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Idea & Info: Return of the Ewok - on Hyperspace

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 (Edited)

I was wondering if anyone was planning on putting this to DVD. This is a short movie that Warrwick Davis filmed while making Jedi (then still called Revenge of the Jedi) Features characters and sets from Jedi and is really cool. I got to see it at C3 and now Star Wars.com has offered it’s hyperspace members a chance to download it. I haven’t yet, but plan on it. This would make a great addition to a Jedi Comp disk!

Link to Hyperspace article on “Return of the Ewok”

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Unfortuantly i am not a hyperspace member and i can't see this.
"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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If ANYONE can put this up somewhere, I'd love them until the Lord returns. I've wanted to see this film for as long as I can remember. Its a true holy grail, as far as I'm concerned.
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You might want to read this thread: http://www.originaltrilogy.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=9&threadid=1836&STARTPAGE=3

With details and alternative links to the file. i.e. alt.binaries.starwars, demonoid torrent, or PM me. It's also been seen on the edonkey network.

PS Its not the whole 24 minute film, looks like Hyperspace have only released an edited 4 minute film version containing highlights of the full thing. Unless anyone knows different?
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There was at least one clip from this hidden amongst the bloopers on the bonus disc of the Trilogy DVD. Wicket is strolling down a Death Star hallway we actually didn't see in the final cut of Jedi when Boba Fett takes a shot at him!
Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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I like the way that implies Boba survived the sarlaac but got blown up along with the death star...
...Even if it is just a bit of fun
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The version of ROTE available on Hyperspace is an edited version containing all of the relevant Star Wars scenes. The full version actually charts the story of Warwick getting the part of Wicket. As they say on the OS it is the best quality print that is available. There is a negative in existence probably in storage at the labs at which it was processed, but the cost to produce a new print would be very expensive. Not to mention the clean up involved. The film was shot between breaks in shooting ROTJ and were directed by David Tomblin, the first assistant director of ROTJ. And before any of you get too excited, the scene involving Wicket and Boba Fett on the Death Star was shot specifically for ROTE. It was one of the scenes I was lucky enough to see filmed. I think there are only a couple of decent copies on VHS and they belong to the director and the star and possibly a few cast and crew. There is a bootleg doing the rounds but i've only seen it once at a convention.
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Originally posted by: baby hum
The version of ROTE available on Hyperspace is an edited version containing all of the relevant Star Wars scenes. The full version actually charts the story of Warwick getting the part of Wicket.

Unfortunately, the edit doesn't even contain all the relevant SW scenes. There's nothing after Wicket meets Vader, including the parts where he talks to Yoda (a highlight for sure!) and fights alongside the Ewoks in the forest.

As they say on the OS it is the best quality print that is available. There is a negative in existence probably in storage at the labs at which it was processed, but the cost to produce a new print would be very expensive. Not to mention the clean up involved.

Do you know for certain that there is a negative in existence? My understanding is that the film was completely lost, and the only remnant left of it was the VHS copy in Warwick's possession. Warwick said at C3 that he loaned the tape to Lucasfilm, who made a digital copy of it, and that's the best copy that is known at this point as well as being the source for the Hyperspace clip. I imagine they did a minimal amount of cleanup on that copy. I can also tell they altered the soundtrack--where there used to be Supertramp's "Take The Long Way Home" as temporary soundtrack, they've dropped in other incidental music (to avoid copyright clearance issues). Also, they seem to have tweaked the soundtrack in other places, and in at least one instance a line is missing (Wicket saying "Crikey, it's Lord Vader!" right near the end).

The film was shot between breaks in shooting ROTJ and were directed by David Tomblin, the first assistant director of ROTJ. And before any of you get too excited, the scene involving Wicket and Boba Fett on the Death Star was shot specifically for ROTE. It was one of the scenes I was lucky enough to see filmed.


You saw this scene filmed on-set? Do tell...!

I think there are only a couple of decent copies on VHS and they belong to the director and the star and possibly a few cast and crew. There is a bootleg doing the rounds but i've only seen it once at a convention.


I think you're dead-on there. I seem to recall Warwick saying again at C3 there were only 6 copies out there.

--SKot

Projects:
Return Of The Ewok and Other Short Films (with OCPmovie) [COMPLETED]
Preserving the…cringe…Star Wars Holiday Special [COMPLETED]
The Star Wars TV Commercials Project [DORMANT]
Felix the Cat 1919-1930 early film shorts preservation [ONGOING]
Lights Out! (lost TV anthology shows) [ONGOING]
Iznogoud (1995 animated series) English audio preservation [ONGOING]

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Hey guys. I'll make it official ... Skot Kirkwood and I are working on a DVD release of this. We'll include the 4 minute version's clips, as well as a crappy full 24 minute version that someone shot with their camcorder. We don't have a proper copy, but I'll do my best to make this watchable.
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Nice one ocpmovie, looking forward to seeing more of your work.
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Do you know for certain that there is a negative in existence? My understanding is that the film was completely lost, and the only remnant left of it was the VHS copy in Warwick's possession.

