Stormtroopers in Paradise
What would cause 24 local guys to create realistic costumes of Star Wars characters, other than saving the Empire?
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Hawaii Foodbank.
“We’re a costume club, but we do a lot for the public and charity,” says Laitila, stressing that the organization is run completely by volunteers.
“For the most part, people are excited to see us. They’ll come up to us and take photos. Some people even ask for autographs, which we will happily do.”
Now I can see how Darth Vader would scribble something to an adoring fan - To Joe Schmo, Keeping it wicked real on the Death Star. Your father (just joke!), the Dark Lord of Sith. But how does a Clone give out his John Hancock, exactly?
Laitila explains that each member is given a Legion ID, a tradition that came about from Stormtrooper character TK 421 as referenced in A New Hope. The ID is made up of two important parts: The first set of two letters denotes the costume, and the second is a sequence of numbers unique to that individual. Members who own more than one costume still have one ID number but are referred to using whatever prefix code is applicable to that costume.
For example, Laitila’s Legion ID is TK 7432 when he is costumed as a Stormtrooper, but because he has two other costumes, his name may also appear as TB 7432 (Biker Scout) and ID 7432 (Imperial Officer).
“I have a Sandtrooper (TD) and Stormtropper (TK) armor,” says TK 2581, aka Sagun. “I also have an Episode III Clonetrooper armor currently in the works. The younger generations often relate more to the newer Clonetroopers.”
Indeed, since the legion’s creation by Albin Johnson and Tom Crews more than a decade ago in South Carolina, the organization has expanded to a membership of more than 3,000 reporting to Garrisons and Outposts stationed in more than 20 countries.
In fact, the 501st and its fan-created backstory have been adopted into official Star Wars continuity. It was featured in two Star Wars books in 2004, Survivor’s Quest and Fool’s Bargain, and continued onscreen in the film Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. LucasArts, a video game and interactive entertainment software publisher and developer, even created a story line completely centered around the legion in the game Star Wars Battlefront II.
“We consider the members of the 501st part of the extend Lucasfilm family,” Steve Sansweet, head of fan relations for Lucasfilm Ltd., says on the franchise’s official Website, www.starwars.com.
“They have fun and share a sense of community, while at the same time bringing joy to a lot of people through their work with kids, raising money for charities or just posing for photos with surprised but delighted ‘civilians.’”
If you own a professional-quality, wearable costume of a Star Wars villain, are at least 18 years old and are interested in joining the 501st Legion, contact membership liaison TC 3018 (Christian Colotario) at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
“Not everybody can be a Luke Skywalker or Han Solo, but if you put on a mask, you can look like a Stormtrooper,” Laitila says of the appeal joining the league known as Vader’s Fist. “It can be addicting like any other hobby, but it’s a good hobby to have.”
“It’s one thing to see Star Wars characters on the screen, quite another to actually have a walking and sometimes talking Stormtrooper standing next to you,” agrees Sagun, adding, “Some fans just think it’s cool having Stormtroopers in paradise.”
To summon an Imperial presence of your own, go online to www.pac501.com and submit a virtual request form.
Or watch a battle of the worlds when the Empire strikes against a league of anime heroes from the Oahu Anime Explorer and United Anime costuming groups during the 19th annual Hawaii All-Collectors Show this weekend at Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall. Show hours are 3-9 p.m. July 17 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 18. General admission is $4, children age 7 to 11 get in for $2. Early entry at 2 p.m. July 17 costs $15.
Go online to www.ukulele.com/collect.html for further details.
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