Robert Watts

Last updated

Robert Watts
Born (1938-05-23) 23 May 1938 (age 85)
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1968-1996
Relatives Jeremy Bulloch
Jamie Bulloch

Robert Watts (born 23 May 1938) [1] is a British retired film producer who is best known for his involvement with the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series.

Contents

Career

Watts began working in the film industry in 1960, [1] after two years' National Service. [2] His first film work was as a runner on the Boulting brothers production A French Mistress . [2] Watts earned his union membership during two years as a runner, and later production manager, at a company based at England's Shepperton Studios which made TV commercials and documentaries. [2] He then returned to feature films as a second assistant director on the film Man in the Middle . [2]

During the 1960s, Watts worked extensively as a production manager and location manager, including on Darling (1965) starring Julie Christie and Dirk Bogarde, the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice and Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). [3]

Watts was employed by producer Gary Kurtz as production supervisor on Star Wars . He had met Kurtz several years earlier in Los Angeles. [2] [4] Watts then enjoyed a long collaboration with George Lucas and Lucasfilm, working as associate producer on The Empire Strikes Back and co-producer on Return of the Jedi ; and as associate producer on Raiders of the Lost Ark and producer on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade . He also worked on other Steven Spielberg-presented productions, including as producer on Who Framed Roger Rabbit and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West , and with Spielberg's long-term producer Frank Marshall on Marshall's second feature as director, Alive .

Personal life

Watts' half brother was Jeremy Bulloch, [2] [5] who played Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Filmography

YearFilmProducerProduction
manager
Roles
1968 2001: A Space Odyssey Yes
1970 El Condor Yes
1973 Papillon Yes
1977 Star Wars: A New Hope Yes
1980 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Associate
1981 Raiders of the Lost Ark Associate
1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Co-ProducerLt. Watts (AT-ST Driver) (uncredited)
1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Yes
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Yes
1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Yes
1991 An American Tail: Fievel Goes West YesAdditional Voices
1993 Alive Yes
1994 On Deadly Ground Executive

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References

  1. 1 2 Adam Pirani, Robert Watts: Secrets of "The Temple of Doom", Starlog #94, April 1985, pp 23–26,62.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dennis Pellegrom, Star Wars Interviews: Robert Watts, Co-producer Star Wars. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  3. Stuart Cummins, Interview: Robert Watts, Producer of Star Wars & Indiana Jones, whatculture.com, 25 May 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  4. James Hoare, "Star Wars Interview: Robert Watts", SciFiNow, 25 September 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. "Jeremy Bulloch". Jeremybulloch.com.