Presenter Information

Damon Wellner

Location

"Will to Power" (meanings)

Event Website

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeyAnJ2QhmI&t=2s

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

22-8-2024 12:00 AM

End Date

31-12-2024 12:00 AM

Description

Damon Wellner
"Rathtar Attack" Sequence #2 from "HOOD: A Star Wars Story", 2019
Fandom: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Empire Strikes Back, Willrow Hood, Clone Wars
GIF
Variable dimensions - 1500 × 627 px
Collection of the artist

Rating: Teen and Up
Tags: movie monsters, Star Wars, Clone Wars, rathtar, stop-motion, animation, toy collecting, action figures, fan films

Creator's notes: Another GIF taken from a shot from my stop-motion animated fan film made with action figures, and in this shot, clay. The six minute fan film is called "HOOD: A Star Wars Story". The film tells the backstory of Willrow Hood, who is only ever seen for a few seconds in The Empire Strikes Back, evacuating Cloud City and running with an ice cream maker sold on late night TV. His character was born in Star Wars fan chat rooms in the early internet, and given a name by a fan who named him after the Hood ice cream company. My film was an attempt to parody the concept of "SOLO: A Star Wars Story" telling the backstory of a main character, taking the concept to the extreme of telling the backstory of the most obscure background extra. I first was just going to make a 30 second short showing Willrow Hood evacuating his quarters in Cloud City, but then goes back to get his ice cream maker. But then I decided to ponder the question of why anyone with ten seconds warning to grab your most valuable possession and evacuate would grab an ice cream maker, and what would emotionally drive such a decision. In the film, things get out of control at the Canto Bight Zoo and Aquarium. In this shot, a Clone Trooper gets grabbed by the tentacle arm of a caged rathtar.


"HOOD: A Star Wars Story" has won over 30 awards at film festivals worldwide, for animation, special effects, writing, Best Fan Film, and Best In Show. Though made as a deep cut for Star Wars fans, it can be enjoyed by anyone. Even if you're not familiar with the character, it all becomes clear in the end.

Comments

The composition of the Spider-Snake and the Spider-Apple reminded me of this shot from my film. I thought this film is the best example of my fan inspired creations, because the character was discovered and blossomed in the fandom outside of Lucasfilm, but reverberated back into the canon lore. Willrow Hood is not seen in this shot, but you'll have to watch the film to get the context.

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Aug 22nd, 12:00 AM Dec 31st, 12:00 AM

"Rathtar Attack" Sequence #2 from "HOOD: A Star Wars Story"

"Will to Power" (meanings)

Damon Wellner
"Rathtar Attack" Sequence #2 from "HOOD: A Star Wars Story", 2019
Fandom: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Empire Strikes Back, Willrow Hood, Clone Wars
GIF
Variable dimensions - 1500 × 627 px
Collection of the artist

Rating: Teen and Up
Tags: movie monsters, Star Wars, Clone Wars, rathtar, stop-motion, animation, toy collecting, action figures, fan films

Creator's notes: Another GIF taken from a shot from my stop-motion animated fan film made with action figures, and in this shot, clay. The six minute fan film is called "HOOD: A Star Wars Story". The film tells the backstory of Willrow Hood, who is only ever seen for a few seconds in The Empire Strikes Back, evacuating Cloud City and running with an ice cream maker sold on late night TV. His character was born in Star Wars fan chat rooms in the early internet, and given a name by a fan who named him after the Hood ice cream company. My film was an attempt to parody the concept of "SOLO: A Star Wars Story" telling the backstory of a main character, taking the concept to the extreme of telling the backstory of the most obscure background extra. I first was just going to make a 30 second short showing Willrow Hood evacuating his quarters in Cloud City, but then goes back to get his ice cream maker. But then I decided to ponder the question of why anyone with ten seconds warning to grab your most valuable possession and evacuate would grab an ice cream maker, and what would emotionally drive such a decision. In the film, things get out of control at the Canto Bight Zoo and Aquarium. In this shot, a Clone Trooper gets grabbed by the tentacle arm of a caged rathtar.


"HOOD: A Star Wars Story" has won over 30 awards at film festivals worldwide, for animation, special effects, writing, Best Fan Film, and Best In Show. Though made as a deep cut for Star Wars fans, it can be enjoyed by anyone. Even if you're not familiar with the character, it all becomes clear in the end.

https://epublications.marquette.edu/fandom/Affirmationtransformation/Meanings/2