March 29, 2004

I've discovered some fun Star Wars related sites over the last couple days that I thought I'd share. Funwavs.com has a lot of movie sounds, including Star Wars clips. I also found some more Star Wars clips at Matt's Movie Sounds. I've used some of these sounds to enhance the Happy Jawa site here and there. See if you can find them.

Matt also has some personality tests including, of course, a Star Wars personality test. I hope you don't turn out like I did, though the Harry Potter test I took turned out decidedly better, it makes one wonder about where the Harry Potter universe is heading. Or perhaps you should just be concerned for me. And yet another personality test said I was most like this.

For those who are interested in the evolution of Star Wars, I discovered on movie-page.com a treatment and four drafts of the original Star Wars movie. I've only scanned over it, but clearly the storyline changed greatly from the original conception. It's fascinating reading.

The Star Wars - May 1973 - Story Synopsis

The Star Wars - May 1974 - Rough Draft

The Adventures of the Starkiller, Episode One, The Star Wars - January 28, 1975 - Second Draft

The Star Wars, from the Adventures of Luke Starkiller - August 1, 1975 - Third Draft

Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope, from the Journal of the Whills - January 15, 1976 - Revised Fourth Draft

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March 22, 2004

Love them links!

Thanks to the fabulous Fuzzy Gerdes for the link and mention at his fuzzyco.com site. Fuzzy, for those who don't know, is a spectacularly good improvizational theatre artist who resides in Chicago. He's in a movie! He's the first one you see in this preview. His site has a boatload of information and connections for those who are interested in improv.

Thanks also to Adam Guggemos, self described webjërk, for the prominent link on the geek links site on the Geek Prom website. Geek Prom is an annual chance to out yourself for the geek you really are. Last year I had the honor of being crowned the crown prince of geeks (which means I came in second).

If you link to the Happy Jawa, please let me know.

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March 19, 2004

The site is up and working! Utinni! Thanks for the input and help of many fan film fans and code heads, especially Christof and the Force Net Fan Film Forum. The site is still in flux and will be for the foreseeable future. But I am adding content literally every day. If you have any suggestions for films for me to review, write me and I'll see what I'll do. My goal for the next month is to add a review a day on average.

Some people have asked how I rate the films, so let me give you my philosophy.

Utinni! - The battle cry of the Happy Jawa! This rating is saved for those films that not only amuse or entertain me, but add something to the field of fan film making. These films should not only be technically sound, but make me want to share them with my friends. If a film makes me want to immediately call someone or e-mail them a link, that's an Utinni! film.

Hubba - This rating is for good, solid films that are enjoyable and entertaining. They aren't necessarily great, but they are certainly good.

Piece of Stuff - Okay, this is a bit of an inside joke, I admit, but a Piece of Stuff film is an okay film if you overlook the broken bits. It's not great by any means, and it has the potential to be good, but some glitches in either acting, writing, or technical aspects keep me from giving it a good recommendation.

Broken Droid - It don't work. Something about this film just doesn't work for me. There may be the seed of a good or even great film inside, but it doesn't make the cut for some reason.

Bantha Poodoo - It has to be pretty bad to earn this rating. I don't want to discourage film makers so I try to use this sparingly, but, hey, if it's bad, it's bad.

Now, beyond the rating, I try to approach the films as a serious art form, because I think it is. If I take a critical tone it's because I want the art form to grow and get better.

So, fan film makers, keep making 'em and I'll keep reviewing them.

Atom Films - Star Wars Fan Film Awards
rating: Hubba

Docking Bay 15
rating: Bantha Poodoo

Fan Film Xchange - Films
rating: Piece of Stuff

The Force Net - Films
rating: Utinni!

Google - Star Wars Movies/Fan Films
rating: Piece of Stuff

iFilm - (Unofficial) Star Wars
rating: Piece of Stuff

MilkandCookies - SciFi and Fantasy
rating: Piece of Stuff

Mos Eisley Multiplex
rating: Broken Droid

Utinni! "Yeehaa!"

Hubba "Yum yum."

Piece of Stuff "Not bad if you overlook the broken bits."

Broken Droid "Needs fixed."

Bantha Poodoo "Avoid at all cost."

Check out these other review sites...

The Fan Film Menace - reviews by Adam Bertocci, maker of Run Leia Run

Fan Film Xchange - a mixture of reviewers

Fresh Bananas - you review and see others' reviews

Star Wars Fan Film Reviews - short reviews by Fetthead

Love them links...

Echo Station - all the Star Wars a body could want...

The Force Net - ...and then some

Geek Prom - geeks dancing with the fishes under the northern lights. Be sure to check out the geek links.

Jawa Force - because Jawas rock

Minnesota Force - Feel the force? I can't feel my toes!

Perfect Duluth Day - a blog of the northland and the people who love it (or at least bear it)

Robin Goodfellow - my personal geek-out store

Star Wars^TM Official^TM Website^TM - all hail King George^TM

All this Star Wars^TM stuff is the property of Lucasfilm^TM ltd. and we're just borrowing it. George, I promise to return it in good condition. Thanks for letting us all play in your sandbox.

site initiated: March 10, 2004
last update: April 7, 2004
webmaster: Lars Lee