We’ve seen a lot of Star Wars fan films — and I mean a lot of them — but few are as well done as this one. Ryan Fletcher of Skyforge Films presents Rangers on Patrol!
It’s not very long, just about five minutes including the credits. It’s well written for what it is, a slice of life on patrol in the outer rim. The scene blocking is good, everything makes sense visually, the effects range from good to great, and the little story has a satisfying ending.
Most of SkyForge’s work appears to be about this length, and it took six months to make this one. It, like all its predecessors, is done in all CGI, and all using desktop software. It features an original score by Joseph David Spence, capturing the feel of the Star Wars composers John Williams and Michael Giacchino, and some talented voice actors. At first I thought I was watching live action, but then the eyes on the characters gave away the game (no micro-movements of the eyes, and the shaders he used for them give them a dull appearance, betraying their purely digital origins).
SkyForge Films, largely a one-man operation run by Ryan Fletcher , though he does work with a number of his friends. He has been making these short subjects, and learning computer animation and effects in the process, since about 2020. There is a Patreon campaign where you can support his efforts.
Unfortunately we know little about the man himself, or the tools and methods he uses, other than he appears to have won both Emmy and Telly Awards. In addition to his YouTube channel, there is also his Instagram feed, which features some amazing renders of Star Wars ships from his films.
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