22 January 2088 CELEBRITY CHAT LOG featuring Dr. David West Reynolds Dr. David West Reynolds is the author of many best selling Star Wars books and is privy to much behind-the-scenes knowledge due to his close ties with Lucasfilm. Dr. Reynolds' latest book, Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary , is the ultimate guide to Star Wars characters and creatures in an encyclopedia format with fabulous graphics. In this NextPlanetOver -sponsored celebrity chat, Dr. Reynolds entertained the Cybertown community with his unique insights combining archaeology and Star Wars. Dr. Reynolds earned his Ph.D. in archaeology at the University of Michigan. A lecturer, veteran of field expeditions on three continents, and author of scientific archaeological papers, he also enjoys the world of Star Wars, considering it "like ancient Rome or Egypt, a culture from another time and place to explore."
Having previously worked as a location scout for Lucasfilm, he is presently a writer at Skywalker Ranch in California. Dr. Reynolds brings to Star Wars his background in culture, history, and technology studies, and has written four Star Wars books, including Incredible Star Wars Cross-Sections, a companion volume to the Dictionary. Please note: Dr. David West Reynolds' Cybertown nickname is timeranger 02/22/00 23:54:02
Club 'NextPlanetOver.com' welcome to the Club 'NextPlanetOver.com'. Please note that visitors can only watch the chat!
timeranger has joined the group oreo_40 has joined the group [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : hi
[Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : where is the celeb macdaddy40 has left the group [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : hello NPOModerator [10] : hello timeranger timeranger [5] : Hi guys. [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : where is he [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : hi Princess_Laa-Laa has joined the group [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : hello Princess_Laa-Laa has left the group Princess_Laa-Laa has joined the group truffaut has left the group timeranger [5] : Greetings [Block Leader] King_Hew [1854] : i'm here, but now [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : where is the celeb
[Colony Deputy] Princess_Laa-Laa [4819] : hi timeranger [5] : ! [COM] red5 [6570] : Hello Timeranger [Block Leader] oreo_40 [1450] : hi timeranger
** chat moderated by NPOModerator ** doga8 has joined the group
timeranger [5] : My specialties are in Imperial Rome and Ancient Egypt.
timeranger [5] : But I work all over the place, especially with psycho86 has joined the group timeranger [5] : the analysis of urban structure. Reading cities timeranger [5] : for what they tell about the people psycho86 has left the group timeranger [5] : who build them. black_monster has left the group [Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : How many Books on Star Wars have you read Jack has joined the group truffaut has joined the group
zamena_crowtan has left the group timeranger [5] : How many books? I long ago lost count. Some of the most timeranger [5] : interesting information is in obscure places timeranger [5] : like Ralph McQuarrie's original portfolio
timeranger [5] : or the Archie Goodwin era Marvel comics. Of what's
timeranger [5] : in print, anyway. There is also lots of good timeranger [5] : information floating around the great Model Shop at timeranger [5] : ILM. Some of those guys have been there timeranger [5] : since the beginning.
[COM] red5 [6570] : I have heard stories on how George Lucas comes up with Names for his characters. Can you shed any light on that process? timeranger [5] : George finds inspiration for names Zelta_5 has joined the group
timeranger [5] : all over the place. In North Africa I found Lt.General has joined the group Squall_2000 has left the group timeranger [5] : that "Jawas" were a brand of moped, and timeranger [5] : Tatooine was based on the Arab town of timeranger [5] : Tataouine. For his characters he takes inspiration timeranger [5] : from throughout mythology and his experience.
timeranger [5] : R2-D2's name came from "Reel 2, Dialogue 2," Squall_2000 has joined the group timeranger [5] : a code for an audio tape in a movie he was making. timeranger [5] : He keeps a notebook of any interesting name ideas timeranger [5] : he comes across. NPOModerator [10] : Welcome to the cybertown.com chat with Dr. David West Reynolds, the author of Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary is now chatting with us. Thanks for all the great questions. Buzz_Lightyear_ has left the group zamena_crowtan has joined the group [Block Leader] runwild58 [1400] : Have new characters been made at ILM to help your books fill up unexplained holes in the story? Buzz_Lightyear_ has joined the group timeranger [5] : How do you mean, made at ILM? Sorry, I don't understand. Buzz_Lightyear_ has left the group [COM] red5 [6570] : So why Star Wars and not Dune or some other sci-fi story? timeranger [5] : One of the most fascinating aspects of Star Wars for me timeranger [5] : was its feeling of gritty realism, especially in the timeranger [5] : first film. Part of that came from the real locations timeranger [5] : used for the desert planet Tatooine. The places were timeranger [5] : Tatooine was filmed offered me a chance to step timeranger [5] : into the fantasy in a way I could not do for other great timeranger [5] : sci-fi works like Dune. The chance to literally timeranger [5] : gave it a special appeal for me.
