tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19001128363744187552024-03-13T21:13:22.166-07:00Lightsaber RattlingLightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.comBlogger843125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-51216374809561430192013-09-13T11:24:00.003-07:002013-09-13T11:24:37.972-07:00Lightsaber Rattling is moving: Please Update your Bookmarks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lightsaber Rattling is getting a makeover. Transitioning from Blogger to Wordpress over the coming weeks. I will be leaving a redirect in place on the old blogger site (lightsaberrattling.blogspot.com), but please bookmark <a href="http://lightsaberrattling.com/" target="_blank">LightsaberRattling.com</a> and visit that URL going forward. <br />
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Thanks for reading and spread the word of Lightsaber Rattling's new look.<br />
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-PeterLightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-39400784017197569922013-09-10T23:28:00.002-07:002013-09-10T23:28:36.695-07:00Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and Black Angel Coming to Mill Valley Film Festival 36<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The California Film Institute is holding it's annual Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) October 3-13, 2013. The event will feature some interesting Star Wars and Star Wars related content.<br />
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On October 7th their will be a special <a href="http://www.mvff.com/jedi/" target="_blank">30th anniversary screening of <i>Return of the Jedi</i></a>. The pre-show events for this screening will begin at 5:30 pm while the screening itself will start at 6:30 pm. Tickets are on sale now and priced very reasonably at $14.50 for adults, $13.50 for members and $10 for children 12 and under. If you do attend any screenings at this festival ensure that you arrive 15 minutes early to secure your seat.<br />
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Cosplay is encouraged by the festival for this screening at it will feature prizes and giveaways as well as special guests for a question and answer session.<br />
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This will likely be very much like <i>Entertainment Weekly's</i> CapeTown film festival 30th anniversary screening which took place at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre on May 4th of this year. As an attendee of the CapeTown screening, I can say that it was a lot of fun to see<i> Return of the Jedi </i>on the big screen and being there with hardcore Star Wars and film fans was a tremendous amount of fun.<br />
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On October 13th on the final day of the festival, there will be a screening as part of the 5 @ 5 Shorts section, of <a href="http://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=64816~dc929e81-dd77-4c40-bcf3-47ec6a85c146&epguid=c612d5b0-2882-4166-821c-fe5114bf8af4&" target="_blank"><i>Black Angel </i>and some festival favorites</a>. This screening will begin at 8 pm and run 90 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://prod3.agileticketing.net/images/user/cfi_2450/black_angel_redux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://prod3.agileticketing.net/images/user/cfi_2450/black_angel_redux.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Black Angel </i>is a 22 minute short film written and directed by Roger Christian, a set decorator on <i>A New Hope</i> and Second Unit Director on <i>The Phantom Menace</i>. The short film was funded by George Lucas and packaged with the theatrical release of <i>The Empire Strikes Back</i> in it's foreign release in the United Kingdom, Australia and Scandinavia. <br />
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An August 12, 1997 profile of Christian on <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080404044612/http://starwars.com/episode-i/bts/profile/f19970812/index.html" target="_blank">StarWars.com </a>during the production of <i>The Phantom Menace</i> gives a bit of the back story on his career and how Black Angel fits into it.<br />
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<i>It was his experience on the original Star Wars and his growing love for film that led to Christian's career change. "After Star Wars I art-directed the first Alien film, then I wrote a short film and went back to film school," he says. British theaters then almost always showed short films along with features and Lucas wanted something that would go well with The Empire Strikes Back. By chance Christian met a Fox Film executive and told him of his un-produced script for a medieval fantasy, The Black Angel, which was too expensive to do in film school. Lucas read the script, okayed it and Fox gave the money for it to be made. "And that's what kicked me off," Christian says.</i></blockquote>
One of the interesting things about <i>Black Angel</i>, which I haven't seen but would love to is that it was never released in any home video format and it was believed lost until a copy of the film was found in 2011 by a Universal Studios archivist. A digitally restored and remastered version of the film will be screened at the festival.<br />
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<b>Sources: <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/09/once-lost-star-wars-related-short-to-screen-for-the-first-time-in-33-years/" target="_blank">Arstechnica</a>, <a href="http://www.mvff.com/festival-faq/" target="_blank">Mvff.com</a>, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080404044612/http://starwars.com/episode-i/bts/profile/f19970812/index.html" target="_blank">StarWars.com(via backup link)</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Angel_(1980_short_film)" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> </b><br />
<br />Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-77177404700604710402013-09-04T10:09:00.000-07:002013-09-04T10:09:53.898-07:00Announcement: Rebels Report: The Star Wars Rebels Podcast: The Official Podcast of LightsaberRattling.com and RebelsReport.com<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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I am happy to announce that I (<a href="https://twitter.com/PeteMorrisonLR" target="_blank">Pete</a>) will be starting and co-hosting my first podcast. My co-host will be none other than Andy (<a href="https://twitter.com/CanadianFanboy" target="_blank">@CanadianFanboy</a>) one of the talents behind the <a href="https://twitter.com/R2in22" target="_blank">@R2in22</a> Podcast, a great guy and great Star Wars fan.<br />
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The show will premiere before <b><i>Rebels</i></b> airs and leading up to <i><b>Rebels'</b></i> premiere we will feature news coverage and hopefully some interesting interviews. Once <b><i>Rebels</i></b> premiers in the Fall of 2014 the show will feature news, interviews and a review of each weeks episode. <br />
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I hope you enjoy the show once we get it up and running and I look forward to hearing from you. <br />
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Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-50307987678631682482013-09-04T09:21:00.000-07:002013-09-04T09:21:27.851-07:00Thank You A.C. Crispin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121206054855/starwars/images/f/fe/Bria_Tharen_by_Brian_Rood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121206054855/starwars/images/f/fe/Bria_Tharen_by_Brian_Rood.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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Author Ann (A.C.) Crispin <a href="http://www.startrek.com/article/ann-crispin-says-goodbye" target="_blank">recently announced over her Facebook</a> page that she was nearing the end of a long battle with cancer. Cancer takes far to many people far to young and while the loss of a great author is sad the loss of the person that is the author is so much more significant. I don't know Ann personally but I have loved her writing. </div>
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Fans may be familiar with her work in the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises or through her own original fiction. Her Star Wars work includes The Han Solo Trilogy as well as a pair of short stories in the "Tales from" series of short story collections.<br />
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I could say a lot about Crispin's writing, she gave Star Wars fans a great gift in her crafting of a back story for Han Solo, but I think the strongest praise I can give her is that in crafting the character of Bria Tharen she created a love interest for Han Solo that even rivaled Princess Leia. As readers of The Han Solo Trilogy we all knew Han and Bria could not last, but I didn't want the trilogy to end because I didn't want that flame extinguished.<br />
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Thank You Ann.<br />
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<i>Please visit <a href="http://www.accrispin.com/published.htm" target="_blank">A.C. Crispin's website</a> to learn more about her works. </i>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-46446822771275822202013-08-30T14:14:00.003-07:002013-08-30T14:14:39.798-07:00Review: The Companions (The Sundering Book 1) by R.A. Salvatore <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In R. A. Salvatore's latest novel <i>The Companions</i>, he once again returns to the world of Dungeons & Dragons' Forgotten Realms. This latest story launches a new event called "The Sundering" which spans not only the fictional universe told in the novel but also across the Dungeons & Dragons games. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/sundering.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Wizards of the Coast Description of The Sundering:</span></a></b><br />
<blockquote>
<i>What is the Sundering?</i></blockquote>
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<i>The Sundering will reshape the Forgotten Realms, involving the whole pantheon of gods, many nations, countless individuals, and the fabric of the cosmos itself. Powerful forces both mortal and divine are set in motion, and will bring an end to the Era of Upheaval. Over the course of this huge story event, players will have the opportunity to help shape the future of Faerûn and make their story legend. </i></blockquote>
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<i>Discover the ways you can experience the Sundering, including through tabletop roleplaying game adventures, store-based play programs, novels, accessories, and the first free-to-play D&D mobile game. </i></blockquote>
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<i>The end of the Era of Upheaval is nigh!</i></blockquote>
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<i>The world of the Forgotten Realms has endured one catastrophe after another for the past century or so, from the Time of Troubles through the Spellplague. Time after time, upheaval has reshaped the pantheon, overthrown nations and rulers, and even altered the geography of the world. Now, the world is being shaken and reshaped once again—for the last time. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>The gods are thrown into chaos at the promise of a new reckoning of the pantheon, and they scramble and grasp at power in hopes of cementing their positions of authority. Their mortal agents in the world, the Chosen, are charged with carrying out their will in every aspect of life.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>The Spellplague, the magical catastrophe that reshaped the world so dramatically, has come to an end. The Weave of magic is rewoven, and many lingering effects of twisted magic fade. The intermingling of worlds brought about by the Spellplague also comes to an end, as what belongs to Abeir returns to Abeir, leaving the Forgotten Realms looking much as it did before. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Partly driven by the activity of the gods’ Chosen and partly arising from the turbulent political situation at the end of the Era of Upheaval, the nations and factions of Faerûn engage in their own maneuvers, manipulations, and acts of aggression. In particular, the empire of Netheril attempts to conquer the Dalelands, Cormyr, and Myth Drannor, setting off a war that engulfs the eastern Heartlands. The Harpers and the Zhentarim respond to the growing threats in the world by regrouping and refocusing their energies, slowly returning to their former prominence. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>Nations, geography, magic, and even the gods are changing forever, in the birth-pangs that herald a new creation. The world needs heroes to ensure that the new age dawns bright and full of hope, where good still shines as a beacon against the darkness. </i></blockquote>
The Sundering series is a six book event, in order they are <i>The Companions</i>, by R.A. Salvatore, <i>The Godborn</i>, by Paul S. Kemp, <i>The Adversary</i>, by Erin M. Evans, <i>The Reaver</i>, by Richard Lee Byers, <i>The Sentinel</i>, by Troy Denning, and <i>The Herald</i>, by Ed Greenwood. For more information on The Sundering you may want to read interviews with <a href="http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2013/08/new-release-interview-the-companions-by-r-a-salvatore.html" target="_blank">R.A. Salvatore</a>, <a href="http://io9.com/fantasy-authors-erin-m-evans-and-troy-denning-talk-the-1218767242" target="_blank">Erin M. Evans and Troy Denning</a> and a post form <a href="http://paulskemp.com/blog/the-sundering/" target="_blank">Paul S. Kemp</a>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Review of The Companions:</span></b><br />
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Pardon the pun, but I always appreciate it when an author takes a novel approach to a novel. In<i> The Companions</i> R.A. Salvatore doesn't tell another adventure of Drizzt Do'Urden, even though Drizzt is the subject of the novel's cover. While Drizzt isn't the star of the novel he is the essential heart of the story,<i>The Companions</i> focuses on the story of three of Drizzt's closest friends and allies, Regis the halfling, Bruenor the dwarf King, and Catti-brie, Drizzt's human wife and adopted daughter of King Bruenor. Together these friends along with Wulfgar and Drizzt formed a fellowship known as "<a href="http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Companions_of_the_Hall" target="_blank">The Companions of the Hall</a>."<br />
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The Sundering fast forwards the world of the Forgotten Realms approximately 100 years in the future. Many of the heroes and villains that have populated the novel world are dead and The Companions of the Hall are no exception. While Drizzt has survived this leap forward in time his closest friends are all dead, but they don't have to be. Catti-brie presents her fellow companions with an opportunity presented to her by patron goddess Mielikki, Catti-brie, Bruenor, Regis, and Wulfgar if the so choose can be reborn, to return to Icewind Dale to come to the aid of their dear friend Drizzt. But this rebirth is not without price, they will be reborn as infants and have to live a new life until their appointed meeting some 22 years later.<br />
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The novel tells the story of Regis, Bruenor and Catti-brie as they are reborn, arriving in to new parents in new locations and meeting a host of new characters. I loved the concept of having these mature heroes be forced to experience childhood and adolescence anew. Salvatore's story features these character retaining their memories from their previous life and it was particularly fascinating to see the adult consciousnesses wrestle with the physical desires and emotions of their early childhood bodies. <br />
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Each character faces different challenges and takes different paths in their re-birth, though I would say Regis had the easiest time adapting to his new circumstances, Catti-brie was in between and Bruenor had the most trouble adapting. I was particularly drawn to Bruenor's story as the humors story telling of little infant Arr Arr gives way to the story of an angry adolescent dwarf. Bruenor suffers a crisis of faith and regrets greatly his decision to return for a good portion of the story. <br />
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Each character develops new relationships or faces new situations that pull on them emotionally, for Regis it is the chance at a new life and a new love, for Bruenor it is the chance to reclaim his thrown and protect his realm from the imminent threat of Orc invasion and fix what he views as a mistake from his past life, and for Catti-brie it is a new familial bond with new parents. Catti-brie's love for Drizzt seems to be her singular focus in life and provides her with more clarity of purpose than Regis or Bruenor who are much more conflicted in their reborn lives. I think that this spectrum of experiences paints a very nice picture and while the heroes of this novel all take different paths to fulfill their promise, they all do so.<br />
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The Companions is really all about loyalty, friendship and love. There is no overarching villain that needs to be conquered, their are no grand battles, this is the story of three journeys, about three lives lived and the varied victories and defeats that occur along the way until these friends can reunite as companions.<br />
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Salvatore has a number of cliffhanger chapter breaks throughout the novel in which our heroes are left seemingly on the verge of death, this technique is used with each character and serves to heighten the dramatic tension. While there is a number of fun action scenes in the novel particularly featuring Regis, there are also times where some of the potentially more interesting action happens offstage, particularly on Bruenor's final climb through the north to meet his friends and what occurred to Drizzt just before his appearance in the novel. <br />
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As a relatively new reader to the Forgotten Realms universe, my only previous experience being Paul S. Kemp's two Erevis Cale trilogies, there are some references I am sure I missed in this novel. I didn't have the benefit of knowing the back story of Drizzt and his friends or knowledge of some of the other regions and history of the worlds. All that being said, <i>The Companions</i> worked for me as a stand-alone novel, though I think my enjoyment was greatly enhanced by my previous reading that gave me at least a feel for the rules and realities of this universe. By telling the story of the heroes being reborn Salvatore is able to use the perspective of each character through memories, internal and external dialogue and occasionally the discussions of third parties to give us a window into the shared history of these characters.<br />
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All that being said, I really enjoyed <i>The Companions</i>, though it definitely is a story that begs for a follow up, what will the Companions do now that they are reunited?<br />
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For more on <i>The Companions</i>, visit <a href="https://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/frnovel/companions" target="_blank">Wizards of the Coast</a> and to read a sample of the book visit <a href="http://www.rasalvatore.com/" target="_blank">R.A. Salvatore's website</a>.<br />
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<i>Author's Note: A digital review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for this review.</i>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-14851021717763641512013-08-28T16:03:00.001-07:002013-08-28T16:03:28.404-07:00Star Wars: Episode VII Audition Rumors: Rachel Hurd-Wood and Alex Pettyfer<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/star-wars-episode-7-fan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.joblo.com/newsimages1/star-wars-episode-7-fan-1.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan created Poster Art via <a href="http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/some-cool-star-wars-episode-vii-fan-posters-to-offset-the-news-that-steven-spielberg-bows-out-of-contention-as-director&order=popular" target="_blank">Joblo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Latino Review has a pair of names that it's "sources" claim have already been on auditions for roles in Star Wars: Episode VII.<br />
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British actress <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1248393/" target="_blank">Rachel Hurd-Wood</a> (<i>Peter Pan</i> and <i>Solomon Kane</i>) and British actor <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1641117/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Alex Pettyfer</a> (<i>I am Number Four</i> and <i>Magic Mike</i>) reportedly have gone for auditions on the film. <br />
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A cautionary note before we jump to any conclusions, just about every actress and actor that could fit the parameters of the <b><a href="http://lightsaberrattling.blogspot.com/2013/06/star-wars-episode-vii-casting-call.html" target="_blank">casting call</a></b> is likely to try to land an audition for Episode VII. Hurd-Wood and Pettyfer were both born in 1990 making them both 23 years old. Hurd-Wood could potentially play slightly younger and fit either of the two female roles. Pettyfer would fit perfectly age wise for the younger male role and possibly could play older as the late twentysomething male. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Late-teen female, independent, good sense of humour, fit.</b></i></blockquote>
