Everyone Loves a Parade, and Wookiees!

[bonniegrrl]

As part of my job for Lucasfilm, I'm sometimes sent to cover important events as a reporter for starwars.com. My first trip one month into the gig was covering ILM competing in the Movie Edition of the TV show "Junkyard Wars." I met my friend Grant Imahara (now with "MythBusters") who at the time was one of the few people besides Don Bies who knew how to operate R2-D2. I also met Mark Anderson who recently brought over the ILM model shop to his own company -- Kerner Optical.

And of course, I've gone to Comic-Con every year and Celebration III and the usual Lucasfilm events. So when my boss asked me to head out last minute to Pasadena to watch George Lucas accept the coveted role as Grand Marshal for the 2007 Rose Parade, how could I refuse?

I mean, I'm no football fan, but that Parade is a tradition. I used to get up at the crack of dawn with my little brother and turn on the TV to watch the pre-parade coverage, and then the parade and then the parade again as I filled up on Sugar Smacks. My brother and I would cast our ever-changing votes on our favorite floats. One year after watching a pre-parade show about how float designers would tirelessly attach flower after flower to their creations, I went outside and beheaded my mom's entire flower garden and try to attach them all to my dad's truck with a gluestick. Not the smartest move by a 7 year old.

So I hopped on a plane to the Burbank Airport (where I sit now) and headed over to the Pasadena Sheraton. I met some of my coworkers as well as Mike and Mikey, the actors who played Chewbacca and Wicket respectively for the recent Star Wars Road Trip. They had great stories to tell of their cross-country trip dressed as two of the most beloved characters of the saga. Plus they're funny as all get out.

The next day, we headed over to the Tournament of Roses headquarters. For some reason, I figured it would be a total zoo of media, but luckily it wasn't too crazy and I was allowed to hang out for the quaint one-on-one interview with George Lucas who was more than happy to chat about his upcoming role as the Rose Parade Grand Marshal. He had plenty of fond memories growing up seeing the parade, as well as his first trip to see it when he was 10 years old. Though I don't think he ever tried to make his own float from his dad's truck.

However, now he gets to have not one but TWO Star Wars floats in the Rose Parade complete with a stellar marching band and one of the largest gatherings of the 501st ever attempted.

After the interview, I sat with the local, national and international media as we awaited the announcement presentation. Of course, none of the media knew who it would be. We kept Chewie, Wicket and George in another room as a surprise.

I sat next to some veteran reporters from the Pasadena newspaper. One of the reporters was a society columnist -- who definitely fit the part. She was a grand dame dressed to the nines complete with a lace parasol who could probably give Hedda Hopper a run for her money. The other reporter had worked for the newspaper for over 33 years and was the editor. But before retirement she wanted to work as a reporter for fun. When all the other journalists pressed play on their MP3 recorders, she was ready with her Steno pad and pencil which made me love her even more!

When the two ladies asked which newspaper I was with I said I was with the Grand Marshal and couldn't tell them anything else, which made them scoot a little closer. They eyed me like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson trying to decipher any clues from my clothes to figure out who the heck I was with. Half of their guesses listed people I had no idea were still alive. As the president of the Tournament of Roses began to speak, giving clues with George's background, the minute he hinted about Indiana Jones, the old-school reporter got giddy and the society columnist said, "God help me if it's Harrison Ford! I wore the completely wrong lipstick color!"

But luckily, Chewie in all his tall, hairy splendor came on stage and interrupted the president's speech with a roar and everyone gasped and applauded. George Lucas followed shortly after with a big thank you for the honor. A confetti bomb went off and the Star Wars theme blared, making it quite the event to behold.

One thing I have to say, after working at Lucasfilm now for awhile, is that I never get tired of seeing people freak out when they see Chewbacca. Seriously, people lose it like he's one of the Beatles. Girls get love-struck, guys want to hi-five him and kids go absolutely nuts. Backstage after the event, every single person on staff wanted a photo with Chewie, or at least a hug. And to Mike's credit, he gave them one. Considering the hot Pasadena sun, this was quite the ordeal. I can't image what being in a Wookiee or Ewok costume must feel like in the noon sun. But the two of them did it and everyone, including George, seemed impressed.

It was a fun trip and I took some fun photos, so if you don't see them all in the story I wrote, look closely in future Photo Caption Contests and you may spot Chewie surrounded by the ladies of Pasadena.

To read the full story, go here:
George Lucas Announced as Rose Parade Grand Marshal.