timeranger [5] : follow in the characters' footsteps in Star Wars timeranger [5] : It also offered a perfect crossover between timeranger [5] : archaeology and a great film I enjoyed. Princess_Laa-Laa has left the group [Block Leader] Zelta_5 [1285] : Have you seen 'The Phantom Menace' and if so, what
did you think of it? timeranger [5] : I had seen TPM about 9 times before it premiered. doga8 has left the group mrdan85 has joined the group
timeranger [5] : It feels very different from the other movies to me
timeranger [5] : partly because I know the people involved in making it timeranger [5] : now. It's hard for me to suspend my disbelief timeranger [5] : when I am thinking "wow, there's another great Super-Saiyan-Jin has joined the group Squall_2000 has left the group timeranger [5] : Doug Chiang design! Hey, Trisha Biggar did such a good Squall_2000 has joined the group
timeranger [5] : job on that costume!" It feels like watching timeranger [5] : home movies. Zelta_5 has left the group zamena_crowtan has left the group Xanatos88 [55] : Do your 2 careers, writing and archaeology, work well together? Super-Saiyan-Jin has left the group Squall_2000 has left the group runwild58 has left the group timeranger [5] : They work great together! Archaeology helped me zamena_crowtan has joined the group
timeranger [5] : in many ways with inspiration for my Star Wars writing,
timeranger [5] : and offered me a way to look at finding zamena_crowtan has left the group timeranger [5] : explanations and making connections based
zamena_crowtan has joined the group timeranger [5] : on evidence and artifacts. It wasn't really so different timeranger [5] : that the artifacts were film props in this case. timeranger [5] : Also, writing is something that I can do timeranger [5] : wherever I go, which is good since timeranger [5] : archaeological research often involves travel. NPOModerator [10] : Welcome to the cybertown chat with Dr. David West Reynolds, the author of Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary. Thanks for the great questions. Dorsk_82 [105] : Did you get to meet Doug Chiang? timeranger [5] : I worked very closely with Doug for my cross- Diaxus has joined the group timeranger [5] : sections book. I began my work on every ship timeranger [5] : by talking with Doug about what he and George timeranger [5] : had in mind for that ship. Then wherever Doug left off, timeranger [5] : I took up and started weaving functional explanations timeranger [5] : to blend with his designs.
timeranger [5] : Working with Doug was one of the best things Jack has left the group timeranger [5] : I got to do while writing the books. He is
timeranger [5] : tremendously creative, and enjoys the timeranger [5] : creativity of others. He is talented enough timeranger [5] : not to be threatened by other peoples' ideas. Lt.General [1064] : The books explain more about the chararcters than the movie does. Where do you retrieve this info from? timeranger [5] : In some cases for the Star Wars books, timeranger [5] : and in a lot of cases for the Episode I books, timeranger [5] : I created new background information myself. Anakin35 has joined the group timeranger [5] : I always started with the notes compiled by Diaxus has left the group
Anakin35 has left the group timeranger [5] : the Lucasfilm continuity staff, which begins timeranger [5] : with all the info. George provided in interviews. SMCookEMonstA has joined the group Anakin35 has joined the group timeranger [5] : Where that left off, I picked up. The continuity
timeranger [5] : people would review it for consistency, and then it timeranger [5] : would get approval. timeranger [5] : George himself read the Visual Dictionary manuscript timeranger [5] : at the end and made a few changes. Just three! [Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : Do you have any info on Episode 2 you could reveal timeranger [5] : Ho ho. Not here my friend! Xanatos88 [55] : What 3 changes were made in the manuscript? cactus_jack has joined the group NPOModerator has joined the group timeranger [5] : George reduced the number of planets that Palpatine [Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : What does C3PO stand for. timeranger [5] : represents. And he revised Destroyer Droids timeranger [5] : to Droideka--a late revision. [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : Did you get to keep any souveniers? paslui has joined the group Dorsk_82 [105] : Do you know what type of alien Darth Maul is or did they not tell you? Jack has joined the group timeranger [5] : I think we decided to leave Darth Maul's species out Jack has left the group
timeranger [5] : of the Visual Dictionary. To leave some mystery timeranger [5] : about the character for a little longer. paslui has left the group
[Block Deputy] SMCookEMonstA [775] : I believe in the movie they called him a sith, yes? Dorsk_82 [105] : But he's dead it doesn't matter. Jack has joined the group zamena_crowtan [185] : Will Boba-Fett return in any future eposides? timeranger [5] : George has promised that Boba Fett will be back. extreme-steve has joined the group Dorsk_82 [105] : Cool
[Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : Sith is an ancient class of dark jedi [COM] red5 [6570] : What is the hottest SW colletable right now? extreme-steve [90] : sup pimps? [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : Do you hope they pick a well-known or unknown actor for Anakin? timeranger [5] : For SW collectibles, you'd want to check with cactus_jack has left the group timeranger [5] : my pal Steve Sansweet, the greatest SW collector timeranger [5] : in the world! timeranger [5] : He writes a column in Star Wars Insider warloc has joined the group timeranger [5] : and answers collectible questions.
[Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : whats his email i have to get it [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : i love that magazine [COM] red5 [6570] : ok I will!
Dorsk_82 [105] : Hey Mod why don't you let all the question's go to him?
Dorsk_82 [105] : That mag rock's [Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : Dr. what is his E mail NPOModerator [10] whispers : carol, I can no longer moderate...
