4/15/1981 – ‘Begin shooting The Dark Crystal – Mystic Valley first, Dying Emperor, Crystal Chamber.’

More than three years of thinking went into Jim’s vision for how to present the world of The Dark Crystal to movie audiences. It was an exciting moment when cameras finally began to roll, and Jim was well prepared. He started with some of the most complicated scenes, including the climactic encounter between Jen and Kira and the Skeksis in the Crystal Chamber. Working closely with the storyboard artist, Jim plotted out the action and on his own, sketched the placement for each of the nine Skeksis. With the paper plan in place, Jim yelled, “Action!” and the real fun began.

See a clip from the climactic Crystal Chamber sequence from The Dark Crystal, one for the first scenes shot when cameras rolled on April 15, 1981.

Storyboard panels for the Crystal Chamber scene of The Dark Crystal, 1981.

Storyboard panels for the Crystal Chamber scene of The Dark Crystal, 1981.

Storyboard panels for the Crystal Chamber scene of The Dark Crystal, 1981.

Jim’s plan for the placement of the Skeksis in the Crystal Chamber, 1981.

Behind the scenes of The Dark Crystal: The Crystal Chamber, 1981.

Read more from Jim Henson’s Red Book in Imagination Illustrated: The Jim Henson Journal available from Chronicle Books.