kathleen kennedy

April 18, 2015 By Jason DeBord

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: Photos of Movie Props, Costumes, and Models from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”

In terms of excitement generated from Star Wars Celebration 2015 in Anaheim, I would say the second development right behind the JJ Abrams/Kathleen Kennedy panel the opening morning and release of the new trailer for The Force Awakens is the exhibition of props, costumes, and models from the all-new film installment to the franchise. On the upper floor of the Anaheim Convention Center is space dedication to the display of artifacts from the upcoming Episode VII, due in December 2015. This feature includes about 130 quality photos from this exhibit. [Read more…]

April 17, 2015 By Jason DeBord

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: Exhibition Hall Photography

Following my pictorial preview of Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim for 2015 last night (Wednesday night, before officially starting), below are photos I took of the exhibit hall on the first full day (Thursday). Being my first Celebration, it was bigger than I expected, but still not a massive as San Diego Comic Con (and thankfully, many of the aisles are much wider as well). The calm before the storm was when the doors opened but the J.J. Abrams/Kathleen Kennedy panel was going. For those who elected not to sleep overnight within the convention center to attend in person, the jumbo monitors at the LEGO booth streamed it all in real time, to the astonishment of fans who were thrilled by the premiere airing of the new “teaser” trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. [Read more…]

April 15, 2015 By Jason DeBord

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015 Preview: Photography from Wednesday Night

Star Wars Celebration officially kicks off tomorrow (running April 16th – 19th), but there is already a substantial massive line in the belly of the Anaheim Convention Center, filled with fans queued up for The Force Awakens panel featuring J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy. As I walked in to check it out, dozens of pizzas were being hand-delivered to fans (courtesy J.J. Abrams and Kathleen Kennedy), starting with those at the front of the massive crowd. It was announced today that 4-Day passes/badges have sold out, and when I picked up my media badge at around 5:00 this afternoon, they only had about 400 Saturday tickets left to sell at the door. Below are some photos I took while walking around the convention center. [Read more…]

October 31, 2012 By Jason DeBord

The Rebellion Surrenders to the Galactic Empire for $4.05 Billion Dollars (i.e. Disney Buys Lucasfilm and All Rights To Star Wars)

Yesterday’s announcement that George Lucas struck a deal to sell Lucasfilm Ltd (and related companies and properties, like ILM and Skywalker Sound, and the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises) came as a surprise to many. Along with the announcement were details about a third Star Wars trilogy with Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy as Executive Producer – Episodes 7 (already scheduled for a 2015 release), 8, and 9… in the event the news in general didn’t warrant enough of a reaction on its own. For me, the most surprising aspect of the deal is that circa the 70s, George Lucas was known as being quite anti-establishment… a rebel and innovator, working outside of the system, and, well, Disney (which owns ABC, ESPN, Pixar, Touchstone, Marvel Entertainment, theme parks, resorts, cruise lines, television stations, etc.) is about as establishment and corporate-oriented as they come. Disney bought Marvel in 2009 (for $0.05 billion less), and hasn’t ruined it or anything, but Marvel is not Star Wars, and what little I’ve already seen worries me. 24 hours into this new Disney/Star Wars era, and a video is already released with Stormtroopers wearing Mickey Mouse ears riding a merry-go-round with Darth Vader. Really? [Read more…]