[Block Deputy] SMCookEMonstA [775] : Aside form the obvious "I love it", how do you feel about the cult fandom status that your work has achieved?
[Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : When will you begin work on Episode 2 visual
dictionary? Dorsk_82 [105] : Did you like star wars before you started the book? NPOModerator has left the group warloc has left the group
extreme-steve has left the group timeranger [5] : I didn't know it had achieved cult fandom status. [Block Leader] ig_38 [800] : lol everyone wants a question in timeranger [5] : But it sounds good, so if you say so.... NPOModerator has joined the group cactus_jack has joined the group zamena_crowtan has left the group ethelee has joined the group Xanatos88 has left the group [Block Deputy] SMCookEMonstA [775] : Star Wars fans and Star Trek fan are often lumped together for their rabid devotion... Not my gig, but hey :) Dorsk_82 [105] : Who is your fav character? NPOModerator has left the group cactus_jack has left the group [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : have you seen prototypes of new vehicles and weopons for episode 2?
timeranger [5] : I haven't been to the Art Department to see the new timeranger [5] : designs, but I hear they are terrific. [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : cool NIKADIMEZ has joined the group [COM] red5 [6570] : What species are Yoda and Darth Maul? NPOModerator has joined the group timeranger [5] : George and Doug have got an absolutely ig_38 has left the group
NIKADIMEZ has left the group timeranger [5] : amazing pool of talent on that team. NPOModerator [10] : Sorry about the technical difficulties. timeranger [5] : We decided not to identify Yoda's species just yet, nor ooltewah has joined the group timeranger [5] : Darth Maul's. To me, Darth Maul is really a timeranger [5] : British guy who can do some incredible kicks and flips.
sent to Moderator: red5 : LOL timeranger [5] : So I'd say his species is British. NPOModerator [10] : Please send in your remaining questions, as Dr. Reynolds will be here for a few more minutes. [Arcade Deputy] ethelee [2544] : What is the daily life of an author? ooltewah has left the group timeranger [5] : When working on the Star Wars books I worked very late NIKADIMEZ has joined the group sent to Moderator: red5 : We will tell the Cybertown Founder that Darth Maul is British like him! LOL timeranger [5] : into the evenings and every ig_38 has joined the group timeranger [5] : weekend. It is great, rewarding work timeranger [5] : but it is all the time you have SpinZZ has joined the group timeranger [5] : and more. I always wanted to do the best timeranger [5] : I could with each project, so that meant timeranger [5] : working as much and as hard as I could.
timeranger [5] : Fortunately the teams I worked with, matthewcraig has joined the group timeranger [5] : like the cutaway illustrators Hans Jenssen
timeranger [5] : and Richard Chasemore, were ready to work timeranger [5] : just as hard. On a team like that timeranger [5] : hard work offers great rewards and I wouln't timeranger [5] : have it any other way. Dorsk_82 [105] : Dr. who is your fav star wars character? timeranger [5] : Too hard to pick one favorite. But timeranger [5] : I got to wear Boba Fett's costume several times timeranger [5] : so I have a special affinity for him.
timeranger [5] : I was Boba for some public appearances and for some still
timeranger [5] : photos, in the original filming suit. That was timeranger [5] : a sweet fringe benefit. [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : Do you agree that the lightsaber battle from Ep 1 was the best one ever? zamena_crowtan has joined the group timeranger [5] : Nick Gillard timeranger [5] : certainly did the most incredible choreography mrdan85 has left the group
timeranger [5] : for Episode I. My favorite saber battles, though timeranger [5] : involved the intense dialogue that showed timeranger [5] : the combat was also a battle of wills and timeranger [5] : philosphies. This makes the earlier timeranger [5] : for me. timeranger [5] : 'tamer' saber battles dramatically intense NPOModerator [10] : This is your last chance to win a free book, by clicking the button to your right. And feel free to purchase copy of Star Wars: the Visual Dictioonary, whch you can do by clicking on the book cover.i Jamman has joined the group timeranger [5] : Thanks I' Lt.General has left the group NIKADIMEZ has left the group timeranger [5] : I've already got several. Or did you mean me? :) NPOModerator [10] : Thank you Dr. David West Reynolds! This has been a very informative chat. Best of luck with everything, especially any possible future Star Wars endeavors. Good luck and thank you! sent to Moderator: red5 : lol timeranger [5] : Thanks very much. Glad to have joined you. mrdan85 has joined the group
Jamman has left the group NPOModerator [10] : Good night all! [COM] red5 [6570] : clap, clap, clap,clap [Block Leader] mrdan85 [700] : whoah!
NIKADIMEZ has joined the group [COM] red5 [6570] : clap, clap, clap,clap
[Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : thank you [COM] red5 [6570] : clap, clap, clap,clap [COM] red5 [6570] : whoo hoo1 Thanx for coming! [COM] red5 [6570] : :-) Jamman has joined the group Dorsk_82 [105] : clap clap [Block Leader] Anakin35 [390] : woohoo matthewcraig has left the group NIKADIMEZ has left the group Lt.General has joined the group
SMCookEMonstA has left the group Back to top