news and rumors

Time magazine images. Forgive me for my lateness on this article, for I have been busy doing my school work. On Monday I flipped out when I arrived from school and found Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin on the cover of Time magazine. All this time I have been focusing my time and energy to get excellent scans for this site. The article is great. Not only do they showcase some amazing images from the film, but they have a special interview with Lucas. Unlike 60 Minutes and Premiere magazine, Lucas' interview focuses on the Story telling of the Phantom Menace. Yes, Lucas talks about the influences that created Maul, the religious aspects of the Force, and what drive Anakin to the dark side. The official Time magazine web site has posted some images, articles and the interview from the same issue. I must advice any Star Wars fan to read it. It surprised me about Lucas and on Star Wars.

'Duels of the Fates' delayed. I assume I was not alone on Tuesday waiting on the radio to hear any news on the new Phantom menace single 'Duels of the Fates'. Instead the radio station have stated that the single will be delivered to their stations on April 26. Some have said that they will not play it on the 26 but wait till the 27? I wonder if Sony will try to prevent others from making any MP3 of this single?

All Hail T'Bone! T'bone recently has posted so much news on his site that could fit a Jawa Sandcrawler. What he has is dialog from the script, an explanation on why Obi-Wan's lightsaber handle is different, and Tomorrow I will post up all that he has on his site. For now just visit his site it will make him happy.

Novel spoilers. SirSteve is posting up several excerpts from the Phantom Menace novel. Visit his site for the spoilers. Visit his site if you DARE!

Editor's note. Sorry about the delays of the site. Like I said before I am busy with school work. My school years ends on May 11. So that means I will only update my site on the weekends. If I have time. I will upload news during the weekdays. Remember only 28 days left!

April 17, 1999

11:31 PM

Official Site updates. These are a few things that I didn't get to mention over the week.
New snapshot photo, this time it is of a Bith playing at the Boothna festival

A long-respected institution, the Galactic Senate is where the future of the Republic is shaped. Over a thousand senators from member worlds throughout the Republic regularly gather together under the domed ceiling of the massive Main Senate Chamber to share insights, discuss problems, and forge solutions.
In long-standing tradition, disputes are kept within the Senate walls and dealt with in a civilized manner, with words instead of weapons. Every world is represented in the Senate, and even the smallest planet can petition to make its own voice heard. The system has upheld just government and freedom for thousands of years, but the bureaucracy has begun to grow too strong....

Often referred to as "the quickest eyes on Naboo", Captain Panaka is the head of the Queen's security forces. Powerfully built and completely dedicated to the safety of his sovereign, he never fails to catch the detail that might make the difference between success and failure in any security plan.
Captain Panaka is an expert in his field, and he knows it. Even in the presence of awe-inspiring Jedi Knights, he relies on his own experience and instincts to guide his actions. He is no fool, and realizes that the Jedi are probably acting in his Queen's and his people's best interest; but, throughout the Republic, things are no longer what they used to be, and one needs to be extremely careful. Especially when dealing with external matters. Especially when one is Head of Security.
Although he trained his forces to the best of his abilities, Panaka knows their number is no match for the menace that looms over Naboo. Still, he has faith in their loyalty - both to him and to their monarch - and knows he can count on them not to waver in the face of danger.

A senior member of the respected Jedi Council, Mace Windu now rarely leaves the Jedi Temple. His wisdom and experience are remarkable, and so his words, softly spoken within the chambers and hallways of the Temple, bear great weight throughout the galaxy.
Jedi Master Windu regularly confers with Yoda and the ten other members of the Council on the balance of the Force and the general affairs of the Jedi Knights. His authority is as high as that of Master Yoda, which makes his opinion, during debates, greatly revered.
Although nowadays he almost never picks up his blue-bladed lightsaber to face an enemy in battle, Mace Windu remains a fearsome warrior with a perfect mastery of the Jedi fighting techniques.

The Power of Myth, European Tour
Kellogg's and Lucasfilm have joined forces to present "The Power of Myth," a European roadshow experience that will take visitors into the realm of mythology that thrives in epic tales passed on from generation to generation. Multiple displays will invite attendees rediscover the legends behind timeless heroes such as England's King Arthur, Denmark's Thor, Germany's Siegfried, Italy's Aeneas, Switzerland's Wilhelm Tell, and many others. Mythological structure is woven throughout the Star Wars saga as well, and a renewed appreciation for classic legends and mythic storytelling will allow people to see the Star Wars saga with new eyes, from Episode I to the original Trilogy, all of which is represented in the dramatic show experience.

The Force.Net spoilers. Okay the Force Net has posted up several of the following pieces of the script and some spoilers on certain scenes.
The first one is on Anakin in last scene in front of the Jedi Council. Major Spoilers! Highlight if you really need to read this.

"INT. TEMPLE OF THE JEDI - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - EVENING

ANAKIN, OBI-WAN, and QUI-GON stand before the TWELVE MEMBERS OF THE JEDI COUNCIL.

YODA
. . .Correct you were, Qui-Gon.

MACE WINDU
His cells contain a high concentration of midi-chlorians.

KI-ADI
The force is strong with him.

QUI-GON
He's to be trained, then.

THE COUNCIL MEMBERS look to one another.

YODA
No.

ANAKIN is crestfallen; tears begin to form in his eyes.

QUI-GON
No??!!

OBI-WAN smiles.

."

"Just before Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon get into a heated debate about training the young Anakin Skywalker (remember, "they all sense it, why can't you?" from Trailer A?) is a funny little spot where R2-D2 is looking at all of the traffic from the balcony of Coruscant. As R2 whistles in amazement at the traffic below, he leans over too far and falls overboard. A moment later, he reappears using his onboard jets to propel himself back onto the landing platform!."

Origins of Maul, Amidala, Palpatine and Qui-Gon Jinn. Cinescape has posted up the origins of these four character from the recent novel of The Phantom Menace. These origins will not appear in the film. In fact, they were back stories added to make the novel make sense. So don't expect to see scenes in the novel make it onto the film. But highlight the following since the novel is not out yet.

