Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles To Mark 30th Anniversary of Saga
May 26, 2006
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Gen Con LLC will throw the largest party ever for fans of the saga, taking over the entire Los Angeles Convention Center in May 2007 for five days filled with live entertainment, celebrities from all six movies, special film and video presentations, an exhibit of movie props and costumes, exclusive merchandise sold at a 24-hour-a-day store, pop culture tributes, immersive events, costume contests, and scores of additional activities.
Star Wars Celebration IV will fill the L.A. Convention Center from Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28, 2007. Admission to the first day of the event will be for worldwide members of the Official Star Wars Fan Club, many of whom will help plan and run special programming themselves. The convention will be open to the general public from Friday through Monday, Memorial Day.
"Generations of fans have loved Star Wars, many passing along the 'Star Wars gene' to their children," said Steve Sansweet, Director of Content Management and head of Fan Relations for Lucasfilm. "This is the first chance to celebrate all six movies in the saga-George Lucas' complete story-as well as the vibrant future of Star Wars. If you've ever been to one of our Celebrations-or if you haven't been before-this is the one not to miss."
Celebration III, a four-day event held in Indianapolis in April 2005, attracted more than 34,000 fans from all over the world. "We started getting questions about a possible Celebration IV even while the last convention was running," Sansweet noted. "So we're determined to far outstrip anything we've done before, both in size and scope, as well as introduce many first-time activities and lots of exclusives."
Lucasfilm is also working on other Star Wars-related events in the Los Angeles area just prior to Celebration IV, "so we're expecting Southern California to become 'Destination: Star Wars' from the weekend before through Memorial Day weekend," Sansweet said.
The convention announcement was made jointly by Lucasfilm Ltd. and Gen Con LLC. Gen Con will once again manage the convention on behalf of Lucasfilm and the Official Star Wars Fan Club. The Celebration IV announcement is being made a year in advance to give fans worldwide a chance to plan for a week-long "Destination: Star Wars" blow-out in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is the ideal site for a 30th Anniversary convention, Sansweet said, since there are many Star Wars roots in the area. It was also the location of the first official Star Wars fan gathering, the 10th Anniversary Convention. Star Wars opened on May 25, 1977, on just 32 theater screens in North America, including Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.
One of the highlights for fans at a Star Wars convention is the chance to buy unique merchandise, including an exclusive, limited-edition action figure. Because this has led to bottlenecks and long lines in the past, the Celebration IV store will be bigger than ever, self-service, well-stocked with merchandise, have plenty of check-out lanes...and be open 24 hours a day from the opening of the show on Thursday until the close on Monday!
"Gen Con is thrilled to be working again with Lucasfilm on this very special event," said Peter Adkison, owner of Gen Con LLC, producer of Gen Con Indy and other Gen Con events. "Together I know that we will produce a convention that will not only meet, but exceed, fans' expectations. With Lucasfilm 100% behind this show, it's going to be the biggest party in the history of the franchise. We are particularly focused on dramatically improving the selection and service in the Celebration store."
Stay tuned to starwars.com as your primary source for updates about programming, guests, activities, entertainment and exclusive merchandise at Celebration IV to be released as they are confirmed closer to the convention. Online ordering for tickets to the event and for discounted hotel rooms is scheduled to begin late summer/early fall. There will also be information on getting around Los Angeles, traveling to and from the Convention Center, and on shuttle buses available for convention-goers who are staying in the city.
You can order tickets online at http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/news20061025.html
I'll be going... can't pass this up. It's in my town and it's the 30th anniversary. :starwars:
*Snif* I wish I could go to C4. I'm only 1200 miles away, but I'm not going to be able to afford it. I may even be a member of the 501st by then, but hotels+travel+gobs of spending money = chapter 11 + really angry wife.
Undecided. Love to go since I haven't made it to a Celebration before, but man - they have so many people at these big cons now. I'll be thinking about it for a bit still.
I really want to go. I've never been to California and my husband has been wanting to take me to San Fran. It would be nice if I could talk him into taking me to LA for the con. But alas, I'm not sure that well be able to make it to Celebration this year, I haven't accrued enough vacation time yet. It figures. :'(
I'll have to live vicariously through fellow forum members who are able to go.
I went to C3, and I am still undecided about C4. I am hoping I might be able to go, but a lot of things to consider before then. There were so many people at C3, a person definitely had to get used to waiting in lines. I must admit LA has me a little intimidated, Indy reminded me more of the City I come from.
