The Lightsabre Interview

Mary Franklin

Welcome to Lightsabre.  Our latest guest is the Events Manager at Lucasfilm and runs the ever-amazing Bantha Tracks.  She can also be seen at conventions all around the world and is a constant presence on the internet.  Please welcome to the site Mary Franklin.

Q - Mary, welcome to Lightsabre.

A – It’s an honour to be interviewed by Lightsabre.

Q – How exciting is it to be a regular and constant part of the Star Wars universe?

A – It’s my Fangirl dream come true, on more than one level. There is the obvious fun of working with Star Wars on a daily basis, of seeing what’s coming first, and being a part of shaping events for my fellow fans. But it’s also fun to come to work every day because there are great people here who are creative and fun, and who really care about what they are doing. And my boss has the greatest Star Wars collection! (Steve Sansweet)

Q – What kick-started your interest in Star Wars?

A – I was a sci-fi book fan starting when I was very young, and was surprisingly snobby for my age about not wanting to see sci-fi movies. I thought they were not as good as books. My friends talked me into Star Wars, and like so many others I was in love at first sight. The movies were well-told stories with wonderful characters I loved, not simply excuses to show spaceships and creatures. I was one of the very early subscribers to Bantha Tracks!

Years later I discovered through the then-new Internet that there were Star Wars fans all over the world. I was thrilled, and got involved with the online Star Wars community. I’ve met some of my best friends through that community.

all the wampa ever wanted was a hug...

Q – As editor of Bantha Tracks you are continuing a legacy started in the late 70’s in the original and much loved Bantha Tracks. Do you feel that the current incarnation carries on that tradition?

A – It carries on the spirit of that tradition – honouring the fan community. The original Tracks was the Star Wars news vehicle for those of us who subscribed. There was not internet or an official glossy magazine at that time, so getting the word straight from Lucasfilm through Bantha Tracks was a necessity for fans. Now, with the latest Star Wars news readily available through StarWars.com, Insider, and many outstanding websites like Lightsabre, Bantha Tracks honours fans through celebrating what they do: their ideas and good works and creativity and fun.

Q – One of your predecessors, Maureen Garrett, became synonymous with Bantha Tracks. Do you enjoy your close association with BT?

A – Oh very much so! I used to hang on every word of Bantha Tracks when Maureen was editor, and sometimes I can’t believe that I am in that place now. Counting the print editions only, the coming issue marks the 67^th issue of Bantha Tracks printed. Garrett, Jok Church, and Craig Miller served as editors of Bantha Tracks over those first 35 issues. Starting with the Paizo Publishing-produced Bantha Tracks Issue 0 in 2002, to commemorate the IMAX release of Attack of the Clones, I have edited the next 32 issues of Bantha Tracks in print, plus more than 80 issues of Bantha Tracks Online at StarWars.com. It’s almost impossible for me to believe that I have actually edited more editions than my heroes. But they will always be on a pedestal to me, for bringing Star Wars into my own mailbox way back then.

Q – With the new shows on the way the future is bright for Star Wars. What role will Bantha Tracks play in that?

A – As always, sharing the news from fans, to fans, of their experiences in and contributions to the Star Wars community.

Q – You make great efforts to attend many conventions, including 2007’s Celebration Europe. How much did you enjoy that convention, and how different are the European fans to their American counterparts?

A – Hahaha. As I am a producer of the shows, I think I would have to make great efforts NOT to attend! As a producer I’m constantly on the run, so I enjoy them in a different way than most. That said, I LOVE the Celebrations. There is little in life as cool as seeing so many good people have a good time, and playing a part in offering that to them.

The major difference I saw in the European fans was that they had a much higher level of patience for standing in lines for events than their American counterparts. Otherwise, both groups love entertainment, sharing the experience with their families, seeing and doing new things as well as celebrating the old, etc.

here's a unique collection

Q – Which of the myriad Star Wars characters do you feel the most affinity for?

A – Bossk. I love Bossk. Most of the bounty hunters try to be subtle and cool and aloof, but Bossk doesn’t bother with that. He just looks like he’d rather rip your throat out now than be coy.

I also love the character of Han Solo. Conflicted heroes, like Solo, and Aragorn in the LOTR movies, are the ones I find most compelling.

Q – What other duties do you have at LFL?

A – I’m responsible for events for other divisions, too, like LucasArts, and recruiting and ILM. So at any given time I could be working on a Celebration, a video game trade show, a party for recruiting, and of course writing Bantha Tracks.

Q – Were you satisfied with Revenge of the Sith as the conclusion to the entire cinematic saga?

A – Yes, extremely satisfied. Anakin’s turn broke my heart, not only because the movies hinted at the good person he could have become, but also because of his brotherhood with Obi-Wan. This added a great deal of depth to the original trilogy, and affection for Vader I did not have before.

Q – What other Star Wars product do you enjoy? Novels, comics, toys?

A – Love the Dark Horse trade paperback comic collections, and the Random House novels as well. It’s hard to imagine the Expanded Universe expanding too much! Because I live in the city of San Francisco I have a small place, so collecting is not really an option. I do, however, have an outstanding Bossk collection!!

how could anyone dare say 'no' to this woman?

photoshop work by pablo hidalgo

Q – A quick question about our site, Lightsabre. Any comments?

A – Love the level of detail, and love the interviews. Excellent web site. I think part of what makes it outstanding is that it is a true fan community that reflects shared Star Wars passion.

I see you just posted an interview with my friend Dunc (Tracy Duncan). It’s Dunc and others who share similar passion who have made Club Jade a success. I was a founding member, but she and others make it the great place it is. I truly admire Dunc’s creativity and sense of humor. I can count on what she writes to make me laugh out loud every time.

Q - It's been a great interview, and thanks for being our guest on Lightsabre. Just one final question. Sue Rostroni, Bonnie Burton and yourself reach the final of Iron Chef, knocking Pablo Hidalgo, Pete Vilmur and Dan Wallace out in the heats. What dishes do you all cook and why?

A – Ha! You are asking someone who quit watching television when she was 13 to protest her parents watching too much! However, I think I understand the premise of Iron Chef, and I love the idea of writing about Bonnie, Sue, and I beating Pablo, Pete, and Dan.

Pablo, Pete, and Dan are of course focused on the details of each dish. Each is well-researched and perfect and in line with dinnertime continuity, as one would expect.

Meanwhile, while they are concentrating on minutia and not paying attention to us, Bonnie whips up spectacular, saucy sauces that take our dishes to the next level of fun. I add some special tricks and flavors that I learned when I lived in rural Montana, Alaska, and Antarctica. There are not many people who can pull flavors from Antarctica. And Sue . . . Sue has already made sure that everything is perfect, and she is just simply the boss. There is no getting around the boss. The guys don’t stand a chance.