Qui-Gon Jinn "Ever since it was announced that Liam Neeson would don the Jedi robes and play a venerable knight of the famous order, Star Wars fans have clamored for information about this mysterious character. It's since been learned that his name is Qui-Gon Jinn and that he's an independent operator who doesn't always get along with his Jedi superiors. My source tells me that Qui-Gon is this way because he himself was once under consideration for a seat on the Jedi Council. However, he was passed over because he was considered too reckless and quick to action. Furthermore, Obi-Wan Kenobi is not his first but his third Padawan apprentice, as a Jedi learner is called. As seen in the Phantom Menace teaser trailer, there is some conflict between man-of-action Qui-Gon and his student. My source says this is because Obi-Wan is a more reserved and thoughtful than his teacher."

The Jedi Council Members "The Jedi themselves are dwindling in number by the time of The Phantom Menace, with only about 10,000 members left in the knightly order. As mentioned previously, a High Council of twelve Jedi Masters rules over the body of mystic warriors. Of the twelve, five members are elected for life, while four of the masters remain on the panel long term and three hold a seat for a short time. Two of the senior members of the Council are Yoda and Mace Windu (Windu is the contact with Supreme Chancellor Valorum). Believe it or not, Yoda does have his own little lightsaber though he doesn't use it. Additionally, my source tells me that diminutive Jedi Master was well-traveled in his youth, having visited thousands of planets. And yes, there is another member of his species -- a female no less -- called Yaddle (you might of seen her picture on Star Wars fan sites recently). The soft-spoken Yaddle is 477 years old to Yoda's 800-something."
Here's some quick background info on the other Jedi Masters in the Council via my source:
• Yarael Poof: A member of the Quermian species, the two-brained Poof (he has a thinker in his belly in addition to the standard one in his gourd) is a master of the Jedi mind trick.
• Sasee Tiin: From the planet Iktotchon, Sasee Tiin is master of telepathy in addition to being a crack pilot.
• Ki-Adi-Mundi: As comic-book readers know, the cone-headed Ki-Adi-Mundi is from the world called Cerea. He is a recent addition to the Jedi Council and has not yet chosen his Padawan apprentice.
• Even Piell: Diminutive in stature, this Jedi Master was scarred in a battle against terrorists.
• Eeth Koth: A member of Darth Maul's Zabrak species, this Jedi from the planet Iridonia is renowned for his mental and physical discipline.
• Oppo Rancisis: Once the ruler of the planet Thisspias, Rancisis abdicated his throne to become a Jedi.
• Depa Billaba: An alien from the planet Chalacta, Billaba has risen through the Jedi ranks to honor her slain parents.
• Adi Gallia: A native of the Republic capitol city-world Coruscant, Adi was born to diplomats and acts as an essential source for Chancellor Valorum.
• Plo Koon: Once rumored to be a cyborg Jedi, this alien Kel Dor from the world called Dorin uses an oxygen mask to breathe on Coruscant.

Queen Amidala "Despite the fact that the planet Naboo is ruled by a queen, it is not a hereditary monarchy -- the monarch is elected. That much diligent Star Wars fans already know, but there's more from my source. After the world's King Veruna abdicated his throne, the planet needed a new leader. At the tender age of 12, Amidala, who was raised by humble parents in a small mountain village, was crowned the princess of Theed (Naboo's capitol city). Surprisingly though, she is not the youngest monarch ever to reign on Naboo. Two years after becoming a princess, not long before the events of The Phantom Menace, Amidala was coronated queen."

Senator Papatine "The future Emperor Palpatine is indeed Naboo's representative in the Galactic Senate, as previously reported, says my source. However, Naboo is not the only world that Palpatine represents: He is the senator for a quadrant of 366 worlds. Although he was born on Naboo, Palpatine had only met Amidala once before the events of The Phantom Menace. Furthermore, there is some friction between the queen and the senator, since Amidala has the impression that Palpatine is more interested bolstering his political standing than advancing the will of those he represents (Palpatine didn't get along with King Veruna either though, it seems). As mentioned in the Star Wars novelization, Palpatine appears to be a quiet and unassuming man, but he also prefers to take action in a situation rather than waste time bickering in debate. Still, patience is his greatest virtue, and we all know where that gets him later in the prequel trilogy."

Darth Maul "One quick glance at Darth Maul reveals that he's some sort of alien. Horns, strange facial markings and those eerie yellow eyes give that much away. According to this source, Maul (whose "real" name is Khameir Sarin) is from a species called "Zabrak". Observant Star Wars fans might have noticed that there is a similarly horned member of the Jedi Council. He's a Zabrak too, named Eth Kooth."
"So how did Darth Maul/Khameir Sarin get caught up in the black arts, anyway? Apparently, after a long search for a suitable apprentice, Darth Sidious discovered the young Force user on the Zabrak homeworld, Iridonia, when Khameir was just twelve years old. Sidious forced the lad to lay a trap for some of his friends. This ambush ended up killing seven Jedi Knights, and the after effects transformed Sarin into the second of the two Dark Lords of the Sith."
"The Sith themselves were apparently formed 2,000 years before the events of The Phantom Menace by a rogue Jedi Knight (never mind those comic books, I guess). Their numbers swelled, but the evil Force wielders battled each other as much as they did the Jedi. Then a Dark Lord named Darth Bane changed the rules: From his time forward there would be only two Dark Lords at a time, a master and an apprentice. Because of this rarity of Sith, the Jedi Knights of pre-Phantom Menace time rarely used their lightsabers to duel. More often than not, the weapons would be used to deflect blaster shots or (presumably) for ornamental purposes."

Images on the Queen's dresses. Fernando Gonzalez Sidders was able to steal a few photos of Queen Amidala's dresses and posted it on his site. Check them out.

Images from T'Bone. T'Bone rarely mentions if he has posted an new images on his site. But as I was searching thought his site I found these images that I forgot to post up. The first one is a painting my Hugh Flemming for the comic book cover. Hugh is an amazing artist and I enjoy all his works, but I am really disappointed on how he painted Obi-Wan. I mean he got Qui-Gon, Amidala, Jar Jar and Nute Gunray perfect, but Obi-Wan looks terrible. One of my friends said he looks like Robert DeNeiro. The second on is an image of Maul that I have not seen before. I assume this takes place when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan take on Maul in the final battle of the film. In the trailer you see a cloaked Maul in front of the same wall, I assume this take place right after. And I assume after this Maul takes his lightsaber and ignights both ends. And the third image is of Yoda from Entertainment Weekly, which I also forgot to post up.

