In 2009, we started Star Wars Uncut with little more than a big dream of getting fans involved in the Star Wars story. Turns out that dream got a lot of people excited. We had thousands of participants—young, old, animated, and furry. It was a lot of learning on the fly, as we figured out […]
Many people wrote me to say they enjoyed the history of the 501st installment I did last month. So I thought I’d pick up on it from time to time and get more of the story out. Few people know just how widely the Legion has woven its saga. It messes with my head sometimes […]
Last week the Star Wars community was consumed with headlines of bullying and hurt feelings. The good news is that our community rallied together and condemned the thoughtless act of mockery and turned it into a teachable moment. However, amidst all of the negative headlines, something extremely exciting happened and I’d like to shine the […]
Hello Star Wars Friends, I’m sorry it has been so long since my last blog. When I am away from the office as long as I was for Star Wars Celebration VI, there is always a lot to catch up on when I get back. I can now say that everything is pretty much back […]
Ben Burtt, Matthew Wood and I hosted a panel at Celebration CVI over the weekend on Star Wars sound. A part of our presentation involved the breakdown of a scene from The Clone Wars (“Massacre”, season 4). I stripped out the sound effects and dialog from the scene leaving it rather bare bones. We invited […]
As the curtain slowly fell on the splendor of Star Wars Celebration VI, with many members of the 501st already beginning preliminary plans for Celebration Europe II, a small, but hardy — some might say die-hard — detachment of troops made their way up to Atlanta, Georgia after a few days recovery for the majesty […]
It’s that time of year again: the air turns cool and crisp and it’s fun to grab some snacks and watch some favorite movies. Or football. Or both! Last night I was stuffing envelopes with 501st Legion patches while watching my Gamecocks play (horribly) and it struck me how long I’ve been a fan of […]
Every Labor Day, fandoms from all corners of the entertainment universe converge in Atlanta for Dragon*Con, which touts itself as “the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe!” One of the highlights of the weekend is the official Dragon*Con parade that […]
If there’s one thing that’s central to the Dragon*Con experience, it’s costumes. You can’t wave a stick in any of the host hotels without whacking a costumed attendee. (Please, don’t wave sticks at cons with the intent of whacking people.) And because the con is so huge, most tracks have their own costume contests, in […]
It’s August – funny how that happens every year – and it’s time for school to be in session again. I actually always looked forward to it when I was younger. Yes, I was that kid. I liked getting back into a routine, learning, having homework (unless it was math), and seeing friends. Mostly though, […]
The time is here, my young Padawans, to head off to Jedi training. Or as some people call it, “go back to school.” Ah yes, I can hear you cheering now. School is a fantastic place to learn, challenge yourself, and interact with all different types of people. But for some younglings, heading back to […]
Days Three & Four of Star Wars Celebration VI were literally filled from beginning to the very end of each day (and night) with action for members of the 501st Legion. By day, the convention center floor saw our full attention; at night, everyone witnessed the firepower – the stamina – we bring to keep […]
For members of the 501st, Day Two of Celebration VI was packed from start to finish with panels, performances and some genuine playtime. NO finer group of comrades could a Star Wars fan want, NO finer group of friends could a Star Wars fan have!
With Star Wars Celebration VI officially underway, members of the 501st fully deployed throughout the Orange County Convention Center, bringing that extra little something that only fully dressed Imperial Stormtroopers, Sith Lords, and Officers can bring to the biggest Star Wars party yet!
So with the once every two-years interstellar party that is a Star Wars Celebration kicking off with fans coming from all over (the galaxy…) to Orlando, Florida, one group in particular plays a very prominent, recurring, all-volunteer role in helping to make Star Wars come to life. Among all the featured events, guests, panels, and […]
We knew it would be big from the start. It was early June, 1977, and I had just graduated from high school in the small mountain town of Idaho Springs, Colorado. To celebrate, a buddy suggested we go to Denver to see a movie he had been hearing good things about.
