Established 1961 22 T Sunday, May 5, 2019 L i f e s t y l e Fe a t u r e s

Makoto Tsai posing for photographs with lightsabers during an event to promote memorabilia at the workshop of Makoto Tsai, who handcrafts lightsabers Replica Star Wars lightsabers at Makoto Tsai’s workshop in New Taipei City. the upcoming unofficial Star Wars Day in Taipei. — AFP photos for fans of the movie saga, in New Taipei City. Attack of the clones as Star Wars fans design own lightsabers rustrated by the lack of quality lightsabers audio cards similar to the film’s sound effects “May the force be with you” alongside Vice in toy shops, Makoto Tsai did what any are now standard. Among fans of the custom President Chen Chien-jen, while toy gun-toting Fself-respecting hardcore Star Wars fan saber scene, California-based Michael Murphy stormtroopers joined military police to stand would do-he studied engineering at college is known as “Yoda”. His online shop and forum guard outside the landmark in downtown Taipei. and then spent years perfecting a replica. The FXSabers.com is the go to place for those trad- This year fans will gather near the renowned 36-year-old is part of a small group of artisans ing tips on where to buy and how to build the Taipei 101 skyscraper to mark the day, he said. around the world who have forged successful best lightsabers. With plenty more Star Wars films planned by Makoto Tsai, who handcrafts lightsabers for Star Wars fans. careers hand-crafting remarkably realistic “As far as people doing installations like the Disney-owned franchise in the years ahead, models of the movie saga’s famous energy myself and Makoto, I’d say it’s grown from the Tsai is confident he’ll have new generations of swords. As fans gather globally on May 4th for original group of 25 back in the early years to fans flocking to buy his sabres. what has become the unofficial Star Wars Day- well over 100 people out there in forums and on this year mourning the death of towering Facebook offering services for sabers in one actor Peter Mayhew-many will be way or another,” he told AFP. The original clutching one of Tsai’s lightsabers, made in his lightsaber wielded by in the workshop near Taipei. first 1977 installment-a remarkably budget pro- In the past decade he has shipped around duction compared to its lavish follow-ups-was 1,000 blades to some 40 countries as diverse as little more than the handle of an old Graflex the United States, France and Cuba to Peru, camera flash. Iceland and Tunisia. Prices start at $255 and Those retro flashes have now become noto- around 80 percent of his orders come from riously hard to source thanks to Star Wars fans. abroad. Local and ethnic Chinese fans are The most expensive fan-built lightsaber replicas offered a half price discount, providing that they which feature original Graflex handles have sold pass a written test “to prove they have enough for as much as $15,000 on eBay. Tsai first fell for Makoto Tsai, who handcrafts lightsabers for Star Wars fans, passion for Star Wars”. “I hand-make every Star Wars as a teenager and his quest for a real- cuts wires while making a model of the movie saga’s famous piece of work so it’s very intimate to me. I only istic lightsaber prompted him to study electro- energy swords at his workshop in New Taipei City. want those who really like it to own it,” he told optical engineering and then work in that indus- AFP at his memorabilia filled workshop. try until he became a full-time lightsaber maker Star Wars may be a multi-billion dollar over a decade ago. “I am very optimistic that there will be more Fans using model Hollywood franchise but fans have long com- Tsai said he constantly researches to make and more die-hard fans and we can definitely lightsabers during plained that the official lightsabers on the mar- his lightsabers “brighter, more durable and easi- keep the momentum for at least another an event. ket are flimsy and disappointing versions of the er to manoeuver” so they can be used in fenc- decade,” he said. College student Kuo Shun- whizzing, crackling, swords seen in the films. As ing, which he has been promoting in Taiwan hao, 20, became a fan two years ago after a result a whole cottage industry has sprung up with regular duels. The business also supports watching the seventh installment “Star Wars: of replica manufacturers filling a gap that more fan and charity gatherings he organizes free-of- The Force Awakens”-the JJ Abrams reboot that established companies have uncharacteristically charge. “I spend two-thirds of my time organiz- brought fresh critical acclaim to the franchise failed to fill. ing events. My mission is to promote Star Wars and a new windfall for Disney. Kuo now regu- in Taiwan as hard as I can to draw out more larly fences with his lightsabers. “I like sparring fans,” he added. and talking about Star War movies with other Advances in Retrobattery, origins LED and computing fans,” he said, adding: “I am making new friends technology have helped these artisans create as there are often new people coming to our increasingly sophisticated replicas, many of One of‘May Tsai’s the proudest force be moments with you’ was an out- fencing gatherings.”— AFP A fan holding a mask during an event to promote the upcom- them choosing to avoid overt branding from the ing to Taiwan’s presidential office on last year’s ing unofficial Star Wars Day in Taipei. films to reduce their exposure on copyright Star Wars Day. , Chewbacca and a issues. Bright tubes of light and motion-linked motley crew of intergalactic characters chanted

