Despite only being in Return Of The Jedi for under a third of the film, Jabba The Hutt may be, if not the most expensive, one of the most complicated puppets ever created. Not bad for a mostly stationary giant space slug. Jamie Benning interviewed Toby Philpott about his experiences working on the Star Wars baddie and, using archival behind-the-scenes footage, some illustrations, and parts of Jedi itself, crafted this incredibly interesting video about what it took to bring Jabba to life.
It’s a great look at all the various steps that were needed in the creation and execution of this infamous villain. Most amusing is how Philpott believes George Lucas was disappointed in the creature because it didn’t move and pontificates that if CGI had been up-to-snuff in those days, it would’ve been another computer model. Meanwhile, Jabba would go on to be an impressively memorable character not least based on his inaction and the expressiveness this team of puppeteers was able to bring to his character. It’s a fascinating examination of a process that’s mostly gone out of vogue in blockbuster filmmaking and well worth a watch.
Slimy Piece of Worm-Ridden Filth – Life Inside Jabba the Hutt – @Jamieswb from Jamie Benning on Vimeo.