Archive for ‘conventions’



Back to Space-Con Premiere

March 14, 2011

Words: Pete Vilmur

Anyone who’s followed my articles on StarWars.com knows that I’ve got a soft spot for Star Wars’ first fandom – that is, those early fans who pre-empted the official costumes, books, and other merchandise in the months following A New Hope’s May ’77 release and created their own homespun papier mache masks, fanzines, bumper stickers and buttons to share their enthusiasm for the newfound faraway galaxy.


Luke Skywalker costume from a ’70s Space-Con

The appeal of those often clumsy, awkward early days lead me to a small premiere screening at Michaan’s Theater in Alameda this weekend, a somewhat forgotten early century movie palace nestled along the edge of San Francisco Bay near Oakland, California. A new documentary was debuting on DVD celebrating the history of Space-Con, a series of Star Trek/science fiction conventions that got their start at a Bay Area high school in 1975 and made seven more successful runs through 1980, becoming a fondly-recalled facet of Bay Area fandom thereafter.

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Five Clubs, Five Patches for Celebration V

July 28, 2010

Five of the largest Star Wars collecting clubs in the US are pleased to announce a set of five themed patches for Star Wars Celebration V. The participating clubs are The Washington DC Area Star Wars Collecting Club (DCSWCC), The Kentucky Star Wars Collectors Club (KSWCC), The Ohio Star Wars Collectors Club (OSWCC), The Pennsylvania Star Wars Collecting Society (PSWCS), and the Star Wars Grand Florida Alliance (SWGFA). The five triangular embroidered patches, each sponsored by one of the clubs, fit together like a puzzle to form a larger image of Boba Fett, the show’s de facto mascot. Design and artwork for the patches was provided by long-time web cartoonist Bill Cable.

All five patches will be available exclusively at Star Wars Celebration V and free to attendees, but quantities are extremely limited. Each club will be distributing their sponsored patch in a different way, which will be announced separately.

For more information on the five collecting clubs, check out their official websites:

DCSWCC
KSWCC
OSWCC
PSWCS
SWGFA

Comic-Con: Adrianne Curry & the Slave Leias

July 27, 2010


(Photo by Nicole Love)

Photos: Bonnie Burton & Nicole Love
Words: Bonnie Burton

It wouldn’t be San Diego Comic-Con without Slave Leias. Of course, this year at the annual Slave Leia photo op, the usual mayhem occurred. Who needs red carpet celebrities when you can see all the Slave Leias at the convention all in one spot?

The lovely ladies were out in full Force this year, complete with a supermodel addition of America’s Next Top Model winner and reality TV star Adrianne Curry.

StarWars.com chats with Adrianne about her Comic-Con adventures dressed as Slave Leia.


(Photo by Nicole Love)

What was it like being part of the official Slave Leia group photo at this year’s Comic-Con?

I had a lot of fun. The ladies were all beautiful and sweet. I had a personal armed Mando escort to meet the ladies. It was surreal to be surrounded by 4 or 5 of them, pounding our way through the crowd to the Gentle Giant booth. No one stopped me for the first time that day. They kinda just looked on in awe. My friend Eliot led the pack and had me by my chain. Then all the Leias were escorted by the Mandos to our shoot. I think it’s funny how the most overplayed costume for girls at a con hasn’t even begun to lose its luster. Sadly, I had to bow out early, but for good reason. My panel was about to start. Again, I had an armored guard to my panel. Now I know if I ever want to be left alone, rely on a squadron of Mandos!

What’s it like wearing the costume around the convention? Is it uncomfortable? Drafty?

Well, I didn’t get to shop, or do much of anything other than take pictures with people. Of all my costumes, I got recognized the most in Slave Leia. I have worked non stop in the gym to ensure I could hold my head up high while walking in Carrie Fisher’s boots. The metal bikini is not comfortable. Drafty doesn’t even begin to describe it. I ended up wearing it to the Dusk Till Con party and into the wee hours of the night. I think I must have posed for over 3,000 photos all day!

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James Marsters & His Intergalactic Fans

April 23, 2010


Actor James Marsters, best known as Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, as well as his work on Torchwood, Smallville, and Caprica, also played the short-lived character Captain Argyus on The Clone Wars.

We’ve reported before about his appreciation for stormtrooper armor, so seeing him posing with members from The 501st Legion and The Rebel Legion, warms our Imperial hearts!

Read our interview with Marsters here:
James Marsters Talks Clone Wars
(via StarWars.com)

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SOURCE: James Marsters Official Facebook

Star Wars Thriller at Dragon*Con 2009

September 9, 2009

If you couldn’t make it to Dragon*Con this year, you can at least see some of the many costumed attendees in the best way possible — as they dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

WATCH VIDEO: Star Wars Thriller DragonCon 2009

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SOURCE: Thanks @jenthefangirl

Dragon*Con: Steampunk Star Wars Costumes

September 8, 2009

We’re a big fans of the Steampunk Star Wars art by Eric Poulton, as well as the customized action figures by Sillof, so it was only a matter of time before fans created their own Steampunk Star Wars costumes to show off at thie year’s Dragon*Con.

Fans from the costuming group Outland Armour wowed Dragon*Con attendees with their costumes of Queen Amidala, Padme Amidala,
Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade, Princess Leia Organa, Slave Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Aurra Sing!

Laura, the Events Coordinator and Webmistress for Outland Armour, writes:

The Outland Armour crew participated in the steampunk fashion show on Friday, one of many wonderful events presented by the brand new Alternate History Track at Dragon*Con. We modeled our newly created Steampunk Star Wars designs, and they seemed to be a pretty big hit with the crowd. It was a lot of fun! All of the models and designers in the fashion show did a great job and there were some really beautiful designs from everyone involved. Excellent stuff.

Earlier on Friday, Lindsay and I were representatives for Outland Armour on the Steampunk Maker’s Panel, and then Sunday the whole crew presented our Steampunk Costuming with Outland Armour panel. Both panels went well, but we especially had a great time hanging out with the crowd and answering questions at our Sunday panel. Thanks again to everyone who came out to see us, and our apologies to anyone who didn’t get in. Hopefully the con will see fit to give the track a bigger room next year!

Check out more photos here:
Dragon*Con and Steampunk Star Wars!
(via Livejournal)

Read about more Steampunk Star Wars on the Official Star Wars Blog!


(Photo by Cat Staggs)

Dragon*Con: Love AT-AT-ctually

September 8, 2009


(Photo by Cat Staggs)

One of the best reasons to go to the Atlanta-based sci-fi/fantasy convention Dragon*Con is to see all the fans dress up as their favorite film, TV, gaming and comic book characters.

One of our favorites was this adorkable costume of an AT-AT by this lovely couple. Not sure if flip-flops are the best choice of footwear to stomp on Rebel scum in the snow, but I have to admit their look like their ready to have some fun.

Snapshots from the Fan Club Breakfast

July 24, 2009

This morning marked the seventh not-so-annual Fan Club Breakfast, hosted by Official Pix at the Marriott at the bleary-eyed hour of seven in the morning. This makes for a long day of activities — it’s Star Wars Day at Comic-Con International — but it’s also a great way to start. More than just eggs and sausage, it’s an informal place for fans to gather with representatives from Lucasfilm, Hasbro, Uncle Milton and more.

Here are some snapshots. For a set of pictures from the Breakfast, see this Flickr set here.

Among the guests present is James Arnold Taylor, the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Plo Koon in The Clone Wars.

Supervising Director Dave Filoni.

Dave was on hand to give out raffle prizes to lucky fans, including a set of Mimobot drives.

Perhaps the most coveted prize was an extremely rare autographed George Lucas card, handed out by Doug Yates, Lucasfilm’s Vice President of Marketing, Distribution and Online.

Another highly prized  raffle item: an original 1984 Droids A-wing in excellent condition. Steve Sansweet gives away the prize.

Dancing with the Stars of Star Wars

June 16, 2009

Get a few costumed Star Wars fans together, add some dance music and watch the magic happen. Check out this video of fans dressed as Taun We, Boba Fett and Ephant Mon dancing to the Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” at AdventureCon 2009.

Say, Ephant Mon has some sweet moves!

WATCH VIDEO: AdventureCon 2009 Costume Dancing

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SOURCE: My Disguises Blog

Star Wars at Maker Faire 2009

June 3, 2009

Words/photos: Bonnie Burton

Any convention that mixes R2-D2, Tesla coils, fire-breathing sculptures, a human-size mousetrap, art cars, unusual inventions and crafts is bound to have something for everyone.

Bay Area Maker Faire — May 30-31, 3009 — brought together craftsters, robot wranglers, science geeks, rocket builders, Burning Man artists, steampunks and more.

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