Playing C-3PO in Star Wars: My Journey as a Performer

Summary

In this article, we will explore the experience of playing the iconic character C-3PO in the Star Wars films. From the initial mock-up set to the latest installment, we will delve into the performer’s journey, including the creation of the character, the challenges of the costume, and the joy of bringing the beloved droid to life.

Table of Contents

• The Creation of C-3PO
• The Challenges of the Costume
• Bringing the Character to Life
• The Latest Installment
• Conclusion

The Creation of C-3PO

The journey of playing C-3PO began when the performer was approached by Tom Fitzgerald, head of the design team at Imagineers at Disney, to play the role in a mock-up set. The performer was filmed for a guide and recorded their voice and actions. Later, they were approached by George Lucas to play the same character in a new film. The puppet for C-3PO was built by Michael Lynch at Industrial Light and Magic, and the performer was disappointed to not be given the option to puppeteer it. However, they were fascinated by the puppet’s realism and weight. For the second prequel, the performer asked to puppeteer C-3PO, and they were given the opportunity to do so with Don B’ and Justin Di.

The Challenges of the Costume

As a professional performer, the speaker was attached to a creature costume for a role in a film. The costume was heavy and required a harness to distribute the weight. They rehearsed for days and were ready for the first show. They had a touching conversation with another character in the film, Padme Amidal, who was asking if the performer’s character, 3PO, was happy. In the scene, the inner mind of 3PO was revealed, and Padme helped him cover up with a box of coverings. The performer had to wear a gold suit that was painted to look rusted for the film. They also had to hold a gun, which was wired onto the costume. The look of 3PO is iconic, being dirty gold to begin with and then bright shiny gold for episode three. In a clever piece of scripting, 3PO suffers.

Bringing the Character to Life

The performer talks about their experience playing C-3PO in the Star Wars films. They mention how they came up with the line “die Jedi dog, die!” and how adjustments were made to their costume for their comfort. They also discuss their surprise at being asked to work on the latest Star Wars film and how they had an argument with the director about the design of their character. Despite this, they enjoyed working on the film and were pleased with the final product.

The Latest Installment

The performer was surprised when they were asked to work on the latest Star Wars film. They had an argument with the director about the design of their character, but they enjoyed working on the film and were pleased with the final product.

Conclusion

Playing C-3PO in the Star Wars films was a challenging but rewarding experience for the performer. From the creation of the character to the challenges of the costume, they brought the beloved droid to life for generations of fans.