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It's hard to believe that after so many months of waiting and behind-the-scenes planning that Celebration Europe is over. July 13th - 15th brought Star Wars home to, as Stephen Sansweet called it, "It's spiritual home." And indeed it was home, to anybody there who's Star Wars born and bred, like me. |
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But this affectionate look back at that crazy July weekend isn't just about my memories. Here you'll see photo's and video's, hear audio clips and interviews and read the thoughts and memories of many. From fans, cast members and Lucasfilm staff this will be a unique and heartfelt tip of the hat to the biggest Star Wars day the UK has ever seen. So, grab your Lightsabre, remember the thrill of the Battle of the Bridge and go back to 14th July 2007 and day two of Star Wars Celebration Europe... |
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Saturday 14th July 2007 |
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| Mark, Rebecca, Louis and Paul's ExCel-lent Adventure Day Two... | |||||||||
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10:30 - 11:15 Force of
the Fetts Actors Jeremy Bulloch and Daniel Logan share stories of being Boba throughout the Saga. Bulloch portrayed the infamous bounty hunter, Boba Fett, in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and Logan played young Fett in Attack of the Clones. 10:30 -- 11:00 and
11:30 -- 12:00 The Clone Wars - THE PLATINUM STAGE 11:00 -- 11:30 The
Vader Hot Air Balloon Project 11:45 - 12:30 Star
Wars 30th Anniversary Crew Stars 11:45 -- 12:45 Sites
of Star Wars -- Jeremy Beckett 12:30 -- 13:30 The
Force Unleashed with LucasArts - THE PLATINUM STAGE 13:00 -- 14:00 R2-D2
Builders' Club 13:00 -- 14:00
Charlie Ross: One Man Star Wars Trilogy - THE PLATINUM STAGE 14:00 -- 15:00 The
Modelmakers 14:30 -- 15:30 Muscle
for Hire: Costuming for the Bounty Hunter 14:30 -- 15:15
Anthony Daniels - THE PLATINUM STAGE 15:30 -- 17:00
Star Wars Tattoo Competition 15:45 -- 16:00 Jedi
vs. Jedi, Mustafar Reenacted 15:45 -- 16:45 Rick
McCallum: Producing the Prequels - THE PLATINUM STAGE 16:30 Droid
Demonstration 17:00 -- 18:00
Celebration Europe Costume Pageant - THE PLATINUM STAGE 17:30 -- 20:00
Fanboys Rough Cut Sneak Peek 18:30 -- 19:30 Battle
of the Bands - THE PLATINUM STAGE 19:00 -- 22:00 Saturday Night Star Wars Party on the Waterfront (Waterfront side, ExCeL Center). Wear your best Star Wars costume, or just some good party clothes, and come prepared for an evening of fun, meeting fans from all over the world! |
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| Saturday Night's Alright for (Lightsabre) Fighting - Day Two start's with a blast | |||||||||
| Mark - "We made absolutely certain we were there on time Saturday. After Fridays panic we didn't want to get caught out again, which was just as well as Dave Prowse walked by, as did Lorne Peterson. Jeremy Bulloch spotted Gerald and had a bit of banter and I saw Danny Wagner for a chat, which was very cool as we've emailed each other throughout the year since our interview on the site. And me and Louis started recording a Setnin Radio, which we never finished." | |||||||||
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Mark - "Chris next door had decided that it would be his last day and whatever he didn't sell would be coming home with him. It was very cool having him there, partly because he would watch the stall if we were busy, mainly because he's a good bloke but also because every time someone took a photo of his stuff he would make them donate a pound towards Cancer Research UK. Chris raised well north of £30 just from the photo idea." |
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| Mark - "All day there were hordes of drooling males - and a few females - around this woman all day. I thought the Lynx effect was only for men, but looking at the chain around her neck maybe it was the links effect..." | |||||||||
| Art of Gold - Meeting Joe and the Celebration artists | |||||||||
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| Mark - "It was a real pleasure meeting Joe. I've been a fan of his artwork for a good while now and couldn't miss the chance to meet him and buy his Celebration Europe piece. I'm sure Joe didn't realise quite how much of his stuff we'd bought. Plus, we learned on the Friday night that he has a taste for San Miguel, so we bought a few of those for him over the weekend as well!" | |||||||||
| Rebecca - "He's a really down to earth approachable guy, and he rocks because he's doing Fallen Angel (for IDW)." | |||||||||
| Mark - "My intention was to only spend the physical cash we had during the weekend, but the artwork on display was so amazing I couldn't resist getting the plastic out. We bought some beautiful pieces, including some by Cynthia Cummens - an amazingly sweet lady who was so nice to us - Steve Anderson, Terese Nielsen, Adam Hughes and a bunch by Joe. | |||||||||