Some Hi Res Images. Sam Davatchi has posted up 2 great high resolution images from the first teaser trailer.

Lucas revises Ticket policy. It is not truly official yet, but media like Hollywood Reporter Internet Movie Database are claiming that Lucas is flexing some of his rules for theater owners. The rule specifically mention was the advance ticket sales, and maybe you can buy them a week before the film is release. This rule was originally created to prevent ticket scalpers for selling tickets for the film. I wonder if that will happen? On the same topic, because of the rule of 8 ½ minutes of trailer other movies studios are going to cut their trailers shorter. 20th Century Fox is planing to use 2 ½ of those minutes to run trailer for their own films like Titan A. E. (a new animated film that was known as Planet Ice). I guess Lucas is aware that Star Wars would be the perfect film for all studios to take advantage to advertise all their films with. But then would you really want to sit for half an hour till you see the film? I now understand what Lucas is doing here.

Another test screening. I forgot to post this up a while ago. It seems that Lucas had another screening of his films for his close friends - Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsses, etc. The reason he had this new screening was to ask them what scenes should he cut because this would be the final edit for the film.

April 17, 1999

3:33 AM

About 60 new images. Jawa Fortress has just received about 60 scans the Star Wars Episode 1 Movie Story book. NewtSamson was the luck individual who happen to run into a Wal-Mart that accidentally put the books out on display. You are about to see some images that no web site has been able to show. You will see close ups on Yaddle, Nute Gunray, and General Tarpel. And you will see detail descriptions of Maul’s Sith Infiltrator, Mace Windu’s history, and the final Jedi Duel. Enough talk!!!! Check them out!

Official Word on the Charity Screening. Great, the official site has posted up all the cities that will get to screen The Phantom Menace on May 16. Just read to see what cities will be chosen

Star Wars: Episode 1 to Premire in 11 Cities on May 16 to Cenifit Children's Charities
Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox announced today that Star Wars: Episode I will premiere on May 16th in 11 cities in the United States and Canada. Lucasfilm has made the film available to local charities in each of these cities in order to raise money for children's programs. At each premiere, portions of the theatre seating will be made available for disadvantaged children. George Lucas states "Because Star Wars has always meant so much to children around the world, I wanted to provide this opportunity to benefit children in at least this small way. Charities were selected to benefit a wide range of needs."
The premieres will provide fundraising opportunities on behalf of the following organizations:

Boston
The Joey Fund
|(508) 655-6000

The Fund, established in 1986 in memory of Joey O'Donnell, works with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to supply financial support for CF children and research.

Chicago
The For All Kids Foundation
(212) 573-6933
Motion picture and television personality Rosie O'Donnell established The For All Kids Foundation in February 1997 to help support the intellectual, social and cultural development of at-risk and underserved children throughout the United States, focusing primarily on childcare organizations serving low-income, urban areas.

Dallas
Children's Medical Center of Dallas
(214) 456-8360
Children's Medical Center of Dallas is a private, non-profit hospital that deals exclusively with diseases and disorders of children from birth to age 18. As the primary teaching hospital of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Children's offers access to a wide variety of pediatric experts and the latest technology.

Denver
The Children's Hospital Foundation
(800) 458 5437
In partnership with others, the Children's Hospital provides its region with coordinated programs of patient care, education, research and advocacy.

Los Angeles
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
(310) 201-5033
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the leading national non-profit organization dedicated to funding and conducting research that will lead to the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS in infants and children.

New York
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
(212) 639-3041
Memorial Sloan-Kettering is the world's largest private institution devoted to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer, through its patient care services at Memorial Hospital and research programs at the Sloan-Kettering Institute. Through its Aubrey Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan-Kettering is working toward the cure for childhood cancer of all types.

Philadelphia
Big Brother Big Sister Association of Philadelphia
(215) 557-9009
BBBS is a national federation of over 500 local agencies that helps at-risk, single-parent children grow into responsible and caring adults by matching them with an adult volunteer.

San Francisco
San Francisco Boys & Girls Club
(415) 831-0826
The Club works to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens by providing a safe place to go after school, caring adult staff and volunteers, and quality programs and activities for children ages 6-18.

Seattle
Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center
(206) 528-2777
As both a community hospital for greater Seattle and the pediatric referral center for the Northwest, Children's provides education and research programs, and excellent pediatric care, regardless of race, sex, creed, ethnicity or disability.

Toronto
The Hospital For Sick Children Foundation
(416) 410-0793
The Foundation is a fundraising and granting organization that supports the Hospital for Sick Children, the largest pediatric medical center in North America.

Washington, DC
Children's National Medical Center
(202) 884-5631
For nearly 130 years, Children's National Medical Center has been serving children and their families in the Washington region, across the nation and around the world through programs in health care, child advocacy, research and education.

Images of Episode sets and props. The Force Net has posted up scans from recent French issue of Elle magazine. And the Force Net has translated some of the article for all to read.

The caption in white on the living room photo is by Doug Chiang : "We have treated each and every detail with the care of a craftsman"
Here is the final part of the article :
For this film Georges Lucas has behaved, much more than in the past, as a decorator and a designer. We will see coming from the skies to the Earth, and from the screen to the home setting, a "Star Wars style". Actually, would it be surprising that cinema, beating heart of American culture, be tomorrow the seed to a household setting revival?
Defined by Chiang, Episode1 imaginary era is stamped by an "individualized" culture, a refined one where the taste for shapes is intense. One could talk about a craftsman era. The most care has been given to even the smallest of details.
Gavin Bocquet, production designer, points out : "Our sources of inspiration have been multiple : Art Nouveaux, Arts Deco, American cars and African art... We have scoured flea markets and second-hand stores. But, in the end, I think our collage is successful."
It is indeed a miracle to see this accumulation of references giving birth in the hands of these genious handymen to a synthesis and a style . It is true they had complete freedom of action in the favorable atmosphere generated by Lucas : "He is more interested by the story itself than the technology, the poetry than the science fiction," adds Bocquet. A poetry, an imagination, a pleasure to invent forms, that impregnates every object -up to that birdcage in the shape of a samurai- and which make this film more than just a decoration event, but the unexpected signal of an American design renaissance.