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<i><b>Young twenty-something male, witty and smart, fit but not traditionally good looking.</b></i></blockquote>
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<i><b>A late twentysomething male, fit, handsome and confident.</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Seventy-something male, with strong opinions and tough demeanour. Also doesn’ t need to be particularly fit.</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>A second young female, also late teens, tough, smart and fit.</b></i></blockquote>
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<i><b>Forty something male, fit, military type.</b></i></blockquote>
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<i><b>Thirtysomething male, intellectual. Apparently doesn’t need to be fit.</b></i></blockquote>
Another factor to keep in mind with casting is that we could see actors and actresses cast such as Hurd-Wood and Pettyfer who have had some work but haven't had that breakthrough performance yet. One reason for this is that any actor or actress that Disney wants to appear in all three films will have to be signed to a contract that covers all three films to prevent a rapid escalation of production costs. It will be much cheaper and easier to fill these roles with actors and actresses who are less well known than to attempt to land an A-list actor or actress.<br />
<br />
There are many steps between auditioning and casting. For a reminder of that see below:<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Princess Leia Auditions:</i></span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Lisa Eilbacher</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Lg4KbjapLmg" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<b>Terri Nunn</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KXy59jMqOsc" width="640"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Cindy Williams</b><br />
<b><br /></b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8Ob-k0Rr6Fg" width="640"></iframe>
<b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br />
<b>Amy Irving</b><br />
<b><br /></b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GrUDyQmlp8Q?list=PL203EF1448EC418F7" width="853"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Anne-Marie Martin</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xtT9hrwpE0M?list=PL203EF1448EC418F7" width="853"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Linda Purl</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WSBbo7WgFTU?list=PL203EF1448EC418F7" width="853"></iframe><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>and Carrie Fisher</b><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kCXrGuLix7M?list=PL203EF1448EC418F7" width="853"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>SOURCES: <a href="http://latino-review.com/2013/08/exclusive-disney-calls-stripper-and-wendy-darling-forstar-wars-episode-vii/" target="_blank">Latino Review</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL203EF1448EC418F7" target="_blank">WishItWas1984</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-79713140064517010452013-08-27T23:34:00.001-07:002013-08-27T23:34:39.422-07:00Star Wars: The Clone Wars Bonus Content Rumor: To Be Apple Exclusive? Via Jedi News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://atv2.wdfiles.com/local--files/start/atv2_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://atv2.wdfiles.com/local--files/start/atv2_pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Force seems to be strong with <b><a href="http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=13207" target="_blank">JediNews.co.uk</a></b> lately as they have been getting a number of news making rumors. The latest rumor regards the "bonus content" for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This content consists of finished and unfinished episodes from the planned sixth season of the cancelled television show.</div>
<br />
As recently as Disney's D23 convention, Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo has said that they are still trying to determine the best way to distribute this content. <br />
<br />
According to <a href="http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=13207" target="_blank">Jedi News' source</a> the following may be what is planned:<br />
<blockquote>
<i><span style="color: #f1c232;">“A Disney branded app for Star Wars will launch on Apple TV devices, with plans to distribute the final Clone Wars episodes exclusively digitally only through the Apple TV device for a limited period of time. This will happen in this holiday season.</span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="color: #f1c232;">In 2014, plans are in an early stage to use the platform to deliver SW7 production news ‘live’ from the sets, followed with Star Wars Rebels in late 2014 taking us all the way through to SW7 release.”</span></i></blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp25zAOv5gH4PGqRCmeG20XlQGVX-xm1L3F40mkDTcxJwV29vx5ry4mQjFnkNllzBxHcWdgUvHPL9GEZKyxZYNfelhPQ-P2XsQfBMQbiDTYiB1YmbMsWNbVEQ5Y2ih5EvGsTofqWinv4zU/s1600/iOS7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp25zAOv5gH4PGqRCmeG20XlQGVX-xm1L3F40mkDTcxJwV29vx5ry4mQjFnkNllzBxHcWdgUvHPL9GEZKyxZYNfelhPQ-P2XsQfBMQbiDTYiB1YmbMsWNbVEQ5Y2ih5EvGsTofqWinv4zU/s320/iOS7.PNG" width="186" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iOS 7</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="color: #f1c232;">“Distribution will only be on Apple TV devices capable of running iOS7 and there has been no confirmation if the same app will be available to other iOS devices such as iPad or iPhone."</span></i></blockquote>
<b><a href="http://www.apple.com/appletv/whats-on/" target="_blank">Apple TV</a></b> is a streaming device that attaches via HDMI to your television. It features not only content through the Apple iTunes library and store but also stand alone content providing apps such as Netflix. Apple TV is currently on it's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_TV" target="_blank">third generation of development</a>, I would expect a fourth generation release sometime in the next year but there hasn't been an official announcement yet. There is also speculation that the device may be replaced ultimately by an Apple branded iTV that will include the Apple TV functionality in an HD Smart TV sold by Apple. <br />
<br />
Apple iOS 7 is <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/apple-ios-7-release-date-rumors-nuance-developer-email-hints-sept-10-availability-1400369" target="_blank">rumored to be released</a> as early as September 10th. iOS 7 features a radical re-design of the operating systems graphics along with <a href="http://www.apple.com/ios/ios7/features/" target="_blank">other features</a>.<br />
<br />
If the rumored Disney Star Wars App works on Apple TV as well as iOS 7 devices, then the following currently released devices may be able to use the App.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSI-HFaJgUEYIT7Nz2rCSYvkqb8GyCUDyMQiuMmNvTYJ4CaMy6Ao5df_UnVV4PEI1PFh9xmfSfjxy3fl0IDdzhYK_N5v0dm08OESD5bmixoTvaGyQG9ylgpUZVXdgKQcXudtt6GAhHx6k/s1600/iOS7Compat.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSI-HFaJgUEYIT7Nz2rCSYvkqb8GyCUDyMQiuMmNvTYJ4CaMy6Ao5df_UnVV4PEI1PFh9xmfSfjxy3fl0IDdzhYK_N5v0dm08OESD5bmixoTvaGyQG9ylgpUZVXdgKQcXudtt6GAhHx6k/s640/iOS7Compat.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I wouldn't rush out today and buy an Apple TV, but as someone who already owns a Roku 2 and a Sony Blu-ray player with much of the same functionality a Star Wars App that was Apple exclusive would convince me to spend the $99 to get an Apple TV device. I am not sure if the promise of The Clone Wars exclusive content would make the App a major selling point for the device, however I bet if there is Episode VII exclusive news and documentary content on the App that it would cause many to purchase the device and particularly could be the deciding factor in taking market share away from other digital streaming devices. <br />
<br />
It is interesting to note that Lucasfilm and Apple have a relationship when it comes to movie promotion. The reason that many of use visit Apple.com or use the Movie Trailer App on iOS devices is because of a collaboration between Apple and Lucasfilm that was created with Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I was not aware of this relationship until it was discussed at Pablo Hidalgo's D23 Star Wars 101 Panel, but <a href="http://www.quora.com/Movie-Trailers/How-did-Apple-com-become-the-de-facto-spot-for-movie-trailers" target="_blank">here is a version of the story</a>, basically Lucasfilm released a trailer on Starwars.com and the folks at Apple thought that it was very sub-par and that with their QuickTime software they could provide a much higher quality product. <br />
<br />
The idea of a Disney branded Star Wars App seems a bit odd, though there is some inconsistency on Disney's part. For example the Marvel comics App is not branded as Disney-Marvel, but the Pixar Toy Story App is branded as Disney-Pixar. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsdd5uMlIeclyuauzyj3Pgd_Z5ISeNo9-MHW4n2sgkgqSV3I0Fdc-RKmCMC9imBrrOAhIGchQlVj8QGSZJJGprdECRz_O7Up9Btcj8Qp89K3ZALFS2ed5ZcAJmTNwvWI4JW_IBWMzHmSA/s1600/disneyApps.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsdd5uMlIeclyuauzyj3Pgd_Z5ISeNo9-MHW4n2sgkgqSV3I0Fdc-RKmCMC9imBrrOAhIGchQlVj8QGSZJJGprdECRz_O7Up9Btcj8Qp89K3ZALFS2ed5ZcAJmTNwvWI4JW_IBWMzHmSA/s400/disneyApps.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
I have long decried the lack of a <a href="http://lightsaberrattling.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-isnt-there-star-wars-official-site.html" target="_blank">Star Wars App</a>, and I would certainly welcome one. It is important to note that Disney does have some new Apps launching both a Disney Channel and Disney XD App is now available on iOS devices. This provides access to programming that airs on these channels, however you must have a cable or satellite contract and your provider must allow access to these channels for the App to work.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned as we endeavor to learn more about the future of the unreleased Star Wars: The Clone Wars episodes.<br />
<br />
<b>Source: <a href="http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=13207" target="_blank">Jedi News </a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-25008301288884015352013-08-25T21:49:00.001-07:002013-08-25T22:47:12.208-07:00Star Wars: Episode VII Release Date: Why I Think It Will Be Released In
April or AugustThe rumormongering surrounding Star Wars: Episode VII is in full effect and a recent release date rumor set the internet ablaze with the possibility that Episode VII could be pushed back until December 2015 instead of the announced Summer 2015 release window. <br>
<br>
Big Shiny Robot editor <a href="http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/archives/55541" target="_blank">Bryan Young posted a great dissection</a> of why he thinks this rumor is false. <br>
<br>
Traditionally Star Wars films have been summer fare, opening in May and extending into the early summer in theaters. The summer blockbuster concept as we know it really kicked off with JAWS (1975) and the success of the first summer blockbuster was confirmed and expanded upon by Star Wars (1977). The success of JAWS and Star Wars has lead to the summer movie season as being the landing spot for blockbuster films, or as has become a popular way to refer to them studio "tent pole" films. <br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Analysing historical box office results and release dates going back almost 40 years can be problematic. For example while both Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back premiered in May, their initial release was limited and it wasn't until June that they saw a wide release. There is also some issue with looking at the box office results from the Special Edition theatrical released for the original trilogy because of the monthly back-to-back-to-back release schedule that was employed in January through March of 1997. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
We may also take some guidance from the Disney/Marvel Studios films and some other resent blockbuster films as we consider potential release dates and box office half-life. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Let's take a look at how 2015 is shaping up so far:<br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2015 Theatrical Release Dates via ComingSoon.net</span></b><br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>January 16</b><br>
- Beware the Night (Sony: Screen Gems) Paranormal thriller.<br>
- Norm of the North (Lionsgate) Animated comedy.<br>
<b>February 13</b><br>
- The Longest Ride (20th Century Fox) Drama, Romance.<br>
- SpongeBob SquarePants 2 (Paramount Pictures) Animated comedy.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>March 6</b><br>
- Fantastic Four (20th Century Fox) Comic book, Action-adventure.<br>
<b>March 13</b><br>
- Cinderella (Walt Disney) Fantasy.<br>
<b>March 27</b><br>
- Chappie (Sony) Sci-Fi comedy.<br>
- The Penguins of Madagascar (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) (20th Century Fox/Dreamworks Animation) Animated Comedy.<br>
<b>March TBA</b><br>
- Christ the Lord (FilmDistrict) Drama.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>April 3</b><br>
- Ted 2 (Universal) Comedy.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>May 1</b><br>
- The Avengers: Age of Ultron (Walt Disney/Marvel Studios), Comic Book Action-adventure.<br>
<b>May 29</b><br>
- Monster Trucks (Paramount) Animation.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>June 5</b><br>
- B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) (20th Century Fox/Dreamworks Animation), Animated comedy.<br>
<b>June 19</b><br>
- Assassin's Creed (20th Century Fox/Ubisoft) Action-adventure.<br>
- Inside Out (Disney/Pixar) Animation.<br>
<b>June 26</b><br>
- Terminator (Paramount) Sci-Fi Action-adventure.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>July 3</b><br>
- Independence Day 2 (20th Century Fox) Sci-Fi Action-adventure.<br>
- Untitled Illumination Entertainment 2015 Project 3D (Universal) Animation.<br>
<b>July 10</b><br>
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (Walt Disney) Action-adventure comedy.<br>
<b>July 17</b><br>
- Superman/Batman (Warner Bros.) Comic Book Action-adventure.<br>
<b>July 25</b><br>
- The Smurfs 3 (Columbia/Sony Animation) Family comedy.<br>
<b>July 31</b><br>
- Peregrine's Home for Peculiars (20th Century Fox) Family fantasy.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>September 25</b><br>
- Hotel Transylvania 2 (Sony Animation) Animated comedy.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>November 6</b><br>
- Ant-Man (Walt Disney/Marvel Studios) Comic book, Action-adventure.<br>
- Bond 24 (Sony's Columbia Pictures/MGM) Action-adventure.<br>
- Peanuts (20th Century Fox) Animation.<br>
<b>November 20</b><br>
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (Lionsgate) Sci-Fi drama.<br>
<b>November 25</b><br>
- Finding Dory (Walt Disney/Pixar) Animated comedy.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>December 11</b><br>
- Alvin and the Chipmunks 4 (20th Century Fox) Action-adventure comedy.<br>
<b>December 18</b><br>
- Inferno (Sony's Columbia Pictures) Action drama.<br>
<b>December 23</b><br>
- Kung Fu Panda 3 (3D/2D theaters and IMAX 3D) (20th Century Fox/Dreamworks Animation) Animated Adventure.</blockquote>
So Disney's 2015 slate so far is Cinderalla (3/13), The Avengers: Age of Ultron (5/1), Inside Out (6/19),<br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (7/10), Ant-Man (11/6), and Finding Dory (11/25). In projecting a release date or attempting to analyze Disney|Lucasfilm's potential box office strategy we not only have to look at Disney's slate but also what other studios are doing with their films. The goal of any studio is to use each film to make as much money as possible, as such you may think your film will outperform another film but if both films share a common audience you may be better off avoiding this box office face off to maximize your profits. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Examining the box office performance of some Star Wars films and some other recent films, can give us an idea of performance trends and tell us how big a release window Episode VII may need and what dates on the calendar are needed for Disney's other projects. In doing this analysis I will be looking at the number of weeks as the #1 film, as a top 10 film, in more than 1,000 screens, performance as a percentage of total box office at the four, six and eight week marks and overall performance. </span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">A note on my methodology, this is hardly a comprehensive review, greater time and resources would no doubt allow us to develop box office metrics much like advanced baseball statistics to help predict performance. Alas I don't have the time and resources of a major studio to devote to this research project, so this is the back of the envelop numbers I have to work with. </span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: large;"><b>Live Action Star Wars Films Box Office Stats</b></span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i>May 25, 1983: Return of the Jedi: </i></b></span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Total Domestic Gross: $252,583,617. </span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 3, plus 6 of first 7 weeks.</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Weeks as a top 10 film: 18</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 14</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">% of Gross after four weeks: 48%</span><br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 62%<br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 73%<br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i>May 19, 1999: The Phantom Menace:</i></b></span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Total Domestic Gross: $431,088,295</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 3</span><br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Weeks as a top 10 film: 11</span><br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 12<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 72%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 83%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 90%<br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i>May 16, 2002: Attack of the Clones</i></b></span><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $302,191,252<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 2<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 6<br>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 8<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 86%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 94%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 97%<br>
<br>
<b><i>May 19, 2005: Revenge of the Sith</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $380,270,577<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 2<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 8<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 8<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 89%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 95%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 98%<br>
<br>
<b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The Prequel Trilogy films all averaged 2.33 weeks as the top film in the box office, spent 8.33 weeks as a top 10 film, and stayed on over 1,000 screens for at 9.33 weeks. If you focus on<i> Attack of the Clones</i> and <i>Revenge of the Sith</i> they averaged 87.5 % of their total domestic gross in the first month in theaters, 94.5% of their gross in the first six weeks and 97.5% of their gross a the eight week mark. So two months is basically their theatrical shelf life but by the fourth week they make the vast majority of their money and by the sixth week they make just about as much as they will make total, the rest is just scraps coming in.<br>
<br>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Top 3 Performing Live Action Films of 2012 and 2013 Box Office Stats</span></b><br>
<br>
<b><i>May 4, 2012: The Avengers</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $623,357,910<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 3<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 8<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 10<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 85%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 93%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 97%<br>
<br>
<b><i>July 20, 2012: The Dark Knight Rises</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $448,139,099<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 3<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 8<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 9<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 89%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 95%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 98%<br>
<br>
<b><i>March 23, 2012: The Hunger Games</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $408,010,692<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 4<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 10<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 11<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 84%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 92%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 95%<br>
<br>
<b><i>Conclusions: </i></b>The top grossing films of 2012 were only able to sit atop the box office charts for an average of 3.33 weeks, spent 8.66 weeks in the top ten, and stayed on over 1,000 screens for 10 weeks. These three films made 86% of their gross in the first month, 93% in the first six weeks, and by the eighth week had made 97% of their totals. <i>The Avengers</i> and <i>The Hunger Games</i> both had long legs, but <i>The Avengers</i> was more top heavy while <i>The Hunger Games</i> as a percentage did better in later weeks. <br>
<br>
<b><i>May 3, 2013: Iron Man 3</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $408,351,942<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 2<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 5, and 6 of first 7 weeks.<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 7 weeks<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 92%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 97%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 99%<br>
<br>
<b><i>June 14, 2013: Man of Steel</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $289,875,976<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 1<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 5<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 6<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 95%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 99%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 99%<br>
<br>
<b><i>May 24, 2013: Fast & Furious 6</i></b><br>
Total Domestic Gross: $238,546,400<br>
Weeks as #1 Movie in Box Office: 2<br>
Weeks as a top 10 film: 5<br>
Weeks on 1,000 screens or more: 5<br>
% of Gross after four weeks: 94%<br>
% of Gross after six weeks: 98%<br>
% of Gross after eight weeks: 99%<br>
<br>
<b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The top grossing films of 2013 were only able to stay atop the box office for an average of 1.66 weeks, spent 5 weeks as a top 10 film, and 6 weeks on over 1,000 screens. They made 94% of their money in the first month, 98% in the first six weeks and 99% of their money by the end of eight weeks. The interesting thing is that two films were released in May 2013, this is something that we could once again see in 2015 if <i>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</i> and <i>Star Wars: Episode VII</i> are both released in May. <i>Iron Man 3</i> barely made more money then the third top grossing film of 2012 and perhaps the addition of <i>Fast & Furious 6</i> only three weeks after<i> Iron Man 3</i>'s release cut some of the legs out of Marvel's film. </div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i><b>Concluding Thoughts:</b></i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>The Avengers</i> made $215 million more than <i>Iron Man 3</i>, and I have a hard time seeing Disney potentially costing itself $150-200 million in lost box office revenue by putting <i>Star Wars: Episode VII</i> and <i>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</i> too close together.<br></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I think a good rule of thumb looking at the above box office numbers is what I am going to call the 85/95 rule. A true blockbuster film will make approximately 85% of it's revenue in the first month of it's release and 95% of it's money in the first six weeks. If you believe your film is of this category, then you need to attempt to get as much uncontested box office during that crucial first month and if you are lucky favorable genre/demographic match ups in that week four through six period to attempt to give your film legs. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The two hundred pound guerrillas of the 2015 box office season are Warner Bros.' <i>Superman/Batman</i> (7/17) and Disney/Marvel Studios' <i>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</i> (5/1). The Avengers release makes it most implausible that Star Wars would release the same month. The team up of DC Comics titans <i>Superman/Batman</i> means that the last weeks of July and the first few weeks of August are also going to be tough box office weeks for other films to premiere in. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">There are four months that would arguably fit in the announced Summer 2015 announced release window. April, August, September and October are the months that I can see <i>Episode VII</i> fitting into the current theatrical release calendar. April would be earlier than would be considered part of the summer movie season and October would be later than what would be part of this movie season. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">April theatrical release dates: 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">August theatrical release dates: 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">September theatrical release dates: 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">October theatrical release dates: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If <i>Star Wars</i> is released in April there are three films to think about surrounding it right now. Disney's new <i>Cinderella</i> film will be released March 13, the comedy <i>Ted 2</i> will be released April 3rd and <i>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</i> will be released on May 1st. The potential hints to an April release are the timing of Celebration Anaheim April 16th-19th. If <i>Episode VII</i> were to be released in August, September or October, the mid-April convention date would drastically limit the content that could be presented at the convention and also would limit the promotional bounce and media attention that could be put towards driving more butts to the movie. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If <i>Episode VII</i> is released on April 3rd it gives Disney three weeks for <i>Cinderella</i> to perform before it has intramural competition, and gives <i>Star Wars</i> four weeks before <i>The Avengers</i> comes out. Releasing on April 3rd would put it head to head with <i>Ted 2</i>, which is hardly a family friendly fare. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If <i>Star Wars</i> is released in August then the July slate of films is something we need to keep in mind. Disney's next <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> film comes out July 10th, <i>Superman/Batman</i> will come out July 17th, and then there are two family films coming out at the end of the month in The <i>Smurfs 3</i> on July 25th and <i>Peregrine's Home for Peculiar</i>s on July 31st.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If you are Disney and want to release <i>Star Wars</i> in August, then the 14th is the date I would target. You give your own film <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> five weeks and you give <i>Superman/Batman</i> four weeks in the theaters. The less appealing family films coming out at the end of July should fade after 2-3 weeks leaving a relatively open path for <i>Star Wars</i> to dominate the box office turnstiles. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">To my mind for promotional reasons April makes the most sense for <i>Episode VII</i>, but in terms of favorable box office competition August makes the most sense. I don't think we will get a traditional May release because the chances of box office cannibalization between <i>Star Wars</i> and <i>The Avengers</i> is just too great. </span></div>
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<b>SOURCES: <a href="http://www.comingsoon.net/movies.php" target="_blank">ComingSoon.net</a>, <a href="http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/archives/55541" target="_blank">Big Shiny Robot</a></b></div>
Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-91301199072278922962013-08-22T13:22:00.002-07:002013-08-23T08:41:15.496-07:00Star Wars Episode VII Rumor: Star Wars Cinematographer Named, To Use Film Instead Of Digital Cameras<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedImages/Kodak/motion/Products/Camera_Films/Color_Negative/camera-films_5219_hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedImages/Kodak/motion/Products/Camera_Films/Color_Negative/camera-films_5219_hero.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Always at the cutting edge of cinematic technology, George Lucas was always trying to push the boundaries. This included his promotion of digital filming and digital theater projection. <i>Star Wars Episode II</i> and <i>III</i> were both shot on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars#cite_note-24" target="_blank">Sony CineAlta</a>, high-definition digital cameras. <br />
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The hiring of J.J. Abrams to direct <i>Episode VII</i> foreshadowed a shunning of this digital film making and a return to the more traditional use of film.</div>
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In June at the Producers Guild of America, Produced by Conference, Abrams said the following about digital versus film movie making:</div>
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<i>“I have not yet shot a movie digitally,” he explained. “Film is the thing I am most comfortable with. If film were to go away — and digital is challenging it— then the standard for the highest, best quality would go away...Also, with all the CG, it was important to me that it was as warm and human and analog as possible... "It may not be obvious to many of the people who saw it, but I think it is more important than people know."</i></blockquote>
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Twitter user <b><a href="https://twitter.com/bobafettfanclub/status/370616989653282817" target="_blank">@bobafettfanclub</a></b> posted the following tidbit of news today:</div>
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EXCLUSIVE: Cinematographer Dan Mindel ASC BSC is shooting the next Star Wars, on Kodak film 5219. Announced at ASC Clubhouse minutes ago.<br />
— Boba Fett Fan Club (@bobafettfanclub) <a href="https://twitter.com/bobafettfanclub/statuses/370616989653282817">August 22, 2013</a></blockquote>
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The ASC is <a href="http://www.theasc.com/index.php" target="_blank">The American Society of Cinematographers</a>, an by invitation only group of just over 300 professional cinematographers with the Clubhouse located in Hollywood.<br />
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Cinematographer <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591053/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Dan Mindel</a></b> has previously worked as director of photography with JJ Abrams on <i>Mission Impossible III</i>, <i>Star Trek </i>and<i> Star Trek: Into Darkness</i> and has previously worked for Disney on the recent <i>John Carter</i> film. Mindel is the man behind the camera for the next Spider-man film as well, <i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2</i> due out May 2, 2014.</div>
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The ASC's magazine had some in depth interviews with Mindel in it's <a href="http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/June2009/StarTrek/page1.php" target="_blank">June 2009 issue</a> regarding the shooting of Star Trek and it's June 2013 issue regarding the shooting of the sequel Star Trek: Into Darkness. These comments may give us a window into how Abrams will shoot Star Wars: Episode VII and may fit with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy's statements at Celebration Europe.<br />
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At the Star Wars fan convention Kennedy discussed briefly the film making process that <a href="http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/07/27/24092/" target="_blank">she envisions for <i>Episode VII</i></a>:<br />
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<i>10:55: “Much like many of you, looking at all the Star Wars movies and getting a feeling of what the early films did in combination with real locations and special effects — that’s something we’re looking very seriously at. We’re going to find some really cool locations for Ep VII. We’re going to use every tool in the toolbox for this movie.” – Kathleen Kennedy</i></blockquote>
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<i>10:56: “It’s using artwork that you can touch and feel in combination with CG effects.” – Kathleen Kennedy</i></blockquote>
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<b><a href="http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/June2009/StarTrek/page1.php" target="_blank">American Cinematographer June 2009 Interview:</a></b><br />
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<i>Mindel, who previously teamed with Abrams on Mission: Impossible III (AC May ’06), recalls, “J.J. told us early on to use the original TV show as our key reference. He wanted us to pay attention to that young, go-get-’em, positive attitude.” </i></blockquote>
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<i>Mindel was eager to employ the anamorphic format for Trek’s 23rd-century vistas. “I’m not interested in using Super 35mm,” says the cinematographer. “J.J. wanted me to convince him to shoot anamorphic, so he and I looked at every test we could do, and when he saw the 50mm Primo projected, with the falloff in focus, he was convinced.” </i></blockquote>
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<b><a href="http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/June2013/StarTrekIntoDarkness/page1.php" target="_blank">American Cinematographer June 2013 Interview:</a></b><br />
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Mindel on filming:<br />
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<i> In the end, J.J. agreed we should use anamorphic combined with Imax. So, we set off down a road that involved 15-perf and 8-perf 65mm and anamorphic 35mm, and that allowed us to create a gorgeous movie.” (Some inserts and aerial plates were captured digitally with Red Digital Cinema cameras.)</i><i>The basic breakdown involved shooting 35mm for all interior scenes and 65mm for exteriors. Abrams mandated long sequences in each format because he didn’t want the transitions to be distracting. “As the information changes, the mind goes with it if [the approach] is consistent,” he observes. “I think most people won’t be aware of the format changes.”</i></blockquote>
Abrams on 3D and filming:<br />
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<i>Abrams is equally pleased that he was able to shoot Into Darkness on film and convert to 3-D. “I think film has the greatest look and the greatest resolution,” he says. “The studio wanted a 3-D movie, and [shooting film] became an easier decision once we realized we could deliver that with a quality conversion. We were lucky to work with stereographer Corey Turner, who did incredible work that adds to the thrill-ride aspect of the movie. My goal was to make as good a film as I could in 2-D and let it be converted to 3-D for those who wanted the ‘hot sauce.’ I think we achieved that.”</i></blockquote>
It is worth noting that <a href="http://motion.kodak.com/motion/About/News/2013/Jun03_1.htm" target="_blank">Kodak has agreements</a> in place with six major Hollywood studios to supply film for it's movies, these include Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., NBC Universal Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp., Sony Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. The Walt Disney Company is now the parent company of Lucasfilm. <br />
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For more information on Kodak Vision3 500T (5219/7219) film visit <b><a href="http://motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedImages/Kodak/motion/Products/Camera_Films/Color_Negative/camera-films_5219_hero.jpg" target="_blank">Kodak.com</a></b>.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">UPDATE: The Boba Fett Fan Club now has the story up on their <a href="http://www.bobafettfanclub.com/news/film-tv/exclusive-star-wars-episode-7-to-be-shot-on-film-by-dan-mindel/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bobafett+%28The+Boba+Fett+Fan+Club%29" target="_blank">website</a>.</span></b></div>
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<b>SOURCES: <a href="https://twitter.com/bobafettfanclub/status/370616989653282817" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/produced-by-jj-abrams-films-565027" target="_blank">THR</a> , <a href="http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/07/27/24092/" target="_blank">Star Wars Blog</a>, ASC Magazine <a href="http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/June2009/StarTrek/page1.php" target="_blank">June 2009</a> and <a href="http://www.theasc.com/ac_magazine/June2013/StarTrekIntoDarkness/page1.php" target="_blank">June 2013</a></b></div>
Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-14449794192345652512013-08-22T10:50:00.005-07:002013-08-22T10:50:29.324-07:00Star Wars Celebration Fan Club Table and Fan Built Prop and Set Submissions for Celebration Anaheim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC5mRMyBv0URBxd5CobEvy-ApTqbecV94o96DORmfxyRS3KHG9V7qTRtYKPIkAYlk8aG0_lE30NUZL4YSvSHxo6Uf1udt2v7bpL1bQUodtLnqAQWEyYaasaxVoEqzXjLpnfLexSP08kpe/s1600/SWCAnaheim.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC5mRMyBv0URBxd5CobEvy-ApTqbecV94o96DORmfxyRS3KHG9V7qTRtYKPIkAYlk8aG0_lE30NUZL4YSvSHxo6Uf1udt2v7bpL1bQUodtLnqAQWEyYaasaxVoEqzXjLpnfLexSP08kpe/s320/SWCAnaheim.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Are you part of a Star Wars fan club? Are you handy with a hydrospanner? If you answer yes to either question, then Lucasfilm has a way that you can be an active part of Star Wars Celebration Anaheim.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Star Wars Fan Club Table Information</u></b></span><br />
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<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fan Club Table Application</strong></blockquote>
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There will be a limited number of fan club tables available at Celebration for unofficial, regional, and international fan clubs and similar fan organizations. These tables will allow clubs to promote their organizations to other <em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Star Wars </em>fans and to act as a central location for club activities at Celebration.</blockquote>
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Clubs that qualify will be supplied with one approximately 8-foot table, two chairs, one standard electrical outlet, and a space approximately 10 feet wide by 10 feet deep at no cost to them. Clubs will also receive four exhibitor badges at no cost to them. Clubs will be responsible for costs for any additional booth furnishings and will be asked to make specific arrangements with the facility or the official decorator for further utilities or other equipment at the prevailing rate. The fan table locations are yet to be determined but will likely be part of a larger Celebration Experience Exhibit Hall.<br /><a href="http://starwarscelebration.com/RNA/RNA_StarWarsCelebration_V2/documents/2015/FanTable_Guide_Application.pdf?v=635125154208087310" target="_blank"></a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://starwarscelebration.com/RNA/RNA_StarWarsCelebration_V2/documents/2015/FanTable_Guide_Application.pdf?v=635125154208087310" target="_blank">Application Materials</a></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Fan-Built Props and Sets</u></span></b><br />
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Fan-Built Props & Sets</blockquote>
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Many fans show their passion by building incredible Star Wars props and sets that look as if they came right out of the galaxy far, far away, and we would like to include as many of these at Star Wars Celebration as space and budget will allow. To have your props or sets considered for inclusion at Celebration, please see the guidelines and application information below.</blockquote>
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To have your props or sets considered for inclusion, please send the following information to Mary Franklin at Lucasfilm:</blockquote>
Photos of each set or prop from front, back, and each side<br />
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Space needed for each set or prop, including length, width, and height<br />Weight of each set or prop<br />Address where each set or prop is currently located and will be shipped from<br />Any other special needs for your sets and props (electricity, special loading equipment, etc.)<br />Will you need help paying for shipping or transportation for your prop or set piece? If yes, then what is the preferred method of transportation?<br />Number of staff needed to set up and dismantle<br />Number of staff needed at all times during show hours<br />Whether or not fans can take photographs inside the prop or set or near it<br />Any other special information specific to your set or prop</blockquote>
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Submissions should include your email address, preferred phone number, and other contact details.</blockquote>
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Applications for consideration for fan-built props and sets must be turned in by 11:59 PM EST on July 15, 2014 to Mary Franklin at fanevents@starwars.com.</blockquote>
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Celebration will not start responding to fan table requests until August 15, 2014, and final decisions will be made by September 30, 2014.</blockquote>
