RebelPilot Issue 55
Ranked #48,666 in Entertainment, #555,910 overall
EPISODE LV
I plugged it last week and thought I'd give it a 'review'.
It's a snappy site. Ease of use - 100%. You won't get lost with this interface.
If only... it had the 'sweeetified'/'parkerised' pic of Darth Maul then this site wouldn't just ROCK, it would SIZZLE!
And it's got 6 megabytes of space. That's twice the amount you get at Hotmail, Yahoo or any of countless other free email providers.
If you've been thinking of getting a web based email account I'd recommend esweeet.com.
Episode I Video Release
I think the official release date was April 5th but I dropped into Target on Tuesday on the off chance that it was already in-store.
I got it home and the kids watched it that evening. I'm unsure how many times they've watched it since then but maybe I should think about buying a back up copy because at the rate they're going it'll be worn out before Episode II comes out.
Mikaela (three years old) still prefers Princess Leia over Queen Amidala. And while my preferences lie more towards the original trilogy then the prequel I think the lightsaber duel of the two Jedi versus the one Sith is the BEST scenes outta the WHOLE series.
If you want to enter into a discussion about the Episode I video release or anything else Star Wars you can join a new eGroup called RebelTalk.
It might create a whole bunch more emails in your inbox but if you go to eGroups.com you can change your preferences (after logging in your email address that you've subscribed and registered with) from 'individual emails' to 'daily summary' or 'read on web'.
I've had a lot of people ask me if I know any good Star Wars email discussion groups. I usually point them to XXXXXXXX@XXXXXX.ORG (which I won't mention NOW because I'm plugging rebeltalk@egroups.com). I thought I might as well have a forum for RebelPilot readers to get to know each other and share their common interest in Star Wars.
You don't have to be a RebelPilot subscriber to join. It's open for everyone. But you guys are the first to know about it because I just registered it last week.
You can join this new eGroup by sending a blank email to rebeltalk-subscribe@egroups.com
From The Horses Mouth
©2000 starwars.com
From Homing Beacon Issue #7 (the official StarWars.com newsletter that isn't nearly as much fun as RebelPilot). Used without permission.
Controversy Corner
I won't go into details but if you check out http://www.faans.com you can get the lowdown on the what's written between the lines.
If you've got anything original that you've written, DO NOT post it at www.fans.starwars.com
And the same goes for this humble little zine. Please don't reprint any issue of RebelPilot in part or in it's entirety.
I don't have any problem with RebelPilot being anywhere else. In fact you can even link to it at say... geocities or any other free web space provider, from your starwars.com fan page. Just so long as it doesn't reside on their (Lucasfilm Ltd) servers.
You'll soon see why when you check out http://www.faans.com and then the link to www.miscellanies.net
Humour
1. He's a realist. "2 meters?!"
2. He keeps cool in the face of danger.
3. He can put up with Hobbie and Janson on a regular basis, and keep some semblance of sanity.
4. He can save Luke's butt any time, anywhere.
5. He's a cutie.
6. He had the sense to break up with the blue chick and date Iella.
7. Two words. Wraith Squadron.
Alta Darklighter
Wraith Leader in the Rebel Squadrons
http://www.rebelsquadrons.org
The biggest and best Star Wars club on the net!
The Van Der Leun Report
(http://www.locnet.net/menace/)
The trailer shows scenes from what-could-be Episode II. There's a bounty hunter (named Snod) searching for Anakin Skywalker... Anakin Skywalker learning the ways of the Force from different masters... several troopers fighting on a planet and other random stuff.
What to say... It's a nice movie, something to watch in those times in which you're incredibly bored and simply want to see something. You should not watch this trailer with a serious eye, as it isn't meant to be serious. Anakin Skywalker has trouble with choosing with the Light Side, or going to the Dark Side. A dark master is trying to persuade him, telling him that the Dark Side has many benefits: like a dental plan, health insurance, and nice colors. Snippets like these happen throughout the movie, like a helmeted alien saying "Let me see you with my own eyes, Snod." The action scenes are nice, with a short lightsaber battle and a scene of several troops landing, which is funny to see, but you'll have to see this one for yourself, The special effects are good, with a fully-rendered scene at Coruscant and several transports taking off. And just wait until you see the Hutt at the end of the movie.
