COME FOLLOW ME TEASER from APAIRUS COMPANY on Vimeo.
See the trailer for "Come Follow Me". See the short as part of the Arizona Shorts Program at the 2012 Phoenix Film Festival.
Olympic Fencer/Darth Vader Passes Away at 89
Bob Anderson, a former Olympic fencer who staged Darth Vader's light saber battles in two "Star Wars" movies, has died in West Sussex, England. He was 89. Anderson died peacefully Jan. 1 at a hospital, British Academy of Fencing President Philip Bruce wrote on the organization's website.
"He was truly one of our greatest fencing masters and a world-class film fight director and choreographer and both the fencing community and film world will miss him," Bruce wrote. "My heart felt sympathies and thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time."
Also read: 3D Version of 'Star Wars' Gets a Release Date
Considered to be Hollywood's go-to choreographer for sword-fighting, Bruce tutored Sean Connery and Lindsay Lohan, among others.
In "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," Anderson was Darth Vader's onscreen stunt double in the light saber battles -- including the scene in which the character cuts off the hand of Luke Skywalker. Anderson was uncredited in both films.
In a 1983 with Starlog magazine, Mark Hamill, who played Skywalker, said Anderson's contributions to the films should be made known.
Also read: 'Star Wars: The Complete Saga' Sets Blu-ray Sales Records
"Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader's fighting," he said. "It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told [director] George [Lucas] I didn't think it was fair any more. Bob worked so bloody hard that he deserves some recognition. It's ridiculous to preserve the myth that it's all done by one man."
Anderson also lent his sword-fighting talents to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Princess Bride," "The Mask of Zorro" and the 1998 remake of "The Parent Trap," for which he tutored Lohan.
He was also Connery's stunt double in "Highlander" and performed sword-fighting stunts for Johnny Depp's and Orlando Bloom's characters in "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."
Bruce is survived by his wife and three children.
Read more on Mr. Anderson’s life over on NPR.org. There’s also a bonus video of Viggo Mortensen talking about his time training with the sword-wielding legend.
Golden Globe Noms Are In!
The nominations are here and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to make a few predictions. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Hollywood Foreign Press has made their collective decisions on whom to nominate for a coveted Golden Globe Award. No real surprises here, although we are curious to see if Michel Hazanavicius’s (try saying that five times fast) critically-adored film ‘The Artist’ will take home an award for Best Screenplay or Best Motion Picture – Comedy. (View trailer)
Here’s a sampling of predictions from around the PFF office:
Best Motion Picture – Drama The Descendants
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Glenn Close (That’s right. She’ll steal it from Meryl Streep this year.)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Michael Fassbender
Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical The Artist
A Conversation with Peter Weller
During this special event, Peter Weller will talk about his career, participate in a Q&A with the audience and receive the Copper Wing Tribute Award. Purchase tickets here.