More Premiere images. I just got the issue with the Ewan McGergor and Jake Llloyd with George Lucas cover, and I notice that there are some great images that other sites have not posted up. I am surprise that some site just skipped out on scanning these images when they are just too cool. Oh well, I scanned them just so you can see them.

Episode I in Premiere
April 16, 1999 -- The May, 1999 issue of Premiere magazine is a treat for Star Wars fans. "For the first time in history, Premiere is dedicating an entire issue to one film," says James B. Meigs, Editor in Chief. The extensive magazine spread explores several aspects of Star Wars: Episode I, and was printed with four different covers. Highlights include interviews with actors Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd and Liam Neeson, exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, and a special interview with George Lucas that covers a lot of ground, from Lucas' career to the many rumors that have arisen about Episode I. This special issue of Premiere is available now.

Editor’s Note. As you notice I changed the index flash intro. Why? Because it was getting old and I need to do something new. So, each week before the film is released, the index page will have a new image that we have not seen from the film. I already I am preparing for a few friends of mine to do some guest art for the index page. Right now the sketch of R2 was quickly drawn by me. And I assume you will better drawings by me, from scenes we have not seen yet. So I might draw the final battle between the Gungans and the Battle Droids; 3PO freaking out over the fact that he is not completed; and the final between the three Jedi. By the way Later today I will update with more news.

April 9, 1999

2:06 AM

New Images from Foreign Magazines. These new images came from several sources. The first one comes from the Force Net, and they received these images from a German magazine called "Cinema". There is this excellent high resolution image of Watto, where you can actually view the little facial hair he has. Wow! And there is an interesting image of Lucas with a humorous shirt that says the following:

STAR WARS: A film with comic-book characters, an unbelievable story, no political or social commentary, lousy acting, preposterous dialogue and a ridiculously simplistic duality. In others words, a BAD MOVIE.

The third picture is what will most likely be the first time we see R2-D2 in Episode One! The droid hold that you see here is located underneath the main level of Queen's silver ship. When the Jedi snatch the Queen and take her into hiding, the ship is attacked as it is leaving Naboo. It is beaten up pretty badly and starts to spin out. It is about that time that our friend R2 jumps into action and saves the day by fixing the ship temporarily so they can get away from the Federation battleships.

News on Star Wars the Soundtrack. The Force Net has been posting up several images and new on the soundtrack. There are no new images from the soundtrack, except for a small image of Boss Nass, Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu that I found interesting. I will upload that image later. Okay the following is all the information I can gather on the soundtrack.

• The Soundtrack will be released on May 3.
• The single for the soundtrack will be ‘Duel of the Fates’ will be released on radio on April 20.
• The full soundtrack album will be worked in a full release promotion to college, public radio, adult standards, classical, and soundtracks specialty programs.
• Lucasfilms has specially edited a Star Wars: Episode 1 Duel of the Fates music video to promote the Soundtrack. It will air on rotation at MTV, VH1, national syndicated and regional video programs on May 3.
• John Williams will appear on "An Evening at the Pops" on PBS conducting the soundtrack.
• Sony paid 5.5 million on the right to release the soundtrack. They believe they will make a huge success out of this and will market this in every platform of Video, radio, television, magazine, and posters.
• List of tracks(Tracks are out of sequence according to the film. And BIG SPOILER! Read at your own Risk!)
  01. Star Wars Main Tile and the Arrival at Naboo
  02. Duel of the Fates
  03. Anakin’s Theme.
  04. Jar Jar’s Introduction and the "Swim to Otoh Gunga"
  05. The Sith Spacecraft and the Droid battle
  06. The Trip to the Naboo Temple and the Audience with Boss Nass
  07. The Arrival at Tantoonie and the Flag Parade
  08. He is the Chosen One
  09. Anakin "Defeats Sebulba"
  10. Passage "through the Planet Core"
  11. Watto’s Deal and Kids at Play
  12. Panaka and the Queen’s Protectors
  13. Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace
  14. The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul
  15. Qui-Gon’s "Nobel End"
  16. The High Council Meeting and "Qui-Gon’s Funeral"
  17. Augie’s Great Municipal Band and End Credits

Qui-Gon Jinn in Movieline. Liam Neeson is plaster the cover the Movieline, with special images from the film that we have not see before. I just love the image of Qui-Gon and Anakin running together. The images were provided by The Force Net.

Lynn Hale Video Diary: Costume Drama. This is the tenth segment in the long series of Video Diary. And it deals with Costume designer Trisha Biggar, and I am surprised that Trisha didn’t really design the costumes. Ian McCaig was the concept artist for the costumes and Trisha only assembled them. I respect both of them for creating such amazing outfits for this film.

New Queen outfit. Dianoga.com has posted up the purple dress that we got a peak at the funeral scene of trailer A. And they have a great image of Darth Maul’s lightsaber. The also have great exclusive images on there site. They also have images from the game Episode 1 Racer of all the Podracers along with their names next to them(Thanks for mention the site T'Bone :).

Add Toronto to the list. The list of 12 theater that will show the film on May 16 for charity. They said that an average ticket will cost $100, and prices will increase for better seating. For now Los Angeles is the only city to also admit to be a part of this. (Thanks Cinescape:)

Official Updates. These are some of the news from the Official site that I missed while I was gone.
The Official site has added a new section called the "Snapshot". What is it about? It seems that each week they will post up little snap shots behind the scenes. And to start all of this off they have the first shot that they filmed for The Phantom Menace (You see a video sequence of Lucas perparing for the shot from Behind the Magic).

The trained security forces of the Royal Palace Guard on Naboo use specially customized heavy multi-function pistols, ready for action in a holster at the hip. In addition to shooting laser bolts, these sturdy weapons can launch projectiles and even cables, giving the Palace Guard a variety of options for gaining control over unpredictable situations without unnecessary violence.

