The First Star Wars Effects Shot Ever Created

Did you know the shot of the escape pod fleeing the Tantive IV and the Devastator at the start of A New Hope was the very first completed effects shot for the film? According to Grant McCune, the sequence where the pod disengages from the blockade runner and falls to Tatooine took three or four months to complete. No movie had ever attempted special effects shots the way Star Wars had, and while George Lucas was off filming the movie, the workers at Industrial Light and Magic had to invent new methods of filming models. Once they established their method, and when Lucas was back in California to make sure progress was made, far more complex shots were completed in less time. #starwars

[oClock]

Lots of asking "How do we do this?" answers more questions later on.

[thatblenderguy]

It Was The First Shot Also Used In The 1976 Teaser Trailer As Well.

[jakeslaughter]

I did know that. Only because I watched the ILM documentary series earlier this summer. Great series.

[GamePlayer]

Fun Fact: the escape pod launches seen in Spaceballs are unused shots from this scene

[garrick]

To this day, I do not fully understand this shot. The escape pod model looks like it has thrusters on the bottom that are pointed towards the Star destroyer. However, 3P0 and R2D2 have this big window view of the Star destroyer. What am I missing?

[gitgeronimo]

Tantive-E? Never knew that’s how it’s pronounced

[demetrinight]

I have heard that the escape pod was built over a KFC bucket. Unfortunately I don't remember what other parts were used.

[agfagaevart]

first shot created, but not the first that Lucas approved.