<b>SOURCE: <a href="http://starwarscelebration.com/Anaheim/Fan-Club-Table-Application/" target="_blank">StarwarsCelebration.com</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-6699211370416018262013-08-22T10:40:00.001-07:002013-08-22T10:40:18.309-07:00Calling All Fans: Submissions for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim Fan Programming Now Being Accepted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWrnrvamp2CWnmI7T6zUlVP1E5Z839zYINHVrT1OkjgP0UTWNlGdSTbzfvDcW1wEZs-P-huql83H6uTfwRHsNs57FGhEY6QJmtmp86WWdzn2HcWFAk0-cM6s7Bwmv_xtoVOAVtZlxn5n9/s1600/SWCAnaheim.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWrnrvamp2CWnmI7T6zUlVP1E5Z839zYINHVrT1OkjgP0UTWNlGdSTbzfvDcW1wEZs-P-huql83H6uTfwRHsNs57FGhEY6QJmtmp86WWdzn2HcWFAk0-cM6s7Bwmv_xtoVOAVtZlxn5n9/s400/SWCAnaheim.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />If you are planning to attend Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2015, then you should take a shot at being a more active participant in the event and spread your love and knowledge of Star Wars with other fans.<br /><br />
Lucasfilm is now accepting initial proposals for fan programming at the event. There will no doubt be a ton of interest in this convention, so I suggest not only that you get your idea in early (they won't be reviewed until early 2014) but that you take the time to craft a well thought out idea with as much information and specificity as you can. I would also suggest that in the interest of Mary Franklin's sanity that you don't send the same idea multiple times or have absurd proposals. Think brevity, specificity and clarity when crafting your proposal. <br />
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<b><u>The Fan Programming Solicitation:</u></b><br />
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<b><i>Fan Programming</i></b></blockquote>
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It’s never too early to start planning for Star Wars Celebration!</blockquote>
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Celebrations are created by fans, for fans, and we want you to start thinking of how you might contribute to the fun. At all Celebrations, Star Wars fans have the opportunity to become a very important part of the show. You, your friends, or your fan club can jump right into the heart of Celebration by submitting proposals and ideas for fan-sponsored events, entertainment, panels, or exhibits.</blockquote>
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Please send a brief initial proposal (limit 500 words) to <a href="mailto:fanevents@starwars.com" target="_blank">Mary Franklin at Lucasfilm</a>. Proposals should include your email address and contact information.</blockquote>
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Briefly summarize what you would do, time, budget, materials needed, number of people involved, and how the audience would participate, if at all. Initial proposals will be considered for final proposals but are not guaranteed scheduling during Star Wars Celebration.</blockquote>
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<b><i>Fan Programming Submittal Schedule: </i></b></blockquote>
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Fan programming proposals may be turned in starting now, but review will begin in early 2014.</blockquote>
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First responses from Lucasfilm to Fan Programming Proposals will begin April 7, 2014.</blockquote>
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All Fan Programming Proposals will be due by December 15, 2014.</blockquote>
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Final decisions on Fan Programming Proposals will be made and communicated by February 1, 2015.</blockquote>
If you do submit a proposal, may the Force be with you and good luck.<br />
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<b>SOURCE: <a href="http://starwarscelebration.com/Anaheim/Fan-Programming/" target="_blank">StarwarsCelebration.com</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-69272983168700041812013-08-20T20:13:00.000-07:002013-08-20T20:44:11.212-07:00Review: Star Wars: Kenobi by John Jackson Miller (Minor Spoilers)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLefdCiKzMyWViGAAiHMrrIcrIXvDuhSncun81MMbBu5XTTG0eReidGBw1cgJtXzCs4r29QrKJmWPUdUw76hsrZGu9YhIAG77Ic67dHrL3HpS83IJ1lQFRr10jIpVdW1m68BzagDGB-f2l/s1600/Kenobi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLefdCiKzMyWViGAAiHMrrIcrIXvDuhSncun81MMbBu5XTTG0eReidGBw1cgJtXzCs4r29QrKJmWPUdUw76hsrZGu9YhIAG77Ic67dHrL3HpS83IJ1lQFRr10jIpVdW1m68BzagDGB-f2l/s320/Kenobi1.jpg" width="210"></a></div>
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Let's cut to the chase. Just go buy (pre-order) Kenobi now and thank me later.<br>
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<i>Kenobi </i>is not space opera, but it is Star Wars. It is a story told on a much smaller scale that focuses on building characters, making and braking relationships. Under the harsh and unforgiving twin suns of Tatooine, Miller tells the quintessential Obi-Wan Kenobi story. </div>
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<b><u><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/227072/kenobi-star-wars-by-john-jackson-miller" target="_blank">Publisher's Synopsis:</a></u></b></div>
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<i>The Republic has fallen.</i><i>Sith Lords rule the galaxy.</i><i>Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has lost everything . . . </i><i>Everything but hope.</i><i> </i><i>Tatooine—a harsh desert world where farmers toil in the heat of two suns while trying to protect themselves and their loved ones from the marauding Tusken Raiders. A backwater planet on the edge of civilized space. And an unlikely place to find a Jedi Master in hiding, or an orphaned infant boy on whose tiny shoulders rests the future of a galaxy.</i><i> </i><i>Known to locals only as “Ben,” the bearded and robed offworlder is an enigmatic stranger who keeps to himself, shares nothing of his past, and goes to great pains to remain an outsider. But as tensions escalate between the farmers and a tribe of Sand People led by a ruthless war chief, Ben finds himself drawn into the fight, endangering the very mission that brought him to Tatooine.</i><i> </i><i>Ben—Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, hero of the Clone Wars, traitor to the Empire, and protector of the galaxy’s last hope—can no more turn his back on evil than he can reject his Jedi training. And when blood is unjustly spilled, innocent lives threatened, and a ruthless opponent unmasked, Ben has no choice but to call on the wisdom of the Jedi—and the formidable power of the Force—in his never-ending fight for justice.</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
I don't think it is a coincidence that two of the best novels in recent memory were also probably the two stories that were the longest in terms of development by the authors. I put <i>Kenobi</i> on par with Darth Plagueis in terms of quality and what it adds to the grander Star Wars mythology. While the two books are much different in tone and content, there is a quality and loving craftsmanship that shines through in both works. Plagueis was a book that was announced, cancelled and the subsequently brought back to life. <i>Kenobi</i> is a book that originally started as a graphic novel story idea and was shelved and later developed in it's current form.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<i>Kenobi</i> also follows the recent trend in Star Wars publishing of genre hopping. This is very much a western told in the Star Wars universe. The basic premise will be familiar to fans of the western genre. Mysterious loner drifts into town, trying to mind his own business. Instinctual acts to protect a victim from an attack. The victim becomes a friend and the loner is put in a position that he has to protect this new friend against the threat. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
The story in Kenobi is told from a few point of views, we have Obi-Wan, a Tusken Raider warlord, a moisture farmer/militia leader, and a shopkeeper. The story centers around a frontier community on Tatooine, the bright center of which is Danner's Claim. The Claim is a one stop frontier shop, it features of mercantile, a saloon/restaurant, storage, offices and repair shops.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
We meet Obi-Wan Kenobi early in his return to Tatooine at the beginning of his watchful self-exile. The novel brilliantly balances the internal struggles that Obi-Wan faces as he tries to adjust to the new realities of his life with the external struggles that he faces in the novel. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Fans of Superman will pick up on the very strong Clark Kent vibe that infuses the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi in this novel. This fits nicely with the humor of <i>Kenobi</i>. One of the reasons that Ob-Wan is one of my favorite Star Wars characters is his sense of humor. A humor hinted at by Sir Alec Guinness in the original trilogy, given full form by Ewan McGregor in the prequel trilogy, and further refined by James Arnold Taylor in <i>The Clone Wars</i> animated series. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Kenobi's humor stands in start contrast with the guilt and pain that the character of Obi-Wan is drowning. This humor provides an emotional grounding for the character and speaks to an underlying optimistic nature. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
One of the overriding themes in <i>Kenobi</i> is how relationships not only create bonds but create burdens. The Jedi were bound to the Republic and thus had a duty to defend it in The Clone Wars, Obi-Wan was bound as padawan to his Master Qui-Gon and thus felt duty bound to fulfill Qui-Gon's dying wish that he train Anakin. Obi-Wan was bound to Anakin as a Master and a friend and was thus duty bound to confront him on Mustafar and stop the evil that Anakin had become. As a Jedi and as a friend of their parents, Obi-Wan was bound to Luke and Leia, choosing the burden of protecting the boy from the Emperor's clutches. From one simple relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, all of these events and relationships spring that shape the course of Obi-Wan's life. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
This theme of relationship created burdens is echoed in the experiences of the shopkeeper Annileen Calwell, the Tusken war leader, A'Yark, and the moisture farmer Orrin Gualt. All of whom have relationships and duties that force them to make choices and take actions. Sometimes these burdens become larger than the underlying relationship would justify. This pushes our characters to their breaking points and we see their true characters revealed.</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
This brings me back to one of the other qualities that I love about the Obi-Wan character. Obi-Wan is a man of honor, he will always do his duty no matter the personal cost. At the same time he doesn't cut himself off from relationships and emotions but feels these choices. Life continuously takes it's pound after pound of flesh from Obi-Wan, yet he perseveres. This makes the character at once both very human in his weaknesses and very super-human in his ability to overcome them. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
Miller crafts some truly enjoyable characters in this novel, the miserly and paranoid moisture farmer Wyle Ulbreck is an absolute riot. Miller populates the Claim with a cast of characters that are unique and feel organically developed to the setting of the story. Even some of these back ground characters that don't appear in the <i>dramatis personae</i> get character development. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
The beautify of the universe that George Lucas created is that it provides an immense canvas upon which other artists can craft stories. Star Wars has room for stories that range from the grand galactic space battles all the way down to the personal one-on-one relationship stories or those focused on the internal struggles of the individual. I cannot stress just how much I enjoyed this story and the loving craftsmanship that John Jackson Miller put into it. Every Star Wars novel shouldn't be written like <i>Kenobi</i>, but I am damn glad this one was. </div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<b>SOURCE: <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/227072/kenobi-star-wars-by-john-jackson-miller" target="_blank">RandomHouse.com</a> and <a href="http://www.farawaypress.com/fiction/books/swkenobi.html" target="_blank">Faraway Press</a></b></div>
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<br></div>
<div>
<i>Editor's Note: An advance review copy of the novel was provided by the publisher for this review.</i></div>
Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-15232134532206982672013-08-17T08:49:00.001-07:002013-08-17T08:49:26.429-07:00Read The First 50 Pages Of Star Wars: Kenobi NOW! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://asset2.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/07/11/014_620x463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://asset2.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/07/11/014_620x463.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You will be getting my full thoughts on <b><i>Star Wars: Kenobi</i></b> next week in a review, but you don't need to wait that long to read the first 50 pages of the novel right now. <br />
<br />
Del Rey as part of it's 50 Page Fridays has posted the first 50 pages of Kenobi on-line.<br />
<br />
In terms of quality this book is right up there with the best recent releases such as<i> Darth Plagueis</i> and <i>X-Wing: Mercy Kill</i>. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Publisher's Summary:</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Republic has fallen.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sith Lords rule the galaxy.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has lost everything . . . </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Everything but hope.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Tatooine—a harsh desert world where farmers toil in the heat of two suns while trying to protect themselves and their loved ones from the marauding Tusken Raiders. A backwater planet on the edge of civilized space. And an unlikely place to find a Jedi Master in hiding, or an orphaned infant boy on whose tiny shoulders rests the future of a galaxy.<br /><br />Known to locals only as “Ben,” the bearded and robed offworlder is an enigmatic stranger who keeps to himself, shares nothing of his past, and goes to great pains to remain an outsider. But as tensions escalate between the farmers and a tribe of Sand People led by a ruthless war chief, Ben finds himself drawn into the fight, endangering the very mission that brought him to Tatooine.<br /><br />Ben—Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, hero of the Clone Wars, traitor to the Empire, and protector of the galaxy’s last hope—can no more turn his back on evil than he can reject his Jedi training. And when blood is unjustly spilled, innocent lives threatened, and a ruthless opponent unmasked, Ben has no choice but to call on the wisdom of the Jedi—and the formidable power of the Force—in his never-ending fight for justice.</i></blockquote>
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<div style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto;">
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/160323040" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View KENOBI: STAR WARS on Scribd">KENOBI: STAR WARS</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="undefined" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_4205" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/160323040/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>
<b><br /></b>
<b>SOURCE: <a href="http://sf-fantasy.suvudu.com/2013/08/50-page-fridays-john-jackson-miller.html" target="_blank">Suvudu</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-17270953633602214492013-08-16T22:54:00.002-07:002013-08-16T22:55:36.854-07:00Retro Review: All Cats are Gray by Andre Norton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29019/29019-h/images/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29019/29019-h/images/cover.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
I recently came across this gem of a short story in a collection of science fiction stories on an audiobook compilation and I thought it was worth pointing out. Originally appearing in the August-September 1953 issue of Fantastic Universe Science Fiction, this short story was written by a female author, features a female protagonist and a heroic cat.<br />
<br />
Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton) wrote under the pen names Andre Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. Born in 1912 and dying in 2005, she had a long and successful career as a writer. This short story was my first exposure to her work. I suggest you visit <a href="http://www.andre-norton.org/" target="_blank">Andre-Norton.Org</a> for more on the author.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Excerpt: </span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">This is really the story of Steena, Bat, Cliff Moran and the Empress of Mars, a story which is already a legend of the spaceways. And it’s a damn good story too. I ought to know, having framed the first version of it myself.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpljjhh0ct1qiu5e6o1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpljjhh0ct1qiu5e6o1_400.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">For I was there, right in the Rigel Royal, when it all began on the night that Cliff Moran blew in, looking lower than an antman’s belly and twice as nasty. He’d had a spell of luck foul enough to twist a man into a slug-snake and we all knew that there was an attachment out for his ship. Cliff had fought his way up from the back courts of Venaport. Lose his ship and he’d slip back there—to rot. He was at the snarling stage that night when he picked out a table for himself and set out to drink away his troubles.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">However, just as the first bottle arrived, so did a visitor. Steena came out of her corner, Bat curled around her shoulders stole-wise, his favorite mode of travel. She crossed over and dropped down without invitation at Cliff’s side. That shook him out of his sulks. Because Steena never chose company when she could be alone. If one of the man-stones on Ganymede had come stumping in, it wouldn’t have made more of us look out of the corners of our eyes.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">She stretched out one long-fingered hand and set aside the bottle he had ordered and said only one thing, “It’s about time for the Empress of Mars to appear again.”</span></blockquote>
As a Star Wars fan it was easy for me to picture this bar as a cantina not so unlike ones we saw on screen or read in the Expanded Universe. The desperation of down on their luck spacers reminded me of many of those on the fringes of the Star Wars galaxy particularly the smugglers and independent freighter captains we have read about. The idea of the <i>Empress of Mars</i>, a ghost ship and a way to get rich quick also reminded me of a ship few ships from Star Wars including <i><a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Another_Chance" target="_blank">Another Chance</a></i> an Alderaanian ship and the <i><a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Teljkon_Vagabond" target="_blank">Teljkon Vagabond</a></i>. Both of these Star Wars ships appeared in Michael P. Kube-McDowell's<i> <a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Black_Fleet_Crisis" target="_blank">The Black Fleet Crisis</a></i> trilogy.<br />
<br />
All Cats are Gray is a very short story, the character of Steena is pretty well defined, there isn't a great deal of time for other characters to be developed other than her cat Bat. What the story lacks in length in makes up for in flavor, it is science fiction but to my ear the dialogue sounded much like an old noir crime story.<br />
<br />
It also plays with the concept of disability and how limitations in one area can lead to strengths in another. The emotional resolution of the story is a bit rushed and could have benefited from being stretched out more. <br />
On the whole Steena is the self-rescuing sort of female leading character who isn't objectified because of her looks that many clamor for even today and her cat and it's peculiar drinking habits was a lot of fun to read about. <br />
<br />
I enjoyed this short story a great deal and I hope you give it a shot, it will only take a few minutes of your time.<br />
<br />
<br />
You can read the complete story for free on <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29019/29019-h/29019-h.htm" target="_blank">The Project Gutenberg website</a>. Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-9431598585446713832013-08-16T10:16:00.006-07:002013-08-16T10:16:57.109-07:00Episode VII Rumor: Ewan McGregor Returning As Obi-Wan Kenobi For Episode VII?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_medl7nNZDR1qdeqbpo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_medl7nNZDR1qdeqbpo1_500.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The <i>Episode VII</i> casting rumors just keep coming.<br />
<br />
Just the other day the hot rumor was that actor Ian McDiarmid would be reprising his role as Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious in some form in <i>Episode VII</i>. That rumor was<a href="http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=12985" target="_blank"> first reported by Jedi News</a>, a UK based fansite. Subsequently the website Latino Review ran with a similar story. Both the Jedi News and <a href="http://latino-review.com/2013/08/palpatine-will-return-but-not-as-a-clone-in-star-wars-episode-vii/" target="_blank">Latino Review</a> stories cited anonymous sources, but it is not clear if the source was the same for both stories or not. It sounds like Latino Reviews source is based in England so it may be the same person talking to both sites.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/Latinoreview">@Latinoreview</a> just got a call a few minutes ago from source in <b>England</b>. We have to delay scoop till morning @ source's request. Sorry guys.<br />
— elmayimbe (@elmayimbe) <a href="https://twitter.com/elmayimbe/statuses/368228490346123264">August 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Now we have a <a href="http://latino-review.com/2013/08/obi-wan-kenobi-set-to-return-star-wars-episode-vii/" target="_blank">report from Latino Review</a> that Obi-Wan Kenobi will be showing up in the film as well and that Ewan McGregor may be returning to play the character.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: red;">"I have confirmed this with three close sources that are on the project and they all confirmed to me that Ewan McGregor would be back as a Force Ghost in the upcoming sequel trilogy."</span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: red;">"But that is not all! Check this out! The interesting part of the conversation I had with my source was that McGregor also wants a solo standalone film! Whether he gets one or not is still up in the air. The other question now is whether or not Hayden Christensen will return."</span></i></blockquote>
It sounds like <i>Episode VII</i> is starting to resemble the Hogwarts dinning hall with all these ghosts floating around. So there really are three parts to this rumor;<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Ewan McGregor to return as Force Ghost Obi-Wan.</li>
<li>McGregor wants a stand-alone Obi-Wan film.</li>
<li>Hayden Christensen may return as well as a Force Ghost.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Let's take these rumors apart one by one. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1) Ewan McGregor to return as Force Ghost Obi-Wan</span></b><br />
<br />
Lucasfilm has the technology to digitally animate Sir Alec Guinness if they wanted to for this film. Older fans like myself who remember the controversy of the changed appearance of Anakin's Force Ghost probably would prefer them to take this approach if they were to include Obi-Wan in the film. They could then have someone like James Arnold Taylor do a voice match of Guinness. If Obi-Wan's role in <i>Episode VII</i> is small it is probably more time and cost effective to use a flesh and blood actor instead of going the CGI route. <br />
<br />
I actually like the idea of a younger Force Ghost of Obi-Wan and let me explain why. As Yoda explains to Luke, "Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter," why should Force Ghosts be tied to the physical appearance of their body at their death? We know that Anakin's original Force Ghost played by Sebastian Shaw had all his limbs, yet we saw Anakin lose both legs and an arm in <i>Episode III</i>.<br />
<br />
This is an opportunity to expand the mythology surrounding Force Ghosts. The idea should be that when a Jedi learns how to retain his consciousness in the Force after death, that not only can he choose when to appear but also how to appear. A simple bit of exposition and even a joke perhaps Luke saying to Ben that he looks better than the last time he saw him and Ben retorting that Luke looks a little worse, could provide a humorous moment as well as a chance to explain more about Force Ghosts and Obi-Wan's changed appearance.<br />
<br />
An example on how this deepening of Force Ghost mythology could retroactively fit is Obi-Wan appearance only as a voice in Episode IV. It can be explained because in these situations Luke was busy fleeing from Imperial troops in the hanger and later flying his X-Wing down the Death Star's trench. If Obi-Wan had appeared physically it would have been a visual distraction for Luke. <br />
<br />
So I think it can work story-wise for McGregor to portray a younger version of Obi-Wan as a Force Ghost. Another thing to keep in mind is scheduling. McGregor currently has three filming commitments lined up for 2014, <i>Mortdecai</i>, co-starring Johnny Depp and Gweneth Paltrow, <i>Born to Be King</i>, co-starring Kate Hudson, and <i>Our Kind of Traitor</i>, co-starring Ralph Fiennes and Mads Mikkelsen. So in addition to filming these three films McGregor probably has to do some significant promotional work next year as well. Scheduling may be tricky but if the role isn't extensive I would have to imagine they could find a way to fit him in to filming.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2) Ewan McGregor wants a stand-alone Obi-Wan film</span></b><br />
<br />
McGregor's <i>Episode III</i> portrayal of Obi-Wan was so powerful and wrought with pain that it brought an emotional depth to the character that took it to a whole new level. A film set featuring Obi-Wan set between <i>Episodes III</i> and <i>IV</i> is right near the top of my wish list for any spin off or stand-alone movies that Lucasfilm does. For an idea of how awesome a story can be featuring Obi-Wan and set in this time period, I cannot suggest highly enough reading the soon to be released, <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/book/227072/kenobi-star-wars-by-john-jackson-miller" target="_blank"><i>Kenobi </i>by John Jackson Miller</a>. The book due out on August 27th, deal with Obi-Wan as he first returns to Tatooine and begins his self-imposed exile to watch over infant Luke Skywalker.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3) Hayden Christensen may return as well as a Force Ghost</span></b><br />
<br />
One possibility is that we see Luke in <i>Episode VII </i>learning the Force Ghost technique and we could see not only Obi-Wan, but Anakin, Yoda, and Qui-Gon all appear. Christensen seems personally to be on good terms with George Lucas based on recently attending Lucas' wedding. But I have no idea if Christensen would be interested in reprising his role as Anankin in Force Ghost form. <br />
<br />
<b>SOURCES: <a href="http://latino-review.com/2013/08/obi-wan-kenobi-set-to-return-star-wars-episode-vii/" target="_blank">Latino Review</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-37021802904077953132013-08-14T19:06:00.003-07:002013-08-14T19:06:46.233-07:00Spoiled: Will You Embrace Or Avoid Spoilers For Star Wars: Episode VII?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPng877f3n2jN9aoj_xZmUrs7a2TxQ6IXB529PB_C7OaMe8nDEHu8JiQ44IyLQrmCx0QhfG14nNodaa3XqqYrJoeylOazAdgPNot35H8e3pLZ1He-spEG4pIQmPfupMUOf7juq2KB4MS-/s400/spoileralert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPng877f3n2jN9aoj_xZmUrs7a2TxQ6IXB529PB_C7OaMe8nDEHu8JiQ44IyLQrmCx0QhfG14nNodaa3XqqYrJoeylOazAdgPNot35H8e3pLZ1He-spEG4pIQmPfupMUOf7juq2KB4MS-/s320/spoileralert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As the rumor mill gets cranked into over drive for the next two years leading up to the release of <i>Star Wars: Episode VII</i>, I felt it was a good time to address the topic of spoilers generally, and the approach that I plan on following more specifically. <br />
<br />
There is much debate regarding spoilers, in the age of serialized television, DVR's, binge watching and near constant social media use the avoidance of spoilers has become increasingly difficult. TV watching in particular has become a communal event on social media. Alas not everyone is on the same schedule, the differences between time zones or just the interruptions of daily life can lead us to consume our favorite media at times other than it's initial airing or release. <br />
<br />
There are different approaches by different writers and publication on how they cover entertainment and how they handle the issue of spoilers. The <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2008/03/spoilers_the_official_vulture.html" target="_blank">Vulture.com's Dan Kois</a> proposed the following rules for writers regarding spoilers.<br />
<br />
<div class="htmlComponent section">
<div class="fullbleed">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="standard-chart" style="width: 540px;"><tbody>
<tr><th class="first" scope="col" width="100"></th><td class="noborder" scope="col" width="220"><strong>Unmarked spoilers allowed in text of article</strong></td><td class="noborder" scope="col" width="220"><strong>Spoilers allowed in article headlines or in non-show-specific articles</strong></td></tr>
<tr><th width="100"><strong>Reality-TV shows</strong></th><td width="220">As soon as the episode is over.</td><td width="220">As soon as the episode is over.</td></tr>
<tr><th width="100"><strong>Narrative TV shows</strong></th><td width="220">The day after the show runs in its normal time slot.</td><td width="220">Three days after the show runs in its normal time slot.</td></tr>
<tr><th width="100"><strong>Movies</strong></th><td width="220">The Monday after the movie opens.</td><td width="220">One month after the movie opens.</td></tr>
<tr><th width="100"><strong>Plays</strong></th><td width="220">One month after the play opens.</td><td width="220">Three months after the play opens, or when it closes, whichever comes first.</td></tr>
<tr><th width="100"><strong>Books</strong></th><td width="220">Three months after the book is published.</td><td width="220">Six months after the book is published.</td></tr>
<tr><th width="100"><strong>Operas</strong></th><td width="220">100 years after opera's premiere.</td><td width="220">Never.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
From my perspective the very concept of journalism embraces the transitory nature of events. News is news because there are events that occur and must be highlighted within the shadow that those events cast. There is a never ending conveyor belt of events and as such if you don't cover the event with immediacy it becomes irrelevant or of greatly diminished relevance rather quickly. </div>
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<b>Spoilers and Star Wars:</b><br />
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Given the age of the original Star Wars trilogies and it's ingraining in pop culture we all know that the spoiler of Darth Vader being Anakin Skywalker and thus Luke's father is one that is ruined for almost everyone who was born after the films release. But there are also other significant instances of spoilers such as the soundtrack for <i>Episode I</i> revealing that Qui-Gon would die in the film. More signicantly we had the novelization of the original Star Wars film coming out in December of 1976 long before the film's release on May 25, 1977. <i>A New Hope</i> was also spoiled by the Marvel Comics adaptation the first issue of which hit newstands in April of 1977. Star Wars and spoilers have a long history and the hunger of the modern fan community will only lead to more spoilers as media outlets seek to use the intense interest in Episode VII to drive viewership and readership.<br />
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<b>What will this website's policy be?</b><br />
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I will approach Episode VII just like I approach other story telling that I cover on this site. This site has no official ties to Lucasfilm and as such no fiduciary duty regarding information that may be revealed either to me or to others on the internet regarding Episode VII. As such I consider just about everything regarding the film fair game. So in the lead up to the film, information such as setting, casting, plot synopsis, etc all will be discussed as news develops. If a major plot twist or ending is leaked before the film is released I will almost certainly not discuss that on the website, just because I feel that that is going a step to far. <br />
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In any post that does involve story spoilers the headline of the post and the body of the post will both include spoiler warnings. I will effort to keep headlines as vague as possible to avoid unintentional spoilers but I cannot promise that this effort will be 100% effective.<br />
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Once the film is released everything is fair game and I would anticipate a post as soon as I get home from the movie, followed by subsequent more in-depth posts to follow. <br />
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<b>Testing the effect of spoilers:</b><br />
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Interestingly a <a href="http://psy2.ucsd.edu/~nchristenfeld/Publications_files/Spoilers.pdf" target="_blank">2011 University of California, San Diego research study</a> by Jonathan D. Leavitt and Nicholas J. S. Christenfeld found that at least in literature spoilers don't ruin the enjoyment of the story, in fact study participants enjoyed the stories more when they were spoiled.<br />
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The experiment involved 176 male and 643 female test subjects in which they read three different types of stories, ironic-twist stories, mysteries, and more evocative literary stories. For each story the scientists crafted an introductory paragraph that briefly discussed the story and seemed to inadvertently include a spoiler of the ending of the story. <br /><br />"Each experiment included four stories selected from anthologies. Each subject read three of these stories, one spoiled (with the spoiler paragraph presented before the story), one unspoiled (with the story presented without alteration), and one in which the spoiler paragraph was incorporated as the opening paragraph."<br /><br />
<b>The results of the experiment:</b><br />
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The study found that in the case of the ironic-twist and mystery stories the study participants "significantly preferred spoiled over un-spoiled stories." The evocative literary stories were still preferred in the spoiled condition but to a lesser degree than the other story types. <br />
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The authors of the study assert a couple theories that may influence these findings including the concept of "perceptual fluency" as well as "schema discrepancy theory." The reach the conclusion that "In all these<br />
types of stories, spoilers may allow readers to organize developments, anticipate the implications of events, and resolve ambiguities that occur in the course of reading." As a result of their findings the authors suggest that we are perhaps wasting our time try to avoid spoilers. <br />
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Now this study is focused on written story telling and doesn't deal with the visual story telling of films or television. The study also used short stories exclusively in their testing. So I have some concerns that the spoilers my be less preferable in serialized storytelling in which there is a significantly higher time and psychological investment in the character, plot and their outcomes. On the other hand a film may be more analogous to a short-story than to a TV series, so this study may have more weight when discussing films.<br />
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<b>What do I recommend?</b><br />
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I am not sure if I am the norm when it comes to spoilers or not. I am not one to turn to the end of a book and read the last page before beginning. At the same time I don't fear spoilers and for stories that I love I want as much information about them that I can get as soon as I can get it.<br />
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As an example of why I don't fear spoilers, this past year I accidentally ran across an image of Robb Stark dead on a throne with his wolf's head in place of his own and the description that he had been killed. Now this spoiled a rather significant plot point in the <i>Game of Thrones</i> TV series for me, but it didn't impair my enjoyment of the series a bit. I didn't go any further, I didn't seek out how or when Robb was killed, but as season two progressed it became pretty clear that the end was coming soon. The Red Wedding occurred in the ninth episode of season two, "The Rains of Castamere," is a delightfully gruesome episode and the shocking effect of the deaths in that episode were still startling and emotionally stirring for me.<br />
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As in everything in life I think you need to embrace what you enjoy and what makes you happy, if you prefer to stay spoiler free then you should try to do that. I would argue that in the information age staying spoiler free is virtually impossible and that you shouldn't expect us to hold the spoiler train for those late arriving at the platform. The voracious Star Wars consumer that I am will not be able to resist spoilers in most cases, what will you do?<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>SOURCES: <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2008/03/spoilers_the_official_vulture.html" target="_blank">Vulture</a>, <a href="http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/soc/2011_08spoilers.asp" target="_blank">UCSD</a>, <a href="http://psy2.ucsd.edu/~nchristenfeld/Publications_files/Spoilers.pdf" target="_blank">Psychological Science</a>, <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/07/26/157430614/it-was-all-a-dream-or-turns-out-spoilers-are-good-for-you" target="_blank">NPR</a>.</b></span>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-10205817909664762172013-08-13T23:33:00.000-07:002013-08-13T23:33:30.652-07:00Star Wars Rebels News: Video of D23's Star Wars 101 Panel Regarding Rebels and Other Star Wars Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At last weekend's Disney fan convention the Lucasfilm presence was fairly limited, but there was one panel that featured Lucasfilm's Brand Communications Manager Pablo Hidalgo. Hidalgo served as ambassador for the galaxy far, far away to this gathering of Disney fans. <br />
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After a presentation where Hidalgo gave a summary of the Star Wars saga story and additional context about the films and the franchise, he answered some questions from the audience.<br />
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I have included two questions in the clip below, one deals with the new series Rebels and one deal with the status of projects like Star Wars: Detours which was put on the shelf after Episode VII was announced.<br />
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I hope you enjoy.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cweBXFzHWmw" width="853"></iframe>
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Stay tuned for the latest Star Wars news and opinion right here. Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-63939501828230215842013-08-11T21:55:00.001-07:002013-08-11T22:28:52.890-07:00Episode VII Rumor: Ian McDairmid To Return as Palpatine?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMAZmO5KdAyKJP3ND_L9iz5MLOs2YH7M5k6ptqqTztYZT4a5lVnxuXzVEqBZxR8hBDKljyeh1XRMx3YEV2XsMW_f_g4Hr4gsiMSHfkQD4MTOjUkv9sSR7x7iXFXlEYxwEyxoUt55lau5M/s640/blogger-image--1269688913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMAZmO5KdAyKJP3ND_L9iz5MLOs2YH7M5k6ptqqTztYZT4a5lVnxuXzVEqBZxR8hBDKljyeh1XRMx3YEV2XsMW_f_g4Hr4gsiMSHfkQD4MTOjUkv9sSR7x7iXFXlEYxwEyxoUt55lau5M/s640/blogger-image--1269688913.jpg"></a></div><br></div>The tremendous fan site Jedi News has published a report based on the rumor from one of their sources that claims veteran actor Ian McDiarmid will be reprising his role as Palpatine in Episode VII. <div><p align="left" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Information passed to Team Jedi News via an unnamed source has informed us that Ian McDiarmid is set to return to the galaxy far, far away for a part in <a href="http://www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-vii/" target="_default" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; ">Episode VII</a>.</span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The specifics of the role are unclear, but it seems likely that McDiarmid will be returning to his signature role of Palpatine. Whether as the original or a clone of, we are yet to discern."</span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">There has been no official confirmation or denial from Lucasfilm as of this posting, but some things make me think this rumor has some real legs. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">There are a number of way that McDiarmid could be used in Episode VII. Most of these ways would be incorporeal, but there is one way where he could have a very significant role in the film. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The most likely scenario for McDairmid to appear is that he could appear as a holo-recording, a Sith spirit, or as the avatar of a Sith Holocron. Of these the Sith spirit idea is the least likely because during The Clone Wars series Lucas is reportedly to have killed an appearance by Darth Bane and Darth Revan because he didn't like the idea of Sith surviving death in a way similar to Jedi Force ghosts. A holo-recording could have McDairmid appearing in any number of ways. For example if the plot features visits to worlds still under the control of the Imperial military there could be propaganda recordings of the Emperor playing. Or we could have a scenario where through the use of digital projections they create a virtual Emperor and present the Emperor's death as false Rebel propaganda and have the Empire clinging to control with a virtual Emperor being the public face of the Empire still.</span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The way that I am most intrigued by is the idea that Palpatine created a Holocron in order to corrupt a future Jedi or Force-user to the ways of the Sith. This holocron gets discovered and we see a new character learn from Palpatine and becoming the trilogies villain. In fact we could see a villain's journey that parallels the heroes journey of the protagonist in the film building to the climactic finale in Episode IX. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The way that McDairmid could have a more substantial role as the villain of Episode VII is if they borrow ideas from the Dark Horse Comic's Dark Empire comic books or the Thrawn novel trilogy. Both of these Expanded Universe launching stories relied heavily on the concept of cloning. Dark Empire focused on the cloning of bodies of Emperor Palpatine and the transfer of his essence from his apparent death on the second Death Star into the cloned bodies. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">McDairmid is a brilliant actor and Palpatine is a great character, but I don't have much interest in seeing Palpatine return as a clone to be the main villain in Episode VII. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The timing of McDairmid's return to more active involvement in Star Wars coincided rather conveniently with George Lucas' hiring of Kathleen Kennedy, his retirement and sale of Lucasfilm to Disney and his gestating plans for a sequel trilogy. Kennedy was hired in June of 2012 and a few months later Celebration VI (August 2012) marked the first U.S. Celebration that McDairmid attended. We know that in August 2012 Lucas had lunch with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher and revealed to them hi plans to go ahead with Episodes VII, VIII, and IIX. It seems likely that if he viewed Palpatine as playing a role in Episode VII that he may have talked to McDairmid that same summer as well. </span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">SOURCE: Jedi News </span><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://www.jedinews.co.uk/news/news.aspx?newsID=12985</span></p></div>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-29523825512763031382013-08-11T10:18:00.001-07:002013-08-11T10:18:29.463-07:00Reacting to D23's Disney Live Action Film Panel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend the Anaheim Convention Center hosted Disney's fan convention D23 across the street from Disneyland.<br />
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In the convention center's arena fans where treated to a star studded presentation that included trailers, rough cuts and behind the scenes footage of some of Disney's upcoming slate of films.<br />
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There are plenty of stories out there that give you a proper news accounting of the event an even complete dialogue from the scenes shown, so instead I am going to focus on some impressions about what we saw. <br />
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Admittedly I am not the biggest Disney nerd, I enjoy the films, have visited Disney World multiple times, but I could really appreciate the passion that hardcore Disney fans have for the company because we Star Wars fans are the same way about Star Wars and Lucasfilm. The panel was hosted by Walt Disney Studious Chairman Alan Horn and featured Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Disney Live Action Production President Sean Bailey. <br />
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Horn kicked the show off by detailing the history of Disney's growth, celebrating the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm. He related some interesting personal stories about how his proposal to his wife involved Bambi and how he got a speeding ticket following the 1977 premiere of Star Wars attempting to reach lightspeed.<br />
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Lucasfilm <a href="http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-at-summer-2013-conventions.html" target="_blank">was clear going into D23</a> not to expect any news regarding future Star Wars projects and Alan Horn reiterated what has already been disclosed about the crew working on <i>Episode VII</i> and had some kind words for Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. Just as a reminder to fans, they are still working on the <i>Episode VII</i> script. Nothing has been shot for the film yet, so expecting a reveal of anything significant seems unrealistic. <br />
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What we did see was footage some of which was shown at San Diego Comic-Con and some of which was new.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Marvel Slate:</span></b><br />
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The Marvel presentation showed us a first look and trailer for <i>Thor: The Dark World</i> (11/8/13) an featured appearances by Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins and Tom Hiddleston. The extended look focused on a battle in which Thor takes down a giant rock troll. We also got to see Jane going to Asgard and Portman showing off her comedy chops interacting with Odin. <br />
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From the look of the film, Thor will be a lot of fun. The trailer did seem to reveal that Thor is going to have a very rough film.<br />
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<i>The Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i> (4/4/14) presentation featured an appearance by Chris Evans (Captain America), Anthony Mackie<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(Sam Wilson / The Falcon), and Sebastian Stan<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> (Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier). It featured two scenes Cap in an elevator and Cap on a mission boarding a freighter as well as a trailer. The first thing that pops out from these clips was that Winter Soldier will be a much darker Captain America. The uniform has been updated with a much darker and more subdued color pallet. The scene in which we see Cap boarding the freighter we see a level of violence and bodily injury caused by the character that to me indicates Cap may be losing his way early in the film as he attempt to adjust to modern realities. I will say I loved the comedic interaction between Evans and Johansson as the Black Widow spends the mission trying to set Cap up on a date.<br />
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Marvel's Kevin Feige seemed especially excited for <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i> (8/1/14) and after seeing the clip we did I can see why. I have zero familiarity with the comic book, but this looks like a fun story. We are introduced to the Starlord (Chris Pratt). We then saw an extended sequence set in a prison where John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey puts each one of the films main characters through a futuristic mugshot/lineup. The entire clip is set to the song "Hooked on a Feeling," which adds a very whimsical feeling to what appears to focus on a prison riot. I loved the absurdity of Rocket Raccoon and I can't wait to see more of this film.<br />
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A the end we got a very brief teaser of Ultron's head being formed while audio played from previous movies, and the shot of the title logo for Avengers 2. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Disney Nature Slate:</span></b><br />
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Disney series of animal focused nature films is returning with Bears (4/18/14). The film appears beautifully shot and follows a family of bears, from when the cubs are born to the challenges the family faces. It was announced that the National Park Foundation will receive a portion of the ticket sales for the first week of the films release. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Disney Studios Slate:</span></b><br />
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The Walt Disney Studios slate featured <i>Muppets Most Wanted</i> (3/21/14), <i>Into the Woods</i> (12/25/14), <i>Cinderella</i> (3/13/15), <i>Malieficent</i> (7/2/14), <i>Tomorrowland</i> (12/12/14), and <i>Saving Mr. Banks </i>(12/20/13). <br />
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Ty Burrell appeared on stage and Tina Fey appeared via video for the <i>Muppets </i>segment, Kenneth Branagh appeared via video for the <i>Cinderella</i> segment, Angelina Jolie appeared for <i>Malieficent</i>, Brad Bird and Damon Lindelof for <i>Tomorrowland</i> and PJ Novak and Jason Schwartzman appeared for <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i>.<br />
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Of all these films <i>Tomorrowland</i> described as a mystery-adventure has me most intrigued. We were shown a short "found" animated clip that seems to reveal a bit about the film. To me this smells like a combination of <i>LOST</i> and <i>The League of Extraordinary Gentleman</i>. There are indications of a secret society of scientists and a secret project underneath the 1964 World's Fair It's a Small World ride. Bird and Lindelof had a lot of fun showing off contents of an old box and may have put the Disney PR folks out of work by coming up with "dusty old box and crappy old sound" as a marketing campaign for the movie.<br />
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<i>Malieficent</i> looks like a real trip and if executed right promises to put <i>Sleeping Beauty</i> in a different perspective, after all every character is the hero of their own story.<br />
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The film that most surprised me is <i>Saving Mr. Banks</i>. Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers is tremendous and has great chemistry with Hanks. The added benefit of co-starring Bradley Whitford makes this a film that while I wasn't planning on seeing it, is one that I think will be too much fun to miss.<br />
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The show closed with a live performance of Let's Go Fly a Kite by Schwartzman and Novak with a suprise appearance by Richard Sherman. The performance and reception that Sherman received was a lot of fun to see.<br />
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<br />Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-57752876695396635922013-08-09T10:09:00.000-07:002013-08-09T10:09:00.159-07:00The Vision Thing: What Lucasfilm can learn from Marvel Studios<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The stewardship of Marvel Studios by President Kevin Feige has been a resounding success. It shouldn't be seen as a coincidence that Feige went into this with a long term plan and continues to form long term plans for the future of Marvel Studios and it's film franchises. <br />
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As Abraham Lincoln said "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will sped the first four sharpening the axe." The importance of having a plan and a vision is key. While a great deal of the success of Marvel's <i>The Avengers</i> film can be attributed to planning, execution, adaptability and luck also play a major role in this. Picking the right people to execute the plan is just as important as having a plan. The two most obvious examples from Marvel Studios is the decision to cast Rober Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man and the decision to hire Joss Whedon to write and direct <i>The Avengers</i>. The massive success of <i>Iron Man</i> provided validation for Feige's vision and allows Marvel to continue following it's plan. Success breads confidence and opportunity, the success of <i>The Avengers </i>allows Marvel to take on more risk as it attempts to expand it's stable of cinematic characters and franchises. <br />
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<b><i>From comics to film vs. from film to film:</i></b><br />
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It is important to remember that Marvel and Star Wars are fundamentally different properties. Marvel at it's core is a comic book company. Comics are cyclical storytelling vehicles, where stories run guided by a single writer or series of writers for a limited period of time and then very often end and begin again. This cycle of character origin, growth, decline/death and re-birth happens across the industry on widely varying timelines. The nature of the story telling results in not only numerous characters but also numerous incarnations of the same characters. This does allow continuity to exist but said continuity can be very fractured. </div>
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While Marvel Studios is using characters and stories that originated in it's comics, it is crafting a series of films that fit together in their own continuity, there is an internal consistency within the film universe. This universe is created as the individual character films tell their stand-alone stories, set up their own sequels but also set up the larger cross-franchise story of the Avengers. </div>
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Star Wars at it's core is a film property. While it has birthed an Expanded Universe of comics and novels and other story telling mediums, the focus of the franchise is cinematic. George Lucas has borrowed from the Expanded Universe, particularly the comics bringing them into the Prequels as well as The Clone Wars series. As an already established film franchise spanning over 30 years, there is already an established film continuity that is guiding Star Wars storytelling. This is vastly different then some of the haphazard films produced featuring Marvel characters in the 1980's and 1990's.<br />
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Instead of moving on from <i>Episodes I-VI</i> and rebooting the Star Wars franchise, it appears that Lucasfilm is embracing it's cinematic continuity and building upon it. I believe this approach creates a richer experience for fans but creates a more challenging situation for storytellers. It is often commented that the world J.R.R. Tolkien created for <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> is one of the richest and most nuanced examples of world-building that we have in fiction. I would assert that the Star Wars universe is the richest and deepest fictional universe ever created. </div>
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<i><b>Structuring the film franchises:</b></i><br />
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At the same time it is important to remember that Star Wars and Marvel are structuring their movie plans in what appears to be fundamentally different ways. </div>
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From all that has been revealed so far about plans and rumors regarding the Star Wars films is that we will get a new Sequel Trilogy. In the years between these films it has been announced that Disney is planning to release stand alone Star Wars films. Speculation is that these will be a story focusing on a young Han Solo as well as a movie focusing on Boba Fett. If these rumors are accurate we will be seeing films that are set in the Star Wars universe but would not be serving the same role as the Marvel character franchise films. The Star Wars stand-alone films would not be used to further the overall saga story line. At the same time Star Wars is ahead of Marvel at joining it's television universe and it's cinematic universe's together. George Lucas as the driving force behind both the first six films as well as The Clone Wars series and the now on the shelf Live-Action series provided story telling across the theater and television screens that were all part of the same grand story. Marvel is just beginning to do this with it's new <i>Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D</i>. on ABC. </div>
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So if the Star Wars saga and stand-alone films are not going to all tie together in a larger story arc as tightly as Marvels franchises, it presents a different challenge that perhaps speaks to a different plan for executing and structuring the future of the Star Wars franchise. </div>
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If you look at the structure of the way Lucasfilm is handling it's television and film properties it may be telling. Word of the Lucasfilm "<a href="http://lightsaberrattling.blogspot.com/2013/08/binding-galaxy-together-look-at.html" target="_blank">Story Group</a>" as well as the announced involvement of certain individuals working on multiple projects provides for a sort of storytelling cross-pollination. </div>
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<b>Episode VII, VIII and IX (Released between 2015-2021)</b><br />
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On <i>Episode VII </i>we have Kathleen Kennedy as an Executive Producer, J.J. Abrams as Director and producer, Bryan Burk (from Abrams' Bad Robot) as a producer. We have Michael Arndt writing and we have Lawrence Kasdan, Simon Kinberg and George Lucas serving as creative consultants. Kennedy <a href="http://lightsaberrattling.blogspot.com/2013/07/star-wars-celebration-europe-news.html" target="_blank">revealed at Celebration Europe</a> that she is very involved in the writing process as they refine the script for <i>Episode VII</i>.<br />
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<div>
<b>Star Wars Rebels (Premiering Fall 2014)</b></div>
<div>
<br />
For Rebels we have three co-executive producers in Dave Filoni, Greg Weisman, and Simon Kinberg. <br />
<br />
Filoni and Weisman both come from television animation backgrounds whereas Kinberg's experience is as a writer and producer for feature films. It isn't yet clear how involved Kennedy is or will be on the series, but presumably the majority of her focus will be on the feature projects.<br />
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<div>
<b>Stand-Alone Films (Between Between Saga Episodes)</b><br />
<br />
We assume we are getting at least two stand-alone films, Disney CEO <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/disney-confirms-standalone-star-wars-films-may-be-released-between-new-core-episodes/" target="_blank">Bob Iger has confirmed</a> those plans to release these movies between <i>Episodes VII, VIII </i>and<i> IX</i>. <br />
<br />
Writing these stand alone films will be Simon Kinberg and Lawrence Kasdan and reportedly J.J. Abrams will serve as a consultant on these films. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Unannounced Animated Feature (Unknown Release Date)</b></div>
<div>
<br />
We know Lucasfilm is also working on an <a href="http://lightsaberrattling.blogspot.com/2013/06/new-disneylucasfilm-animated-feature-to.html" target="_blank">unannounced animated feature film projec</a>t directed by Gary Rydstrom, with Kennedy presumably as executive producer, and potentially written by Irene Mecchi with Brenda Chapman getting either a consulting or writing credit on the film. It isn't clear if this project is Star Wars related. <br />
<br />
<b><i>Conclusions:</i></b><br />
<br />
It is important to note that both Feige and Kennedy are producers having production experience in both television and film. I believe that Kennedy's role as President of Lucasfilm because of the other companies that fall under her domain may be forced to delegate the development of the Star Wars brand a bit more then Feige has to at Marvel Studios. It seems clear that the workload necessary to run Lucasfilm as well as be the creative lead on a Star Wars trilogy is a terribly difficult task and one of the reasons it took George Lucas so long to make the Prequels and contemplate making the Sequels. <br />
<br />
It looks like what Kennedy and her team have assembled at Lucasfilm, between the creation of the Story Group and the involvement of individuals on multiple projects is to create a connective tissue that will ensure that the overall story and continuity will mesh. The new films must have that Star Wars "feel" to them, a lived in universe that mixes the grander heroic themes and archetypes with sci-fi action, humor and romance.<br />
<br />
Outside of Kennedy herself it appears that the guy to really keep an eye on at Lucasfilm is Simon Kinberg who seems to have a hand in every project. It makes me wonder if Kinberg is serving a role to Kennedy similar to what Rick McCallum did for so many years for George Lucas.<br />
<br />
So as we look at it what Lucasfilm can learn from Marvel in the broadest terms is to have a clear overall plan mapped out. Feige <a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/07/marvel-studios-has-movies-planned-up-to-2021" target="_blank">has revealed </a>that in 2006 Marvel Studios was already planning out it's various film "phases" and projects until 2015 and currently they are planning out until 2021. Not only does this give the company a road map from which to proceed it also has the ancillary benefit of reassuring fans and exciting fans. Fans want to know that when they are emotionally investing in characters that they will see those characters' stories continue. <br />
<br />
This plan doesn't need to be publicly revealed but it should be as forward reaching as possible. It also should accept the fact that some projects may not work as well as others. Marvel didn't allow the difficulties with<i> The Incredible Hulk</i> star Edward Norton and having to recast the character derail it's larger plans for <i>The Avengers</i>. There will be Star Wars films that preform less well as The Clone Wars theatrical premiere demonstrated. You have to trust the plan. If an element of the plan isn't working you have to figure out a way to work around that and be willing to make some hard and expensive choices. <br />
<br />
