 6.
equipped?
A: Electrosaber
B: GFX blaster ri e
C: Thermal detonators
D: Electrostaff

13. What is the name of the
Clone Wars military unit
comprising four astromech
droids and a pit droid?
A: 501st Legion
B: D-Squad
C: Q Commandos
D: Republic Squad



7. 8. 9.










14. By what name are mouse
droids more offi cially known?
A: MSE-6 series
B: Communication units
C: Super battle droids
D: BDR-9 class
15. What class of droid is skilled
in engineering and technical
sciences?
A: First HOW DID YOU FARE?
1-8 You’ve clearly got a way to go before you’re ready to face your destiny.
B: Third
9-16 Good work, but you need to finish your training before you can confront the dark side.
C: Fifth 17-24 You truly are a Jedi Master!
D: Second Strikes Back 5 The Force Awakens 6 Attack of the Clones 7 Return of the Jedi 8 Revenge of the Sith 9 A New Hope Answers - QUIZ 1 B, 2 D, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 D, 9 D, 10 B, 11 A, 12 D, 13 B, 14 A, 15 D PICTURE ROUND 1 Return of the Jedi 2 The Last Jedi 3 The Phantom Menance 4 The Empire



STAR WARS INSIDER / 51



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MORTIS




Planet of

the Force





































































Journey to an ethereal
realm beyond the stars, where the
balance of the Force rests in the hands
of three powerful beings—and the
guilt-ridden Anakin Skywalker.

W ORDS: ME G AN CROUSE






SWI179_054-058_FEAT_PlanetForceOPAresubmit.indd 54 31/01/2018 11:36

PLANET OF THE FORCE


















The Mortis Trilogy


Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ three-episode trip to Mortis forms a key part of the show’s third
season, first broadcast in Ja nuary 2011. Over the course of “Overlords,” “Altar of Mortis,” and
“Ghosts of Mortis,” viewers have the satisfaction of seeing familiar Star Wars themes played out
in microcosm, while also gaining new perspective on the meaning of those themes.
More recently, a tantalizing glimpse of the arc’s enigmatic trio of Force-wielders can be
seen in the Star Wars Rebels Season Four trailer. So who are they, and what is their story?

3.15 3.16 3.17
OVERLORDS ALTAR OF MORTIS GHOSTS OF MORTIS

The journey to Mortis begins with The Son captures Ahsoka and infects With the Daughter gone, Mortis is
a 2,000-year-old Jedi distress signal. her with dark side infl uence. When out of balance. The Son leads Anakin
Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin tries to save her, she attacks to the Well of the Dark Side—a deep
and Ahsoka Tano each follow it to the him, claiming that she doesn’t need chasm where the Force is strong—
mysterious planet, where all of them a teacher any longer. Meanwhile, Obi- and shows him visions of his own dark
experience visions. Obi-Wan sees his Wan meets with the Father and the future. Anakin is convinced to help
former master, Qui-Gon Jinn, who Daughter. The Daughter then leads the Son kill the Father in exchange
reminds him of Anakin’s destiny as the him to an altar, where he retrieves the for the power to avert the destiny he
Chosen One. Ahsoka sees a vision of Dagger of Mortis, which can control has seen.
her future self, warning her to leave the Son. The Father confronts Anakin and
her master, Anakin. Skywalker sees The long-running confl ict between wipes his knowledge of the future,
his mother and expresses his guilt for the Daughter and the Son erupts into freeing him from the Son’s dark side
murdering the tribe of Tusken Raiders outright battle. The Son’s violence infl uence. Anakin attacks the Son, but
that was holding her captive. He soon leads further than he expected, and even with help from Ahsoka and Obi-
realizes that the vision was sent by the he attempts to stab the Father, but Wan, the powerful embodiment of
Son, one of the three strange Force- strikes the Daughter instead. The dark the dark side proves to be too strong.
wielders that live on Mortis. He then side appears to be victorious, but the Seeing that the Son is about to be
confronts another of these beings, the Daughter still has a little more light victorious, the Father takes his own
Father, only to learn that he intended to give. As her last act, she restores life with the Dagger of Mortis. His last
to test whether Anakin truly is the the life-force the Son has taken from words to the Son are an assertion of
Chosen One. Ahsoka Tano, removing his dark side victory: “Your strength runs through
In the test, Skywalker calls upon infl uence as well. But the Son remains me. This way, I take your power.”
the power of Mortis and subdues the a threat, and now wants to leave the The Son, who is overcome with
Daughter and the Son, who represent planet. remorse, makes his peace with the
the light side and the dark side of the Father as he lays dying. Anakin takes
Force respectively. The Father, taking this opportunity to kill the Son, and,
this as a valediction of the prophecy, with his dying breath, the Father then
invites Anakin to replace him as the proclaims that Anakin has brought
ruler of Mortis. Anakin refuses, still balance to Mortis and is the Chosen
haunted by the guilt he feels over One. The planet fades away. Anakin,
losing his mother. Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan fi nd themselves
back on board their ship as if nothing
has happened.











STAR WARS INSIDER / 55

PLANET OF THE FORCE







every night brings violent storms
and withers the leaves. While the
planet seems to have two moons
and a clear blue sky during the day,
suggesting that it exists in normal
space, the Jedi do not arrive nor
it really mean to “bring balance” leave by means of conventional
to the Force? space travel. Instead, their passage
is always obscured, with the Jedi
Planet Of The Force waking from unconsciousness to

The Mortis arc introduces a find themselves unexpectedly on
planet and a group of adept Mortis and, later, back on their
Force-wielders that are unlike ship in space.
any seen in Star Wars before or
since. The Father, the Daughter, Meet The Family

and the Son are Force users who The first of the three strange
became so powerful that they’ve Force-wielders the Jedi meet on
removed themselves entirely from Mortis is the Daughter, a cryptic
the galaxy at large. They are the woman who speaks as if the Jedi
he history of the very embodiment of balance, light, should already know who she
T worlds, but few are as all we have understood about the Rebels, the Daughter speaks of
and dark, and are metaphors for
Jedi takes in its fair
is. Like the Bendu in Star Wars
share of mysterious
her manifestation of the Force
Force since Anakin was revealed
strange as the legendary
beginning, and the end.”
bring balance to the galaxy. Yet the
planet of Mortis. During the as the Chosen One, destined to as eternal: “We are the middle,
Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker, planet where they reside is not in Both the Daughter and Son
Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka balance, being a confusing realm can shape shift into different
Tano are drawn into a battle there of mythic sites and very powerful animal forms. The Daughter’s
that seems to reflect the conflict artifacts where light and dark seem is a graceful, feathered gryphon.
going on throughout the galaxy. to be in physical turmoil, and our She’s also very formidable in her
As the dark side grows stronger every expectation is upended. human form, capable of using
on Mortis, so it grows more likely Following the duo’s arrival on Force telekinesis. She succinctly
that the Clone Wars will sweep the planet Mortis, Obi-Wan calls describes her own nature as well
across the entire galaxy and that it an “intersection” of the Force, as the Son’s: “My nature is to do

