On Star Wars Day #MayThe4th, we present the first ever Expert Contributor on our twitter page giving you some fabulous stories about this epic, intergalactic saga!
Over to you @Riddhiculous
#MayThe4thBeWithYou (all due respect to Mike Tyson)
Over to you @Riddhiculous
#MayThe4thBeWithYou (all due respect to Mike Tyson)
Hello there! I am @̶W̶o̶o̶k̶i̶e̶e̶p̶e̶d̶i̶a̶ @Riddhiculous and today I’m a guest contributor on India Wants To Know.
As a clinical Star Wars nerd (I swear I have friends IRL) who feels festive this day every year, I’m super excited to take you on a Kessel Run this #MayThe4th!
As a clinical Star Wars nerd (I swear I have friends IRL) who feels festive this day every year, I’m super excited to take you on a Kessel Run this #MayThe4th!
Being non-American and non-male, I was far away from the intrinsic Star Wars fan experience that was conventionally represented in popular culture for the longest time.
Most fans had the legacy of Star Wars fandom passed on from a parent, but I wouldn’t know that either.
Most fans had the legacy of Star Wars fandom passed on from a parent, but I wouldn’t know that either.
The web opened up the Galaxy Far Far Away to me in ways unimaginable. I’ve been emotionally invested in Star Wars to an embarrassing extent since.
If Broom Boy taught us anything, it’s that you can come from nothing, have nothing, but realize your destiny all the same.
If Broom Boy taught us anything, it’s that you can come from nothing, have nothing, but realize your destiny all the same.
A personal Star Wars experience that is close to me is to Jedi Mind Tricking my mother into watching it.
Think of it like me passing on the Star Wars legacy, but in reverse to the previous generation.
Think of it like me passing on the Star Wars legacy, but in reverse to the previous generation.
There was a time when I was exceptionally stressed for an exam and she just went, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” in what felt like an inexplicably powerful moment.
Now my folks just do this whenever I'm upset:
Now my folks just do this whenever I'm upset:
Enough about me!
We’re gonna make a hyperspace jump to some super cool stories about the massive cultural phenomenon that is Star Wars.
#MayThe4th
We’re gonna make a hyperspace jump to some super cool stories about the massive cultural phenomenon that is Star Wars.
#MayThe4th
(1)
Did you know Star Wars almost never got made?
Lucas wanted to make a Flash Gordon set in space, an idea largely unexplored at the time, and one that almost no studio wanted to risk getting behind.
Did you know Star Wars almost never got made?
Lucas wanted to make a Flash Gordon set in space, an idea largely unexplored at the time, and one that almost no studio wanted to risk getting behind.
The movie was rejected by Universal and Warner, before receiving support from the head at Fox, who believed not in the idea of Star Wars, but in Lucas, having watched his previous film American Grafitti (1973).
The budget was extremely tight for a project of this kind, the weather in the Tunisian desert was unfavourable and the sand was spoiling the equipment.
Lucas was almost certain it was going to be a disaster.
I, for one, am glad it wasn’t!
Lucas was almost certain it was going to be a disaster.
I, for one, am glad it wasn’t!
(2)
Lucas wanted to have special effects that were never seen before. The studio couldn't afford it. Using his earnings from American Grafitti, he setup Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the biggest visual effects studio in the world today.
Pixar Studios was later born from ILM.
Lucas wanted to have special effects that were never seen before. The studio couldn't afford it. Using his earnings from American Grafitti, he setup Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the biggest visual effects studio in the world today.
Pixar Studios was later born from ILM.
The visionary Lucas also gave us the THX audio-visual technology for theatres and Skywalker Sound, a sound effects studio.
Hardly any movie is made without ILM and Skywalker Sound today, two names you must be sure to check out while waiting for those post-credit scenes.
Hardly any movie is made without ILM and Skywalker Sound today, two names you must be sure to check out while waiting for those post-credit scenes.
Just imagine The Avengers movies in the MCU if special effects didn't exist as we know them?
(3)
While the Tories can be credited with the first known use of May The Fourth Be With You in 79, it didn’t immediately take off as a nerd festival. With the advent of social media in the 2000s, the phrase picked up some more popularity.
