Star Wars: 10 Secrets Behind The Death Star You Didn't Know
3. A Ping-Pong Table Was Used To Film The Final Assault
Star Wars made its name by using revolutionary cinematic effects, almost always straying from conventional methods. Probably none of the shots in the original film were as revolutionary or unconventional as the practical effects used while filming the final assault on the Death Star.
The wide shots were created using models and matte paintings, however the trench run was accomplished by recreating the complex surface on six ping pong tables, setting off explosions as the camera passed through the channel.
Though today's blockbusters achieve arguably better effects with the groundbreaking advancements in CGI, you can't argue that this is an ingenious way of creating one of the most inspiring scenes in cinema history.