I've just finished creating the basis of the website for my 501st Legion "TIE Fighter Pilot" persona. I plan on making it a resource for those who wish to create their own TIE Pilot costumes, as well a place to detail upcoming and past events. Although it is very much under construction, I invite you to check it out!

Although the Dragon*Con website (at the moment) lists only a few of the over 300 special guests that will be appearing, a downloadable flier on the site lists one the big names on the slate.. Anthony Michael Hall, "Farmer Ted" himself!

Yes, yes, I know, he stars in The Dead Zone series and has appeared in many other films, but Sixteen Candles is the one I'll always remember him for. :)

Thanks to the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta providing free wireless internet access, it looks like I may be blogging throughout the convention itself! For those that can't make it, it may be the next best thing to being there.

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I had to catch up on sleep! The "Saving Star Wars" movie shoot was Sunday Feb 8th, and here's the scoop:

A number of costumed people showed up, including 501st Legion Members (including myself) sporting Stormtrooper, Biker Scout and TIE Fighter Pilot armor, plus Bounty Hunters and Jedi. It was a grueling wait while shots not involving us were filmed, but we finally got our chance.

First the Jedi were involved in a few scenes, followed by the "white armor" guys (Stormtroopers, Biker Scout). They formed a barrier while getting pummeled with toy lightsabers.

Later on, I finally got my big chance.. I and another trooper (Shout out to TK-895) got to carry industrial strength ping pong ball rifles created and manufactured by Toys of Mass Disruption. Powered by compressed air, they launch a barrage of 10 ping pong balls in less than a second. They were insanely fun to use!

In the first scene I was a part of, an "epic" battle between secret agents and Jedi (in other words, people in black suits and sunglasses getting whacked by plastic lightsabers) was taking place. The trooper and I stormed onto the scene and fired a spray of ping pong balls to break up the fight.

The first take, my gun didn't fire, and we discovered it was unable to hold the air pressure long enough. A new gun, and another take and everything was ok. Each scene was shot from different angles, with and without certain actors, to make sure there was enough good footage to edit.

The next scene was a dolly shot, and this time the Jedi got their revenge as we got the lightsaber beating while defending ourselves in a most sissy-fied manner.

The last scene I was a part of involved stopping the escaping Jedi with, you guessed it, high velocity ping pong balls! A Mandalorian Bounty Hunter and myself were armed with rifles, while the weaponsmith, clad in Stormtrooper armor (not his regular gig, I think he has a new respect for costumers!) manned a huge tripod mounted ping pong blaster.

The group of Jedi ran into the scene, stopped dead in their tracks as they saw us, and then were pelted with ping pong balls. About five takes gave the director what he wanted, and that was it for myself and the armored guys. We wrapped up about 11:00pm.

There were, as in any project like this, some funny moments. Weapons misfiring (or firing early) and "wardrobe malfunctions" (nothing of Superbowl halftime caliber) occasionally delayed filming. Only one very minor injury, as one of the ping pong balls (that I fired) put the sting to a sensitive area of a female jedi. :)

I couldn't take a lot of pictures during the shoot, but I have one posted here (I'm on the left), and more will follow.