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Archived News-April 2006
Week 2
| Friday April 14, 2006 | |
| Homing Beacon #159 | |
The latest Homing Beacon has arrived and today we get to talk about Star Wars fassion. While the Star Wars saga is jam-packed with exciting space battles, exotic creatures and shocking plot twists, it's the innovative costume designs worn by everyone from regal queens to scantily-clad slave girls that intrigue designer Nick Verreos the most. As the founder of NIKOLAKI women's wear clothing line and an instructor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Verreos is most-recently recognized as one of the contestants on season two of the hit Bravo reality TV show "Project Runway." As a young child, Verreos' memories surrounding the Star Wars saga coincide with his family's relocation from Venezuela to the United States. "I was 10 when my family and I had recently arrived to the U.S., and I first saw A New Hope for the first time," Verreos recalls. "A memory that is still captured in my head is of me sitting in the theater when the lights go out, and John Williams' amazing score begins blaring out the speakers and those words start scrolling up. I swear my heart beat so fast I almost fell out of the seat. I still get shivers just seeing that intro and hearing that music; it brings me back to when I was just a boy." "I think at the time, as a young kid, it was great to disappear from the real world and be entertained by such a grand fantasy film," Verreos continues. "I was always a fan of sci-fi, in fact 'Space: 1999' was one of my favorite TV shows growing up, so being a fan of Star Wars was a natural fit for me. The escapism of it all, the 'what's out there in the other planets,' the strange creatures, and especially the costumes, was enthralling for me. I also think that in a way, it helped develop my curiosity for other cultures and countries. By dreaming and being able to suspend myself to other worlds, it eventually made me a far more creative individual in the long run." The memorable costumes of the Star Wars saga seemed to trigger a special appreciation that would later inspire Verreos as he began his fashion career. "The most fashionable character of the saga is a toss up between Princess Leia and Queen Amidala," Verreos says. "Princess Leia's infamous metal bikini was so Paco Rabanne meets Courreges -- hot! She was the Bridgite Bardot of galaxy. In The Phantom Menace, Queen Amidala was giving us intergalactic couture. She was a Dior fashion show by John Galliano all wrapped up into one person -- a mini diva! When I first saw those Queen Amidala costumes in Vogue magazine, I remembered sketching more voluminous gowns with heavier fabrics. I fantasized that I would do a runway collection with very theatrical, bigger-than-life ensembles, something that Queen Amidala would wear. I used her as my muse and client." While Queen Amidala's style inspired Verreos to try new elements in his own designs, that doesn't mean there weren't a few fashion victims in the saga that even the Force couldn't fix. "Oh dear, Obi-Wan Kenobi and that hemp-looking robe and that 1980s Flock of Seagull-meets-Duran Duran braid of his -- bad, bad and more bad!" Verreos laughs. "I would cut that braid off and give him some color, maybe around the neckline or the edges of his robe -- something!" Jedi fashion faux pas aside, Verreos has nothing but respect for costume designer Trisha Biggar and her fantastical creations. "The FIDM exhibit, which was shown at the school I teach at, was so beautiful and inspiring," Verreos says. "To see those costumes up close and personal was a great moment for me. These one-of-a-kind costume designs are now icons in the world of Hollywood costume-making." "It's so very important to honor costume designers and the silent workers in the wardrobe department for their work," Verreos says. "I admire and adore Trisha Biggar's wonderful and inspiring designs. Costume designers work tirelessly just like the producers, directors, and screenwriters -- if not more sometimes! They are essential to the overall look of a movie, especially a period film or one such as Star Wars. Living with a costume designer, I know firsthand how often times they are given a tiny budget, a shorter deadlines, and a lack of respect from directors and producers that treat them as 'silly little dressmakers.' So it's refreshing to see Star Wars fans caring about Trisha's hard work and her incredible team of talented and qualified craftsmen, drapers, patternmakers, sewers, and illustrators." "It's these people who attend school to learn the craft, then apply it for years by working on film and television," Verreos adds. "Just because costume-making and designing is a tactile thing and considered a 'craft,' does not mean it worth any less than the special effects or acting in a film. So kudos to Trisha Biggar and all the other costume designers." | |
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| Friday April 14, 2006 | |
| Path to the Force - Episode 71 | |
Today we have Episode 71 of Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force which has been created by Nathan Ciprick. You will be able to access these stories through the Comics section. Check out the latest episode! Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force- Be sure to join us next week for the seventy-second episode of Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force. Then join us every week as we continue to follow the adventures of the Wookiee E'nac from the Star Wars Galaxies videogame in the form of Gamics! | |
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| Thursday April 13, 2006 | |
| New Fan Art | |
CloneJediLuuke has just submitted a great Fan Art creation entitled "Vader's Fist the 501st Legion." Thanks CloneJediLuuke! This piece and others can be found over at the Fan Art section. Enjoy!
