The "Garbage Collectors" or "Strikers" are an unnamed species of aliens seen in The Fifth Element's original script, novelization and the film's deleted scenes.
Description[]
The Garbage Collectors are a thin and lanky bipedal species with hairless leathery skin and who stand only at about 4ft in height. Their most distinctive feature are their long prehensile snouts, making them somewhat resemble Earth's anteaters. They do not seem very hygienic or are at least not provided better working conditions, as their skin appears filthy and their work clothes are filthy and torn.
History[]
The Garbage Collectors are first mentioned by a pair of police officers as they were searching for Korben Dallas's cab, with them noting the large mounds of garbage forming under the city and that many garbage collectors have been out of work for almost a generation ever since the city realized that it was cheaper to let the garbage pile up and haul it to a landfill.
Garbage Collectors on strike at the airport
Several Garbage Collectors are later seen protesting at the Manhattan Intergalactic Airport alongside several other workers due to poor working conditions and so have formed a strike, refusing to pick up any garbage until their demands have been met. Vito Cornelius, David and Leeloo initially see the Garbage Collectors sitting atop the large mounds of garbage filling the airport as they hold signs in protest, although the police were massing to move in, causing tension to form between the two groups. The police then began shooting to break up the illegal gathering, forcing the collectors to dive into the trash.
Behind the Scenes[]
A striker puppet
According to The Alien Element: Strikers featurette, several puppets were produced for the scene along with picket signs that read "No Cash. No Trash." and "G Hands on Strike". The puppets also had animatronic hands and faces. Several camera tests were also conducted to test the puppets' performance. They were originally going to appear during the airport scene in the film shortly after Cornelius and Leeloo arrived, and two police officers would also tackle Korben during the striker riot.
According to creature effects supervisor Nick Dudman, they were apparently of low class in Earth society. Some puppets also had thin arms or bulky ones which were compared to Popeye the Sailor Man, and others wear varied accessories such as pants, goggles and aprons. Most of the finalized footage featuring them was destroyed, and Nick Dudman expressed great regret over the loss of the Strikers from the film as he considered them very funny.
Trivia[]
- The name of the species is never mentioned in the script or novelization where they appear, but the The Story of The Fifth Element book simply lists them as "Garbage Collectors". The Alien Element: Strikers featurette also refers to them simply as "Strikers".
- In the script and novelization, David notes that among the alien garbage collectors are also some human, droid and "altered" garbage collectors.