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| San-sweet as a Nut - Meeting Stephen Sansweet | |||||||||
| Mark - "It was pure good fortune that one of Stephen's assistant's turned out to be Rojo Trooper from the blogs, so we were familiar with each other from the off, which was cool. I'd been to the media centre on the Friday to arrange interviews and was asked to come back the next day at noon, which me and Louis did. We ended up chatting to a very friendly Australian lady from LucasArts who was waiting with us before Chris 'Rojo' Gereke ushered us in to meet Steve. We waited quietly as he finished his prior interview and, peeling open an orange, we were introduced to him and handed over our gift of a Lightsabre t-shirt. We sat down and chatted for a second before launching into a very easy and free-flowing interview." | |||||||||
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| Louis - "I kept wanting to say "We're not worthy, we're not worthy" but in the end, after a slightly stifled start I actually managed to ask some questions." | |||||||||
| Mark - "Paul had text at around 11.50am trying to find the table, but he managed to get lost and end up on totally the wrong floor. At least he got to see a lot of the convention, more than I did, but we were all wondering if he was going to turn up. Paul finally got to the stand after The Force Unleashed panel, which he also watched after the Sansweet interview." | |||||||||
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| Mark - "I thought it was about time me and Louis used our nifty purple Media passes for something other than jumping queues so we took a set on the front row of the Platinum Suite (after waving at Anthony, Nick and John in the cheap seats) and watched the Force Unleashed panel. It was fascinating, a clever run through the next gen game that comes out next spring. Some of the stuff in there is jaw dropping, and the trailer they showed was fantastic. The in-game graphics was better than the cut scene stuff that starts the trailer." | |||||||||
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| Anthony - "They were screening the brand new trailer for the next-gen title The Force Unleashed. It should be on www.lucasarts.com by the time you read this. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but I will say that this is Force Powers the likes of which we have never seen." | |||||||||
| Louis - "(Enhanced Force powers) have been hinted at before, look at what happened with Mace Windu in the Cartoon Network Clone Wars shorts. IT had to happen some time and now is the time. It's just a shame that it may never appear on the PC." | |||||||||
| Welcome to the Lando Nod - Bex and Mark meet a card player, gambler, scoundrel | |||||||||
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| Mark - "The day was going great guns, Paul was finally on the stand and Gerald was selling autographs like hot cakes, so me and Bex waited for Louis to come back to the stand and we took a stroll across the plaza to the Novotel. We were there for 2.45pm, and I was sure it had been decided to do the interview at 3.00pm, but no, it was 3.30pm. Still, it gave me time to think about what to say to Mr Williams when he came down. Finally at 3.25pm Sheila Rodgers from Coolwaters came and led us up stairs, where we waited on a sofa for BDW to arrive, which he did five minutes later. In all honesty Billy Dee was absolutely exhausted. He'd just flown a ten hour flight without sleep and was jet-lagged and tired. I really didn't think he would want to do the interview but, and I'll always be grateful for this, he soldiered on and we had an interesting ten minute chat with Lando Calrissian. We wrapped the interview with Mr Williams, followed him to the lift, said our goodbyes and took a satisfying walk back to the arena." | |||||||||
| Deflating the Force - Taking the wheeze out of the Dark Lord | |||||||||
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| Mark - "As me and Bex were walking back across the courtyard they were deflating the Darth Vader balloon. It was hugely impressive, and there were camera's everywhere filming it deflate. Now, if I was filming a balloon, I guess I wouldn't be thrilled if someone walked in front of the shot but I certainly wouldn't say anything about it. But two guys decided to thank me rather sarcastically. I toyed with the idea of going back to thank them myself, right into their camera lens but thought better of it. But then I heard the same sarcastic voice behind us and turned to see a couple in their fifties walking past. I jogged over and said 'Shall we go over and thank him again?' We didn't, but I kind of wish we had." | |||||||||
| Brick Olie - Star Wars piece by piece | |||||||||
