This blog post is in honour of a recent “deep dive” episode
of the
ForceCenter Podcast
where
Joseph Scrimshaw and
Ken Napzok spent almost 2 hours recalling
their experiences back in 1999 surrounding the days leading up to the release
of
Star Wars: Episode 1, The Phantom Menace.
Their feelings leading up to the moment it arrived, their theatre memories, the
people they saw the movie with and of course their feelings about the movie and
the fallout afterwards.
In many ways while this was also the “Rebirth of the
Skywalker Saga” it was also the actual birth of “Toxic Fandom” culture.
While in 1999 the internet was much more “dial up” than accessible at 5G’s the
fact remains that chat rooms, message boards and early blog sites / webpages
quickly became filled with hot takes, vitriol and fan fictions from those of a
certain age who declared loudly “This isn’t my Star Wars, George screwed us
all!”
Now while I’ve never been fully on board with that mindset
there were obviously periods over the past 22 years where I’ve had some similar
thoughts, criticisms and issues with the Prequels in general. Plus certain
parts in specific.
Thankfully as I’ve advanced into the early Qui-Gon phase of my
enlightenment I have a much more patient and nuanced opinion of the things I
had taken issue with and am very comfortable in saying that “I love Star Wars:
All of It.”
But let’s not stray too far off topic.
I remember waiting breathlessly for the Phantom Menace
trailer to load over my buddy’s dial-up internet service provider back in 1999.
There were a few of us early 20s fellas and one girlfriend crowding around that
big tube monitor begging the QuickTime player to
finish buffering so we could scan every second of that super high res / ergo
incredibly tiny version of the trailer.
And it was glorious.
When they announced the on sale date for tickets plans were
made to camp out in advance, not wanting to miss the opportunity to see Episode
1 as early as possible to avoid spoilers. Clearly I was not alone in this idea.
While I am a die hard Star Wars fan I will never be quite so hard-core as the fella
known only by the moniker of “Rogue Leader” who set up his tent, portable TV
and cooler (with the permission of the theatre) a full 5 DAYS before the
tickets were set to go on sale.
Regardless, there I was the night before with about 60
people deep in the lineup (which we all christened “Mos Shanty”) along with my
Boba Fett obsessed buddy Dallas and a few others who popped in and out over the
night to deliver pizza, drop off money for their tickets (we were allowed a
maximum of 10 tickets per person after all, had to get that in advance to
reserve their spot) and generally have what I’ve always presumed was a super
toned down version of what a music festival would be like. People had their VHS’
out on portable TV’s watching their favourite Star Wars moments. Several others
had their Star Wars Trivial Pursuit games going. More than a few were having
mock lightsaber battles.
It’s funny, I remember being about 4 years into my pro
wrestling life at this time and definitely NOT telling any of those guys about
the plan to camp out and wait. I was already having a difficult time adjusting
to that crew of dudes, which was as much on me and my residual high school
nerdy traumas as it was on some of those guys being complete asshats. I also
remember being a combination of excited and frankly kind of embarrassed when I
showed up to stake our claim in line for those tickets.
An important lesson was learned that night that I hope never
leaves me.
Its okay to love the
things that you love, and you’re not alone in loving those things.
Obviously this applies to almost everything.
The morning when tickets went on sale naturally turned into
a shit show. At least a few hundred Johnny-Come-Latelies showed up about an
hour before the doors open and tried their best to jam up the entranceway thus
circumventing the orderly if erratic line that was queued almost all the way
around the shopping mall where the theatre was located. After a bit of
legitimate pushing and shoving cooler heads ultimately prevailed. Also the Cinema
Manager came out with a bullhorn, alerting everyone that he’d called the police
and that they were going to be serving people in the order that they actually
arrived.
Huzzah.
I think all told I had been at the theatre waiting
approximately 20 hours. It was well over 24 by the time I’d secured the
precious paper slips for the 11:45PM showing at Silver City St Vital in
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
I still have those stubs somewhere in my office. If I find
them I’ll update this and post them.
But this was still like 6 weeks out from opening day. I now
had the hopes and dreams of 10 friends / coworkers / an ex-girlfriend and the
girl I was crushing on in an envelope in my bedroom. I’m sure I checked to make
sure I had that list of names and those tickets at least once a day until the
day in question.
