Kyle Newman, Director of Fanboys Interview

Kyle Newman, Director of Fanboys Interview
Posted By: Sheila Roberts

MoviesOnline sat down with director Kyle Newman to talk with him about his exciting new movie, “Fanboys,” a heartwarming story set in 1998 that follows a group of young, passionate Star Wars fans on a cross-country quest to break into George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch and watch Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace before it’s released.

The film stars Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, and Kristen Bell. It’s produced by Kevin Spacey, Dana Brunetti, Evan Astrowsky and Matthew Perniciaro. The screenplay is written by Adam F. Goldberg and Ernest Cline from a story by Ernest Cline and Dan Pulick. Kevin Mann served as executive producer.

Kyle Newman is a fabulous guy and we really enjoyed our time with him. Here’s what he had to tell us about the long awaited “Fanboys” and the excited adventures he experienced along the way to its final release:

MoviesOnline: Can you talk about the long and winding road to making this film and finally getting it released?

KYLE NEWMAN: Well, I think just like in the movie which I didn’t expect it to be, for me, what I’m so happy with is the journey, not the destination, because we met so many amazing people making this movie, and the fans helped us make the movie and finish the movie. We had 501st which is the costume division of Star Wars fandom. We didn’t have a budget to make all the costumes. They were even making our Star Trek outfits so… Can you imagine Star Wars fans having to sit there and sew Star Trek outfits? They were like, “Alright, we’ll do it for the sake of Star Wars.”

I was just impressed by how many people came together because of their love of Star Wars. That’s how we got so many cameos too. People were like, “I grew up on that. I love it too. I want to come in and sure, I’ll do it for half a day. Why not?” So, that was the most impressive thing to me and then also working with Lucasfilm after hearing all these things which were so untrue about them online and people’s perspective of what they’re like and then having them welcome us in like part of the family and embracing us. I think they realized at that point that there are no more movies and there wasn’t a TV show yet so it was a way to keep Star Wars alive, and I think they realized fandom is the future of Star Wars. That’s why they’re doing those kind of… They support the fan film awards.

If you look online, there are so many Star Wars fan films. This was like us getting to make almost like an official fan film because we were all such fans. It was all these incredible things which I never expected when we started to make this movie – never knowing if we were going to get Lucasfilm approvals, never even planning to get so many cameos, never planning to actually get to shoot on the ranch which no one has ever gotten to do before.

Full interview: http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_16344.html

Holidays on Parade

Something from the Carolina Garrison in the news:

Holidays on Parade

By Brian Dukes
Staff writer
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.

