Greg Proops: Two-Headed Podrace Announcer and Comedian on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Greg Proops, who played Fode, one of the two heads of the Podrace announcer in The Phantom Menace, is on the show today. LIVE from the green room of the Addison Improv, he tells an incredible, hilarious story about his time in the Star Wars universe, from being cast to doing voiceover work in The Clone Wars.
(There is also an anecdote that will change the way you look at Harrison Ford in Last Crusade forever.) Hopefully, you get a kick out of it as much as we did! It’s just a lot of fun.
Be sure to listen to his incredible podcast, The Smartest Man in the World on iTunes and check out GregProops.com for upcoming show dates (including stops in Toronto, Oregon and Washington). His act is really a blast.
Dave Barclay: Puppeteer for Yoda and Jabba the Hutt
Dave Barclay worked on both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, bringing two of the most iconic Star Wars characters ever to life. Beginning as a sculptor working with Stuart Freeborn, Mr. Barclay was then quickly ushered into the Henson world of puppets, controlling Yoda alongside Frank Oz. Returning to the galaxy to work as Jabba‘s right hand, Mr. Barclay has had a storied career in movies (including great work on Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?).
We go through as much as we can!
Hal Hickel: Academy Award-Winning VFX (K-2SO, Tarkin, Leia)
This episode’s guest, Hal Hickel, is an Animator Supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic, working on everything from The Phantom Menace (Boss Nass and the Droidekas) and Attack of the Clones (the Droid Factory and Battle of Geonosis) to Rogue One, helping to pioneer the incredible effects that brought Tarkin, Leia and K-2SO to the big screen.
Mr. Hickel has had a fascinating career, from Toy Story to Iron Man to his award winning work on Davy Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean. And we talk about it all, don’t worry.
Nick Gillard: Stunt Coordinator for the Prequel Trilogy, Lightsaber Fights
It was a real treat talking to today’s guest: Nick Gillard, stunt coordinator for the Prequel Trilogy and father of the modern lightsaber technique. He is one of the unsung heroes of the making of these Star Wars movies.
Mr. Gillard was so humble and so gracious, literally pulling over during a long car ride to talk to Talking Bay 94. During our short conversation, we get into a lot, from the skill of Ray Park to the twelve minute uncut version of the Mustafar fight to some of the lost duels which were never even filmed.
Gary Whitta: Screenwriter of Rogue One
Today we are talking to one of the most prolific contributors to the saga we love: Gary Whitta. Responsible for crafting the story for Rogue One, as well as numerous Star Wars: Rebels episodes, we really talk about everything he’s worked on.
From his short story in From a Certain Point of View to his latest project, transforming The Last Jedi into a series for Marvel Comics, Mr. Whitta tells some incredible tales and gives some fantastic insight into the process of actually writing for Lucasfilm.
For more information about his latest projects (and I’m sure any updates for The Last Starfighter remake we discussed), check out his website: www.garywhitta.com
You can also follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/garywhitta
Mark Austin: Boba Fett in Docking Bay 94, Industrial Light & Magic
In today’s episode of Talking Bay 94, we’re talking to one of the visitors to the actual Docking Bay 94: Mark Austin, who donned the infamous Mandalorian armor for A New Hope: Special Edition.
We start at the very beginning: talking about how playing Boba Fett is a dream come true, as well as how he got his start at Industrial Light & Magic. From the day of filming to his thoughts on the rumored spin-off movie, we really had a great time talking with him.
If you want to follow Mr. Austin on social media, check him out at Instagram.com/BobaFettANHSE or Twitter.com/BobaFettANHSE
And if you want to watch the “No Disentigrations” series we discussed, check it out on the Boba Fett Fan Club: NoDisintegrations.TV
Thanks for tuning in and, until next Wednesday, may the Force be with us!
Timothy Zahn: Most Iconic Star Wars Author of All time
In this very special episode, live from San Diego Comic Con, we are continuing our series focusing on the writers of the saga, by talking to the greatest one of all time: Timothy Zahn, the incredible author behind the seminal Thrawn Trilogy, as well as the upcoming Thrawn: Alliances.
We, of course, start at the very beginning, detailing his influences and his first interaction with Lucasfilm. From his initial creation of the Chiss villain to his reaction to his reintroduction into canon, you will not want to miss this conversation. We even dive into his dream projects for the saga, which legitimately gave me goosebumps.
For more information and updates about the rest of Mr. Zahn’s tour schedule, promoting Thrawn: Allainces (including stops in Denver, Salt Lake City and Portland), check out the notes section on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TimothyZahn/
We would like to thank Tom from Interabang Books for helping set this up, as well as David from Random House for making it happen. It was legitimately a dream come true.
Paul Blake: "Koona t'chuta, Solo?” as Told by Greedo, Himself
Brightly lit, well-organized and clean, Madness Comics in Plano, Texas doesn’t look a lot like Wuher’s Cantina. But, on a hot summer night in June, some of the patronage was similar. Thanks to our friends at Galactic Productions, we were able to catch up with one of the most infamous customers who ever entered the Mos Eisley watering hole: Paul Blake, who played everyone’s favorite Rodian, Greedo.
During our brief conversation (which was recorded, but rendered unusable for Talking Bay 94 because of some … passionate screams from the players of a Board Game Night occurring in the same area), we covered it all: Mr. Blake’s start as an actor, his adventures at Elstree during the filming of the original Star Wars and the experiences he has had since.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Talking Bay 94: Mr. Blake, thank you so much for taking the time with us today. It is a real thrill. Before we dive into your time in the Star Wars universe, let’s go back to the very beginning: what inspired you to explore acting?
