Last week we interviewed Thomas Grove, the director for the Kickstarter Yub-Nub! The Forgotten Ewok Adventures – a documentary looking behind the scenes at the making of the Ewok movies (Caravan of Courage and Battle for Endor). With still over two weeks left to pledge, there is still plenty of time to show your support for this amazing campaign that promises fans never before seen footage from the films. With exclusive posters, commentary, tote bags, figures (to name but a few), there is something for everyone in this campaign.
Nothing would be possible if not for Eric Walker, the man behind the original Mace – Mace Towani. It is his behind-the-scenes footage that is forming the backbone of the documentary. I had the pleasure of meeting Eric at London Film and Comic Con this year, not realising what an important meeting was taking place between himself and Thomas Grove: the beginnings of this documentary! We thought we would catch up with Eric and delve into some of his experiences with filming the Ewok movies as well as the campaign itself…
Jedi News: How did you first experience the Star Wars movies?
Eric Walker: Ironically, my first Star Wars movie was Return of the Jedi. I loved the movie so much I went back about 12 times or more that summer of 1983. Little did I ever dream I would be working with George Lucas and Ewoks the next summer in 1984.
JN: When did you decide to go into acting?
EW: I played on a football team and Jack in The Box hired a group of the players on the team to do a commercial in 1977. I was hooked because I got paid $300 to jump out of a van and run into Jack in the Box to eat. My father was not convinced so he made me ask over and over until he said okay around 1980. My sister happened to know a girl who was acting and got in touch with her agent and the rest is history.
JN: What was it like to be cast in a Star Wars movie at that time, when such things were a lot rarer?
EW: It was a big deal and I thought I must be dreaming this. I would wonder if I would wake up and it would not be real. It was already in the newspapers that George Lucas was making a spinoff with the Ewoks.
JN: Did seeing Behind the Magic take anything away from the experience?
EW: When we did the Ewok movies, which was called The Ewok Holiday Movie, we had it a lot harder than working on the new shows like The Mandalorian or Ahsoka. They have a volume where they can see everything, and it feels like they are there. Wish we had that. We had to pretend and look at a blue screen. At least they let us go watch them film scenes of the Gorax so we knew what he looked like.
JN: What was your most memorable experience working in those films?
EW: There were a lot of them. One was when George Lucas commented on how I did a good job on the fire side scene with Cindel after we ran away, and I said I would protect her. Another was when I met Ron Howard and he commented that he had heard I was doing a good job and gave me some advice. He was doing test shots at ILM for Cocoon. It was very encouraging.
JN: How did you feel when you saw Caravan of Courage for the first time?
EW: The first time I saw Caravan of Courage was at a preview screening on the 20th Century Fox backlot. Even though ABC was previewing it as the foreign release, it had the original fanfare and 20th Century Fox logo and Lucasfilm in green. People were freaking out because they thought it was the next Star Wars movie. The movie was released only on Television in America and Canada, so we lost out. At least the rest of the world got to see it in theaters where it looked better. As for how did I feel? It’s hard to see yourself on screen because you always see the moments you don’t like. But the crowd loved it, and they made commercials that ran on television interviewing some of the people that saw it.
JN: During filming, you were given a camera to film behind the scenes, what was that like?
EW: Warwick Davis and I had a lot of fun. We both wanted to make student films. Warwick had already made a few short films that won awards in England. We did give the crew and George a short version of the making of to keep. George got a longer version.
JN: It’s this footage that forms a part of the Yub-Nub! Kickstarter campaign, how much footage is there?
EW: Yes, we have about a couple of hours of footage. I also had a still camera, so I have hundreds of photos.
JN: What was it like to actually meet, talk and be directed by George Lucas?
EW: George is very soft spoken. He reminds me of my father who is also the same way. I was surprised at first that he was directing the reshoots. But the director had a prior commitment and he stepped in. The first day the call sheet said director George Lucas. The second day it had the original director’s name on it. I kept it and still have it. For about 20 years I would mention it and it would be censored by LFL making me look like I lied. Now, since so much time has passed, they don’t care. There is even a picture of George directing me in the Star Wars Archive book.
As a director, George is very technical and fast. You can see his mind working as if he is editing it in his head as he goes along. That to me is genius. The other director, John Korty, is an actor’s director which means he knows more about acting which helps actors get to an emotion. It is why Caravan has those great scenes with the Ewok dying or when Mace says goodbye to the whistle Queen Izarina.
Both types of directors are fine. But George would be better for action or artistic expression.
