Watch this for Erwin Beekveld’s trance techno look at the kidnap of the Hobbits. You’ll laugh. I promise.
Hurricane Katrina
On eBay, a fan is auctioning off a crocheted R2-D2 hat for charity. All money from the auction will go the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The high bid is currently $305.
As for CJrs caught in Katrina… We’ve heard from both James and Bobbi, and they and their families are all right. We’re still waiting to hear from Dave R., but we’re hoping and praying he’s safe.
I urge you to donate to to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Humane Society, Noah’s Wish or any other disaster charity you trust, if you haven’t already. On Livejournal, Oulangi has been posting links and advice for the fandom community, and Limyaael has a list of writers and artists doing things for charity. There’s also a community devoted to such efforts – Fandom Charity.
ETA: We’ve heard from Dave and family, and they’re safe.
This week in George
The New York Times has a nice article on The George Lucas Educational Foundation, a charity founded by Lucas that encourages innovation in education.
George will also appear on the next season of The Apprentice (Donald Trump version) regarding some marketing for the Revenge of the Sith DVD release.
Thanks to Susan for the links!
Title for Legacy #2
The second book in the Legacy of the Force series is Bloodlines by Karen Traviss. Sue Rostoni posted the info in her blog yesterday.
Legacy of the Force is the nine-book series that leads us into the ‘Legacy’ era, which takes place after the NJO and Dark Nest. We don’t know much about it, aside from what can be drawn from the titles, but we do know Boba Fett will be involved in (at least) Traviss’ portion. Check the coverage of the Legacy C3 Panel for more on ther series as a whole.
Me with my silencer on
I was more than a little surprised that the Tori Amos Star Wars concert info ended up on TFN, since I never even considered blogging it… The Dent being as un-TFNy as a fansite can possibly get – but it’s amusing that it did. Pictures from the concert even ended up on Pink is the New Blog – scroll past Britney and Paris and look for the 5 year-old in the Amidala costume. Fuzzy, but cute. Someone on the Tori LJ community has pics, too.
Movie News: V for Vendetta, Undead Trek, Spielberg
It’s just been one thing after another for V for Vendetta: Now the release date has been moved back a second time to March. By the time this movie comes out, Natalie Portman may actually have hair.
Star Trek may not be actually dead. Again: Stake. Heart. Plunge. Rinse with holy water. Repeat.
Steve Spielberg’s next project is When Worlds Collide, which sounds like an Armageddon retread. Spielberg being Spielberg, it should turn out okay if Ben Affleck and Aerosmith are kept far, far away.
Jessica Alba is not Jeannie. (As in I Dream of.) Instead, she’s starring in a movie called The Wake with Sigourney Weaver and Hayden Chistensen. Classic TV fans breathe a sign of relief… I mean, do we really need a remake of I Dream of Jeannie in this day and age? Did Nicole Kidman’s Bewitched teach us nothing?
Taps for Admiral Ozzel
British actor Michael Sheard, best known to Star Wars fans as Admiral Ozzel in The Empire Strikes Back, has passed away of cancer at the age of 65. He also played Adolf Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and a U-Boat Captain in Raiders of the Lost Ark. His best-known role in the U.K. was as Mr. Bronson in the 80’s TV program Grange Hill.
Club Jade raises a Mustafar Meltdown in his memory.
No VHS for Revenge
Revenge of the Sith is the first major film that won’t be coming out in VHS – only a DVD version will be available. Mourning? (Why?) Here’s a Requiem for VHS. Good riddance, I say.
Toy aisle to get less blinding
Lucas Licensing is toning down the packaging look for next year – the eye-searing lava and flames motif is being replaced by images of Mustafar from afar. Darth Vader, of course, remains.
Hobbit joins cast of 24
Sean Astin is joining the cast of the American television drama 24. It’s not known what character he’ll play, but should be worth checking out anyway.
The fifth season begins its run in January.