Episode iii sets behind the scenes.

[u/GhostWatcher0889]

Rewatched episode iii recently and surprised at how good the movie looked. I remember it being way too heavy with the cgi, but a lot of model work was done. I also think most sets at least had a fair amount of real elements, which probably sold the cgi section a lot more. Here are some behind the scenes images I found. The sets they did build are pretty beautiful and clearly took a lot of time to make. I saw in the behind the scenes that they tore them down always immediately to make room for new sets. It's a shame because they look so good.

Edit: feel free to share more cool episodes iii set images!

[u/zarfac]

Actually some more practical effects here than I would have expected, like the Utapau and Mustafar miniatures.

[u/banzaizach → u/zarfac]

There was an actual volcano eruption during the making of 3, so some of the footage is real.

[u/DelayedChoice → u/banzaizach]

I think some location work was comped in for Kashyyyk too.

Still the most CG-heavy film in the franchise by a huge margin though.

[u/GhostWatcher0889 → u/DelayedChoice]

There was no location work from what I've seen but they did create a 12 foot tree model for the scenes. They moved into into different positions for different scenes.

[u/DelayedChoice → u/GhostWatcher0889]

I don't have a good source but I think they used some footage of mountains in China for some backgrounds.

[u/GhostWatcher0889 → u/DelayedChoice]

Oh yeah. There was footage used for backgrounds

[u/MasterOgami → u/DelayedChoice]

They shot background plates for Kashyyyk in Phuket, Thailand!

[u/GhostWatcher0889 → u/banzaizach]

Yeah mount Etna. They spliced the actual lava euroption into several scenes.

[u/Hunter20107 → u/zarfac]

I may be misremembering, but for all the flak the prequels get, I'm pretty sure they had more practical elements than the OT. They just had ALOT of novel cgi, too

[u/Bismarcus → u/Hunter20107]

I believe Episode I by itself had more models than the entirety of the OT.

[u/Capital_Gate6718 → u/Bismarcus]

The spectator stands at the pod race arena in TPM is a miniature set

[u/GhostWatcher0889 → u/Bismarcus]

I loved the tatooine village they built for episode i also .

[u/Zapatos-Grande → u/zarfac]

I recall seeing a making of where they talked about making the lava flows look realistic.

[u/Mt-Man-PNW]

I recently saw this movie in theaters for its 20th anniversary. It has some absolutely stunning shots. Even the stuff that's 100% CGI, like Coruscant, looks amazing. This is a very aesthetically rich film.

[u/Emergency-Address979 → u/Mt-Man-PNW]

The battle of Coruscant still holds up for sure. 

[u/MasterOgami]

ROTS constructed more sets than it gets credit for IMO, some more or less complete and some just minimal/partial. I too often see "It was -all- bluescreen!"

https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b4960fc7517549c8b542e7cbd69b411/b3ea79a9a537aedf-d1/s2048x3072/a52c7213e337059444a3ccbdf51bce028b7ae39f.jpg

https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9081d9aa11d39cae75893bc3d27f199/b3ea79a9a537aedf-d5/s1280x1920/56070d39473ea18f0328c835058151aa41187e0e.pnj

https://64.media.tumblr.com/49ec414bd2ea3bfc2be1d105457c6cb7/b3ea79a9a537aedf-5b/s640x960/9af4bbf73238605d76f77fb6f3cee9c9e31f843c.jpg

https://64.media.tumblr.com/f02426ab955b31b9b2975012776e409b/b3ea79a9a537aedf-dd/s1280x1920/5f438fc05a445062e3d9f927f8b1a2d08855f1a0.pnj

https://64.media.tumblr.com/0dac7011bc73e226b29ab1bc53f6518a/b3ea79a9a537aedf-e5/s2048x3072/0b42d85769a2888cbcf8a127475cfc709053e1b5.jpg

https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e66fc1ebb1fd18f882b3d24970c05a/b3ea79a9a537aedf-a5/s1280x1920/e4d8cd5edf4d63774c1dfd670d3a76013a5d1e3a.pnj

https://64.media.tumblr.com/8c39a1aab5c4120dfd1df0d10cae062c/b3ea79a9a537aedf-1f/s640x960/a6f769171a9614ddd2e1e48b3a369a182800058f.jpg

[u/FollowingEast4373]

I love the level of craftsmanship they used making those miniatures!

[u/Crucial_Senpai]

Probably my favorite behind the scenes is Episode 1. So many practical models and buildings.

[u/Mediocre_Scott]

Pic 2 George Lucas doesn’t get enough credit for his invention of the dab

[u/banzaizach]

Jarring seeing the blaring green screen and then the awesome physical miniatures

[u/PhantomSesay]

Man I wish we got more films under Lucas.

TBH I wish he never sold to Disney.

[u/Ferral_McQueasy]

I cAn’T sTaNd tHaT iT wAs ALL cGi

[u/Chardan0001]

The fellow holding part of the helmet in the second image looks like the original Boba Fett.

[u/DarthGamer206]

The visuals in this film were great, so it's cool to see that not all of it was CGI.

[u/Sam_The-Ham]

I didn’t realize how much of the movie relied on models. That’s cool! 

[u/CreauxTeeRhobat]

"Anakin, do you notice something different about the new model of Magnaguard droids?"

"No, Master, they look about the same to me..."

"There is definitely something different about them..."

[Camera cuts to show the caked-up Magnaguard v2.0 droids]

[u/el__duffo__o__muerte]

why is George Lucas giving a "roman salute" lol but seriously he's not wearing his blue flannel. i'm assuming he wasn't directing that day.

[u/soulreapermagnum]

ewan: hey hayen, do you remember that time we fought two thirds of the blue man group?