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Jak Camber's avatar

Thanks for this piece.

Two things happened because of that movie. First, I fell for all things mythology especially Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey. Even flirted with Seminary.

Secondly, and decades later, I read the original pitch to studio executives. It was all princesses, Wookiee’s, buddhist quips about forces within, and light sabers. I thought this 6th grade gibberish. Did it come with crayon drawings ? How did it get the nod and a small wad of cash? Am I looking at the world with one eye?

It opened me up to be more patient, observing and curious. And that’s a good thing.

Kind regards,

Jak

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

Oh wow seeing that original pitch would be very cool to see

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Hieronymus Hawkes's avatar

I was in 7th grade when Star Wars hit theaters. My mom took my brother and me to see it—line wrapped around the block at the old one-screen theater. The music? Epic. The effects? Mind-blowing. That day changed me forever.

I became a pilot because of Star Wars.

So today, I raise a blue milk toast to the galaxy far, far away. Writing may be my starfighter now, but the Force is what got me off the ground.

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

That’s so it made you become a pilot!

Seeing it i the theater had to some experience I can’t even imagine

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Hieronymus Hawkes's avatar

It was pretty mindblowing, even my mom liked it.

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

Now that’s high praise!

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Raised By Shrinks's avatar

This brought it all rushing back: being a kid, half-skeptical, half-sugared-up, and suddenly all in the second that overture hit.

I still remember insisting on calling my porridge “Yoda fuel” for weeks.

Subscribed, obviously, because any writer who still channels that gummy-bear-fuelled awe deserves a spot in the galaxy I read from.

Siggy

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Geraldine Claudel's avatar

Thank you, Matthew, for sharing that episode of your life. I must have been 8 when I saw Star Wars on my small TV screen in the early 80´s, I loved the droids, identified with the princess obviously but was especially fascinated by the Force because I sensed deep down that a similar kind of energy was alive in real life. Later on, I was lucky to get a cinema course in college which taught me Joseph Campbell’s hero myth through the Star Wars movies. I still use part of it regularly to write my novels up to this day. Lots of love.

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

I loved the droids too. I kept trying to build them after watching it.

Oh that’s would have been an interesting course that’s a great way to learn Campbell

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Guy Robin's avatar

Saw the original at the cinema aged 12. It was the most awesome thing I’d ever seen. It moved cinema on and into a whole new level of experience.

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

Jealous. Had to be something to see

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Candy Kennedy's avatar

And...better yet...there was a story that had to be experienced again and again. When the first of the trilogy was released in 1977, I was no longer a child. I was in college, and it was all that everyone talked about. The messages were strong and the production was impressive.

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

I get it. It’s all I talked about for years afterward

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Jody's avatar

I was a similar age when I went to my first Star Wars movie too. I actually fell asleep! I remember the Death Star coming up on the screen and not much after that. Since then I have watched many Star Wars movies, missed a few with my busy life, but a new Disney sub will certainly help with that. I am looking forward to watching them with my 5yo. He understands a lot already about the universe. He has played LEGO Star Wars Skywalker Saga on PS4 extensively. I have read him Little Golden Books Star Wars episodes I-VI and he actually has a Star Wars inspired middle name. So Star Wars has been a big part of my life.

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Matthew Donnellon's avatar

Oh I love the Lego Star Wars stuff. I used to watch my cousin and that’s all we’d play

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