501st Legion marches from the gate. \ Image: Gordon Tarpley
For the past 10 years, the 501st and Rebel Legion costuming groups have brought their costuming expertise to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for Star Wars Weekends. I’m proud to say I’ve participated in the past three years of the event and I’m excited to share with you a little behind-the-scenes knowledge of what it takes to march and what we go through to make it happen.
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Tags: 501st Legion, Cad Bane, disney, GeekMom, Orlando, Rebel Legion, star wars, Stormtrooper
Behind The Scenes, Events | 
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Satine on the run! Plus, the Season 2 finale featuring Boba Fett!
“Duchess of Mandalore” (S214)
On Coruscant, Duchess Satine is accused of murder. Now on the run from Republic authorities, Satine and Obi-Wan set off to find the truth.
6 Comments » | Tags: Chronicling The Clone Wars
The Clone Wars | Permalink
The challenge was daunting: Take two massive brands and merge them into one epic entertaining video.
Erik and I are both well-versed in the intense flavor held captive in a canister of Pringles, and were formed in our early years by the brilliance of the Star Wars universe. In fact, Erik’s first prop was an AT-AT walker built from shoe boxes he made when he was eight, and one of the first movies I made as a child was a recreation of the Battle of Hoth in the cold Wisconsin snow.
We were eager to take up the mission but knew the stakes were some of the highest we’d faced to date.
1 Comment » | Tags: pringles the force for fun contest, star wars, star wars fan video
Creativity, Fans and Community | Permalink
It’s Wednesday, which means one thing: new comic books! Check out a preview of new Star Wars comics available today after the jump! (There’s only one this week…but it’s a good one!)
1 Comment » | Tags: star wars comics, star wars graphic novels, star wars wild space
Books and Comics | Permalink
I grew up with Star Wars. It was as a huge part of my childhood development. I am 31 years old, Episode IV is older than I am. I never had a chance to see the original trilogy in the theaters. My first memories of Star Wars came from watching The Empire Strikes Back on an old VHS tape, recorded off of television. It wasn’t until we received a collector’s edition VHS set for Christmas that I experienced a Star Wars movie without the bits of commercials. Regardless, these stories are so powerful that, for me, three decades have passed and the films are still exciting and have progressed from simply a piece of pop culture to a modern day mythology.
2 Comments » | Tags: Art, contest, design, Mighty Fine, shirts, we love fine
Creativity | Permalink
About a year ago, one of my first tweets on @MaryLFL was a snapshot I took in my office one weekend, where I had printed out and taped together the first major draft of the overall schedule for Star Wars Celebration VI, which would take place in Orlando in August. I measured it, and included in my tweet that it was over nine feet long, printed in Tahoma 10- and 11-point.
It made me smile over and over again, in the months to come, that fans started to refer to the Celebration schedule as the “Nine Feet of Awesome.” Loved that name then, and I still do now.
Fast forward to last weekend, when I was working on an overall schedule spreadsheet again, this time for Celebration Europe, coming this July 26-28 in Essen, Germany. I have not printed this one yet, so I don’t know how many feet it will be, but I do know it’s a really big show once again.
4 Comments » | Tags: Celebration, Celebration Europe, Hidalgo, Return of the Jedi, star wars
Events | Permalink
In 1983, Return of the Jedi marked the end of the original Star Wars trilogy, and with it, an incredible era of effects innovation in film. The movie wrapped up all the story threads previously set in motion — Luke’s journey to become a Jedi, the Rebellion’s struggle against the Empire, and the redemption of Darth Vader — and did so amidst a backdrop of stunning visuals, thrilling action, and lots of strange creatures. From speeder bike chases to lightsaber duels to a trip inside the tunnels of the Death Star, Return of the Jedi is still a spectacular entertainment.
In honor of the film’s thirtieth anniversary this month, StarWars.com spoke with Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren — the effects legend who worked extensively on Return of the Jedi and the entire Star Wars trilogy — about the early process of getting started on the film, why beams of light shine from a melting carbonite slab, and where Jedi stands historically.
4 Comments » | Tags: dennis muren, Return of the Jedi
The Movies | Permalink
The creativity of Star Wars fans and Bantha Tracks readers apparently never goes on summer holiday. In addition to artwork with pencil and stylus, this month we’re featuring some of my favorite images from the May the 4th fan landmark gallery from across the globe. Some of the photographers definitely went the extra mile to create works of art, and I want to give those photos a little extra time and attention.
Please enjoy this month’s fantastic and whimsical artwork from our readers!
2 Comments » | Tags: Art Galaxy, Bantha Tracks, may the 4th, star wars
Creativity, Fans and Community | Permalink
If you ever walk into my studio you will notice three things: triple monitors, movie posters, and lots of film gear. Working mostly as a cinematographer, my expertise also includes writing, producing, directing, editing, and special effects. It keeps my current days here in the Hoosier State of Indiana pretty busy. In my free time I also created the Indiana FILM IT Project on Facebook. I have a passion for creating. To be able to make an impact with something I created and to entertain people by making them laugh, smile, or think is extremely rewarding. That’s just a great feeling, and that’s why I love my work.
2 Comments » | Tags: pringles, the force for fun
Creativity, Fans and Community | Permalink
It’s Wednesday, which means one thing: new comic books! Check out a preview of new Star Wars comics available today after the jump!
2 Comments » | Tags: star wars comics, star wars dawn of the jedi, star wars legacy
Books and Comics | Permalink
