From: PhantomShadow Subject: AFS FAQ Date: 10 Dec 2000 00:00:00 GMT Organization: Galactic Senate Newsgroups: alt.fan.starwars This FAQ has been compiled in an effort to provide both regulars and newbies with the answers to frequently asked questions in the alt.fan.starwars Newsgroup. Special Thanks, concerning this FAQ go to Brian Bagley, John Donchig and Michael. B. Mayo. Contributions : Brian Bagley, John Donchig, Michael. B. Mayo, Don Kuenz, Chris Pastor, SGHB, PhantomShadow and Nathan Butler. Questions sometimes arise on AFS and this is an attempt to clarify them...it is in no way, in some cases, the final word on things or the final answer. The FAQ is divided into SEVEN relevant categories: Episodes I-III, Episodes IV-VI, Miscellaneous, Spoilers, Binaries, Advertisements and Trolls. The alt.fan.starwars-Glossary: http://www.mordor.ch/velya/afs/afsglossary.htm Frequently Asked Questions 21st July, 2000 Version 2.2 *1* EPISODES I-III *1* 1.A - Is Darth Maul really dead? 1.B - Why doesn't Qui-Gon disappear? 1.C - Wookiees, Warwick, ET, THX 1138, and other "Easter Eggs"... 1.D - The Sideous - Palpatine connection.. 1.E - What is the Force (metachlorians, midichlorians, whatever)? 1.F - Padme and Amidala... am I seeing double? 1.G - Who is Aurra Sing, where does she appear? 1.H - Who is Anakins Father? 1.I - In Duel of the Fates, what language is that? 1.J - Why does Obi-Wan in TESB say Yoda was his teacher - while we see in TPM that it's Qui-Gon? 1.K - When is The Phantom Menace released on Video/DVD? 1.L - How can Amidala be "elected" Queen? That doesn't make sense. 1.M - Why are scenes missing from the Episode I video? *2* EPISODES IV-VI *2* 2.A - Did Boba Fett die in ROTJ? 2.B - Are Obi Wan and Owen Lars brothers? 2.C - What does Darth Vader mean? 2.D - What is Yoda? 2.E - Is the Emperor a Jedi? Who trained him ? 2.F - Didn't the droids belong to Wedge? 2.G - Are Wedge and Captain Antilles related? 2.H - Why did Obi-Wan lie about the droids? 2.I - How Long was Luke on Dagobah? 2.J - When did Vader find out about Luke? 2.K - Who said the numbers `3263827` in the Trash Compactor ? 2.L - Who played Emperor Palpatine in TESB ? 2.M - In the Carbon Chamber scene in TESB, when Vader says,`I am altering the deal..` Does he use the Force to Choke Lando ? 2.N - Did Mark Hamill Shout "Carrie" in Episode IV ? *3* MISCELLANEOUS *3* 3.A - What is meant by "canon"? 3.B - What is the difference between George Lucas, Lucasfilm, and LucasArts? 3.C - Will there be episodes 7-9? 3.D - Star Wars vs. ****** (ie. Titanic, Star Trek).. 3.E - Missing scenes... 3.F - What is "Troops"? 3.G - What is the "Star Wars Holiday Special"? 3.H - Mark Hammils accident... 3.I - How do you spell litesabber....lightsaybr....lights...pagh !!! 3.J - I've heard such and such happens in the novels/graphic novels but which one? 3.K - How does Lucasfilm pass a novel for publishing? *4* SPOILERS *4* 4.A - What is a spoiler? 4.B - What are some examples of spoilers? 4.C - What if my spoiler is speculation? 4.D - Why do some people not like spoilers? 4.E - How can I avoid being offensive for spoilers? 4.F - What happens when I post spoiler material inappropriately? *5* BINARIES *5* 5.A - What is a Binary ? 5.B - Where should I post a binary? 5.C - Why shouldn't I post the binary here? 5.D - What will happen if I post a binary in AFS? *6* ADVERTISEMENTS *6* 6.A - What falls into the category of 'advertisements'? 6.B - Why are my advertisements not wanted? 6.C - Where should I post my advertisements? 6.D - What happens if I ignore these guidelines? *7* TROLLS *7* 7.A - What is Trolling? 7.B - What is a Troll? 7.C - Why do Trolls troll? 7.D - What do I do if I see a Troll? *1* THE MOVIES - EPISODES I - III *1* 1.A - Is Darth Maul really dead? Rick McCallum has stated that the return of Maul is "highly unlikely". If Maul does return, it will be in some other form than that which we see in TPM seeing as he got sliced in two. On the Official Star Wars Site... http://www.starwars.com ...in the `Ask the Lucasfilm Jedi Council` Section, in answer to this question : Q: `Will Ray Park be back in any capacity for Episode II?` Rick McCallum replied : A: "Ray Park did a fabulous job for us, but didn’t you see the dude get sliced in half at the end of the film? Would he come back as two halves? I’d love to work with Ray again, but at this stage there aren’t any plans to do so" 1.B - Why doesn't Qui-Gon disappear? Let's go over what we already know. Of all the Jedi / force bearing individuals that die, we know of only two that actually disappear upon death. Obi-Wan disappears as Vader strikes him down, recall that a brief period of 'meditation' precedes this event. Yoda also disappears after he passes away in ROTJ. It has been suggested that disappearing is actually a learned skill, although the benefits are currently left to speculation. Rick McCallum has suggested that this will be answered in Episode II. 1.C - Wookiees, Warwick, ET, THX 1138, and other "Easter Eggs"... An "Easter Egg" is a little surprise placed in a production by its creator. In this case, GL included quite a few little tidbits in his newest Star Wars movies. TPM - We'll start with the Wookiees, which can be seen roaring in the senate scene. They are delegates in one of the "pods" seen during one of the close up shots. Three E.T. characters are seen in a similar manner following the Wookiees shots. Warwick Davis can be found cheering during the Pod Race scene. Anyone looking for the THX reference should pay attention to one of the battle droids in the final battle... it's on the droids back. There is also a sound byte at the end of the credits, you can here Darth Vader breathing. THEFORCE.NET... http://www.theforce.net ...has an excellent section to check out. 1.D - The Sideous - Palpatine connection... There is no doubt that Senator Palpatine is to become the Emperor in time, but who is that cloaked character featured as Maul's master? The name is Darth Sideous, and the two characters are played by the same actor, but that is all we know. Most feel that Palpatine is Sideous, without a doubt but there is no canon source to verify that, aside from speculation based on movie evidence. So, until more evidence is available this is the only answer we can give, even though, most on AFS believe they're one and the same. According to Lucas, Episode II will see "Darth Sidious take over the Republic, turn it into an Empire and control everything." 