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| Thursday April 13, 2006 | |
| Ray Park Interview | |
IESB interviewed Ray Park aka Darth Maul on his life and upcoming projects. So what is next for Ray? Ray has several projects that he will be working on later this year that will continue to keep him very busy. Ray was asked in the interview about the upcoming Star Wars TV series and if there was anything that he would like to do. Be sure to see this very interesting interview on video! | |
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| Wednesday April 12, 2006 | |
| July 2006 Comics | |
 The Official Star Wars Site has provided a look at what Dark Horse
Comics has in store for Star Wars fans in July. Tales of a distant Star Wars
future continue in Star Wars: Legacy #2. Over the bodies of their enemies, two
Jedi make a pact that will set them on the path to a greater danger than they
have ever known . . .Bounty hunters capture a prisoner whose presence will test their resolve -- and the strength of their alliance . . . A Sith apprentice is given the honorific "Darth" and sent to hunt a quarry whose capture -- or death -- could shake an empire to its foundations . . . And a Princess finds herself alone in the galaxy, pursued by those she once counted as allies. Star Wars: Legacy #2 is by the fan favorite team of John Ostrander, Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons and Brad Anderson, with a cover by Adam Hughes. It is scheduled for release on July 5. Meanwhile, in the classic trilogy era, Luke Skywalker faces a squad of stormtroopers when he attempts to bring his boyhood friend Imperial officer Janek "Tank" Sunber over to the Rebellion. Was Tank's plan to defect discovered by the Empire before he could get away, or are the troopers a plot to trick the Alliance into letting Sunber into the heart of their operations? It might not even matter, because while Luke is off on his renegade rescue mission, the Rebel Fleet comes under attack -- from inside the command ship! Star Wars: Rebellion is by Rob Williams, Brandon Badeaux and Wil Glass. It is scheduled for release on July 12. In the distant past, the wildest adventure in the ancient history of Star Wars gets wilder in a brand-new story arc featuring the most feared warriors in the galaxy -- Mandalorians! Leaving the treacherous streets of Taris behind them, fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick and the rag-tag crew of the Last Resort cook up a scheme to pilfer much needed supplies from an unsuspecting bunch of miserly miners. Unfortunately, any attempts at avoiding attention are for naught when the group finds they've landed themselves smack dab in the middle of the Republic and Mandalorian conflict! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #7 is by John Jackson Miller, Dustin Weaver, Michael Atiyeh, and Brian Ching. It is scheduled for release on July 26. Continue, the Clone Wars do. Four more thrilling tales of planets in peril and Jedi in jeopardy! The last days of the Jedi are at hand, but if their Order is to fall, they're going down swinging! Presenting another round of lightning-paced, action-packed, all-ages Star Wars goodness, all told in the same stripped-down stylization as Cartoon Network's micro-series. Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 6 features the works of Haden Blackman, Mike Kennedy, the Fillbach Brothers and Stewart McKenny. It is scheduled for release on August 9. | |
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| Tuesday April 11, 2006 | |
| "Star Wars Kid" Settles | |
Ghyslain Raza, or the "Star Wars Kid" as many of you know him has received a settlement from his proceedings. His face was all over the Internet for a home video of a lightsaber/staff twirling routine caught on video. Raza'a parents originally filed suit for "cyber-bullying" at a cost of $351,000 in Canadian currency. If you don't know what I am talking about, then just do a search for "Star Wars Kid" and you can see him in action. There are several versions of this fight sequence available for you to enjoy. | |
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| Tuesday April 11, 2006 | |
| Toysrus Star Wars Sale | |
Toysrus stores are currently running a sale on Star Wars merchandise. You can buy 2 and get 1 free on all Star Wars figures and accessories. That isn't too bad a deal! You can get 3 Star Wars figures for around $14.00 which is about $4.67 a figure. Those prices won't last long, so hurry to get your figures! | |
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| Monday April 10, 2006 | |
| Path to the Force - Episode 70 | |
Today we have Episode 70 of Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force which has been created by Nathan Ciprick. You will be able to access these stories through the Comics section. Check out the latest episode! Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force- Be sure to check back later this week for the seventy-first episode of Star Wars Galaxies-Path to the Force. Then join us every week as we continue to follow the adventures of the Wookiee E'nac from the Star Wars Galaxies videogame in the form of Gamics! | |
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| Monday April 10, 2006 | |
| Star Wars Insider #87 | |
 Fallen Jedi, new Star Wars Legacy characters, and more clone
adventures all share the spotlight of Star Wars Insider #87, the official
magazine of Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club. In this issue, I
am most looking forward to Daniel Wallace exploring the Emperor's dossiers of
the lost Jedi who became the tragic casualties of Order 66, which includes an
intriguing twist of offering up the official Imperial spin as to what happened
to these "traitors of the Empire." Read all about what you can expect in this latest issue!
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