Filmumentaries take a look at the incredible career of the late and much-missed Robert Watts, from his start in the industry through his time on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films and beyond. A true original, his contributions to the saga and Indy were key in making both trilogies the icons we love so dearly.
Robert Watts was one of the most influential British film producers of the late 20th century, helping to bring to life some of the most iconic movies in cinema history. In this exclusive short documentary, Watts reflects on a career that took him from a runner on small film sets to working at the heart of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and James Bond.
His journey began with an early break thanks to family ties to Ealing Studios, followed by work on commercials and his first big feature jobs. He recounts his time on Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, before an introduction to Stanley Kubrick led to his work on 2001: A Space Odyssey. That recommendation would eventually put him on George Lucas’ radar — leading to his role as Production Supervisor on Star Wars (1977).
Watts describes the challenges of making Star Wars on a tight budget and schedule, the scramble to finish, and the shock of discovering its unprecedented global success while working in remote Afghanistan. He then stepped up to Associate Producer for The Empire Strikes Back, tackling extreme conditions in Norway to film the legendary Hoth sequences, including the now-famous story of rushing Harrison Ford to set in a snowplough during a real blizzard.
From there, Watts’ career expanded to include Raiders of the Lost Ark, where he worked closely with Steven Spielberg and navigated complex shoots in multiple countries. He shares candid behind-the-scenes moments — from managing thousands of snakes to running in front of the giant boulder — and explains why Raiders remains his personal favourite of all the films he made with George Lucas.
This documentary is a rare opportunity to hear Robert Watts in his own words, offering an intimate portrait of a man whose problem-solving skills, creative vision, and sheer determination helped shape blockbuster filmmaking. For fans of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, James Bond, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and anyone fascinated by behind-the-scenes movie magic, this is a must-watch.
