An animatic artist

Quote of today

"Clean this droid up the best you can. It deserves our gratitude..."

Queen Amidala('s decoy) ask Padmé to take a closer look on this droid.
The Phantom Menace

Today we celebrate...
Matthew Ward at his 33rd birthday (born 1977)

Matthew A. Ward was an animatic artist for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

Dying Anakin Skywalker and Gold Two

Quote of today

"Nothing can stop that now. Just for once... let me look on you with my own eyes."

Anakin Skywalker is dying.
Return of the Jedi

Today we remember...
Sebastian Shaw at his birthday (born 1905, died 23 Dec. 1994)
Jeremy Sinden who deceased today 1996 (born 6 June 1950)

Sebastian Shaw was born in England, UK and played Anakin Skywalker in Return of the Jedi. He was primarily a stage actor but has appeared in some forty film and TV productions.

Sebastian Shaw was a friend to fellow Star Wars cast member Ian McDiarmid. When they ran into each other while doing their respective make-up tests, McDiarmid asked what he was doing there, to which Shaw replied, "I don't know, Ian. I think it's something to do with science fiction.".

Jeremy Sinden was born in England, UK and played Gold Two in A New Hope.

Anakin Skywalker is the dark Lord Vader saved from the dark side of the Force by his son, Luke Skywalker.

Gold Two aka Tiree was a starfighter pilot in the Rebel Alliance. He was killed during the battle of Yavin above the first Death Star.
Tiree's last words before he was shut down was "Computer's locked. Getting a signal... The guns. They've stopped.".

Animatic artist and pre-visualization supervisor

Quote of today

"Whenever you gamble, my freind, eventually you'll lose. Bring the parts to the main hanger. I'll come by your shop later so you can release the boy."

Qui-Gon Jinn has given Watto a lesson in gambeling on Pod Races.
The Phantom Menace

Today we celebrate...
David Dozoretz at his 39th birthday (born 1971)

David Dozoretz was born in Arizona, USA and was the pre-visualization supervisor for Attack of the Clones, The Phantom Menace and the Special Edition versions of the Original Trilogy. David Dozoretz studied Film Production at the University of Arizona in Media Arts. The first time CG animatics had been used to pre-visualize an entire sequence was for Mission: Impossible and David Dozoretz was there and thats how David Dozoretz became an Animatics Supervisor.

Animatics, also called "Pre-Visualization", is the use of low-end, quickly rendered computer animation to test out a shot or scene before it is actually filmed. It's the next logical extension of the storyboarding process.
For more information about pre-visualization read Animatics: The Moving Storyboards of Episode I.

A dark lord and a bounty hunter

Quote of today

"Master Windu! You have fought gallantly. Worthy of recognition in the history archives of the Jedi Order. Now it is finished. Surrender - and your lives will be spared."

Count Dooku stops the Super Droids and gives the Jedis an option.
Attack of the Clones

Today we celebrate...
Christopher Lee at his 88th birthday (born 1922)
Michonne Bourriague at her 32nd birthday (born 1978)

Sir Christopher Lee was born in England, UK and played Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. He started acting 1948 and has a major list of films he has starred in. Read more about Sir Christopher Lee at his official website.

Michonne Bourriague was born in Nevada, USA and played Aurra Sing in Attack of the Clones. That small part was one of her first job as model. George Lucas said to her "I'm going to make a star out of you in three seconds."and he did. She spent six hours in the makeup chair and four hours to get it all off.

Count Dooku was a Jedi Master who fell to the dark side of the Force and became a Dark Lord of the Sith, known as Darth Tyranus. A bust of him can be seen in the Jedi Archives library.

Aurra Sing is a bounty hunter seen briefly during the Bounta Eve Pod Race on Tatooine.
The character become so popular that the character was expanded into comics and games.

An Imperial governor in slippers

Quote of today

"Evacuate now? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances!"

