As Art Director of the original Star Wars film, 2nd Unit Director on Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace, Roger Christian was one of the first of the Star Wars crew to meet and work with Carrie Fisher. Having have been asked on television and radio to give his thoughts on Carrie Fisher and this tremendously devastating year of loss. He decided to put his thoughts down in writing and share with us today:
I first met Carrie when I was speaking with 4th assistant director Peter Kohn on the stairs leading to George’s office in Elstree. Having just seen George, Peter stopped me on my way out to tell me a funny story and as we were laughing a vice timidly asked “are you laughing at me” I turned to see the question was serious, the young woman standing before me had a hat with flowers around the brim pulled down in an attempt to hide under and a long flowing dress that also felt like it was saying I’m not really here.
“No we aren’t laughing at you, I replied, Peter here was telling me a funny story. I introduced myself and asked if I could help. She said “I’m Carrie Fisher, here to play Princess Leia.”
We both said welcome to Star Wars and we will take you to George. I explained to her that Peter was there to look after the actors.
I’ll never forget the moment and in a way it was quite indicative of the Carrie we knew on that first film. She was intensely private, and did keep herself to herself. She bonded with Harrison, Mark and George, and soon came out of her shell when with them on set, sharing funny moments, keeping a levity to the negative chaos surrounding the making of the film.
She got stuck in and made each scene memorable, and to me she was the first science fiction heroine played as a feisty princess and this is the Leia she embraced, not the bikini clad Leia chained to Jabba. I was directing 2nd Unit on Return of the Jedi and filmed part of the scene with her there. She never really embraced being seen as a sex symbol, it simply baffled her and wasn’t what she was ever aware of.
Carrie possessed an intelligence and deep wit that came out in her writing, at which she was skillful and dedicated. A scene I directed in Phantom Menace stands testament to her talent. I filmed the moment when R2-D2 meets C-3P0 for the very first time in the saga. C-3P0 is in the process of being made by Anakin and doesn’t yet have his gold outer skin built.
R2-D2 beeps at him and C-3P0 says
“naked, what do you mean naked”.
R2-D2 beeps again and a shocked C-3P0 says
” my parts are showing…Oh”!Carrie wrote this little scene for George uncredited, and its so poignant and witty, was a joy to film and its all Carrie.
Carrie was a fiercely honest voice against the stigma surrounding mental health when it was really not fashionable to be so, and never afraid to speak of her own travails in dealing with it and helping others, whether an unknown fan or acquaintance. Her legacy is of course Princess Leia, and she never shied from it, saying the little science fiction film she made for fun, tricked her into being a global star. Egoless and always there for friends and people in need, the world has lost a treasure far too young.
To me if royalty did really exist in Hollywood Carrie was it. Sadly missed.
