--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had an electronic head and arm for…" description: "\"We had an electronic head and arm for Threepio, and I manipulated the mechanism with a joystick. But it wasn't working. The propman said, 'Give me fift..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/irvin-kershner-38121_arms_we-had-an-electronic-head-and-arm-for-th_2366313.jpg" --- # We had an electronic head and arm for Threepio, and I… ![“We had an electronic head and arm for Threepio, and I manipulated the mechanism with a joystick. But it wasn't working. The propman said, 'Give me fifteen minutes.' We all went to get coffee, and when we came back, Threepio's head turned perfectly and his arm moved naturally. I looked up and…” quote by Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/irvin-kershner-38121_arms_we-had-an-electronic-head-and-arm-for-th_2366313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/irvin-kershner-38121_arms_we-had-an-electronic-head-and-arm-for-th_2366313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/524/irvin-kershner-38121_arms_we-had-an-electronic-head-and-arm-for-th_2366313.jpg) > “We had an electronic head and arm for Threepio, and I manipulated the mechanism with a joystick. But it wasn't working. The propman said, 'Give me fifteen minutes.' We all went to get coffee, and when we came back, Threepio's head turned perfectly and his arm moved naturally. I looked up and realized that the prop man had a fishing pole with a fine nylon string attached to Threepio's arm. He had rigged another string around the head, which Chewbacca was holding. As Chewie moved his hands, Threepio's head turned!” [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A clever practical effect used a hidden string and a fishing pole to animate a robot character, showing ingenuity in low‑tech solutions. **In simple terms:** A hidden string made the robot move. Key Takeaway Use simple tricks when technology fails. Themes creativity problem solving film making Mood playful inventive Type anecdotal technical When to use this quote - set design - special effects troubleshooting - DIY filmmaking Key Concepts practical effects mechanical puppetry resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What low‑tech tricks can improve a production? - How does improvisation affect storytelling? A Different Perspective Reliance on hidden mechanisms can be fragile and limit realism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Fishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishing/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nylon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nylon/) ## Related quotes > [When you are a screwed up person, you have a responsibility to keep your normal friends from getting walked on. 'Cos, how bad could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/when-you-are-a-screwed-up-person-you-have-a-responsibility-to-keep/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [There's something brave and touching about game girls of all ages keeping themselves smart in hard times - one thinks of those wonderful women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/there-s-something-brave-and-touching-about-game-girls-of-all-ages/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Okra is the closest thing to nylon I've ever eaten. It's like they bred cotton with a green bean. Okra, tastes like snot. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/okra-is-the-closest-thing-to-nylon-i-ve-ever-eaten-it-s-like-they/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [It's possible that you have been told a time or 10 that you don't appreciate how tough your elders had it. It's true that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/it-s-possible-that-you-have-been-told-a-time-or-10-that-you-don-t/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Being part of 'Natural Nylon' is a great way to have an influence on the films that get out there. I love films and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lee-miller/being-part-of-natural-nylon-is-a-great-way-to-have-an-influence-on/) [Jonny Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lee-miller/) > [I really loved when Prada Sport came into fashion, which kind of created all the nylon which she had for quite some time. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopal-patel/i-really-loved-when-prada-sport-came-into-fashion-which-kind-of/) [Roopal Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roopal-patel/) > [“What I saw had no solidity, it was all made of mist and nylon, with nothing behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kavan/what-i-saw-had-no-solidity-it-was-all-made-of-mist-and-nylon-with/) [Anna Kavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kavan/) > [He thinks he is a flower to be looked at And when he pulls his frilly nylon pants right up tight He feels a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-davies/he-thinks-he-is-a-flower-to-be-looked-at-and-when-he-pulls-his-frilly/) [Ray Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-davies/) > [New Orleans is the only city in the world you go in to buy a pair of nylon stockings they want to know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/new-orleans-is-the-only-city-in-the-world-you-go-in-to-buy-a-pair-of/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [So when I was working with Amy Winehouse on "Back To Black," you know, she had all these beautiful songs, incredibly well-written and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/so-when-i-was-working-with-amy-winehouse-on-back-to-black-you-know/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [All gut strings. Thats just the first kind of guitar I played, it was a nylon string guitar. And to me, its the purest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-clark/all-gut-strings-thats-just-the-first-kind-of-guitar-i-played-it-was-a/) [Guy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-clark/) > [I don't go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/i-don-t-go-to-church-kneeling-bags-my-nylons/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [Very few guitarists play nylon-string. They don't know how to get the sound out of them. That's something I've spent a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-feliciano/very-few-guitarists-play-nylon-string-they-don-t-know-how-to-get-the/) [Jose Feliciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-feliciano/) > [I have loved you woman as surely as I have named you rust and sand and nylon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-have-loved-you-woman-as-surely-as-i-have-named-you-rust-and-sand/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [The rope connecting two men on a mountain is more than nylon protection; it is an organic thing that transmits subtle messages of intent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevanian/the-rope-connecting-two-men-on-a-mountain-is-more-than-nylon/) [Trevanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevanian/) ## More by Irvin Kershner > [I have not given much credence to reviews of my films. Sometimes they're wrong, but it didn't matter to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/i-have-not-given-much-credence-to-reviews-of-my-films-sometimes-they/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [In the last ten years of watching films I have found that some of the foreign films I saw affected me most. One American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/in-the-last-ten-years-of-watching-films-i-have-found-that-some-of-the/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [I have not been a follower of how many millions my films made or did not make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/i-have-not-been-a-follower-of-how-many-millions-my-films-made-or-did/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [I want films to haunt an audience, to give them something to remember and be able to talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/i-want-films-to-haunt-an-audience-to-give-them-something-to-remember/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [There's nothing more interesting than the landscape of the human face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/there-s-nothing-more-interesting-than-the-landscape-of-the-human-face/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [After 'The Empire Strikes Back,' I got to make big films that I didn't care about, 'Never Say Never Again' and 'RoboCop 2,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/after-the-empire-strikes-back-i-got-to-make-big-films-that-i-didn-t/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [Nobody can be happy. You could have moments of happiness, moments of joy. But life is very difficult. Unless you're a total idiot. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/nobody-can-be-happy-you-could-have-moments-of-happiness-moments-of/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [I love my early movies, but naturalism is an artist's early style. Now I want to deal with feelings, dreams, an acceptance of irrationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/i-love-my-early-movies-but-naturalism-is-an-artist-s-early-style-now/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [Film is a window to the real world but a lie that makes you believe the unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/film-is-a-window-to-the-real-world-but-a-lie-that-makes-you-believe/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [It's a matter of pride to me to get the film done fast, to get it done well. I understand the need for compromise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/it-s-a-matter-of-pride-to-me-to-get-the-film-done-fast-to-get-it-done/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) > [The thing that you learn in directing is that when you're on the floor, no matter how complex the shooting is...you have to remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-kershner/the-thing-that-you-learn-in-directing-is-that-when-you-re-on-the/) [Irvin Kershner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) [Explore all 12 Irvin Kershner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-kershner/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We had an electronic head and arm for Threepio, and I manipulated the mechanism with a joystick. But it wasn't working. The propman said, 'Give me fifteen minutes.' We all went to get coffee, and when we came back, Threepio's head turned perfectly and his arm moved naturally. I looked up and realized that the prop man had a fishing pole with a fine nylon string attached to Threepio's arm. He had rigged another string around the head, which Chewbacca was holding. 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