ryanvb

Heritage Auctions is pulling the same shady crap they did with the video game market. There’s a documentary about these practices on YouTube called “Exposing FRAUD And DECEPTION In The Retro Video Game Market”.

Here’s their ploy: they create a new category of graded collectibles, then sell them to themselves and other insiders at massively inflated prices, prices no reasonable person would ever pay except their own insiders. This sets inflated baseline prices and balloons that entire collectible market. They then profit massively through their partners’ grading services and subsequent auction premiums. Their insiders also seem to buy up huge inventories of the collectibles in question (in this case sealed VHS tapes) before starting the scam, so they have a corner on the market. It’s quite ingenious, except that it’s borderline illegal.

Thanks for this amazing project! I’m also just wondering what this Clone Wars 1440p version is that you mention. Was that an official release?

Here's a text-free version of the IMAX poster:

FULL RESOLUTION LINK

Hal 9000 said:

Just finished listening to chapter 1. It's very compelling, especially with the passable Lucas impression. I feel like Lucas himself is narrating somewhat. 

Very enjoyable so far, and many hours left.

 So glad to hear you're enjoying it!

TK-949 said:

I know it's not nice to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I have to say, if I had paid the $34.44 for the Audio book I'd expect a better sound quality.

 Make sure you're downloading the "Enhanced" quality audio files.  There's 5 different quality levels you can download with varying file sizes.  The audiobook should be 727MB at full audio quality.

Tobar said:

How is Mr. Kaminski doing by the way, he hasn't been around in quite some time.

I believe it's been over a year since I've heard from him and since any of my communication with him has been successful.

Ryan McAvoy said:

Wow! Free code for a free book on Audible if you sign up for a free trial,

or

free book on Audible if you sign up for a free trial.

So sad I missed out on the awesome exclusive deal. So jealous of the 5 that got that code!

There is a difference. The code means no trial is necessary.  The trial requires a credit card.

doubleofive said:

TK-949 said:

Is there a possibility to download the mp3 without installing a 3rd party software?

As in, without using AudibleManager to download it? No, I don't think so.

 You don't need to use AudibleManager if you're using the smartphone app.  If you want to listen on your computer, you can also just download the book directly off the Audible site and load the ".aax" file into iTunes, although I know a lot of people avoid iTunes.

TK-949 said:

Is there a possibility to download the mp3 without installing a 3rd party software?

 Do you have a smartphone?  There's an app for both iPhone and Android.  Audible is owned by Amazon, so it's a trustworthy business.

TK-949 said:

The title "A New Hope" wasn't added before 1995 in the German versions of the OT.

 Thanks TK!  And that does it for the free codes.  Although, hint, hint: you may find a few more on reddit.  An upvote would be much appreciated!

Alternatively, you can also get the book for free by going to Audible and signing up for a free trial.

TV's Frink said:

TV's Frink said:

George Lucas has never been in my kitchen.

 It's true!

 Pic or it didn't happen.

There's still one code left.  Bingowings has decided to donate his back to give to someone who actually replies with a little known fact, rather than making them up!

DominicCobb said:

This guy's voice is actually a processed line of John Wayne dialogue.

 I hope his family is getting royalties!  "And now young DomnicCobb.... you... will... get a code."

twister111 said:

Um,.... I think there's a deleted Yoda line in ROTJ talking about how Obi-wan wanted to tell Luke the truth about Vader but he forbade it.

 May the code be with you.

doubleofive, I did not know that.  Thank you!  Code sent!

Bingowings, I'm not sure any of those are true, but you get a code for effort.

Fishmanlee, thanks for the fun fact!  Code incoming.

TK-949, the narrator is Josh Robert Thompson of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" fame -- he's that skeleton sidekick.  He's known for his ability to do impersonations, and you may hear a few of them in the audiobook!

Hi,

I've had the privilege of producing the audiobook of Michael Kaminski's "The Secret History of Star Wars", now available on Audible.com.

I first found out about this fascinating book here on originaltrilogy.com, and I thought it would be fitting to give back to this community.  So...

The first 5 respondents who reply with a little-known fact about the Star Wars productions will get a code to redeem for a free copy of the audiobook on Audible.com.

I hope you enjoy the audiobook as much as I did producing it!

Thanks.

Edit: Thanks for everyone who participated and got a free code for the audiobook!  Congratulations to fishmanlee, doubleofive, twister111, DominicCob, and TK 949!  Honorable mention to Bingowings and TV's Frink who also had a go of it.

If you missed your chance, you can still get the book for free by going to Audible and signing up for a free trial.  Or check reddit to see if there's any codes left there.  An upvote would be much appreciated!

Yet again, Lucas is spouting off about preserving cinematic heritage, despite his consistent record of rewriting his own.

The quote below is from his May 2011 introductory letter for the _Profiles in History _catalogue featuring Debbie Reynold’s collection of Hollywood memorabilia (PDF link):

As a filmmaker and a lover of cinema, I have always appreciated the many disciplines that go into making a film – the props, the costumes, all the aspects that come together to make the whole as great as the sum of its parts. I have archived all the important pieces from my own films, and I am a staunch believer it’s important that we all make an effort to preserve our cinematic heritage – before it’s too late.

…

George Lucas

This is the second such quote the I can recall, the first being his attack on the colorisation of The Three Stooges.  Interestingly, the studio that released those colorised revisions offered the viewer the choice to see the original black and white versions instead.  Meanwhile, Lucas’ new BluRay editions of the classic trilogy limit the viewer to his 1997 digitally altered special editions.

Mod Edit: a working link to the ‘attack on the colorization of The Three Stooges’ article, can be found here:-

https://web.archive.org/web/20040827042127/http://www.showbizdata.com:80/contacts/picknews.cfm/36307/LUCAS_ON_COLORIZED_STOOGES_MOVIES:_NUTS_TO_NYUCKS

[Deleted]

Are these available somewhere?  Would be nice to have the original color timings.

Great article.  Thanks for the link.  Saw Gary talk at the Celebration today, and he reinforced the point that Empire is his proudest moment, but didn't let on at all about his feelings about LucasFilms' focus on commercializing every aspect of the movies.

Looks like archive.org has various snapshots.  The Flash features don't seem to work though.  http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://dvd.starwars.com

Wookie Groomer said:

I'm fairly confident we'll see these reposted within the evening. I was contacted that these reposts will go up tonight. Hopefully.

Looks like the repost has commenced.  I guess you're off the hook, rockps3avchd.

Can these still be found anywhere?  I get the impression they're on MySpleen, but I guess need an invitation to the site.

Really enjoyed this: http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1920944