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ELSTREE 1976 A documentary about ten very different lives connected by having appeared onscreen wearing masks or helmets in Star Wars.

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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/832232974/elstree-1976?ref=home_popular

Check out this AWESOME documentary about the actors who played many of the minor and major roles in the Star Wars films.

The documentary will feature many actors some minor and some major like Prowse. I apologize I do not know many of their names off the top of my head.

David Prowse

Greedo
Bob fett
and more

This is so right up OT's ally as we all care about these people. I always wanted to know the thoughts of the actors who worked in these movies and how they are holding up now. 

I'm so happy to see D.Prowse is doing alright. Sorry, I'm elated for this project!

Thoughts??

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I'm glad to see they've met their funding goal. It's great that projects like this and the Alan Ladd Jr. documentary are starting to turn up. It's a trend I hope continues.

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It's great that Kickstarter makes these labor of love projects possible. I didn't take KS seriously until the restoration of Manos: The Hands of Fate met and exceeded it's goal. Someone should tell George about it. ;)

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Where were you in '77?

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Love that Bob Fett.

In all seriousness, very excited for this. I can't imagine being a part of something so huge, even as just a bit part. Very excited to see these interviews.

Keep Circulating the Tapes.

END OF LINE

(It hasn’t happened yet)

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I'm thrilled that they're offering Blu-ray's as an option. I don't understand why Laddie didn't do that. I'm not buying SD anymore.

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Beware, there are jerks spoiling TFA in the comments there!

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Anyone actually see this?

Just watched it myself on Netflix. It’s a nice little doc. Nothing terribly interesting but I suppose still worth a look if you want to. It’s well done, despite being a big overdramatic. I remember going to a Comic-con a few years back and seeing some of these people and others and just thinking it all seemed rather sad that this is what their life has come to. I was happy to see that these guys find SW and the conventions are just one fun and strange aspect of their life. So it’s a little unfortunate that the film takes on the same dour tone of mine and many others assumptions rather than pushing for something more subversive and happier.

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It’s kind of unique to Star Wars, (and Star Trek to a certain degree) that even having one small part onscreen has that aura attached to it. You don’t see henchman number five from some Bond film signing autographs at cons.

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Where were you in '77?

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Yes it’s quite fascinating and of course the real hook of the doc, though I’m not sure if they mined it for all it’s worth. Would have been interesting to hear the fan’s side of it as well.

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DominicCobb said:

So it’s a little unfortunate that the film takes on the same dour tone of mine and many others assumptions rather than pushing for something more subversive and happier.

Every documentary about fandoms ends up being somewhat depressing. From Trekkies to Ghostheads, I’ve yet to see one that didn’t have an underlying sense of desperation. Despite whatever the documentarian’s intention was.

That said, I’ve yet to watch this particular documentary, so I can’t comment on it specifically.

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It’s too bad. In my mind (and I hope this doesn’t come across as offensive) but the intense obsession of fanatics and the sight of washed-up or no-name actors sitting around signing autographs for money just seems inherently depressing to me. So I feel like these filmmakers should be reminding us how much happiness these people can get out of it.

One fandom doc that seemed to get it right was “Star Warriors.” That one did a great job of taking something that many (including myself) see as somewhat silly - the 501st - and showing how SW and costume making has actually brought a lot of people together in meaningful ways. It really focuses on the human element of these fans which I thought was very nice.

On the subject of this particular doc, it’s all from the perspective of the actors so a bit different. Based on what they all say it seems like SW was just one very small part of their life that’s just happened to have this long lasting effect. Rather than no-name actors trying to make a living off autographs (which is what I had assumed) it’s more like they’re just ordinary people who have by strange chance valuable autographs (which they happily take advantage of). Except the doc’s tone seems to favor the former impression.

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Is that he doc that was on the Star Wars Blu Ray extras about the troopers who marched in the Rose Parade with George? I liked that one more than I expected to.

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Where were you in '77?

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Tobar said:

DominicCobb said:

So it’s a little unfortunate that the film takes on the same dour tone of mine and many others assumptions rather than pushing for something more subversive and happier.

Every documentary about fandoms ends up being somewhat depressing. From Trekkies to Ghostheads, I’ve yet to see one that didn’t have an underlying sense of desperation. Despite whatever the documentarian’s intention was.

That said, I’ve yet to watch this particular documentary, so I can’t comment on it specifically.

I haven’t seen Trekkies, but it’s interesting if it painted the fandom that way, as Denise Crosby (aka Tasha Yar from TNG) made it. I don’t think she would intentionally pull a Shatner, aka Get a life!.

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Tobar said:

DominicCobb said:

So it’s a little unfortunate that the film takes on the same dour tone of mine and many others assumptions rather than pushing for something more subversive and happier.

Every documentary about fandoms ends up being somewhat depressing. From Trekkies to Ghostheads, I’ve yet to see one that didn’t have an underlying sense of desperation. Despite whatever the documentarian’s intention was.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Done_the_Impossible

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SilverWook said:

Tobar said:

DominicCobb said:

So it’s a little unfortunate that the film takes on the same dour tone of mine and many others assumptions rather than pushing for something more subversive and happier.

Every documentary about fandoms ends up being somewhat depressing. From Trekkies to Ghostheads, I’ve yet to see one that didn’t have an underlying sense of desperation. Despite whatever the documentarian’s intention was.

That said, I’ve yet to watch this particular documentary, so I can’t comment on it specifically.

I haven’t seen Trekkies, but it’s interesting if it painted the fandom that way, as Denise Crosby (aka Tasha Yar from TNG) made it. I don’t think she would intentionally pull a Shatner, aka Get a life!.

That’s William F—ing Shatner for you.

“That Darth Vader, man. Sure does love eating Jedi.”

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Shatner has always maintained that the infamous 1986 SNL skit he did was never meant to be taken seriously.

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That looks good. Hope netflix gets it.

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Finally watched it last night. It was…okay. The most interesting bits were when they discussed their time on set and the surprising politics behind the autograph scene.

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Tobar said:

Finally watched it last night. It was…okay. The most interesting bits were when they discussed their time on set and the surprising politics behind the autograph scene.

Yep pretty much.