The Making of C-3PO: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Creating an Iconic Star Wars Character
Summary
In this article, we explore the creation of C-3PO, one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars franchise. Anthony Daniels, the actor who played C-3PO, talks about how he initially turned down the role but changed his mind after seeing conceptual artwork of the character. He also describes the complicated process of getting into the costume and relying on the kindness of the crew to make him as comfortable as possible. Additionally, we learn about the design of the costume and the challenges of programming the character to talk.
Table of Contents
- The Decision to Play C-3PO
- Getting into the Costume
- Designing the C-3PO Costume
- Programming the Character
- Conclusion
The Decision to Play C-3PO
Anthony Daniels initially turned down the role of C-3PO in the Star Wars movies but changed his mind after seeing conceptual artwork of the character. Daniels describes how the character was based on the film Metropolis and how the costume was created by covering his body in plaster and then adding layers of gray modeling clay. Despite the discomfort of the costume, Daniels relied on the kindness of the crew to make him as comfortable as possible.
Getting into the Costume
The process of getting into a special effects suit in a studio was uncomfortable and disorienting. The C-3PO suit was made up of 17 pieces, including a gold cover and thin plastic pieces that were vacuum-formed onto the actor’s body. The suit had a bungee cord to keep the top and bottom halves of the legs together, and the actor’s feet were covered with deck shoes. The suit also had two necks for filming from different angles. The final step was to attach the face and back of the suit together with a pin and bayonet fitting, which took half an hour to lock into place.
Designing the C-3PO Costume
The speaker describes the process of creating the character C-3PO for the first Star Wars film. The costume design included the use of a bayonet type fitting and a pinhole eye. They also explain how they added a switch to connect the batteries to the eye, making the character come alive. Despite the challenges of the costume, the character became an instant fan favorite and returned in the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back.
Programming the Character
The speaker talks about the challenge of programming the character to talk and how they struggled with their lines during filming. The process involved recording the lines and then playing them back to the actor through a speaker in the costume. The actor would then have to synchronize their movements with the pre-recorded dialogue. Despite the challenges, the character’s unique personality and mannerisms became a defining aspect of the Star Wars franchise.
Conclusion
The creation of C-3PO was a complicated and challenging process, but the end result was a character that has become an enduring part of popular culture. Anthony Daniels’ portrayal of the character and the unique design of the costume helped to make C-3PO a fan favorite and a key part of the Star Wars franchise.
