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Fan-created Star Wars Spinoff in The Works
Lazarian writes "According to an article from the Edmonton Sun, director Mark Twitchell from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has begun filming Star Wars: Secrets of the Rebellion, a non-profit venture expected to be released in 2008. From the article:
"The 27-year-old Edmonton director begins shooting a feature-length independent Star Wars spin-off film at NAIT Saturday, and has amassed $60,000 to bring his dream to life.
"I'm the only guy crazy enough to do this, because I'm not allowed to turn a profit. The film is for hardcore fans who miss the character development of the original trilogy.""
I'm allowed to steal music as long as I don't turn a profit.
I'm allowed to kill people as long as I don't turn a profit.
Saying things doesn't make them true. I think what we're interested in is does the guy have permission. The "lucas approved storyline" thing vaguely implies permission to make a movie, but is there actual permission?
Spinoff fan series stink. They inevitably become fanboy wankfests designed to inflate the egos and fulfill the fantasies of whoever's producing the drivel.
Case in point: Star Trek: Hidden Frontier http://www.hiddenfrontier.com/ where the main character is gay and has a Klingon boyfriend with a "gentleness" fetish.
GARBAGE!
(note: I'm in the movie)
... well, hell, he's done everything. So in this case, we could have picked an 'actor' to do the role... but no one could bring as much to it as Jim does.
Mark did indeed manage to rope in real actors. Not only are there professionals (a lot of Canadian indie, some C-list), there are lots of acting students, and lots of people who love Star Wars enough to make it real. Hans Solo, for instance, is done by Iowa Jimmy, who has pretty much been in love with the movie since it came out. He's a teacher, and his entire classroom is like a Star Wars museum. He's done Cons and
Summary: Don't worry about the acting. Everyone is great, and the director (who's already won some indie awards for his past work) most certainly doesn't take crap shots. You screw up, you do it over. And over. And over. Until everyone is happy.
If I knew the wedgies I gave you back in 6th grade would have resulted in this . . . I might have taken a moments pause.
(note: I'm in the movie)
Don't forget, Chewbacca is in this one too... at least, the guy who does Chewie for all the Cons and promo shots and the red carpet at the EpIII screening. He's a nice guy, consumate professional, and he's bringing a great presence to the movie. It's awesome to get on set and have Chewie walk in and start roaring.
I'm looking forward to meeting Jeremy and Zach too. This is gonna be so awesome.
If I knew the wedgies I gave you back in 6th grade would have resulted in this . . . I might have taken a moments pause.
(note: I'm in the movie)
He's the only guy crazy enough to put together $60,000 and take 2 years of his life to make the biggest and most ambitious Star Wars fan movie ever made, knowing from the start that he can't make a dime off of it. I think there's a slight difference.
If I knew the wedgies I gave you back in 6th grade would have resulted in this . . . I might have taken a moments pause.