Anakin will fall, resulting in his a place infused with Force energy. what is selfless, but my brother’s
grim fate as the mutilated Darth A little later, Obi-Wan also notes is to do what is selfi sh.”
Vader. Star Wars: The Clone Wars that the planet itself “is the Force,” When we meet the eerie Son,
tells this tale in a three-episode allowing Anakin to tap into it. The who represents the Force’s dark
arc, and provokes questions about planet contains several locations side, he immediately takes an
the nature of the Force along the specifically tied to the dark side: interest in Anakin. He is both

way—most pertinently, what does the Well of the Dark Side and the treacherous and uncontrolled,
Altar of Mortis, which holds the appearing disguised as Shmi
Dagger of Mortis that can kill the Skywalker and mimicking Anakin
“The history of the immortal Force wielders. The well himself. Later, when his trickery
channels the darkness of the Force.
doesn’t achieve what he wants,
Jedi takes in its fair The Father’s power is yet another he becomes violent and tries to kill
valuable property of the planet: the Father, for whom he harbors
share of mysterious on his death, the fl oating rocks a deep hatred.
worlds, but few are and beautiful crystal above his As an embodiment of the dark
monastery come crashing down side, the Son can make his appeals
as strange as the to the ground. sound convincing and reasonable.
legendary planet Devoid of animals, the planet
instead overflows with plants in

of Mortis.” a strange, chaotic life cycle where
the seasons change with the time
of day. Daytime is beautiful, but



56 / STAR WARS INSIDER

PLANET OF THE FORCE







“The Son’s Force abilities include
powerful lightning, a monstrous
gargoyle form, and the ability to draw
power from con ict.”





He tempts Anakin skywalker with the Father’s life and breaking the
the dream of bringing peace to the Force-wielders’ hold on Mortis.
galaxy just as Darth Sidious will do
later. The Son also speaks in length Questions And Answers
of the Force as a matter of balance Together, the three Force-wielders
“Light and dark, as if there is one play out their philosophy of the
without the other,” says the Son, Force like actors on a stage, as they
continuing to assert: “I have done embody aspects of the light and
what is right, or what is wrong– the dark while also existing as true
depending on your point of view.” individuals with their own traits

The Son’s Force abilities include and flaws. The Father tends to be
powerful lightning, a monstrous too passive, the Son too furious.
gargoyle form, and the ability to The Daughter’s sacrifice is perhaps

draw power from confl ict. too selfless—giving up her own life

As both the Daughter and the force to save Ahsoka—denying her
Son appear in guises that represent further agency in this epic struggle
the light side and the dark side of between light and dark. All three
the Force, so the Father’s presence help Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin, and of the Daughter, he implores her
represents balance. He isn’t certain Ahsoka see new facets of their own to “sleep free,” as if all three are
if Anakin is the Chosen One, but journeys, and push them to decide ensnared by their own power. Like
has the means to test the theory— whether or not they are following Qui-Gon Jinn, it is the Father’s
balance being a vital part of any the correct path. By the end of the belief that the Chosen One can
equable trial. The Father wants to story, both the characters and the end the destructive confl ict and
keep his children from fi ghting, audience have been made to face create newfound balance, freeing
and we discover that it is he who three important questions about them all from the cycle of discord.
has brought Anakin to the planet, the Force: Is Skywalker the Chosen However, in order to do this well,
in the hope that peace can be One? What does it actually mean Anakin now must initiate violence
restored. to bring balance to the Force? And and emotion all of his own. Only
In fine Jedi tradition, the Father does the Force as a whole tend to after Anakin’s friends are in grave

does not believe that the Son is lean toward good, evil, or balance? danger does he call upon the Force
lost to evil forever, despite having As the main representative of inherent in Mortis with enough
embraced the dark side. However, balance—with all things tending power to save them.

their conflict results in ending toward harmony but subject to Anakin’s feelings and actions
imbalance and discord—the Father on Mortis draw on many of the
tells Anakin that Mortis is “strong themes that will later contribute to
with the Force; darkness has no his fall: his guilt surrounding his
hold here.” But he also recognizes inability to protect his loved ones;
that the conflict between his two a need for complete control in his

children will cause aftershocks life after much of his childhood
throughout the galaxy. was lost to slavery; and his desire
The Father seems to feel to truly know the future through
somewhat trapped by the cycle his prophetic visions. “Always in
itself. When he visits the tomb motion is the future,” Yoda will
tell Luke Skywalker many years
later. The Mortis arc shows
Anakin’s struggles to rectify his
faith in this shifting future with




STAR WARS INSIDER / 57

PLANET OF THE FORCE



the visions that seem to show him
a certain, immutable truth that he
desperately wants to avoid.
Ironically, it is Anakin’s vision
of his future as Darth Vader that
leads him to join the Son on his
dark path, just as his later attempts
to save Padmé Amidala’s life will
lead to his subservience to Darth
Sidious. Events on Mortis convince
the Father that Anakin Skywalker
is indeed the Chosen One, while
also opening wounds that make “Ironically, of course, it is
his eventual path more certain Anakin’s vision of his future as
than it ever was before.
Across the three episodes, it is Darth Vader that leads him to join
Obi-Wan who proves most fl exible
the Son on his dark path.”

in his interpretation of the Force. the Daughter which causes the
At first, he believes that the trio Son to become power-hungry and

shouldn’t get involved, but by the reveal his bitter rage against his
end of the arc he says: “The way Father. Without the light side,
I see it, if we were not supposed then there truly can be no balance,
to interfere, Ahsoka and I would and without balance, there can, of
not be here in the fi rst place!” course, be no Father. Taking away
When the stakes are raised, he any one element causes the edifi ce
goes to help. to crumble. In truth, even though
Anakin Skywalker’s ultimate the Father did not see it, the never

fate on Mortis is to witness the ending conflict—with neither light
death of all three of its Force- nor dark ever having the upper
wielding inhabitants. Does hand for long—was in itself a kind
this mean that balance is only of dynamic balance. It is only the
possible when none of them are belief in a Chosen One who can
left? That doesn’t seem to be the impose a static equilibrium that
case, since the planet falls apart initiates death and decay.
without them. It is the death of But that is just one interp-
retation. After leaving Mortis,
our heroes themselves struggle
to explain what has happened
to them, showing how the Force
remains mysterious even to its
most dedicated students. What
is certain is that the Mortis arc
introduced layers of complexity
and nuance to what had been
portrayed previously as a “hokey
old religion”—a binary symbol
of good versus evil that drove the
Skywalker saga to its conclusion (as
was) in Return of the Jedi. Through
indelibly fascinating, if at times
inscrutable, exploration, we learn
that the Force is so much more
than we had possibly imagined. It
is exciting and perhaps surprising
that its potential to inform many
more unexpected stories remains
so far tantalizingly untapped.









SWI179_054-058_FEAT_PlanetForceOPAresubmit.indd 58 31/01/2018 11:36

Star Wars: Star Wars: A New Hope
Heroes of the Force The Official Celebration Special

ISBN 9781785851926 ISBN 9781785864605
THE BEST OF ST AR W A RS IN S IDE R
THE BEST OF STAR WARS 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

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© & TM 2017 Lucasfi lm Ltd.



SWI RANGE_Oct Update.indd 176 05/02/2018 10:49

ADDED







MUSCLE







St ar W ars From P aul


Dini’s Point of View



Author Paul Dini gets inside the helmet of Boba Fett for the short-story
anthology From a Certain Point of View. It’s the latest in a series of
contributions to the Star Wars universe that dates back to the 1980s.


