Orbital FX: Inside the World of Practical Effects

About this episode

Steve Otis Gunn interviews Luke and Paul from Orbital FX about their work in practical effects and prop building.

Two lads from the North East of England built props that ended up purchased by Disney for actual Mandalorian productions — and they're still not entirely sure how to feel about it. Luke and Paul from Orbital FX are a North East-based practical effects and prop-making team whose work spans Star Wars replica props, Marvel productions, Disney theme parks and events, including a full-size Millennium Falcon build and components used in the Ant-Man quantum experience filmed at Pinewood. Why Lucasfilm's relationship with its fan community is completely unlike anything else in Hollywood — and what George Lucas apparently told Disney when they bought Star Wars The story of restoring the original Boba Fett blaster from The Empire Strikes Back in five days Why making props for convention costumers is actually harder than making them for films How the carbon fibre Darth Vader helmet came about — and why cutting 40% of the weight is, apparently, a genuine game changer The day Steve introduced himself to George Lucas at a bankrupt Fashion Café in London with broken speakers, dodgy lights, and a Tandy mixer Why practical effects never really went away — and how Star Wars single-handedly…

People in this episode

Host: Steve Otis Gunn

Guests: Luke, Paul

Topics covered

• practical effects
• prop building
• film industry
• 3D printing
• fan conventions
• AI in film

Keywords

• practical effects
• prop building
• Orbital FX
• 3D printing
• Millennium Falcon
• Disney
• Star Wars
• Marvel

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Orbital FX, Disney

Books & works: Star Wars, Marvel, Avengers: Quantum Encounter

Places: North-East UK, Millennium Falcon

More episodes of All My Clothes Need Burning (formerly Television Times)

• Please Stand By: Regular Programming Will Resume Shortly · June 7, 2026 · 18 min
• Dewey Gaedcke: Five Days Lost in a Hawaiian Lava Field · May 31, 2026 · 43 min
• John Scott: Wrong Place, Right Story · May 24, 2026 · 56 min
• Seymour Mace: Clowning Around — From Tokyo Street Theatre to Doing Exactly What You Want · May 17, 2026 · 44 min
• Howard J. Ford: Caves, Cannibals and Cannes · May 10, 2026 · 57 min
• Podcast Name Change Alert! · February 12, 2026 · 4 min