1.E - What is the Force (metachlorians, midichlorians, whatever)? The following is an excerpt taken from the Toronto Sun (Bob Thompson, 6/1/99) "The scientific Star Wars explanation," says Lucas, "is that the meta- chlorines can hear the Force, and they communicate with cells, and cells communicate with your consciousness." This next quote is taken from TPM as Qui-Gon attempts to explain the nature of the Force to Anakin : "Midi-Chlorians are microscopic lifeforms that reside within all living cells. We are symbionts with them, lifeforms, living together for mutual advantage. Without the Midichlorians, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the Force." Take it as you will, I'm sure it will be cleared up more-so in future Lucasfilm releases. 1.F - Padme and Amidala... am I seeing double? We all know that Natalie Portman played both parts, but who played the part of the "decoy"? Many people feel that it is Portman superimposed into the scene. Others feel that it is an additional actress. Kiera Knightley plays Sabe the handmaiden and decoy. Sabe disguises herself as Queen Amidala during excursions. Sometimes, when the Queen is in no position to object, Sabe likes to play practical jokes, like ordering the Queen to clean a droid. 1.G - Who is Aurra Sing, where does she appear? Aurra Sing is a bounty hunter who can be seen during the first lap of the Pod race. She bares numerous weapons and is expected to have a larger, more important role in Episode II. 1.H - Who is Anakin's Father? This question is to be answered in the upcoming prequels, but there is speculation on the subject. Qui-Gon refers to the possibility of Anakin being "conceived by the Midichlorians". This is currently the only canon source referring to the father. Others believe it might be Qui-Gon or Palpatine although these are just rumors. Nobody knows. 1.I - In Duel of the Fates, what language is that? Excerpt from http://www.starwars.talkcity.com AskLucasfilm: Jedi-Andy says: In duel of the fates, what language is that? JohnWilliams: "That is Sanskrit. Simply, because I liked the way it sounded, in part, and in part, because it's an ancient language less well-known than Latin or Greek. It also has good vowel sounds, which produce good tone and timbre from the chorus, similar to modern Italian. Sanskrit, by the way, is the root language of India". [i] Why Sanskrit? Sanskrit originated in the northern India/Nepal region during the 3rd century AD. The Brahman caste used it during Hindu religious ceremonies. It serves to achieve oneness, a connecting of self with the world soul. People often use it in theatrical productions because of its mythic tone. [ii] What are the Sanskrit words? From: Angelo Muredda Newsgroups: news:alt.fan.starwars Subject: Re: What are the words in "Duel of the Fates" (on the soundtrack?) Date: Sat, Jun 3, 1999, 8:30 AM The words -as sung- are: "Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah, Korah Rahtamah Yoodhah Korah, Korah Syahdho Rahtahmah Daanyah, Korah Keelah Daanyah Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah, Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah, Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah, Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah, Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah, Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah, Korah Korah Matah Korah Rahtahmah, Korah Daanyah Korah Rahtahmah, Nyohah Keelah Korah Rahtahmah, Syadho Keelah Korah Rahtahmah, Korah " [iii] What is the English translation? From: Wes Leavell Newsgroups: news:alt.fan.starwars Subject: Re: Duel of the Fates...lyrics? -HERE THEY ARE- Date: Fri, May 28, 1999, 10:23 PM Ok, did some research. Here ya go. The original text for the words comes from "Cad Goddeu" an old Celtic poem -translation Battle of the Trees or depending on the meaning of trees, especially from a more druidic sense Battle of the Fates. The english translation of the lyrics used is : Under the tongue root, a fight most dread, and another raging behind, in the head. This was translated to rhyme, a more direct translation without keeping the meter and rhyme is : Beneath the tongue of the tree, a grave battle unfolds, and another begins: the fire in the head. These lyrics -the rhyming english translation by Robert Graves- were then translated again into a dead dialect -sorry dont know the name of it, only that its written form was sanskrit. Several older dialects used the same writing. [iv] What is the "Battle of the Trees"? BATTLE OF THE TREES The Battle of the Trees is a Welsh poem reconstructed from mixed and fragmentary evidence by Robert Graves, a noted expert on mythology - especially Greek. The second chapter of Graves's White Goddess, a work on myth that George Lucas has praised now and then along with Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces, describes the reconstruction of this poem. Later chapters elicit its mythological and historical meaning. Cbd Goddeu 'The Battle of the Trees' From Robert Graves, The White Goddess, New York: The Noonday Press (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), 1966. Pages 33-38. The tops of the beech tree / Have sprouted of late / Are changed and renewed, from their withered state. - When the beech prospers / Though spells and litanies / The oak tops entangle / There is hope for trees. - I have plundered the fern / Through all secrets I spy / Old Math ap Mathonwy / Knew no more than I / For with nine sorts of faculty / God has gifted me: I am fruit of fruits gathered / From nine sorts of tree / Plum, quince, whortle, mulberry / Raspberry, pear / Black cherry and white With the sorb in me share / From my seat at Fefynedd / A city that is strong / I watched the trees and green things / Hastening along / Retreating from happiness / They would fain be set / In forms of the chief letters Of the alphabet / Wayfarers wondered / Warriors were dismayed / At renewal of conflicts / Such as Gwydion made / Under the tongue root / A fight most dread / And another raging / Behind, in the head / The alders in the front line / Began the affray / Willow and rowan-tree / Were tardy in array / The holly, dark green / Made a resolute stand / He is armed with many spear points / Wounding the hand. With foot-beat of the swift oak / Heaven and earth rung / 'Stout Guardian of the Door' / His name in every tongue / Great was the gorse in battle / And the ivy at his prime / The hazel was arbiter / At this charmed time / Uncouth and savage was the fir / Cruel the ash tree / Turns not aside a