ForceCast.net: Listener Mailbag: June 4, 2012

Listener Mailbag: June 4, 2012

Posted by Eric on June 4, 2012 at 04:13 PM CST

This week in the mailbag: Star Wars action figure memories, a fan introduces his sister to Star Wars, a Ben Quadinaros lookalike, a letter to George Lucas, and more.

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A Fandom Flame Was Fanned

Hey Jason, Hey Jimmy -

I've been a long-time fan of the show for the detailed and immersive coverage it provides on the Star Wars franchise, as well as the awesomely entertaining way both of you present the podcast. Unfortunately, with my hectic schedule I have little time to stay as up-to-date with the franchise as I like so I have little occasion to contribute anything meaningful to your discussions (perhaps only in retrospect). However, something happened to me over the weekend that I thought you might relate to as Star Wars enthusiasts and fathers who have introduced SW to your children.

After almost a year of convincing I finally got my 12 year old sister to watch Episode IV. Now keep in mind, she is not new to the SW Universe, she had already watched Episodes I, II & III and we even went to see the 3D version of Episode I when it was released in the cinemas. However, she had expressed no GREAT enthusiasm for the series for anything other than the special effects and entertainment value the prequels provided. After building up some film taste credibility in her eyes with several choice movie suggestions over the previous weeks, I pulled out my best Han Solo, lop-sided smile, and with a "You'll love it...trust me," pressed play on the DVD...

What happened next truly warmed my heart! I've never seen her engage so well with any movie: the whole runtime, she was on the edge of the couch, grasping her mug of green tea close to her heart. As the movie progressed she ran the whole gamut of emotions from happiness & laughter to, sadness and triumph. After the movie finished I sat down with her and we had a talk about the film and her thoughts about it - my mission was a success; her exact words were 'it was absolutely brilliant, a masterpiece'. The night was a great success - not only had I expanded my sister's fandom and her film culture but I rediscovered the magic of the original trilogy for myself. It had been a while since I watched A New Hope with a fresh perspective, letting everything from the sound effects to the outstanding soundtrack, to the visuals (which still hold up remarkably well after 35 years, no less) wash over me!

NEXT WEEK - THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

Anyway guys, keep up the fantastic work - you are both a delight to listen to (especially during the long drive to work here in Australia).

Ilia

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Reflecting On Old Times With R2-D2

I feel bad. I'm the guy who ten years ago tried to sell you pictures of bikini girls hanging around the pool with R2D2 when Lucasfilm produced that mockumentary about R2D2 sometime around 2001-2002. I was dating someone at the time who had family friends who worked for Lucasfilm. I then was a casual fan of your website but have recently become such a diehard fan of your podcast that I wish I could turn back the clock and cough up all that stuff for free. Sadly, my connections with the inside of Lucasfilm (and the bikini girls) is all but lost at this point. Oh well. Bikini girls are a young single mans game I suppose.

Hopefully I can make it up to you guys somehow for all the dozens of hours of entertainment you have provided...

Take care,
Brad

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Talking Toys

Hey Jason and Jimmy,

I wanted to make a comment about a part of the May 11 show with Cris Macht when you guys sort of veered off and started talking action figures. I've actually emailed you in the past (a long time ago...) about this. That little segment where you guys were just riffing on having figures as a kid (especially Jason comparing Vintage Luke to a Modern one) was exactly why I've been listening to the ForceCast since your first episode. I'm a first generation Star Wars fan (I'm 44 years old) and still have a small collection of my original vintage Kenner toys. I have a huge collection of the newer toys as well and when the ForceCast began the Collector's Editon podcast years ago I was excited. But, to me that show never really took off because at the end of the day it was an "audio checklist", nothing more than a "here's what's coming out" list-no passion.

Every time you guys talk toys there is passion and love in your voices. I know the show is already jam packed with segments but please consider bringing the toy angle into the show a little more regularly. Your love of The Wars just shines when you do.

All the best. MTFBWY.

Mike MacDonald
Belle River, Ontario

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Obama A Trekkie?

Because I am a recent convert to your Podcast, I am catching up on some of the older shows via the iPhone apps. I am currently listening to the January 20, 2012 podcast and you are discussing weather the President is a Star Wars fan or a Trek fan. I provide for you visual proof that he may be a Trekkie. Here is a picture of Barack Obama with Nichelle Nichols in the Oval office. It appears from the picture that it is very clear that he is Trekkie and NOT a fan of the Wars. (Picture is dated April 6, 2012) Let the debate continue.

Robb Wolf

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Listener "Jedimom" sends us this link that asks, "Who does Ben Quadinaros look like?"

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Grady Ranch, The Live Action Series, and The Future of Star Wars

Hello Jason and Jimmy!

My name is Lucas O. Seastrom and I am a film student at California State University Monterey Bay. I am writing to you guys regarding an incredibly important piece of Lucasfilm news that has been happening in recent weeks.

I spend quite a lot of time up in Marin County; in particular I enjoy hiking above Big Rock Ranch in Lucas Valley. For over a year now, I have been following the developments of Grady Ranch. Grady Ranch was supposed to be the newest expansion of Lucasfilm's Bay Area filmmaking oasis. It would have featured, among other things, blue screen stages fully capable of handling the production of something like the Star Wars live action series.

Grady Ranch was planned to be built less than a mile down Lucas Valley Road from the famous Big Rock Ranch on a beautiful piece of land. The main building would have been in the Spanish Mission style and the project would have also featured some much needed restoration and preservation of the natural surroundings. I have attached two photos, which I took from Lucas Valley Road of the proposed sight. The old Grady Ranch website (http://www.gradyranch.com/) shows an image of
what the main building would have looked like.

This project has been in the works for some time now. Lucasfilm was hoping to have the studio space ready for use by early 2013, saying in a statement that they "had projects planned to shoot on those stages which have already started production."

Unfortunately, LFL's plan met with stiff resistance from representatives in the Lucas Valley Homeowners Association. They threatened a lawsuit if LFL began construction. It was that combined with the constant delay of permit approvals for the natural preservations from the state in Sacramento that finally forced George and the team at LFL to cancel plans to build in Marin.

The Homeowners Association was apparently plagued by a group of so-called "NIMBYS" (not in my backyard) who felt that the new facility would increase traffic or damage the natural setting or something. Of course this seems quite ridiculous. LFL has been an incredibly beneficial neighbor to all of Marin County since the Ranch was first built. They have provided thousands of jobs, preserved thousands of acres of land, and a variety of other things like providing fire and rescue aid. From what I have read in the local
papers, many Marin residents and leaders are extremely upset with the cancellation. Unfortunately, it seems the NIMBYS of Lucas Valley will go to great lengths to keep their bedroom community from becoming anything more.

LFL plans to sell the Grady Ranch land on Lucas Valley Road, with specific goals to have low-income housing developed on the land. Here is a link to LFL's official statement regarding their decision, which provides much more detail as to why they made it.

Never the less, this may not be the end of Grady Ranch. The company has expressed hopes of perhaps building the facility elsewhere in Northern California. Luckily, my father works in the title and real estate business in nearby Solano County where I grew up. He has informed me that a "certain undisclosed film company" has been actively looking at land throughout the county and probably elsewhere as well, including (allegedly) some land only miles away from the farm I grew up on (wow!). It is almost certain that this "undisclosed " company is Lucasfilm. Time will tell where things go.

This can and most likely will have serious ramifications for the future of Star Wars. It is obvious that LFL had planned to shoot the live-action series on the stages of Grady Ranch. This would have been the final realization of George's dream; all the aspects of production would have been "do-able" in Northern California. It would be far less expensive for LFL to shoot the series on their own property in their own backyard then in Australia, New Zealand, or Los Angeles.

I greatly hope, both as a Star Wars fan and a Northern Californian, that LFL finds a new location to build Grady Ranch elsewhere in Nor-Cal. For I do not think that we will ever see the live-action series unless it is built. With your permission, I would urge Solano County and nearby residents to visit this Facebook page to join the
campaign to keep LFL in Nor-Cal.

Thank you so much Jason and Jimmy for everything you do and I hope to see you guys at Celebration 6! May the Force be with you!

Sincerely,

Lucas O. Seastrom
Monterey/Dixon, CA

P.S.: I am taking my tour of Rancho Obi Wan tomorrow! I will let you guys know how it goes!

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A Fan's Letter to George Lucas

Since I am sure GL listens to the ForceCast, I'm passing this along. When I heard George was stepping down, it upset me to think he was feeling beaten down because of whiners. He deserves to retire whenever he wants, but he should do it feeling revered, like Walt Disney or Steve Jobs, not like he's been defeated. I hope he is truly happy in his future. Here is a letter that I wrote about him.

Take care,
Shua

Dear Mr. Lucas,

As news of your retirement from the creative behemoth you�ve created is announced, I sit here pondering about how much you have influenced me and other people in the world. You strike me as a humble, modest man and I know you have heard all this before, but you should know that you have made a positive difference in this world.

Recently I heard you talk about complaints circulating throughout our increasingly connected society we call the Internet, regarding the Star Wars movies and your vision for them. It bothered me to think that these narrow-minded individuals might be considered representatives of the fan community. In my experience that is not the case. And when I refer to the �community� what I really mean is �family�, because that is what we have become. New generations are always being added to this family, passing down the dreams and ideas that began so long ago.

One of the biggest influences of your creation is the bond that so many people the world over have with each other. And this isn�t just a stereotypical group of people who have no focus in life. We are doctors, teachers, ministers, military officers, college students, business professionals, and so much more! People who would never have known each other otherwise, all brought together by a common interest.

But even more than that, you have inspired more than one generation to be creative. Whether it is in movie-making, storytelling, music, art, technology, or any of the other offshoots of Star Wars, it all began with us being transported to a galaxy far, far away and finding one (or many) of the aspects that fascinated us enough to pursue a career path.

In addition, you have used your success to move the world in new directions. Technology, filmmaking, sound design, computer animation, storytelling, and even education have your footprint on
them. As a teacher, I am especially fascinated by every new group of children each year who are so inspired by Star Wars. And they will grow using that inspiration to create new stories and push the
boundaries further.

So, as you enter into the next phase of your life, I want you to retire understanding that you have made a positive difference in this world and changed it for the better. Your creative ideas and dedication to your vision will have a lasting effect long after all of us are gone.

Thank you George!

Sincerely,

Joshua Stolte

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Thanks to all of this week's mailbag contributors! Keep your emails coming to forcecast@forcecast.net.

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