Force Material Episode LXXXVIII: Roger Christian on building George Lucas' galaxy
The Oscar winner behind Star Wars' most iconic weapons and sets joins us to talk about making cinema history and getting his hands dirty with George Lucas.
As the Academy Award-winning Set Decorator of Star Wars, Christian helped turn George Lucas' dreams into reality, and defined the grimy 'used future' aesthetic that made the galaxy far, far away feel so authentic.
Christian went on to earn another Oscar nomination as the Art Director of Alien, before directing the second unit on Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace and carving out a career as a director in his own right.
The industry legend joins us to talk about:
Making the first lightsaber
Building Han Solo's blaster
Giving Chewbacca his bowcaster
Bringing the Millennium Falcon's cockpit to life
Taste-testing Blue Milk
Shovelling salt and supergluing props with George Lucas
Woodworking with Harrison Ford
Directing the cult classic Black Angel and the notoriously ill-fated Battlefield Earth
His upcoming Star Wars documentary, Galaxy Built on Hope
And much more!
For more of Roger Christian's incredible life story, you can read his memoir, Cinema Alchemist.
Force Material is a podcast exploring the secrets and source material of Star Wars with hosts Rohan Williams and Baz McAlister. Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Stitcher, PlayerFM and Castro; stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and support the show by browsing our range of shirts, hoodies, kids apparel, mugs and more at TeePublic.
