Tag: the force awakens

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Rumor: Extensive Episode VII set pieces going up in Abu Dhabi; film starts shooting Tuesday

sequel-bug-tatAfter giving us what may be our first look at an Episode VII set (and, maybe, an AT-AT foot,) Abu Dhabi’s The National is back with a further report on what’s apparently going on in the desert, as shooting is expected to begin on Tuesday, May 13:

Our sources also report that the sets are getting closer to completion, with a “whole world” having been built on an otherworldly salt lake at one location, a “shuttle-like” spacecraft, a large tower, a “big, centuries-old-looking market”, something the crew are reportedly referring to as the “alien house” and 10 to 15 “really fast buggies” powered by jet engines (landspeeders of Tatooine fame from the previous films, perhaps?)

All that, plus explosives, some members of the cast, and lots of security. Seems pretty extensive to be just one planet… (via) A site called 7 Days in Dubai has more details supporting that a crashed spaceship of some sort is involved. (via)

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John Morton clarifies Rebels/Episode VII remarks

So our pal John Morton (aka Dak!) had some speculation on Rebels and Episode VII that some on the internet have kind of taken and… run with. They ran pretty far. Now, in an interview with the East County Times, he’s clarified that while he thinks it’s possible that we’ll see Rebels characters in Episode VII, they might not be the main characters as we know them now, and that he has no official knowledge of this: It’s just speculation, same as us.

He also talks a bit about filming Empire Strikes Back. And apparently I have been lax in pointing out that he’s on Twitter as @tapcaf!

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On Star Wars fandom, feminism, diversity and anger

I never, ever, ever wanted to be a social justice blogger. I still don’t. But apparently it’s happened, so let’s talk a bit about Star Wars, diversity and feminism, shall we?

Attack Pattern Clinique: When a hostile male enters the chat room and makes himself known as such, frantic chatter re: Clinique Bonus Time ensues. The hostile is ignored, drowned out and generally retreats in defeat.
Attack Pattern Clinique: When a hostile party, generally male, enters the chat room and makes himself known as such, frantic chatter regarding Clinique Bonus Time ensues. The hostile is ignored, drowned out and generally retreats in defeat.
I have been very lucky in that I did most of my fandom growing up in spaces that were heavily female, from the early ship-war days to Club Jade to the fanfic community. That’s not to say jerks don’t happen in such spaces – the Star Ladies invented Attack Pattern Clinique back in the days of AOL chat rooms for a reason – but for the most part I ‘grew up’ in fandom areas where women and their contributions were unquestioned, where the idea that Star Wars needs more women was simply a given.

When I came back into general fandom via the StarWars.com forums, it was from a position of authority. Not big authority – moderator of a message board – but there was still a certain amount of respect expected and received. I’m sure having nicknames that tend to read masculine doesn’t hurt, either.

Still, in general fandom I have, for the most part, had a good experience in dealing with male fans. It wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t see a lot of random outright hostility due to my gender, either. Until I, oddly enough, started writing more extensively about feminist concepts. Curious, no? (Not at all, actually.) But I personally haven’t received any rape threats for criticizing Star Wars, as recently happened in comic fandom, so we have that going for us, I guess.

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