I don't like lines much anymore.
I may actually be able to go to C4; the timing may be perfect. I can't believe the event is going to fill the entire convention center--it is huge :o . Jejijeff, don't let LA intimidate you. It's no where near as intimidating as some people make it out to be.
Its not fair Its not fair Its not fair etc etc etc..... :mad2:
Thanks for the Insight Pepperdude, I will keep that in mind. Most likely if I do go, I would be travelling by myself, so where a bit of the trepidation would come from
Trekkygeek, I hear you, I am from Canada, and feel like we miss out on a lot of things as well. I guess I am fortunate that this is Possible for me as the distance is not that great. I believe they are also planning a Celebration for Europe in July, looks to be in London. here is the link http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/news20060925.html
I would love to go to one of these someday....but the mass of humanity that typically attend these event...Whoa. It's not that I don't like people, I just don;t like ALOT of people in a small area.
Here are some cool postcards for the upcoming Celebration IV here in Los Angeles in two weeks.
Here are some more.
lol nice posters!
Those are awesome!
Okay I just had to share... my brother, who was able to take some vacation time is now sitting in a theater watching Star Wars Episode 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 back to back. This is the first time they have done this in the world and I am so jealous right now... 17 hours of greatness from 9am to 2am. He called me a few minutes before it started and so excited. I wish I was able to get the time off to go.. oh well.
Your Brother is very lucky. You are lucky as well that you get to attend. I so badly wanted to go, but could not afford both Myself and my wife. Looking forward to hearing about your experiences there.
Star Wars Con Opens In L.A.
Star Wars Celebration IV, a Lucasfilm-sponsored convention, opened a five-day run May 23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with exhibits and programming to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first movie, including a sneak peek at the proposed animated Star Wars TV show.
Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm's director of fan relations, promised that Celebration IV would be the largest Star Wars convention ever; The Hollywood Reporter estimated that as many as 20,000 fans would attend.
The convention will feature 17 hours of programming, including appearances by franchise actors Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), special opening ceremonies on May 25, a laser tag tournament, an art exhibit of painted and sculpted Darth Vader helmets, an exhibition of props and set pieces from the Lucasfilm archives and panels on Star Wars-themed episodes of Family Guy and Robot Chicken.
The convention will also offer a preview of Fanboys, an upcoming feature film dealing with the efforts of a group of Star Wars fans who try to sneak into Skywalker Ranch. And Celebration IV will boast an enormous store of Star Wars-themed items, some exclusive to the convention, which will remain open 24 hours a day for the duration.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to proclaim May 25 "Star Wars Day in Los Angeles" with an official proclamation. And the United States Postal Service will issue the first of its Star Wars-themed stamps on that day as well. The convention runs through May 28, Memorial Day.
Jason and Pete from "The Force" Cast are posting video from the Con.. check it out
First video is 66 artists put their own unique spin on the Galaxy's most notorious villain at Star Wars: Celebration IV's Vader Project.
[youtube=425,350]wt3zCaB2Ekw[/youtube]
Second video is The Force-Cast's Jason and Pete are your personal tour guides through Lucasfilm's Archive exhibit at Star Wars: Celebration IV. Many of these items have never been seen by the public.
[youtube=425,350]BkCSO-2EQjU[/youtube]
This stuff is awesome guys.. I can't wait to go see this stuff in person tomorrow.
Thanks for posting these. This looks awesome.
I'm very jealous, Kenny.
Thanks for the Post, I to am Jealous. I went to the last one, and so badly wanted to go to this one, but unable to. Will be living a bit vicariously through you Kenny, and your experiences
The Force Cast just posted more video..
First one is a guy who won a Contest to have an action figure made of himself... the process is really cool.
[youtube=425,350]ndOEnFYNO6o[/youtube]
Fans lined up around the convention center waiting for the doors to open the first day. Anthony Daniels greeting fans in line
[youtube=425,350]LupL90cNBcU[/youtube]
I was watching some of the other Videos as well. I chuckled at the one of the fans coming in after the doors were open on the first day. You could see everyone running for the exclusives, and all the event staff telling people not to run. Unless they increases editions sizes on convention exclusives, they will never stop people from running, as to get some of the exclusives, you have to run, as they are gone within minutes after the doors open. If they could distibute them better as well, it would make everyones experience a whole bunch better.
