But … no matter what you think about Comic-Con, there is one fandom that defies categorization. That fanboys and fangirls alike will cheer and faint over, and that’s Star Wars. The Force Awakens panel was EASILY the highlight of the entire week. AND I WAS THERE.
What Was Happening in Hall H
Let me set the stage for you about why this panel was such a big deal, and why it surpassed everyone’s expectations. This was the last big panel of the day on Friday in Hall H. The room had hosted The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones earlier in the day, but the crowds had certainly not thinned. It was thick in there.
My Head and Hall H from the Press Cage
For other panels, you know who to expect: the panelists are lined up for you in the program weeks before. The Force Awakens panel was a mystery. Would there be new cast members attending? Or any? Would the original cast be there? What about new footage? Would we get surprise, exclusive info on the storyline?
I was in the press cage with some guys who had been waiting for this panel ALL DAY. Even among press, no one had any real idea who/what we were getting. A PA came out before the panel started and removed all but three microphones on the table, there were no name placards to give anything away. That admittedly made us a little tense. And then it began.
Chris Hardwick was about as excited as we all were to be there. So when he said, “You WON’T be disappointed,” I knew. I freaking KNEW I was about to see Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Eventually. Let’s not get away from ourselves. I wish I could tell you the level of anticipation that was stirring in the room. We were all anticipating something incredible, and knew that whatever we got – footage, story lines, characters, behind the scenes, cast members – it was going to be worth it.
Chris Hardwick started off the panel saying how emotional and personal it was for him to be there, and I joked with the photographer standing by me that everyone in the room was going to have a story. Every person lucky enough to ask a fan question was going to start with: “Star Wars means so much to me. When I was a little kid … ” So, in that spirit.
When I Was A Little Kid
I wasn’t old enough to see Star Wars in the theater, but I was a part of the VHS generation, so I was old enough for my parents to record it off of TV and wear out the video tapes watching it regularly. I had older guy cousins who were in love with everything Star Wars. Every Saturday, several of my cousins, my sister and I would go to my grandparents’ house in the morning, visit nursing homes to do puppet shows, eat lunch at McDonald’s and then go back to my Mammaw and G.G.’s to play. My cousin created an entire Millenium Falcon control panel out of cardboard and colored pencils. Every dial, switch and light up screen was represented. We had fun for HOURS.
When the Star Wars Special Editions came out in theaters, I was in high school. I went to the Episode IV showing opening night with a very hot Star Wars nerd who leaned over and would whisper obscure, upcoming lines into my ear right before they were uttered. It was ridiculously nerd-hot. Remains the best date of all time.
My brother, sister and I play Star Wars trivial pursuit on the reg. The first time I met my brother’s wife was when all of us went to Star Wars In Concert in 2008. Suffice it to say, I’m a FAN.
#NerdAlert
So when the panel got underway and I heard JJ Abrams be AS excited for this film as I know that I am (and all my Star Wars loving friends are), the tears ran, not gonna lie.
“I’ve been a fan since I was a little kid. There is nothing normal about getting to write a movie with Lawrence Kasdan … or directing a Star Wars movie. I’ve sat down with John Williams to show him scenes from a Star Wars movie that HE HASN’T SEEN YET, that I directed. There’s nothing normal about anything that’s happened.”
Hey JJ … #thatsnormal
Me and my baby girl for Halloween a few years ago.
BobbaJo and Behind the Scenes
I’ll say one thing for this panel: they were ready to dispel myths and discourage disgruntlement. I don’t know what the pervasive online chatter for or against The Force Awakens has been, but I do know that one of the major disappointments with the prequels was the heavy handed CGI in a world that was built on realistic effects.
Bringing out BobbaJo, whom I’m going to assume is a background player, essentially a set piece or an extra, but who looks REAL standing in front of you, is capable of movement, emotion and upheaval (he knocked JJ Abram’s name plate off the table) was a COUP. They are invested in making this movie a treat for the fans and a feast for the senses. It was exciting. And I cried. Again.
JJ Abrams and Larry Kasdan gave the most amazing answers to fan questions. “What delights us?” That was their mandate when writing and making the movie.
“When we talked about delight, we were talking about something as simple as the texture of a wall, the fact that a person cast a shadow, creature casts a shadow as he comes into the room. Those are real weapons, real stormtroopers. It was ALL real. We got that part right.” – Larry Kasdan
Then OH THEN, they showed the behind the scenes reel, full of John Williams’ music, stills and short shots of filming and I cried. Again.
Light Side, Baddies and Legacy Heroes
When it was time for the cast to come out I basically had ONE PERVASIVE THOUGHT: Oscar Isaac. I think Oscar is fantastic, and have for a long time. Nativity Story, Drive, Inside Llewyn Davis and now POE DAMERON in The Force Awakens. Mostly I love him because he looks exactly like how I imagine Froi from the Lumatere Chronicles would look. It’s not logical I know. But I really love him. As is evidenced by my high pitched, girly scream when he walked by me.
https://instagram.com/p/5INS4Su_Ex/
Run down thoughts: John Boyega is going to be a SUPER star. He’s warm, funny and knows how to tell a story. Daisy Ridley is a dear, and I don’t understand how she can look THAT much like Keira Knightley and not BE Keira Knightley. And Oscar? Swoon.
Then it was time for the Dark Side to come out: Adam Driver seemed aloof, Domhall Gleeson was ecstatic, and Gwendoline Christie continues to be one of the best reasons to attend Comic-Con ever … she is just that magnetic and eloquent. I love her answers for everything. Here she is walking by me.
But nothing compares to the elation that a nerdy little Star Wars feels watching Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford all come out and talk making a new Star Wars movie together. IN FRONT OF YOU. RIGHT THERE. It was transcendent.
https://instagram.com/p/4_E-PVO_DY/
Yes, that’s my little, “oh my gooood” you hear there. She is so crazy, and it’s hilarious. When Chris asked her what did it feel like when she got back on the Star Wars set, her answer was predictably, “They were right about the acid flashbacks.” OMG, Carrie, let me be you.
Then Mark Hamill starts talking about what it was like to attend a fan convetion in 1976 before Star Wars had ever been seen. How his enthusiasm helped sell people’s interest, what the fans mean to him, and how he flunks Star Wars trivia contests.
And then Harrison came out and nothing hurt.
https://instagram.com/p/5IPrXjO_J4/
He was so cute. And Mark put his name plate in front of him and he got adorably confused. It was all just so adorable. AHHH. And look, guys, I know there are amazing videos of all this out there already but these are MINE from where I was standing and omg want to see the BEST ONE??????
https://instagram.com/p/5IP8ghO_KT/
I have NO REGRETS. Just none.
And if you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the full panel.
I wish every single person that I love who also love Star Wars could have been there with me. The only thing that could have made it better was if my dad, Andy, Martha, Alex, Daniel, Wes, Brian, Josh, Matt, Andrea and everyone who’s ever talked nerdy with me had been there too. BUT I CAN DIE HAPPY NOW.
What was the best part of the Star Wars panel for you nerds? What was your favorite San Diego Comic Con moment?
