Wondering what’s been happening at StarWars.com? Here’s a quick roundup of what you might have missed this week!
A Star Wars Adventure South of the Equator
Beyond blood ties, families are built around traditions. In my family, it’s tradition to embark on grand adventures together once a year. From driving into the midst of migrating herds in the Serengeti to wandering in the ancient ruins of Ephesus and Pompeii, we’ve created a treasure trove of memories shared through the generations. So last year when my father, our unofficial travel agent, suggested a trip to South America in the spring, I was very excited. I also told him, “Whatever you do, don’t interfere with Star Wars Weekends.” He honored my request, booking a tour that would return us to the US in early May.
In mid-March, Entertainment Weekly announced that Return of the Jedi would be screening at the CapeTown Film Festival. As an intrepid Star Wars blogger, my eyes lit up. This could be really exciting to attend, and on May the 4th no less… That’s when the realization struck: I was going to be in South America on that day, on a tiny touring boat in the middle of the Galapagos Islands. The prospects of Star Wars fun and mayhem, sharing in potentially exciting news breaking, came to a screeching halt.
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Tags: galapagos, May the 4th Be With You, star wars day, travel
Fans and Community, May the 4th Be With You | 
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Pringles’ “The Force For Fun” Contest: Imitating Darth
I never thought I would give direction to Darth Vader. Granted it was for a Pringles commercial contest, but it was still a surreal experience seeing Darth Vader walk onto set for the first time. The entire cast and crew went silent for a moment. Years of childhood memories rushed to our minds. I think Darth Vader broke the spell when he asked, “So what’s my cue?” in a very non-Darth Vader sounding voice.
Through a crowdsourcing site called Tongal, I submitted and won a pitch to produce a video for Pringles and Star Wars, with the potential of it becoming a national TV commercial. My script was based on another crowdsourced idea called “Imitating Vader.” I thought the idea was great in its simplicity, but I was skeptical the Pringles can would really work as a voice changer. So I bought some Pringles and tried it out. To my surprise, it actually worked quite well. Pringles really should start printing “Free Darth Vader Voice Changer” on every can.
4 Comments » | Tags: imitating darth, pringles, the force for fun
Creativity, Fans and Community | Permalink
Let’s Hear It for the Home Team
When my colleague Matt Martin asked if I would reach out to fans all over the world and ask them to submit pictures with their local landmarks as part of our May the 4th festivities, I knew the results would be good.
But I had no idea just how good!
4 Comments » | Tags: California, Celebration, costume, star wars, star wars fans
Fans and Community | Permalink
Star Wars Day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
I was lucky enough to be in Walt Disney World for their May the 4th Be With You celebration this year. This one-day party at Hollywood Studios was clearly intended to be a warm-up for the upcoming Star Wars Weekends. It was way bigger and more involved than I expected, and the crowd was awesome. I didn’t do a scientific sampling, but it seemed like roughly 75 percent of the people we saw were wearing Star Wars shirts or even costumes. It was like an awesome fan street festival.
1 Comment » | Tags: Disney Weekends, may the 4th, May the 4th Be With You, star wars day, star wars weekends, walt disney world
Events, May the 4th Be With You | Permalink
Feeling the Force Through Motherhood
When you become a parent, your whole life changes.
I know — that’s the understatement of the century, right? But I’m constantly surprised at how becoming a mother changed my filter of the world around me, and especially changed the way I view media now.
For example, as a relatively new mom, (my daughter is three and a half years old), I now see the Star Wars trilogies in a completely different light, and wonder about things I never ever considered in a million previous viewings.
3 Comments » | Tags: mother's day, star wars mother's day
In Pop Culture | Permalink
Pringles’ “The Force For Fun” Contest: Don’t Hold Your Breath
I must say, when I was in the third grade, sitting cross-legged watching Episode IV on VHS, I never would’ve imagined that I would one day be making something even remotely connected to the Star Wars universe. When Colin and I discovered the opportunity to make a Pringles/Star Wars tie-in commercial, we jumped at the chance to make our own. Like, for real, we both jumped simultaneously and high-fived. I wish someone could’ve freeze-framed us. Seriously though, we’ve been frequent contributors to the crowdsourcing video contest community, but choosing this project was an obvious no-brainer.
No Comments » | Tags: contest, pringles, the force for fun, ugc
Creativity | Permalink
Fully Operational Fandom: Mom, I Just Called to Say “I Know”
I’m sure there are holidays on every planet. Heck, even the Wookiees have Life Day. And wherever there are mothers, I’m positive there’s a Mother’s Day. From Coruscant to Tatooine, moms are being woken for a special day when their kids make them homemade cards and serve them blue milk and bantha breakfast steaks in bed. In our world Mother’s Day is just a few days away. Let this be your reminder.
Plenty of lucky kids out there have moms who love Star Wars. I caught up with a few of these ladies to discuss how they’ve shared their passion for the saga with their children.
7 Comments » | Tags: fully operational fandom, star wars mother's day
Fans and Community | Permalink
It’s (Not) a Trap! Countdown to Star Wars Weekends Continues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
As the Limited Time Magic “May the 4th” celebration fades into the galaxy, the team at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is busy wiping out its droids’ memories and resetting them for Friday, May 17, opening day for Star Wars Weekends 2013.
3 Comments » | Tags: Disney Weekends, star wars weekends, walt disney world
Events | Permalink
Chronicling The Clone Wars #10
Cut Lawquane: Clone. Farmer. Family Man. And Mandalorians!
“The Deserter” (S210)
While searching for General Grievous on Saleucami, Rex meets a clone deserter.
- We arrive on the surface of Saleucami, mentioned but not seen in “Grievous Intrigue” (S209).
- This episode introduces Hardcase, Jesse, and Kix, clone troopers serving under Captain Rex in the 501st. They will have more prominent roles later in the series.
- Cut Lawquane is just another example of a clone trooper expressing individuality. We first saw it in Season One with Slick being a traitor fighting for freedom for the clones.
- As an expression of his own individuality, Captain Rex ultimately decides not to turn in Cut as a deserter.
- Cut and Rex play dejarik, the holographic chess game seen in A New Hope.
18 Comments » | Tags: Chronicling The Clone Wars
The Clone Wars | Permalink