W ORDS: JOSEPH MCC ABE

INTERVIEW: PAUL DINI














ust in case PROFILE
J anyone still PAUL DINI
New York City native Paul Dini
needed proof
began working as an animator
that A New Hope
at Filmation while he was still
is the gift that at college. He made his name
keeps on giving, writing for cartoon series like
He-Man, and G.I.Joe, and the
2017 saw the release of the short-
renowned Batman: The Ani-
story collection From a Certain mated Series.Well known for his
Point of View. A 40th-anniversary work in comics and animation,
Dini has been awarded 5 Emmys
anthology, it comprises 40 tales
and created the popular DC
by 40 authors, each of whom has Comics character Harley Quinn.
taken a scene from the movie
and presented it anew as from
the perspective of a background
character. Some of the writers are
new to Star Wars, while others
are much-loved veterans. Few,
however, have a track record—
within Star Wars and without—as
impressive as Paul Dini’s.
Today, Dini is probably best
known as the man who created
Harley Quinn and Mark Hamill’s
unique incarnation of the Joker
for Batman: The Animated Series
(1992-95). But he is also the Emmy
Award-winning story editor behind
Tiny Toon Adventures (1992-95),
and the Eisner Award-winning
writer of comic books such as
Superman: Peace on Earth (1998),
and the Batman: Arkham series of
videogames. Most notably for Star
Wars fans, however, Dini was story
editor for the animated TV series
Droids and Ewoks in the 1980s,
and returned to the galaxy far, far
away to write for Star Wars: The
Clone Wars in 2007.
For his contribution to From
a Certain Point of View, Dini has
taken a slightly different path from
his fellow authors, drawing story
inspiration not from the original
1977 version of Star Wars, but the
Special Edition of A New Hope
released in 1997. His story, “Added
Muscle,” is based on the new scene
in which Jabba the Hutt confronts
Han Solo—with the one and only
Boba Fett in tow.




STAR WARS INSIDER / 61

INTERVIEW: PAUL DINI



Dini recalls, “When I was 01
asked to contribute, I thought:
Everyone’s sort of forgotten that
Boba Fett has been retconned into

the film. He’s a colorful character
and he’s part of the universe, so
why not write about him?
“All he really does in the movie
is stand there and back-up Jabba.
My story is kind of loopy because
it’s about what he’s thinking while
he’s holding a gun on Han and
Chewie. It’s mostly: Am I getting
paid for this? When do we drink?
What a hassle! I even borrowed a
little smidge from Kevin Smith’s
Clerks (1984), where I have him
say, ‘I’m not even supposed to
01 Paul Dini
be here today!’ The title, ‘Added
finds out
Muscle,’ is a wink to the fact that what is on
Boba Fett was added in later and Fett’s mind in
short story
now he’s part of the offi cial story.”
“Added
Muscle”
A Long Time Ago…
02 Fett’s guest
In College appearance
It’s clear that Dini’s irreverence is in A New
Hope: The
born out of love for the saga, and
Special
a great familiarity with its quirks. Edition.
Like so many others, his passion
03 Vile bounty
for Star Wars began in 1977, when
hunter Boba
Dini himself was a college student. Fett. (Right)
“I grew up in the [San Francisco] 02
Bay Area,” Dini explains, “and I
heard they were making a space impressed at all. It was described all my friends, ‘Yeah, I saw this
movie over in Marin County. At as ‘the story of a boy, a girl, and movie. You’re gonna really like it…’
that point—we’re talking 1976 or a galaxy.’ I mean, it was really Of course, before long there were
something—all space movies were cornball stuff. legions and legions of fans. It was
really lame and science fi ction was “Soon after, I heard that Marvel great to see it all evolve.”
in the doldrums. I thought that the Comics was doing a comic-book
best they could hope for would be adaptation, and I saw a couple of Adventure Time
something like the movie Silent pieces of artwork that looked kind Not long after the fi lm’s release,
Running (1972). of good,” Dini recalls. “And then Dini started his career as a writer on
“When I eventually saw the fi rst I heard they were having a sneak animated shows such as Filmation’s
trailer for Star Wars, I wasn’t very preview in Boston, where I was Tarzan (1976-79), Flash Gordon
going to school at the time. So I (1979-82), and He-Man and the
walked down to the movie theater, Masters of the Universe (1983-85).

“I lobbied to use where a good-sized crowd stood By the time Lucasfilm decided to
waiting in line. So I thought:
make its own cartoon adventures,
Boba Fett in the ‘I’m gonna see it. I’m not doing he was already a well-known and
respected name in the industry.
anything tonight.’ I went in, and
Droids series it was a knockout experience. It Lucasfilm was looking to do The
“It would have been 1984, and
was the last thing I expected, and

as I thought I was sucked into it completely. I Ewoks and Droids Adventure
was an instant fan. Hour,” says D. “They put out
he would be a “It was fun, because I saw the feelers in Los Angeles for writers
movie about two weeks before it and producers to do the show.
good recurring actually opened,” Dini remembers. They were being kind of selective
villain.” “For a while I got to have this fun in who they were talking to, but I
little secret, going around telling
thought it would be a really good


62 / STAR WARS INSIDER




SWI179_060-065_FEAT_PaulDini_OPAapproved.indd 62 31/01/2018 11:38

“Early on, we were thinking that
sometimes the master would be
killed, or the droids would have to
abandon their masters because that
was the only way to save them,”
says Dini. “When we discussed the
series with George, he really wanted
to have a heart-tugging element to
it: The droids really had no home
until they met Luke and Leia, as
they were always on the run and
always looking for a place to fi t in,”
he adds
“I thought that was a really good
idea, because that way you have a
lot of humanity in these basically
inhuman characters. Threepio is
sympathetic and comical up to
a point, and Artoo is basically a
puppy,” he explains. “So it would
get to be like Lassie, with Lassie
having a different home and then
having to leave and always stay on
the road. I lobbied to use Boba Fett
in the Droids series, as I thought he
would be a good recurring villain.
We only got him in once, though.”
Pushing the Boundaries
Among the many scripts Dini wrote
03 for Ewoks were the few in which
the Empire encroached upon the
Forest Moon.
“The title, ‘Added Muscle,’ is a wink to the “At first we didn’t want to

have any Imperial elements on
fact that Boba Fett was added in later Ewoks,” he says. “We just wanted
and now he’s part of the official story.” adventures on the self-contained,
little world of Endor. But as we
got into the second season, we
thought: Let’s bring in the Empire
opportunity, so I sent a couple of George himself. and go for as many interesting and
scripts and an episode of Dungeons Debuting on the ABC network diverse elements as we can. If we’d
& Dragons that I had written, and in September 1985, The Ewoks and done a third season, we might have
they loved it. They could tell that Droids Adventure Hour comprised done more of that Dini reveals.
I knew about Star Wars and had a two half-hour shows: Ewoks and “I remember one of the very
real affection for it, and that’s what Star Wars: Droids: The Adventures first stories I pitched was a story I

got me hired.” of R2-D2 and C-3PO, known more really wanted to do. It was about a

As a story editor on both halves simply as Droids. TIE fighter pilot who crashes on the
of the Nelvana-produced Ewoks “I was story-editing both shows, Ewoks’ home planet, and they take
and Droids show, Dini worked but writing more for Ewoks,” Dini care of him and nurse him back to
with George Lucas and his team explains. “Droids had a few writers health. At first he treats them like

on the first ever weekly Star Wars at that point, and I think it was vermin: ‘Nasty little creatures. Get
animated series. the more difficult to work on: it away from me!’ But they make a

“I really enjoyed being in the was the show that really wanted sacrifice to help him get off of the
Lucasfi lm environment,” he says. to be Star Wars. Each week, R2-D2 planet. And then when they’re in
“We had great creative resources in and C-3PO would go from action trouble he goes back to help them.
luminaries like Joe Johnston, Ewoks scenario to action scenario, meeting “Nelvana generated some new
movie writer Bob Carrau, sound a different master and then having conceptual artwork for that story
designer Ben Burtt, and of course, to say goodbye to them. that I thought was really nice,” he




STAR WARS INSIDER / 63



SWI179_060-065_FEAT_PaulDini_OPAapproved.indd 63 31/01/2018 11:39

INTERVIEW: PAUL DINI



continues, “showing the contrast 04
between this pilot, who’s basically
a drone of the Empire, and how his
involvement with the Ewoks opens
him up as a person and he’s able to
care for them. I wanted to do more
stories like that, because that was
the tone of what they were doing
in the live-action Ewok movies
that George Lucas was producing
for television.”
Unfortunately, however, the
network was not so keen on such
a considered storytelling approach
on either Droids or Ewoks.
“Both series were produced for
05
a very restrictive time on Saturday
morning TV,” says Dini. “The execs
at the network and the Broadcast
Standards people controlled all of
the content. We wanted to make
our series with all the emotion and
action that propelled the movies,
but they really wanted Care Bears.

“I was very happy to

be given the chance

to write for The

CloneWars .”




06 The Clone Wars “So we constantly had to rein in those goals on a few occasions.
reunited Dini our ideas, based on the network’s There were a couple of funny
with two
familiar droids. fear that the show might scare or episodes that I thought were
confuse kids,” he continues. “I still genuinely good, and the episode
think the work we did was pretty about finding Princess Kneesaa’s

good for the time, even if we sister had an emotional core to it.
didn’t get to push the boundaries “It helped that Nelvana totally
as much as we wanted to.” knocked it out of the park with the
In order to make the best shows artwork,” Dini adds, “especially in

possible within the network’s strict the first season. They really threw
guidelines, Dini turned to humor a lot into the animation and the
to capture the Star Wars spirit. design.”
“We tried to play up the more
humorous elements,” he recalls, Back at the Ranch
“with the Ewoks’ interpersonal Dini returned to Star Wars writing
relationships, and the Duloks 20 years later, with two second
[another species indigenous to season episodes of The Clone Wars:
Endor] as their recurring foils. We “Holocron Heist” and “Voyage of
looked to add fun wherever we Temptation.” At long last, this gave
could, as another way to include him the opportunity to pen Star
some real emotion and heart. Wars stories with a harder edge
“That’s what we wanted to go than he was ever allowed to on the
for, and I think that we achieved Droids or Ewoks cartoons.



64 / STAR WARS INSIDER




SWI179_060-065_FEAT_PaulDini_OPAapproved.indd 64 31/01/2018 11:39

INTERVIEW: PAUL DINI







07
04 Wicket with
Princess
Kneesaa in
Ewoks. (Left)
05 The Duloks of
Endor were no
friends of the
Ewoks. (Left)
07 Bounty hunter
Cad Bane gets
his hands on a
holocron, in
“Holocron Heist.”
08 Trouble for
Anakin in Paul
Dini’s The Clone
Wars episode
“Voyage of
Temptation”.





























08


“I was very happy to be given and craft stories that were more killed him. He hasn’t ruled out a
the chance to write for The Clone complex,”reflects Dini. “It provided return to Star Wars, either, since

Wars, as I finally got to do some an opportunity for actual humor, he still has lots of story ideas…

intense Star Wars action,” he says. rather than just slapstick goofi ness, “Oh yeah,” Dini laughs with
“I had very fond memories of my as well as some real life-or-death glee. “I’ve got tons! Like Batman
time working at Skywalker Ranch situations.” and Gotham City, the Star Wars
in the 1980s, so when my friend Today, Dini is busy with a raft of universe and the characters within
Henry Gilroy went up there as head exciting new projects, including the it are very easy for me to visualize
writer on The Clone Wars, he and I animated DC Comics series Justice and to step into now. Mostly I’m
got to talking about it. That led to League Action, and a new monthly working on my own stuff, but
general Star Wars talk, and my love Joker Loves Harley comic book. as with From a Certain Point of
for it was obvious. Before long he He’s also launched a Kickstarter View, if something comes my way,
said, ‘Do you want to write a few?’ campaign for BOO & HISS—a new I’ll always jump at the chance to
“It was a lot of fun to work in graphic novel concept about a do it. It’s always fun to play with
a ‘grown-up’ Star Wars universe ghost mouse haunting the cat that those characters again.”




STAR WARS INSIDER / 65



SWI179_060-065_FEAT_PaulDini_OPAapproved.indd 65 31/01/2018 11:39

YODA: A LUMINOUS BEING




























Yoda
















A Luminous Being Is He




One crowd-pleasing highlight of The Last Jedi was
Yoda’s surprise appearance on Ahch-To. Insider traces
the off-screen life of the Jedi Master, from concept to
screen to collectible.


WO R DS: MI CHA EL KO G GE

























66 / STAR WARS INSIDER

YODA: A LUMINOUS BEING






t’s not easy
I being green,”
sang Kermit
the Frog. The
same could
be said for Yoda,
the small green Jedi Master whom
George Lucas proudly introduced
to audiences in The Empire Strikes
Back. Before he made his screen
debut, Yoda went through many
design iterations and character
changes, and he has continued
to evolve since then—from his
computer-generated incarnation
in the Star Wars prequels to his
animated forms in The Clone Wars
and Rebels, not to mention the
various items of merchandise that
feature takes on his wizened
form. What unites them all is
that they stem from Lucas’ desire
to create an amphibian, iminutive,
yet wise character with more than
a touch of the Kermits about him.
A Pinch of Minch
When George Lucas began
outlining the sequel to Star
Wars in mid-1977, he had a big
storytelling problem to solve.
He wanted his young hero, Luke
Skywalker, to continue to learn
about the Force and the Jedi—but
Luke’s instructor, Obi-Wan “Ben”
Kenobi, had died in the fi rst fi lm.
That movie had also established
that the Jedi themselves were all
but extinct, and their raging fi re
had “gone out of the universe,”
according to Grand Moff Tarkin.
So Lucas made an exception—
perhaps not all the Jedi were dead,
after all. Inspired by traditional
folk stories where appearances
are often deceptive, he created a
character known as “the Critter”
that might be mistaken for a frog
in a fairytale, but who was really
a wise Jedi Master. Lucas had














