Star Wars Weekends 2006: Opening Day, Opening Weekend

Photos and story by JIM CARCHIDI

ORLANDO -- Well kids, the waiting is over. It's that magical time of year when the land that Mickey built plays host to a lovable hive of scum and villainy. 
 
Grab your armor and fire up the hyperdrive, it's time for Disney Star Wars Weekends. 
 
Tourists and locals could be found waiting at the gates of Disney MGM Studios as early as 6:30 a.m. - a little too early for my taste, but I survived the merchandise line at C3 so I can sympathize. At least Disney has the wisecracking Stormtroopers to entertain the crowds. 
 
"I can't stand Jawas. Ewww. Look at that one over there!" 
"Uh, sir, that's a human child." 
"Really? Oh, sorry." 
 
On this year's schedule - aside from the usual parades, Jedi training, face painting, that chick in the unbelievable Aurra Sing costume, and trivia contests - there are two "special editions" (please hold all "Greedo shoots first" jokes). 
 
Warwick "I can't believe I got so much screen time in Episode I" Davis is in attendance during all 4 weekends and is hosting the Star Wars Celebrity Talk Show at the ABC TV Theatre. Also, this year marks the first guest appearance of prequel trilogy producer Rick McCallum. 
 
After failing to secure an autograph ticket - thanks in part to a crowd control snafu that left several people waiting in the wrong lines - I hurried to the Disney Cast Member entrance where, as I was told, the 501st Legion would be gathering to enter the park for their traditional march in the Star Wars parade. 

And there they were. 

Ismael Velazquez, A.K.A. Esh, of the Florida 501st "Makaze Squad" greeted me as members were opening their storage containers and travel cases for a security check. This was impressive, to say the least. Cases of custom-made armor and blaster replicas lay along the sidewalk. It was like the coolest yard sale you'd ever want to visit. These guys and women are serious. Their attention to detail and craftsmanship is only surpassed by their outstanding charity work. All due respect to the Shriners and Kiwanis, but nothing draws a crowd like the armor. 
 
I also bumped into Garry Demler. Now, for those of you who didn't attended Celebration III (or read our coverage of it, which you can still find links to at FieldsEdge.com), Garry's the current 501st record holder for most hours in the armor, with a total of 4 days recorded. 

"It's gonna be hard to beat," said Garry of the record. "Most cons are only 3 days long." 
 
Not to be totally outdone, Disney has some cool costumes of its own. The Stormtroopers, Clonetroopers, Sandpeople and Bounty Hunters were all over the place and attracting much attention. The guy who designs the costumes for Star Wars Weekends, incidentally, is local 501st member Mark Bradley.
 
There were also a number of guests getting into the costume spirit, mostly kids. I saw some very impressive ROTS Shocktrooper armor on a kid who looked no more than 4 years old.
 
At about 10 a.m. the autograph signings began, and I couldn't help checking them out. Rick McCallum was his usual pleasant self, bantering with each fan and being the "everyman" of Lucasfilm. If you shouted out a greeting, he'd shout one right back. Just a regular guy who probably can't believe he gets so much attention for doing something he loves. 
 
And Peter Mayhew, geez, you gotta hand it to him. He's been at this convention thing for close to 30 years and still takes time to speak with each person and pose for a photo. How many times can you be asked how hot it was in the Wookiee suit without cracking? 
 
The highlight of the day was definitely the Celebrity Talk Show. Once again, comic relief provided by Disney Stormtroopers saved the crowd from the inevitable pre-show boredom. One gag involving a well-known trooper from Episode IV set the crowd into hysterics. 
 
"... remember that day when the rebels infiltrated the Death Star?" 
"Yeah, I took a serious bump on the head from one of the blast doors."
"Oh Man! That was you?! I saw the security tape! Hey, do we have a copy of that security tape?" 
 
The show started without much delay and Davis made a delightful host. As Peter Mayhew was introduced he marched onstage to the tune of "Chewbacca" by the band Supernova, made famous in "Clerks". 
 
The crowd was treated to a startling experiment in perspective as the seven-foot-four Mayhew shook hands with the three foot six inch Davis. The interview included a recount of Mayhew's first movie role at the Minotaur in "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger". 
 
"Ray Harryhausen used stop-motion animation," explained Mayhew of the mythic character's scenes in the film. "But when they weren't using the animation, they used me." 
 
On the subject of Chewie's appeal, Mayhew summed up with an endearing reference. 
 
"Everyone owned a Teddy, or a blanket for security. That's his charm. He is a protector, but he also knows when to run away." 
 
He also played around with, in my opinion, one of the coolest of the neo-classic Star Wars toys: The Nerf missile-firing Bowcaster, provided by Davis. 
 
When it was Rick's turn on the couch, the crowd learned what it was like to work with George Lucas. 
 
"He hates to write," McCallum began. "We are supposed to get the scripts one year before deadline and get designs for the sets and costumes seven or eight months before. George will say, ‘Well, I can give you the costumes...' Later on we build models for 80 different sets. We design the visual effects ... (and) about 2 days before shooting we'll have a full script." 
 
And what of the TV series? That was addressed, also, thanks to a question from the audience. 
In short: Writers are being hired, ideas are being worked out, and work is slated to begin in 2007 with episodes ready to air in 2008. The story takes place as Luke grows up between Episodes 3 and 4. 
 
At the conclusion of the Q&A, Warwick announced that today was Peter's birthday. A rousing rendition of ‘the birthday song' was prompted by our host with one small twist: We had to sing in wookiee. 
 
If you've never sung a chorus of "Happy Birthday To You" in Wookiee, I don't necessarily recommend it. If you've never watched Rick McCallum sing a chorus of "Happy Birthday To You" in Wookiee ... you gotta.

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