RebelPilot Issue 99

Fans never seem to get their fill of "Star Wars," and George Lucas is happy to oblige.

Lucas offered a glimpse into the latest creation in his sci-fi universe at the theater-owners convention ShoWest on Thursday, showing a sequence from "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," a computer-animated movie due in theaters August 15. It will be followed by a TV series of the same name, to air on the Cartoon Network and TNT this fall.

The movie came about as an afterthought while Lucas was developing an animated TV show of the same name. That show debuts this fall, but Lucas figured it was ripe for big-screen treatment, too.

"You've got the whole assembly line built, and then you say, 'Hey, we can make up something,"' Lucas said in an interview. "It was like old-time movie making. What I love about television, it's like Monogram Pictures or the old studio system, where a couple guys come to work and they sit and have some coffee and go, 'Why don't we make a movie about such and such? OK, fine.' And at the end of the day, it's pretty much on its way."

Set in the years between episodes II and III -- "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" -- of the big-screen "Star Wars" chronicle, the movie and series present fresh adventures of Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker, his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other colleagues.

The movie introduces a female Jedi, Ahsoki, who is Anakin's young apprentice.

"It's like 'Band of Brothers' in space, with Jedi," Lucas, 63, said. "You can tell lots of stories. They come up all the time."

Lucas said he plans to produce at least 100 hours worth of TV episodes of "Clone Wars."

He also is moving forward with a live-action "Star Wars" TV show focusing largely on new characters removed from the Skywalker family. That show will be set in the decades between "Revenge of the Sith" and the period when the original film, 1977's "Star Wars," takes place.

So can fans ever get enough of "Star Wars"?

"I don't know," Lucas said. "I'm thankful every year that it keeps going."

Source

In our Universe...

A unit of distance in astronomy, normally used in preference to the light year.

A parsec is the distance at which the radius of the Earth's orbit round the Sun subtends an angle of 1 second of arc; a star at this distance (1 parsec) then has a parallax of 1 arc second. One parsec is 3.26 light years, or 30,865,000 million kilometers.

A light year is the distance traveled by a beam of light in one year. It is equivalent to 9,460,530 million kilometers. One light years is also equivalent to 0.3066 of a parsec.

Source: Library of Essential Knowledge, Volume 1, Readers Digest, 1980

R2D2 Beanie

Okay, guys. That's enough. I'm flattered. Really. But no more. Not for now at least. Those of you whom I have already contacted, don't worry. Anyone seeing this for the first time, I'm sorry. No more custom orders. I can't knit the same hat over and over again for the rest of my life. If you would like to leave your email, I will put you on a waiting list and contact you when and if I can stand to look at blue and grey yarn ever again. In the meantime, I recommend you try to find a knitter near you or even learn to knit yourself. It's a great hobby.

I never expected a little hat I made for my nephew's Halloween costume would draw so much attention. Thank you all for your interest and appreciation.

Carissa Knits

Here's what someone said in the guestbook: WANTED: ONE GIRLFRIEND THAT KNOWS HOW TO KNIT ME A R2D2 HAT. WE DONT HAVE TO DATE THAT LONG, JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO FINISH MY HAT

We had someone looking for a highly unique desk with a space or SW theme for his home theater/home studio office. I created several designs and eventually hit upon the idea of using a Han in carbonite as the top of an combination desk and art piece.

I did the initial concept and sketches and Richard handled the details, worked with the metal shop and did the final build. Two RPF'rs also contributed resin detail pieces (where better to go than the Replica Prop Forum for the best parts around?).

The main "box" for the desk is custom metal, as are the computer cut side boxes which both light up with an orange glow. The piece is finished with a 1/2" thick glass table top.

Source

And now for a couple of photos to impress the hell out of us...

This is a computer case cleverly disguised as everyone's favorite trashcan shaped robot friend R2-D2. As you may very well imagine, inside are all the typical components of a computer. But the outside... The outside looks like R2! Whee!

"Hey R2, how you doing little buddy?" *bangs firmly on R2's head with knuckles* "R2 -- Your hard drive just fell out! Do you want me to perform emergency robotic surgery and reattach the device? What do you mean I hit you too hard? You know I love you. OOOOWWW! Quit shocking me you little asshole." *Kicks the shit out of R2 until he's mangled and badly dented*

And that, my friends, is how not to become a Jedi.

Source

I think it would go well with my R2 beanie.

This ezine is in no way sponsored or endorsed by: George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd, LucasArts Entertainment Co, LucasBooks, Skywalker Sound, THX, Industrial Light & Magic or anything else that George has his fingers in. Star Wars and all its characters are © ,®, ™ and whatever other little symbols George wishes to slap on his creative works.

All witty remarks, retorts and repartee are ©2008 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.