My Snack Crackers With Anthony

May, 2005 - Oakland

by Rev. Felix Roy Mariposa

Anthony Daniels, for those who don't know, was a British stage actor for years before getting encased in one of the world's most uncomfortable costumes, and his talent in engaging a live audience was on display as he charmed the packed room. He opened by asking the audience, with inscrutable sincerity, if anyone in the audience had seen Star Wars. Then, more seriously, he asked how many had seen it more than 50 times; about half the people in the room raised their hands. He graciously thanked us for paying his salary for the last 28 years.

He talked for about 45 minutes about his experiences making the films. What made it more than just a reminiscence was that HE DOES ALL THE VOICES. Alec Guiness, George Lucas, he's got impressions down.

Star Wars was Daniels' first film role. When he went to meet Lucas for the first time, he expected the full Hollywood experience - lush offices, cigar-chomping mogul in a suit... and instead met Lucas, clad in his usual plaids, in a small, dingy rented office. Apparently, it went some thing like this.

Lucas: "So. You're an actor."
Daniels: "Well, yes, I've been in several productions, and I'm now appearing on the West End in-"
Lucas: "Do you do mime?"
Daniels: "Well, yes, for several years-"
Lucas: "You like science fiction?"

Slightly disappointed, Anthony took the role because the character was compelling. Six months later, he showed up at the studio, thinking: his time - Hollywood experience! Lights, cameras, dressing rooms, craft services... Instead, he was met by a burly stagehand who said, "Allright then, strip down."

And thus the full body casting began.

Of course, he did get to work with the legendary Alec Guiness. Sir Alec took Anthony under his wing; one of the first thing he recalls Guiness saying to him was, "Have you gotten your per diem yet?"

Unfortunately, Lucas had only hired Daniels as a motion actor, much like David Prowse (the body of Darth Vader). As with Prowse, Daniels wasn't told about this, until several more months after principal photography wrapped. He got a call from Lucas, asking him to come in to loop all his dialogue. It seems that he'd gone through 30 voice actors and none of them captured the character the way Daniels had on set. Unfortunately, most of his dialogue in the first Star Wars was opposite R2D2.

This was another first for Anthony; he'd never done voice-over work either. Unlike stage or screen, where he'd have another actor to interact with, he was in the booth with no other actors - just George Lucas. So he asked for help.

Daniels: "George, after my lines, so I have something to react to, could you, well, beep?"
Lucas: "What? Uh, okay."
Daniels: [Insert your favorite C3PO line here]
Lucas: "Um... beep."

"And that," Anthony told us, "is when I knew I was on my own."

Of course, Daniels is the only actor to appear in ALL the Star Wars movies. So there were, naturally, fun at the expense of Ewoks. He asked us, "Is there anybody here who actually LIKES Ewoks?" When none dared raise their hand, Anthony chuckled evilly, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Gooood."

The mask he wore doesn't allow for a lot of peripheral vision. In fact, he couldn't see anything except what was directly in front of him. Anthony informed the Ewoks of this, that he wouldn't be able to see whether they were in his way, so it'd be very important that they all be in their places.

"So, first take," Anthony said, "and I'd trodden on an Ewok. Of course, it was just an Ewok, we scraped it off my foot, got another one and tried again."

To close the event, it was time for the obligatory signing. Everyone had their C3PO merchandise - Pez dispensers, posters, DVDs of the "Droids" cartoon... but I had a real winner. As you may be aware, the cross-promotions for the last Star Wars film have gotten completely out of control (visit http://www.calottery.com if you don't believe me), but I think I'd found the ultimate. At Target, there was an entire display of Cheez-It boxes, for some inexplicable reason, adorned with every one's favorite droid.

I am proud to say Anthony Daniels thought they were hilarious.

He hadn't seen them before, either. He showed the entire line, reminisced for a moment about the infamous C3P-Os breakfast cereal. Then, of course, signed the box.