.: About
On July 29, 2010, I got to thinking about how amazing it was that an original 1977 Technicolor print of Star Wars was screened in Boston that month, and then I realized: no one really reports on this stuff. There is a very devoted network of fans dedicated to seeing the original films preserved that you can witness whenever you frequent home theatre forums and Star Wars message boards, but there isn't a comprehensive website on the issue--because it is quite a complicated issue and really needs its own place on the web. As a long-standing member of originaltrilogy.com, where this devotion was most loyal, I began noticing how there was a noticeable void, that there was no comprehensive resource page on all the treasures and shared knowledge that wonderful site contained. Someone mentioned how frustrating it was that whenever a Star Wars sticker book gets released, sites like theforce.net will report on it, but they won't report on stuff like the Technicolor screening, and they won't really push the issue of the suppression of the original films. As I had already written about the issue for some websites, I figured it wouldn't be too much work to put together something that would service all these needs. A week later, this website was up.
Although I am only one man, this site is filled with the cummulative knowledge of many uncountable cinema buffs who have contributed materials and information, and represents our shared passion to see the films saved from the hands of the people who had created them. If you would like a more thorough summary of the suppression of the original Star Wars films, you should give "How the Grinch Stole Star Wars" in the editorial section a read to get up to speed, but browsing the FAQ might be a better place to start, especially if you have specific questions.
As mentioned on the main page, I hope that this sites informs and educates, as well as makes visible a disturbing and frustrating example of film history being re-written and suppressed. If you care about history, cinema, and the preservation of popular culture, this is an issue you cannot possibly ignore. People need to be more active in criticizing Lucasfilm and George Lucas for what they have been engaging in. If this is done, they will inevitably bow to pressure sooner than if the public had remained complacent.
I love George Lucas, as he has profoundly inspired me and done countless good in the world, but this does not grant him immunity from criticism. It is out of a place of supreme love for his work, and a concern for the world, and the world of my children, that I wish this unfortunate situation be rectified. As Lucas stated in 1988 himself, "Our cultural history must not be allowed to be rewritten...Attention should be paid to the interests of those who are yet unborn, who should be able to see this generation as it saw itself, and the past generation as it saw itself."
If you have questions, contributions or comments, you can send me an e-mail. I can be reached at [email protected]
For those wishing to discuss issues with likeminded fans, I would suggest taking it to the originaltrilogy.com forums. Creating a message board here seemed superfluous, and they have an established member base.