I still remember the smell of popcorn butter. Funny how some things stick with you. It was 1997 and The Empire Strikes Back was premiering in its re-release. To mark the occasion I was squeezing into plastic armor in a back storage room at the local movie theater. That was it. That was the beginning […]
This week, we announced our Her Universe plans for Celebration VI. One of the events I’m most excited about is our Her Universe photo shoot! Girls have been telling me for the past two years that they want to be a Her Universe model. Well I agree, and I’m so excited to finally be able […]
It’s hard for me to believe that we are almost upon the sixth Star Wars Celebration! Every few years, fans look forward to the mecca of Star Wars events and this year’s convention is shaping up to be the best ever.
Ten years ago, George Lucas asked me to do something. And I didn’t do it. I didn’t not do it to be a jerk. I didn’t try and wait to give myself time to grow a better beard than him. (I couldn’t do it anyway. That dude knows how to rock a beard, especially as […]
As a member of the 501st Legion’s Florida Garrison since 1999, I’ve been fortunate enough to take part in dozens of trooping events throughout the Sunshine State. And out of all of those memorable dates, none has stood out so much in my mind as Star Wars Celebration V two years ago. When I found […]
Hello! I’m James and I’m one half of the brains behind the Bounty Hunt atStar Wars Celebration VI. My friend Dan and I have been organizing photo scavenger hunts and puzzle races for several years now, and we’re bringing all our fiendish fun to Orlando. We think that the Bounty Hunt is great for Star […]
It’s no secret that I have a crush on Jabba the Hutt. What can I say? I find his laugh irresistible. So what better way to show my love for the coolest gangster in the galaxy than by wearing him on my feet! Recently crafters have been hand-painting TOMS shoes with their favorite Star Wars characters. There have been […]
My first exposure to the addicting world of Star Wars tattoos came from the same likely source as many other people’s first exposure – Jon Bradley Snyder’s short but eye-opening article entitled “Skin Deep” in Star Wars Insider #26, published in the summer of 1995. I was young, too young to get tattoos of my […]
We heard earlier this week from Carrie Goldman, mother of Katie Goldman; the Star Wars girl who united fangirls and fanboys all over the world after her Mom shared her story of being bullied for carrying a Star Wars water bottle to school, that she will soon be releasing a book called Bullied. After her […]
We can officially tell the world that the Belgian prop crew is back in action for Star Wars Celebration VI. My crazy crew has been assigned the mission to return to Orlando and join the biggest Star Wars party in the galaxy, and bring along the biggest Star Wars props in the galaxy!
With Star Wars Celebration VI just weeks away, it got this fan to thinking. Star Wars turned thirty-five this year. The 501st Legion turns fifteen. I mention the Legion because you write what you know, and the Legion is a ‘child’ of Star Wars so it lends some interesting contrast. It’s been fun watching the […]
In November 2010, I wrote a post called “Anti-Bullying Starts in the First Grade” for my blog, Portrait of an Adoption. I was concerned because my daughter, Katie, was upset about being teased for carrying a Star Wars water bottle. Apparently, Star Wars was “only for boys, not for girls.”
When Star Wars Uncut was first released I was curious to see if fans could not only recreate Star Wars, but also reimagine it. Just two months after Uncut’s release, Montreal-based animator, Malcolm Sutherland, submitted three scenes that blew everyone away.
Amy Richau
Anina Walas
Bria LaVorgna
Dan Brooks
Emily Shkoukani
Dave Filoni
Jennifer Heddle
Jennifer Landa
James Floyd
Jason Fry
Jenn Fujikawa
Jamie Greene
Kristin Baver
Katie Barnes
Kelly Knox
Lucas Seastrom
Mark Newbold
Matt Cabral
Neil Kleid
Amy Ratcliffe
Swapna Krishna
StarWars.com Team
Dan Zehr