Where: Downtown Fayetteville
Information: Call 309-1759, 483-4186 or 323-1040. Go to www.rotarychristmasparade.com.
On TV: The parade will be aired live on News 14 Carolina.
If you don’t attend the ninth Annual Rotary Christmas Parade downtown Saturday, Santa Claus may put you on the naughty list.
But Darth Vader, one of the parade’s Grand Marshals, might destroy your home world.
Members of a fan-based Star Wars costuming club, called the Carolina Garrison of The Fighting 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, will serve as Grand Marshals for this year’s parade. About 35 Star Wars characters will be represented at the parade, including Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Boba Fett, sand people, bounty hunters, Jawas, Jedi, Stormtroopers, Imperial officers and biker scouts.
The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Cumberland County Courthouse on Person Street.
Matthew Smith, parade organizer and co-chairman, said the group will add a new element to the parade.
“It’s always our goal to have as Grand Marshals a character or person who sets a good role model for children and someone that parents wouldn’t mind their children emulating,” Smith said. “It’s awesome to have them.”
The parade, which will run about two hours, will be broadcast live on News 14 Carolina.
The parade will travel along Person Street toward the Market House, which it will circle before continuing down Hay Street. It ends at the railroad station.
More than 100 entries are participating in this year’s parade, the highest turnout since the Fayetteville Rotary clubs took over the parade in 2000. The city of Fayetteville was previously responsible for putting on a Christmas parade, but ceased doing so in 1998. There was no parade in 1999.
The parade will include high school marching bands, beauty queens, local organizations, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, motorcycle groups, Shrine units, radio stations, The Salvation Army and the Red Cross.
“We’re also going to have a driverless Model T Ford,” Smith said. “It’s a secret as to who, or what, is driving it.”
What isn’t a secret is that the parade is one of Smith’s proudest activities.
“I enjoy serving the community,” said Smith, who will turn 70 a few days after the parade. “I’m trying to slow down a little bit, but the parade lets me have too much fun.”
Having fun while serving his community is something Bill Lane can identify with also. Lane will be the man behind the Darth Vader mask. He is the regional representative for the Fighting 501st Legion and a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg.
He said he was excited and honored when Smith asked his group to be the parade’s Grand Marshals. Recently, the group had members in the Hope Mills and Raleigh Christmas parades.
“Matthew thought it’d be a good idea, and we loved it,” Lane said. “But we had to have at least 30 characters participate, which was a challenge at first.”
Lane said the 125 members of the organization are scattered throughout North and South Carolina, with less than a dozen in Fayetteville. On a much larger scale, there are more than 4,000 members spread across 40 countries worldwide.
But once Lane told the members that Imperial troops had a chance to lead the parade, the response was overwhelming.
“By the day of the parade, we’ll probably have about 40 people participating,” Lane said.
His group is featured at many events, Lane said, in an effort to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“We love Star Wars and costuming,” Lane said.
He said he has spent $3,000 putting together his Darth Vader outfit over the past few years.
“But when you have a chance to do something positive and make kids happy, that’s why we really do this.”
Darth Vader with a heart? How very “Return of the Jedi” of him.
Lane promised that parade-goers would be impressed with the show of Imperial might.
“We’ll have stormtroopers marching in formation, bounty hunters. It’s going to be a great display,” Lane said.
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 323-4848, ext. 411.

Full Article: http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=312762

Catching up on News

It’s a slow day today, so I’m working to catch up on some of the 501st stuff around the web. Here’s a couple of articles that came out over the past couple weeks:

Chewbacca: Welcome to Hoth, I mean West Michigan
UPDATED 12/8/08 WITH MORE PHOTOS
Chewbacca: Welcome to Hoth, I mean West Michigan

Yes, I’m a big Star Wars fan, but no I didn’t really say my headline “welcome to Hoth” … it just seems like it was fitting with our current sub-freezing temperatures and non-stop snow. But I did tell Peter Mayhew it was nice to meet him as I shook his hand.

The approximately 7′0″ British born actor best known for playing everyone’s favorite wookiee in 4 Star Wars movies visited Grand Rapids Saturday, and it couldn’t have been a better peak to my birthday weekend!!!

Seriously – this is the man who played Chewbacca – one of the most recognizable movie characters from the 1980s – and not only did I get to shake his giant hand and get an autograph – I also got to take a picture with him.

Mayhew may have been big and imposing on screen in the Chewbacca suit, but in real life Mayhew is quiet and reserved, and at the age of 64, his tall lanky build has him using a cane these days.

And yes, there was charge for an autograph – but that’s okay when you realize most stars on the convention circuit charge for autographs anyway – and this was without the cost of admission to a convention, Mayhew made a stop at Celebration! Cinema North… but bottomline: can you really put a price on a special link to a favorite childhood memory? It was totally worth it.

Special thanks to the 501st Legion, Great Lakes Garrison (a fan based costuming group that works mostly for charities) for bringing Mayhew here from his home in Texas.

And thanks again Peter Mayhew – it was nice to meet you after all these years!

Full article

Chewbacca in Grand Rapids Saturday
Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) makes a visit to Grand Rapids Saturday

The 6 foot 9 inch tall actor who portrayed the classic character in 4 Star Wars movies: Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977), Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi (1983) and Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005) will be in Grand Rapids tomorrow.

Mayhew will be appearing in person at Celebration Cinema! North Saturday, December 6, 2008. He will be available for autographs and photos from 7:30 pm until 8:30 pm in the lobby of Celebration Cinema! North, located at 2121 Celebration Drive NE at the corner of Knapp and East Beltline.

Mayhew will also be in attendance with Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion, Great Lakes Garrison, a fan based costuming group.