foot-breadth / Straight at the heart runs he / The birch, though very noble / Armed himself but late / A sign not of cowardice / But of high estate / The heath gave consolation / To the toil-spent folk / The long-enduring poplars / In battle much broke / Some of them were cast away / On the field of fight / Because of holes torn in them / By the enemy's might / Very wrathful was the vine / Whose henchmen are the elms / I exalt him mightily / To rulers of realms / Strong chieftains were the blackthorn / With his ill fruit / The unbeloved whitethorn / Who wears the same suit / The swift-pursuing reed / The broom with his brood / And the furze but ill-behaved / Until he is subdued / The dower-scattering yew / Stood glum at the fight's fringe / With the elder slow to burn / Amid fires that singe / And the blessed wild apple / Laughing in pride / From the Gorchan of Maeldrew / By the rock side / In shelter linger / Privet and woodbine / Inexperienced in warfare / And the courtly pine / But I, although slighted / Because I was not big / Fought, trees, in your array / On the field of Goddeu Brig. From page 123 of the same volume, a description of the basic meaning - read the book for more!: "I first suspected that an alphabet was contained in Gwion's conundrum when I began to restore the purposely jumbled text of his Battle of the Trees, which refers to a primitive British tradition of the capture of an oracular shrine by the guessing of a god's name. This capture seems to have taken place early in the fourth century B.C. when the Belgic Brythons, worshippers of the Ash-god Gwydion, with the help of an agricultural tribe already settled in Britain, seized the national shrine, perhaps Avebury, from the reigning priesthood, two of whose gods were Arawn and Bran." 1.J - Why does Obi-Wan in ESB say Yoda was his teacher - while we see in TPM that it's Qui-Gon? The offical website reminds us that the Jedi Apprentice series of books, tells us that Obi-Wan had other teachers in Jedi Temple before being made Qui-Gon's Padawan, including various members of the Jedi council. One of his former teachers, Yoda was referred to in the beginning scene of TPM: "...but master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future" This gives us a hint that Kenobi WAS taught by Yoda but not in the way we first assumed by the info said by him in TESB. It was, after all, said from a `certain point of view`. :) 1.K - When is The Phantom Menace released on Video/DVD? The Official Star Wars Site... http://www.starwars.com ...announced a Worldwide Video Release on April 3rd, 2000 and as of now, the Video is widely available but say of DVD : `The film is being released on VHS videocassette only and is not being released on the DVD format in 2000 or for the foreseeable future. EPISODE I has a running time of approximately 133 minutes`. So, there you have it. Obviously, the Video release is VERY good news , but the DVD prospect looks very bleak indeed. Though we may not like it that there will be no DVD of The Phantom Menace, or any of the Starwars films anytime soon, we at alt.fan.starwars do not want to hear constant complaints or theories as to why they are not going to produce it. Good things come to those who wait, be content with the worldwide release of The Phantom Menace on VHS for now. 1.L - How can Amidala be "elected" Queen? That doesn't make sense. At different times and places throughout human history, "royalty" has been subjected to election. The most notable examples are from Imperial Rome, wherein the death of the Emperor often preceded an election among the elite to find his successor, and medieval Germany, where the office of both German king and Holy Roman Emperor was subject to election among the German nobles. Thus, the ideas of election and royal office are not mutually exclusive. Also keep in mind that we are given precious little information about her election. There is no mention of who elected her; hence, it is hasty and dangerous to make the assumption that she was popularly elected by the people. It's very possible that she underwent some sort of parliamentary election instead. It is also possible that the title "Queen" is an honorific among the Naboo, and that she actually occupies a position much like that of Prime Minister, regardless how that position is called. 1.M - Why are scenes missing from the Episode I video? Rick McCallum : "No changes were made to The Phantom Menace in bringing the movie to video. Reports of changes or missing scenes are probably from fans remembering it differently because of the change in viewing environment. Also, the standard pan and scan version has to clip the edges in order to compensate for the different shape of a television screen compared to a wide movie screen. So, some of the great background details are unfortunately lost. That's one of the advantages of the widescreen version included with the collector's edition". http://starwars.com/jedi_council/rick/ *2* EPISODES IV - VI *2* 2.A - Did Boba Fett die in ROTJ? According to George Lucas, Boba Fett is dead. He, and most people on this NG, are aware of the different stories that have Fett surviving the Sarlacc. There are about 3 different versions of this story, and Lucas does not approve of any of them. He has stated in interviews that, "I killed Boba Fett. He is dead." 2.B - Are Obi Wan and Owen Lars brothers? Uncle Owen and Obi-Wan Kenobi are brothers. This is stated in the ROTJ novelization, is in most versions of the script, and is rumored to have been filmed but edited out of the final copy of ROTJ. Nonetheless, because it appears in a canon source - the ROTJ novelization- they are brothers. It will be interesting, however, to see if George Lucas decides to contradict ROTJ in the next two installment of Star Wars. 2.C - What does Darth Vader mean? The confusion has stemmed from the fact that "Vader" does in fact mean "father" in Dutch. However, the word "Darth" has no discernible meaning in any known language. It is much more likely than anything else that it is a completely fictitious name and it is only a coincidence that "Vader" means "father" in one language. 2.D - What is Yoda? There are currently no canon / official sources which give a name for Yodas species, although, in The Phantom Menace, a female of Yoda`s species appears, in the Jedi Council, Yaddle...this STILL doesn`t help answer the question though....is he Reptilian ? is he Bird-like ?. 