Who’s an appropriate choice to be Her Universe’s Fangirl of the Day on May 4th? Lucasfilm’s Mary Franklin is not only Club Jade’s favorite bartending visionary, but she’s been responsible for almost every single Celebration and the Bantha Tracks newsletter. (Which, granted, may be the more impressive feat overall, but hey: We love our bar.)
Actual news in an email update? Refreshing! According to an email sent to CVI attendees about an hour ago, the program schedule will be coming to the Celebration mobile app first. No word on when the reveal will happen – early next week, perhaps? – but consider yourselves warned.
SDCC kicks off tonight with Preview Night, while those of us at home hang on Twitter and our RSS feeds for tidbits from the floor (and brace for the floods that’ll be unleashed tomorrow.) Until then, here’s what Star Wars fans need to know. (Besides the panel schedule!)
Home base. On the Star Wars Blog, Mary Franklin made her debut and then dropped some hints about what we can expect to see from Lucasfilm at the con. Here’s a hint: Snakes. Here’s a closer look.
UPDATE: Mary has also made her debut on Twitter as, fittingly, @MaryLFL! To find other Star Wars luminaries, check out our Twitter guide.
On that note, Bleeding Cool’s Kate Kotler talked to Ashley Eckstein about what we’ll be seeing from Her Universe this week, and details on the new Doctor Who and Star Trek lines. Plus a look at their new Artoo charm!
We got a note from our pal and Lucasfilm’s Event guru this afternoon, encouraging folks to go see Red Tails, which opens tomorrow. Give it a read, and be sure to spread the word – or at least go see it yourself this weekend!
Good afternoon!
You often hear from me when we plan Star Wars events together, or when I ask you for information for Bantha Tracks, or we make plans for Star Wars Celebrations.
These past months, however, I’ve been working on something different: Red Tails. Most of you probably know that it’s Lucasfilm’s new movie about the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII, a story that has been a passion project for George Lucas for years. The Airmen were African-American fighter pilots, who not only broke down barriers in the military, but helped break down racial barriers here in the States. They were exceptional pilots and support crew, with heroic records of service.
I’ve traveled to a number of different places, working on events to promote the movie, as different as Memphis and Eugene and New York City. I just returned from working at a three-day festival celebrating the movie release, and the Airmen, at Tuskegee University in Alabama, the place where the Airmen were first trained. Each time I watch the movie I am impressed with what it means to the audience, and I’m inspired by the story. The determination and talent of the Airmen can encourage us all.
This is an important movie based on real heroes and true events. And… bonus… the ILM-driven dogfights totally kick butt. I like the characters and story, I’m excited about the release, and proud to be involved in the events that have helped support it.
I very much hope you can see Red Tails this weekend, and bring your friends. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is important, and many of us were not aware of it before this movie. Hopefully this weekend many thousands more will learn their story, appreciate it, and want to share.
It’s important, but it’s also a lot of fun at the same time!
After you see it, drop me a line and let me know what you think.
Feel free to post this on blogs or message boards as well. Thank you so much!
James came through again! Here’s most of yesterday’s Her Universe panel. Check below the cut for Jane Espenson, Katie Cook, Mary Franklin, Bonnie Burton, Cat Staggs and more. (more…)
From web to print. The Clone Wars webcomics from Pablo Hidalgo and a revolving crew of artists (Jeff Carlisle, Katie Cook, Grant Gould and Tom Hodges) will be available in a trade paperback collection in time for August’s Celebration V. StarWars.com has a first look at the book, which also contains concept art, development sketches and a forward by Dave Filoni.
Nonfiction:Sue Rostoni says that Generation Star Wars, the fandom-centric book by Bonnie Burton, Mary Franklin, and Pete Vilmur has been put on hold “to develop the concept and content.”
Here’s a reason to get in on that Hyperspace thing, at least if you’re in the Bay Area: An email invite went out from Lucasfilm’s Mary Franklin to San Francisco-area fans for a special screening of The Clone Wars – followed by a Q&A with Dave Filoni – on Monday.
Art strikes back. Boston fans can head to Art Asylum Boston for an exhibit of Star Wars art. The rest of us will just have to settle for checking out the blog. I’m rather fond of Allison Bamford’s ‘Ewok Sundae’ (right,) ‘Robotsicle’ and ‘Death Star-e-o.’ (via)
Spotlight on the fans. StarWars.com has our first look at Generation Star Wars, the book by LFL’s Bonnie Burton, Mary Franklin and Pete Vilmur that shines the spotlight on the fandom. On that note, Bonnie talks Rebel Legion with Indiana’s Matthew Hofmann.
Crossover fail. There was an awful lot of Wars/Trek confusion in the popular blogosphere this week: Both Cake Wrecks and Failblog discovered some.
The more you know. Thanks to an auto-friending of @clubjade on Twitter, I discovered that LFL can mean Lingerie Football League as well as Lucasfilm. This is a good example of why auto-friending people based on search terms is a bad idea.
@clubjade: I have 3 books coming out and that’s one of them. We haven’t done an official story yet though since we’re still writing it. ;-)
It’s clearly too soon for details or much speculation (not that that ever stopped anyone) but could the trade paperback status imply pictures? Or just something in the vein of Harry: A History? Either way, I’ll tune in.
(And of course it doesn’t hurt that the great Mary Franklin is involved! As long as cake stays out of it, anyway.)
Club Jade is a group of (mostly) female fans who love Star Wars - particularly the Expanded Universe novels - and other things of that nature. You can also follow us on Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook!
Who’s an appropriate choice to be Her Universe’s Fangirl of the Day on May 4th? Lucasfilm’s Mary Franklin is not only Club Jade’s favorite bartending visionary, but she’s been responsible for almost every single Celebration and the Bantha Tracks newsletter. (Which, granted, may be the more impressive feat overall, but hey: We love our bar.)
Actual news in an email update? Refreshing! According to an email sent to CVI attendees about an hour ago, the program schedule will be coming to the 
SDCC kicks off tonight with 
From web to print. The Clone Wars webcomics from Pablo Hidalgo and a revolving crew of artists (Jeff Carlisle, Katie Cook, Grant Gould and Tom Hodges) will be available in a trade paperback collection in time for August’s Celebration V. 
Art strikes back. Boston fans can head to 
You can also follow us on 
Not a contest.
On Twitter?
Our guide to 
