Roger Christian (filmmaker)

He began his career as an assistant art director on several UK productions including the Hammer Studios film And Soon the Darkness (1970). He won an Academy Award for set decoration on the science fiction classic Star Wars (1977). (Christian claims to be the third crew member hired for the project.) Christian's use of aircraft scrap and other machinery to dress the set interiors of these films and creation of weapons using old working guns adapted by adding junk revolutionized the look of science fiction films. ==Star Wars==

Contribution to the creation of the Lightsaber prop Christian is known for having significantly contributed to the creation of the lightsaber prop for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), thus helping create, alongside John Stears's special effects, that which is arguably the most popular artifact in Star Wars and one of the most popular items in movie and pop culture. In order to create what would eventually become known as the Skywalker Lightsaber, Christian found the handles for the Graflex Flash Gun in a photography shop in Great Marlborough Street, in London's West End. He then added cabinet T-track to the handles, securely attaching them with cyanoacrylate glue. Adding a few "greebles" (surface details), Christian managed to hand-make the first prototype of a lightsaber prop for Luke Skywalker before production began. George Lucas decided he wanted to add a clip to the handle, so that Luke could hang it on his belt. Once Lucas felt the handle was up to his standards, it went to John Stears to create the wooden dowel rod with front-projection paint so that the animators would have a glow of light to enhance later on in post production. Due to lack of preparation time, Christian's prototype and a second spare were used for the shooting in Tunisia, where filming on Star Wars began. Relationship with Lucasfilm Beyond his set decoration work, Christian was also involved in creating the props for Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber, R2-D2, the stormtrooper rifle, and Princess Leia's blaster, which he told Star Wars Insider he created alongside George Lucas. He also helped to create the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and, as set decorator, and dressed its hold. Christian maintained his working relationship with Lucas over the years, having worked on Return of the Jedi (1983) and being the second unit director on Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). He later briefly met with the Star Wars: The Force Awakens art department and Star Wars Rebels crew, although not in an official capacity. ==Further relevant work==

Christian began his directing career with the shorts Black Angel (1980) and the Oscar-winning The Dollar Bottom (1981). Black Angel, filmed at locations in Scotland, was mentored by George Lucas who tied the film as a programme with The Empire Strikes Back in UK, Australia, and Scandinavia. His 1994 feature film Nostradamus, about the life of the famous French prophet, has received worldwide recognition. starring John Travolta and Barry Pepper, which The Guardian considered a commercial and critical disaster, and as one of the "worst films ever made". In 2009, NPR declared the film "the worst science fiction film of the decade". Christian does not consider Battlefield Earth to be a "Scientology movie" as he intended it as a throwback to regular science fiction. He also won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director. In 2006, he directed an action/adventure/mystery movie, Prisoners of the Sun, starring John Rhys-Davies, David Charvet, Carmen Chaplin, and Gulshan Grover. It was unreleased until 2014 when it had geographically limited release in Nordic countries. ==Personal life==

Christian is a Buddhist. He is an admirer of filmmakers Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino. ==Filmography==

Short film Feature film Music video Television Other credits Set dresser • Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969–1970) (8 episodes) • Jason King (1971–1972) (25 episodes) Assistant art director • And Soon the Darkness (1970) • The 14 (1973) • The Final Programme (1973) • Lucky Lady (1975) (Uncredited) Art director • Akenfield (1974) • Alien (1979) • ''Monty Python's Life of Brian'' (1979) Set decorator • Star Wars (1977) • The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) 2nd unit director • Return of the Jedi (1983) • Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) • The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: My First Adventure (2000) (Uncredited) Other == Awards and nominations ==