What Star Wars can't do is simply copy the Marvel model. The linkages that Marvel has created in it's movies provides a narrative momentum. Star Wars storytelling whether in comics, books or television has often been non-linear. We jump back and forth in the timeline and if the new stand-alone movies follow this pattern they can't really be used to connect <i>Episode VII</i> to<i> Episode VIII</i> or <i>Episode VIII</i> to <i>Episode IX</i>. As a new Star Wars continuity develops, what the stand-alone films and television vehicles can do for the franchise is to provide depth and breadth to the universe, similar to what the comics and novels did. The difference being that with tighter narrative control by the Story Group and the creators involved we should get a new continuity that is far less messy and takes the Star Wars universe in new and interesting directions. <br />
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<br />
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Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-50162131118289860612013-08-06T22:35:00.000-07:002013-08-06T22:35:34.915-07:00The Star Wars: Previewing Dark Horse Comics New Mini-Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG066BbcGg0wzVixT0L1UPgj6gYjwN_PHzZUBaJ9iaKm815_r1B_jRQLrcmo4xly4BJeY9zmOl1GyWHj0XFioj4yxWd2QkaegJfsGS0tNkaCzDPKruDYztBW09lX5f550jXcuYVoY-6CC/s1600/TSW7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG066BbcGg0wzVixT0L1UPgj6gYjwN_PHzZUBaJ9iaKm815_r1B_jRQLrcmo4xly4BJeY9zmOl1GyWHj0XFioj4yxWd2QkaegJfsGS0tNkaCzDPKruDYztBW09lX5f550jXcuYVoY-6CC/s400/TSW7.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="tr_bq">
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The Star Wars is a new 8-issue comic mini-series published by Dark Horse Comics. It is an adaptation of George Lucas' 1974 rough draft of what would eventually become <i>Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope</i>. <br />
<br />
Character names, settings and themes may be familiar but this is definitely it's own story and I for one am very excited to get a chance to see this series. It is written by Lucasfilm executive editor and author J.W. Rinzler with artwork by Mike Mayhew. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpB8ZhKJVrbtQ2RioTsLGiw_udHzayomi6c6HSS4CuBSYWO396wKsqDtOGFpAGnhdX38fnPQqDI4EzzkYOHEVGHEPcaBRVvxBzY5nYC3MgaYiju-G6r1H3TC4QvRkpzm-Be1XwT8dJ1rG/s1600/TSW2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpB8ZhKJVrbtQ2RioTsLGiw_udHzayomi6c6HSS4CuBSYWO396wKsqDtOGFpAGnhdX38fnPQqDI4EzzkYOHEVGHEPcaBRVvxBzY5nYC3MgaYiju-G6r1H3TC4QvRkpzm-Be1XwT8dJ1rG/s320/TSW2.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks a bit like George doesn't he?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwXXo15G4UdMDVdoehE0FfM444G3NqhGdDhhF5tSmcDB18jquGh4K-sXxrEnmlUABeEsaY7XmdIRYk6SDWY3FWKJzJaQgFjiaw5tekwxM8whdsllUAIoHrDxVAhGcnyZtdsXsaDGzILFl/s1600/TSW4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwXXo15G4UdMDVdoehE0FfM444G3NqhGdDhhF5tSmcDB18jquGh4K-sXxrEnmlUABeEsaY7XmdIRYk6SDWY3FWKJzJaQgFjiaw5tekwxM8whdsllUAIoHrDxVAhGcnyZtdsXsaDGzILFl/s320/TSW4.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starkiller is a pretty cool name. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PAaETFX8QhE-y77H6-xFpXr2gfIQNMHtdBeuYv8FvP278Dq7rPsSj83nT21nnggnxSZqfOlty4t9tJotbecsugVHJ346CpCFDu0YZBsNwaNacaEbTU26HLnuggsHt2vGc1bEJXVfuu5z/s1600/TSW5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PAaETFX8QhE-y77H6-xFpXr2gfIQNMHtdBeuYv8FvP278Dq7rPsSj83nT21nnggnxSZqfOlty4t9tJotbecsugVHJ346CpCFDu0YZBsNwaNacaEbTU26HLnuggsHt2vGc1bEJXVfuu5z/s320/TSW5.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darth Vader, 95% less melted.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIKMDGaCrkhaNgq0akTq1hf3qHPcVruKMgrCeK1a2fv5B6uLSUeC_8mGwTIoqRsP4EC3NKIaZCRcLZ3hV7YuRpw5e3wqwJ-G0eUtImEHFPbFjZFty8-4VYhPvV619RpY-TzLKKjfo0IGL/s1600/TSW6.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIKMDGaCrkhaNgq0akTq1hf3qHPcVruKMgrCeK1a2fv5B6uLSUeC_8mGwTIoqRsP4EC3NKIaZCRcLZ3hV7YuRpw5e3wqwJ-G0eUtImEHFPbFjZFty8-4VYhPvV619RpY-TzLKKjfo0IGL/s320/TSW6.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think Leia would kiss that.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ2L8m2yRjjGBTCCZvgfHdwV2IMSBP518qE4czRtYJsxNhzax5Xwt629BAyI7vYCMT5kKkluqDlP5llmnUEfADjOTATASMFCemCOY07ADEQnrFbKXZkJY3im5PpsfGZFB-Uy6Ak0rIwkd/s1600/TSW3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZ2L8m2yRjjGBTCCZvgfHdwV2IMSBP518qE4czRtYJsxNhzax5Xwt629BAyI7vYCMT5kKkluqDlP5llmnUEfADjOTATASMFCemCOY07ADEQnrFbKXZkJY3im5PpsfGZFB-Uy6Ak0rIwkd/s320/TSW3.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that Maisie Williams?</td></tr>
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Gather around and let Grandpa tell you a little story about the early days of the Internet. When dial-up modems ruled the day and AOL was just beginning to hit it's stride the Internet was very much a textual creature. When one picture took 5 minutes to download this makes a lot of sense and forget about instant HD video streaming. One of the first things I remember "finding" on the Internet was a seemingly legitimate early draft of Star Wars. At this point I can't remember what version it was, but I clearly remember carefully printing it out and putting it in it's own special binder. Star Wars was such compelling story that even as a child I was voracious for any bit of information that would give me greater insight into the story and the mythology that George Lucas had crafted.<br />
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In <a href="http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/1349/lucasfilm-and-dark-horse-announce-star-wars" target="_blank">Dark Horse's announcement</a> of the project, J.W. Rinzler the series' writer talks about stumbling upon the script,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“While researching in the Lucasfilm Archives I’ve found many treasures—but one which truly astounded me was George’s rough draft for The Star Wars. His first complete imaginings were hallucinating to read—mind blowing,” said writer J.W. Rinzler. “While working with George on another book project, I once asked if we could adapt his rough draft. He was hesitant. Years later, with Dark Horse’s invaluable help, we showed him a few drawn and colored pages of what it might look like. He gave us the okay.”</blockquote>
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Series editor Randy Stradley seems to have been as captivated as I was by the script.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“I’m not sure where I first read about The Star Wars—it was years and years ago—but the idea of Luke Skywalker being an older Jedi General, and Han Solo being a six-foot-tall lizard, turned my Star Wars fan brain on its side. I always assumed this would be one of those stories that would be ‘lost to history,’ so getting to work on bringing it to life is kinda like a dream come true.”</blockquote>
Though I think series artist Mike Mayhew may sum it up best in his comments to <a href="http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2606197" target="_blank">USA Today</a> when he simply says, ''this is the greatest 'what if?' story ever in comics."<br />
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From what we have seen of the series so far by way of panel artwork there is a very captivating visual style being employed by Mayhew that I think is going to look absolutely gorgeous in print as well as on digital devices. Feast your eyes on a few more images.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3clcYnfuLhitkQgatFJRrf6p9hRV1B3Cf6T4NAEg-xGXGHuqmxc9UGiE7DO8zLbT1X9_ho_gAeKM7iUvZ0JiISeb2AuaJDLWXg_E0um0xjNhWP4j27m8G-sETbYodVUWd5G0qUYqD-RpK/s1600/TSW10.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3clcYnfuLhitkQgatFJRrf6p9hRV1B3Cf6T4NAEg-xGXGHuqmxc9UGiE7DO8zLbT1X9_ho_gAeKM7iUvZ0JiISeb2AuaJDLWXg_E0um0xjNhWP4j27m8G-sETbYodVUWd5G0qUYqD-RpK/s400/TSW10.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fighter-sized Star Destroyers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCti4hbd1H9O3uyVyjnIZAaWgjSXeBaRphgXO0D3GUIDlybEpPDxG0Wzd0wTMsjLyW7MRbqmJDCEgGNGbw_H8_0dcMFbKpPA6ahh6LYS4SP1UPq7aFQiZ2GBREz6FNqcuBpCMVqo-krKn/s1600/TSW11.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCti4hbd1H9O3uyVyjnIZAaWgjSXeBaRphgXO0D3GUIDlybEpPDxG0Wzd0wTMsjLyW7MRbqmJDCEgGNGbw_H8_0dcMFbKpPA6ahh6LYS4SP1UPq7aFQiZ2GBREz6FNqcuBpCMVqo-krKn/s400/TSW11.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YES!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYbTO_gDxwrrt-3b_RH3lhcEXjrsoDr-MUQ3DcQrk-buIgrvRoBdB0v8wmt9Kp09C-dTtxVezpV8oydTeR19GibEk7NvvleappV8MWerUvXzPzPbgUZDujdAkXUzOxhO-DCjW92rzLUG9/s1600/TSW12.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYbTO_gDxwrrt-3b_RH3lhcEXjrsoDr-MUQ3DcQrk-buIgrvRoBdB0v8wmt9Kp09C-dTtxVezpV8oydTeR19GibEk7NvvleappV8MWerUvXzPzPbgUZDujdAkXUzOxhO-DCjW92rzLUG9/s400/TSW12.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is that Emperor Palpatine or Ming?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yQ4gLe-BT0wSjYvMfAGmvJ8IpZvLV9T6KUKiaWF9kx6a34fL9sHW31ASsp8E8rsa-4oMHoohvSc6A86KdaKhd-bCUA7qjssqVlH-DQEqks4aK9VUjP9jrLTZPkWAGesd0YQ5XByPQmfl/s1600/TSW13.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yQ4gLe-BT0wSjYvMfAGmvJ8IpZvLV9T6KUKiaWF9kx6a34fL9sHW31ASsp8E8rsa-4oMHoohvSc6A86KdaKhd-bCUA7qjssqVlH-DQEqks4aK9VUjP9jrLTZPkWAGesd0YQ5XByPQmfl/s400/TSW13.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Darth Vader, but still pretty scary.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYW9lxlUvXYvg1ygRDgZ0T9dg1XVQcXEkZh1MQj19cDauY41arArGCDhoa3zo4xFe-QNdfQaNNYS0ir8I99I7xaZNeynnzwxJLO-8NDflxOTRsDDMZsfxBAIv-cm28yZCxzGmOSDwjHVv/s1600/TSW14.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYW9lxlUvXYvg1ygRDgZ0T9dg1XVQcXEkZh1MQj19cDauY41arArGCDhoa3zo4xFe-QNdfQaNNYS0ir8I99I7xaZNeynnzwxJLO-8NDflxOTRsDDMZsfxBAIv-cm28yZCxzGmOSDwjHVv/s400/TSW14.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Space Fortress</td></tr>
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The USA Today also has a trailer up for the series which you can see below.<br />
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The Star Wars #1 will be released on September 4, 2013 with cover art by Nick Runge, with a variant cover by Jan Duursema, and an Ultravariant cover by Doug Wheatley. The Star Wars #2 will be released on October 2, 2013 and both are available for <a href="http://www.darkhorse.com/Search/The+Star+Wars" target="_blank">pre-order now</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/300/22/22824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/300/22/22824.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Star Wars #1</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/300/22/22825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.darkhorse.com/covers/300/22/22825.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Star Wars #2</td></tr>
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Below is what would have been the opening crawl to The Star Wars, click on it to read a text file of the script.<br />
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<blockquote>
<a href="http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/5/5b/Tsw_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/5/5b/Tsw_page.jpg" width="267" /></a><a href="http://www.benandgrover.com/ep4/scripts/ep4_drr.txt" target="_blank">FADE IN:</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.benandgrover.com/ep4/scripts/ep4_drr.txt" target="_blank">1. SPACE</a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.benandgrover.com/ep4/scripts/ep4_drr.txt" target="_blank">A sea of stars is broken by the vast blue surface of the planet, Utapau. Five small moons slowly drift into view from the far side of the planet. The main titles are followed by a roll-up:<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"></span></a></blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.benandgrover.com/ep4/scripts/ep4_drr.txt" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Until the recent Great Rebellion, the Jedi Bendu<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>were the most feared warriors in the universe.<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For one hundred thousand years, generations of<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Jedi perfected their art as the personal bodyguards<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>of the emperor. They were the chief architects of<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the invincible Imperial Space Force which expanded<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the Empire across the galaxy, from the celestial<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>equator to the farthest reaches of the Great Rift.<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now these legendary warriors are all but extinct.<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>One by one they have been hunted down and<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>destroyed as enemies of the New Empire by a<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ferocious and sinister rival warrior sect, the<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Knights of Sith.</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<a href="http://www.benandgrover.com/ep4/scripts/ep4_drr.txt" target="_blank">A small silver spacecraft emerges from behind one of the Utapau moons. The deadly little fightercraft speeds past several of the moons, until it finally goes into orbit around the fourth moon...</a></blockquote>
<b>SOURCES: <a href="http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/2606197" target="_blank">USA TODAY</a> and <a href="http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/1349/lucasfilm-and-dark-horse-announce-star-wars" target="_blank">Darkhorse.com</a></b><br />
<br />Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-19383421335968424172013-08-03T21:40:00.005-07:002013-08-04T09:05:33.214-07:00The Clone Wars Bonus Content News & Rumors: Is This Cad Bane's Ship?<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1w74HafCpunbqiPuetlYzVAmsGrBPZ_UViCZQ9MPf2QJeZHYZQGtIQbI76mKgk0lgc7b-JeYqwQjeWHnJVO1B8fqXViNzJCEIF7yXro7fuXAO-1dyx66XZKk21GZ8g7eUavPAFsMIUwny/s1600/TCWCadeBaneShip.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1w74HafCpunbqiPuetlYzVAmsGrBPZ_UViCZQ9MPf2QJeZHYZQGtIQbI76mKgk0lgc7b-JeYqwQjeWHnJVO1B8fqXViNzJCEIF7yXro7fuXAO-1dyx66XZKk21GZ8g7eUavPAFsMIUwny/s400/TCWCadeBaneShip.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cad Bane's New Ship</td></tr>
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars supervising director and Star Wars Rebels co-executive producer Dave Filoni <a href="http://www.starwarsunderworld.com/2013/07/ceii-secrets-of-star-wars-clone-wars.html" target="_blank">revealed at Star Wars Celebration Europe</a> that bounty hunter Cad Bane's ship would appear in The Clone Wars' "bonus content."<br />
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<br />
Video of the panel and the concept art have surfaced on-line thanks to Youtube poster <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkyCBpNNTJI&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLZRd3qFud5tsyTZ4FN9IKE8d2VFqHf4YW" target="_blank">TheHuskyDog7</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qkyCBpNNTJI?list=PLZRd3qFud5tsyTZ4FN9IKE8d2VFqHf4YW" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<br />
The new ship pictured above has a very lean and mean look to it. It looks like an aggressive and attack vessel. It is also a serious departure from the concept art for Cad Bane's ship that was developed in 2009 for the <i>Republic Heroes </i>video game.<br />
<br />
Concept art from artist Jeremy Love (aka Coldrum) worked up concept art on a ship for Cad Bane. Love worked on <i>Star Wars: The Force Unleashed</i>, <i>Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes</i>, and <i>Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels</i>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6mMWnpf45vGAezFPPoovXX3OF_Nqapqq6hfmqg72h0gHVYlFHif4R-tdnEuXlEAwEV77q22h6XDk5OMUgrTNvwTPirOPtAdS2MMinZ8x-_5-rxvbk_R1g0-NmPFsg7k8w9kD3nsioEW-/s1600/CadBaneShip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6mMWnpf45vGAezFPPoovXX3OF_Nqapqq6hfmqg72h0gHVYlFHif4R-tdnEuXlEAwEV77q22h6XDk5OMUgrTNvwTPirOPtAdS2MMinZ8x-_5-rxvbk_R1g0-NmPFsg7k8w9kD3nsioEW-/s400/CadBaneShip.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The<i> Slight of Hand</i></td></tr>
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It is interesting to note that it has a similar color scheme and design elements as the previously shown main character's ship from Star Wars Rebels, called the "Ghost." The yellow paint, angular lines and top blaster canon turrets all have similar looks between the two ships. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKghrO3J93BV0KvUXCRDAo2zb8T3SOJ82Lk-MstE24dcZNayiQDHzJjpMaIW5m8F_juGTkxWsAJQOfm6XUyA2pLYbiff9S4cktWxxFdepaalRfvEJEf7NbzZlRSRwy_f2sYLwyOK84PVu/s1600/Rebelsconcept2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKghrO3J93BV0KvUXCRDAo2zb8T3SOJ82Lk-MstE24dcZNayiQDHzJjpMaIW5m8F_juGTkxWsAJQOfm6XUyA2pLYbiff9S4cktWxxFdepaalRfvEJEf7NbzZlRSRwy_f2sYLwyOK84PVu/s400/Rebelsconcept2.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Star Wars Rebels ship, the <i>Ghost</i></td></tr>
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<div>
A poster on the message board <a href="http://www.brickhorizon.com/boardz/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=280&start=1980" target="_blank">Brick Horizon</a> says that the ship is viewable in a Clone Wars demo game on the Playstation and that the ship is called the "Slight of Hand." The name of the ship is confirmed by the artist in his description of the artwork. </div>
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<a href="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/paul7819/DSCF3090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a359/paul7819/DSCF3090.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It will be interesting to see of Bane's ship retains the "Slight of Hand" moniker or if the ship will receive a new name. </div>
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<b>SOURCES: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkyCBpNNTJI&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLZRd3qFud5tsyTZ4FN9IKE8d2VFqHf4YW" target="_blank">Youtube</a>, <a href="http://www.brickhorizon.com/boardz/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=280&start=1980" target="_blank">Brick Horizon</a>, <a href="http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/coldrums_portfolio/picture341607.aspx" target="_blank">Imagine FX</a> and, <a href="http://cghub.com/images/view/118409/" target="_blank">CG Hub</a></b></div>
Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-38634269609195801612013-08-03T05:00:00.000-07:002013-08-03T05:00:09.939-07:00Binding the Galaxy Together: A Look at the Lucasfilm "Story Group" <div class="tr_bq">
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A seemingly minor bit of news out of the recent Star Wars: Celebration Europe convention was an oblique reference to something called the "story group" within Lucasfilm. If you know me at all you know that not only do I love a good story, but I am also fascinated by the creative process of writing and of collaborative storytelling. The idea that there may be significant changes in the decision making and creative processes of how the story of Star Wars is told has me very curious. It has me wondering...<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What is the story group?</i></span></b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/stern_man">@stern_man</a> More than 140 chars allow. Nutshell: story group is about ensuring future storytelling meshes better far more than in past<br />
— Pablo Hidalgo (@infinata) <a href="https://twitter.com/infinata/statuses/361693955504607232">July 29, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">
Background on Continuity and Storytelling:</span></i></b><br />
<br />
In interviews with some key players at Lucasfilm we get a background on how the cross division storytelling process and continuity review has worked previously. This background allows us to guess at what has changed with what appears to be this new working group across Lucasfilm's divisions.<br />
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In a 2010 interview Pablo Hidalgo, Lucasfilm's Brand Communications Manager (formerly manager of on-line content) discusses his previously informal input in the storytelling process.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5vFIvlm9vvgdpDf4fWzPhDMPa3FzKHi-tCrtG4lvSmS_3pyAsSx2F-W-AGPOZC0T8IE1LR5cbXz3o2kSCRRZmPehnBFXQ_oFR3iPmd4kFiqhueHo0aCiLB4zjUuBAHZfnoT43Uj2O_1o/s1600/13178_10151245245101787_1628097520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5vFIvlm9vvgdpDf4fWzPhDMPa3FzKHi-tCrtG4lvSmS_3pyAsSx2F-W-AGPOZC0T8IE1LR5cbXz3o2kSCRRZmPehnBFXQ_oFR3iPmd4kFiqhueHo0aCiLB4zjUuBAHZfnoT43Uj2O_1o/s400/13178_10151245245101787_1628097520_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<blockquote>
<i>"20. And now, fan questions. Lord Tuetanus from Durango asks, what is the editorial process for creation of new content in Lucasfilm? Continuity, magical word, how is it controlled?</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>If you’re referring to published, expanded universe content, then it’s really up to the editors in our Licensing group to work with the publishing partners and the authors to develop a story, and the editors and Leland Chee review the story for any new continuity, potential conflicts, or opportunities to connect to other stories. I have no formal involvement in this, but I am an occasional guest who is allowed to sit in on story conferences and offer input from time to time.</i><br />
