I say this so that you'll understand something about me...I truly COME ALIVE at a convention, in a way I just don't normally. I don't sleep. I don't eat. I've got to see as many things as possible, be in as many places as possible, because I don't want to miss anything. But if it's a Star Wars convention...there's something special about those. The excitement leading up to the event, the energy during the event, and the exhaustion that follows immediately afterward: it's almost tangible. Star Wars fans know exactly what I'm talking about: it's the Force.
Star Wars Celebration V was everything I just described above but so much more. If you're a collector, a cosplayer, or a casual fan, we're all united with a love for that galaxy far, far away...and any differences just melt away during a celebration. I've described it in the past as a reunion of people I've never actually met before. Over the years, I've interacted with a lot of fans, friends, and foes, but rarely ever met these people in person. It's always exciting when I meet someone first the first time, although we've known each other for years.
"Never Tell Me The Odds!" Typically when I'm at a convention, I don't actually SEE much of the convention. In fact, by the third day, I don't even leave the hotel room, because I'm busy taking pictures, writing reports, editing, posting...I'm the man behind the curtain, if you will (quite literally, sometimes, if you've seen our booth!). But this show was a completely different experience for me because of two things: a VERY conflicting schedule and a lack of internet connection. The laptop that I have used in 7 different states and 3 different countries just wouldn't work, and no one could figure out why. I've heard that many people had internet issues during the weekend, which was really frustrating. Now, you might think it's not a big deal, but let me tell you, as an internet reporter...it's crucial. Since we have adopted a "No Fan Left Behind" motto since Celebration IV, we all try to update as much as possible, many times reporting live from the showroom floor (literally ON the floor!) or presentation panels. Not having a wireless connection made that nearly impossible...with a few key exceptions.
MAJOR kudos to Grahame for not only figuring out how to get the laptop to work, but also coming with me to the Disney and Hasbro panels. I normally cover panels alone, so it was great having someone else there to help with the coverage. The Disney panel went out live flawlessly, with me typing the updates and Grahame taking photos of the presentation. But during the Hasbro panel, the laptop battery died (note to self: plug it in!). So, without missing a beat, I put it away and continued the live report with my Droid phone.
Which brings up an interesting point: This was an strange show for me from a reporting perspective, because a lot of my CV experience was presented via my phone...which honestly, stills amazes me that I could do it. Granted, there were more typos than normal (which have since been fixed), but even with the odds against me, I was still able to cover the show pretty well, although a lot of my reports ended up on my Facebook page. I have been hesitant in the past via Facebook, but as Mandy & Eric pointed out to me, that's where everyone is anyway!
"We Ran Into Some Old Friends" Although there was a lot of stuff to see and do during Celebration V, the sight that greeted most fans when they entered the hall was a large Vintage Boba Fett cardback for photo ops. Since I've done this before, I resisted the temptation to pose in the card this year..but that was always pretty packed with fans, some with really cool costumes!
I've already posted my Hasbro special report and the special podcast interview, and it was great fun to talk with pretty much the entire Star Wars team, who I am sure they must think I was stalking them, because I ran into them so often! However, another fun thing that I always enjoy is meeting other websites' crew. I know there's a certain level of "competition" online, but once we can get past that, I've often found we all have a lot in common. I mentioned a "reunion of people I've never met" earlier, but I have met most of the other reporters from other websites, and most of get along really well. I wish there was more time so we could just hang out with each other without pressure and deadlines, because we really have so much in common.
"We Are Now Part Of The Tribe" Which brings me to another highlight of CV...getting the band back together! If you've been reading the other updates from the assembled team, you'll see this is a common highlight for everyone. While we have teams dedicated to Rebelscum.com, TheForce.Net, The ForceCast, and Official Pix...in reality, we quite often overlap in our roles, forming one big team. Each and every one of us is a hardcore fanboy (and girl) who share a passion for Star Wars (Philip is the biggest fan of all!). My reunion comments are especially true in this case...we all communicate with each other daily, but we're scattered in various states and countries. It's truly a shame we can't get together more often. I even briefly met members of the Japanese and Spanish teams, and I wish there was more time to get to know them better.
As with previous Celebrations, we all got together the night before to determine our game plan for the show: who was going to cover what panel, talk to which company, etc. This lasted for about 10 minutes before things just got way too hilarious to even concentrate, yet looking over the complete coverage from the past few weeks, we somehow pulled it off.
During the show, however, we were all scattered, either attending panels, working on the live ForceCast shows, conducting interviews, photographing all aspects of the show over 5 days. The fun didn't stop when the doors closed, either...because we immediately headed to various parties (TheForce.Net and Fans of the ForceCast were legend -- wait for it -- ary!)
"Where's Curto?" This has been a running joke on the ForceCast ever since Celebration Japan (one of several running jokes about me, actually), and Jay actually made up buttons with a "Where's Curto?" logo on it, and I cannot tell you how many people came up asking me this question...which was hilarious! They also got a surprise gift: I had a limited number of buttons to give out to those who "found me". (Dave also came up with a simply brilliant idea we could have done, but it turns out there wasn't a need for it...maybe something to save for next time?)
