Guess Who Else Visited The Star Wars: Episode 7 Set?

Day 1

From the day Principal Photography began on May 16th for Star Wars: Episode VII the most anticipated production in the world has had a slew of famous visitors, including Roger Moore, Kevin Smith who cried three times, British Muckety-muck George Osborne, and famed Brit actors and JJ alum Simon Pegg & Benedict Cumberbatch, who may or may not have roles in the movie depending on which tabloid you read. BUT we have been informed that there was another quite famous visitor to the Episode VII set. Find out who it was after the jump.

 

Another rather famous production figure made a visit to JJ and his famous set. Yes, a loyal reader sent us a very recent clip from the “Adam Savage Project” podcast. Some of you may recognize Savage as a Hollywood vet and co-host of the show “Mythbusters.” The podcast largely centered around Special FX makeup versus CGI especially naming Peter Jackson, Guillermo Del Toro, Jon Favreau, and JJ Abrams as directors who really understand the value of Practical FX in balance with CGI as it pertains to the story-telling, the actors, and the audience. Savage also said that he loves that JJ is doing much more practical work on Star Wars. During the podcast for October 28th Savage also casually dropped this little tidbit at about the 18:25 mark:

 

“When I was in New Zealand, talking to Peter Jackson, he was like, ‘So, yeah, I was in London and went to the . . . I was standing in the Millennium Falcon, talking to JJ Abrams . . .”

 

Savage went on to smack his head and then offered JJ the use of the Admiral Ackbar mold. Check out the clip.

 

 

 

 

So there you have it, another famous visitor to the Episode VII set – one Mr. Peter Jackson, he of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. This really should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following this production as closely as we have. As many will no doubt know Jackson’s friend and colleague, Andy Serkis, played “Gollum” in his Tolkien adaptations as well as acted as second unit director on The Hobbit trilogy. Serkis and his wonderful motion capture studio The Imaginarium is currently working on unspecified characters for Episode VII. No doubt Serkis helped arrange the visit that landed Mr. Jackson aboard the fastest hunk o’ junk in the galaxy..

 

Special thanks to Simon M for the heads up.

 

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19 thoughts on “Guess Who Else Visited The Star Wars: Episode 7 Set?

  • November 1, 2014 at 8:14 pm
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    So, did George Lucas ever visit the set?

    • November 1, 2014 at 8:56 pm
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      From what I’ve heard, George never once visited the set whilst filming was taking place. Crazy to think that.

      • November 2, 2014 at 11:40 pm
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        Good.

    • November 1, 2014 at 9:18 pm
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      They purposely made sure he didn’t come to the set.

      • November 1, 2014 at 10:53 pm
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        He was out getting coffee for JJ

  • November 1, 2014 at 8:17 pm
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    Anti-practical effects trolls getting ready to weigh in @ 3… 2… 1…

  • November 1, 2014 at 8:28 pm
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    Surprised we didn’t get any news about Spielberg visiting the set.

  • November 1, 2014 at 10:16 pm
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    I think it should also be noted that Savage is a former ILM employee, and he worked as a model maker on the prequels. His opinion on how VII’s effects work is going is likely more relevant than any other set visitor’s is apt to be.

  • November 1, 2014 at 10:19 pm
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    Did Billy Dee at least get offered a chance to visit the set and hang out with some of the cast and crew?

  • November 1, 2014 at 10:34 pm
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    I heard Lebron James was just on set last week. The day before the season tipped off. Plays Lando’s son. He everywhere.

    • November 1, 2014 at 10:42 pm
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      Bruh

  • November 1, 2014 at 10:38 pm
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    Speaking of Admiral Ackbar….I had heard on here a while ago a mon calamari would have a main part in the film….but now in synopsis’ of what ‘we know’ I dont see it mentioned.

  • November 1, 2014 at 10:53 pm
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    Practical effects mixed with CG equals perfection

    • November 1, 2014 at 11:37 pm
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      To be honest I think it’s completely ridiculous how we’ve gotten to this stupid situation. It should be practical effects and practical sets if humanly possible. Then CG should be used to enhance those effects and extend those sets if it’s needed like matte paintings did in the past.

      • November 2, 2014 at 12:56 am
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        Isn’t that what we’re getting?

        • November 3, 2014 at 7:51 am
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          Both. There will be matte paintings as well, I see them listed in the credits when looking @ the art dept.

      • November 3, 2014 at 11:10 pm
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        “It should be practical effects and practical sets if humanly possible. Then CG should be used to enhance those effects and extend those sets if it’s needed like matte paintings did in the past.”

        Which is just what the prequels did when it was necessary. I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to understand that is exactly what happened.

        I think the problem is that some people don’t seem to quite understand what exactly practical means. It’s like they think that analog tools means practical and digital tools mean CGI. A matte painting is a matte painting regardless if it’s done on glass or digitally. It’s still a matte painting.

        Green and blue screen doesn’t mean that CGI is being used since they were used on the OT as well. The numbers of models and miniatures, costumes and make-up, masks and props etc of the PT was 10 times that of the OT. Dozens of sets were built for each movie again just like the OT. IIRC for example ESB and ROTS each had close to 70 sets built.

        The difference is that ROTS constantly had it’s sets extended out via screenwork to make them larger than is possible an in a wya that you have total freedom to move the camera around while on the OT you had to lock into angles to do additional work.

        These extensions were done via an enormous number of miniatures, mattes digitally and of course enhancing that further with CGI which is exactly the same thing that JJ did on his Trek films.

  • November 1, 2014 at 11:15 pm
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    I saw the podcast a few days ago…Adam only said he wanted to see the Millennium Falcon, not that he has. If your insider said he actually did go see it, the article isn’t clear on that

    • November 3, 2014 at 5:54 am
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      I think you’re a bit confused here, They were saying that PETER JACKSON was the one who had visited the set. That’s why the quote, “When I was in New Zealand, talking to Peter Jackson, he was like, ‘So, yeah, I was in London and went to the . . . I was standing in the Millennium Falcon, talking to JJ Abrams . . .” He says Peter Jackson visited set. Hope that helps!

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