| Louis - "Star Wars Lego is awesome. Some of the stuff that was on show was extremely complicated and more realistic than I could have hoped for. It's just a shame that Hasbro don't make vehicles this detailed and to the same scale as the figures." | |||||||||
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| Anthony - "One stand that particularly impressed me was the Lego Star Wars stand. As a long time Lego fan (is it right to still like Lego at 32?) There was an almost complete re-creation of the Mos Eisley Space port including a HUGE Millenium Falcon. At the moment there are only three in the world and there were two at the event." | |||||||||
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| The Ultimart Sin - Small world, innit | |||||||||
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Mark - "This part of the exhibition was really brilliant. The night before at the Fox Pub I was at the bar - shock, horror - and I noticed a guy wearing a really cool Boba Fett t-shirt, but the Palitoy logo is what caught my eye. I asked him about it and he explained what it was about before asking me about my site. I told him I was from Lightsabre, and he laughed. Back in 2000 he used to co-run a site called Ultimart, which we were affiliated with. Small world. But Dave's Palitoy exhibition, which was totally self-funded, stole the show for me in regards to exhibits. Stephen Sansweet was said to have been as excited by this exhibit as any other he'd ever seen, which is high praise indeed." |
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| Mark - "This was just awesome. I believe it was one of the Harrison Ford signature issues, and boy did it look good up close. I was looking for the Champion spark plugs sticker, but I couldn't spot it." | |||||||||
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| Mark - "Whatever we did we just couldn't lose this woman. Everywhere she went, there she was with a massive crowd around her. Wonder what she does for a day job? Whatever the hell she likes, I imagine." | |||||||||
| Louis - "Phwoar! 'Nuff said (I can say that Mark, you can't.)" | |||||||||
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Mark - "It was great to meet Iain. He came to the Lightsabre stand to introduce himself, which is always cool and had dropped a load of us an email the week before organising a get together. I have to admit, I hadn't found the chance to get to the gathering but once he'd dropped by Friday morning he was a regular fixture around the convention. Plus he was so damn friendly, it was always great to catch up on what each other had been up to during the day." |
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Mark - "We'd been contacted by a fellow Star Wars fan called Mark Sayers from the Norwich and District Star Wars Club. These guys run a really tight ship and raise a lot of money for various charities in and around Norwich and it had been great getting to know Mark and the crew. Me and Paul took a stroll to stretch our legs and view some of the convention and passed the stand and, as often happens when Centaur and Lomona get together, we managed to get into this predicament." |
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| Louis - "If Ranth had been there it wouldn't have happened." | |||||||||
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Mark - "It's always cool to see these guys in the flesh - or the chrome, whatever - and this was no exception. I just loved that for the whole of the three days, wherever you looked, there was a five year old kid looking up at a Vader or a Jedi or a droid in complete awe. That really took me back to '77." |
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McCallum Geddit - Rick exits the ExCel and makes a little scene |
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| Anthony - "I was just on my way outside for some fresh air when I saw another familiar face. Rick “Producing the sequels” McCallum was standing there just chatting to fans. It was totally unexpected and I was thinking “Must get that autograph.” I walked a calmly as I could up to him and realise I didn’t have a pen or a programme to sight with (D'oh!). Then I had a brainwave. I borrowed a waterproof marker from a random bloke (Thanks for lending it to me) and asked Rick to sign my Three-Day Pass. He said it would be a pleasure. OH MY GOD!! I thanked him for all he had done for the saga and shook his hand. He smiled and carried on chatting about stuff before being ushered away by his entourage." | |||||||||
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Mark - "We sadly missed McCallum talk because there was too much going on at the stand and I was constantly shooting off to do other things, but the word is that Rick was brilliant. I'd been lucky enough to have had a forty minute chat with him back in March, so I know what a great talker he is, but we were just leaving the arena to head back to the hotel when we saw a big crowd. Paul was leaving for the train so we said goodbye and wandered over, and I saw that it was Rick. Some of the guys with us said I should go over and say hi, but I had to remind them that while Rick might recognise my voice he wouldn't know me from Adam." |