Grand Moff Tarkin makes a miscalculation
A New Hope

Today we remember...
Peter Cushing at his birthday (born 1913, died 1994, 11 August)

Peter Cushing was born in England, UK and played Grand Moff Tarkin in A New Hope.

The costume boots he had to wear as Grand Moff Tarkin were too small and hurt his feet. Peter Cushing asked if he could wear slippers instead and George Lucas agreed. In every scene were we cannot see his feet he wears slippers (rumors says it was fluffy bunny slippers).

Grand Moff (Wilhuff) Tarkin was an Imperial governor and a brilliant and ruthless tactician. He died when the first Death Star was destroyed.

A powerful Jedi Master, a stormtrooper and two premieres

Quote of today

"That is why you fail."

Yoda answer a disbelieving Luke
The Empire Strikes Back

Today we celebrate...
Frank Oz at his 66th birthday (born 1944)
Colin Michael Kitchens at his 63rd birthday (born 1947)

Frank Oz was born in England, UK and played Yoda. He is a Master Puppeteer and gives Yoda a voice and movement. Frank Oz' birth name is Richard Frank Oznowicz. Read about the Composite Identity of a Jedi Master in A Phantom Menace.

Colin Michael Kitchens was born in California, USA and was an assistant film editor in A New Hope. He also did the voice for a stormtrooper ("Look sir, droids").


Yoda is the small and green ancient Jedi Master. Yoda had trained Padawans for eight centuries and is very powerful in the Force.

In The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and A Phantom Menace is Yoda a puppet. But for Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith he is entirely computer-generated. The ILM animators took great efforts to not outdo Frank Oz's puppeteering skills, so they actually toned down the biological realism in their animation. Rather than have true, realistic lip sync and eye blinks, Yoda would instead have more of a "jaw sync" and slower blinks and other imperfections.

Stormtrooper is the military soldiers loyal to the Emperor.

Today...
year 1977 was the premiere of Star Wars (A New Hope) in USA
year 1983 was the premiere of Return of the Jedi in USA

Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope is the first episode released in the Star Wars saga. It had premiere in USA and the next to see it was Philippines August 23. Sweden had to wait until December 16 the same year.
Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi is the last episode in the Star Wars saga. It had premiere in USA and the next to see it was United Kingdom June 2. Sweden had to wait until September 30 the same year.

A Celebration and a Total Experience

Quote of today

"Here's where the fun begins!"

Han Solo prefers a straight fight
A New Hope

Today...
year 2005 was the release of Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience
year 2007 was the first day of Star Wars Celebration IV (C4) (May 24-28)

Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience is a collection of the first three expansions of this MMO.

• An Empire Divided 26 juni 2003
• Jump to Lightspeed 27 okt 2004
• Rage of the Wookiees 5 maj 2005

Star Wars Celebration IV was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film. It included a sneak peek of the upcoming Clone Wars animated series. Star Wars Celebration is the official Lucasfilm event celebrating all things Star Wars. Celebration IV was located in California, USA. An estimated 35,000 people visited the Celebration IV.

This year 12-15 August it will be a Star Wars Celebration V in Florida, USA.

30 years celebration

Quote of today

"Hey, steady girl. What's the matter? You smell something?"

Luke Skywalker is trying to calm his tauntaun.
The Empire Strikes Back

Today we remember…
Des Webb deceased today 2002

Des Webb (birthday missing) played the Wampa in The Empire Strikes Back. He got the part because he was 2,08 meters/6'10'' and still he used stilts in the costume. But stilts, a fur suit, and snow do not mix well, unfortunately. Most of the intended scenes for the "Ice Creature" were removed from the final version of the movie. All that was left was the arm that knocks Luke off his tauntaun and a close up of the roaring wampa. In the Special Edition version of The Empire Strikes Back ILM artist Howie Weed designed and wore a new wampa suit for the additional scenes.

Wampa is the ice creature Luke runs into on the snow planet Hoth. It is over two meter in high and a stealthy predator.