I personally recommend it. However, it's rather long and could take up a lot of time to download... better fire up GetRight or Go!Zilla when you download this one.
Ruben van der Leun
Upcoming review: Fan-made Episode II trailer
News
Fox and Lucas help a little movie battler.

The Sunday Telegraph: "Australian fans hoping that Leonardo DiCaprio might move to Sydney to play Anakin Skywalker in the next Star Wars film are in for disappointing news. . ."
RebelPilot: "I think not."

Rick McCallum in a short interview:
ASCII Art
Here's some basic exercises to get you started...
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Casting Call
I did get back feedback on a previous outing on the casting couch but they were just agreeing with me. eg: Ed Norton as Kyp Durron.
But Stephanie Thalmann has thoughts of her own on who'd make an ideal Joruus C'Boath (the wacky Jedi Master from the Zahn trilogy... I could go into more detail than that but I'd reveal too much of the plot in case you were planning on reading it yourself).
"My first choice for Jorus C'boath would be David Warner, after all, he's the "all purpose alien" from three incarnations of Star Trek. My second choice is Christopher Plummer. A very good actor."
Stephanie Thalmann
Thanks Steph. To be quite honest I'm not a trekkie and wouldn't know David Warner if he king hit me. So I'm sticking with Anthony Hopkins and if he's asking for too big a fee there's always Kermit The Frog.
Interview
with Matt Busch
Matt Busch Interview
REBELPILOT: Do you find it hard to sleep? With all those projects you've gotta be brimming with ideas. Does the creative side of your brain shut down at night or does it interrupt your slumber with new ideas. It seems that your imagination has run away and taken you hostage.
MATT BUSCH: Actually yeah. I find it extremely hard to sleep. I love my work and there's always something new I'm excited about.
REBELPILOT: How does one go about becoming an official Lucasfilm approved Star Wars artist?
MATT: I'm not sure if there is an official way one would go about doing it. I actually stumbled onto in a round-about way. I had tried to do some writing for West End Games' STAR WARS Roleplaying books about six years back. They weren't thrilled with my writing but loved my art.
REBELPILOT: You've got a fine eye for detail. When do you STOP working on a piece of art?
MATT: I have this goofy theory that when I start a piece it's just one big mistake. I keep fixing and fixing, and when I get to a point where I can't find anything else to fix, I'm done!
REBELPILOT: Just when did it occur to you that you could make a living from being an artist?
MATT: In the beginning, I had my doubts. It was such a slow process that I don't really recall any overnight success. I always knew what I wanted to do, though, and have always loved my work. So, rich or poor, this is what I'll be doing until the day I go.
REBELPILOT: You were classically trained on the piano since the age of four, studied drums and percussion, taught yourself guitar, is a music career beckoning?
MATT: Music is an important part of my life, and when I see a great band play live, I can feel my heart calling out, begging to get back into it. But now I'm content with just jamming here and there. Sometimes it's great to take a breather after painting for hours to go sit at the drum kit and pound the aggression out...
REBELPILOT: When you're working on a project do you need complete silence or do you need background noise? Do you have music or the radio on?
MATT: If I'm writing, or doing concept sketches I need the silence to think. Anything else I have music, sometimes even TV...
REBELPILOT: What sort of music would you have playing if you're doing a piece on Darth Maul?
MATT: Duel of Fates. Duh! Haha!
REBELPILOT: If Darth Maul lived in our universe what style of music do you think he would be into? What band in particular?
MATT: I would guess that Maul would be into Ozzy, perhaps something harder.
REBELPILOT: What is it that a production designer does?
