The incredible fantasy short film Black Angel is now available to pre-order worldwide on iTunes – with a full release coming on 20th May 2014.
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.
I was fortunate enough to see the re-mastered film as part of a mini-tour that Roger Christian took the film on in Scotland back in the early spring. You can read my review of that event here and listen to my interview with Roger on Radio 1138 here.
Its ties and impact on the Star Wars franchise is apparent to anyone who views this short, as well on a whole host of revered fantasy films that followed.
With a re-mastered soundtrack from Skywalker Sound, and with David Tanaka (visual effects editor on the Star Wars Special Editions, and The Phantom Menace) having restored the visuals of the film – this is a chance to finally see and own a piece of our Star Wars and cinematic culture.
As one of the main creators of the used universe that we know and love as the Star Wars universe, Roger Christian’s work on the establishing the look and feel of the Star Wars universe was phenomenal. He is currently writing a book provisionally called Cinema Alchemist to be edited by Jonathan Rinzler. This will charter his creation of the look and feel of the Star Wars and Alien universes. It is hoped that this be released in time for Celebration Anaheim in 2015. Roger also met with Doug Chiang to discuss the design of the Star Wars universe during the early design stage of Episode VII.
I am incredibly excited to own and see this film once more, and encourage you all to do the same. Roger is currently working on a graphic novel, and script for a full length feature of Black Angel – which would be incredible. We will keep you updated on the progress of these projects as they move forward.The summary from iTunes describes the film as follows:
“The mythological drama follows a Knight returning from the wars to find his land destroyed and his family dead from a great sickness. Returning to the wars with nothing to live for, he falls into a river and is dragged down by the weight of his armour. At the last breath, he manages to pull off his armoured helmet. Swimming to the surface he ascends into a strange land where he meets a maiden bound to the Black Angel. He vows to save her and fulfil his Knights quest to rescue a maiden. In a fight to the death he confronts the Black Angel, a mysterious figure, an angel of death. Especially commissioned by George Lucas to accompany STAR WARS; THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK on its world release wherever a short film was programmed. The 25min medieval fantasy was written and directed by Roger Christian.”
Pre-Order now in the following stores (other regions are available):
US: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/black-angel/id870578336 for only $2.99
CANADA: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/black-angel/id870578336 for only $2.99
UK: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/black-angel/id870578336 for only £1.99
You can also see the film in The Royal Cinema, Toronto on May 20th with Roger Christian fielding a Q&A hosted by Richard Crouse.
More details on this showing can be found here: https://www.theroyal.to/films/black-angel/
For more on Roger Christian and Black Angel follow them both on twitter: