I Just Saw Darth Vader - An interview with Character Appearances Manager Gillian Libbert

Ever since Star Wars captured the imagination of moviegoers back in 1977, the characters who inhabit the galaxy far, far away haven't been confined to the movie screen. Appearing live at special events and gatherings, the heroes and villains of the saga have always kept in touch with the public. Darth Vader never backs away from a walk through a crowd to inspect future Imperial recruits up close; Chewbacca happily greets his fans face to face and hand to paw; R2-D2 is one eager little droid who never tires of sharing beeps and whistles with an audience. And the person responsible for making this magic happen is Lucasfilm's Character Appearances Manager Gillian Libbert. With dozens of accurately replicated costumes based on the original clothing worn during filming, Libbert helps to bring Star Wars characters to life for fans around the world.

"I studied sociology and film at UC Berkeley, in the San Francisco Bay area," begins the ever-smiling Libbert in her office at Skywalker Ranch. "When I graduated, I knew I wanted to do something in the entertainment industry but I wasn't really sure in what capacity. I ended up moving to Los Angeles and worked as a page for NBC. I would give tours of the television studios, be an audience usher for the 'Tonight Show,' that sort of thing." After that, Libbert spent a few years as a talent agent for television, before engaging in what would eventually bring her to Lucasfilm. "I became a wardrobe assistant for TV movies and features," she says, "which means that I did anything from shopping for clothes, or working as the on-set dresser to aging fabrics and sewing costumes. I learned a lot." Life then brought Libbert back to the Bay area, where she took a position in advertising. "I was an account planner, and I was responsible for conducting focus groups and test screenings, just like they do for movies, except they were for ads," explains Libbert. Missing the entertainment industry terribly, Libbert started doing more wardrobe work for documentaries before she finally called the Lucasfilm job hot-line and applied for her current position. "The job description included 'operating R2-D2 and dressing Star Wars characters,' " she says with a grin, "and that's what caught my eye." An interview followed, and Libbert was brought aboard the Lucasfilm team.

When Libbert joined Lucasfilm in 1996, the whole company was gearing up for the upcoming Star Wars Special Edition Trilogy. Consequently, the demand for costume appearances was very high. Being able to learn and adapt quickly was key. "I'm responsible for dressing the actors, of course," says Libbert, " but also for setting up the stage or area where the appearance will take place, making sure everything is right, and explaining to the event's organizers what we can and cannot do with the costumes, due to certain physical limitations." The actor wearing the C-3PO costume, for example, is completely bolted in: he needs two people to get him inside the suit, and two people to get him out. Visibility is very limited, as is mobility, for he cannot sit down, which means that he needs something he can lean on in order to get some rest. The stormtrooper costumes also present similar limitations. "Since a lot of the costumes get very hot," Libbert continues, "I have to keep an eye on the actors and carefully plan the time they spend in public so they can retire and take the rest periods they need." This consideration can make costume appearances that take place outside a bit more problematic than one would expect.

Among the many duties of the Character Appearances Manager, which include repairing damaged garments, one duty in particular is absolutely paramount. "My top concern is to maintain the integrity of the characters," says Libbert. "The Star Wars characters go on, not only in sequels, prequels, books, and so on, but also in people's imagination, beliefs and ideals. And because of this it is essential to keep the magic alive." You will never see, obviously, R2-D2 without his head or Chewbacca without his bandolier. But Libbert's precaution extends to the smallest of details, ensuring that you will never catch a glimpse of Darth Vader walking around without his cape, or with his lightsaber hanging upside down. "We always have a very private area where the actors can change, so we don't destroy the illusion," says the watchful Libbert. "And the performers are all Lucasfilm-approved actors whom I have trained to behave in the proper way and maintain the continuity with what the fans have seen in the movies." During a costume appearance, no aspect is left to chance, no detail unchecked.

While a typical event can mobilize about one to six characters, the opening of Star Wars Special Edition in Los Angeles took the proportions of an epic event. "We had 35 characters appearing at the same time," recalls Libbert. "Darth Vader was there with an escort of stormtroopers, there were two Imperial Royal Guards, R2-D2 and C-3PO showed up, Chewbacca arrived on the scene in a Humvee, a Tusken Raider got there in a dune buggy, the Cantina Band musicians stepped out of a stretch limo with a Jacuzzi in the back... it was crazy." The event was especially delicate for Libbert because the environment was less controlled than most costume appearances are. "There were tons of fans and members of the press present, and the characters had to walk a red carpet surrounded by everybody. And it was outside, of course, so it got terribly hot. It was quite a challenge." But Libbert rose up to it and safely saw all the performers through the event, the largest gathering of Star Wars characters ever. "The most popular character remains R2-D2," says Libbert, "and I have to admit he's my favorite one, too. He's got a mind of his own, and you never quite know what to expect of him."