While the Tories can be credited with the first known use of May The Fourth Be With You in 79, it didn’t immediately take off as a nerd festival. With the advent of social media in the 2000s, the phrase picked up some more popularity.
However, it was after the 2012 Disney acquisition of Lucasfilm that Star Wars Day was made into a mega event with huge marketing potential.
Did you know even US state governments celebrate #MayThe4th ?
The California Legislature voted to officially recognise 4th of May as Star Wars Day to promote Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars themed experience which opened in Disneyland, Anaheim later in 2019.
The California Legislature voted to officially recognise 4th of May as Star Wars Day to promote Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars themed experience which opened in Disneyland, Anaheim later in 2019.
(4)
Speaking of marketing, Star Wars has always been known to introduce new side characters or cute creatures to sell merchandise. But that’s not how it began.
Speaking of marketing, Star Wars has always been known to introduce new side characters or cute creatures to sell merchandise. But that’s not how it began.
Lucas cut a merchandise licensing deal with a never-heard-before toy company Kenner in 1976, after the big leagues Hasbro and Mattel declined to create a line of toys for an experimental strange space opera project, not knowing its fate.
Star Wars released in May 1977. By Christmas that year, the demand for Star Wars toys completely overwhelmed Kenner. The toys were flying off the shelves!
They had to devise a preorder system and early bird certificates for children who wanted these coveted action figures.
They had to devise a preorder system and early bird certificates for children who wanted these coveted action figures.
It was a much longer wait than your average Amazon delivery.
Star Wars put the Kenner Company on the map and these figures have a very high valuation in the collector circles today.
Read more - thedailybeast.com/how-star-wars-…
Star Wars put the Kenner Company on the map and these figures have a very high valuation in the collector circles today.
Read more - thedailybeast.com/how-star-wars-…
(5)
(Bookmark to prep for Star Wars quizzes)
The most common calendar used in the Star Wars Universe is based on the Battle of Yavin (IV: A New Hope).
Years are referred to in BBY (Before Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After Battle of Yavin).
(Bookmark to prep for Star Wars quizzes)
The most common calendar used in the Star Wars Universe is based on the Battle of Yavin (IV: A New Hope).
Years are referred to in BBY (Before Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After Battle of Yavin).
The Battle of Yavin replaced the Treaty of Coruscant as the reference point for the Galactic Calendar.
Recently, Lucasfilm tried to shift the reference point for the galactic calendar to the Starkiller Incident (VII: The Force Awakens), making the years BSI and ASI and ushering in a new epoch.
comicbook.com/starwars/news/…
comicbook.com/starwars/news/…
(6)
Did you know the distinction of being first EVER fully CGI character in a live action movie is held by Jar Jar Binks in the Phantom Menace?
Did you know the distinction of being first EVER fully CGI character in a live action movie is held by Jar Jar Binks in the Phantom Menace?
In the words of Jar Jar actor Ahmed Best:
"Jar Jar helped create the workflow, iteration process and litmus test for all CGI characters to this day on some days the code was being written in real time as I was moving."
(Continued)
"Jar Jar helped create the workflow, iteration process and litmus test for all CGI characters to this day on some days the code was being written in real time as I was moving."
(Continued)
"To deny Jar Jar’s place in film history is to deny the hundreds of VFX technicians, animators, code writers and producers their respect.....
.....There’s a joke I like to use when talking about this stuff, Jar Jar walked so Gollum could run. Gollum ran so the Na’vi could fly."
.....There’s a joke I like to use when talking about this stuff, Jar Jar walked so Gollum could run. Gollum ran so the Na’vi could fly."
(7)
This is one is for family Whatsapp groups.
Unlike other stories from Whatsapp university, this one is 120% true!
Many characters' names in the Star Wars Universe have names of Sanskrit origin.
This is one is for family Whatsapp groups.
Unlike other stories from Whatsapp university, this one is 120% true!
Many characters' names in the Star Wars Universe have names of Sanskrit origin.
Sheev Palpatine (Shiva, the Destroyer), Yoda (Yoddha, the warrior), Shaak-Ti (Shakti, the powerful), Ahsoka Tano (Emperor Ashoka, the great leader), all of them embody the traits of whom they are named after.
Ackbar, from Arabic Akbar, means ‘Great’ and the Admiral did have a great sense of traps!
(8)
The Hindi trailer for Episode VIII: The Last Jedi also had the same verses of the Bhagvad Gita that featured in the title song of BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge
The Hindi trailer for Episode VIII: The Last Jedi also had the same verses of the Bhagvad Gita that featured in the title song of BR Chopra’s Mahabharat.
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge
Of course, don’t forget old Ben Kenobi’s twist on
"Ashwathama hatha, iti narova kunjarova."
"Ashwathama hatha, iti narova kunjarova."
Who'd have thought Star Wars and Mahabharat were connected on such epic levels?
(9)
Mysteries of the Hindurashtra Cinematic Universe (HCU) continue as Pitamah tries to be the Hindu Windu.
If Star Wars is too American for you and you crave something Desi, don't worry. It exists!
Mysteries of the Hindurashtra Cinematic Universe (HCU) continue as Pitamah tries to be the Hindu Windu.
If Star Wars is too American for you and you crave something Desi, don't worry. It exists!
Aryamaan: Brahmand ka Yoddha was an ambitious Indian version of Star Wars that Bheeshma International, Mukesh Khanna’s production house, tried to create post Shaktimaan.
It couldn’t sustain the production costs and was scrapped after 52 episodes.
It couldn’t sustain the production costs and was scrapped after 52 episodes.
Here's the full story by @ProjectSeestra
filmcompanion.in/indias-answer-…
"Well, even Star Wars took from Indian mythology. Darth Vader is Ravan. Luke Skywalker is Ram. Han Solo is Laxman.”
filmcompanion.in/indias-answer-…
"Well, even Star Wars took from Indian mythology. Darth Vader is Ravan. Luke Skywalker is Ram. Han Solo is Laxman.”
Full list of episodes on Youtube.
Hopefully I'll get to see a revival with Aryamaan panels in the next big comic con.
Hopefully I'll get to see a revival with Aryamaan panels in the next big comic con.
(10)
Star Wars voices:
Mark Hamill is a prolific voice actor and has several VO credits to his name, including The Joker, Fire Master Ozai, Chucky the Doll to name a few.
Star Wars voices:
Mark Hamill is a prolific voice actor and has several VO credits to his name, including The Joker, Fire Master Ozai, Chucky the Doll to name a few.
In the Star Wars Universe, Hamill lent his voice to three characters - Darth Bane (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Boolio (IX: The Rise of Skywalker), and Dobbu Scay (VIII: The Last Jedi) for which he also provided motion capture.
Other famous VOs in Star Wars:
David Tennant as Huyang (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
Lars Mikkelsen as Thrawn (Star Wars Rebels)
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Slowen-Lo (VIII: The Last Jedi)
Phoebe Waller Bridge as L337 (Solo: A Star Wars Story)
Taika Waititi as IG-11 (The Mandalorian)
David Tennant as Huyang (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
Lars Mikkelsen as Thrawn (Star Wars Rebels)
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Slowen-Lo (VIII: The Last Jedi)
Phoebe Waller Bridge as L337 (Solo: A Star Wars Story)
Taika Waititi as IG-11 (The Mandalorian)
Those were ten fascinating #StarWarsDay stories from me, @Riddhiculous - I hope you enjoyed reading them!
Star Wars is a historical landmark in human history and has touched every sphere of society possible. It is in our entertainment, our politics, our education.
Star Wars is a historical landmark in human history and has touched every sphere of society possible. It is in our entertainment, our politics, our education.
It is a lesson in friendship, family, love, faith, courage, resistance, hope.
I am glad to have found friends, inclusion, and representation in Star Wars.
I am glad to have found friends, inclusion, and representation in Star Wars.
One last thing before I go:
How can we forget about our Supreme Leader's immortal quote?
"May the phorse be with you"
Re-watch @iamjohnoliver take on @narendramodi's visit to New York in 2014:
How can we forget about our Supreme Leader's immortal quote?
"May the phorse be with you"
Re-watch @iamjohnoliver take on @narendramodi's visit to New York in 2014:
This is me @Riddhiculous signing off!
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