STAR WARS INSIDER / 67

YODA: A LUMINOUS BEING



imagined the critter as short and changed the creature’s name to A Wizard Called Oz 02
frog-like, with large eyes, a wide “Yoda” and described his coloring To build a realistic Yoda puppet
mouth, rubbery skin, fl oppy feet, as blue. Lucas also decided that all for production, Lucas went to
and two tiny nostrils in place of of Yoda’s lessons to Luke should Jim Henson, the most famous
a nose. He was also to have the be in the form of commandments puppeteer in the business. Henson
impish, cheeky charm of one of and proverbs, and that his speech accepted Lucas’ challenge, since
Jim Henson’s Muppets, while at patterns should be inverted to he wanted to harness the special
the same time being highly lend an archaic, medieval quality -effects techniques Lucas had
realistic, as if he actually existed to it, testifying to his advanced been pioneering for use on his
in the Star Wars world and wasn’t age of 900 years. own upcoming fantasy film, The
simply a puppet. Concept artist Joe Johnston Dark Crystal (1982). However, he
In story conferences with produced numerous sketches of was forced to turn down the offer
screenwriter Leigh Brackett during what the Jedi Master could look to also perform the new character,
November and December 1978, like. In some drawings, he had owing to his busy schedule.
Lucas established that the Critter fur, in others feathers like Big Instead he recommended Frank
lived on a bog planet, light years Bird, and in one he looked like a Oz, the man behind Miss Piggy,
from galactic civilization, and he mischievous Rumpelstiltskin, to take on the role of Yoda.
03
gave him the name “Minch Yoda” holding a staff topped with a Henson’s associates worked
—shortened to “Minch” in the glowing orb. His skin tone went with Empire’s talented makeup

first draft of The Empire Strikes from Smurfish blue, and then and creature design team, led by

Back. Minch acted like a crazy to green. Empire director Irvin Stuart Freeborn, who was known
fool in his initial encounters Kershner suggested that Yoda for creating the furry Chewbacca
with Luke, until the spirit of Ben should have three fi ngers on costume in Star Wars and the
Kenobi revealed that Minch was each hand, because all the apes in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
his own former teacher and one anthropomorphic characters he The 64-year-old Freeborn based
of the best of the Jedi. Later drafts saw in cartoons had three digits Yoda’s face on his own, and added
of the script by Lawrence Kasdan instead of fi ve. wrinkles inspired by a picture
of Albert Einstein. Three distinct
versions of Yoda were eventually
01
produced: a full model for long
shots, a costume for a short
person to wear while walking
around on his knees, and a hefty
puppet wired with cables that
required three people to operate 01 (Left) Graham,
Stuart, and
it under the soundstage. Frank
Kathleen
Oz performed most of puppet Freeborn,
Yoda’s actions and expressions, the force
behind the
while Wendy Midener handled
Jedi Master.
the controls for Yoda’s eyes,
and Kathy Millen manipulated 02 Stuart
Freeborn
Yoda’s right hand, smile, and examines an
wiggling ears. unpainted
Yoda head.
Lucas planned to audition
other actors to voice Yoda, yet 03 Yoda’s hut
when he saw the fi lmed footage was a raised
set in order to
combined with Oz’s dialogue,
accommodate
he stayed with Oz. The realism the puppet’s
of Oz’s performance so impressed performers.
Lucas that he campaigned for
Oz to be nominated for an Oscar.
As Oz told Henson biographer
Brian Jay Jones, “It was acting,
not performing.”
Though Oz sadly did not
receive an Academy nomination,
his magical performance as Yoda
astounded moviegoers, most of
whom forgot or never registered



68 / STAR WARS INSIDER

YODA: A LUMINOUS BEING









04 Yoda made his first outing in a

television show. The animated
micro-series Star Wars: Clone
Wars premiered on the Cartoon
Network in November 2003, and
its pilot opened with a cloaked
and hooded Yoda riding into
battle on a kybuck. The series’
creator Genndy Tartakovsky—
who had made a splash with
his previous animated show
Samurai Jack—and co-art director
Paul Rudish mixed traditional
animation with computer effects
to achieve their infl uential style.
Main characters were hand-drawn
on cels (transparent acetate
sheets), while computers helped
expand and animate the crowded

fight scenes. When realizing Yoda,
the pair gave the diminutive Jedi
Master a sharper brow, a slight
scowl instead of a smile, and more
severe facial lines to express a
battle-hardened weariness. This
was a Yoda who must go to war,
but war did not make him happy.
Clone Wars appeared on TV
over the span of two years, from
2003 to 2005, and concluded in
that they were watching a puppet. lightsaber duel with Count 04 Yoda time to dovetail with the release
(pictured
Oz came back to lead Yoda’s Dooku. Rob Coleman’s computer of Revenge of the Sith.
with Stuart
puppeteering in 1983’s Return of animation team tried to match Freeborn)has The next time audiences met
the Jedi and 1999’s The Phantom not only the appearance of the been the Yoda was in 2008—first on the

creation
Menace. For 2017’s The Last Jedi, old Yoda puppet, but also how it big-screen and then again on
of many
creature shop head Neal Scanlan moved, with all its wiggles and talented television—in the midst of the
used Freeborn’s original Yoda jiggles. They created a table of artists across Clone Wars. This time, however,
four decades.
molds to re-create the Empire Yoda’s facial expressions, from in a fully digitized animated
version of the puppet, for which happy to stern, that would help world. For the half-hour
Oz gave advice and once again animate the proper emotional continuing TV series Star Wars:
supplied the voice. responses for digital Yoda in a The Clone Wars, supervising
scene. Most of all, they relied on director Dave Filoni and lead
An Evergreen Character Frank Oz to bring the now- character designer Kilian Plunkett
For the second and third Star pixelated character to life with his drew inspiration from the
Wars prequels—Attack of the unique voice. similarly titled micro-series’
Clones (2002) and Revenge of the In between Attack of the depiction of Yoda, along with Joe
Sith (2005)—Industrial Light & Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Johnston’s sketches and Ralph
Magic had made many advances McQuarrie’s production paintings
in special effects that allowed for the original trilogy, and the
them to create a completely For 2017’s The Last Jedi, concept art made of Yoda for the
digital Yoda. This gave Lucas more prequels. This interpretation of
freedom in writing the scripts and creature shop head Neal Yoda had bigger eyes, linear
Scanlan used Freeborn’s
devising new ways to show off creases across his brows, and a
Yoda’s abilities—such as jumping thinner mouth able to express a
and spinning in his epic original Yoda molds. broad range of emotions. By




STAR WARS INSIDER / 69

YODA: A LUMINOUS BEING



05













































the time the final episodes of 05 “Senate him to make fan-pleasing cameos and warmth. He was closer to the
Duel,” a
the series were released in 2014, on two occasions—once as a Yoda audiences were introduced
polystone
the hair behind Yoda’s ears had diorama by disembodied voice and once as a to in The Empire Strikes Back,
grown whiter and bushier, his Sideshow vision. On both occasions, his this wildly impish figure has had

Collectibles.
green skin had turned more involvement was made all the time to come to terms with the
pigmented, and his eyelids 06 Yoda as more special by featuring a guest tragic failings of the past.
became more lined to show his a Hasbro appearance by the original voice
Mighty Mugg,
age and better match his from the new of Yoda, Frank Oz. Yoda, Yoda Everywhere!
appearance in The Empire Strikes collection for With its different animation Of course, on screen isn’t the only
2018.
Back. For this incarnation, Yoda style from The Clone Wars, the place to see Master Yoda, and the
was voiced by Tom Kane, who Rebels’ Yoda was much less release of The Empire Strikes Back
had also played the character stylized and more in keeping in 1980 began a wave of Yoda-
in the earlier microseries, and with his movie look, with themed merchandise, as he soon
in 2013’s LEGO Star Wars: smaller eyes and less angular became as iconic and instantly
The Yoda Chronicles ears. The character recognizable as Darth Vader and
animated series. also took cues from R2-D2. But Yoda’s fi rst action
With the launch of the Ralph McQuarrie’s figure did not come out with

next Star Wars TV series, Star original concept the initial line of Empire toys,
Wars Rebels, the action moved paintings, albeit with as Lucasfilm wanted to keep

to the time just before the blue-green skin and a less the mysterious new character
original trilogy, leaving little oval face. Overall, this new a surprise for as long as possible.
opportunity to involve Yoda, -look Yoda seemed to be When manufacturer Kenner
who by this point is living in both older and sprightlier, did get the green light on the
exile on Dagobah. However, more of a gnome than a green Jedi, he was launched in
the power of the Force enabled goblin, and exuded kindness his own set of special shipments
06