Today we celebrate...
The Empire Strikes Back at its 30th "birthday" (premiere 1980)

Today year 1980 was the premiere of The Empire Strikes Back in USA and UK. All we other had to wait...
First to see it after USA and UK was Japan in 28 June. In Sweden we had to wait until 15 Augusti and poor Bulgaria had to wait until 23 April 1984.

Two beautiful women and a furry beast

Quote of today

"It's not wise to upset a Wookiee."

Han Solo explaines why R2-D2 should let the Wookiee win.
A New Hope

Today we celebrate...
Peter Mayhew at his 66th birthday (born 1944)
Claudia Karvan at her 38th birthday (born 1972)
Caroline de Souza Correa at her 31st birthday (born 1979)

Peter Mayhew was born in England, UK and played Chewbacca. He got the role because of his hight, he stands 221 cm  or 7'3". Before filming began on Star Wars, Mayhew visited a zoo where he studied the movement of bears, monkeys, gorillas and other animals with traits reminiscent of a Wookiee. And he created the walk and movements of the wookiee Chewbacca. In The Empire Strikes Back was ill a day during filming and director Irvin Kershner substituted another extremely tall actor in Mayhew's place. This proved to be a mistake because the substitute was unable to accurately portray Chewbacca. Kershner was forced to discard all of the footage and re-shoot once Mayhew regained his health.
Read more about Peter Mayhew at his official website.

Claudia Karvan was born in Sydney, Australia and played Sola Naberrie in Revenge of the Sith and in deleted scenes in Attack of the Clones. Claudia Karvan is one of Australia's most recognized actresses. Read more about what she have done in this fan website and what she thought about the deleted scene with Naberrie family reunion in Attack of the Clones.

Caroline de Souza Correa was born in Paraná, Brazil and played Bail Organa’s aide #1 in Revenge of the Sith.

Chewbacca is a Wookiee and Han Solo's fur covered co-pilot. A warrior of great strenght from Kashyyyk.

George Lucas' inspiration for Chewbacca was his loyal pet, an Alaskan malamute.
Chewbacca's voice is a combination of numerous animal sounds from Sound Designer Ben Burrt's personal library. Walruses, camels, bears and badger is mixed with the sound of Tarik, a black bear from the Happy Hollow Zoo in San José, California.

Sola Naberrie is Padmé's elder sister and finds happiness in marriage and motherhood. She have two daughters, Ryoo and Pooja.

Sheltay Retrac is one of Bail Organa’s aides.

The dress Sheltay wear was intended to be one of Pdmés sets of clothing.

The last Cantina Pre-Party

Quote of today

"This is where the fun begins."

Anakin likes a fight
Revenge of the Sith

Today…
Year 2005 was the last “Cantina Pre-Party” in Stockholm, for ever.

For the last time a gathering for Star Wars fans, the night before a Star Wars premiere in Stockholm, Sweden. The gathering, called Cantina Pre-Party, was held in Lava, Kulturhuset at Sergels Torg in the middle of Stockholm.

In Sweden the wait for Episode II was over

Quote of today

"We need a system where the politicians sit down and discuss the problems, agree what's in the best interests of all the people, and then do it."

Anakin discusses politics with Padmé
Attack of the Clones

Today...
year 2002, 00:01 was the release of Attack of the Clones in Sweden.

A bald Sakiyan

Quote of today

”Listen, why don't you wait out by the speeder. We don't want any trouble.”

Luke tries to avoid trouble.
A New Hope

Today…
year 2002 was the release of the action figure Djas Puhr from Hasbro
year 2005 at 10:00 was the release of tickets for Revenge of the Sith in Sweden

Kim Falkinburg was assistant auditor for A New Hope but also played Djas Puhr in the same movie.

Djas Puhr is one of the alien in Mos Eisley Cantina. He is the black skinned and bald Sakiyan bounty hunter.

