Cinema Alchemist: Designing Star Wars and Alien

The original Star Wars was more than a movie. It was the birth of an entertainment empire, the first step into a vivid new storytelling universe. But back then, during filming, it wasn’t any of those things. It was a struggling, shoe-string production plagued by doubt and disagreements. Thankfully, George Lucas had the steady, inventive hands of folks like Roger Christian slaving away night and day to bring his vision to fruition.

And now, an incredibly influential and unsung name gets his moment to shine in Cinema Alchemist. Roger was the set dresser behind Star Wars and Alien and helped craft the brilliant, gripping visuals that brought both universes to life. He reveals the stories behind iconic props and the tensions inherent in both infamous productions, as well as stories from his work on The Life of Brian and his own short film that appeared before The Empire Strikes Back in theaters.

It’s a fascinating, engrossing tale of the mad dash that leads to movie magic, a tribute to the passion and drive needed to make cinematic art. And as both a Star Wars fan and film buff, it’s a magic window into the past that only enhances the originals.