In the merchant district of Mos Espa, amidst the numerous stalls and markets where wares of every type are bought and sold, there is a popular junk shop manned by droids and a slave boy named Anakin. Both the shop and the boy belong to a winged, harsh-mannered little alien who loves to haggle over spare parts. This junk shop is one of the best places to find elusive mechanical parts, but the asking price can be very high

Located on the outskirts of Mos Espa, the slave quarters are hovels stacked on top of one another to save space, maintained by the slave owners just enough to keep them from falling apart. Families are usually allowed to remain together, and a few connecting hovels are sometimes transformed into some sort of family home, with different bedrooms leading to a common living area. Despite their wretched appearance, the slave quarters are sturdy enough to protect the residents from the sandstorms that regularly hit Mos Espa.
On the outskirts of town, the Slave Quarters are beneath the notice of well-to-do citizens and local authorities...making them an ideal hiding or meeting place for low-profile travelers with the right connections.

Although sparsely populated, the small planet of Naboo is home to two distinct advanced civilizations which have created beautiful cities. The large regions of Naboo that are devoid of inhabitants offer sweeping vistas and breathtaking scenery. The few cities of the Naboo people look as though they were constructed to enhance the natural beauty of the landscape.
The planet is geologically unique, and its puzzling structure remains a mystery even to the few planetologists who have studied it. Whereas most planets present a magma core and a rocky crust, Naboo is rather a very ancient planetary body which lacks a molten core. Large solid bodies of rock, thousands of miles in diameter, are surrounded by an immense honeycomb structure. This cave-filled rock formation pervades much of the planet's interior, all the way to the surface, where it creates innumerable swampy lakes between the interior land masses and the open seas. These swamps, traditionally avoided by the Naboo people, are populated by bizarre creatures.

The city of Theed radiates from the Royal Palace, forming a magnificent capital for the Queen of Naboo. Elegant yet mighty, the Palace expresses both the Naboo love of art and the strength of the planet's sovereign. Inside the Palace, the Queen's Throne Room is as simply furnished as other noble chambers, the Queen herself ruling the focus of attention in her formal state gowns and makeup. Along with the Queen, the Palace also houses the only soldiers to be found on Naboo, a small force commanded by Captain Panaka and responsible for protecting the Queen from all dangers. The Naboo maintain no army, relying on the strength of the Republic and peaceful relations with other worlds to protect them.
More mysterious is the other civilization that inhabits Naboo. Quite secretive, they usually avoid contact with outsiders, and keep their dwellings hidden. Rumor has it that they have developed a strange organic technology, but if so it is well concealed.

Standing out from the cityscape of Imperial City, the Jedi Temple is home and headquarters to the Jedi order. The Temple stands high above a region of low buildings, architecture in the area never daring to compete with the majesty of the Jedi sanctuary. Jedi Masters, Knights, and Padawans have their quarters in the Temple, close to the training halls.
The twelve members of the Jedi Council, the highest authority of the Jedi order, meet in the central spire above the Temple. There they meditate, ponder the fluctuations of the Force, and test new recruits. They also plan and review the activities of their far-traveling Jedi Knights, who have been the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy for thousands of years. The Council Chamber opens onto a large balcony that offers a majestic view of the city. The balcony also provides privacy when delicate or private matters must be discussed between certain members of the Council.

Hi Res Trailer B images. Countingdown has posted up several screen captures of the second trailer. The images still retain an excellent resolution even if you try to enlarge them as large as your wallpaper. Just check them out.

Next Gen exclusives. The gaming site Next Generation has manage to get some exclusive interview with the crew developing Episode 1 Race. Here check that out and a review of X-Wing Alliance.

I can’t believe they started the line! Countingdown’s very own Lincoln has mention that he has started a line for the film episode 1. So far there are only a small handful of eager fans waiting in line. We will have to wait and see how this line is forming. I never expect that anyone would actually wait for 40 days till the film is release. He also posted up the phone number to a pay phone next to them. Call them to leave them Simpsons’ style phone jokes (i.e. "Hue, Jazz", "Ivan, Tinkle", or "Homer, Sexual"). The number is 323-462-9609/462-9702.

Natalie on the cover of Vanity Fair. The newest issue has an article devoted to the beautiful Natalie Portman, Queen Amidala... I assume you all know who she is by now. But that’s not the only reason why to get it. The issue also has exclusive photo of Tim Burton’s new film Sleepy Hallow. Sorry no photos of Ray Park as the Headless Horseman’s stunt double... Tim Burton has to be my favorite director next to Terry Gilliam and Steven Spielberg. In fact, my favorite film is Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. And I met him one time, at his book signing for "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Short Stories." An excellent book, I suggest everyone to get it. I went up to him and said, "When Pee Wee’s Big Adventure came out my mother won’t let me see it, because she thought it was too scary." Man, did I make him laugh.... Opps, I was rambling on. Yeah! Tim Burton is my favorite director. And Nightmare before Christmas is my favorite film. You don’t have to worry the Star Wars trilogy is my third favorite film..... Second is Terry Gilliam’s Brazil.

April 7, 1999

1:30 AM

Premiere images. Today Premiere magazine has just release it’s newest issue with an exclusive on Episode 1. There are four different collectable covers of this new issues of Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Jake Lloyd with Lucas (that one’s my personal favorite). Several images from the magazine have been posted on the web from The Force Net and Jedi Net. And here are the images.

Episode 1 Sticker Book. It seem the Force Net is the only site to have exclusive photos of the Sticker book. THE big thing about this is that it contains several images we have not seen yet. It has an image of Palpatine’s Guards (In blue not red), Bail Organa, Nimoidians Mechno-Chair and a Republic Cruiser. That’s not all, recently the Force Net has posted up description of character, planets, technology, and creatures from the film. Warning Big Spoiler!