JN: Battle For Endor sees the focus away from Mace and onto Cindel, were you disappointed Mace wasn’t in the film more?
EW: Even though Battle for Endor is faster paced and more Star Wars like in that tone, yes, I was upset at first. I was told the whole family was dead and I was not even going to be in the film. Then I was happier when I found I would be able to do a small role and fight. The critics blasted George killing the family and that made the Battle for Endorhave poor ratings, way lower than Caravan of Courage.
Later I was told George and his daughter had watched the old movie Heidi and he thought it would be a good idea to make Cindel an orphan who is found by a hermit. The movie had the Witch (later it inspired the night sisters), the Blurgg which later was used in The Mandalorian. I still think in terms of action and quality that it is a better film. Aubree did a great job, and they used her voice in the film. Caravan of Courage she was so young they dubbed it with Tiffany Brissette’s voice.
JN: Was there anything from set that you kept as a memento from your time on set?
EW: They keep everything, but a prop man gave me a stick that I was chopping on in a scene for a few seconds while waiting for Chuck-Ha Trok, who took off to save Cindel when the Pulga Horse got scared and took off with her in it.
JN: The Ewok movies hold a very special place in fans hearts (mine included), was it frustrating to not have it as recognised as other additions to the Star Wars universe?
EW: I think this is a debate mostly fans have. Lucasfilm produced the movies and George wrote the story and was Executive Producer. To say they’re not a part of Star Wars is to say George is not. This debate keeps coming up. Each time it does, I say then why did they release it on DVD and call it Star Wars: The Ewok Adventures on the DVD. Recently it was released on Disney Plus and they are calling us Star Wars Vintage. The fans who don’t like the movie and say it’s not a part of Star Wars or canon need to stop. These movies were made by the same company.
JN: A single DVD release and then, after much campaigning by yourself, adding it to Disney Plus, the two films have finally been appreciated by fans again. Has it surprised you that after all these decades, that these films are still so beloved?
EW: I would have never believed almost 40 years later we would be talking about it. Even the Lucasfilm publicist at the time said, you know Eric this is a big deal, and this will be famous for 10 years. They did not know Star Wars would become a cultural phenomenon.
JN: Are there any members of the old cast that you still keep in touch with?
EW: I am in touch with a lot of the cast members like Kevin Thompson, Nikki Bothelo, and occasionally Aubree Miller and Warwick Davis. I have done conventions with Carl Strickland, Dame Sian Phillips. Aubree did one convention back in 2005 being the only one she did in Ohio. She is often asked but says no because she can’t remember much because she was 4 years old during Caravan of Courage and 5 on the Battle for Endor.
JN: How did the idea for a documentary, using your behind-the-scenes footage, come about?
EW: Originally, I was contacted by Tom Grove who wanted to film me walking around London Film and Comic Con. He wanted to document Star Wars fandom and the special interaction we have with fans of all kinds. He did film this and it will be in the documentary. I then began talking to him about all the behind-the-scenes footage and pictures I had and said they have never been released. That it would be a great documentary on Disney plus like the Gallery: The Mandalorian does each season.
Tom happened to also be a documentary award winning director and it magically came about. Go watch his King Kong documentary. He does good work. This will be better because we are shooting in 4K. Whereas his Kong doc was put together during the pandemic with Zoom, but it still looks good.
JN: How involved have you become in the making of the documentary?
EW: I am a Co-Producer and very involved including filming some of the new interviews with the cast. Also, I provided the behind-the-scenes footage we filmed and photos from my private collection.
JN: One of the rewards in the campaign is a custom figure set. How does it feel to finally be made into an action figure?
EW: Surreal. I had heard Kenner wanted to do action figures after Caravan was so popular and had 65 million viewers. George said no. Never heard if they made a prototype. These figures are a wonderful collectible and well made by Cheesecake Customs.
JN: If fans are sitting on the fence about backing this campaign, what would you say to them?
EW: We wanted to do Kickstarter, so fans get rewards and something for their hard-earned money. One-of-a-kind collectibles and a part of movie history. So, if anyone cannot afford to give, (you can) do $1. This will at least give us the money to complete the documentary which they can view and see. This way we can preserve a part of Star Wars history.
Thank you so much for Eric Walker for joining us and providing us such incredible insight into the Ewok movies and beyond. There is still time for you to pledge your support to the Kickstarter campaign here.
The Ewok Adventures are available to watch on Disney Plus. My daughter and I watch them very frequently and have become firm favourites of ours!