2.E - Is the Emperor a Jedi? Who trained him? There are currently no canon sources which indicate whether or not Palpatine is a Jedi, although he is a very powerful Force- user, which introduces the question... who trained him? The only absolute answer that can be given to this question is the ever popular "I don't know." It's a mystery to us all just where and how the Emperor learned to use the Force. Many people are SURE a Jedi taught him; just as many are SURE a Sith Lord was his teacher. As it is now, however, that is all blind speculation. The bottom line is: nobody knows. The question will only ne answered in Eps II & III. [ 1.Q ] has more on this. 2.F - Didn't the droids belong to Wedge? Captain Antilles (not Wedge) was the man who Vader throttled in the early parts of ANH. He was the owner of R2-D2 and C-3P0 until his death. 2.G - Are Wedge and Captain Antilles related? Capt. Antilles and Wedge Antilles are not related in any way. Capt. Antilles was originally named "Captain Colton," and this name appears in the novelization and early scripts. For more information on Wedge, please see the Wedge FAQ: http://www.jimfisher.net/wedge 2.H - Why did Obi-Wan lie about the droids? Obi-Wan claimed, "I don't recall ever owning any droids," yet he is plainly seen in the presence of the droids in Episode 1. This does not mean he lied to Luke in ANH. Obi-Wan merely said he didn't own a droid, he never said he hadn't met the droids before. 2.I - How Long was Luke on Dagobah? Another question that can be most easily be answered by saying "Nobody knows." No canon sources make it clear how long Luke was on Dagobah (and, by association, how long the Millennium Falcon took to get to Bespin). Many (seemingly expert) physics student seem to have decided the whole situation is literally impossible without lightspeed travel. There have been official (but non-canon) sources that have treated this very subject. In them the agreed upon length of time for Luke's stay on Dagobah is given as "a few weeks" or "couple of weeks." This would seem to mesh well with the idea that, whereas a normal Jedi needed years to complete training, Luke was an exceptional prospect and needed only scant weeks to complete the same thing. 2.J - When did Vader find out about Luke? Another question that can only be answered with speculation from fans. There is no absolute answer. However, it is generally accepted that Vader found out that the name of the Rebel who destroyed the Death Star was Skywalker some time shortly following the Battle of Yavin. 2.K - Who said the numbers `3263827` in the Trash Compactor ? The voice is supposedly Mark Hamill`s, even though some cling to the belief that it is Harrison Ford who says the line. `3263827` But the diplomatic answer would be `we don't know - unless you've got undeniable facts from Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill or George Lucas, don't bring this triviality up because it has been discussed to death without any result`. Click below to hear the wav file captured from ANH : http://www.galacticempire.net/multimedia/sounds/wav/luke.wav Also, check by Lode-Run Xevious` 3263827: THE WEB PAGE http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Byte/6508/326 2.L - Who played Emperor Palpatine in TESB ? Clive Revill is credited as the VOICE of Palpatine but the face is NOT Alec Guinness, as some would like to believe...it is a woman with monkey eyes super imposed to create the effect we see with the Emperor in TESB. The Emperor in TESB is NOT played by Ian McDairmid, who, as we all know plays the Emperor in ROTJ and Senator Palpatine in TPM. Click below to see the Pictures as further evidence of this : http://www.btinternet.com/~andykwimfc/Emperor.htm 2.M - In the Carbon Chamber scene in TESB, when Vader says,`I am altering the deal..` Does he use the Force to Choke Lando ? This all depends on your own interpretation of the events witnessed in that particular scene. The Script says : LANDO: `You said they'd be left in the city under my supervision.` VADER: `I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.` Lando's hand instinctively goes to his throat as he turns to Leia, Chewie, and Threepio. Not much there to give us a hint either way. The Novel says : Indicating Leia and Chewbacca, Lando told Vader, `I`ll take what is mine now.` He was determined to whisk them out of Vader`s clutches before the Dark Lord reneged on their contract. `Take them,` Vader said, `but I`m keeping a detachment of troops here to watch over them.` `That wasn`t part of the bargain,` Lando protested hotly. `You said the Empire wouldn`t interfere in - ` `I`m altering the bargain. Pray I don`t alter it any further.` A sudden tightness grasped Lando's throat, a threatening sign of what would happen to him if he gave Vader any difficulty. Lando`s hand automatically went to his neck, but in the next moment the unseen hold was released and the administrator turned to face Leia and Chewbacca. A little bit more to go on now. This, although some will dispute it, clearly shows that Lando was, indeed, choked by Vader as a warning. The Movie : This is where it gets complicated...the only indication that we `think` Vader chokes Lando is when lando puts his hand to his neck after Vader has said, `I am altering the deal, pray I don`t alter it any further`. Some say, it`s a gesture by Lando because he knows what COULD happen...some say it`s obvious that Vader reaches, through the Force to choke Lando. This question can be debated but what it boils down to is personal interpretation...but personal interpretation DOES NOT make the person correct. Let`s look at the, for the want of a better word, the Force Grip. It is set up in ANH...it is then demonstrated in TESB on Admiral Ozzel and Captain Needa...it sets up the scene with Lando, so it`s only natural to assume that Vader does indeed choke Lando...but, again, this is all based on the viewers own interpretation, so half say `yes` and half say `no`....who is right ? Who is wrong ?...Will we ever know ! ;-) 2.N - Did Mark Hamill Shout "Carrie" in Episode IV ? Taken From The Official Site - Urban Legends http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/features/legends/index2.html Actors do make mistakes. They are, after all, humans (even the computer- generated ones, at heart). Since so much work has to go into turning an on-set performance into a finished Star Wars movie, mistakes can be caught and fixed by the many people who handle the film after the shooting is done. Much of the sound heard in Star Wars