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Anthony - "Only afterwards did someone point out that by 'defacing my pass' I might have trouble getting in the Excel again. (SHOCK) After a few moments of panic I thought 'What the hell' and actually did manage to get in for the rest of the weekend without any problems." |
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Dressing down for Dinner - Attack of the Costumes |
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| Mark - "We found out on Sunday night from Stephen Sansweet that Lori's Disco Threepio costume had been such a hit at Celebration 4 that he ordered her to wear it again at Celebration Europe. And we're glad she did, it looked amazing." | |||||||||
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Battle of the Bridge - Fan history in the making |
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Louis - "I will always remember this moment. Not because I looked cool (how many fat Jedi do you know?), but because it was impromptu, fun and the first time I had used my new Lightsabre to do anything but pose." |
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| Mark - "There's no two ways about it, this moment will go down in Star Wars history as one of the great fan moments. We were all having a good time anyway, the music was pumping and the food was great - even though £5.00 for a burger was a bit steep - but it seemed obvious something was going to happen." | |||||||||
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Mark - "I was chatting to David 'Voice of Wedge' Ankrum, and thanking him for doing the interview with us when folks started shouting about going to the bridge. I didn't have a sabre, but Louis and Anthony did so I grabbed Louis mobile phone and started recording stuff." |
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Louis - "We'd heard news that a small force of sith trained dark Jedi were attempting to disrupt Celebration Europe. There was no alternative but to intercept them at their only crossing point. However, I almost felt sorry for them as word had got around and those Jedi that had survived Order 66 converged on the area." |
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Mark - "They were all on the bridge for quite a while, waiting for the passers-by to get out of the way. It was ace, the light was fading so the sabre's glowed even brighter and the atmosphere was electric." |
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| Louis - "We had to make sure that all innocent civilians were evacuated from the area. You could feel the Force building around such a concentrated group of Jedi. Something was bound to happen, and when it did we roared like Krayt Dragons." | |||||||||
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Anthony - "It was an eerie feeling waiting for the charge command. When it was given all Lightsabre's were lit at the same time which emitted an awesome 'Snap-Hiss' that most of Canary Wharf must have heard. Light, sound, screams, sound of running feet on metal, crash, hiss, clashing of the Jedi and Sith. Words can’t really explain what it felt like up there. Camera flashes surrounded the dock and the cheering was louder than our screams. AWESOME!" |
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| Neil Baker - "That bridge fight is the greatest thing I have ever seen outside of the movies." | |||||||||
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Mark - "The place went banana's, even before they got up there. It was mad and the buzz built as we waited and waited for them to start. Turns out there was a health and safety issue, but when they began the charge the waterfront went mad! You can tell how it was, I haven't seen a single unshaky camera yet, although Lucasfilm had a crew there. It took ages for everyone to get back down for a photo opportunity. Of course, Louis was lost in the moment and still fighting on the bridge so he missed that bit. We could see his Windu sabre twirling and were screaming for him to come down for the photo op." |
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| Anthony - "I’ll never forget that. It was when we demonstrated that fans can really make the most memorable of moments." | |||||||||
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Louis - "A small group of Dark Jedi had infiltrated the area. I had no choice. There was only one option. And it was fun." |
