A Word from Errol "Spat" Oktan
Director of "JEDI HOUSE"
Jedi House was our first attempt at making a fan film, something I always swore I would never do. But when the idea for a film where Star Wars meets Animal House hit me, I knew I had to run with it. When Heather Harris heard about it, she came up with some great college movie spoofs, most notably, the infamous "Pinki The Hutt" scene spoofing Van Wilder. From there, it was pretty obvious this was going to be one crazy film.
Heather and I had worked together in the past on other films, including Star Wars fan films, but most of our experiences involved working on other people?s feature films, either in front of the camera, or as crew in the make-up, props or costume departments. Neither of us had ever tried to actually put together a film, even a short film, by ourselves. We knew we would need help.
Heather and I immediately went to work calling people and getting the production under way. We got very lucky in getting Shane Felux (of Star Wars: Revelations fame) to do a cameo in the film, and in one of the costumes from Revelations! Our most ambitious plan was actually making a working puppet of the teen Hutt. We wondered if he would look good on film, and since some of the biggest and best gags in the film hinged on him, we were very worried.
Thankfully, in the end, our worries were unfounded. Pinki pulled off his lines like a pro, and the final film looks great.
We truly hope you enjoy our first attempt at a Star Wars spoof. Hopefully you?ll have as much fun watching it as we had making it!
Errol "Spat" Oktan
Director, Jedi House