This is a fascinating tape. It isn't as slick as the behind the scenes documentary that comes with the DVD - the picture and sound are kind of fuzzy, it wasn't always possible to film from a perfect place at a perfect time, and the non-Willow sections may seem a bit long to people who aren't members of the Vande Brake family. But it's great precisely because it is so utterly natural - a look behind the scenes can't be any more true-to-life than this! This video shows what the movie-making process is really like from the actor's point of view.
All of Mark's scenes took place in the Nelwyn village, so of course the video relates mostly to that portion of the movie. Nevertheless, Mark's father managed to get some great footage of the Tir Asleen set under construction and a glimpse of a tall guy in rebel armor who looks like Airk who was hanging around the Willow's house set. Other things you can see in the video: all the principal Nelwyn actors plus George Lucas and Ron Howard, staff meetings, costume fittings, makeup sessions, rehearsals, snippets of conversation about material that doesn't appear in the finished movie, Mark Northover (Burglekutt) clowning for the camera, a close look at the inside of Willow's house, the actual shooting of a scene from behind the professional cameramen, the setting up of the river scene, an exploration of the festival set, a hilarious moment where young Mark gets mad and attacks his father, and more!
 |
For more information on Mark Vande Brake, check out this March 2003
interview in the Articles
section, this April 1998
interview
on the Big, Big Willow/Shadow Moon Homepage and
>Mark's
listing on the Willow Management website.
The on-set portions of the video were filmed with George Lucas' permission. People would sometimes come up to Mark's father on the set and say, "You can't be here with that camera!" Mr. Vande Brake would say the magic words - "George said I could" - and they would smile and walk away.
Here's a collection of screen captures from the video:
