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Thousands of Star Wars Fans
to gather
Posted by: Bill Cable
03.30.05 12:01am
Celebration III in Indianapolis
- the Largest Star Wars Event in the Galaxy!
Pre-registration at record number
INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, March
29, 2005) Thousands of Star Wars fans from around the world will
gather in Indianapolis, Indiana April 21-24 for Star Wars Celebration
III, an event anticipated to be the largest gathering of Star
Wars fans in history. Already more than double the fans have
pre-registered to attend than pre-registered for Celebration
II event in 2002. Fans will gather to celebrate the release of
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, which opens in theaters
May 19, and to commemorate the ever-growing Star Wars legacy
with celebrities, entertainment, activities and Celebration III
collectibles created specially for the show.
More than half-a-million square
feet of the Indiana Convention Center will be filled with hundreds
of Star Wars-related exhibits, displays, and events, making Star
Wars Celebration III the place for fans to show their love of
the Star Wars films. Star Wars Celebration III will offer activities
ranging from a full-time area where kids can train to be Jedi
Knights to a display of actual movie-used props and costumes
from Episode III and other Star Wars movies.
Celebrities from all six Star
Wars films will attend Celebration III, including the two Masters
of Ceremonies, Jay Laga'aia, who played Captain Typho, Senator
Amidala's head of security in Attack of the Clones and Revenge
of the Sith and currently starring in The Lion King onstage in
Sydney, Australia; and Warwick Davis, known to Star Wars fans
since his career-starting performance as Wicket the Ewok in Return
of the Jedi, and two made-for-television films about the Ewoks.
Davis recently has appeared in the Harry Potter movies and Ray.
Guests include Nick Gillard, the clever and cunning swordmaster
and stunt coordinator for Episodes I, II, and III; David Prowse,
who first donned the costume of Darth Vader in the original trilogy;
Jeremy Bulloch, who portrayed bounty hunter Boba Fett in the
original trilogy; Ray Park, whose iconic Darth Maul launched
the Star Wars prequels; Kenny Baker, R2-D2 throughout the saga;
and nearly 50 more stars from the cast and crew.
Rick McCallum, the producer of
the Star Wars prequels, will be on stage to share his inside
banter on the making of Revenge of the Sith and to answer questions
from the audience. Always a favorite with audiences, McCallum
promises to bring some incredible surprises with him to Celebration
III.
Guests will be immersed in Star
Wars fun the entire four days. Among the highlights are the Star
Wars Collectors Show, featuring tips and tricks for collectors,
as well as fascinating presentations on the history of Star Wars
treasures that will interest collectors and non-collectors alike.
What are the strangest Star Wars collectibles out there? What
are your vintage action Star Wars figure worth? The answers to
these and more questions await at the collecting panels in the
White River Ballroom. And while collectors are enjoying the show
they should be sure not to miss the Celebration Autograph Hall,
where more than 40 stars from all six films of the saga will
be signing autographs and meeting fans.
Two Costume Contests - a pageant
to show off craftsmanship and a cabaret to showcase talent -
are filling to capacity with talented costumers and performers.
The Diorama Builders will be back for Celebration III, this time
to build something completely different from the Mos Eisley diorama
they built at Celebration II ­ a diorama of the Empire's
mighty Death Star. The Star Wars Fan Fair Hall will be a showcase
of fan talent, with tricked-out Star Wars cars, Star Wars tattoo
art, and local and regional Star Wars fan clubs represented.
And be sure not to miss the Stormtrooper Olympics or the R2-D2
Builders Droid Race and obstacle course!
Entertainment will run from early
in the morning until late at night throughout Celebration III.
The Star Wars Fan Film room will feature all the films chosen
as finalists in the 2005 competition. Now in its fourth year,
the Star Wars Fan Film Awards offer aspiring filmmakers an opportunity
to compete for recognition and prizes, including the prestigious
George Lucas Selects award, chosen by George Lucas himself. In
addition to the 2005 finalists, the Fan Film room will show the
winning films from the 2002, 2003, and 2004 competitions. In
the Star Wars in Pop Culture rooms film room special video clips,
trailers, cartoons, Star Wars music videos, and more can be seen.
Fans of the films of the Star Wars Saga can see Episodes I, II,
IV, V and VI on the big screen with great sound and free popcorn.
Star Wars fans will enjoy fun
and entertainment all weekend, and they'll also be taking time
to shop. The Star Wars Celebration Store will feature unique
collectibles created just for this event, including a talking
Darth Vader action figure by Hasbro. None other than James Earl
Jones, the legendary voice of Darth Vader, recorded new phrases
exclusively for this special figure.
Celebration III will be open
to the public daily beginning, Thursday, April 21, from 1 pm-midnight,
Friday 10am-midnight, Saturday, 10am-midnight and Sunday 10am-4pm.
The Indiana Convention Center is at 100 South Capitol Avenue
in downtown Indianapolis. Fees for badges purchased at the show
are:
- 4 day Adult $110
- 4 day Child* $50
- 1 day Adult $40
- 1 day Child* $20
- *(6-12 years old. Children under
6 are free)
Admission badges can be purchased
Wednesday April 20 from 5am-8pm, Thursday April 21 from 9am-8pm,
Friday April 22 from 8am-8pm, Saturday April 23 from 8am-8pm
and Sunday April 24 from 8am-2pm.
For more information on Star
Wars Celebration III visit www.starwars.com/c3
or www.starwarscelebration.com.
Lucas Licensing Ltd. manages
all the domestic and international merchandising activities of
the Star Wars and Indiana Jones® properties. Star Wars is
the most successful film-based merchandising program in history.
The Star Wars licensing program is renowned for its attention
to product detail and quality in the fields of publishing, toys,
games, collectibles, apparel and other categories. For more information
on Star Wars, visit www.starwars.com.
Gen Con, LLC produces the largest
consumer fantasy, sci-fi and adventure game convention in North
America. Its operations include Gen Con Indy, Gen Con So Cal
and Star Wars Celebration III, and licensor for European Gen
Con shows. It was founded in May of 2002 by former CEO and founder
of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, who solely owns the company
headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information visit
the website at www.gencon.com.
- Star Wars Celebration III is
presented by Hyperspace, the Official Star Wars
Fan Club.
- Wireless and Handheld Sponsor:
Cingular Wireless
- Jedi Training Academy Sponsor:
Burger King
- Supporting Sponsor: M&Ms
- Hotel Sponsor: Target
- Xbox Arena Sponsor: InTec
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