Sticker Descriptions
"NABOO" PAGE:
"Far away from the centers of galactic power lies the peaceful planet of Naboo. Its human inhabitants live in harmony and dedicate themselves to the creation of beauty in every area of life. Their capital city, Theed, is one of the most magnificent cities in the galaxy. Beneath the surface of the planet is the fascinating society of the Gungans, an amazingly innovative amphibian race."
Faithful Maiden -- The Queen is almost always surrounded by her faithful handmaidens, each of whom would risk her life for her Highness.
Humble Droid -- Sitting in the droid hold at the back of the Queen's ship is a humble astromech droid called R2-D2. No one can guess what the future holds for him.
Heroic Captain -- The dashing Captain Panaka is one of the Queen's most able and valued soldiers.
Trusty Adviser -- Wise Sio Bibble is the Queen's most trusted adviser, a great support when the cares of state weigh heavily on her shoulders.
Agile Sub -- The agile Gungan sub is designed to navigate the endless blackness of Naboo's deep waters, but it cannot always avoid their many dangers.
Clumsy Friend -- Accident-prone Jar Jar Binks may not be the cleverest of Gungans, but he tries to do what is right and is loyal and caring; a true friend.
Bossy Leader -- The tough, bossy leader of the Gungans, Boss Nass seems harsh, but he has a better side to him as well.
Close Friend -- The handmaiden Padme is incredibly close to young Queen Amidala and shares her innermost thoughts.
Royal Vessel -- Sleek, elegant, and fast, the Queen's Royal Starship is possibly the most beautiful spaceship in the galaxy. It has neither armor nor weapons, because it comes from a land dedicated to peace.
Brave Fighter -- Although a planet of peace, Naboo still maintains a small army. Its soldiers are brave but few, and without much experience of battle.
Queen of Naboo -- The people of Naboo have chosen to democratically elect a king or queen to rule over them. Queen Amidala strives always to serve her people, respecting their laws and the advice of her counselors.
Stylish Fighter -- Flown by the volunteer Royal Naboo Security Forces, the Naboo starfighter is a nimble single-pilot craft, trimmed with shiny royal chrome.
Animal Transport -- Swift and agile, Kaadus are beloved by their Gungan masters. Kaadus have strong senses of hearing and smell.
Army Transport -- Gian Speeders are the main transportation for the lightly equipped Naboo army. They resemble civilian speeders, and are just as much fun to ride!
Royal Training -- Though young, Queen Amidala is wise beyond her years and has been well trained.
Perfect Pilot -- Gifted, dedicated, courageous Ric Olie' has the job that every pilot dreams of: flying the Queen's Royal Starship.
Beast of Burden -- These huge beasts of burden are known as Fambaas. They have been tamed by the Gungans and carry their force shield generators into battle.
Royal Robes -- The people of Naboo feel their Queen should wear the most splendid clothes and headdresses. As is fitting for a queen of an artistic people, Amidala dons exquisite gowns of striking designs.

"DARK FORCES" PAGE
"Unknown and unsuspected, a strange alliance is about to break the longstanding peace of the Old Republic. Shadowy Lord Sidious has ordered the greedy Neimoidian Trade Federation to move from trade to conquest. Their forces have been working overtime to convert their vast trading fleet into a space navy, with a droid army inside it."
Persistent Traders -- They trade across the galaxy, but Neimoidians are so secretive that few outsiders have any idea how their society works.
Tough Tank -- The massive armor of this Federation AAT tank protects it from almost all attack, and its powerful armament outguns any opposition.
Hard Workers -- Like worker ants, every one of the millions of battle droids is controlled from one central computer "brain" in the Trade Federation Droid Control Ship.
Complex Craft -- One of the most sophisticated combat craft ever created, the droid starfighter is an actual droid, engineered to operate in deep space.
Destroyer Droid -- Most lethal of all the Trade Federation droids, destroyer droids roll into a ball for swift travel, then uncoil to strike. Well armed and almost indestructible, even Jedi must beware their power.
Dark Power -- As Sith Lord and loyal apprentice of Darth Sidious, the ferocious Lord Maul is a dark shadow of a character, more lethal in battle than all but the most powerful Jedi.
Spy Ship -- The ultimate spy ship, this customized Sith Infiltrator is almost undetectable. In its hold it stores sophisticated probe droids, an array of secret weapons, and the amazingly maneuverable Sith speeder bike.
Strange Seat -- Nothing illustrates the Neimoidian flair for bizarre design better than the walking chair. Intended to impress, it usually does.
Shadowy Figure -- It was thought that the Dark Lords of the Sith had vanished from the galaxy a thousand years ago, but Lord Sidious is using his dark power behind the scenes.
Federation Carrier -- This monstrous multi troop transport (MTT) ferries Federation battle droids into combat zones of all kinds.
Safe Landing -- Descending from orbit like mysterious flying creatures, Trade Federation landing ships carry thousands of battle droids.
Secret War Freighter -- In stealth and in secret, the Trade Federation has converted its fleet of huge cargo ships to carry droids and tanks instead of harmless goods to trade. Concealed weapons are ready to destroy any attempt to escape.
Extra Vision -- These electrobinoculars can detect ultra-violet, micro- movement, and heat.
Lethal Weapon -- Simple but lethal, the battle droid blaster is carried by every droid in the army.
Single Carrier -- The STAP (Single Trooper Ariel Platform) is designed to carry a single battle droid at high speed to terrorize scattered troops and frightened civilians, as the Trade Federation army spreads destruction far and wide.
Fast Carrier -- Many of the legions of battle droids are transported on speedy troop carriers such as this one.

