April 24, 2005
Story by Adam Silva, Jr. (Sand Snipe)

DAY ONE AT CELEBRATION III

Chapter 1: Feeling Like Crap & Getting Inside
Well, it’s the first day in Indy, we lost two hours because of the time difference in California not to mention a bad nights sleep on the plane. My Dad (Boba Fence), Mom (RJP) and sister (Bebe Fette) will join me too on this trip. The hotel wouldn’t let us check in until three o’clock so we headed down to the con. As we got there we saw the huge line. Before we even got in line we called some of our friends from the forums because if they were in line we’d hop in with them. Luckily, Chris Kelso (Kelsith from the Jawa), let us cut in. He was there in a good spot and he was in line for a good while, but we’d repay his kindness later in the week though.

Chapter 2: Exhibit Hall
Stupid me, if I would’ve known the line for the figures was huge I would of ran in but we went to the exhibit hall instead. I took some pics of the whole place and then we hopped in line to get the Sandtrooper bust for Starfox. As soon as we got it we went to the Burger King line to sign up for a chance to win all the Burger King SW toys, that we would never win. The M&M’s booth had Darth Yellow and Obi- Red M&M guys in costume and some of the racecars with the SW M&M’S logo on it, not to get the free samples!

I got a couple of shots of the case with the new SW figures but it was nothing special, it’s off to the Popcorn machines! I wasn’t going to miss seeing this; one booth had EP3 popcorn machines! It’s great for a private movie theater or a cool novelty item. It’s just a weird thing to see. By this time all the excitement was out of me, we left the exhibit hall but would be back later in the week.

Chapter 3: Droid Builders
Upon entering who can miss the R2-D2s? They were everywhere, along with more of them. Since I went a little ahead of everyone I turn around to see where they are at and I see a Jar Jar in Carbonite. It was weird to see it and thoughts went through my mind, “Who would want him as a prize or to preserve him for that matter?” Anyway I checked out the other Droids and I was impressed. They had all kinds of different droids, different colors and shapes; it was a sight to see.

Chapter 4: Finding the Crew
I thought I’d try to meet everyone so I called up Spice and we met up with him. We talked for a little while and he left. I knew that Dan would be here the next day and I had Rob’s cell number so we went to find David (Boba Binks). Apparently he was out to lunch and we would not see him that day. Boba Fence called Jim but we would see him later tonight because he was on his volunteer shift. We decided to meet up with the Jawas. At the SW Lounge we found Chris Kelso (Kelsith) and Chad (Jedichrip). We talked and once again we’d talk again later that night.

Chapter 5: Fan Fair Hall
Jedi Training Area -- This is the place the kids can train to be a Jedi. The little padawans learned Jedi attack styles with lightsabers and their very own robe too! The teacher taught them like ducking, attacking the head, shoulder and legs. After their training was complete Darth Vader comes and each kid gets a chance to fight him with his or her new found abilities. It’s a blast to watch and I have to thank Burger King for doing it.

501st Olympics -- What a crappy wait. The show was fifteen or twenty minutes late and the set up for it looked kiddish but we still wanted to see it. When they started the first thing the first team had to put armor on an unarmored teammate. Then he would do things like shoot darts at Jar Jar, find things in a basket full of peanuts and hit things with rubber bats, what a waste of time.

The Dioramas -- I enjoyed looking at all the dioramas. There wasn’t many but looking at David’s Death Star made me not care. That was amazing. The Emperor’s car was cool too, not to forget all the dioramas. I didn’t have too much time to see it because another show was starting!

Origami -- They had some origami made of Jabba the Hutt, a Naboo Fighter and a Jedi Starfighter. They were really cool to see; too bad I couldn't see the guy make them.

Chapter 6: Star Wars in 30 Minutes
This show was great. With cheesy costumes and props it really makes you laugh. I don’t want to give too much away but I liked seeing the trash can R2-D2 and the Stormtrooper bike helmets. I like that they also put some of the bloopers and the bad acting the characters did in the movie. Also people played dual roles like the guy that was Chewbacca wore just a furry chest and when he was Darth Vader he put on glasses and put on a cape. If this show’s in town I urge you to see it.

Chapter 7: Opening Ceremony
We came late and from the looks of the line, we weren’t getting in. Well, we did. It was boring too. The whole 501st came out with Vader and that was cool. Dave Sansweet introduced people and clips were shown of SW in 30 minutes, 1 Man SW show, and SW musical. Then Dave introduced all the stars there, like Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) for example. Then Clips were shown from EP 3 and clips from the SW soundtrack with the DVD inside. Last, the people who couldn’t make it recorded a video saying why. It wasn’t too exciting.

Chapter 8: Drinking but Not Driving
Afterward that we met up with JimsJedi, Jedichrip and his cousin Mark, and Spice and his cousin Tweeny. We drank and had a good time. I was so tired though, so I was quiet as hell and almost fell asleep there. Still it was a fun first day.

