Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens cast members (L -R) Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, writer, director and producer J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy and show host Anthony Breznican appear at the kick-off event of the Star Wars Celebration convention in Anaheim, California, April 16, 2015. Reuters/David McNew

In his Vanity Fair interview for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” movie director J.J. Abrams revealed one particular practical approach applied to some of the film’s creatures in terms of visual effects. He also recalled how Harrison Ford complied with his request to change his Han Solo voice for the film.

An excerpt of the director's interview with Vanity Fair is posted on the publication’s website, where Abrams talks about some of the practical effects done on the set of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The director cited one scene in the film where a Jawa-like creature pops out of the desert sands of Jakku. Instead of applying CGI for the creature’s visual effects, J.J. Abrams revealed “a classic, old-school seesaw puppet” was used instead. “We just buried it in the sand, and Neal Scanlan, the creature guy, pushed down on one side and the thing came up on the other side,” he said.

According to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams had “turned back into an 11-year-old boy” with his enthusiasm for practical effects. When someone reportedly suggested to digitally enhance the Jawa-Like creature afterward, the director responded, “It’s so old-school and crazy. We could improve this thing, but at some point do we lose the wonderful preposterousness?”

The “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Vanity Fair issue will reportedly also share set photos proving the use of practical effects on the film. Fans will notice some of the puppets and man-made creatures used in the film through photographer Annie Leibovitz’s shots taken from the set. Even Oscar Isaac’s (Poe Dameron) X-Wing was reportedly also built just for the movie.

In the same Vanity Fair interview, J.J. Abrams also recalled how Harrison Ford had complied to change his voice as Han Solo. According to Movieweb, the actor has taken on a more growly voice lately in some of his films. However, when it was time to reprise his role in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the director specifically asked for Han Solo not to be growly. Something in the director’s words must have convinced the veteran to comply and exude so much excitement for the film that Abrams recalled Harrison Ford had “a fire in his eyes that you see in the movie.”

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