70 / STAR WARS INSIDER




SWI179_068-073_FEAT_YodaOPAresubmit.indd 70 31/01/2018 16:41

YODA: A LUMINOUS BEING



07


























08

In 1981, Kenner produced a market, too. He took center
Dagobah Action Playset, where— stage in his own 2004 novel,
according to the toy company’s Yoda: Dark Rendevous, by author
catalog—kids could “relive all Sean Stewart, and has been a
of Luke Skywalker’s and Yoda’s staple character in comics, most
adventures.” The playset had a notably in Yoda’s Secret War
foam bog, a central tree trunk that (issues #26-30 of Marvel’s Star
offered access to the Jedi Master’s Wars), which recounts an untold
hut, and the cave where Luke tale of a young Yoda. Avid
09 seemingly encountered Darth book-lenders in the 1980s might
Vader. Two included storage remember Yoda promoting
containers could be “levitated” reading for the American Library
to retailers. He came with a 07 LEGO’s Yoda by means of a lever, while the Association in the now classic
plastic orange snake that wrapped minifigure action figures shown on the box poster showing the wise Jedi

was the first
around his neck, a tan cloth robe to use a new, were, of course, sold separately. Master clutching a book, with
with a belt, and a replica “gimer” shorter leg Yoda merchandise would not the caption: “READ—and the
piece.
walking stick. And just as Yoda’s be limited to poseable fi gurines, Force is with you.”
look has changed on screen, his 08 Sideshow either. The costuming company For those who wanted a
action figure went through Collectible’s Ben Cooper added Yoda to their replica Yoda in their homes,
“Holiday
numerous variations during Star Wars costumes line in 1980, Sideshow Collectibles created
Yoda” was
Kenner’s repackaging of it for based on selling a plastic mask and a vinyl a life-size Yoda statue that stands
Return of the Jedi. The snake Lucasfilm’s one-piece smock that no doubt 32 inches tall, accompanied by
1981
was re-colored from a bright greeting terrified some trick-or-treaters. a lizard-like morp critter. Gentle

orange to a more realistic brown, card. Yoda’s gentle persona also made Giant also offered many of its
and his skin and his gimer stick him an ideal teddy bear. For years own life-size re-creations, most
09 Kenner’s
were darkened. The name on the Dagobah plush Yoda dolls have been sold notably in 2006, with a Yoda
card backing was changed to read Action in all shapes and cuddly sizes, statue wielding his lightsaber.
Playset was
“Yoda (the Jedi Master)” instead some even “talk” and offer After almost 40 years of fame,
released in
of the rather gnomic “Yoda.” 1981. snippets of Jedi wisdom. And today Yoda ranks as one of the
younger children alive around the most recognizable characters in
release of Revenge of the Sith the Star Wars pantheon, and his
Yoda’s rst action might have been fed their food surprise cameo role in The Last
wearing a bib that showed Yoda Jedi generated cheers of joy in
gure did not come out with a quote from Empire: “Good theaters around the world. It goes

with the initial line of food, hmm?” to show that it might not be easy
Yoda’s popularity reaches being green, but being different
Empire toys. well beyond the children’s brings its own esteem.


STAR WARS INSIDER / 71



SWI179_068-073_FEAT_YodaOPAresubmit.indd 71 31/01/2018 16:41

WORLDWIDE






CELEBR A TING THE S A G A



































WORLD OF PORGCRAFT of birds, so I have quite the affi nity
for our avian friends,” he says. “As
soon as I saw the behind-the-
Crafty fans can’t resist the call of these feathered favorites! scenes reel, my hands wanted to
sculpt those little faces.”
ong before The Last Jedi the materials needed to make And sculpt them he did (see
hit the big screen, fans were toys out of plastic or resin,” she above). In a matter of days, the
Lfalling in love with the porgs! explains. “I don’t use any 3D 42-year-old had begun casting
The adorable space puffi ns from software when I’m designing my and painting his own parliament
Ahch-To have so far inspired home models. They’re all created from of rubber porgs. He had originally
-crafted sculptures, papercraft, scratch using simple mathematics planned to make them out of resin,
costumes (including one made by and old-fashioned architectural but swapped for a softer medium,
Rose Tico actor, Kelly Marie Tran), techniques. The porg’s body, for “so they could be squished.”
and more! Here are just a few of example, is made primarily using
our favorites. an elongated dodecahedron. LUKE WHO’S PORGING
“There’s something extremely When Kristin Iwancio (right), from
FOLD-YOUR-OWN satisfying about designing a fl at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, got her

Alex Gwynne, 24, from Sheffi eld, template that anyone, anywhere first glimpse of a porg, she had a
England, is a master of fold-together in the world can print out and lightbulb moment. Having been
paper toys. She’s been making her assemble,” she says. making Star Wars-inspired
own design templates since she was To download some of Alex’s costumes for 18 years, she decided
a teenager, and last fall she made a creations, go to FoldUpToys.com. to make costumes for her two sons,
porg template (see top right) after Tai (seven) and Luke (two). “Luke
spending a day of busy prototyping. SQUISHABLY SOFT needed to be a waddling porg,” she
“I originally started designing It was porg-love at fi rst sight laughs. “He sure sounds like one!”
toys from paper for my school art for sculptor Toby Markham from So Kristen dissected a ready-
exam, because I couldn’t afford Chicago. “I grew up with a bunch made chicken costume, sprayed the



72 / STAR WARS INSIDER




SWI179_072-076_REG_Worldwide_v2.indd 72 30/01/2018 12:41

INSIDER NEEDS YOU!
We want to hear from you! Tell us about your
Star Wars experience. What made you want
to become a fan? What have you done in the
name of Star Wars? Tell us your Star Wars
story by sending your photos, art, and ARTISTS’ ALLEY
letters here:
[email protected]
Talented Star Wars fans share their amazing
Or via regular post:
UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM drawings inspired by the galaxy far, far away....
Star Wars Worldwide, Star Wars Worldwide,
Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Insider,
Titan Magazines, 144 Southwark
2819 Rosehall Lane, Street 01. GODSPEED,
Aurora, IL, 60503, London, SE1 0UP,
U.S.A. U.K. REBELS!
Shoko Shinya,
known among
fan artists as
Shima, came
away from
The Last Jedi
with a distinct
feeling that it
was a thematic
continuation of
Rogue One. “To
keep the fl ame
that’s passed
on from those
who are gone,
the rebels must
survive and see
tomorrow,” she
says. “I thought
that’s a beautiful
idea, and wanted
to capture that
strong feeling of
hopefulness.” The
29-year-old from
Japan created a
digital triptych
celebrating The
Last Jedi, the
original trilogy,
and Rogue One.















fur black and brown, and sacrifi ced
an ornament to make the enormous
eyes. With a few stitches for nostrils,
Luke was ready to go hang with the
exiled Jedi Master who shares his
name. Well, almost…
02. PROFILES IN COURAGE
“Honestly the most diffi cult part
was the photo shoot,” Kristen
“Padmé is my very favorite subject to illustrate,” says Dawn Murphy, 46. Here,
recalls. “I had to bribe Luke with Anakin’s love can be seen as the young Queen Amidala of Naboo, created with ink
sweet treats. But it sure got the markers and acrylic paints on paper. Dawn has also drawn other heroines from the
grumpy and whiny porg cry across!” series, including Rey rendered in an art nouveau-inspired style.




STAR WARS INSIDER / 73



SWI179_072-076_REG_Worldwide_v2.indd 73 30/01/2018 12:41

WORLDWIDE
BOUNTY HUNTERS

Scouring the galaxy for the
stars of Star Wars...



Meet the stars, show the evidence, win
the bounty! Bounty Hunters is sponsored
by Kotobukiya. Each issue's winner will
receive a fantastic Kotobukiya Star
Wars statue kit! To see more,
visit www.facebook.com/kotobukiya

hen artist and fan Angelica
“Moya” Kojima decides to
W cosplay for a convention,
she goes beyond the typical for a truly
unique homage to Star Wars and an
epically uncommon photo opportunity.
At Star Wars Celebration Europe 2016,
she met Mark Hamill for the fi rst time,
dressed as his lightsaber. “It was truly my
dream come true,” she says, admitting
that she was crying inside the costume
as this photo was snapped.
In 2017, she was back for Star Wars
Celebration Orlando with a whole new
lightsaber get-up, and a very successful
mission to meet both Hamill and Hayden
Christensen (Anakin Skywalker). She also
scored a candid selfie out of costume

with The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson.
01


FEAR OF FLYING?


Fans combine scares and spacecraft for Halloween!


tar Wars fans from the costumed volunteers.
Rebel Legion, 501st Legion, “Dan Heisey is our C-3PO, and
S Mandalorian Mercs, and his portrayal is just perfect. It’s
R2-D2 Builders Club came together always a pleasure to see the kids
to celebrate spookiness and science interact with him.”
last Halloween. For their own annual photo op to
As part of The Smithsonian commemorate the event on
National Air and Space Museum’s October 21, the cosplayers gathered
02 03
annual “Air & Scare” family day at in front of the space shuttle
the Steven Udvar-Hazy Center in Discovery, the centerpiece of the
Chantilly, Virginia, the costumed Chantilly attraction.
volunteers (and human droid “It’s an amazing sight to see
handlers) treated visitors to photo characters from all eras of the Star
opportunities in front of specially Wars saga standing in front of the
designed backdrops. space shuttle together,” says Frye.
“We started with 12 volunteers “Star Wars was the language of my
01 Angelica “Moya” Kojima ignites as Luke back in 2006,” says Lori Frye, event dreams from the first time I saw it.

Skywalker’s lightsaber with Mark Hamill
coordinator for Garrison Tyranus, The combination of characters,
02 Another lightsaber, another Skywalker, as the 501st unit in Virginia. “Over the story, music, and images captured
Kojima meets Hayden Christensen
course of 11 years, we have grown my imagination and sent new
03 Kojima catches up with The Last Jedi director
Rian Johnson to 120 costumers, plus 50 non- stories running through my head.”
74 / STAR WARS INSIDER




SWI179_072-076_REG_Worldwide_v2.indd 74 30/01/2018 12:41

WORLDWIDE











Photos: Left - Alexandra Brumley / Right - Daniel Alfonzo Thomas


















TRANSFIXEDBYTWI’LEKS your own body,” she explains.
“Finding the line between emulating
Hera but not—ironically—looking
Meet London’s greatest lekku lover! cartoonish.”
After completing her Hera
lexina Duncan from London, So when Alexina started crafting ensemble in March last year, Alexina
England, has always been her own cosplay, she began with a immediately set about making a
Afascinated by Twi’leks—fi rst pair of lekku head-tails to bring Hera second Twi’lek costume — Ryloth
with Jabba’s sad-eyed dancer Oola, Syndulla from Star Wars: Rebels into rebel Numa (from The Clone Wars
and later with Jedi Aayla Secura. the real world. The challenge was and Rebels). “There is a lot of
The 28-year-old still remembers the translating an animated character in-universe history with these
thrill of seeing Master Secura in onto a fl esh-and-blood frame. characters,” she says, “and I fi nd

action in Attack of the Clones. “It’s all about finding that line it incredibly exciting having these
“Even if for only in a few glimpses,” between capturing the spirit of the two Twi’lek women at the forefront
she enthuses. “A Jedi!” character while still working with of hope,”




STAR-SPOTTINGONSTARTOURS

A few lucky fans got the ride of their lives at Disneyland!

lissa Molder from Petaluma, a very special guest joining us
California, has enjoyed the today!’ Having Mark Hamill then
A Disneyland Star Tours ride stroll in was a dream come true.
dozens of times—but one trip in One of my favorite actors of all
November 2017 proved especially time, and he’s standing four feet
memorable! from me!”
“The moment we walked up to Hamill paused for a group selfi e,
the loading deck I could tell “Then he fastened his seatbelt, put
something was up,” says 21-year-old on his glasses, and said, ‘May the
Alissa. “I could see a ‘We’re Filming’ Force be with you’ before the ride
sign, and there were GoPro cameras began!” Alissa says.

scattered around the cabin. “For the next five days I kept
“We took our seats, and then our saying, ‘I can’t believe that Photo: Alissa Molder/NerdByKnight
guide pointed out there was still an happened! I rode Star Tours. In
empty one. ‘Let me check my Disneyland. With Mark. Hamill.’ It
clipboard,’ he said. ‘Oh yes, we have was amazing!”




STAR WARS INSIDER / 75



SWI179_072-076_REG_Worldwide_v2.indd 75 30/01/2018 12:41

IRVIN KERSHNER



Before the Empire Struck Back


In the summer of 1979, the Of cial Star Wars Fan Club magazine, Bantha Tracks,
spoke to director Irvin Kershner about the then-upcoming Star Wars sequel,
The Empire Strikes Back…

Interview by Ken Rowand











SWI179_076-078_Archive_Interview_v3alCCproofed.indd 76 30/01/2018 12:43

ARCHIVE INTERVIEW



You have over 25 years’ “We have a wonderful Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), where the
experience in the director’s script was developed before I came
chair, but you’ve had quite a active ending also, which into it. I did a quick rewrite, then
varied career beyond making I can’t tell you about but shot the whole picture and edited it.
feature fi lms. it will be different.”