DAY TWO AT CELEBRATION III

Chapter 1: Half of the Group
Boba Fence and Bebe Fette went to Nappanee to see relatives so; it was RJP and I all alone. She put on her Slave Leia outfit and we were off. The Leia Bikini builders were having a photo shoot and RJP was going. All day we were swamped with photographers and when we met other Leias on the way we were even more swamped.

Chapter 2: Girls! Girls! And Elvis?
To the photo shoot! There were tons of people when we showed up. Then the pictures were taken. There were about twelve girls there and I got a lot of pictures for the guys at the site, you’re welcome. Han Solo, the Rancor Keeper, Vader, Lando as the Skiff guard, and Elvis Stormtrooper also came to pose for the pictures. After a while RJP snuck out and a couple hours later, other Leias were still there.

Chapter 3: Mini Riot
Why not check out what’s going on at the C3 figure line? As we got there a mini-riot was forming of less than 100 people. The guy being yelled at announced that he was getting the head of something and she might let some people in to get a figure. She came and people asked questions and she refused to let us in. She was escorted out by security and no one got the figures. We were that close to a short line. Dang!

Chapter 4: A Good Break
We meet up with the Jawas again in the Lounge with Petewindu, Mitch, Kelsith, and Nick. We talked and it was good to relax for Mom after all the flashing cameras.

Chapter 5: Snipe and RJP at the Movies
We decided to go see The Empire Strikes Back and it was a blast. People cheered for their favorite characters on and off screen. Fans shouted out words and phrases. One for example was the part when Han gets back from being tortured and he says, “I feel terrible!” a fan yelled out “How do you feel?” right before Han said that in the movie. The whole thing was great fun.

DAY THREE AT CELEBRATION III

Chapter 1: Lines
Boba Fence and I lined up early because Lucas was going to be here today and we thought everyone was going to see him so we’d get the figures. When we got in Bebe Fence and I ran ahead and got a good spot. After that we only had to wait a whole five hours to get our figures. We were only going to get six figures, one for me, one for Mom, 2 for Starfox, one for Kelsith, and one for trading but for waiting five hours we got our full sixteen figures. In the back two kids volunteered, age seven or eight,, they worked their butts off but they shouldn’t be doing that. Plus, the guys couldn’t work the cash register, what a waste of time.

Chapter 2: Meeting up with the Sandtroopers
Right after the five hours I ran to a meeting area where the Sandtrooper staff was meeting. We took the picture and afterward we talked to Jim, Dan, Tweeny, and Spice. Everyone went their separate ways and we headed toward Celebration at Celebration 3.

Chapter 3: Celebration at Celebration 3
We were supposed to go but we were supposed to have dinner with our cousin in ST. Louis who was visiting but he flaked on us so Boba Fence slept at the hotel and we sat down and watched the line for Celebration. The fans that had been waiting for hours would be the last ones in because of fans who just walked up the front. The whole thing was almost cancelled by the fire marshal but luckily it wasn’t. I heard it sucked though, from a lot of people including Sandtroopers own, JimsJedi.

Chapter 4: Drinkin’ Again
We had a long talk with JimsJedi, and Kelsith and his wife Pam. We had a great time and we made fun of our ditzy waitress who dropped a whole lot of dishes.

 

DAY FOUR AT CELEBRATION III

Chapter 1: Shows Galore
RJP went to the Tim Zahn interview and Fence, Bebe, and I headed to The One Man SW Trilogy.

SW the Musical -- We entered early and we saw half of the SW musical. It was pretty good, but you have to know some of the other musicals like West Side Story to get some of the jokes. The disappointing part was they only did a New Hope.

The 1-Man SW Trilogy -- This was funny. He does well imitating the music and the characters acting. He also adds his own twist like the part where Luke finds out that Vader’s his father and he asks Ben why didn’t he tell him, the guy just said “I forgot, sorry…” He also put the stuff the crowd did in his act like telling people to turn off cell phones and to shut up. It was great though.

Zahn -- RJP told me he was a great guy, very humble but not in a bad way, and was sincere. He doesn’t treat himself like a big shot and he answered questions very truthfully. He answered questions about his characters and told people stuff like other book writers can take other’s ideas and use them without permission.

Chapter 2: Archives
This was kind of cool. They had some of the actual costumes of Ep3 worn by some of the actors. They had Anakin’s, and Obi- Wan’s Jedi outfits and Padme’s pregnant outfit. Also some of the Wookiee costumes, a Wampa costume and the weapons. They had some other neat stuff like a small size replica of the Falcon and the AT-AT.

Chapter 3: Last Rounds
The Exhibit hall booths had major sales and we were able to get stuff cheap. I got a STAP for three bucks mint. Not too bad when it’s twelve to thirty books at other booths.

Well that’s it. Back to California were the weather is much warmer. This is Snipe, signing off!

PHOTO GALLERIES