Article

Darth Vader stops by Crossgates Mall
Updated: 12/06/2008 09:55 PM
By: Web Staff

Article

Star Wars Enthusiasts to Help Raise Money for Make-A-Wish Foundation
December 4, 2008

From NewsChannel 19:

Are you a Star Wars fan? Here’s your chance to get a really cool keepsake and help a great cause at the same time.

Head to Parkway Place this Saturday, December 6 between 9:00am and 3:00pm. You can meet members of the 501st Legion, which is a group of Star Wars costume enthusiasts who volunteer their time to the community. They’ll be downstairs at the mall near the Customer Service desk.

For $5, you can get your picture with members of the Legion. That money will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, Legion members raised $2,200 in six hours for Make-A-Wish, and they hope to top that this year!

The Legion has members all across the world who dress up as Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Bounty Hunters, Sith Lords, Chewbacca and other characters from the Star Wars films.

Source

Local video game store to host charity event
Contributed by: Drew Paterson on 12/2/2008

GameXplosion, an Aurora located video game store is hosting its annual fund raising drive for Children’s Hospital on Dec. 6th, 2008 from noon to 4:00 PM.

At this time of year, particularly for children, and in these difficult economic times, the need is greater than ever.

GameExplosion, as a member of the Aurora area business community, is hosting its 2nd Annual Children’s Hospital fund raiser. Come on in and meet members of the 501st Mountain Garrison, a Colorado contingent of Star Wars characters. See Storm Troopers, Darth Nihilus, and Stealth Troopers.

Get 20% off all Used Games. Enter to win a FREE XBOX 360. And, while supplies last, every minimum purchase of $25 gets a FREE black GameXplosion T-shirt.

A portion of all sales for the day will be donated to Children’s Hospital. Let’s help Children’s help children!

Source

Star Wars stormtroopers to invade city for charity
A member of the Australian chapter of the 501st legion, a Star Wars group which takes part in charity events, he and his fellow stormtroopers will be volunteering at the Powerhouse Musem’s Star Wars: where science meets imagination exhibition.

This is the first time the exhibition has been to Australia, and it will include props, models, and costumes from all six films, and modern-day innovations that could one day make them a reality.

While Mr Feeney, who lives at Kirrawee, has seen all six Star Wars films, he is partial to the original trilogy.

“We see ourselves as purists,” he said.

“We’re fans of the ones released before the prequels. There’s a lot of stuff that we don’t like, especially some of the characters in the new movies like Jar Jar Binks he’s very annoying.”

Even with the introduction of annoying characters, Mr Feeney’s interest in the films shows no signs of waning.

An avid collector of Star Wars memorabilia, he has amassed more than 300 pieces. His rarest find was a prototype helmet that was never used in a film, and the priciest is his Storm Trooper suit which cost $2000.

“It’s a big part of my life, and no, I don’t think I’ll ever give it up,” he said.

The exhibition is on at the Powerhouse Museum, Harris Street, Ultimo from December 4 to April 26.

Full article & Video

Truce between warring enemies at Chapman Heights Elementary
By BILL BROWN
Staff Reporter

Enemies from a galaxy far, far away traveled to Chapman Heights Elementary School this past week and called a truce for the sake of the students. Biker Scouts and Storm Troupers came to do battle in the Chapman Heights area and to face the Rebel Legionnaires. However, two men from the school stepped up and held an event that compelled the warring parties to call a truce.

Erik Sahakian and Nathan Garza were not about to let the Star Wars battle turn their “book faire” at CHES into disorder and disarray.

The two men had organized the book faire with the help of parents, school staff and the Principal Andy Anderson. It seemed to be the thought that a war at the school site might make Anderson unhappy that helped bring about the truce.

Actually, the characters from the star wars trilogy were asked to come to the book faire. A group called the “501st Pathfinders” travel to charity events, school happenings and local community gatherings. They bring the Star Wars Trilogy to life in an enjoyable experience for all to see. Each realistic costume is worn by men and women who give of their time to make public events more interesting and unique.

For more information about this unique group or to request their participation at an event, contact them at: 501st.com or bikerscout.net.

Full Article

Channel 4 news Interview

Some of the Mountain Garrison guys, including my good friend Noel, were interviewed on a local news station. Here’s the video:

http://vimeo.com/2319223

Read his blog post here.

