By Cesar G. Soriano, USA Today, Apr. 25, 2005
INDIANAPOLIS – The circle is now complete.
On May 19, Star Wars creator George Lucas will release the final film of his space opera, Episode III: Revenge of the
Sith. The film will cap a 28-year journey by Lucas that began with a small-budget sci-fi flock that has since grown into a
worldwide pop culture phenomenon.
To mark the occasion, more than 30,000 fans from around the galaxy gathered here this past weekend for Celebration III,
the largest Star Wars convention ever held. For $110 for a four-day pass, it was a time to whoop it up like a Wookiee and
celebrate the saga.
“The whole phenomenon started with the fans,” Lucas told the crowd Saturday in his first appearance at any official Star
Wars convention and his first fan convention in 18 years. “When we first did Star Wars (in 1977), we made an effort to
push it at science-fiction conventions and make everyone aware that we were making this space opera. And it was through
that effort of appealing to fans first that allowed the film to be a huge success.”
So it was here, before his legion of fans, that Lucas made the announcement that Star Wars will live on, on the small
screen.
Lucas has given the green light to two Star Wars television series. First up will be a 3-D animated half-hour series
based on his popular Clone Wars cartoon shorts.
The second and most ambitious project will involve a live-action series. He wants it to be similar to the serialized
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV series he executive-produced in 1992. Lucas plans to film the entire first season
all at once, with shooting to being in about a year. Lucas says he will set up the show, but then plans to step back and
move on to other projects.
Lucas also plans to remaster all the films in 3-D. The first film is set to be released in 2007, the 30th anniversary
of Star Wars.
The quiet, private man is a paradox to the worldwide phenomenon he created. But Lucas told fans that he had finally
come to terms with being known as “George ‘Star Wars’ Lucas ….. I’m amazed that it’s had such an effect on so many people
around the world.”
British fan Justin Hutchinson, 34, booked his flight across the pond the day Lucas announced he would attend. “Star
Wars fans are the most die-hard fans in the world,” he says. “Forget Star Trek.”
Fans like no others
They ranged from authentic movie-quality gear to the creative and offbeat. Ken Tarleton, 33, of Modesto, Calif., was an
Elvis stormtrooper, complete with gaudy gold bling. Lori Sartre, 1 34-year-old graphic designer from Boston, sewed two
costumes for her trip: a white dress with blue rectangle patterns a la R2D2 and another dress from old ‘70s Star Wars
curtains. “You don’t want to go to the Academy Awards in the same costume as everybody else,” Sartre said.
Some fans’ devotion runs deeper than others.
New Yorker Luis Ramos, 29, has a Star Wars battle scene tattooed across his chest. “I have a passion for film and I got
into tattooing through rock ‘n’ roll. The next logical step was to combine the two,” Ramos said.
Another music fan, bass player Tim Raether, 25, and his bandmates combined his passion for music with Star Wars and got
an all-expenses-paid trip to Celebration, courtesy of George Lucas, after persuading Lucasfilm to book their group to
perform at the opening and closing parties. The 12-member Mt. San Jacinto college-Menifee (Calif.) Jazz Ensemble played a
mix of John Williams music with such titles as Imperial Funk and Star Wars Salsa.
And then there was Pallet, from Massachusetts, performing heavy-metal Star Wars tunes, compete with a head-banging Darth
Vader. But conventiongoers said it’s more than a movie, it’s a movement.
“For me, it’s not just about Star Wars; it’s about finding a group where you fit in, where you don’t have to worry about
being called a ‘geek,’” said Kathy Johnson, 25. She met her husband, Albin Johnson, at a convention. They were married
six months ago.
Albin Johnson, 36, of Columbia, S.C., is the founder of the 501st Legion, one of the larges Star Wars fan clubs with
more than 3,000 members. When his daughter from a previous marriage, Katie, 6, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
last fall, the 501st quickly mobilized. More than 1,000 people – some men in stormtrooper costumes accompanied by
mini-skirted groupies – attended a Friday night party to raise money for her treatment. Johnson said Katie is doing much
better.
Nobody know the devotion of fans better than Steve Sansweet, head of Lucasfilm fan relations. The former Wall Street
Journal reporter built a 5,000-square-foot Star Wars museum in a barn on his property.
“Star Wars fan have a sense of ownership of Star Wars. That’s why you see fan waiting in line for six weeks for the
movie to open, even if it’s not the right theater,” he said, referring to the fans camped out in front of Grauman’s Chinese
Theatre in Hollywood, which does not plan to show Sith. “Are they crazy? No. It’s about having a shared experience with
other Star Wars fans.”
The Force to buy is with us
But by far, the most popular rooms were two mammoth merchandise halls, one selling Celebration souvenirs, and a larger
hall where dealers sold new and old trinkets. Star Wars merchandise has brought in $9 billion so far – more since the
convention. Products ranged from $5 action figures to a $1,100 popcorn machine.
On Friday, a near-riot broke out as fans waiting to get in the Star Wars Store were turned away an hour after it opened
because of trouble keeping items stocked.
The hottest item was a $15 Vader action figure. Purchases were limited to four Vaders per person, but entrepreneurial
fans were reselling the figures for $100 apiece to other waiting in line.
“There’s something frightening about grown men waiting in line all night to buy Star Wars toys that they’re not even
going to play with or open,” joked David Ireland, 30, of Columbus, Ohio. He and his wife, Christina, 34, spent about
$4,000 for the four-day weekend, much of it on souvenirs and collectibles.
Universal tale
Sitting at the bar, Army reservist Brian Jones, 29, of Florence, Ky., said he spent his downtime in Iraq watching the
Star Wars films on DVDs that he bought at the PX. Other fans at the bar came from France, Japan, England, Germany, Mexico
and Australia, representing the global appeal of Celebration.
At one point during the convention, British actor Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi,
marveled at Star Wars’ reach. “It’s like an international summit,” he said.
The reason, he added: “It’s a story that everybody can understand: good vs. evil.”
Chinese actress Bai Ling, who plays the mysterious Senator Bana Breemu in Sith, went even further: “Star Wars is like
religion. People need hope and something beautiful to hold on to and to share.” And Lucas, she said is proof that “one
person can change the world … get people together to give love and compassion to each other.”
Said Warwick: “Can you imagine? All of this is a result of a little spark in that brain of George Lucas.”
Costumes are a constant at all Star Wars gatherings.
Fans spent the weekend playing, learning – and shopping. Robotics aficionados could learn how to construct a droid. A
Los Angeles theater group performed its comedy, The Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes . Gamer tested the latest video games.
Wannabe Jedi Knight picked up some lightsaber skills at the Young Jedi Training Center – and put them to use when Lord
Vader interrupted the class.
At the end of each night, many fans congregated at parties and pubs near the convention center, like the Ram brewery,
which had been transformed into the headquarters for the 501st Legion down to the menu featuring items like Boba
Fettuccini, named for movie mercenary Boba Fett.