EIF case studies

EIF Resources

The EIF project is producing four case studies. Three of them examine props and costume from Star Wars. The fourth explores the impact of location shoots on communities and nature.

On publication, case studies will include notes on our methods, data, and main findings. Case studies 01 and 03, on Artoo Detoo and Lightsabers, will also feature interactive calculators to help you assess different materials and processes commonly used by the screen industries.

If any of our case studies/calculators change how you think or feel about the industry’s impact on the environment, or if you use any EIF project resources in your work, please do take a minute to let us know by completing this short survey. Your feedback will help us develop further resources and apply for funding that supports our ongoing work. 

01

Image by gromit15 from Pixabay

Artoo Detoo

One of galaxy’s most recognisable droids, an aluminium Artoo first appeared onscreen in 1977. He has since turned up in fibreglass and CGI, and is now the subject of 3D modelling. But what are the environmental impacts of different Artoo units? This case study investigates physical and digital builds to find out.
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02

Queen Amidala's illuminated throne room gown from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace by mharrsch is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Throne Room Dress

Queen Amidala’s iconic red dress in The Phantom Menace (1999) represented high fashion in Star Wars. In this study, we trace the environmental impacts of materials used to create the garment, and suggest how practitioners might source sustainable alternatives fit for royalty today.
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03

light saber

Lightsabers

The team that created the original lightsabers for A New Hope back in 1976 relied on scrap items that would otherwise have been discarded. Today, meanwhile, there are thousands of replica ‘laser swords’ available to buy in shops. We review the lifecycles of two lightsabers to think about the value of reused materials, and how props proliferate beyond the screen.
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04

middle peak quarry

Locations

From former military sites, via disused quarries, to National Trust property, locations across the UK stand in for many fantastical sites in Star Wars. In our fourth case study, we ask local communities how these shoots impact nature and day-to-day life in their areas, and consider how filmmakers can adopt more environmentally friendly practices.

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