Famous Faces in Framingham

Supermegafest was a big event for the 501st NEG. I wasn’t able to go this year. Next year, hopefully, and an article popped up:

Famous Faces in Framingham
By Kathy Uek/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Nov 23, 2008 @ 10:58 PM
FRAMINGHAM —

Science fiction, horror and fantasy fans flocked to the Boston Super Megafest at the Sheraton Framingham yesterday to chat with celebrities, get autographs and buy memorabilia.
Bill Worden of Dedham collected autographs from former longtime World Wide Wrestling Federation champion Bruno Sammartino; actor Richard Kiel, who played Jaws in the James Bond films “The Spy Who Loved Me” and “Moonraker;” and comedian and actor Leslie Nielsen, of “Police Squad” and “Naked Gun” fame.
Luke and Logan Laczynski, and their mother, Vicky, of Deerfield, enjoyed talking to the actors, as well as professional wrestler Hulk Hogan’s former manager, Jimmy Hart, who shared bits of their personal lives.
“It’s a yearly trek and a lot of fun,” said Vicky Laczynski.
Other Megafest guests included Jonathan Frakes, who played Cmdr. William Riker on “Star Trek: The Next Generation;” Pete Best, the original Beatles drummer replaced by Ringo Starr; and Frank Avruch, who appeared on television as Bozo the Clown from the late 1950s to the 1970s.
“Every weekday, we had 125 kids in the audience, and sometimes kids had to wait a year to get on the show,” said Avruch, dressed in casual slacks, a sport shirt and sweater. “Bozo was a happy clown. I traveled as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations (UNICEF).”
Nielsen said “Airplane” and “The Naked Gun” were two of his favorite movies.
Vendors lined the rooms selling bits of the past and present.
Patrick Jammal’s inventory of comic books included 1940s Batman and Superman issues; “Amazing Spider Man” from the ’60s; and “X-Men” from the ’70s. Jammal showcased some of his inventory from his store, Comically Speaking in Reading.
Hot sellers of the day included “Star Wars” action figures of Count Dooku and General Grievous.
Christina Lambroukos and Nick Demakis purchased a “Creature from the Black Lagoon” poster to add to their bathroom collection in Lynn.
Attendees included those with a light passing fancy to hard core fanatics.
“I always loved this convention,” said Ashton Synn of Braintree, a member of the Fighting 501st Legion of Stormtroopers, a club of “Star Wars” costume enthusiasts. “I saw a lot of friends. There’s a wide variety of guests and celebrities.”
Synn attended the event with Sheena Williams, dressed as a Kryptonian from “Super Man: The Animated Series.”
“I enjoyed it because it was all encompassing for all kinds of fandom,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Kayla Osterhout, 10, purchased wrestling cards and movie posters of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Rent.”
“It was fun. But after a while, my feet hurt.”

Article

Star Wars Empire Strikes Back at Honolulu Hale

From the Pacific Outpost:

Imperial Stormtroopers have been sent on a mission to invade Honolulu Hale (City Hall) to collect new and unused toys in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

Heads up Santa! Darth Vader and his minions will be lending you a hand as your special helpers this holiday season. Imperial Stormtroopers have been sent on a mission to invade Honolulu Hale (City Hall) to collect new and unused toys in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

Members of the 501st Legion of Imperial Stormtroopers, Pacific Outpost, will appear in full costume at Honolulu Hale on December 17, from 6 to 9 p.m.

The 501st Legion is a world wide Star Wars costuming organization and Lucas Film’s preferred Imperial costuming group. People visiting Honolulu Hale to view the Honolulu City Lights displays or enjoy live entertainment will be able to see these costumed characters from the “Empire” for one night only.

Don’t forget to bring your camera! Photo opportunities will be available. The Toys for Tots collection box will be open from December 6 to 17 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts at 808-768-6622.

The Force is with Stoney Creek High School

The Force is with Stoney Creek High School

Stormtroopers ‘invade’ Homecoming Weekend for charity

Live Stormtroopers followed by Darth Vader marched into Stoney Creek High School homecoming assembly leading the captured principal, Daniel Hickey, to the middle of the gym.

After the National Anthem, a very familiar Star Wars theme song burst through the gymnasium speakers as two students, dressed as Jedi Knights with glowing light sabers and another Sith charged the floor out of the packed student sections.