"TATOOINE" PAGE
"Wild, lawless, and oppressively hot, the desert planet Tatooine is a magnet for crooks from every corner of the galaxy. Without any government that works, its leading citizen is the infamous crimelord jabba the Hutt. The one thing that seems to unite the planet's inhabitants is their love for Podracing - the fastest, most dangerous sport there is."
Crimelord -- The Hutts are some of the most infamous gangsters in the galaxy, and even among that vile species, Jabba is a legend. Cunning and ruthless, murder and extortion are his daily business.
Head Protection -- Podraces are so fast and so dangerous that no human pilots in them. Until now. Anakin Skywalker has the uncanny ability to challenge the best. This helmet is customized to his own design to optimize vision and hearing."
Special Massage -- Native to the planet Ryloth in the Outer Rim, these female Twi'leks are Sebulba the Dug's personal masseuses.
Programmed Killer -- A Sith innovation, the probe droid is programmed to find the most elusive targets, using several different scanning and surveillance systems. When a probe droid is after you, there is often no escape.
Droid Service -- They look comic but are actually essential. Pit droids help maintain and service the Podracers, a truly tricky task.
Champion Racer -- The reigning Podrace champion, Sebulba has set his heart (what there is of it) on winning the great Boonta Classic race - by fair means or foul.
Surprise Speeder -- Although it has no weapons, shields, or sensors, the Sith speeder is a sight to fear as it is astonishingly fast and usually piloted by the dreaded Darth Maul.
Speedy Racer -- Anakin built this Podracer himself in his own workshop, from scrap. With numerous clever modifications, it could well be the fastest racer ever.
True Mother -- Enslaved by Watto on Tatooine, Shmi Skywalker asks very little for herself. Her hopes are focused entirely on her son, Anakin. Aware of his special gifts, she hopes he will one day be free.
Bizarre Beast -- Bizarre beasts of burden, eopies are used all over Tatooine. Few take the trouble to treat them well.
Young Force -- Gifted and popular, Anakin Skywalker is intelligent and mature beyond his years. Attuned to the Force, Anakin is the only human on Tatooine who can race Pods. But the boy dreams of one day becoming a space pilot, or even a Jedi Knight.
View Point -- There are dozens of 3-D cameras around the Mos Espa Podrace course, feeding pictures into screens for excited fans to watch.
Green hunters -- The green-skinned Rodians come from the planet Rodia. They are natural fighters, and many become bounty hunters.
Anakin's Droid -- This seemingly amateurish droid is one of Anakin's major projects. He has been building it for nearly a year, and his ingenious programming gives C-3PO capacities that no one could suspect.
Typical Pod -- This racer, like all others, is custom-built around two mighty engines and a tiny cockpit.
Powerful Podracer -- One of the most powerful Pods ever invented, Sebulba's Podracer is also equipped with dirty tricks to sabotage rivals.
Tough Customer -- Harsh, clever, and very, very sharp in business dealings, Watto runs a junk shop in Mos Espa on Tatooine, assisted by his slaves Anakin and Shmi Skywalker.

CORUSCANT" PAGE
"Ancient capital of the Republic, the fabled city-planet is a byword for splendor and wealth. But something is rotten at the heart of this planet on which so many worlds depend."
Troubled Leader -- Head of the government, Chancellor Valorum strives for good, yet is endlessly hampered by unfounded accusations and baseless scandals.
Armed Guard -- Do not be deceived by the ceremonial uniform. The senate guards are elite troops, and lethal whether armed or not.
Respected Jedi -- Unconventional and a loner, Qui-Gon Jinn is none the less a highly respected and powerful Jedi Master.
Talented Pupil -- Fiery and headstrong, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a very talented Jedi Padawan. He is fiercely devoted to his Master, Qui-Gon, and together they make a good team.
Noble Senator -- The noble Senator Bail Organa comes from Alderaan. He seems destined for high things as he battles corruption in the Senate.
Wise Master -- The aged Jedi Master, Yoda, is very wise and respected. Over the years he has trained many Jedi, and they look to him for guidance.
Senior Jedi -- A Senior Jedi on the Council, Mace Windu is wise in the ways of the Force, but believes that the Sith are extinct.
Red Cruiser -- Assembled in the great Correllian shipyards, the red Republic Cruiser carries Jedi Knights, diplomats, and ambassadors around the galaxy.
Power seeker -- Senator Palpatine comes from Naboo. He seems well-meaning and idealistic, but secretly yearns for power.

Episode 1 Cross Sections. You might already know about the original trilogy cross section... You know what I am talking about. The technical sketches of Slave 1, the Millenium Falcon and a Tie Fighter that you can see the inside. The Force Net has been able to capture a few scans and text from the book from the new book. It is safe to read there are no spoilers about the plot itself.

Republic Cruiser
Manufacturer: Corellian Engineering Corporation
Length: 115m
Sublight engines: 3 Dyne 577 radial atomizers
Hyperdrive: Longe Voltrans tri-are CD-3.2
Crew: 8 (captain, 2 co-pilots, 2 communications officers, 3 engineers
Passenger Capacity: 16
Armament: none (diplomatic vessel)
Escape pods: two 8-person pods plus salon pod

Landing Ship:
Manufacturer: Haor Call Engineering
Wingspan: 370m
Hyperdrive: none
Max. atmospheric speed: 587 kph
Troop carrier capacity: 7 per wing
AAT capacity: 24 per fore wing, 33 per aft wing
MTT capacity: 3 per fore wing, 3 in staging area, 2 in landing pedestal
Crew: 88 (driods only)
Armament: 2 pairs of wing tip laser cannon, 4 turret mounted cannons

MTT:
Manufacturer: Baktoid Armour Workshop
Troop capacity: 112 battle droids
Armament: four kv anti-personal blasters twin mounted in ball turrets
Length: 31m
Height: 13m
Max. ground speed: 35 kph

Gungan sub:
Manufaturer: Otoh Gunga Bongameken Cooperative
Length: 15m
Cargo capacity: 800 kg in each cargo bubble
Crew: 1 (and 2 passengers)

Queen's Starship:
Manufacturer: Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps
Length: 76m
Sublight engines: 8
Hyperdrive: Nubian 327, class 1.8
Crew: 2 (pilot and co-pilot), 8 astro-driods for maintence
Armament: none, peaceful ambassadorial ship

Anakin's Podracer:
Manufacturer (of engine): Radon-Ulzer 620C racing enghine, modified heavily by Anakin
Engine length: 7m
Max. speed: est. 947kph
Max. lift: 105m
Fuel: straight Tradium power activated with injectrine

Sebulba's Racer:
Manufacturer of engine: Collor Pondrat Plug-F Mammoth racing engine
Engine length: 7.47m
Max. speed: 829kph
Max. lift: 85m
Fuel: Tradium power fluid pressurized with quold runium, activated with ionised injectrine

