Posted on 09/25/2017 9:48:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The sci-fi video was shot at a massive warehouse near Bridgend
Darth Vader has made his last on-screen appearance with a starring role in the new music video from Welsh rock musician Jayce Lewis.
The man who played the iconic villain in the original Star Wars trilogy has starred in his final ever production after retiring from all professional and public appearances, due to ill health.
Now 82, Dave Prowse has gone in front of the camera one last time for his good friend and long-time collaborator - Jayce Lewis - fittingly in a sci-fi themed video.
The pair – who Dave describes as having a relationship “like father and son” – filmed the video for Jayce’s new single Shields at a 315,000sq ft warehouse near Port Talbot.
They met at a Star Wars convention almost 20 years ago and, after discovering a shared interest in music, Dave later became Jayce’s manager and business partner.
“It’s a nice relationship, which has gone on for years,” said Dave of his partnership with Jayce, 32.
“It’s nice to have common interests. We have known each other for so long it’s like father and son working together.”
In the music video, Dave, who brought the most popular movie villain in history to life, plays a menacing government chief in charge of a secret experiment which opens a portal to another world and unleashes energy which he and his stooges struggle to control. That energy includes Jayce, 32, from Kenfig Hill, near Bridgend.
Transported into our realm from a parallel universe, Jayce struggles to free himself from the tyranny of his oppressor – played by Dave – who is none too pleased with the turn of events.
Jayce, who also built and runs his own music studio called Northstone just outside Bridgend, said the plot mirrors struggles he has had within the music industry and also the wider issues of government control of individuals.
Now with a new major label and back releasing music under his own name, instead of that of former band Protafield, Jayce – who has collaborated with icons including Gary Numan, Queen drummer Roger Taylor and Brian May – said he wants to show the world how he’s back on track.
Having already scored a number one album in Asia, Jayce – who co-directed his latest video with friend Richard Starkey – said: “This is getting my identity back and releasing the first single back under my solo name. My mentor Dave Prowse has stuck by me through thick and thin.
“It’s a weird feeling as it’s Dave’s final appearance and and a very poignant moment for me. If you had told me as a kid that Darth Vader’s last apeparance would be in a music video of mine I wouldn’t have believed you.”
From casting Dave in the leading role to coming up with the plot, Jayce has taken a hands-on approach to this latest project, even constructing the large metal truss which portrayed the government’s portal with friend and long-time lighting engineer Matt Wood.
The set – which was actually John Pye Auctions on Kenfig Industrial Estate – was provided by a fan and another friend of Jayce’s, Adam Pye.
“Every video I have done has been within five miles of my house,” said Jayce.
As for Dave he said: “Me and Jayce have been planning to work together in a music video for years and finally he did one that made sense for me.
“I won’t be doing anymore on screen work after this, so I guess it makes this video a little something extra for the fans. I’m in long admiration of Jayce and his work, we make a good team. May the force be with us!”
He must have been in a bunch of other stuff, because standing there pointing at actors in front of a blue screen while James Earl Jones says your lines doesn’t make you much of an actor in my book.
Great to hear he’s such a nice fellow!
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