Fans using model lightsabers during an event to promote the A fan using a model lightsaber during an event to promote Makoto Tsai, who handcrafts lightsabers for Star Wars fans, Makoto Tsai, who handcrafts lightsabers for Star Wars fans, upcoming unofficial Star Wars Day in Taipei. the upcoming unofficial Star Wars Day in Taipei. poses for a photograph with a R2-D2 toy robot at his work- in his workshop in New Taipei City. shop in New Taipei City. Actor Peter Mayhew, Chewbacca in ‘Star Wars’ saga, dead at 74

ctor Peter Mayhew, who won over fans eyes, down to each subtle movement of his “Star Wars” character. “We were partners in worldwide as the warrior head and mouth,” the statement said. film and friends for over 30 years and I AChewbacca in the blockbuster “Star “But, to him, the Star Wars family meant loved him,” the actor said in a statement. Wars” movies, has died at the age of 74, his so much more than a role in a film. The rela- “He invested his soul in the character and family announced on Thursday. Mayhew died tionships that began then grew into the brought great pleasure to the Star Wars on Tuesday at his home in , surrounded friends and family that he would love for audience. Chewbacca was an important part by loved ones, the family said in a statement decades to come.” The towering British-born of the success of the films we made togeth- released on the actor’s account. “He actor, who was the son of a policeman, meas- er.” Mark Hamill, who portrayed Luke put his heart and soul into the role of ured seven feet three inches (2.21 meters) Skywalker in the iconic films, described Chewbacca and it showed in every frame of and was working as a hospital attendant in Mayhew as the “gentlest of giants-A big the films from his knock-kneed running, firing London when he was discovered by film pro- man with an even bigger heart who never his bowcaster from the hip, his bright blue ducer Charles Schneer. He was first cast in failed to make me smile & a loyal friend who the film “Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger,” in I loved dearly.” an uncredited role. Lucas, in a statement to US media, said But he then was cast in the role that would Mayhew “was the closest any human being define his career-as the co-pilot and best could be to a Wookiee: big heart, gentle friend of (Harrison Ford) in the origi- nature... and I learned to always let him win.” nal “Star Wars” film released in 1977. The role Suotamo thanked Mayhew for his “tutelage was unconventional to say the least-a giant, and kindness as we sought to bring hairy, 200-year-old humanoid from the planet Chewbacca to life for a new generation,” Kashyyyk. Mayhew once joked at a fan con- adding: “Rest assured his legacy will live on.” vention in 2013 that all he had to do when In this file photo taken on December 16, 2015 british actor Peter Mayhew (left) and US actor Mayhew effectively made “Star Wars” his auditioning for the role of “Chewie”-as the Harrison Ford attend the opening of the European Premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” career. Other than the films, he made guest beloved character-was to show his height. in central London. — AFP photos appearances as the character, notably on “The “In George’s office, he had a sofa,” he said, Muppet Show” and musical comedy series 2015. He then worked to coach his successor referring to “Star Wars” creator George “Glee.” He had very few roles outside the After the ‘Gentlestoriginal film, of giants’Mayhew would go in the role, Joonas Suotamo, the family Lucas. “So I sat down on the sofa waiting for franchise. The actor is survived by his wife on to appear in “” statement said. him to come in through the door. He and (pro- Angie and three children. The family said a (1980), “” (1983) and As news of Mayhew’s death became pub- ducer) Gary Kurtz walked in. “I did the natural memorial service would be held on June 29. A “Revenge of the Sith” (2005) — the third lic, tributes began to pour in on social thing, I stood up,” he added. “Basically, that separate memorial for fans will take place in film in the prequel trilogy. Mayhew’s family media, including from several of his “Star was the interview. He turned to Gary and said, early December in Los Angeles at “Star Wars” said he had “fought his way back from being Wars” co-stars and Lucas himself. Ford, who ‘I think we’ve found him’.” Chewbacca com- convention Empire Con. — AFP wheelchair-bound to stand tall and portray piloted the legendary municated in roars and growls, but Mayhew In this file photo actor Peter Mayhew attends Chewbacca once more in ‘Star Wars: The with Chewie at his side, paid tribute to the did not provide the vocals-those signature the World Premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Force Awakens’,” which was released in “wit and grace” Mayhew brought to his Awakens”, in Hollywood, California. noises came from a sound engineer.