I've been told by a very reliable contact that there is a neg in existence, the problem is, nobody can find it. It's probably one of those things that will be unearthed many years from now. You're also right about the Yoda stuff.

You saw this scene filmed on-set? Do tell...!


One of the advantages of living near the studios as a kid.



I've also got somebody on the case looking for a copy of that bootleg.

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Originally posted by: ocpmovie
Hey guys. I'll make it official ... Skot Kirkwood and I are working on a DVD release of this. We'll include the 4 minute version's clips, as well as a crappy full 24 minute version that someone shot with their camcorder. We don't have a proper copy, but I'll do my best to make this watchable.



Yes, i can't wait for this.
"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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Originally posted by: s7en
I like the way that implies Boba survived the sarlaac but got blown up along with the death star...
...Even if it is just a bit of fun



I was wondering what that clip was, but now obviously i've found out.

Anyway that clip was digitally restored it felt like an actual scene from ROTJ dvd.

"A Jedi can feel the force flow through him".
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Originally posted by: ocpmovie
Hey guys. I'll make it official ... Skot Kirkwood and I are working on a DVD release of this. We'll include the 4 minute version's clips, as well as a crappy full 24 minute version that someone shot with their camcorder. We don't have a proper copy, but I'll do my best to make this watchable.


Count me in. This would be sweet.
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I've also got somebody on the case looking for a copy of that bootleg.


Thanks to you and to ocpmovie! You guys rock! I remember seeing clips of this a long time ago, and it's existence has haunted me for years. I can't wait to see it!
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My understanding is that the film was completely lost


I don't think Lucas has lost anything about Star Wars in his entire life. It's hidden somewhere, waiting the right moment to make money.
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I saw a Return of the Ewok DVD on ebay about a year ago. I don't know what the source was, probably a cam from Celebration I.

Anyway, why does the Boba Fett shooting at Wicket scene exist is such high quality?
Greedo shoots first? Not in my DVD player.
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Originally posted by: Obi-Wan Spicoli
I saw a Return of the Ewok DVD on ebay about a year ago. I don't know what the source was, probably a cam from Celebration I.

Yep... and I believe that auction got pulled because the copy was given to the seller under strict agreement that it was not to be copied or sold. The footage was most likely from a camcorder, shot at a con in Germany. And although I didn't see any cameras going this time in the Pop Culture Room at Celebration 3 while I was there, I saw at least two people filming it at Celebration 2. I have yet to see their copies surface.

Anyway, why does the Boba Fett shooting at Wicket scene exist is such high quality?


Good question. My theory was that either Lucasfilm took Warwick's VHS copy of the footage, digitally cleaned the heck out of it, and used that (not likely, it looks way too good, even for Lucasfilm's expertise)... or, there was a reel of film in their archives with that particular scene on it (much more likely). There's also the little piece that appeared in the VH1 special (Wicket saying goodbye to the heroes), which I figure is the same story.

--SKot

Projects:
Return Of The Ewok and Other Short Films (with OCPmovie) [COMPLETED]
Preserving the…cringe…Star Wars Holiday Special [COMPLETED]
The Star Wars TV Commercials Project [DORMANT]
Felix the Cat 1919-1930 early film shorts preservation [ONGOING]
Lights Out! (lost TV anthology shows) [ONGOING]
Iznogoud (1995 animated series) English audio preservation [ONGOING]

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Return of the Ewok was shot at the same time as Jedi obviously, so footage intended for it appears on the "making of Return of the Jedi" film reels, and even on the actual film reels for the film, in the case of the Boba Fett clip.

It would be simple enough to construct a very nice looking 35mm film print of the film, if Lucas ever wanted to. I assume most or all of the footage has survived.
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jaymanchu said:

I was wondering if anyone was planning on putting this to DVD. This is a short movie that Warrwick Davis filmed while making Jedi (then still called Revenge of the Jedi) Features characters and sets from Jedi and is really cool. I got to see it at C3 and now Star Wars.com has offered it’s hyperspace members a chance to download it. I haven’t yet, but plan on it. This would make a great addition to a Jedi Comp disk!

Link to Hyperspace article on “Return of the Ewok”

is there anyway to get this now?