Ideally, this would have been a theme for my daily CV reports. If you followed me on Facebook, you already most of where I was during CV. But if not, here's a rundown:
WEDNESDAY 8/11 Journey begins. Met Grahame at DC airport. Flight to Orlando. Arrived at hotel about 12:30. Met Dave, Jay, Dustin at convention center. Took lots of setup photos. Stopped at Super 7 booth, got a cool t-shirt I promised to wear one day of the show. Lunch at Denny's at 2:30. Back to booth for more setup photos, mapped out panel locations. Done at 6:30. Hotel room meeting, then down to bar
THURSDAY 8/12 Waiting for Mandy...coffee at Official Pix. Day 1 begins...no wireless! Collectibles panel at 11 (Gentle Giant reveals they want to make all the Vintage Kenner figure as 12" figures, including the blue Snaggletooth, which was NEVER on a card before!) Met the "real" Gretchen & Caribou! Toy shopping with Kyle Newman, met Chris Macht, Derryl DePreist. Celebrating Celebration panel. live updates. Forcecast live show. Presented Hasbro with Licensee of the Year award. Stopped to see THE SOLO ADVENTURES. Awesome 3D movie! Heading to the ForceCast party...a harrowing experience! TheForce.Net party & Fans of the ForceCast party (lots of celebs, artists, fans...awesome!)
FRIDAY 8/13 Waiting for Mandy...coffee at Official Pix. Group photo I George Lucas sighting by the Ice Bar! Checked out Artist Alley Watched Steve Sansweet officiating at Commitment Chapel Ceremony LIVE REPORT: Disney LIVE Report: Hasbro Topps TESB panel Check out the new stuff in the Hasbro booth. MANY conversations! Red Lobster for dinner with Jay, Grahame, Chris, Courtney, Dustin (even ran into Eric & Mandy)
SATURDAY 8/14 LOST MY VOICE! Waiting for Mandy...coffee at Official Pix. Manning the booth while everyone went to The Main Event Stopped by Topps...I got my return sketch cards back! ForceCast LIVE Group YouTube effort--I was the first to view it! :) Another trip to Artist Alley LIVE REPORT: 30 years of Star Wars Licensing (Howard Roffman tells it all) Back to see THE SOLO ADVENTURES, this time with Stephen Hayford James Burns & I conducted a podcast interview with Hasbro's Derryl DePriest Star Wars Insider panel (announced a cool project I was able to help with!) Dinner at McDonald's by myself (everyone else went to Endor!) Late night impromptu meeting at the bar...very interesting.
SUNDAY 8/15 Still no voice...coffee at Official Pix. Waiting for Mandy... Group photo II Back to see THE SOLO ADVENTURES again, now with Chuck and Mark. THE MAIN EVENT rebroadcast with Carrie Fisher introducing it Lunch...kind of Social Media Panel THE CLONE WARS sneak peek panel (crazy woman wanders onto the stage!) Stopped back at Artist Alley FFURG Reunion Guarded Jan Duursema's gear as she packed up. Met Tom Mandrake! Helped Leah Mangue with her gear Packed up the gear from the booth to trek it back to the hotel (I'm a pack mule!) Buffet dinner at hotel...not so good. Signed up for Twitter! (scary, I know)
MONDAY 8/16 STILL NO VOICE! Waiting for Mandy...she's driving us all back to the airport! Flight to Rochester begins via Atlanta (BTW, I HATE this airport!) Finally back home..slept for 10 hours!
I'm sure there's stuff I've forgotten, there was so much going on!
"The Force Will Be With You...Always" Overall, I have to say, Celebration V was my second-favorite Celebration ever. Since I wasn't behind a computer the entire show, I actually got to SEE a lot of this show this time. There was a LOT of schedule conflicts, long lines everywhere I went, tons of costumed fans, and a lot of weary faces. I didn't get to meet Adrianne Curry, but I did get to meet David Waldek from Topps, Jonathan Wilkins from Star Wars Insider, the entire Hasbro team, James and Adam from JediNews.co.uk, my old pals from FFURG, and countless fans. I even signed some autographs, which was quite bizarre, but fun: a few books, t-shirts, a Stormtrooper helmet, and even an iPhone!
The team often uses the slogan "No Fan Left Behind!" for event coverage, which is a promise that we will deliver to you the best experience that we can, so that you can follow along with the show as if you were actually there. But after this trip, I honestly feel like I've left a part of myself behind. I said in the beginning that I really come alive at conventions...and now that I've gone through CV withdrawal, I cannot wait for CVI to start it up all over again! Sure, it'll exhaust me and I'll never do everything I want to see and do, but I love every moment.
And you know what? I STILL didn't get to ride anything!!
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