When they opened the ticket sell at Rigoletto in Stockholm for Revenge of the Sith, the line was the longest ever for a movie ticket release in Stockholm. And I was there and it was amazing.
A quick calculation that morning and I know that the last persons in the line would not got a ticket for the first show.

The Maker and a handmaiden

Quote of today

”Either choice presents a great risk ... to all of us ...”

Queen Amidala has to choose wisely.
The Phantom Menace

Today we celebrate...
George Lucas at his 66th birthday (born 1944)
Sofia Coppola at her 39th birthday (born 1971)

George Walton Lucas Jr. was born in Modesto, Carlifonia, USA. He is the cause of the universe of Star Wars, our hobbie and community. George Lucas is the Writer and Producer of all six Star Wars movies. He was Director for A New Hope and the Prequels, the Editor for the Original Triology and Attack of the Clones, Music producer for Original Triology and he played Baron Papanoida in Revenge of the Sith.

George Lucas was nominated for four Oscars but did not win any of them. Before Star Wars he did the movie THX 1138 and American Grafitti and he is also responsible to Indiana Jones: Raiders of he Lost Ark and a lot of other movies. George Lucas is the founder of Lucasfilm Ltd and in high school his was nicknamed Luke.

George Lucas is also the Founder and Chairman of The George Lucas Educational Foundation, founded back in 1991 as a nonprofit operating foundation to celebrate and encourage innovation in schools.

George Lucas is often shorten to just GL or called "The Maker" in the Star Wars community.

Sofia Carmia Coppola was born in New York, USA. She is the daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola, a longtime friend of George Lucas. Sofia Coppola played Saché in The Phantom Menace.

Baron Papanoida is an influential personage in Coruscant affairs. He is seen in the Opera House standing with Senator Chi Eekway. In early incarnation he was planned to be named Baron Notluwiski.

An Exclusive Action Figure was made of George Lucas to Celebration II, May 3-5 2002 in Indianapolis. It's an rebel pilot named Jorg Sacul (Sacul is Lucas spelled backwards).

Jorg Sacul is a rebel pilot, a fearless fighter and renowned for his inner strength and ability to remain calm under fire.

Egroeg Sacul was a customer of the Star Tours travel agency. He was asked to see a Star Tours agent at gate number three before departing on a trip to Endor. The name Egroeg Sacul is George Lucas spelled backwards.

There is no information or speculations if Egroeg and Jorg are relatives.

Saché is one of Queen Amidalas handmaiden. She and Yané are left on Naboo when Amidala and the others went to Coruscant. She was attended at Qui-Gon Jinn’s funeral but absent at the Peace Ceremony. For more information about the handmaiden see The Royal Handmaiden Society.

An Imperial Officer

Quote of today

"Skywalker has just landed, my Lord.”

An Imperial Officer reports to Darth Vader in the Carbon Freezing Chamber.
The Empire Strikes Back

Today we celebrate...
Milton Johns at his 72nd birthday (born 1938)

Milton Johns was born in Bristol, UK and played an Imperial Officer, later named Bewil, in The Empire Strikes Back.

Imperial Officer Bewil is the tactical, strong officer that informed Darth Vader that Luke Skywalker had arrived at Cloud City.

There is an English accented officer saying "Lord Vader, ship approaching. X-wing class" and it seems like it is officer Bewil, but he has an American accent when he utter ”Skywalker has just landed, my Lord.”. It could be a voice-over misses though all the Americans in the film play the good guys, and all the characters who speak with a British accent are the bad guys.

Finally they found the Choosen One

Quote of today

"Something's happening . . . I'm not the Jedi I should be. I am one of the most powerful Jedi, but I'm not satisfied ... I want more, and I know I shouldn't."

Anakin wonder
Revenge of the Sith

Today...
year 2000 Hayden Christensen announced that he would be starring as Anakin Skywalker in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Casting Director Robin Gurland had estimates that she reviewed close to 1,500 candidates, at one level or another, for the part. Director George Lucas had turned down such big names as Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Phillipe and Paul Walker for the role, as well as 400 other candidates.