<i>If you’re referring to the stories that come out television production, that comes out collaboration from George Lucas, Dave Filoni, and a team of writers during a story conference. They have access to all the Expanded Universe reference books during development, and will occasionally send queries to Leland and myself to see if there’s opportunity to connect with the EU. But aside from that, I have no involvement on the story side of The Clone Wars."</i> (Source: <a href="http://korpil.net/2010/11/interview-with-pablo-hidalgo/" target="_blank">Korpil.net Interview with Pablo Hidalgo, Nov. 2010</a>)</blockquote>
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On the publishing side former Lucas Licensing Executive Editor Sue Rostoni described the story creation process to EU Cantina.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"EUC (Fan Question): I was wondering if you could describe how you handle manuscripts. I don’t fully understand what happens when you get them. Do they come to you electronically, or on paper? How do you make edits? When editing, what do you look for?</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110611174615/starwars/images/thumb/e/e1/Sue_Rostoni.jpg/200px-Sue_Rostoni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" src="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110611174615/starwars/images/thumb/e/e1/Sue_Rostoni.jpg/200px-Sue_Rostoni.jpg" /></i></a><i>SR: The manuscripts arrive electronically. In the past, I would print them out and edit on paper, but over the last few years I’ve grown fond of editing electronically. It’s easier for me and I believe I do a better job. For one, my writing gets sloppy after a few sentences and there’s never enough room in the margin or between lines to really get my thoughts out. There’s no limit to my verbosity when editing electronically. So I edit in “Word” using “Track Changes” and the “Comments” options.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I especially use the comment option when there are continuity issues for Leland Chee’s input, or specific things for him to note in the Holocron. Leland will make his comments in the manuscript and send it back to me.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Shelly Shapiro is more responsible for seeing that the story works as a whole and the writing runs smoothly, while I make sure the story and characters fit the sensibility of Star Wars. I watch for things that take me out of the story, sometimes just a word like “typewriter” will do it, sometimes it’s when someone acts out of character. And since Star Wars is populated by an abundance of aliens, I have to remind myself that while most readers will automatically “see” a Wookiee, it helps to have a few reminders of the appearance of some of the less known aliens.</i><br />
<i>And, of course, I want to have an emotional response to the story, to both be entertained and challenged, and to be able to identify how the events change the primary characters."</i> (Source: <a href="http://www.eucantina.net/archives/10538" target="_blank">EUCantina.net Interview with Sue Rostoni, May 2011</a>)</blockquote>
Leland Chee, Lucasfilm's Continuity Database Administrator (a.k.a Keeper of the Holocron) explains the Holocron and his role in the creative story telling process.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534821_605563599464570_1104842638_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://sphotos-b-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534821_605563599464570_1104842638_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=605563599464570&set=pb.201820953172172.-2207520000.1375513939.&type=3&theater" target="_blank">Siddique Hussain</a></td></tr>
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The Holocron which Chee created replaced the old Star Wars bible (a set of large black binders) and contains various in-universe information broken down by subject matter of Character, Location, Alien/Creature, Technology (Droids, Vehicles, Weapons), Group/Organization, Terminology, Event, Flora, and Language. As of 2011 there was over 45,000 entrees in the Holocron. The Holocron is used by various individuals withing Lucasfilm as well as select licensees and writers. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i> "In the real world, the Holocron is an internal database maintained by Lucas Licensing that tracks all the fictional elements created for theStar Wars universe. The database includes material from the films and The Clone WarsTV series as well as everything from the Expanded Universe (EU) which includes books, comics, videogames, trading cards, roleplaying games, websites, toys, cartoons, and just about every officially sanctioned fictional element of the Star Wars universe."</i> (Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/notes/keeper-of-the-holocron/what-is-the-holocron/201911246496476" target="_blank">Keeper of the Holocron on Facebook</a>)</blockquote>
The Holocron allows folks whether it is editorial staff or writers themselves to check elements of their stories against the established continuity.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://roqoodepot.com/interviews/leland-chee/" target="_blank">Roqoo Depot </a>did an excellent interview with Chee in which he details what his job is and isn't as well as his input on the creative process.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"What’s a typical day at the office?</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>LC: Because we have so many diverse projects going on at a time, I can never be quite sure how my day is going to go. The bulk of of my time is spent going through novel manuscripts, comic book scripts, and video game documents. Oftentimes, the authors and editors will add or point out specific continuity questions on the manuscripts they’d like me to address. As I am going through these, I am creating new entries in the Holocron database for anything new that’s created and adding any new backstory to existing entries. I also spend time going through art, whether it be interior art for Essential Guides, video game concept art, or comic art. At any point through the day, I may get calls or e-mails from editors or authors with questions or requests for reference. The scope of my duties goes beyond publishing and video games. I might be asked to check the text on the back of a trading card, or check trivia questions on a calendar, or confirm vehicle stats on a t-shirt. I might be asked to check pronunciations for an audio book, or someone needs the Aurebesh font, or someone might be looking to confirm that the appropriate translation for “Darth Vader” in French is “Dark Vador.” And I do this for the Indiana Jones material as well.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>What are the most common misconceptions about your job?</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>LC: Star Wars continuity, even EU continuity, does not rest on my shoulders. Our licensees submit product directly to either our editors or our product development managers. The Holocron serves as a tool for them to check any issues regarding continuity, and after that, if the editors or developers have any questions, they pass it along to me to check for continuity. At the same time, I am constantly on the lookout to make sure that any new continuity being created gets entered in the Holocron. With regard to the the films and The Clone Wars, I am not involved in continuity approvals though I have often been asked to provide reference material.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>At what point in the reviewing/editing process of a Star Wars book do you come in and look for continuity errors? Do you work with the author during the writing process, after the final draft is submitted, or after the editors go over it?</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>LC: I work with the Licensing editors at the onset looking at outlines and manuscripts. I have been present for nearly all of the writers’ conferences for the multi-author/multi-book story dating back to when I started in 2000. I work directly with the authors when there are specific continuity points that need ironing out or if the books are heavily tied to other titles currently in development, whether it involves The Clone Wars, video games, or other fiction."</i> (Source: <a href="http://roqoodepot.com/interviews/leland-chee/" target="_blank">Roqoo Depot Interview with Leland Chee</a>)</blockquote>
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<a href="http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/5/5b/Licensinglogo.svg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://images.wikia.com/starwars/images/5/5b/Licensinglogo.svg" width="200" /></a></div>
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In addition to the processes they described we know that there are different story conferences that occur at Lucasfilm each year. For <i>The Clone Wars</i> series before a season went into production, Lucas, Filoni and other writers and production staff on the series would meet at Skywalker Ranch to break the stories and assign writing duties for episodes and story arcs to writers. On the licensing end there has been a greater push in recent years of cooperation between the comic license holder Dark Horse Comics and the adult novel license holder Del Rey. This spirit of cooperation has extended to editorial staff conferences at Lucasfilm where the staff at Lucas Licensing (LucasBooks) get together with editors from Dark Horse and Del Rey and develop story ideas and plot out the direction of the Expanded Universe. <br />
<br />
So in the past while there were certainly organized periods of time when story telling whether it was an adult or young adult novelization of a television property like <i>The Clone Wars</i>, or multiple stories taking place in the same time period with some of the same characters like the <i>Knight Errant</i> comic and novel, we have seen cooperation between Lucasfilm, Lucas Licensing and it's licensees. What we haven't really seen is a unified storytelling vision that has been executed across all platforms. <br />
<br />
I think some of this stems from previous leadership, where as his own privately held company, George Lucas may have allowed the licensing division to let other storytellers play in his universe, he didn't really consider that part of his story so he tolerated it's existence and sometimes enjoyed it and borrowed from it. At the same time his focus was very much on telling the stories he wanted to tell. The result is you had the storytelling in Star Wars being pulled in various directions across multiple in-universe time periods. Folks like Leland Chee played traffic cop, seeming to prevent as many crashes as possible but acknowledging that it was never going to all fit perfectly. <br />
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With the purchase of Lucasfilm by Disney and the announcement of new films and new TV ventures it created a great deal of uncertainty for the direction of future Star Wars storytelling in other formats. What seems to have developed is a bit of a holding pattern. Until it is known what exactly the Sequel Trilogy is going to do to continuity we don't really know what is going to happen to the Expanded Universe. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>What is the purpose of this new "Story Group?"</i></span></b><br />
<br />
Disney did not become the giant corporation that it is by being stupid. The prime revenue sources for the Star Wars property will come from feature films. Everything else is and should be secondary to the films. It also makes sense that as you attempt to attract new fans and hook them on new Star Wars stories for years to come that you would want simplify the Star Wars universe, grounding everything primarily in the first six films so that they can jump in now with <i>Episode VII</i> or with <i>Star Wars Rebels</i> and the stories will make sense and fit. <br />
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To me the indication based on the description above is that the purpose of this group is to enforce narrative or continuity discipline going forward. Which means a different emphasis in the editorial oversight from Lucasfilm and not allowing as much decision making on the licensee end of things on the direction of plots and characters. <br />
<br />
I believe that this will have two effects in the short term. The first is that it will provide a more cohesive set of stories. The second is that we will hit a storytelling bottleneck, where the pace and number of stories released in other medium will be greatly reduced until we have a clearer picture of where the story in the films is going. <br />
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Of course the beauty of the story group is that assuming the key players on the film side of the company are part of it, it should allow the story group to have access to the film stories as early as possible which will let them commission books, comics and animation that fit with this. <br />
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There will no doubt be some conflicts as last minute edits and decisions in the films could create continuity hiccups with other materials, but no matter what system you establish that is going to occur.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">What do we know about the Story Group?</span></i></b><br />
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At present we don't have a great deal of information about the story group. <br />
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It is not clear whether it is a formal structure within Lucasfilm or more of an informal or ad hoc working group. Based on Pablo's tweet it sounds like it is more formal than anything they have had in place in the past.<br />
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The membership of the group is also unclear. We do not know how many members the story group has or who is part of the group.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1552652463/mer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1552652463/mer2.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Heddle, LucasBooks Senior Editor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It appears that at least Pablo Hidalgo and Leland Chee are part of the group. As Senior Editor at Lucasfilm/LucasBooks Jennifer Heddle is almost certainly part of the group as well, she is the successor to Sue Rostoni and deals with both novels and comics. Simon Kinberg who is one of the three executive producers on <i>Star Wars Rebels </i>is also involved in the Star Wars feature films for Lucasfilm so it would make tons of sense for him to be a key figure in the story group. <br />
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Other likely names to be involved would be Michael Arndt, Lawrence Kasdan, Dave Filoni, and Greg Weisman.<br />
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At the <a href="http://www.lucasfilm.com/inside/bio/" target="_blank">senior leadership levels of Lucasfilm</a>, <a href="http://www.lucasfilm.com/inside/bio/paulsouthern.html" target="_blank">Paul Southern </a>is Lucasfilm's Vice President, Licensing and Consumer Products Marketing and Senior Advisor <a href="http://www.lucasfilm.com/inside/bio/howardroffman.html" target="_blank">Howard Roffman</a> (former head of Licensing) could also be part of the story group. <br />
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Additionally it could be a bit like the United Nations Security Council where there are some permanent members and some temporary members. Individuals like JJ Abrams or Kathleen Kennedy may sit in on meetings, lead a meeting or simply send a memorandum with instructions to a meeting or they could be core members of the story group. We simply don't have much information at this point.<br />
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While the exact details of the story group may not be clear at this point, or whether the Expanded Universe will survive in whole, in part or be rebooted, what is clear is that going forward Lucasfilm is making a concerted effort to ensure that all the storytellers are on the same page. Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-7720000744517795822013-07-31T14:56:00.000-07:002013-07-31T14:56:04.061-07:00Star Wars: The Clone Wars Joins Cartoon Network's Toonami Programing Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXERKULB_cCddJRFvup9siEHHS-yN5g9RpvOs0k0AYW3vyRUSd985ZolZp3mpgXhuHAh671JYblqHSW5_g-Y2zqI-LLqfvSMyuR1pNXGwbM5v-6uq1_7K7HLejBOU9O7bcmymnHDvguft/s1600/Toonami.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXERKULB_cCddJRFvup9siEHHS-yN5g9RpvOs0k0AYW3vyRUSd985ZolZp3mpgXhuHAh671JYblqHSW5_g-Y2zqI-LLqfvSMyuR1pNXGwbM5v-6uq1_7K7HLejBOU9O7bcmymnHDvguft/s640/Toonami.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was announced via <b><i><a href="http://toonami.tumblr.com/post/56977852706/thats-it-for-this-months-q-a-hope-you-enjoyed" target="_blank">Toonami's Tumblr</a></i></b> page that The Clone Wars would be joining The Cartoon Networks' Saturday night programming block.<br />
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It isn't clear if this is a continuation of the previous contract for The Clone Wars distribution, if there are some continued rights for Cartoon Network to air the series in perpetuity or if this is a new distribution contract. <br />
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/61b9bc5f86110a51173827597a45b182/tumblr_mhy0t6OGoJ1s12tfqo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/61b9bc5f86110a51173827597a45b182/tumblr_mhy0t6OGoJ1s12tfqo1_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Star Wars: The Clone Wars begins airing on Toonami on August 17th, replacing Eureka 7 (full schedule to come)."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukB-l68KJsqkSlGvhebuN2O1zh_7emjqlwzDSc1ODseU3rypYnCgsLJwTj3c08oOy6MPHWNBIlG2TjjZvxn8hXgszLze_uKogUom1hyphenhyphen5BzOOSR8CsK-CY-RV99JZNQu5idV1NMxbCf4tI/s1600/Toonami1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukB-l68KJsqkSlGvhebuN2O1zh_7emjqlwzDSc1ODseU3rypYnCgsLJwTj3c08oOy6MPHWNBIlG2TjjZvxn8hXgszLze_uKogUom1hyphenhyphen5BzOOSR8CsK-CY-RV99JZNQu5idV1NMxbCf4tI/s1600/Toonami1.PNG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd3BT2r1u_uIJTjZYUIZg0PpXHISI9mbCKZfgHJK_DGVj8-zfQrthcUkE10fDjxZ3hOsEUkU84QoZPe1CcTNZ03M3-U7eFZswEigQhjlpfv84BXlwEljhKfNgnm_K0jpJu9S1xSxdy3ci/s1600/Toonami2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxd3BT2r1u_uIJTjZYUIZg0PpXHISI9mbCKZfgHJK_DGVj8-zfQrthcUkE10fDjxZ3hOsEUkU84QoZPe1CcTNZ03M3-U7eFZswEigQhjlpfv84BXlwEljhKfNgnm_K0jpJu9S1xSxdy3ci/s1600/Toonami2.PNG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmCVTikUlZyiVPlHIrcvj-RdK4k-PiKFErsl2KWCSAAF2Rrco6W0TL1sLdKkvPgqGrZlastub6HmwRQRTN7V3BtgHCSYAjk8bWGK27DnIFyjjrm5PJEryqs3KAi4oOjpFxGctT-MtrhZv/s1600/Toonami3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmCVTikUlZyiVPlHIrcvj-RdK4k-PiKFErsl2KWCSAAF2Rrco6W0TL1sLdKkvPgqGrZlastub6HmwRQRTN7V3BtgHCSYAjk8bWGK27DnIFyjjrm5PJEryqs3KAi4oOjpFxGctT-MtrhZv/s1600/Toonami3.PNG" /></a></div>
It is also not clear exactly what time the series will air within the Toonami block. Stay tuned to this blog for continued coverage of The Clone Wars. <br />
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<b>SOURCES: <a href="http://toonami.tumblr.com/post/56977852706/thats-it-for-this-months-q-a-hope-you-enjoyed" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> and <a href="http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/news/123385-toonami-nabs-star-wars-the-clone-wars.html" target="_blank">TheOuthousers.com</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1900112836374418755.post-25445191027868962872013-07-28T20:31:00.000-07:002013-07-28T20:31:00.242-07:00Upcoming Star Wars Specials on Disney XD: 7/30 and 8/1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Star Wars programming is beginning to show up across the Disney Television platforms.<br />
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This coming week on Disney XD a three day event showcasing various Disney owned properties will transform Disney XD into Disney Fandom.<br />
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During this event two Star Wars specials will be aired<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red;"><b>TUESDAY, JULY 30 </b><b><br /></b><b>11:00 P.M. - "Star Wars Tech"</b><b>A documentary about the technical aspects of Star Wars - from Darth Vader's robotic limbs to the light saber, to how X-wings compare to modern jets. </b></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: red;">THURSDAY, AUGUST 1<br />8:00 P.M. - Live Well Network's "My Family Recipe Rocks - Star Wars" Special Edition (Disney Fandom premiere)<br />Host Joey Fatone visits the world's largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia showcased in a museum on the 'Ranch Obi Wan' near Skywalker Ranch and cooks a Star Wars themed breakfast from the Star Wars Cookbook.</span></b></blockquote>
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Since Star Wars fans are often also Marvel fans, it should be noted that the event running from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday will also feature looks at upcoming Disney film projects.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red;">Fans will also get a sneak peek at Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World," Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy," along with Disney's "Frozen," "Planes," and ABC's "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland."</span> </blockquote>
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Hopefully this is just the beginning of more Star Wars content on Disney entertainment platforms.<br />
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<b>SOURCE: <a href="http://www.disneyxdmedianet.com/assets/pr/html/pr59023.html" target="_blank">Disney XD</a> and <a href="http://shows.disney.com/fandom" target="_blank">Disney Fandom</a></b>Lightsaber Rattlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04616332159616598300noreply@blogger.com0