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| David Ankrum - "The impromptu Battle On The Bridge ranks with my “Most Amazing Star Wars Moments”. It was the first time I had a chance to meet the other X-Wing pilots. Biggs, Gold Leader, Wes….we all sat together in the autograph hall and it was a real treat. We had a lot of laughs." | |||||||||
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Ty Fighter - Louis and Motti Junior have at it |
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Louis - "We were slightly drunk and still high after the Battle of the Bridge. There was a challenge shouted and like any self-respecting Dark Jedi Ty accepted." |
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Mark - "I think Louis was a bit miffed that Ty cracked his Lightsabre, but then again he shouldn't have been trying to hit a 15 year old kid with a plastic sword if he didn't mind it getting broken" |
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| Louis - "There was a slight misunderstanding. What I saw as a chance to have a bit of a laugh and a quick lesson in fencing techniques turned out to be an all-out Lightsabre brawl and yes, I was a little annoyed when I got my blade back." | |||||||||
| Our Grrl Friday...well alright, Saturday then - Hanging out with Bonnie and Co | |||||||||
| Mark - "While the place was still buzzing about the battle on the bridge Chris Gereke invited me, Bex, Anthony, Jedi Iain Armstrong, Nicky and John to take a stroll up to the Novotel with himself and Steve Sansweet which was very good of him. We had a chat as we walked and some very cool things were said about our site, which was very flattering. Steve and Chris went inside for their evening meal and we waited a bit until they'd gone upstairs, and then we followed up to the bar area." | |||||||||
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| Mark - "As we'd been told, there were a stack of familiar and famous faces there. Joe Corroney, Cynthia Cummens, Jeremy Bulloch, Bonnie Burton, all mingling with us lot like it was any other Saturday night in the pub. Which I guess it was really..." | |||||||||
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| Louis - "After finally tracking down Mark, who apparently had been whisked away with Chris and Stephen Sansweet I cooled down with two pints of Guinness and chatted to Terri, Bonnie and Joe Corroney. By the way, to the person who stole my Palitoy cap that night can you please return it (unless of course your name is Steve Sansweet, in which case add it to the collection mate!") | |||||||||
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| Mark - "It was an awesome night. Derek Maki was sabre fighting with Mike Edmonds wife, Joe 'San Miguel' Corroney was as ace and cool as ever - so we bought him a few beers - and Bonnie not only gave us a cool and rare wristband but also gave us loads of her time chatting about anything and everything. It was an intensely cool night." | |||||||||
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| Mark - "Bex and I went to have a quick chat with Barry Eldridge, just to say 'It's going great' and spent 20 minutes chatting to him and his wife. In no uncertain terms he made it clear that 'We're going to Turkey on Tuesday, a little village. No television, no internet, no telephones.' Don't blame him!" | |||||||||
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| Mark - "Bex wore her famous Vader Basque, which she bought off Ebay. Apparently loads of people asked where she got it from, including Yoda who seems to be trying to find the label in her jeans." | |||||||||
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Mark - "I also think this is the night when Bonnie said Bex 'had a cute ass', which is always the kind of compliment you dream of receiving from the internet content developer at Lucasfilm. At least, I do..." |
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| Louis - "I wonder why Yoda looks happy?!" | |||||||||
Mark - "How cool is this? In the Novotel, Star Wars actors, artists and web people all around us, hanging out with folks we've barely known for a day having our photo taken by Bonnie Burton. I was tired, out on my feet, but as a fan it doesn't get much better than this." |
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Mark - "I remember Steve Anderson, who I've never met or interviewed before, getting my attention and mouthing 'Mark?' as if he knew me, which was very cool. We were chatting for a good twenty minutes before Bex literally dragged me away and out of the hotel towards the Holiday Inn." |
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Mark - "I admit, I could have stayed there another couple of hours, which, funnily enough, Will and the gang did. I heard the next day that they left at 4.00am and got home totally wrecked. |
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Mark, Rebecca, Louis and Paul's ExCel-lent Adventure Day Three... |
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