Terri's San Diego Report - 7/19/97

Hi there!

My husband and I just returned from the San Diego Comic Con, and I thought you might like a report on the Sansweet presentation ("Star Wars: A Look Back, And A Look Ahead"). I did my best to absorb it all. I apologize if I leave something out - it was quite an event.

We arrived at about 9:00 A.M. and walked right into the hall where the presentation was to be held at 11:00. To our surprise there was no line at that time and we got seats very near the front. By 10:30, all 3000 seats were nearly full.

Several announcements were made regarding the use of video/still cameras: absolutely no photography of any kind would be allowed, and anyone caught taking stills/video would be immediately removed from the room and any film/tape would be confiscated. Steve Sansweet was introduced to enthusiastic applause, and he proceeded to discuss the phenomenal success of the Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition in the U.S. and around the world, showing news reports and commentary on the large video monitors.

He went on to show videos of U.S. and foriegn SE tie-in commercials (Taco Bell, etc). He also showed the Saturday Night Live "screen tests", clips from Jay Leno, David Letterman, Rosie O'Donnell, and the MTV Movie Awards (Chewie's Lifetime Achievement Award).

After showing the MTV "screen tests" he showed the actual black-and-white ANH video screen tests (parts of which have been seen on many TV shows, including Entertainment Tonight and Oprah).

He then started talking about the "very special footage" he was about to show: yes, it was the never-before-seen footage of Biggs, Camie, Fixer, and Luke from the beginning of ANH. Koo Stark and Co.!!! He said he begged George Lucas to give it to him for this event and that he was allowed to use it with the understanding that this would be the first and last time it would ever be shown. I was trying so hard to absorb everthing that now I find it hard to describe, but I'll do my best:

Luke looks up into the sky with his macrobinoculars. Reacts. Runs down, steps into a "hole" doorway, squeezes through, enters room where Camie and Fixer are hanging around. It's dimly lit, reminiscent of the Cantina in lighting and texture. He flicks something off of a table next to them and says:

LUKE: "Look alive, guys" (NOTE: DIALOGUE IS APPROXIMATE - THIS IS HOW WE REMEMBER IT).

He discovers Biggs, says:

LUKE: "Biggs! When did you get back?"

They talk for a second

LUKE: "There's a battle going on! Two starships, fighting!"

Luke is excited.

CAMIE: "Take it easy, Wormie".

They run outside. Camie grabs the macrobinocs, takes a few steps into the foreground of the shot, and looks up. Fixer is behind her, more interested in something about Camie's neck than the "battle" in the sky (this was pretty strange). During all of this Biggs tells Luke:

BIGGS: "They're probably just doing a freight transfer".

Camie sort of tosses the binocs back to Luke, who says:

LUKE: "Watch it".

Camie and Fixer exit. Biggs and Luke jump off of the ledge. In the next shot, Luke and Biggs walk toward the camera, each holding what look like Star-Warsy blue beer cans. We're not sure, but Luke seemed a little tipsy as they talk about the Empire and the fleet, etc.

LUKE: "Tell me what it's like".

Biggs says quietly: "I've met some people at the Academy, and when the time is right, when we get near an outlying system we're going to jump ship and join the Rebellion".

LUKE: (LOUDLY) "The Rebellion?!?"

BIGGS: "Hey, not so loud! I can't tell you anything!"

LUKE (stage whisper) "I'll be quiet... see how quiet I am?" He trails off... "You can't even hear me".

Biggs goes on to tell him his plan, and Luke tells him he has to stay on the farm with his uncle.

LUKE: "The Sandpeople have been doing crazy things. They even raided some of the outlying areas around Anchorhead. My uncle needs me."

BIGGS: "Your uncle can hold off a whole colony of Sandpeople by himself, with one blaster."

They talk a little more...

BIGGS: "I have to fight on the side I believe in."

LUKE: "You're my best friend".

BIGGS: "So long, Luke. You'll make it someday."

Cut to long shot of Biggs walking away along the terraced ledge, leaving a round domed building between the two. Luke kicks the ground and turns away.

The footage was edited roughly (it was a work print with no ambient sound or sound effects). It was thrilling to get to see it, but we think Lucas was wise not to use it. It was a little awkward and would not have fit into the rest of the film very well at that point. It also would have been a weaker introduction of Luke's character.

Editors Note: For a full transcript of the "Luke & Biggs" scene, see Star Wars Insider #35