| Lights, Camera, Star Wars! |
The sun rose on a historic day as the cast and crew gathered on the set for the first day of shooting the groundbreaking film, Star Wars.
Or at least, that was what everyone including Ian had in mind. Because as Ian knew, creating Star Wars could technically have a larger impact on the industry.
And with that information and goal, he led the actors and the crew. During their meetings, Ian mentioned something that lived restlessly in the minds of the actors, and it was, “This movie will break the limits not because of this one movie, but what will come next… For that, we need to focus on the first step, so that we can climb to the top.”
He simply said that the whole franchise depended on the first movie, therefore the weight was on them.
This news was taken positively by all the actors and the crew. Which was why they all agreed and promised to show their best efforts.
For a big-budgeted movie like Star Wars, it was a given that everyone should show one hundred percent effort. The budget being twenty million dollars, Ian expected the profits to exceed the budget in no time.
However, for the shooting, Ian had planned a few scenes to begin the movie.
Scene 1: Tatooine - Luke's Homestead
“Okay, Mark, you remember your part, right?” Ian’s loud voice came through the microphone, making Mark Hamill turn around. He looked at where the voice came from and nodded, making sure to sign that he was ready.
“Alright… Lights…!”
“Ready!”
“Quiet on the set, please! I still hear sounds! Quiet!”
“...And Action!”
As the cameras rolled, the scorching desert set transformed into the iconic landscape of Tatooine.
Luke Skywalker (played by the talented newcomer, Mark Hamilton) stood outside his homestead, gazing at the twin suns in the sky.
Luke looked up at the sky. "But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!"
“Cut! One more shot! Take two!” Ian’s voice came rather loudly once more.
Everyone again got ready to take the shot.
“Quiet on set!” he commanded.
The set became completely silent after his voice. At times like these, if the shooting were being taken in a public space, it could get really awkward in no time. It was the skills that kept an actor ongoing.
For example, if the shoot was in a public school, it is a given that except for the actor, all the other supporting actors will have to stay silent, so only her voice will be audible for the sound set. Everything else will be added while editing.
However, it could be awkward for someone who examines from a third point of view, or for actors when everything is silent and they’d have to speak up.
After Ian’s command, Mark got into his character and immediately looked up at the sky.
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"But I was going to the Tosche Power Conversion Station to pick up some converter powers!" Mark yelled but soon started laughing. “Shit, I messed up!”
The cast and crew burst into laughter, breaking the serious atmosphere. Yet, it was another failure.
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A few days later, the crew had gathered on the impressive Death Star set, meticulously designed to recreate the cold and imposing detention block.
The air was charged with excitement as the talented cast prepared to bring the iconic scene to life. Princess Leia, portrayed by the incomparable Carrie Fisher, stood tall and defiant, her eyes filled with determination, while Harrison Ford, the embodiment of Han Solo's charm and daring, looked ready to rescue her.
The director, Ian Renner, standing behind the camera, called out, "Okay, Carrie! Are you ready?"
Carrie Fisher took a deep breath, channelling the spirit of Leia Organa. She nodded confidently, her voice filled with resolve. "I'm ready. Let's do this."
As the cameras rolled, Harrison Ford, armed with his trusty blaster prop, made his entrance into the detention block. The cold metallic walls echoed with the sound of his footsteps. His eyes met Princess Leia's, a silent understanding passing between them. The tension was palpable, each second ticking by in anticipation.
But then, just as Harrison Ford raised his blaster, ready to shoot down the imaginary stormtroopers, the prop malfunctioned.
Instead of a laser beam, it emitted a shower of sparks, lighting up the set like a dazzling firework display. Gasps of surprise escaped the crew as they watched the unexpected spectacle.
Unfazed by the unexpected turn of events, Harrison Ford's quick wit kicked in. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he ad-libbed, "Aren't you a little shocked by a stormtrooper?"
The words hung in the air for a moment, catching everyone off guard. And then, the set erupted in laughter. Carrie Fisher's laughter filled the room, her eyes sparkling with amusement. The crew, unable to contain themselves, joined in, their peals of laughter echoing through the detention block.
“Ahahaha! Dude! What the hell?!” someone from the crew yelled, making things even more funny.
Harrison Ford stole the show with his line, but it made a potentially tense moment into a lighthearted interlude.
“Well, well, well!” Ian was still smiling but he quickly gathered himself. “Retake!” he yelled.
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Another interesting moment was when inside the cramped yet beloved cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo and his loyal Wookiee companion, Chewbacca, sat side by side.
The ship's controls flickered with an otherworldly glow as they navigated the treacherous asteroid field.
Han Solo, his trademark smirk etched on his face, leaned back in his seat. His eyes danced with a mix of exhilaration and confidence. "Never tell me the odds!" he declared, his voice filled with daring determination.
As the cameras rolled, the crew held their breath, capturing the intense moment of the daring pilots defying the overwhelming chances of survival. The asteroid field loomed around them, perilous and beautiful in its chaos.
All of them had their things together when they continued to focus on each of their tasks.
But then, as Rubi Hilan, the embodiment of Chewbacca, shifted in his seat, a misstep occurred. His arm accidentally knocked into a control panel, causing it to emit a flurry of beeps and lights.
The unexpected disruption jolted the tension in the cockpit, momentarily breaking the intense atmosphere.
Harrison Ford, ever the quick-witted actor, seized the opportunity to turn the mishap into a moment of humour.
While everyone had their intense eyes on what just happened, Harrison started speaking.
With a playful glint in his eyes, he quipped, "Never tell me the electricians!" The spontaneous line brought a ripple of laughter through the crew, their amusement echoing through the confined space of the Millennium Falcon.
Rubi Hilan, caught off guard by the unexpected blooper, joined in the laughter, his deep chuckles blending with the rest. The camaraderie between the actors shone through their shared amusement, the bond between Han Solo and Chewbacca extending beyond the screen.
Once the laughter subsided, the crew regrouped, ready to capture the scene anew.
In the final cut, the daring escape through the asteroid field would captivate audiences, with Han Solo's iconic line punctuating the exhilarating sequence.
But behind the scenes, the memory of that blooper would endure as a cherished moment, a reminder of the joy and camaraderie that fueled the creation of a galaxy far, far away.
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