MATT: It always depends on the project. I have done production design of films where I actually get to design the look of the character (or robot, or creature). Sometimes, for a film like The MATRIX, it meant designing the look of the sets...
REBELPILOT: What movie's have you done poster design for?
MATT: Off the top of my head, these are the films that I have done poster design for. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean mine was used, just that I was hired to work on them. CALIFORNIA FEVER, CON AIR, The DEVIL'S OWN, EPISODE 1: The PHANTOM MENACE (Canadian Theatrical Release), HARD RAIN, HOME ALONE 3, HOW TO BE A PLAYER, LETTER FROM DEATH ROW, and The WHITE MONK.
REBELPILOT: As an 'Entertainment Illustrator' what sort of skills and talents does your resume list?
MATT: It's extremely broad. It covers the entire spectrum that an illustrator could be capable of, yet I limit myself only to entertainment-related mediums.
REBELPILOT: Scriptwriter, cover artist for a New York Times bestseller (Star Wars: Tales From The Empire), storyboard artist, comic book artist, production designer, Advanced Illustration Techniques Teacher, Clothing Label Designer. . . is there anything you haven't done?
MATT: A comprehensive list, or at least an overall idea of what I do can be found at my web site, www.MattBusch.com... Currently, I'm taking a little more time to focus as a writer. My second screenplay, CRISIS, is now complete, and I'm in the process of developing my comic book ALIZARIN'S JOURNAL into a syndicated TV series, like the X-Files or Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
REBELPILOT: Phew! I look forward to seeing your stuff when it's released downunder. Thanks for your time.
MATT: My Pleasure!
Check out Matt's site at www.MattBusch.com and see what else this busy little beaver has been up to. Especially take some time to see his how he created the Darth Maul image used on a postcard STEP by STEP
Humour
I've used some before (and credited it accordingly) and with this latest and last one I've even gone as far as to respond on behalf of us Star Wars Guys.
Why It's Better To Be A Star Wars Chick Than A Star Wars Guy
You get to drool over cute male Jedi like Ewan McGregor. [Three words: Slave Girl Outfit]
We get the best garb for the final scenes. [What's wrong with a bandolier and a hairy body?]
We could've saved Alderaan with a few well timed eyelash flutters. [But you didn't.]
It's easier to create a look-a-like when you can use makeup. [It's even easier to create a look-a-like when you use CLONING.]
We get handmaidens as best friends and bodyguards, they get walking carpets. [I'll put 15,000 republic credits on my 'Walking Carpet' in a match against your handmaiden.]
When fleeing the planet, the wardrobe is still a priority. [When fleeing a planet we get to go really fast and destroy things.]
We can produce Jedi and train them. [We get to kill them.]
To emulate a favorite character, they need to grow horns -- we just need pigtails. [When emulating a favourite character we get to have lightsaber duels.]
©1999 Leia's Lists www.starwarschicks.com
Random Acts Of Creativity
So I've dubbed Y2K- 'The Year Of Living Creatively'.
Occasionally, if the results warrant it, I'll upload an image I've created or manipulated for you all to see.
That's All Folks!
Last week I promised the link to 'The Irreverent Guide To Australia', seems I've misplaced it.
I'll look around on my hard drive and hopefully if I find it it'll be in next weeks issue.
I've attached a GIF to this email. I encourage you to copy it and send it to any of your Star Wars loving friends and family that haven't yet been infected with RebelPilot.
See ya later.
(c:
gLeN a.k.a wraithfive
www.rebelpilot.net ~~~~:>o<:
RebelPilot:>o<: = = = = = = = = = = = (-o-)
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Disclaimer
All witty remarks, retorts and repartee is ©2000 RebelPilot unless otherwise specified. Any use of the contents from this ezine without permission is strictly prohibited... and frankly, not a very nice thing to do. If you want to use it, just ask.
by RebelPilot
In addition to Star Wars I enjoy writing, humour, comedy. Especially humorous writing in comedy. Star Wars is a passion, though not an obsession. While... more »
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