BEHIND THE SCENES: IT'S FUN TO BE A JEDI!

Confident that is he isn't "going out like some punk" death-wise in EPISODE III, Sam "The Man" Jackson has some laughs in the Supreme Chancellor's main audience chamber during an on-set filming break for EPISODE II at the FOX STUDIOS in Sydney in 2000.

THE TRUTH ABOUT POGGLE!

AFICIONADO contributor Ian Trussler recently got in touch with me about an EPISODE II related behind the scenes mystery relating to who played and voiced Poggle the Lesser. Here’s what he has to say:

“There has always been some confusion as to what Australian actor Marton Csokas did in relation to the role of Poggle the Lesser in AOTC. He is not credited on the movie itself but a couple of official publications do mention him in the role (as wel as in pre-production on STARWARS.COM in 2000) and it was generally considered that he did the voice.

This was all thrown into further doubt and confusion when Ben Burtt said in the Sounds of SW book that he used Ernie Foselius (from HARDWARE WARS) as the voice of Poggle by reording him speaking backwards and modifying it.

Well I finally got to the bottom of it when I recently met with Marton Csokas at the theatre where he was performing in TWELFTH NIGHT. Marton, who can also be seen in films like blockbuster movies like XXX, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and THE BOURNE IDENTITY, told me that he did actually perform the role of Poggle on set in Australia at the FOX STUDIOS with the other actors, much the same as Ahmed Best did for motion capture/reference purposes. He spoke the lines on set but it seems he did not record the dialogue separately.

Therefore it would seem that Marton is the embodiment of Poggle and that Foselius is the voice.

He was a very nice guy and happy to talk about the role, although he personally feels that he doesn't really know what is left of his performance on screen.”

Thanks for getting in touch and clarifying things, Ian…

CLASSIC IMAGE: KI-ADI MUNDI

Here's a great close-in shot showing the detailed make-up on Silas Carson whilst playing the noble Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi, filming on the set of EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, at the FOX STUDIOS in Australia in 2000.

CLASSIC IMAGE: HERO IN A HALF SHELL!

On a green screen FOX stage in Australia, resident STAR WARS icon Anthony Daniels takes a breather between filming his next EPISODE III scene-where Threepio, Captain Typho and Padme arrive by shuttle at the landing platform housing the latter's Naboo diplomatic craft.

The sequence, which leads into the as seen in the movie moment where Obi-Wan stows away on the vessel as it makes its journey to Mustafar, was ultimately cut from the film.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE EMPEROR'S NEW PLAYGROUND!

Here's a great behind the scenes shot of Ian McDiarmid at the Australian FOX STUDIOS in 2003 filming his scenes within the now familiar and hideous make-up guise of Emperor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith. And the creature who now resides in full charge of the First Galactic Empire...

CLASSIC IMAGE: A LITTLE HELP FOR A JEDI

Two technicians make some adjustments to Ewan McGregor's make-up and costume during shooting of EPISODE II at the FOX STUDIOS in Australia in 2000. Note the lady on the right wearing a ribbed dark leather outfit that could be something worn by Darth Vader!

Additionally, here's a little bit of Ewan/ STAR WARS related news from the DAILY MAIL website (17/10/2010):

Ewan McGregor stars alongside his uncle Denis Lawson in his latest movie.

Ewan, 39, plays the head chef of a posh restaurant, while Local Hero star Denis is the owner in Perfect Sense.

‘It was strange sitting together in the make-up trailer,’ recalled Denis at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards. ‘Ewan would say, ‘‘Morning, Uncle Denis.’’ 'I’ve directed him twice before but we’ve never acted together. It was great and I’m pleased to say he didn’t offer any constructive criticism on my acting.’

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE MASTER AND AN APPRENTICE!

George Lucas and Hayden Christensen confer on an important scene leading to the fall of Anakin Skywalker in this 2003 image taken at the FOX STUDIOS in Australia for the finale of the STAR WARS movie saga- REVENGE OF THE SITH.

CLASSIC IMAGE: FLUORESCENT YODA!

Yoda's certainly looking a bit brighter these days, as this reference dummy, used by the cast and crew at FOX STUDIOS for EPISODE III in 2003, clearly demonstrates.

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE TWO MASTERS OF DARKNESS!

From the EPISODE II DVD special features, here's some fun images showing legendary actor Christopher Lee- Count Dooku himself- at FOX STUDIOS AUSTRALIA in 2000, getting ready to film the next part of his lightsaber duel (with double Kyle Rowling) in the Geonosian hangar for EPISODE II, and this time up against his old Jedi Master, Yoda. Only, his opponent's looking a little bit different today!

The reference Yoda dummy used on that days filming would be given some vampire fangs by the behind the scenes crew in an amusing DRACULA joke/honorable homage. Despite Lee's seriousness on set to Lucas that he didn't find the improvised visual gag funny, we secretly hope that he eventually saw the lighter side of it all!