SELECTED JOE JOHNSTON STORYBOARDS
During December 1975, George Lucas was writing the end battle of The Star Wars. In the third draft he had described it fairly briefly. His fourth draft would contain all of the details. To accurately illustrate in words the shots and the montage he wanted, Lucas would often refer to the eight-minute-long 16mm film he’d made by videotaping sequences from World War II documentaries and movies. He then worked at Industrial Light & Magic with Joe Johnston, who would draw out storyboards based on the shot descriptions and Lucas’s additional verbal instructions.
What follows are approximately 100 out of 366 of those early end-battle storyboards. They appear here for the first time complete with Richard Edlund’s penciled notes. As director of the special effects photography, Edlund worked closely with Lucas, Johnston, and John Dykstra, as the end-battle storyboards were constantly revised. The notes on the storyboards often refer to December 22 and 29, 1975—apparently the dates of major revisions.
The storyboards are also remarkable in that they show Han Solo’s original pirate ship, which was about to be replaced by the “hamburger” ship, aka the Millennium Falcon. Moreover, this set of boards contains the only visual representation of Luke Starkiller’s two trench runs. In postproduction, the first of his trench runs would be eliminated. Last but not least, Luke’s two wingmen are Biggs and Chewie, who would shortly be replaced by Wedge, when Chewie became the nickname of Chewbacca in the fourth draft. Also included, for the sake of completeness, are boards that were omitted during the review process. The descriptions and dialogue are taken from the fourth draft.
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS
ALT = Altitude
BD = Board, as in storyboard
BG = Background
C/U, or C.U. = Close-up
D.S. = Death Star
FLOP = To flip over the drawing completely, changing the direction of the shot
FR = Frames (the number of frames equals the length of the shot—24 frames per second)
L – R = Camera moves left to right
POV = Point-of-view
Fourth Draft End-Battle Storyboards
Luke as he tries to spot Blue Leader,
Vader passes Blue Leader firing a laserbolt that creates a small explosion in one engine.
An R-2 unit scrambles back to the engine on Blue Leader’s X-wing fighter in an attempt to repair it.
Luke: “We’ve lost Blue Leader …” [In the control room, Ben urges Luke to trust his feelings.]
Luke: “Wedge, Biggs, we’re going in. We’ll go in full throttle. That should keep those fighters off us.”
Biggs: “We seem to have upset them.” Luke: “This is fine. I can see everything.”
Luke’s X-wing streaks through the trench leading to the exhaust port.
The laserbolts streaming past suddenly stop.
Luke: “Watch yourself. Increase your speed full throttle.”
Wedge (Chewie): “Coming in … point three.”
Vader: “Stay with them … They’ll have to slow down before they reach that tower …”
Luke: “Almost home.”
Vader: “Take them.”
Luke: “Wedge, Biggs, split up … it’s the only way we’ll shake them.”
Luke: “I’m hit … but not bad … Artoo, see what you can do with it.”
Luke: “I think you’ve got it, Artoo. I think that’s it … just try to lock it down.”
Luke: “I think we lost those fighters, Artoo. Blue Group, this is Blue Five. Are you clear?”
Wedge: “I’m up here waiting, boss.”
Biggs: “Hold on, Luke, I’ll be right there.” [In the war room, Ben urges Luke to trust the Force.]
Luke: “We’re goin’ in, Biggs, join up … Biggs, are you all right? Biggs? Wedge, do you see him anywhere?”
Wedge: “Nothing … wait a little longer, he’ll show.”
Luke: “We can’t wait, we’ve got to go now … I don’t think he made it.” Biggs (radio breaking up): “Hey you guys, what are you waiting for?”
Biggs: “Don’t ever give up on old Biggs …”
Luke: “We’re going in.”
Luke: “Artoo, that stabilizer has broken loose again. I need more control. See if you can’t lock it down.”
Luke as he thinks about using the targeting device and then rather hesitantly pulls it down in front of his eyes.
Wedge: “Here we go again.”
Luke moves it away for a moment and ponders its use. He looks back into the computer targeter.
Biggs: “Hurry, Luke. They’re coming in much faster this time. We can’t hold them.”
Luke: “Close it up. You can’t do any more good back there. Artoo, try to increase the power to the rear deflectors.”
Vader: “I’m on the leader, take the other ones …”
Wing Man: “Wha …”
Han: “You’re all clear, Luke. Now blow this turkey and let’s get out of here.”
Luke: “Glad you were here to see it … now let’s get some distance before the thing blows.”
