Steve Sansweet Interview Kids of the 501st
501st Interview with Steve
2
Is there an interesting story about how you got started working for LFL?
I had written several books on Star Wars through Lucasfilm since by -Kev the early ’90s. One day in 1995 I got a call from Lynne Hale, director Unforgettable. That’s what most of communications, to ask if I might Star Wars fans think of Steve Sansweet recommend someone for a one-year when they meet him for the first time. job to go around the country and tells If you want the low-down on anything fans what was up with the Star Wars Lucasfilm, Steve’s often the one to know Special Editions. To make a long story it! Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, short, I was at a place in my career at Steve attended Temple University where the Wall Street Journal—even though he graduated with honors, then worked I loved my job—where it was time as a prize-winning journalist for several prominent U.S. newspapers (including the to do something different. I took a gamble that a low-paying one-year job Wall Street Journal) before landing a job at Lucasfilm might turn into a fulltime with Lucasfilm back in 1996. His previous boss, WSJ’s Paul Steiger was asked if second career in Marketing. And to Steve’s job move bothered him and he said my delight—it has! “Yeah, it did”... But only because Steve got You’ve written or co-written eleven to act on his dreams! And Steve’s never Star Wars books so far. Are there any looked back! more books in the works? If you haven’t seen him during one On my to-do list are five more of his many personal appearances at books over the next four years—not conventions, chances are you’ve seen that they all will necessarily find an him on QVC as co-host of the Star Wars Collections. Or perhaps read one interested publisher. But I can tell you now that a contract has been signed of his many articles for the Star Wars for a new Star Wars Encyclopedia to Insider. Either way, once you’ve met come out in a few years, and I’ll be him, you’re hooked. working on a second book at the same time—just as I worked on the new Steve Sansweet is the Director Star Wars Poster Book and Star Wars of Content Management & head of Chronicles: The Prequels together. Fan Relations for Lucasfilm Ltd. His More details to come later. Hmm. It home in Sonoma County, California, otherwise known as Rancho Obi-Wan, just occurred to me that the 501st will be mentioned in the new Encyclopehouses the largest privately-owned dia! Star Wars memorabilia collections in the world. You can check out his full What future LFL project are you biography on StarWars.com: http:// most looking forward to? www.starwars.com/bio/stevesansweet. html
There’s a lot on our plate. Besides the animated and live-action Star Wars series later this decade, we hope to have word about one more film in a different trilogy before too long. There’s a good possibility of a Celebration IV, maybe some additional video releases…and a ton of other cool stuff that’s too early to talk about. Lucasfilm recently moved their headquarters off the Ranch. How are the new digs at the Presidio? The offices are great! And it’s truly a magnificent setting, a sort of park inside the National Park that’s open to the public. Amazing views too! The 501st Legion has always had a great working relationship with both LFL and children’s charities. What impact do you feel the 501st has made and how can we improve that relationship? The 501st started up just around the time I was joining Lucasfilm, so I feel a special kinship with the Legion. I’ve worked for many years with members of the 501st all over the world to make sure there was a good level of understanding on both sides of what works and what doesn’t, where the stress points are, etc. I think the impact was clear last year in how much we turned to the 501st garrisons worldwide to help us and our partners in launching Episode III, and in the Legion’s name being adopted as part of the Star Wars mythos. For the future, one thing that comes to mind is the need to make sure there’s a good level of communications so that nobody is
surprised, and there are very few unexpected occurrences. You do a lot of Con appearances... So we have to ask... What’s your favorite yearly Con and why? Besides Celebration (which isn’t yearly) it has to be San Diego ComicCon International. That’s a convention I’ve been going to on my own for more than 20 years and there’s nothing else like it for sheer size and activity. You never know what you’re going to come across in the massive dealer’s room. And it took on a whole other dimension when I started going there in my Lucasfilm capacity. My second favorite is Dragon*Con. Those who have been there know that it’s just one big party! Damien Metz (the 501st member who creates the Honorary Membership plaques) tells me that you have a ‘green’ version of George Lucas’s plaque with your name on it... Why green? After I saw a photo of the beautiful plaque that Damien made, and which was presented to George Lucas when he became an honorary member of the 501st, I told Damien how much I admired it. Being something of a wise-guy (as well as an all-around nice guy), Damien twisted that into my alleged “jealousy” of George’s plaque. So he found some neon-green acrylic and made a “Green with Envy” version of the original! Your Rancho Obi-Wan is home to the most impressive privately-owned Star Wars collection in the world. What got you started collecting? I’ve been a collector all my life— bottle caps, matchbook covers, baseball cards, space-related plastic model kits. The year before Star Wars opened I started to collect space toys, and then was so blown away by my trip to a far-
away galaxy, that I started buying every single Star Wars item I could find. Next thing I knew I had to add a floor onto my house in L.A. Then another floor. Then a storage locker. Then four more. It just sort of happened!
spoilers, but reading into it a bit, you’ll see the 501st isn’t quite done yet!
And who gets the collection in your will?
Inaccurate, oversized, bobbleheaded. These are the barbs the much-maligned FX lid has suffered. Much of it earned on its own canonical demerits however. In an increasingly ANHhelmed legion made possible through greater availability and lower costs, the FX helmet, still the dominant lid of the 501st is slowly being nudged out the airlock. TKs and TDs alike are clamoring the best for their time and investment in order to troop as the best dead-on canon poster boys (and girls) for the Star Wars universe.
Hadn’t you heard the newsgroup rumor from years back? When I die my body is going to be laid out in the middle of the museum…which will then be imploded around me Of all the Star Wars films, which is your all-time favorite and why? I guess The Empire Strikes Back is still my favorite because of its dark tone and unresolved questions. But I was truly blown away by the original Star Wars and Revenge of the Sith was amazing. It’s pretty close among those three. Do you have a favorite character in the films? Yes, although is has changed over the years. At first it was Luke, because I was also going on a journey of discovery about the time the movie came out. But as time has passed, I relate more to Obi-Wan, especially in his role as mentor. That’s a role that I’ve personally enjoyed in my career and in my life in general. And finally, anything you’d like to say in closing to the 501st Legion? Only that the best is yet to come! And I mean that both for Star Wars and the 501st. Wait until I tell you about our plan to…. Oops! Can’t go there yet. Better stay tuned! My special thanks to Steve for granting us the time for this interview and I hope you all enjoyed it. No major
Sympathy for FX by Brian
But let us not forget that for many of us the FX holds sentimental value as our intro to SW costuming. After all, years ago when Rubies or DP were the only versions accessible to the incipient TK wanna-be, the FX evolved from its GF iteration in a highly modified debut and stormed on the scene like doorcrashers on a consular ship at Yavin. Yeah they were big, about 10% so but gone was the latex and pinheadedness. In go the fans, voiceamps and mikes. To the uninitiated masses we were stormtroopers straight out of the movie; kids would hug your shinarmor, teenage boys could ill-conceal their giddiness bubbling up from their blasé angst; ladies would actually stop and flirt – without ever seeing your mug. Then there are those of us in the know. Even the newbies soon catch on. The emperor has no clothes! And we’re not talking about a former chancellor from Naboo either. A veritable alphabet soup of buckets were out there and through garrison word of mouth and the web, each claimed to be the closest, accurate available.
3
SDS, RT, AA, Movie FX, TE to name a few. Forgive the newbie then for being overwhelmed. He was soon under whelmed by his FX despite its larger size and symmetry; he sensed the smugness from the ANH-haves towards the have-nots on the boards. Poor, pitiful FX. It doesn’t matter that it was your first love; it doesn’t matter that it helped you get that highly coveted legion id number and face in the members gallery; it doesn’t matter that for the taller trooper, it was proportional to your height. And it doesn’t matter that the public could give a rip about the cosmetic differences: IT JUST ISN’T ACCURATE!! So we’ve come not to bury FX but to praise and remember it. It educated us as a foil to the better lids nowadays cracking out of the molds. Some of us will ebay them in a parsec without any regrets. Let some other sap figure it out for himself we reason as we check our Paypal credit statement. For all those diehards content with their FX, you are the lucky few. You’ve managed to keep out of the great Saarlac moneypit to your nonanally retentive credit. Not necessarily through sloth or indigence have you decided to keep it but perhaps for a higher calling. You wisely realize a child’s smile in a hospital ward, or a baby boomer’s whoop of approval at a parade is equally bestowed to FX and ANH alike. In the end, positive public reaction in its unblemished innocence of FX’s inaccuracies reminds us of the magic that captivated us in the first place about a time long ago in a galaxy far, far away.
4
New England Garrison Takes Over Museum of Science by Lori Sartre
I’ve been a Star Wars fan since 1977. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into Star Wars. My father would ask me “Why do you waste your time on a stupid movie? What is the point? What will it ever do for you?” Well, in 2005, my passion for Star Wars paid off. I work as a graphic designer at the Museum of Science in Boston. In 2002, it was announced to the museum staff that we would be producing a Star Wars exhibit that would open in 2005. I had been at the Museum for about 7 years at that point and I was more than ready to move on to a new post. But when the announcement was made, I knew I had to stick it out for at least another 3 years. There was no way I was going to let an opportunity to work on an actual Star Wars project slip away. It was pretty well known in the Museum that I was a huge Star Wars fan. All you had to do was walk by my desk and it was pretty evident. In 1998 I help create StarWarsChicks.com and sold SWC shirts to my coworkers to raise money for Breast Cancer research. I had my picture taken by one of Boston’s main newspapers right in my office. I had Star Wars stuff displayed all around my work area. I belonged to the country’s largest Star Wars costuming group; the 501st Stormtrooper Legion. I wore my fandom proudly. In the summer of 2003, my boss called me into his office and said “I have good news, and I have great news…but you have to promise you won’t go into labor when I tell you.” I
was 6 months pregnant at the time. I promised to do my best and he said, “The good news is, you’ve been asked to be on the planning team for the Star Wars exhibit.” I took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. “The great news is that you’ve been asked to go on a business trip to Skywalker Ranch.” I didn’t go into labor, but I did squeal. As a member of the planning team, I would be representing my department; Publications and Internal Marketing. But I knew that I was being asked to be part of the team because I knew the subject matter better than just about anyone in the Museum. I knew the fans. I knew what they would want to see. The Museum wanted me to be involved because I WAS a fan. But, I was concerned about what Lucasfilm Ltd would think about having a “fan” on the team. Were they aware that a “fan” was being invited on to their property? I may be a Star Wars fan, but I am also an adult and a professional, and I was determined to remain so, through the whole project. I was going to keep my “fan-girl” persona reined in. The trip to Skywalker Ranch was amazing. I had dreamed that I would get a chance to go to the Ranch one day, but I truly never thought it would become a reality. I got to tour the Main House. Stand in front of the Skywalker Ranch fire truck. I was brought into the prop warehouse where actual costumes hung a rack and hun-
dreds of movie props just sat on rows of metal shelves…all right out in the open. I even walked passed The Man Himself, George Lucas in the hall way as we left the dining hall after lunch. Through all this I maintained my professional image and managed to keep all my squealing internal. On the second day of my visit I was in a meeting when my carefully constructed disguised would be torn away. Our LFL point person popped in a DVD to show us some footage of an opening in Japan for a Star Wars exhibit. She talked about how the Japanese are big fans of the movies and how they went all out for the opening of their exhibit. Then it happened. There on the screen was a group of Stormtroopers standing there in all their white glory and our LFL rep said “Those guys are from the 501st . They are a great group and we love them. You should definitely try and get them at some of your opening events.” There were about 12 of us from the Museum at this meeting. Eleven pairs of eyes turned to me and then our team leader said “Lori, that’s your group, isn’t it?” My cover was blown. I thought I would be hauled out of the room by secret sevice looking men, hiding behind hidden panels and dumped on the. But I wasn’t. I even got to go to dinner with Rob Colman and Lorne Peterson from ILM and return back to the Ranch the following day for another meeting. During the whole visit, all our LFL contacts spoke very highly of the 501st group and I couldn’t have been more proud to be part of such an amazing organization. Over the next 2 1/2 years it was pretty much Star Wars 24 hours a day. My position on the Star Wars
team morphed into three roles: Lead Graphic Designer, Museum Star Wars Guru, and Stormtrooper Coordinator.
The Museum staff was blown away. You can tell someone how amazing the costumes are, but until they see them for themselves, they just can’t really As Lead Designer I created the exunderstand. For weeks after the event hibit logo and the look for all the mar- I had people coming up to me telling keting materials. I created multiple me how awesome our group was and invites, press kit folder, exhibit poster how they couldn’t wait to have them at and exhibit guide. I even designed a more events. collectible Millennium Falcon pin that you got when you took a trip in the Over the next several months the full scale Millennium Falcon cockpit NEG did several small events to build (which is the coolest thing ever). excitement for the upcoming exhibit. In the summer, several of our Troops I was dubbed the Star Wars Guru road the local bus and train system to because I would regularly field phone pass out flyers announcing ticket sales calls and emails asking me such things for the exhibit. And we attended conlike “Do Tusken Raiders and Jawas certs held by local radio stations. get along?”, “If we had to cut out an exhibit component, should it be the I even hooked up with our local Wookiees or Jabba’s Palace model?”, Rebel Legion group and got their “Can you teach me how to speak like members involved. The Museum’s Yoda?”, “Can you teach the Museum’s marketing department arranged to president how to act like a Jedi?” The have Star Wars characters throw out questions were endless, and when I the first pitch at a Red Sox game. The thought I had heard the craziest ques- Museum bought itself it’s own Chewtion I’d ever be asked, someone would bacca costume and a Museum employcome up with an even crazier one. ee dawned it, but the Princess Leia and Han Solo were from our local group. My favorite role on this project, however, was Stormtrooper CoordinaStar Wars: Where Science Meets tor. As soon as Lucasfilm spoke the Imagination opened in Boston in Ocname 501st, my phone wouldn’t stop tober of 2005. The NEG participated ringing. I quickly set up a meeting in every opening event that was held; with Museum event coordinators, put Press Preview, Staff Preview, Memtogether some promotional material, bers’ Preview, Members’ Halloween and set up a system for requesting Star Party, special donor previews. But the Wars characters. I knew how great the highlight was the Gala Opening, with 501st was, and I was excited to get the a very special guest…George Lucas. chance to help my own group, the New Along with being the Lead Graphic England Garrison, be involved with an Designer, Star Wars Guru, and Storm“official” Lucasfim project. trooper Coordinator, I also consulted Our first event was a year before the on the Gala planning committee. Back exhibit even opened. We had about a in February of 2005, the commithalf dozen characters attend the Mutee decided they wanted to extend an seum’s annual Educators Night event. invitation to George Lucas to atThe Museum was prototyping some of tend the Gala. I was asked to create a their exhibit components for the Star special invite. I put the one-of-a-kind Wars exhibit and was hoping our group invite together over a weekend and it could draw attention to their activity. was one of my most stressful projects I
5
have ever done. The whole time I kept thinking “George Lucas is going to actually hold this in his hands. What if he thinks it looks like crap and decides not to come?” We mailed out the invite and months passed without a word. It wasn’t until a month after Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith opened, that we got word that George had accepted our invite. I was both excited AND relieved. Once it was known the George would attend, the Gala planning went into full gear. I attended all the meeting and would consult on their ideas. They wanted to make sure they stayed true to the subject matter. I was even invited to spend an afternoon with the committee members and watch A New Hope and answer their questions about the movies. One of the main things that the committee wanted was as many Star Wars characters as they could get. I had given my garrison the heads up that a large event was going to take place on opening weekend, but I had to keep George’s appearance a secret until LFL said it was okay to make the announcement. It wasn’t until mid-summer that I was allowed to say anything. It was one of the hardest secrets I ever had to keep. The New England Garrison is a good size group, but we knew we couldn’t get the numbers that the Museum wanted. We put a call out to the rest of the Legion asking for volunteers to travel up to Boston for this event. We got people from Florida, Ohio, Midwest, and New York. We were so excited to be able to host so many of our Legion brothers and sisters. We ended up with about 80 costumed characters between the 501st and Rebel Legion. The night was ex-
6
travagant and our role in it was like a play. The Museum needed to transport 700 guests from the Museum of Science to a separate location for the dinner portion of the night. A storyline was created where the Imperial forces took over the Museum and threatened to arrest all guests if they did not leave at once. We had about 25 Stormtroopers march through the Museum and move people to the main doors of the Museum where buses awaited to take them to dinner. We had one Stormtrooper ride with every bus and when they got to the dining tent, they took up guard duty along a long tunnel that led into the tent. It was truly amazing. We had 700 people moved out of the museum in less than 20 minutes. The group did an amazing job. I, myself, only got to witness a portion of it, however, because once the first warning was made of the take over, I had to run up to our dressing room and become “Cinderella”…I had actually been invited to the “ball.” And not only was I going to the ball, I had a special invitation to sit at the same table as George Lucas. I dressed in 10 minutes and ran down to the lobby in time to catch one of the last buses to the tent. I was even escorted to the bus by our Garrison CO. It was like a fairy tale. The night was amazing. I sat in the seat that was directly across from George, though it was a fairly large table. I did get to speak to him briefly, thank him for coming and shake his hand. I had hoped for more, but he was the “main event” and everyone wanted time to shake his hand as well. But even thought the time was short, I can at least cross that one item off my “Things To Do In My Life” list: Meet George Lucas – check!
When dinner was over I boarded a bus back to the Museum with my husband who had been dressed as an officer and coordinating all the Stormtroopers at the tent. A Gala guest boarded the bus after us and came over to my husband and said “I just wanted to than you for being here. You and your people made this event.” That was the sentiment that was stated over and over to me for days, months after the Gala and every other event that the New England Garrison and our sister groups have attended. We’ve attended well over 20 events and activities for the Museum of Science and at everyone…we MADE the event. Anyone can have a Star Wars event where they show a Star Wars movie, or put up Star Wars inspired decorations, but having living, breathing, Stormtroopers, Sith Lord, and aliens brings it to a whole other level. I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences while being involved in the creation of Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination, but my fondest memory was when I got off the bus after dinner was over and I entered the main lobby of the Museum of Science. Standing there all in a line, was more than a dozen assorted Star Wars characters all thanking me for coming and wishing me a good night. It was one of the most amazing sights I had ever seen. I want you all to know…YOU MADE MY NIGHT – Thank You. Lori Sartre ID 1123 New England Garrison