was created and crafted after the action had been shot. Though on-set microphones captured the live performance as it occurred, many times actors had to come back in to loop dialog. Even dialog that is captured on set is carefully mixed and massaged by sound editors to achieve a certain consistency and interaction with other added sound effects. In the end, so many people scrutinize the audio recording that it seems unlikely that such a gaff could have gotten through. So, while it indeed sounds like "Carrie!" to many people, in the finished film, that's not what Mark Hamill says. What does he say? While putting together the improved soundtrack for the Special Edition Trilogy, sound editor Ben Burtt investigated the matter. All the original tracks, 1/4-inch tapes, and source materials were pulled out from storage, and listened to in a big mix room at Skywalker Sound. "We made loops out of everything Mark said and played them for a panel of listeners," says Burtt. "We edited the recording and filtered it and did everything we could to clean up the phrase where he yells as he hugs Princess Leia" The audio investigation included numerous takes of Mark Hamill recording that scene. "The consensus was that he is yelling 'hey' or 'yay,' rather than 'Carrie.' In other takes he specifically yells 'yay!' at that point," explains Burtt. "Like most garbled dialog, if you listen to it over and over with all the other voices in there you can convince yourself that he is saying 'Carrie' or any number of things. But we were convinced that he really was just cheering." According to Mark Hamill, he excitedly yells "Hey! There she is!" indicating that Luke was scanning the rushing crowd for Leia. In the excitement, Luke doesn't stop to enunciate each syllable like a certain golden protocol droid would do. "I ended up swallowing the 'is' part," says Hamill. So the end result was garbled to the point that some people believe it sounds an awful lot like "Carrie!" So much so that even those closely involved in the production can hear that if they listen to it enough times. *3* MISCELLANEOUS *3* 3.A - What is meant by "canon"? Well, when you get right down to the basics of any expanded universe, such as that of Star Wars, Star Trek, or even Babylon 5, the questions are raised as to what items are considered a part of the overall story, which are "sort of" a part of it, and which just plain aren't part of the mainstream saga in the least. In a situation like this, the terms "canon," "official," "unofficial," "apocrypha," and "fan fiction" come into play. As far as level of priority and officiality, the ladder, from greatest priority to least is... Canon First Level Canon Second Level Canon Third Level Canon Fourth Level Canon Official (Expanded Universe Minus Apocrypha) Apocrypha (Unofficial) Fan Fiction (FanFic) `CANON` is that which is undeniably part of the overall story, the creator's vision. In the case of Star Wars, this is broken down into four levels, with the lower levels being only canonical so far as that they do not contradict the higher levels. Essentially, the lower levels are only canonical where they agree with, or add to, the higher levels. `First Level Canon` is the highest level of officiality that something can receive. This term is reserved solely for Lucas' definitive vision. This would currently include only these items: Star Wars: Episode I--"The Phantom Menace" Star Wars: Episode II Star Wars: Episode III Star Wars: Episode IV--"A New Hope" (Special Edition) Star Wars: Episode V--"The Empire Strikes Back" (Special Edition) Star Wars: Episode VI--"Return of the Jedi" (Special Edition) `Second Level Canon` is the next level down from the creator's definitive vision. It basically consists of anything that the creator originally considered First Level Canon, but overwrote slightly. In this case, the original Star Wars film trilogy fits into this category. Second Level Canon information can only be overridden by First Level Canon (i.e., if an "official continuity" author had written that Greedo shot first in A New Hope, it would have not been the "way it really happened," but since Lucas overwrote that scene with his definitive, First Level Canon Special Edition, the old version of events ceased to exist, and were replaced by those Lucas created with his First Level Canon). Essentially, anything in the original films is canonical, unless it contradicts the First Level Canon of the Special Edition. (The SE scripts are included in this category.) `Third Level Canon` is the next step below the original films. This level includes the novelizations of the films themselves. This level can only be overridden by First or Second Level Canon. Thus, if a wording is different in the novel than in the film, the novelization wording is not canonical. For example, in the novelization to The Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo, while fleeing Hoth, states, "I know, I know, I see them," when referring to Star Destroyers. In the films (both First and Second Level Canon versions), he states "I saw 'em! I saw 'em!" Nitpicky, yes, but by the rules of canonicity, the film wording supercedes the novelization. (The original version scripts are included in this category.) `Fourth Level Canon` is the final step down the ladder of officiality before one reaches simply "official." This level includes the radio dramas of the Star Wars films. Once again, it is a case of these events being canonical only so far as they add to or agree with the films and novelizations. The novels and both versions of the films supercede these. For example, the Battle of Derra IV in the ESB radio drama is canonical because it adds to, and does not contradict, the films or novelizations. The character of Heater in the ANH radio drama is not canonical, as that character is replaced with a different character name in the Third, Second, and First Level Canon. `Official` is that which Lucasfilm has allowed to become a part of their "official continuation." George Lucas himself does not approve these stories and has stated that he feels no obligation to work any of these elements into his future films. This is essentially a collection of stories licensed by Lucasfilm and produced by Bantam Spectra, Berkley Boulevard, Del Rey, Berkley Boulevard, Berkley Jam, Dark Horse Comics, LucasArts games (in some, but not all cases), and other companies that Lucasfilm has allowed to contribute to the continuity. This is what most current Star Wars saga fans consider the timeline, although that may change if and when Lucas overrides them by producing a Sequel Trilogy, which would be First Level Canon. `Apocrypha` (often referred to as Unofficial) refers to any and all Star Wars stories that are not a part of the "official continuity." The stories may form timelines unto themselves, but they are not Lucasfilm- approved for the continuity. It's safest to consider them "alternate reality" versions of the saga. They have no place in the "official continuity." `Fan Fiction` (or FanFic) is the term that refers to any creation by a Star Wars fan that is not sanctioned by Lucasfilm in any form. (Apocryphal items at least got permission to publish.) These are things like Troops and other fan-created videos, short stories like Bantha Squadron, etc. If you've ever written or created a Star Wars story on your own, that item would be called FanFic, or Fan Fiction. From the Star Wars Insider #23, an interview with Production and Continuity Editors Sue Rostoni and Allan Kausch: "Gospel, or canon as we refer to it, includes the screenplays, the films, the radio dramas, and the novelizations. These works spin out of George Lucas' original stories, the rest are written by other writers. However, between us, we've read everything, and much of it is taken into account in the overall continuity. The entire catalog of published works comprises a vast history -- with many off-shoots, variations and tangents like any other well-developed mythology." This is the end-all and the be-all of the Star Wars Universe. The original novels, comics, WEG material, etc. ARE "official," meaning that it has been licensed and approved by Lucasfilm. However, there are times when they have contradicted the canon sources, such as with the Death and Life of Boba Fett *See the Boba Fett question for clarification*. In such instances, the "official" sources are to be disregarded. 3.B - What is the difference between George Lucas, Lucasfilm, and LucasArts? Lucasfilm Licensing is the group that approves the different novels and stories that are published. While they are a part of a company Lucas owns, Lucas himself is not involved in their activities. Lucas set guidelines for them to follow when approving story ideas. *Lucas was very active in the approval and editing of Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy because they were the first of the new books to be published, however after those books, Lucas set the guidelines and let it go* LucasArts is a software company owned by George Lucas. GL is not involved in the day to day workings of this company. If LucasArts produces something, that does not give it "canon" status. In fact, LucasArts is prone to many mistakes in their products that do not fit into the Star Wars continuity. Examples: -"Behind the Magic" A trivia answer claims that Wraith Squadron is the code name for the Rogue Squadron while they are on covert missions. The Wraiths, however are a completely different group that Wedge started. -"X-Wing" *the video game* A-Wings are shown as present before and during the Battle of Yavin. The A-Wing, however, was not built until well after this battle, and we do not see them until ROTJ. 3.C - Will there be episodes 7-9? Contrary to what many people believe, there are no current plans for a third trilogy comprising Episodes 7-9. At a recent press conference in Australia, Rick McCallum, long-time collaborator with George Lucas and Producer of the Prequel Trilogy, announced that George Lucas himself has decided that Episodes 1-6 are the totality of his Star Wars story, and that the time period AFTER the Prequels have been released are likely to find Lucas and Lucasfilm working on more experimental types of projects. 3.D - Star Wars vs. ****** (ie. Titanic, Star Trek)... These are off-topic subjects that eat up bandwidth by promoting pointless debates over which one is better or which one will make more money. For Star Trek there is a newsgroup devoted to this debate, try rec.arts.startrek.vs.starwars. 3.E - Missing scenes... Most of these "missing scenes" that people claim to have seen don't exist. There are a few scenes which were filmed but never made it beyond the cutting room floor including some extra scenes depicting Luke and Biggs on Tatooine in ANH, a scene involving C3PO and the removal of a warning sign, and the possible extra footage removed from TPM. 3.F - What is "Troops"? "Troops" is a parody of both SW and the TV show, "COPS," that uses Storm Troopers. Troops can be downloaded at... http://www.theforce.net... ...Just follow the Link on the site - It is distributed free of charge, and it is illegal for anyone to sell or trade it for profit. And yes, George Lucas has seen it, and he thought it was hilarious. 3.G - What is the "Star Wars Holiday Special"? Long ago, in an era far, far away... a television special featuring Wookies, C3PO, and a stoned Carrie Fisher aired on network TV. It seems that in his old age George Lucas has looked back at the Star Wars Holiday Special that aired in 1978 and decided the world would have been a better place if he had never made it. He's publicly said that if he could, he would find all copies circulating loosely and destroy them. So no, don't plan on seeing the SW Holiday Special on TV or in video stores any time soon. Bootleg version are available through the net or conventions. Click the Link below to view some Images : http://www.btinternet.com/~andykwimfc/holidayspecial.htm 3.H - Mark Hamill's accident... In 1978 Mark Hamill was involved in a car accident near his home in Southern California. He suffered a broken nose and other minor injuries. Contrary to popular belief, the Wampa scenes in ESB were not written into the movie as a way to explain his facial scars; it's just a coincidence. 3.I - How do you spell litesabber....lightsaybr....lights...pagh !!! There seems to be some confusion as to the correct spelling of Lightsaber/Lightsabre. The Original Star Wars Novel by George Lucas ( ghost wrote by Alan Dean Foster ) has the spelling as Lightsaber as does the Return of the Jedi Novel, by James Kahn and The Phantom Menace Novel, by Terry Brooks but The Empire Strikes Back Novel, by Donald. F. Glut, has the spelling Lightsabre. After checking the Official Site - Weapons Section, it does seem that the general consensus for the `laser sword` is Lightsaber, so, there you have it, LIGHTSABER !! 3.J - I've heard such and such happens in the novels/graphic novels but which one? [i] In what story did Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade marry? Luke And Mara became engaged in the 'Vision of the Future' novel by Timothy Zahn and married in the comic series `SW:Union` published by Dark Horse comics. [ii] In what story did Luke Skywalker turn to the Dark Side ? Luke was seduced to the Dark Side in the `Dark Empire` graphic novel series. He is later recovered by Leia. [iii] In what story did Emperor Palpatine return as a clone? Again in `Dark Empire`, a clone of Palpatine is discovered, who then succeeds in turning Luke to the Dark Side (see above). The clone story also continues in `Dark Empire 2` and `Empire's End`. 3.K - How does Lucasfilm pass a novel for publishing ? Taken from http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/drindex/22DRINNov.html#rostoni "A prospective publisher must first negotiate a license agreement with Lucasfilm through the Licensing Division. These agreements are very specific and usually contain the rights to publish a finite number of a particular type of book aimed at a set age group, to be sold in a particular territory of the world. After a license agreement is executed, it is generally the publisher's responsibility to hire an author and cover artist, with Lucasfilm's approval. A prospective writer has to have been previously published and the publisher sends Lucasfilm Licensing a book or two by that writer to illustrate his or her writing style and ability. After the author is approved, an outline of the proposed Star Wars novel is sent by the editor at the publishing house. As one of two Production Editors in Licensing, I review the outline with the Director of Publishing. We discuss the outline in regards to storyline elements and continuity to the films and other published works. If there are major problems, I often speak with the editor or author to discuss ways to rewrite the outline so that it is acceptable. After any problems are worked out, the outline is distributed for internal approval. After approval is given, I send the new author a Star Wars Writer's Kit containing the three films (Fox Video), the screenplays (O.S.P. Publishing), Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back radio dramas on cassette (Highbridge), the updated GUIDE TO THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE, Second Edition (Ballantine/Del Rey), the STAR WARS MOVIE TRILOGY SOURCEBOOK (West End Games) and a "bible" I maintain containing a chronological timeline with synopses of the complete Star Wars publishing program (including the films). I also provide specific resources depending on the time period the author has chosen and visual images for the cover artist. Then the rigorous approval process begins. I read, comment on, and approve each element of the project, from title page to manuscript, including legal lines, advertising material, and cover copy. I fact- check the manuscript to be sure that Star Wars terminology is used wherever appropriate and that ion cannons aren't being used to destroy planets and that no one's entering hyperspace in a landspeeder. Continuity is vigorously protected and maintained--if Leia is given a lightsaber in one story, I make sure she still has it in the next. Many decisions have to be made along the way as unique situations arise--can a droid be sensitive to the Force? Does a lightsaber automatically turn off when it is thrown? Is the Sarlacc a sentient creature? The combination of great talent, great editors, and our approval process ensures that the final products--books, comics, and audio productions-- that are true to the Star Wars saga, appeal to our fans, and consistently make the bestseller lists." copyright 1994 by Sue Rostoni, Production Editor, LUCASFILM LTD *4* SPOILERS *4* 4.A - What is a spoiler? As far as AFS is concerned, a spoiler is a post or part of a post which contains information which might ruin the element of surprise within a movie, book, video game, or comic. Spoilers can often be accidentally placed in message headers as well as the message itself. 4.B - What are some examples of spoilers? Here are some spoiler examples, although they are not factual. In order to be a spoiler, the info present would concern the prequels or some other production which is not currently known. i.) Luke is actually Vader's brother!!! ii.) Clinton is a Jedi in TPM!!! iii.) Jar-Jar dies in Episode II!!!! iv.) The MILLENIUM FALCON belongs to R2-D2!!! 4.C - What if my spoiler is speculation? This is kind of a slippery slope issue. Some people make educated guesses, based on what they know, about what will happen in future productions. Unfortunately, they usually base their guesses on spoiler information and unintentionally give something away. 4.D - Why do some people not like spoilers? Let's go back in time to opening night of ESB. You're waiting in line, and you cannot wait to get inside to see the movie. As the crowds for the previous showing exit the theater, one bozo shouts out... "I can't believe Vader is LUKE'S FATHER!!!" or "Man, I can't believe Solo was captured!!!" I don't know about you, but that would've really sucked. Well, most people don't like to know that sort of thing before they've seen the movie, and some don't even like to see ANYTHING before the film. 4.E - How can I avoid being offensive with spoilers? General netiquette suggests that you warn people of spoilers contained in your postings. This will give readers the option of spoiling a part of the movie. i.) Place a warning in the header such as [SPOILER] ii.) Do not place spoiler info in header iii.) Include 20 lines of spoiler space in body iv.) Try not to mention spoiler info in unmarked posts 4.F - What happens when I post spoiler material inappropriately? Let's say you post something extremely inappropriate, such as information concerning the death of a major character in the prequels. You blurt out four words... ****** dies in TPM!!! This is rather sensitive material and the majority of people here on Usenet probably try to avoid such plot revealers. In addition to that, you post other spoiler info in the body of the message without spoiler space. Let's go back to the ESB theater scene... some moron blurts out some major plot happenings after seeing the movie, and there are several fans waiting in line to see the next showing. One would assume that this idiot would get his head bashed in by a mob of pissed off Star Wars fanatics, right?? OF COURSE. As for Usenet, physical torture is usually not an option, so the users fall back on other forms of aggression. Flaming will occur, as will lectures concerning the inappropriate actions. You will likely be killfiled as well, seeing as most users wouldn't want to see if you are a repeat offender. So, as you can see, being naughty in newsgroups will result in your being banned by the other users. Also keep in mind that if you repeat your offenses often enough, some may take their case to your ISP, which would be bad. *5* BINARIES *5* 5.A - What is a Binary ? A binary is any kind of non-text portion of a message, including but not limited to pictures, movie clips, sound clips, zip files, programs, word processing documents, happy99.exe files, etc. 5.B - Where should I post a binary? news:alt.binaries.starwars OR You can provide a link to the binary that you feel we should all know about or you can inform us as to its existence on ABS. 5.C - Why shouldn't I post the binary here? Using the web as a base for this information, it should be quite obvious that text based web pages load up MUCH faster than pages with music, graphics, etc. This principle applies to Usenet as well. Many individuals find it to be a nuisance, if we want a binary, we'll go to a binary newsgroup. Others have to pay a time-based internet rate, which increases with every post, more-so with binaries. There is also the fact that all newsgroups have a finite amount of space allocated to them. As the information in the newsgroup exceeds that space, the older posts are removed to compensate. This is why news:alt.binaries.starwars has fewer posts -by far- than AFS. 5.D - What will happen if I post a binary in AFS? Most people get a first chance, but it's a real easy way to get killfiled, and you will probably be flamed for this as well. *6* ADVERTISEMENTS *6* 6.A - What falls into the category of 'advertisements'? An advertisement is defined as a notice designed to gain public attention or patronage. This primarily applies to sales/auction posts as well as trading/wanted posts... but it could also include a number of other things. Web site promotions are 'ok', but they are discouraged unless the site correlates to AFS in some manner. XXX promotions are NOT ALLOWED. We also do not care for E-bay posts. There is an undefined line which concerns Episode I toys... please do not try to sell them, but the occasional conversation is not discouraged. 6.B - Why are my advertisements not wanted? If we want to see what e-bay has to offer, we'll visit the site. If we want vintage action figures, we'll look on one of the collecting sites. Advertisements clutter up the newsgroup disrupting the normal flow of traffic on AFS. 6.C - Where should I post my advertisements? The agreed upon newsgroup for posts related to 'collecting' should be posted in rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting. 6.D - What happens if I ignore these guidelines? You will probably be flamed upon your first offense, and after repeat offenses, you will be killfiled (ignored). *7* TROLLS *7* 7.A - What is Trolling? The use of the word "trolling" comes from the fishing technique where a baited hook is dragged through the water, in an attempt to attract and catch a fish. Usenet trolling is the act of posting an article, or "troll" *baited hook* in a Usenet newsgroup *the water* with the intention of attracting the native inhabitants *groupers* and provoking an emotional response *caught*. The phrase was originally coined as "Trolling for flames", where the posters intention was to incite a "flame war", the Usenet intellectual equivalent of a bar fight. 7.B - What is a Troll? It is convenient that the word "troll" has multiple meanings. Aside from the fishing example above, "troll" also is the name of a mythical creature, generally thought of as ugly, fat, cantankerous, wart-covered, smelly, and completely unlikable. Since trolling is typically thought of as a detestable and unsavory activity performed by loathsome, contemptible hooligans, the name "troll" fits them quite well. There are two basic troll species. Those with overactive minds *busy brain, ADHD, whatever you want to call it* constantly seek out new sources of mental stimuli. For these, newsgroup satire acts as a sort of *Mental Floss*. And there are those who are permanently disgruntled, or "physically short changed" in some way and seek out ways to compensate for their shortcomings through vicious personal attacks against others in order to achieve a *Mental Erection*. These, while potentially entertaining, generally do not follow R.A.T. - Rules of Acceptable Trolling. 7.C - Why do Trolls troll? There are as many reasons as there are trolls. Many trolls are just practical jokers attempting to amuse themselves and their audience. Some have genuine animosity toward a particular group or individual that they believe has done them wrong. Some are just loathsome, contemptible hooligans bent on disrupting the ordinarily peaceful exchange of useful information for their own perverted pleasure. Usenet provides a medium to create and express oneself, and gives the added dimension of anonymity, allowing the troll to create and express emotions, thoughts and ideas that he/she might not ordinarily express. For many, Usenet is the first and only place their creative works will ever be "published". Check out this interesting Article : http://www.gameoracle.com/html/Articles/Trolls/troll_index.htm By Joseph Twu 7.D - What do I do if I see a Troll? This is more a matter of personal taste, but here are a few tactics that you can use... i.) Ignore the troll post, responding to a troll only encourages him or her to repeat their actions. ii.) Give them an emotionless response saying that their behavior is not warranted. It's no fun to read serious posts if you're a troll. iii.) Killfile the troll. It is considered that this action to be warranted only after a repeat offense. Plonk at will. iv.) DON`T threaten to report them to their ISP, this just causes them to troll more.. v.) DO Report them to their ISP - only in the most severe circumstances. Cross-posting ridiculous posts is just kids play and it is not acknowledged as a serious offence...the Troll is easily Kill- Filed...even if they do change their names frequently, it only takes another click and they`re gone. vi.) Don`t FEED the Trolls...`KILL` them ! END OF FAQ -- PhantomShadow Defender of the Empire -- AFS FAQ http://www.btinternet.com/~andykwimfc/FAQ.html -- AFS Galactic Senate http://www.btinternet.com/~andykwimfc --