Casting Director Robin Gurland tells about finding Hayden Christensen:
Gurland knew from the instant she first saw Christensen that the young Canadian newcomer had potential. "When Hayden came for his first meeting, I opened the door, and I just suddenly became flushed, because I knew. I sat him down and looked at him through the camera, and all of a sudden, I just knew that Anakin had walked in the door. I literally picked up the phone and called George and said, 'Anakin just walked in.' But I had to continue on, because casting is kind of a never-ending process."

He named the Wookiees

Quote of today

"We don't need to see his identification."

A stormtrooper influenced by the force
A New Hope

Today we celebrate...
Terence McGovern at his 68th birthday (born 1942)

Terry McGovern was born in California, USA and did the voice of stormtroopers in A New Hope. He was one of four uncredited voice-over artists to do the voices for stormtroopers.

Terry McGovern had worked with George Lucas earlier with the THX-1138. It was then he made a mistake and come up with an excuse about running over a "wookiee back there." George Lucas never forgot the word a used it several years later in the Star Wars.

Read more about Terry McGovern's work with Star War and everything else he has done, on his own website.

Stormtroopers are military soldiers loyal to the Emperor. They are completely encased in a white armored spacesuit shell, and are armed with blaster.

He helped George Lucas finish the script

Quote of today

"Master Yoda, do you think it will really come to war? "

Palpatine wants to know what Yoda can see of the future
Attack of the Clones

Today we celebrate...
Jonathan Hales at his73rd birthday (born 1937)

Jonathan Hales was born in England, UK and was a co-writer to Attack of the Clones. He joins the development staff of Attack of the Clones in April 2000 to refine the script into its final draft.

A top model as handmaiden

Quote of today

"Again you come before us, Your highness."

Nute Gunray greets the Queen.
The Phantom Menace

Did you know...
She is Queen Amidala's youngest handmaiden.

Candice Orwell is an English model in Storm Model agency. She played the handmaiden Yané in the Phantom Menace.

Yané is one of Queen Amidala's five handmaidens during the time of the Battle of Naboo. Yané is left on Naboo when the Queen follows the Jedis to Coruscant.

If you want to know more about the handmaidens look at The Royal Handmaiden Society.

She is not voicless

Quote of today

"Anakin Skywalker to see Padmé, Your Highness."

Rabé announce Anakins arrival
The Phantom Menace

Did you know…
Had the actress for Rabé not fallen in George Lucas' good graces, she would have been yet another voiceless extra.

Karol Cristina da Silva was born in Brazil during 1975 and played Rabé in The Phantom Menace.

Rabé is one of Queen Amidala’s loyal handmaidens. Along with Eirtaé and Sabé she does accompany Queen Amidala to Coruscant and later fight in the battle to free Naboo from the control of the Trade Federation.

If you want to know more about the handmaidens look at The Royal Handmaiden Society.

Outlander Club and its patrons

Quote of today

"Jedi business. Go back to your drinks."

Anakin calms the patrons in Outlander Club.
Attack of the Clones

Today...
year 2002 at 08:00 was the release of tickets to Attack of the Clones in Sweden.

The Outlander Club is a place on Coruscant that people come to for a variety of reasons. Some to seek out companionship, whether permanent or temporary; others look to sell or buy wares both legal and illicit. Still others look to make a fortune by betting on the numerous games of chance. Aside from gambling tables, this club boasts large holographic projections of such sports as Podracing, nuna-ball, and odupiendo races.

Behind a well stocked bar is the bartender Bufon Taire, a dark-skinned and scarred Human male.

Some human female patrons seen just before the outbreak of the Clone Wars was blueish Di Mantid, dark Lowle Sh'red, beautiful  Wilst Molan, pale Sel Maa, the veiled Palee Ruda and Dyemma Reel with braids.

