Star Wars Addiction

February 21, 2008

A 'Fanboy' Re-Edit Boycott

This letter was posted on Ain't It Cool News. A group of 501st who apparently participated in assisting Fanboys with their equipment and hard work are starting a boycott of the movie due to the recent re-editing controversy of story to remove the 'cancer subplot' which many people feel cuts the "heart" out of the movie and changes from a group of friends on a crusade to a movie about a bunch of wacky Star Wars nerds.

Dear Harry,

We're a group of Star Wars fans and 501st Legion members who donated our time, costumes, props, and support to help make the movie FANBOYS, a movie about some Star Wars fans who decide to break in to Skywalker Ranch and steal a print of Episode I so that their friend can see it before he dies of cancer. We agreed to be involved because it has heart, and is a movie about friendship and what it means to be a fan.

Now, after delaying the release of the movie for over a year, the Weinstein Company (the studio who owns it) has decided to recut the entire movie so that it mocks Star Wars fans. They're planning to remove the cancer plotline and have the fans break into Skywalker Ranch for no reason at all - just because they're "Death Star Dorks" (from the Weinstein Co. website). They plan to rip the heart out of the movie and turn it into a mindless comedy that ridicules Star Wars fans, instead of celebrating them.

We (a group of fans and 501st Legion members) have decided to organize an international boycott by Star Wars fans of all Weinstein Company films, unless they release the original version of FANBOYS.

This past weekend, we launched these three websites to announce our intended boycott:

Myspace
Beam.to
Seeya.at

We're going to attack the Weinstein Company death star, even if it is a suicide mission.

A link bump from AICN would really help spread the word of our cause, and maybe draw the attention of the national media. Help us, Harry. You're our only hope!

Thanks for your time.
And May the Force Be With You!

Jek Porkins
and the Stop Darth Weinstein Squadron

Personally, I have to say that I have been looking forward to this movie since it was announced, but I am also very much inclined to agree with these people as well as give them my sympathies. They worked hard to assist this movie and now they are turning it against them to become the butt of the joke just as they are doing to us all.

Personally, I can say that yes, I am joining this boycott. You must do what you feel is right of course.

You can find the original article here.

The views in this article are only my own. They do not represent the views of SWAC or anyone else related to it.


	JediJef February 21, 2008 Comment 1 Yeah that's pretty crappy. I'll support the 501st in their boycott. iam118 February 21, 2008 Comment 2 Well I don't know that the 501st is officially boycotting or not. Candyman might know more about that, but still that sucks. I kinda wonder what Lucas would think about all this. CAndyman February 21, 2008 Comment 3 I'll second that Jef! I'm not sure if it's really a boycott, but there are a lot of members fuming about this and protesting for the film to be released as-is. There are a number of us who deeply feel that taking this element out of the film will kill the Heart it had, and that's what we're all about, Heart! Leave it be Wienstien! Morden 'Kei February 21, 2008 Comment 4 Well if thats what the 501st says I guess I'll have to spread the word DarthDan February 22, 2008 Comment 5 Count me in for the boycott. Incidentally, the theme of cancer is a poignant one to many Star Wars fans and especially the 501st, given the situation surrounding Katie Johnson. CAndyman February 22, 2008 Comment 6 Okay allow me pull my foot out of my mouth here, I just heard back from the Legion Councils PR Officer and he said the Legion and it's garrisons should NOT take any outward stance on this subject. So the official word is, no official 501st boycott. Personally I am offended by the change and Dan, you hit the nail on the head Brother! Katie Johnson. Nuff said. iam118 February 22, 2008 Comment 7 If I were a member, I would be disgusted. I think what they're doing to this film is a slap in the face to the people of the 501st who helped them and to Star Wars fans in general and if the 501st leadership couldn't step up and do something about it, then I would start asking for resignations. But I'm not a member and I don't think I would want to be a member of a group that can't stand up for itself, its members, and its cause. But thats me and I'm not the sort of person that lets stuff like this just "go". CAndyman February 27, 2008 Comment 8 QUOTE(iam118 @ February 22 2008, 02:15 PM) If I were a member, I would be disgusted. I think what they're doing to this film is a slap in the face to the people of the 501st who helped them and to Star Wars fans in general and if the 501st leadership couldn't step up and do something about it, then I would start asking for resignations. But I'm not a member and I don't think I would want to be a member of a group that can't stand up for itself, its members, and its cause. But thats me and I'm not the sort of person that lets stuff like this just "go". <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've talked to the Legion's PR Officer, and here's something you need to consider, that I hadn't thought about either at first. The 501st Legion is NOT here to enforce a personal agenda. Our Mission statement is simply to Celebrate, Promote and Contribute. In fact personal gain is strictly forbidden in the Legion's Charter. And trying to force a film company (which at the end of the day is just a business) to obey our will, is most definitely personal gain. For the Legion to take an official stand in this matter would be an abuse of our power and would defile our name. To take a stand on this or any other issue would utterly destroy the whole purpose of the Legion and would result in the organization being shut down permanently. For us to try to actively manipulate the dealings of a legitimate business takes us out of the realm of volunteerism and into being a political or business entity. And THAT I would have NO part of! But what we can do is silently protest as individuals by refusing to pay to see the movie and declining to troop the premiere. JediJef February 27, 2008 Comment 9 Yeah, that's probably true. And frankly, a boycott would more than likely have the opposite effect of what was intended. I know that if I were an outsider (i.e. non-SW fan) and I heard that this huge and well-respected fan group was boycotting a movie, I'd want to go see it just to see what the big deal was, so it might actually hurt the film if no one gives a shit (or at least acts like they don't). I don't see this movie doing well financially anyway. Other than hardcore SW nerds and their close friends/family, who would pay to go see it? They had a pretty narrow audience demographic even before they started editing it, and now they're just whittling away at the few people who might've paid to see it. CAndyman February 27, 2008 Comment 10 QUOTE(JediJef @ February 27 2008, 02:38 PM) Yeah, that's probably true. And frankly, a boycott would more than likely have the opposite effect of what was intended. I know that if I were an outsider (i.e. non-SW fan) and I heard that this huge and well-respected fan group was boycotting a movie, I'd want to go see it just to see what the big deal was, so it might actually hurt the film if no one gives a shit (or at least acts like they don't). I don't see this movie doing well financially anyway. Other than hardcore SW nerds and their close friends/family, who would pay to go see it? They had a pretty narrow audience demographic even before they started editing it, and now they're just whittling away at the few people who might've paid to see it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> True Dat! They are doing more damage than any of us could anyway! And just to be clear, I really hope I didn't come off as outwardly attacking Iam118, I don't blame him for his frustration and feelings of disappointment, I feel it too. I just wanted to be sure that the 501st wasn't being given any responsibility or blame for this. I got nuthin but respect for you Iam118! salute DarthVader2932 February 28, 2008 Comment 11 As a 501st legion member myself I see Where the Legion has to take a neutral stance on this, but I will be opposing this Bastardized version of the film with my all. I've seen the good and the bad in the legion. Katie Johnson brought out the best in us. We should be proud of a movie that shows our hearts and what it is to some of us to be fans. I feel the legion should support a boycott of this film, but then again i'm not in charge. Several of my friends (and myself) in legion will not be seeing this new version of the film in any capacity. Some times you just have to make a stand. Jaden_Korr989 February 29, 2008 Comment 12 BOYCOTT TIME!! I am thouroughly disgusted by what they're doing to this...