An intense light saber duel began involving Darth Vader, the Sith, and the two Jedi Knights. The Stoney Creek students erupted in cheers when the Jedi’s defeated the Empire. It was the beginning of Star Wars Homecoming Weekend at Stoney Creek.

The Stormtroopers were members of the international group named the 501st Legion. The 501st is a charitable group that donates their time to attend events, in return for donations to Toys for Tots. They come in authentic Storm Trooper uniforms, including armor and weapons. The 501st is a worldwide organization; they have garrisons in different areas. This group was from the Great Lakes Garrison, which is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.

The Great lakes Garrison has already raised more than $20,000 for charities. To be admitted into the 501st, each uniform must meet the design requirements to mimic the actual uniforms worn by the Stormtroopers in the Star War movies.

Dan Greer, vice president of Stoney Creek’s Student Council, sought out the 501st immediately after the Council decided on a Star Wars homecoming theme. “My brother told me about the 501st and once I heard that they made public appearances for charitable causes, I got real excited and knew we had to invite them here” Greer said.

Hickey, Stoney Creek’s principal, was equally enthused in luring in the Storm Troopers. He believed that they would be a great surprise for the students and increase the excitement for the homecoming assembly and the dance.

“Stoney Creek is a great school, but it is still a relatively new high school. Student Council’s goal has been to grow school spirit by adding traditions and new activities every year. The wider the variety of events, the higher the level of students that get involved. This year, over 75 percent of the student body purchased homecoming dance tickets and the Class Spirit shirts sold out for the first time. Even our student cheering section, the Hard Core, is growing at every game. The ability to share some of the dance proceeds with Toys for Tots made this a great experience for everyone”, Greer said.

The school spirit was contagious. Even the Stormtroopers got excited. Jon Leopold, commanding officer of the Great Lakes Garrison, from Auburn Hills, wrote to Stoney’s Student Council after the weekend saying, “All the troopers were amazed at how far the school went with the Star Wars theme, how well-behaved the students were, and that each member if given the chance would jump at hyper speed at the chance to do it again.”

The Stormtroopers were very flexible in participating in the weekend activities. At the assembly they led the captured Hickey into the gym and also escorted members of the homecoming court. At the football game, fans swarmed the troopers in order o get pictures taken with them.

During the half time show, the Stormtroopers led the homecoming court parade that was riding in donated convertibles. They took Stoney Creek’s request one-step further by standing guard at the entrance to the dance the next night, and being available for more pictures. One of the Stormtroopers even brought his wife to the dance. When the students look back at their pictures a few years from now, they will have some memories of a great Homecoming Weekend, in a high school far, far away.

Source

Nerds of steel for Armageddon

Article out of Australia:

Nerds of steel for Armageddon
John Mangan
November 2, 2008

Ki Melius Sand Trooper, left ,Troy Anderson Snow trooper middle and Kristan Goree Clone Trooper right at the Armageddon Multi media Expo at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Photo: Michelle Ferguson

FOR four sweaty, grunting bouts, some of the nation’s leading matmen, including The Mad Bastard KrackerJak, Mr Juicy Adam Gambino and The Maniac shook the ropes and rattled the floor of the Armageddon Multimedia Expo wrestling ring at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. There was an eye-watering array of gouges, Boston crabs, pile-drivers and pro-wrestling’s most painful manoeuvre, the plucking of the chest hairs.

There was no doubting the main event though, as leading US female grapplers Traci Brookes and Christy Hemme took centre stage in an eight-woman tag team contest, whipping the crowd up into a mild frenzy.

“Uh-oh, it looks like it could degenerate into a brawl,” gasped the ringside commentator minutes into the bout, as if we could tell the difference.

Billed as “the nerd convention”, the two-day Armageddon expo is in its third year in Australia, with a spokesman reporting that despite the economic downturn the attendance was matching last year’s figure of 12,000.

Wrestling, DVDs, computer games, animation, T-shirts, posters, even the world’s biggest pillow fight, were all gathered under one roof in a tableau that would quicken the pulse of any geek.

Consider, for example, the cantina from the original Star Wars film. A group of troopers were standing guard, including Snow Trooper Troy Henderson.

