Trooper TK409
Sr Member
The Kennedy Center, Washington DC:
This is too cool. George Lucas received a lifetime achievement award, but he wasn't available because he's working on "Red Tails". George summoned C-3PO and R2D2 to accept the award on his behalf. It was a lot of fun and it's always a lot of work. I remained in the suit for about 5 hours which is a little short of my maximum, 8 hours.
This represents the newest version of my suit. I had Threepio rechromed in February with a process called Cosmichrome- Which is more durable than vacummetalizing and about the same (high) price. I chose to make the color a little more pale than the warmer gold I had before. I also had the right leg done silver. Modifications on this version of my suit include:
- rechromed parts
- the smaller arms
- new Moncal vacuformed shorts
- new Jim Sleeth vacuformed feet (C-3PO feet get beat up so I ordered 3 pair)
- Fenixprops knuckle knobs
- LEDs for the chest buttons
- separating all the fingertips in order to have more articulation.
The presenter was actress Alfre Woodard who, I was warned, is spooked by nonhuman characters. When she first met the two droids, we had walked across the stage and I greeted her. She was visibly bugged. Not in a diva kind of way, more like the way a child would react when she realizes that standing next to her is a tall, silent, staring clown.
We made our mark, we rehearsed our lines, we watched the clip of George, then R2 and I made our way into wings. Once we got offstage Ms. Woodard gasped, "There's a real person in there?!"
Afterwards there was a photo op for the award receipients and attendees. One man found the R2 operator Pat Coajou and asked with embarrassing sincerity, "Which one are you controlling? R2 or C-3PO?"
Pat replied matter-of-factly, "Threepio... R2 just has a little person inside."
"Oh, wow, that's so cool!"...
During rehearsal, the stage hands kept pointing out this lump of fabric on the stage floor that was hiding a footing that was propping up the screen where George's video would be projected. "Don't run into this, it's important, do not run into this." They even marked it with white tape. Rehearsals went perfect, no problems. My job was to just follow R2 to center stage and do my thing. Now it's showtime. I can't see in the dark. I'm following R2. Next thing I know I enthusiastically stub my toe on something on the floor. I start to trip. Falling down would be a very bad and painful, painful thing. Everything rushes back to me about the important thing on the floor! Not only am I going to fall, but so is George's beautiful projection screen. Turns out that R2 hit it too and led me right into it. Thankfully, I regained my step, the stage remained upright. That R2 is always getting us into trouble.
More photos & video coming. Photos on my Flickr page, http://www.Flickr.com/chrisbartlett
---------------
VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAtsDfZYjMY
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=374680204697&ref=mf
----------------
- Chris
This is too cool. George Lucas received a lifetime achievement award, but he wasn't available because he's working on "Red Tails". George summoned C-3PO and R2D2 to accept the award on his behalf. It was a lot of fun and it's always a lot of work. I remained in the suit for about 5 hours which is a little short of my maximum, 8 hours.
This represents the newest version of my suit. I had Threepio rechromed in February with a process called Cosmichrome- Which is more durable than vacummetalizing and about the same (high) price. I chose to make the color a little more pale than the warmer gold I had before. I also had the right leg done silver. Modifications on this version of my suit include:
- rechromed parts
- the smaller arms
- new Moncal vacuformed shorts
- new Jim Sleeth vacuformed feet (C-3PO feet get beat up so I ordered 3 pair)
- Fenixprops knuckle knobs
- LEDs for the chest buttons
- separating all the fingertips in order to have more articulation.
The presenter was actress Alfre Woodard who, I was warned, is spooked by nonhuman characters. When she first met the two droids, we had walked across the stage and I greeted her. She was visibly bugged. Not in a diva kind of way, more like the way a child would react when she realizes that standing next to her is a tall, silent, staring clown.
We made our mark, we rehearsed our lines, we watched the clip of George, then R2 and I made our way into wings. Once we got offstage Ms. Woodard gasped, "There's a real person in there?!"
Afterwards there was a photo op for the award receipients and attendees. One man found the R2 operator Pat Coajou and asked with embarrassing sincerity, "Which one are you controlling? R2 or C-3PO?"
Pat replied matter-of-factly, "Threepio... R2 just has a little person inside."
"Oh, wow, that's so cool!"...
During rehearsal, the stage hands kept pointing out this lump of fabric on the stage floor that was hiding a footing that was propping up the screen where George's video would be projected. "Don't run into this, it's important, do not run into this." They even marked it with white tape. Rehearsals went perfect, no problems. My job was to just follow R2 to center stage and do my thing. Now it's showtime. I can't see in the dark. I'm following R2. Next thing I know I enthusiastically stub my toe on something on the floor. I start to trip. Falling down would be a very bad and painful, painful thing. Everything rushes back to me about the important thing on the floor! Not only am I going to fall, but so is George's beautiful projection screen. Turns out that R2 hit it too and led me right into it. Thankfully, I regained my step, the stage remained upright. That R2 is always getting us into trouble.
More photos & video coming. Photos on my Flickr page, http://www.Flickr.com/chrisbartlett
---------------
VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAtsDfZYjMY
http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=374680204697&ref=mf
----------------
- Chris
Last edited:
