Premiere of ‘The Force Awakens’ takes over Hollywood

LOS ANGELES — Stormtroopers marched down “The Force Awakens” red carpet Monday, heralding the return of “Star Wars” after a decade-long absence from the big screen.

A giant opaque tent shrouded the red carpet — lined with Stormtrooper mannequins and neon lights that resembled giant lightsabers — and workers put the finishing touches on the setup hours before the film’s first showings to a select group of Hollywood elite.

Before some of the film’s human stars arrived, the droid BB-8 rolled by the cameras. The soccerball-esque droid has been a popular fixture in trailers for the seventh “Star Wars” film.

Disney took over a half-mile section of Hollywood Boulevard for the premiere for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” complete with fan bleachers and spotlights everywhere. The film will screen at three theaters, allowing more than 5,000 invited guests the chance to see the characters Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa and Han Solo reunite for the first time on the big screen since 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.”

Security around the site was high, with metal detectors screening pedestrians and police dogs checking the area.

For those without tickets to the premiere, the most they could see was the outside of the tent.

“We’re really disappointed because we are big Star Wars fans, and we were hoping to at least see a little of the celebrities,” said Natalie Arnet, a tourist from Paris.

“I understand the need for security,” Arnet said. “We’ll happily go through the checkpoints to cross the street.”

But for a lifelong “Star Wars” fan, it was tough being that close to the premiere and not getting a better look. “I wanted to see the old cast members because I grew up with these films,” she said.

In bleachers set up on the boulevard, some fans dressed as X-Wing pilots while others held up helmets resembling those worn by bounty hunters in the film.

Access to journalists covering the premiere restricted until just before the event began. Once they were allowed in the giant, four-block tent, they were treated to displays of some of the film’s newest characters, including the evil Captain Phasma and BB-8 droid.

Many of Hollywod’s top stars will join hundreds of costumed fans at what could be the largest Hollywood premiere ever. One of the participating theaters — the iconic TCL Chinese — hosted the premiere of the original “Star Wars” in 1977.

Los Angeles Police say extra vehicle patrols and more officers on foot are being assigned to the area.

Monday’s premiere is the culmination of years of planning, filming and marketing “Star Wars” for a new generation.

Although “The Force Awakens” reunites the cast of the original trilogy for the first time since “Return of the Jedi,” the new film is expected to introduce a new crop of characters who can sustain the franchise for years to come.

“The Force Awakens” opens to the public Friday and some expect the film to break box office records, as it has already with presale tickets.

The last live-action “Star Wars” film was 2005’s “Revenge of the Sith,” which capped a prequel trilogy focusing on the story of how Skywalker’s father became villain Darth Vader.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Google, Star Wars collaboration to ‘awaken the Force within’ apps

As the days leading to the opening of the latest Star Wars film seem like an eternity, Google gives fans a chance to fill that hunger with “Awaken the Force Within.”

“‘Awaken the Force Within’ is a global creative and technology collaboration between Google and Disney in celebration of the upcoming film set to open in theaters on Dec. 18th,” says a press statement by Google.


Choose your side

To get started, users need to first choose between the dark or light side through https://www.google.com/starwars/.

In a few minutes, users will see their skins or themes change as they log on to their apps.

Standard loading bars turn into a blue or red light saber for YouTube and Gmail, which also features a skin that shows stills from the movie. The same goes for the Chrome browser which opens with an image greeting in every new tab.

On Google Maps, the Pegman (for Google View) changes into “a new form as a First Order Stormtrooper or Resistance Pilot.” Users can navigate their destinations with “the help of a TIE fighter or X-wing.” The pin used to locate places also transforms into a light saber.

Key milestones

Google Calendar also keeps fans posted on “key movie milestones.” Android users will see a full transformation of Google Now where “cards automatically appear in your feed with ‘this day in Star Wars history’ fun facts.”

Other apps such as Waze and Translate will also get the Star Wars treatment.

In the coming weeks before “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens, Google and Disney will be rolling out more features on Cardboard, for a virtual reality experience, and Chrome Experiment. RC

source: technology.inquirer.net

Disney unveils Star Wars toys amid marketing blitz

NEW YORK — The release of the new Star Wars movie may still be months off, but Disney is unleashing its full marketing “Force” behind the launch of hundreds of toys and other items related to the film.

The massive marketing blitz, which Disney has named “Force Friday,” spans all kinds of media and included an 18-hour global “unboxing” streamed live on YouTube. Meanwhile, major toy retailers planned to be open and hold special events when the toys first became available just after midnight Friday.

The marketing push behind “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens,” is unique because it’s so far ahead of the movie’s US release, 116 days to be exact. But analysts say it can work because Star Wars is such a popular franchise.

Leaked images of action figures of characters that have not even hit the big screen — like Sarco Plank, some kind of alien desert nomad that has only been glimpsed in a Vanity Fair on-set shoot — are only likely to fuel consumer demand, says Steve Pasierb, CEO of the Toy Industry Association.

“It’s pretty rare, but in the age of social media, you can get those characters out and create buzz around these things in ways that you couldn’t in the past,” Pasierb says. “There’s something easy to tap into, which is the Star Wars mystique which is some 30 years old.”

Industry analysts at PiperJaffrey say they expect some $3 billion worth of Star Wars merchandise will be sold this year and that sales next year could be even larger.

Even in a non-movie year, Star Wars merchandise has consistently sold well — $2 billion annually around the world, according to Pasierb. So it’s not so far-fetched that Disney will exceed that in the publicity-blitz filled weeks ahead of premiere of the first Star Wars movie since Episode III in 2005.

Walt Disney Co. is fanning the flames of its Lucasfilm unit by making special use of the network of YouTube talent that it acquired when it bought Maker Studios for upwards of $500 million last year. It arranged for 14 Maker stars around the globe to open new merchandise in live Web videos starting Wednesday afternoon. The event included a splashy special appearance Thursday morning on “Good Morning America,” the variety news program of Disney-owned ABC.

While it isn’t paying the stars — other than travel and expenses — it’s hardly a non-partisan group of reviewers. The finale in San Francisco was hosted by Chris Pirillo, a self-described super fan who named his daughter Jedi.

Toy makers both big and small are gearing up for a big rush on Friday, then another wave of sales as the holiday shopping season gets going and the movie’s Dec. 18 release date draws closer.

Hasbro Inc., which has been making Star Wars toys for more than 30 years, planned to unveil more than 100 different items Friday.

“There’s a new generation of boys and girls who are going to be brought in who may not even be aware of Star Wars yet,” says Joe Ninivaggi, Hasbro’s senior brand manager for Star Wars.

The Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based toy maker’s offerings include Furbacca, a Chewbacca version of its Furby toy. It’s also selling several different versions of lightsabers that feature the glowing daggers noticeable in the movie’s previews.

Sphero, a Boulder, Colorado-based robot maker and one of the first members of Disney’s Techstars program for startups, created a $150 mini version of the BB-8 droid featured in the new movie.

In the movie, the BB-8 is kind of like an updated version of R2-D2. It’s a giant rolling sphere, with a traditional droid head that somehow manages to stay on top. The mini version created by Sphero moves much the same way.

Developing and producing its BB-8 used up the majority of Sphero’s resources for this year. But the company, which has received funding from Disney, expects that investment to pay off for years to come.

Other toys coming out include Toronto-based Spin Master Corp.’s “Legendary Yoda,” a 16-inch version of the Jedi Master that boasts lifelike movements and voice recognition. It’s yours for $180.

Fuhu, which makes the nabi tablet computer for kids, has created $170 Star Wars-themed accessory bundles that include a new 7-inch table. They come with sound effects, themed wallpapers and stickers designed to let kids customize their tablets.

While most of the people buying Friday will be the die-hard collectors who have to have the hot items first, sales momentum will continue into the holiday shopping season as nostalgic parents introduce a new generation of kids to Star Wars, says Rob Maigret, Sphero’s chief creative officer.

“There’s just this evangelism that exists for the movie, because this movie is part of our lives, because we all have some sort of connection to it,” Maigret says.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Star Wars: Mark Hamill said he was ‘suspicious’ of J.J. Abrams

ANAHEIM, Calif.— Mark Hamill knew he had to say yes when George Lucas told him about the plans to move forward with a new “Star Wars” trilogy.

“It’s not like a choice. It’s like I was drafted,” Hamill told a massive crowd Saturday night at Star Wars Celebration of his decision to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker in the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

“Could you imagine if for some reason I said ‘I don’t think I want to do it?’ I would have all of you surrounding my house like villagers, angry villagers with lightsabers instead of torches,” joked the 63-year-old “Star Wars” veteran.

Hamill admitted he was caught off guard when Lucas invited him to lunch. When Hamill’s wife surmised that perhaps there was a new film in the works, Hamill laughed. Lucas had told him specifically that he was done making “Star Wars” movies after the prequels.

He assumed Lucas was going to announce a 3-D release or roll out another box set of the films, laughing about the number of versions that have been made available.

Still, his interest was piqued when Lucas disinvited Hamill’s daughter. He knew that meant it must be big.

When things started coming together, Hamill said he was cautiously optimistic about J.J. Abrams, the chosen director for “The Force Awakens.”

“I was a little suspicious because he was a ‘Star Trek’ guy,” said Hamill, laughing.

The actor quickly clarified that he likes “Star Trek.”

“It just seems odd,” he said.

He went on to compliment Abrams for his inclusiveness. Abrams, Hamill noted, is also the first “Star Wars” director to be borne out of true fandom of the original films.

“He feels the way you feel in terms of wanting practical effects. Real sets,” he said.

Keeping in line with the secrecy surrounding “The Force Awakens,” which opens on Dec. 18, Hamill said he is always worried about leaking information. He claims he even learned the subtitle of the seventh film on the Internet.

“They’re so secretive these days,” said Hamill. “When we did the first one no one cared.”

Hamill was “cleared” to tell the packed house that he did record a voiceover specifically for the new teaser trailer, which debuted on Thursday during the Celebration kick-off panel.

In the teaser, we hear Luke’s voice saying a familiar, but slightly altered line from “Return of the Jedi”: “The force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. You have that power too.”

He laughed and said that he kept messing up and saying: “My father had it.”

The end result is a combination of the original recording and Hamill’s new session, the actor said.

After playing the trailer once more in the large arena, Hamill marveled that there is “so much information there for you to speculate about” embedded in the footage.

“It implies so much that’s gone on from ‘Jedi’ till now,” he said.

“They don’t call it a teaser for nothing. They want to tease you.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

New ‘Star Wars’ set 30 years after ‘Jedi’

LOS ANGELES — The new “Star Wars” sequel has an official timeline and one confirmed returning character: robot R2-D2.

Director J.J. Abrams will begin shooting in May on “Star Wars: Episode VII,” which is set three decades after 1983′s “Return of the Jedi,” Disney CEO Bob Iger said Tuesday.

Speaking at the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting in Portland, Oregon, Iger said the movie would feature “some very familiar faces along with a trio of new, young leads.” Abrams has a penchant for secrecy, and Iger said R2-D2 was the only “official cast member” he would announce.

“Episode VII” is set for release in December 2015.
Iger also said Pixar plans a third “Cars” animated movie and a sequel to 2004′s “The Incredibles.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

US Navy to deploy laser for 1st time

BATH, Maine—Some of the Navy’s futuristic weapons sound like something out of “Star Wars,” with lasers designed to shoot down aerial drones and electric guns that fire projectiles at hypersonic speeds.

That future is now.

The Navy plans to deploy its first laser on a ship later this year, and it intends to test an electromagnetic rail gun prototype aboard a vessel within two years.

For the Navy, it’s not so much about the whiz-bang technology as it is about the economics of such armaments. Both costs pennies on the dollar compared with missiles and smart bombs, and the weapons can be fired continuously, unlike missiles and bombs, which eventually run out.

“It fundamentally changes the way we fight,” said Capt. Mike Ziv, program manager for directed energy and electric weapon systems for the Naval Sea Systems Command.

Laser Weapon System

The Navy’s laser technology has evolved to the point that a prototype to be deployed aboard the USS Ponce this summer can be operated by a single sailor, he said.

The solid-state Laser Weapon System is designed to target what the Navy describes as “asymmetrical threats.” Those include aerial drones, speed boats and swarm boats, all potential threats to warships in the Persian Gulf, where the Ponce, a floating staging base, is set to be deployed.

Rail guns, which have been tested on land in Virginia, fire a projectile at six or seven times the speed of sound—enough velocity to cause severe damage. The Navy sees them as replacing or supplementing old-school guns, firing lethal projectiles from long distances.

But both systems have shortcomings.

Lasers tend to loser their effectiveness if it’s raining, if it’s dusty, or if there’s turbulence in the atmosphere, and the rail gun requires vast amount of electricity to launch the projectile, said Loren Thompson, defense analyst at the Lexington Institute.

“The Navy says it’s found ways to deal with use of lasers in bad weather, but there’s little doubt that the range of the weapon would be reduced by clouds, dust or precipitation,” he said.

Producing enough energy for a rail gun is another problem.

New destroyer Zumwalt

The Navy’s new destroyer, the Zumwalt, under construction at Bath Iron Works in Maine, is the only ship with enough electric power to run a rail gun. The stealthy ship’s gas turbine-powered generators can produce up to 78 megawatts of power. That’s enough electricity for a medium-size city—and more than enough for a rail gun.

Technology from the three ships in that DDG-1000 series will likely trickle down into future warships, said Capt. James Downey, the program manager.

Engineers are also working on a battery system to store enough energy to allow a rail gun to be operated on warships currently in the fleet.

Both weapon systems are prized because they serve to “get ahead of the cost curve,” Ziv said.

In other words, they’re cheap.

Each interceptor missile aboard a US Navy warship costs at least $1 million apiece, making it cost-prohibitive to defend a ship in some hostile environments in which an enemy is using aircraft, drones, artillery, cruise missiles and artillery, Thompson said.

With a laser operating on about 30 kilowatts of electricity—and possibly three times that in the future—the cost amounts to a few dollars per shot, Thompson said.

The “Star Wars” analogy isn’t a bad one.

Just like in the movies, the Navy’s laser directs a beam of energy that can burn through a target or fry sensitive electronics. Unlike the movie, the laser beam is invisible to the human eye.

The targeting system locks onto the target, sending a beam of searing heat. “You see the effect on what you are targeting but you don’t see the actual beam,” Ziv said.

Other nations are developing their own lasers, but the Navy is more advanced at this point.—David Sharp

source: technology.inquirer.net

George Lucas inaugurates ‘Sandcrawler’ in Singapore

SINGAPORE – Renowned filmmaker George Lucas thanked the government of Singapore for “so clearly” delivering on its promise of support, as he inaugurated the spanking new Sandcrawler building in the bustling Mediapolis district today, Thursday.

The creator of “Star Wars” said the building–inspired by the desert-scavenging vehicles in the beloved film franchise and already a winner of six architectural awards– was a symbol of the collaboration between Singapore and Lucasfilm in promoting and nurturing the “talent ecosystem” in the digital entertainment arts.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who attended the ceremony, said his government sought to cultivate a “vibrant community of talents” in the entertainment arts, and that Lucasfilm had been a dynamic partner in seeing this through.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and general manager David Anderman met regional media representatives and discussed the company’s Jedi Masters Program for visual artists and the future of “Star Wars.”

It was previously announced that the seventh episode would be released in December 2015.

Sandcrawler will house the business offices of The Walt Disney Company, which now owns Lucasfilm and ESPN.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net