Sith Infiltrator:
Manufacturer: Sienar Design Systems, customised later
Length: 26.5m
Sublight drive: high-temperature X-C2 ion drive array
Hyperdrive: Sienar SSDS 11-A (class 3.0)
Crew: 1, and 6 passengers Armament: 6 low-profile laser cannons

Droid Starfighter:
Manufacturer: Xi Char cathedral factories, Charros IV
Length: 3.5m
Crew: Droid brain controlled by remote signal
Armament: 4 Blaster Canons, 2 energy torpedo launchers

Droid Control Ship:
Manufacturer: Hoersch-Kessel Drive, Inc.
Diameter: 3170m
Sublight engines: Rendii stardrive proton 2
Control Signal broadcast range: 16,500km
Droid Starfighter capacity: 1500
Landing Ship capacity: 50
MTT capacity: 550
AAT capacity: 6250
Troop capacity: 1500
Armament: 42 quadlaser emplacements

Naboo Starfighter:
Manufacturer: Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps
Length: 11m
Sublight Engines: Nubian 221
Hyperdrive:Nubian Monarc C-4
Crew: 1 pilot, and 1 astromech
Armament: twin laser cannons; proton torpedo launcher

AAT:
Manufacturer: Baktoid Armour Workshop
Length: 9.75 m
Max. speed: 55 kph
Crew: 4 battle droids (commander, pilot, 2 gunners)
Armament: Turret laser cannons, twin lateral range finding lasers, twin lateral anti-personal lasers, 6 energy shell projectile launchers

Flash speeder:
Length: 4.5m
Crew: 1
Passengers: 1
Armament: 1 laser blaster

Coruscant Taxi:
Length: 8m
Top speed: 191 kph
Max. altitude: 3.4 km
Crew: 1
Passengers: dependent on species
Armament: none

Theater rules. Variety has just posted up a set of twelve rules that all theater owners must fallow in order to show episode 1. If a theater breaks one of these twelve "Commandants" they will lose the most important thing this summer... The right to show The Phantom Menace in their theater. Ouch! Well, here are the rules.

• Phantom Menace must be shown in the largest theater or auditorium of a complex for the minimum required length of the run of the film.
• As reported yesterday from the Insider's source, the film must stay in that theater for a period of 12 or 8 weeks depending on the market. This is for films that open on May 19. Theaters that open the film on June 18 must show it for four-weeks.
• If a theater has committed to showing the film on two or three screens, the film must stay on those screens for the minimum required amount of time per instructions above.
• The film must play on three screens in competitive areas where more than one exhibitor has theaters.
• Exhibitors will get "100% of their house allowance for the first screen, 50% for the second and 25% for any additional screens." That last point suggest more than the three screens that were previously reported to be the limit.
• Interlocking, which allows a theater to screen a single print on two screens, will be forbidden. One print per screen. This is gonna be expensive!
• "Exhibitors may not deduct additional security expenses from rental fees."
• As expected, theater passes will not be honored, in this case for the firsts eight weeks.
• "Payment is to be made within seven days (30-60 days is typical) for the first several weeks."
• Paid advertising on the same screen between showing is prohibited for the first two weeks.
• Trailers may be shown as long as they don’t exceed 8 minutes of time. The trade also reports that Fox has attached 2 ½ minutes of trailers on the front of all Phantom Menace prints.
• As expected, theaters will be allowed to start showing Phantom Menace at 12:01 a.m. on May 19. The trade reports that the film’s current running time is two-hours and eleven minutes.

Lays' snack images. Prequel Spoiler has posted up several images from Lays new ad camping. They also reveals new images that we have not seen. For example there is an image of Jar Jar that I assume Drew used for the painting. Now, I didn’t want to post up all the images, because did Prequel Spoiler really did supply with high resolution scans. And the images that I wanted was a new close up of Sidious, but the image is so large and the shot of Sidious is so small that it is not worth It. maybe I will show a cropped version later. For now, I have two images of Jar Jar and Watto. Visit
Prequel Spoiler for the rest.

Wired images. Wired magazine has devoted a segment mostly on the effects on episode I. Watto’s Junk Yard posted up these great images from the magazine.

There's also two feature articles on SW inside. The first titled, "G-Force" by Steve Silberman is all about the effects and production of Episode 1 as, "George Lucas fires up the next generation of Star Warriors". The second article is an interview with George Lucas titled "Grand Illusion" by Paula Parisi.
Here is a taste, "Q: How do you feel about the rebel alliance of unofficial web sites. A: The internet still hasn't figured out how to conduct itself in public. It's fascinating to watch, like a little village where everybody is trying to develop the rules by which they can conduct themselves in order to keep a civil operation going and not self-destruct." And here's my favorite quote from the article, "Q: Is it hard to astound moviegoers who've grown up on a steady diet of films like Starship Troopers, A: Astounding them is not my job. My job is to tell a story."
And one final tidbit - Lucas states in regards to starwars.com, "it's a potential offshoot company, like Lucas Learning and LucasArts. We have a store and we have plans for other ways of making it work . . . We're just paddling in the water, waiting for technology to catch up. We don't want to make our big moves too early."

New Countdown images. Countdown has posted up there two great images of Qui-Gon and the Pod Race.

Episode 1 Charity cities. Detroit has announced that they will not have the film. The Freep Press has stated that Lucasfilms will announce the cities that will show the film sometime this week. Man, I am willing to pay $500 to see the film... That would mean giving away my PC... It will be worth it! Thanks, Cinescape for telling me that.

A music ample of John Williams’s score. Classical recordings, a John Williams fan site, has posted a new broadcast interview with John Williams. In this interview we get to hear the final battle song that we have heard in the 60 Minutes segment. The recording is on MP3, go to Winamp for a player.

60 Minutes segment. The Force Net has been able to record the 60 Minutes special and convert it into a MOV file. This is only the first part of the segment. Sadly it is only the first half of the interview, they still have not uploaded the rest of it. The segment contains about less then five minutes of raw footage from the film, The Force Net has already named it Trailer C. Visit the Force Net for mirror links of the 60 Minutes segment.