“I was two years old when the first Star Wars came out, and I’ve been a big fan as long as I can remember,” said Henderson. “The action, the adventure, I just loved it.”

Mr Henderson and his fellow troopers from the Melbourne branch of the 501st Legion had been working on the cantina for the past eight weeks, spending more than $1000 to recreate the bar scene Han Solo walked into. They were raising money for the TLC for Kids charity, charging people to have their photo taken in the booth.

Star Trek and Batman drew Rob Brown into the sci-fi-fantasy world back in the 1970s. Now the secondary school history teacher is one of Armageddon’s event directors.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It appeals predominantly to males, but there’s a good family audience here.”

And his own children have got a leg-up into the world of sci-fi. “I don’t know any more whether I buy the DVDs for my kids or for myself,” he said.

Article

Family Weekend Roundup: Oct. 24-26, 2008

From the Midwest Garrison:

Family Weekend Roundup: Oct. 24-26, 2008
By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers

Published Oct. 23, 2008 at 2:31 p.m.
Tags: milwaukee public museum, bay view pumpkin pavilion, milwaukee county zoo, halloween, urban ecology center

For most little ghosts and Spidermen, it’s trick-or-treat weekend. But there’s a lot of other fun stuff going on in Brew City this weekend that doesn’t include candy. Check out Playshore, the Star Wars costumes at Discovery World or the Bay View Pumpkin Pavilion.

SATURDAY

STAR WARS IN OUR WORLD
Stop by Discovery World to see the costumes and robots of Darth Vader and R2-D2 brought to you by the 501st Legion and R2-D2 Builders Group. This one day display is available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and allows museum goers to reminisce their favorite movie scenes while interacting with their favorite characters.
onmilwaukee.com/events/event-91431.html

Full Article

Another Article…

‘Star Wars’ fans flood library for creative fun
Some dress the part for fake sword play, viewing cartoons

* By MARK H. HUNTER
Pandemonium broke out at the Jones Creek Regional Library Saturday afternoon when, during the second annual “Star Wars” Costume Fan Day, dozens of boys and a few girls began attacking each other with toy swords.

While the scene was exciting to participants and observers alike, nobody was hurt because the “light sabers” the kids were using to whomp one another were actually made of yard-long lengths of flexible foam swimming pool “noodles.”

By the end of the day, more than 150 children and parents had participated in six different activities related to the “Star Wars” movies
in three library meeting rooms and watched several episodes of the latest animated “Clone Wars” series now showing on the Cartoon Network.

The event was sponsored by two local “Star Wars” re-enacting/fan groups, the Red Stick Rebellion Collectors Club and the Louisiana Bast Alpha Garrison of the 501st Legion.

“This is a lot better turnout than last year when we had about 100 people,” said Tommy Chaisson, who also adopts the persona of Obi Wan Kenobi.

“We coordinate this with the library because we want kids to get excited about ‘Star Wars’ and also come to the library to read and check out books.”

Jordan Lesley, 8, dressed as a very young Anakin Skywalker, and his father (wearing street clothes) were there because they were having a father-son time together and because they each really like the “Star Wars” movies and accompanying memorabilia.

“When I saw the first movie I was 13 years old and always liked ‘Star Wars,’ and so does he,” Scott Lesley said.

“My team won first place in the trivia contest,” Jordan Lesley added.

Other activities included Lego building contests, coloring contests, and Clone Trooper bowling, where participants rolled a kick-ball into a display of plastic bottles painted in the likeness of Storm Troopers. The light saber-building course was where, on more than one occasion, the mock swordplay broke out.

Dozens of the kids, many wearing “Star Wars” costumes, received a personalized light saber lesson from a fully grown Anakin Skywalker, played by Wayne Dupree, and then got to cross sabers with a  6-foot-4 Darth Vader, played by Gary Breaux.

Several white armor-clad Storm Troopers patrolled the hallway and a unique Louisiana version of Boba Fett, a mercenary who hunts the Jedi knights in several of the movies, also posed for photos with fans.

Rodney Grundmeyer, a Mandeville police officer in real life, modified Boba Fett’s armored space suit and helmet into LSU gold and purple complete with “eye of the Tiger” emblems.

Source