Rage of the Wookiees in Galaxies

Quote of today

"Grwhoor."

Chewbacca expresses himself.

Today...
year 2005 was Star Wars Galaxies: Episode III Rage of the Wookiees launched

Rage of the Wookiees is the second expansion set to Star Wars Galaxies MMORG. With this expansion the planet Kashyyyk is added were you can defend the freedom of the Wookiees or fight for their Imperial-backed Trandoshan enslavers. A Jedi Starfighter, the same model as flown by Anakin, is added and eleven new creaturs and mounts. With this expansion it is possibly to play the lucrative but daring space mining.

Mardji - the living AT-AT

Quote of today

"There are two Banthas down there but I don't see any ... wait a second, they're Sandpeople all right. I can see one of them now."

Luke watches for Sandpeople or worst.
A New Hope

Did you know…
The elephant Mardji was the model for the AT-AT.

Mardji was a trained Asian elephant born 1951 in the wild (?) and died 1995 in “Marine World Africa USA” in California (now Six Flags Discovery Kingdom). Mardji played the banthas in A New Hope and stod model for the AT-AT’s in The Empire Strikes Back. Despite that Mardji was a trained elephant, she was not comfortable underneath the bantha disguise, and often tried to remove the wardrobe as cameras rolled.

Bantha is shaggy-furred creature with long, spiralling horn. On the desert world of Tatooine are banthas used as pack animals by Tusken Raiders.

The banthas in The Phantom Menace and the ones added in Special Edition was all computer-generated.

Although Tunisia served as the planet Tatooine for majority of the film, several second unit “pick-up” shots were done in Death Valley, California. The Bantha Canyon is supposed to be found 3.7 miles south of the 190 Highway on the road to Badwater in Death Valley, California.

AT-AT walker (All Terrain Armored Transport) is a four-legged transport and combat vehicle used by the Imperial ground forces.

If your heart beat a bit extra for elephants you may look at Save Wild Elephants. They kept an eye on Mardji before she died.

Eeth Koth, Agen Kolar and Tan Yuster

Quote of today

"Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?"

Chancellor Palpatine answer to Mace Windu's arrest.
Revenge of the Sith

Today...
year 2002 was was the opening of Celebration II in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Did you know…
Jedi Master Eeth Koth and Jedi Master Agen Kolar could have been the same.

Hassani Shapi played Eeth Koth in The Phantom Menace but when we see him in the Jedi Council in Attack of the Clones it is re-used footage from Episode I.

To play Eeth Koth in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith the role was given to Tux Akindoyeni. But even if he wore the same costume and make-up he looked so different that they made a new character named Agen Kolar.

Jedi Master Eeth Koth is an iridonian zabrak and was a member of the Jedi Council when Anakin was first introduced.

Jedi Master Agen Kolar is a zabrak and fought in the Geonosian arena together with his Padawan Tan Yuster. Tan Yuster is killed during the Geonosian arena battle.

 According to Wookieepedia is Tan Yuster played by Kalki Rose, a student of Byron Bay Kendo Club.

Among the Special thanks in the end of Attack of the Clones there are two Australian Kendo Clubs: Byron Bay Kendo Club and Sydney Kendo Club. I assume that a lot of the Jedi are from these clubs.

The voice of Red Two

Quote of today

"Look at the size of that thing!"

Red Two is impressed  of the Death Star.
A New Hope

Today we celebrate...
David Ankrum at his 63rd birthday (born 1947)

David Ankrum was born in California, USA and voiced Wedge Antilles aka Red Two in A New Hope. He grew up in a family of actors and has lived in Hollywood most of his life. The sound of his voice as Wedge Antilles can you hear at his official website. More about what David Ankrum is up to today you can read in his own blog.

Wedge Antilles is a sixteen years old Rebel fighter pilot serving as "Red Two" during the battle of Yavin.

Today...
year 1997 was the release of Special Edition, Return of the Jedi in Sweden.