Category: Star Wars

Meanwhile in a Galaxy Far Far Away…in Singapore

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

ChangiIf ever you are visiting Singapore from November 12th to January 5th, you can have your chance to see life-size mock-ups of Star Wars vehicles at the city’s airport. Both an Imperial TIE fighter and a Rebel X-Wing will be found at Terminals 2 and 3 respectively of the Singapore Changi Airport on Airport Boulevard.

A one-off launch parade will be held in Changi on November 12th to mark the displays’ official unveiling. Spectators can expect to see Imperial Stormtroopers and Rebel X-Wing pilots face off in a show starting at 11:30 am onwards at Terminal 3.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens New International Trailer Gives Hope!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens International PosterEveryone is having different reactions to the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens international trailer. As for me I’m experiencing goosebumps. But maybe it’s not just because Walt Disney Studios Japan released a new trailer but it could also be that there is a new Force Awakens poster in Korea too.

In this latest trailer the focus is on new characters in the ongoing saga, Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie).

The villians get to flex their Imperial might and there are a few moves being displayed by Ren while wielding his crossblade lightsaber. The Stormtroopers lead by Phasma do what they do best, blow stuff up and lay waste where needed. And what of the beautiful shot of the TIE fighters approaching Jakku, as already mentioned by Screen Crush, that scene of the TIE fighters coming out of the sun does remind me of the chopper scene from Francis Ford Coppola’s film Apocalypse Now.

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The Force Awakens Character Posters Revealed!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)
Updated: 10/04/2014 – 2:01pm PST

Just released on the Official Star Wars Facebook page, five character posters from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. The film will be released in theatres on December 18th, 2015.

The posters are of Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Leia, John Boyega as Finn, Daisy Ridley as Rey, and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren.

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Star Wars Illustrator Noriyoshi Ohrai Passes Away

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Ohrai11Japanese illustrator Noriyoshi Ohrai, known for his artwork for the Star Wars film franchise and Richard Donner’s The Goonies, has passed away at the age of 79. Ohrai died at 11:35 on October 27th at Kunitomi Hospital in Miyazaki Prefecture of pneumonia. Ohrai had been a resident of Miyazaki Prefecture since 1973.

Born in 1935 in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, Ohrai attended the Tokyo Art University in 1957 before eventually dropping out. Working as an illustrator Ohrai came to the attention of George Lucas after his Star Wars creation was published in a science fiction magazine. Lucas commissioned him for the film’s sequel The Empire Strikes Back which was released in 1980.

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Felix Silla, and The Hollywood Roles “Little People” Happily Enjoyed Playing

Felix Silla worked more as an extra and stunt performer than as a actor. Eventually, the parts where he had speaking roles did slowly trickle in. T

Felix SillaWhen the credits roll at the end of a favourite movie or a much loved television program from the late 60’s to early 80’s, don’t blink otherwise the name Felix Silla may get missed. This stunt performer and actor has been in many productions since finding his way into the scene back in 1963. There were not many folks of his small stature who found regular work in the entertainment industry, and he can be counted as one of the few who stuck it out until his decision in 1995 to retire.

In what he experienced in this business, a lot can be said about how little people were treated. Ever since The Wizard of Oz, treatment of these individuals as extras and bit players in productions were not nice. Good or bad, what he experienced can make for a great memoir that looks at an industry that was constantly changing with the times. Before he became a recognized name, he was a performer for Ringling Bros. When he grew tired of touring, he went to work with a company that did publicity for the circus in Los Angeles in the early 60’s. He recalled that one day, a gentleman from MGM visited the office and said that they’re looking for little people to do some work. He suggested that Silla should go down to see what can happen.

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[Victoria, BC] How to do the Nerdy Fringe 2015 Edition

Fringefeaturedimage1

Various Venues
August 27 to Sept 6
Victoria, BC

Requires Fringe Button ($6)
Tickets range from $9 to 11
Available through Ticket Rocket or at the door

I’m fairly certain that there’s more than a few staff members at the Victoria Fringe Festival who are nerds too. I’ve met one person who worked there who is an avid LEGO enthusiast and I’m sure that buried in the closet are a few NERF guns. When nobody is looking, it’ll be time to bust a move.

People not acquainted with what the Fringe is about will quickly discover that the shows are experimental in nature, and the stages used are small to accommodate an intimate performance. Anything can happen, and the idea of a festival is to give new up-and-coming talent a chance to earn their cred. There’s a few groups that have moved on to bigger shows. The Reduced Shakespeare Company got their start at Fringe and Tom Stoppard‘s play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was performed first at the Edinburgh Fringe. In a tiny way, Evil Dead: The Musical owes its debt somewhat to this method of putting on shows. It opened in a club before making it big. Musicals are just one part of what can be experienced at Fringe Festivals, and that’s what I tend to gravitate to when the Victoria Fringe Festival caps off the Summer.

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