The incredible fantasy short film Black Angel is now available worldwide on iTunes. Black Angel is the 1980 short film that was attached to the theatrical release of The Empire Strikes Back in the UK, much of Europe and Australia. It also represented the writing and directorial debut of the Oscar winning Star Wars art director Roger Christian.
It became part of cinematic lore having been lost for over thirty one years before being rediscovered in late 2011. Fondly remembered by the audience of The Empire Strikes Back and celebrated by film makers in the generation that followed – the impact of Black Angel cannot be understated.
Filmed in and around Eilean Donan castle in the Highlands of Scotland in the autumn of 1979 on a grant of £25,000, the script was personally picked by George Lucas to accompany the next instalment in his Star Wars franchise. Created and Directed by Roger Christian whom was a trusted friend of George Lucas having supported and innovated on the art direction of Star Wars for months before the original film had even been picked up.
Having lost his own negative of the film whilst working for a company that was closed down in an administration event, and with Lucas’ own copy lost within his massive archive – the film was all but lost until Universal Studios found an original 35mm negative in December 2011. Painstakingly restored with the help of Athena Studios and Skywalker Sound, Black Angel was screened again for the first time in October 2013 at the Mill Valley Film Festival in Marin County, California.
The film can be purchased from the following locations:
If you want to hear more check out the 16th May episode of RebelForce Radio for Jimmy and Paul’s in-depth chat with Roger, or to the 27th March episode of RADIO1138 where I interviewed Roger at the Glasgow Film Festival.