Paul Blake: Well the need for cash, of course. From the 1970’s onward, it was always just the need to eat. I got very lucky … I initially just wanted to meet girls! It was the reason I got into it in the first place. I gravitated to England and the UK, when people came from everywhere to make music and do theatre. I was very much getting into that scene.
So, I went to University and learned drama, just like my dad. And then I got into it bad. With two of my friends, they gave me the thirst.
And then I went to London: I got a job in a touring theatre company and we want all over the city. It was actually just a tent that we put up before the shows. We would get audiences of all types: people who came in to yell at you, as well as the top critics of the day. It was great practice and learning.
There were no movies really being produced, besides at Pinewood, Elstree and some of the TV studios. But, really, there were just the stars of the day and then … everything else was just scraps. Really, there was just the movies in the States and that was it.
But then George came to England.
Talking Bay 94: So, let’s talk about Elstree … let’s talk about 1976. How did you get involved with George and with the production?
Paul Blake: Again, I was lucky. I was working with Anthony Daniels on a children’s TV series on the BBC. We had just finished a Christmas special and he actually rung me up one night and said, “I’ve been working on something and it’s looking for actors … cheap!” He wanted to know if I wanted to come in and check it out.
So I came in, met George and then a month later, I was back at Elstree getting a lifecast made and I got the job.
Talking Bay 94: Putting on that lifecast must not have been the most fun thing in the world. What was the process of getting the costume and seeing yourself as Greedo for the first time?
Paul Blake: I remember sitting in a chair for an hour and getting plaster of Paris in every hole of me face, as well as a gel that protects your entire face. But, I really don’t remember too much about the actual day. People tell me all about it. They come up to me and say “I was there!”
You must remember, we all just thought it was another job. We thought it was going to be a disaster! And then two years or a year later, we figured out that this little film might have a future!
Talking Bay 94: What was the process of getting into character as Greedo? How was his story set up to you?
Paul Blake: The full script was actually sent to me. I was actually very lucky that I got all the pages, not just my lines. I showed it to my girlfriend (now wife) at the time and she looked it through and was like, “Where are you?”
And I was like, “Oh, you know, a couple things here or there.”
When she finally found it, she was said, “Oh, this is actually good! It’s like a little cowboy scene. A shoot-out at the OK Corral”
Then I remember turning up at the first day of shooting. There was a little mock-up of the Millennium Falcon’s gun towers, which was fun to play with, much to the annoyance of the crew. It seemed very intense, compared to other productions. Everyone seemed to know what they were doing.
Talking Bay 94: Harrison Ford was your scene partner. What was it like working so closely with him at such an early stage of his career?
Paul Blake: The mask finished at my neck, so we could take it off between takes. I don’t speak much Huttese (I do now!) but we were able to practice all our lines in English with the mask off. But, yeah, he was charming. I would like to say he was a bastard, but he wasn’t! He was very charming but very serious … he was very young. And this was his first starring role. So he was very determined to do it right.
But I think it worked out for him! I much prefer the younger one now though!
Talking Bay 94: Did you see Solo yet?
Paul Blake: I loved it! I thought it was great
Talking Bay 94: But, of course, what was the one thing it was missing?
Paul Blake: It needed Greedo!
But, now, think back to it … it set up Jabba! Everyone’s going off to Tatooine and, I’m sure, Greedo will be there to get shot yet again! He can never get away from being shot!
I mean, Greedo is famous on his own! He’s been in Family Guy and The Simpsons and Jay and Silent Bob. And he’s going to get shot every time! And there’s no escaping that! He must have missed close-range shooting day at bounty hunter school.
Talking Bay 94: You mentioned the staying power of Star Wars. What has it been like since 1976, with the other actors and the conventions and the fans?
Paul Blake: What has been nice is getting to know the actors who were not on set at the same time!
I, for instance, did not get to meet Carrie on set, as she had left already. But I got to know her at conventions and got to know the enigma that she is: wonderful and terrible and charming.
It has been delightful to meet the other actors who contributed to the movie. Sadly, so many people have passed on, but over the years … it became a very exclusive social club. There is no other film that I have ever done that has this staying power.
Talking Bay 94: It definitely does. Thank you for talking with us!
Again, we would like to thank Mr. Blake for taking the time and sitting down with us! And, as always, a very special thanks to Zach at Galactic Productions for setting this up.
Alan Dean Foster: Writer of the First Star Wars Books Ever
In this episode we are kicking off our series focusing on the writers of the saga, by talking to Alan Dean Foster, the prolific author behind the very first Star Wars novel, as well as its classic follow-up, Splinter of the Mind’s Eye.
We go through his entire career, from first getting chosen to work on the earliest Expanded Universe works to returning to both the prequel and sequel trilogies. We even dive a little bit into one of his most-heralded works: the novelization for Alien.
For more information and updates about Mr. Foster’s latest projects and books, as well as the Episode 9 treatment we discussed, visit: AlanDeanFoster.com.
Garrick Hagon: Biggs Darklighter, Luke's Best Friend, in A New Hope
We wanted to release a fun bonus episode today, featuring our quick interview with a true Star Wars legend: Garrick Hagon. Playing Biggs Darklighter in the original movie, Mr. Hagon talks all about the famous Tunisia set, as well his first impressions of George Lucas and the Star Wars universe.
Also included in our conversation: his first time working with Sir Alex Guinness, as well as the camaraderie and friendships forged on the set of a galaxy far, far away.
For more information and updates about Mr. Hagon’s next appearances, check out GalacticProductionsEvents.com or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GalacticProds/
And, as mentioned at the end of the episode, we want to extend a very special thanks to Zachery McGinnis for helping put this interview together for us! It is much appreciated and, as evident in the episode, a real dream come true for me. (It’s Biggs!)