The Star Wars Reference Guide: Progress Report 7/17/2013
Hello friends,
For the last two weeks I’ve been researching at Steve Sansweet’s Rancho Obi-Wan and George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch Research Library, scanning and cataloging literally hundreds of hard-to-find magazines, comics, books and newspaper articles.
Here I am in front of Steve’s extensive magazine storage room.
W.R. Miller at Rancho Obi-Wan, Magazine Archive
Photo by Anne Neumann
(c) 2013 W.R. Miller
And here I am at Skywalker Ranch’s main house.
Main House, Skywalker Ranch
Photo by Robyn Stanley
(c) 2013 W.R. Miller
The Skywalker Ranch Research Library—formerly the Lucasfilm Research Library prior to Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm—is itself a treasure trove of information. There’s also a separate Archives building, which reminds one of the last shot of Raiders of the Lost Ark, a storage area of books and filing cabinets and boxes and containers galore. It’s a cool, temperature-controlled environment, helping preserve not only Lucas’s own materials, but the acquired libraries of Paramount and Universal Studios.
In this kind of deep research, it’s amazing to discover some fascinating stories. Like Anthony Daniels wearing his heavy C-3PO costume in the streets of Oslo, Norway, to promote Star Wars in August 1978. Or the reception Star Wars received upon its release in Latin America.
My gratitude extends to Steve Sansweet and Anne Neumann for their hospitality, and to Skywalker’s wonderful librarians Jo Donaldson and Robyn Stanley for their generous time and help. Thanks to their support, The Star Wars Reference Guide and Historical Sourcebook will have the most comprehensive documentation of Star Wars (original trilogy) media coverage in the world.
If you can help, my want list can be found here.
Designing a Reluctant Dragon
Here’s a nifty little video of artist Den Beauvais designing and sculpting a dragon as a reference model for an illustrated children’s book, The Reluctant Dragon.
Here’s a painting of the creature:
Gorgeous, isn’t it?
This version of The Reluctant Dragon takes advantage of 21st-century technology, presenting itself in iPad and other electronic devices.
Chris Derochie of Cobblestone Media wants to fund the project through Indiegogo. He talks about it here.
Yes, you can be a part of this worthy project. But hurry! The fundraiser ends July 19, 2013.
Walking with Dinosaurs … Again
In a rapidly-changing primeval world, a dinosaur is hatched. He is sniffed at by other dinosaurs. He is the last hope for his tribe. He takes charge of a great migration. This movie is
The Land Before Time (1988)
Disney’s Dinosaur (2000)
Walking with Dinosaurs (2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9v9_ws_WTM
Dinotopia: Utopia or Dystopia?
Once upon a time a talented painter, James Gurney, created a paradise where humans and intelligent dinosaurs lived together in peace. Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time and Dinotopia: The World Beneath became best-sellers and thus, attracted the attention of media moguls Robert Halmi Jr. and Robert Halmi Sr. They produced an $80 million mini-series released in 2002, followed by a TV series. Family-friendly, and fun.
June 16, 2013. Amazon.co.uk sent an email announcement about Dinotopia’s DVD re-release with this image:
Here’s the box art, as presented at Amazon:
Dinotopia — or Dino-dystopia?
A Dragon, Elves, and Hobbit Fans
June 11, 2013: The teaser trailer to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is posted online:
The trailer is seen by two Hobbit fans, “Kili” and “Fili” of TheOneRing.net. They video their reaction and post it online. (Disclaimer: A spot of profanity.) “Happy Hobbit Reacts to Desolation of Smaug Trailer”:
Director Peter Jackson enjoys their reaction, shows the video to actors Evangeline Lilly, Orlando Bloom and Lee Pace. The following day, he posts their reaction. See the “Happy Elves”:
And here’s how the girls responded:
Fun! Now we need a reaction from Smaug.
Power Rangers vs. Pokemon
Power Rangers vs. Pokemon. Who would win? Jason David Frank — Tommy Oliver from Power Rangers — provides wish fulfillment as he knocks the wind out of Pikachu! Posted online June 9, 2013.
Yamato 2199, Chapter 6!
Looks like the showdown between the forces of Admiral Domel and the determined crew of Space Battleship Yamato. Who will win? Will Earth survive? The extended trailer for Chapter 6, “Dai-rokushō: Tōtatsu! Dai Magellan / Arrival! Large Megellanic Cloud”, is now online:
Chapter 6, compiling episodes 19-22, premieres in sixteen Japanese theaters on June 15, 2013. The Blu-ray and DVD release: July 26, 2013.
The Eloquence of Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien is known for the eloquence in his writing. To demonstrate this, Cliff Quickbeam Broadway of TheOneRing.net has taken the time to compile some memorable passages from The Lord of the Rings. “Tolkien’s Greatest Hits – The Most Impressive Wordplay from our Favorite Author,” posted online May 8, 2013, lists tidbits such as
“And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many.”
and
“Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.”
Fans would later expand upon the last quote as “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.”
How did Tolkien achieve his literary greatness? Broadway quotes Tolkien from a letter to Milton Waldman in 1950, regarding his epic saga:
… It was begun in 1936, and every part has been written many times. Hardly a word in its 600,000 or more has been unconsidered. And the placing, size, style, and contribution to the whole of all the features, incidents, and chapters has been laboriously pondered.
To achieve excellence, one must pursue it. And that’s what Tolkien did.