On opening day one of my best friends (and the guy who
convinced me to give pro wrestling a try) Chad and I had an early morning
audition at the Da Capo Studios in downtown Winnipeg. Both of us were
underemployed wannabe actors / wrestlers and thought we had nothing to lose
going in and reading for an animated project that was taking advantage of
Canadian Tax incentives by offloading some of the voice talent to unknown
Canucks who couldn’t even get their ACTRA Cards (FWIW – we didn’t get the parts
and 20 years, several short films and at least a dozen extra gigs and still no
ACTRA Card …. Sighs).
I remember hopping into the Blue Whale (Chad’s dilapidated,
sky blue 1970s station wagon) and the two of us chattering like idiots the
whole way into the audition, the whole time we were waiting and immediately
once again after it was over.
All the way back to the car we couldn’t stop recklessly
speculating about what was going to happen. And then mid sentence I realized
something.
The (now repurposed) classic theatre known as “The Garrick
Cinema” had its main doors open.
It was 10am.
Curious we walked in.
There were 3 people on duty. The manager, a concessions
clerk and the usher.
“Yes, we’re open. First showing of The Phantom Menace is at
10:30.”
Astonished at our impossible good fortune we immediately did
2 things.
I immediately purchased 2 tickets.
And then we sprinted back to the Blue Whale and put enough
change into the metre to make damned sure we wouldn’t get towed.
The Garrick was a special cinema in the old style, complete
with a balcony. Which of course we took advantage of, sitting in the absolute
centre seats with our soda, popcorn and complete disbelief at what was about to
happen.
10:30am on the dot the lights dimmed and we received a
private screening of the Phantom Menace on opening day.
And we loved it.
The rest of our day was a constant discussion over things we
had issues with, story ideas we’d gotten wrong and more. But there was no
question that we loved it.
And of course as we met up with the rest of the crew at 11PM
leading into the midnight showing that of course I’d been so precious about, we
had to repeat the story of our good fortune endlessly to anyone who would
listen.
Don’t worry. No spoilers.
Of the 2 opening day showings I saw I can’t really determine
which one I enjoyed more. While the private one at the Garrick was special,
most of the experience washed over me. Taking me back to being 7 years old and
wanting to hide from Darth Vader beneath my father’s winter coat.
The late showing was special for the sheer presence of all
those excited people, crammed into the Silver City Cinema shoulder to shoulder.
Some in cosplay and more than a few early branded lightsabres were up in the
air. However the rush of excitement and the wall of sound from the collected
throats of everyone cheering as the “Lucasfilm” logo hit the screen and
sustained all the way into the opening crawl is something I will take with me
forever.
In the weeks that followed of course the discourse began.
Most of which I won’t repeat here because why retread old ground? But you know
the stuff I mean in regards to casting choices, dialogue, midichlorians and our
favourite Bombad general.
It was during this time that I should’ve learned the second
lesson, one that didn’t actually sink until 2015 after I had the pleasure of
seeing Episode 7.
Not everyone is going
to love what you love in the same way that you do, and that’s okay too.
All told, I saw The Phantom Menace at least 5 times in the
theatres and have both my pan-n-scan VHS copy as well as the DVD, though if I’m
being honest I watch it more often with my daughter now on Disney+.
And yes, she loves Jar Jar.
Of course, so do I.
Thanks to everyone who’s popped by Reading & Wrestling
over the past few months while I had nothing new to say. I’ve been working
pretty hard on finishing my first “Overdrive” short story and hope to have it
edited and properly shaped for public consumption by the end of next week. Once
done I plan to release it on this site for free for all to read. So, “you’re
welcome” if you’re one of my regular readers and “I’m sorry” if you’re only
here for my upcoming Indy Wrestling posts and adventures.
Speaking of that, I’ve accepted my first pro wrestling booking
in one calendar year. November 19th in I will being working for
legendary promoter Tony Condello at X-Cues’ Dining and Billiards here in
Winnipeg. I’m told it will be an action packed card with 5 matches. Everyone
one the crew and in the crowd must show proof of vaccination to attend. Please
contact Mr Condello for ticket information at the phone number on the poster.
AK
Check out the consequences my main character Joe goes
through in my Urban Fantasy OVERDRIVE Series at the following retailers. Available
in eBook, Paperback and Hardcover.
AMAZON KOBO B&N SMASHWORDS SCRIBD APPLE
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today by visiting Pro
Wrestling Tees and browse to your hearts content. Just, while you’re there,
consider looking at my site first willya?
