We have a couple of Star Wars-related items from SciFiNow. First off, click here for a nice interview with OT stop-motion and creature effects animator Phil Tippett. Here's an excerpt:
What was it about the Cantina scene that was missing? ?George needed to flesh out more unusual creatures that they weren?t able to get, Stuart Freeborn got sick on that show, and wasn?t able to deliver all the stuff that he hoped to be able to deliver. Most of the creatures that they shot in England were like animal type things ? mole people and crocodile people, that kind of thing ? and George wanted it more like space aliens, so we fleshed out that kinda stuff. So pulled all this stuff down to an insert stage in La Brea, and all of us guys that made the stuff got to put the masks on, and George came down and Carroll Ballard shot all of these little inserts on little sets that matched what they had in England. We just spent a couple of days putting on masks, and acting and doing all this stuff? it was fun!?
In addition, issue #58 of SciFiNow Magazine is currently on sale. Billed as Star Wars: The Ultimate Celebration, this new issue includes:
"Star Wars: The Ultimate Celebration, all new interviews and never before seen photos
?George Lucas rated us out of ten!? All new exclusive interviews with the people that made the Galaxy a reality
77 Greatest Moments Your favourite jaw-dropping scenes from the Star Wars saga
Expanded Universe Explored The villains, the journeys and the shocking future of the Star Wars EU, from The Clone Wars to the Old Republic"