Lucas chooses...
We produced the originals for the first Star Wars ANH film back in 1976 and are still producing fantastic products more than 30 years later. Read our story below!
In 1976, Andrew Ainsworth and his friend Nick Pemberton were living in Twickenham, London. Nick, a successful scenic artist, had been approached by the Star Wars buyer to produce characters for the film. Click here to read more about how it all started or read on below...
The prop makers brief
On 6 Jan 1976, Nick had a meeting with George Lucas to discuss the Stormtrooper helmet and other characters. John Mollo came on board about the same time. In his sketch bookJohn Mollo's sketchbook
John Mollo, ANH Costume Designer, kept a sketchbook/diary which annotated the design ideas for the props and costumes developed for ANH.
Andrew Ainsworth gained access to these sketchbooks and they formed part of the evidence in Andrew's successful court win. (page 213, 12 Jan 1976) it states discussing with Nick the Stormtrooper helmet, gun & holster, Jawa mask and Tuscan raider. In addition, there was a note to get a couple of samples from the USA - a US Navy helmet and a helicopter pilot helmet.
Nick and his staff worked intermittently on Mollo's requests and Nick had a couple of further meetings with Lucas to discuss the direction it was all taking. Mollo had placed his hopes in Nick to produce the various helmets and allocated the Art Department at the Studios to start work on the Stormtrooper armour (Mollo’s sketch book, page 214).
Lucas chose Nick’s red clay Stormtoooper mock-up...
...Nick could now ask me to make the Stormtrooper a reality.Andrew Ainsworth
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George Lucas viewing the Stormtrooper mock-ups
Lucas chooses...
By the 20 Jan, Nick was ready for his third meeting with Lucas at the Studios. He'd prepared a red clay mock-up of a Stormtrooper head plus ideas for the Tuscan Raider mask, Jawa mask, belt and holster. At this meeting, Nick was given a guided tour of the Art Department and he observed the grey clay sculpting being done on the armour. John Barry (Production Designer) told Nick that they were at a bit of loss as to how to make the armour. Nick suggested that he knew someone who might be able to help...Andrew Ainsworth at Shepperton Design Studios was who he had in mind.
Whilst Nick was on his guided tour, Lucas was inspecting the various alternatives that he had for the Stormtrooper head. The photo shows Lucas inspecting a grey helmet, as sculpted by Liz Moore at the Studios and beside it, the one Nick had presented in red clay. (Nick always used red clay as it was cheaper; the Studios' Art Department always demanded the best fine grey clay. Read more about the significance of this here; with copies of court transcripts. Lucas chose the direction of Nick's effort and the Studios effort was abandoned.
Nick returned home with the go ahead from Lucas, even though he had no form of contract or order. Nick could now approach Andrew to turn the Stormtrooper helmet into reality...
