Jon Berg is a special-effects artist and occasional actor for the Star Wars saga. He appeared as an actor in the cantina scene for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (1977).
Biography
Berg worked as a stop-motion animator, as Harryhausen did before him, for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (1977). He moved different creatures, especially in the famous cantina scene, and he was also supposed to act as different aliens. Although uncredited, he is known to have played Momaw Nadon, the "Hammerhead"; and also one of the arguing Duros. He may have played one of the cantina band members, particularly Tech Mo'r, the ommni box player; however, this role is unconfirmed and even today a polemic question among experts.
He returned to the Star Wars saga for Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (1980), again as a stop-motion animator, although he was not officially billed for that part.
Berg returned to George Lucas' crew for Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi (1983) as a creature consultant. The following year, John Korty's TV movie The Ewok Adventure (1984) featured special effects by Berg and Star Wars colleagues Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett and Michael Pangrazio. All of them got an Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects, although shared with other TV movies and series. The book Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special Effects (1986, Thomas G. Smith) says that Berg also portrayed the Gorax in the movie.
His experience with Burton would be useful more than ten years after that, when he joined the Star Wars saga for a fifth time, working as model maker in the sixth installment of the saga, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (2005). In the meantime, Jon Berg has also been responsible for creating the statue used for the Fan Film Awards, and he was also credited as guest animator in the short Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II.
Works
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope | Momaw "Hammerhead" Nadon, a Duros | Uncredited |
| 1984 | Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure | Gorax |
Sources
"The Ultimate Empire Strikes Back Insider's Guide" — Star Wars Insider 49- Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 22 A Revolution In Film: Jon Berg
- "Creature Creator" — Star Wars Insider 147
- Star Wars at 40 | Much to Learn You Still Have: 9 Things You Might Not Know About the Aliens of Star Wars: A New Hope on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- Game On: A Look at Sabacc and Dejarik on StarWars.com (backup link)
- The Star Wars Archives: Episodes I–VI, 1977–2005
External links
- Jon Berg at the Internet Movie Database