That GG scanning tech is awesome. Thanks again for posting those, Kenny.
No matter what the exclusives are, I wouldn't be waiting in that line. Plus, many of the exclusives could be pre-purchased online and just picked up at the con. So it wasn't that big a deal - at least from my viewpoint.
I think with some of the Gentle Giant exclusives, that there was no preorder option. I think with the Boba Fett Macquette, it has a real low edition size, and they only sell a certain amout each day. On another forum I read where they were sold out of the daily allotment 3 minutes after the door opens. I believe that sideshow allows preorder, and I think that is the right thing to do, as then people who are looking for the exclusives, are not stressed about it. That line looked very long, and I certainly would not like to stand in it.
Yes - not all is up for preorder. Still wouldn't stand in that line.
Hey Guys.. just got back from C4. It was alot of fun and my super tired so I'm not going to go into details... but I did take 238 pictures... here are a few.
Here are a few more!!!
The Cylons Rock!
I will never sleep well because of slave errr guy leia costume.
Great pics Kenny. Can't wait to see more and hear your report. Any footage of the new Clone Wars animated series yet?
Cool pics Kenny. The fans are what really make Celebration. Looking forward to the other pics.
Thanks for sharing, Kenny. Keep 'em coming.
I'm with Rico. Any word on the CW series?
Have fun today.
I really enjoyed the videos. Very cool stuff.
man, how cool would it be to be at this?
Awesome pics Kenny
The X-wing must have been the "wide" edition and the dude "slave leia is probably one of the more disturbing things I have ever seen....EVER
I"m glad you guys like the picture.. I took over 350 the two days.. I'm currently writing up my experience and creating webpages on my website. I'll also record my reports for Rico's podcast.
It was an awesome two days.. I wish I went the entire time but at least I got two days of Star Wars Mania. I got tons a pictures. I went to Fanboys, Star Wars Robot Chicken and The Clone Wars panels, went to severl or the exhibits (Vader Project, Achives props and Astro Droid builders). Like I said I'm working on the longer version of my report and will have it up soon.
I thought Lucas was supposed to make a HUGE announcement during the convention? I assumed he was announcing he was doing another SW movie but then I never heard another word. Anyone know?
Kevin
That was a rumor that started going around early last week. I never thought there was any substance to it. I think GL is off working on Indy and didn't even appear at the convention, which made me skeptical of such a major announcement.
It was an intriguing rumor, announcement of a new live-action motion picture detailing how the Jedi gained control from the Sith, beginning their 1000-year guardianship of the Republic. Maybe someday.
No.. George didn't even show up.. he was in England working on Indy 4. He did a videotaped message but nothing special about it.
I am glad that you had a great time at the Con Kenny, looking forward to your report and more of your pictures. I suspect Lucas releasing the trailer for the cartoon was the big news coming out of the Con.
Hey Guys.. I'm finding it tough to find the time to create my webpages.. I have most of my reports written and all my pictures have been uploaded.. it's just a matter of time to build the pages... so here are few more pictures until I can get my website up.
This is multiple shots of The Vader Project exhibit. Were various artist create masterpieces from Vader's helmets.
Well after NINE hours of working on it my Star Wars Celebration IV webpages are done.
Follow the link and you can read what happen that weekend and see a ton of picutes.. hope you guys enjoy it.
http://www.geocities.com/dathon1/ConventionMain.html
This is great Kenny. I am enjoying your writing and pictures a whole bunch! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us!
Awesome!
:luke
Thanks Rick.. I think it turned out pretty good.
:r2d2line :r2d2line :r2d2line :r2d2line
WOW! Great work Kenny! I love how you used that comic book style program to add the text and make some of the pages. Very cool!
Quote from: Rico on June 02, 2007, 07:08:57 PM
WOW! Great work Kenny! I love how you used that comic book style program to add the text and make some of the pages. Very cool!
Thanks!!
Yes it's so much easier to build pages of photos with the comiclife. I was going to do the entire thing but it's hard to do text and photos in comic life.
Thanks for sharing your experiences at C4. Sounds like you got to see plenty of things which is great. Enjoyed your pictures as we...
I checked out your Celebration IV section of your website and Kenny and it looks like you had a great time. Thanks for the report and all the pics!
Kevin