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.
Here are an interview with Matthew Ward for Vado TV.

Dying Anakin Skywalker

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 14 June 1950)

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

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 (The Emperor). 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.".

http://retrostarwars.tumblr.com/post/1619411922/true-colors-of-the-masked-man

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

Pre-visualization supervisor

Quote of today

"No Pod's worth two slaves...not by a long shot.

"Watto estimates the value of slaves.
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.

An old Count and a female Bounty Hunter

Quote of today

"Grand Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem."

Count Dooku is disgruntled.
Attack of the Clones

Today we celebrate...

Christopher Lee at his 89th birthday (born 1922)
Michonne Bourriague at her 33nd 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.

A slippery Imperial Governor

Quote of today

"This bickering is pointless."

Grand Moff Tarkin ends a discussion
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)

Maybe slippers like theese

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

A Jedi Master and a stormtrooper

Quote of today

"When nine hundred years old *you* reach, look as good *you* will not, hmm?"

Yoda explain his old face to Luke
The Empire Strikes Back

Today we celebrate...
Frank Oz at his 67th birthday (born 1944)
Colin Michael Kitchens at his 64rd 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.

The Ice Creature

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 who 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...
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 67th birthday (born 1944)
Claudia Karvan at her 39th birthday (born 1972)
Caroline de Souza Correa at her 32nd birthday (born 1979)

Today...
year 1999 was the premiere of The Phantom Menace in USA and Canada
year 2005 was the premiere of Revenge of the Sith in Sweden and a lot of other countries

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 or "like" him at Facebook.

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.

A sneak preview

Quote of today

".....but not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, my young Padawan."

Qui-Gon Jinn want Obi-Wan to keep his concentration here and now
The Phantom Menace

Today...
year 1999 several celebrities converged on Skywalker Ranch to attend a special advance screening of Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace put together by MTV and Lucasfilm.

A Star Wars Celebration Day in London

Quote of today

"I don't know you anymore. Anakin, you're breaking my heart. You are going down a path I cannot follow."

Padmé 's heart is breaking
Revenge of the Sith

Today...
year 2002 was the premiere of Attack of the Clones in Sweden and Denmark and a lot of other countries.
year 2005 was the premiere of Revenge of the Sith in United Kingdom and Argentina. Cannes in France had the premiere the day before but most of us had to wait until 19th May.

Here are some pictures from the Star Wars Celebration Day in London, celebrating the premiere of Revenge of the Sith.

World premiere a day ahead

Quote of today

”Something's happening . . . I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more, and I know I shouldn't.”

Anakin is doubtful.
Revenge of the Sith

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
year 2005 was the world premiere of Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Kim Falkinburg was an assistant auditor for A New Hope but she 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.

Revenge of the Sith has world premiere at Cannes International Film Festival as a special treat.

The Maker and a handmaiden

Quote of today

”Thank the Maker! This oil bath is going to feel so good.”

C-3PO got a bad case of dust contamination.
A New Hope 

Today we celebrate...
George Lucas at his 67th birthday (born 1944)
Sofia Coppola at her 40th 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.