I was a musician first, a classical How did you get involved with
musician. I studied violin, viola, The Empire Strikes Back?
and composition. I played George [Lucas] and Gary [Kurtz,
professionally, but decided that I With such a varied background, producer] asked me if I was willing
didn’t want to be a musician, so I do you feel you have a defi nitive to undertake it. I thought about it

went into painting and sculpture. style of fi lmmaking? overnight, and finally said: “Yes, I’d
But I decided I wasn’t going to Up until about four years ago, my love it.” I’m glad I’m doing it.

be a painter either, so I turned type of film was the small, intimate

to photography. I became quite fi lm—a film that dealt with social How does it feel working from
successful; I was published and issues, human drives, human a pre-established base, that a lot
exhibited all over the world. By needs. Every director at one point, of people are already strongly
chance I met Dean Croen, Dean coming out of the background attached to?
of Communication at University I came from—university and Well, I’m respecting that base, I’m
of Southern California. He wanted documentaries—hopes for a fi lm not walking away from it. The story
me to teach there. It was at USC where they can portray a degree is really ongoing. The bad guys are
that I became interested in movies of honesty, and a degree of truth. certainly better defined. The base is

for the first time and began taking This was the kick I was on. It’s stable and we’re just building

some courses. much of the style making a realistic, another story.

human film as it is making a Star
When was this? Wars picture. One appears to be real Following on from such a success
This was in 1949. I got into and one to be hyper-real, but they must be a challenge. How are you
documentaries after that. I directed are both simply a style. But with making sure The Empire Strikes

and photographed hundreds of the intimate film, you fi nd there Back stands out?
them. Finally I came back from two is a small audience and—because It has some new characters. It has
years in the Middle East making of the large cost of advertising and a great deal of action. We have a
films and got into television. I did distribution—the studios feel that wonderful active ending also which

a documentary series, Paul Coates’ for the same amount, you can sell I can’t tell you about but it will
Confi dential File. It was the fi rst something that is more commercial. be different.
real documentary show that was
syndicated all over the country. So you decided that economics Star Wars was a feature full of
Then in 1953-55 I made my fi rst forced you away from the small spectacular visuals. Do you feel
feature, Stake Out On Dope Street, intimate film and into the more The Empire Strikes Back is a

and that was it. I just started commercial? superfi cial picture?
working and doing my thing. In a crazy way, it took longer to Absolutely not. It’s a very profound
make the small, intimate fi lms than picture. It’s a very deep picture, but
What brought you into making it did the big commercial fi lms. it’s beautifully simple and a delight.
feature fi lms? The Flim-Flam Man (1967) took On the surface, it appears simple
Well, they wouldn’t let me in to me one year from script through and easy to read, but below that,
the cameraman’s union, the editing editing and distribution. The Luck it is supported by wonderful ideas
union, or the art director’s union, of Ginger Coffey (1964) took me and feelings. Some of the effects
so I said there’s only one thing to almost three years. I’m beginning have never been tried before. The
do—direct. I then co-wrote, funded, to enjoy making bigger fi lms and people are very well defi ned and
and directed Stake Out On Dope making them for a wider audience. interesting, including the robots.
Street (1958). I used to travel with One of the reasons I did Raid on
the vice squad for Confi dential Entebbe (1977) with Peter Finch and Your background doesn’t refl ect

File, so I knew a lot about dope and Charles Bronson is because I wanted much science fiction, or much in
drug addiction. I thought, why not to work faster and reach a bigger the way of action/adventure. Was
do a film that used my knowledge? audience. It was a three-hour fi lm directing these parts of the movie

It cost $30,000 to complete. It was and shot in only 32 days. Then I did a challenge?
a successful venture. After that, I The Return of a Man Called Horse If you look at my fi lms, you’ll
continued making films and trying (1976). I felt it was a chance to show actually see some terrific action and


to do my own type of fi lm, which the spiritual development of the adventure sequences. I love to do
was outside of the establishment Native American, which had never action/adventure, and I certainly
most of the time. been done before. And then there is know how to do it. I have just



STAR WARS INSIDER / 77



SWI179_076-078_Archive_Interview_v3alCCproofed.indd 77 30/01/2018 12:43

ARCHIVE INTERVIEW




Irvin Kershner
talks through a
scene with “KERSH”
Carrie Fisher.
Irvin Kershner (1923-2010)
began his life as a professional
musician and artist, but later
turned to photography and
documentaries, eventually
moving into films. During a
career spanning more than
54 years, his early work was
characterised by low-budget,
independent projects before
he transitioned to directing
for Hollywood, most notably
the unofficial James Bond film
Never Say Never Again (1983)
and The Empire Strikes Back
(1980). Winner of numerous
accolades, which included the
Saturn Awards’ Life Career
Award, Kershner was one of
the most influential directors
of his time and played a major
part in shaping the beloved,
character-driven epic that is
Star Wars today.




preferred not to do them, that is We do a lot more with C-3PO, in such a way that it won’t frighten
all. I like to get into people. R2-D2, and Chewbacca this time. you because it is not the real world.
Them and the new characters are You can say and do and explore
Exploring these people and terrific. As for George Lucas, he’s any area.


what defines them is clearly one very funny and we’ve had a ball.
of your hallmarks as a director. We’ve had some great sessions. He Do you feel Star Wars succeeds
Would you say The Empire can get very excited. at this?
Strikes Back being a sequel has Of course, but I feel Star Wars is
helped you in this? The Empire Strikes Back is your as much a fairytale as it is science
In the fi rst Star Wars, you had fi rst sci-fi film. How do you feel fiction, maybe even a little more.



to figure out who everybody about the genre, and where Star And that fairytale is a very exciting
was, but now you’ll have instant Wars belongs inside it? aspect because fairytales deal
recognition. Now I can play with I happen to love science fi ction. with universal morality, universal
the complexities of the characters I’ve been reading science fi ction concerns, fears and emotions,
and enhance them. I can make since I was a kid, and I love the and that is why Star Wars is so
things funny or dangerous more genre. But, I feel that, in the past, beautiful because it deals with
easily because you already know science fiction pictures have not those almost lyrical fairytale

these people and love them. So, been done too well, except for aspects of experience. That’s why,
I am going to take advantage of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). in any country, you can read and
this familiarity and use it. You are Stanley [Kubrick] did something understand it.
going to like the story. It’s very no one else had attempted—to do
exciting, I guarantee it. I love it. it right. Usually, science fi ction Now that Kershner has been
pictures have been cheapies, sort working on the movie for several
The characters are one of the of little soap operas. The Day the months, we asked him to provide
most definitive and beloved Earth Stood Still (1951) was good us with a fi nal comment—one


elements of Star Wars. How was current science fiction—at the time that might help us understand
it working with them? it was a very good idea. There are what it was like to direct a Star
They are all highly individualistic. often interesting stories, but those Wars story. This was his reply.


Harrison [Ford] is terrific. I think that depend on the hardware are To do a good story on film is a
Mark [Hamill] has excellent the uninteresting stories. The ones challenge, to make a world on fi lm
qualities, his ingeniousness and that depend on ideas are exciting, is a miracle. The other day I found

eagerness especially. Carrie [Fisher] and science fiction offers a way of myself talking to my garbage pail.
is sweet and has an interesting probing contemporary problems I couldn’t understand why its top
strength, without being petulant. and sensibilities, and doing them didn’t close when I asked it to.







SWI179_076-078_Archive_Interview_v3alCCproofed.indd 78 30/01/2018 12:43

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N

The


Star Wars

Archive

Lights! Camera! Action!
Rare images from the
Star Wars photo archives.







































































80 / STAR WARS INSIDER

The crew
captures a shot
of Rey (Daisy
Ridley) meeting
BB-8 for the first
time on Jakku, in
Star Wars: The
Force Awakens.







STAR WARS INSIDER / 81

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-
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Meet the rag tag
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