One of the First Star Wars Fan Films

In 1980, I shot my very first movie, a "Star Wars" fan-film featuring incredible (for the day, anyway) special effects - stop-motion with miniatures and classical animation, forced perspective, scratching and even some real explosions.

"The Unsung Heroes Of The Empire Strikes Back" tells the action-packed tale of two rebels taking on the evil Empire by themselves.

Production Note: Almost every prop, ship or set in this film is constructed from cardboard! And yes, that IS a thumb print on the opening crawl!
VIVA LA CARDBOARD!!!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• tom tennisco
• bill calder
• empire strikes back
• star wars
• fan film
• action
• battle
• special
• effects
• animation
• matte
• painting
• tank
• cool

[torbk]

One of the most awesome and yet goofy fan creations I've seen ever. Enjoyed it imensly. Thank you for sharing this!

[ATomTenniscoThing]

@torbk Thank-you kindly!

[AngusAntilles]

Absolutely brilliant. For the day, that was some mighty home-filmmaking.

[ATomTenniscoThing]

@AngusAntilles I appreciate your kind words.

[ATomTenniscoThing]

So a week ago, I entered this short into the 2011 Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge (thanks again for the heads-up 101Anakin1!) and just got an email from Lucasfilm and Atom.com congratulating me for being accepted as a 'potential finalist' for this year's challenge!  What an honor! And a hoot!

[ATomTenniscoThing]

@101Anakin1 I never thought of doing this. Now I just might. Thanks for the heads-up!

[MenollytheBeagle]

This is so cute! Way to use what you have!

[101Anakin1]

@ATomTenniscoThing I'd like to know how you made the explosions and some more about the making of this film.I've decided to make a short trailer without showing close-ups and just make helmets,(if needed), so what would be the best way on going about to make helmets or painting backdrops and ect. I really just hate(all though I've never worked with it) the new fangled software stuff.I've watched a lot of people's youtube videos and they look hookey!Thanks for the help!

[ATomTenniscoThing]

@101Anakin1 Here are two pieces of filmmaking advice: 1. Read Robert Rodriguez's book, "Rebel Without A Crew." It's inspiring and shows you how you can create a film with virtually no money or crew. And 2. You're on the internet AND Youtube. There is so much information on filmmaking, even the bad information is good. If you want to do it, don't let anything get in your way. Just do it. And don't forget, make lots of mistakes. It's okay. You'll learn through them.

[101Anakin1]

@ATomTenniscoThing Thanks!I think once I write the script I might show it to some people(a.k.a. doctor or dentist) and see if they'd like to contribute.I really want to show the faces and make it a little long.I've asked some friends if they would want to act or knew anybody and they said no.I don't even know how to film models and minutares.I do have a good clear camcorder though.No one in my area does movie like stuff and also I live in a small town too.

[ATomTenniscoThing]

@101Anakin1 In your case, I'm not sure how extensive you're going to have to get, but all I can suggest is to go simple and don't worry too much about it. Make your story your focus. That above all, is the key.