Star Wars Celebration 5 - Orlando, Fl 8/12-8/15/10
Celebration 5 was a great event. Orlando was also a great location for the con. Affordable hotels, eateries and attractions were all close to the convention center. The Orange County Convention Center was spacious and had more than enough room to host everything the con had to offer. The amount of panels, displays, vendors and activities were incredible.
The Main Event featuring Jon Stewart interviewing George Lucas was a huge draw. Many were waiting hours in line to get a chance to see it live. I saw the rebroadcast on Sunday that Carrie Fisher introduced. It was fun and informative. The lost footage of Luke revealing his lightsaber in Return Of The Jedi was shown. It was great seeing unreleased footage after all these years.
The Star Wars Collectors panels were a huge hit. Free mini cereal boxes limited to 400 were given away at each panel. I was lucky to attend 3 panels that featured vintage Star Wars figures, props and unlicensed items. I tried hitting a few others but was shut out being a few minutes too late. There was a strict rule of no one allowed in the room after the door closed after the door was closed. You also had to be in the room the entire time to receive the cereal box as well. A bit extreme, but it was done to deter people coming in for a cereal box and leaving right after. The panels were set up by fans and boxes designed and paid for those fans. It was a fun promotion to the already fun panels. Myself and other collectors appreciate all the time involved in the panels and cereal box promotion.
There was a huge amount of exclusives sold at the show. The most popular were the 12" Gentle Giant vintage Boba Fett figure, EFX X-Wing ESB helmet with plaque signed Mark Hamill, Hallmark ornaments, art prints, t-shirts and Hasbro figures. Gentle Giant made the process of buying a Boba Fett as difficult as possible to convention goers.
Fans also made their own exclusives to give out at the show. I would like to personally thank Jason West for the Jawa patches, Broc Walker for the Lobot pin, The Toys And Tattoos gang for the pins and Skye Paine and Steve Danley for the Mr. Loboto shirt and Wampa Wampa pin.
For vintage Star Wars figures and prototypes, Hollywood Heroes had the most impressive display. It was mindblowing seeing such rare items all in one place.
Official Pix had a large amount of Star Wars actors on hand to sign autographs. The biggest stars were Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. I met actors Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Julian Glover (General Veers), Benn Burtt (R2-D2's "voice"), Paul Blake (Greedo #1) and Dermot Crowley (General Madine). All were extremely nice.
The displays by the 501st, Rebel Legion and R2 Builders Club was amazing. ACME had original art on display that was great to see. The Ralph McQuarrie art exhibit was incredible.
The tattoo area was busy all weekend. Shane Turgeon and Mark Draven did a great job setting it up. The Empire Skates Back display featured painted skatebaord decks to auction off for charity. The art was incredible and went to a good cause.
The hotel room sales at night were fun as they usually are. All different types of items were for sale by collectors to each other. I didn't find any Star Wars items I needed, but found some awesome Love Boat figures. :)
Lastly, seeing friends and fellow collectors at the con was great as always. I haven't seen some in years and glad to see them again. I've known some since 1997 and still love the hobby and films just as much if not more since then.
The Main Event featuring Jon Stewart interviewing George Lucas was a huge draw. Many were waiting hours in line to get a chance to see it live. I saw the rebroadcast on Sunday that Carrie Fisher introduced. It was fun and informative. The lost footage of Luke revealing his lightsaber in Return Of The Jedi was shown. It was great seeing unreleased footage after all these years.
The Star Wars Collectors panels were a huge hit. Free mini cereal boxes limited to 400 were given away at each panel. I was lucky to attend 3 panels that featured vintage Star Wars figures, props and unlicensed items. I tried hitting a few others but was shut out being a few minutes too late. There was a strict rule of no one allowed in the room after the door closed after the door was closed. You also had to be in the room the entire time to receive the cereal box as well. A bit extreme, but it was done to deter people coming in for a cereal box and leaving right after. The panels were set up by fans and boxes designed and paid for those fans. It was a fun promotion to the already fun panels. Myself and other collectors appreciate all the time involved in the panels and cereal box promotion.
There was a huge amount of exclusives sold at the show. The most popular were the 12" Gentle Giant vintage Boba Fett figure, EFX X-Wing ESB helmet with plaque signed Mark Hamill, Hallmark ornaments, art prints, t-shirts and Hasbro figures. Gentle Giant made the process of buying a Boba Fett as difficult as possible to convention goers.
Fans also made their own exclusives to give out at the show. I would like to personally thank Jason West for the Jawa patches, Broc Walker for the Lobot pin, The Toys And Tattoos gang for the pins and Skye Paine and Steve Danley for the Mr. Loboto shirt and Wampa Wampa pin.
For vintage Star Wars figures and prototypes, Hollywood Heroes had the most impressive display. It was mindblowing seeing such rare items all in one place.
Official Pix had a large amount of Star Wars actors on hand to sign autographs. The biggest stars were Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. I met actors Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Julian Glover (General Veers), Benn Burtt (R2-D2's "voice"), Paul Blake (Greedo #1) and Dermot Crowley (General Madine). All were extremely nice.
The displays by the 501st, Rebel Legion and R2 Builders Club was amazing. ACME had original art on display that was great to see. The Ralph McQuarrie art exhibit was incredible.
The tattoo area was busy all weekend. Shane Turgeon and Mark Draven did a great job setting it up. The Empire Skates Back display featured painted skatebaord decks to auction off for charity. The art was incredible and went to a good cause.
The hotel room sales at night were fun as they usually are. All different types of items were for sale by collectors to each other. I didn't find any Star Wars items I needed, but found some awesome Love Boat figures. :)
Lastly, seeing friends and fellow collectors at the con was great as always. I haven't seen some in years and glad to see them again. I've known some since 1997 and still love the hobby and films just as much if not more since then.
