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By George! Lucas kills Ridge Star Wars movie marathon

The Brooklyn Paper

The Force was not with the fanboy this week.

Bay Ridge sci-fi lovers were ready to take up blasters and charge the Skywalker Ranch after Star Wars creator George Lucas took a light saber to a modest movie marathon night honoring his famed film franchise at a Fifth Avenue bar.

Organizers had planned to screen all six Star Wars movies in succession at the Wicked Monk between 84th and 85th Streets last Sunday during a 13-hour bender which would have also featured a costume contest and drink specials specific to each movie in the saga.

But when George Lucas found out, his company fired off an immediate cease-and-desist order.

Needless to say, organizers were shocked. To put it more accurately it was as if dozens of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced, they said.

“God forbid a few people in Brooklyn want to get together and watch the movies — that we paid for!” said organizer and self-described “movie geek” Mike DeVito, 32, who was both enraged and saddened that his movie-making hero had fallen to the dark side.

“I think [Lucas] has become worse than [Darth Vader],” DeVito said on Wednesday. “Darth Vader is at least redeemable.”

The cease and desist order claimed that they couldn’t show the films because they were charging admission. But fliers advertising the marathon indicate that the only cost was for drinks at the bar.

The letter also claimed that DeVito’s rebel alliance failed to get permission to use the Star Wars logo on its promotional material.

But organizers said that, if anything, they’ve lost money after spending the last two months promoting the now non-event. Yet they say what they were doing was a labor of love, not og greed. Because greed leads to fear and fear leads to...well, you know.

“They should have known it was a local, free event,” said DeVito. “Depriving George Lucas of his cut wasn’t the intended goal of it.”

Lucasfilm did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Co-organizer Bianca Sunshine said she holds a movie event every month at the Wicked Monk and never had a problem screening cult classics like The Warriors, The Outsiders, Clockwork Orange and Kill Bill.

As a result of the order, Devito said he’s going to stop defending Lucas, who’s made millions ever since the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977 and has a well-publicized tempestuous relationship with his fervent fans.

“I always tried to be the one voice saying ‘oh, he’s not that bad’,” DeVito said. “I’ve always had such blind loyalty. That’s over.”

Reader Feedback

Chris B. from Queens says:
That Sucks! I have been a Star Wars fan since I wa 10 in 1977 and went to see it. Mr Lucas has enough money. I always watch the Star Wars movies when they are on cable (also have the dvds) I have introduced my children to it and they enjoy the movies also..... My opinion: Start showing Speilberg films..... Good Luck!
July 7, 2011, 1:30 pm
Obi Wan Kenobi from Tatooine says:
Only the Sith speak in absolutes. Lucas has crossed over.
July 7, 2011, 2:22 pm
Sol Hano from Corellia says:
Does he think people aren't going to buy his Blu-Rays when they come out because people can watch them in a bar once for free or something?

If he really respected his films as art, especially the original trilogy, he should turn them over to the public domain. You already made your money, George. It's your fans who made the culture that we love! These are our films as much as they are yours. You're welcome, by the way, D*CK!
July 7, 2011, 2:55 pm
Newman from UES says:
What a D-Bag
July 7, 2011, 3:01 pm
DigESource from Cape Girardeau says:
I think it is inappropriate for Lucas to prohibit the event, IF the Bar is not making a profit by showing the series.

You see, the Bar stands to make money off of an event that is promoted using Lucas's hard work. This is only OK if the Bar is providing Lucas with some royalties. I think the mistake here was to NOT get Lucas's OK first, and setup a commission agreement with him.

You might say, "Hey wait!.., we watch shows all the time broadcast on TV at Bars." True, but those Bars are paying a cable company for that broadcast, and that cable company is paying the artist and it's affiliates.

If this was taking place over a cable broadcast, then Lucas would not have legal grounds, with possible exception for the "Star Wars logo."

Just ask. It's real easy. I'm sure Lucas would love to make it an enjoyable and profitable venture for everyone if you just ask.

Perhaps the proper course of action now is for everyone to unruffle their feathers, and get together to setup a new event WITH Lucas. Maybe he can even make a planned appearance at the event. Imagine what this would do for the bottom line?

This is a great recovery option, and everyone wins.
July 7, 2011, 4:21 pm
cvc from Greenpoint says:
Are you high
July 7, 2011, 4:53 pm
Tee Ell from Bensonhurst says:
Funny thing; SPIKE TV was having a a'TSra Wars' marathon that day. We could have put teh TV on and just watched it legally and for free anyway, but the owners of teh place were already spooked and didn't even want to do that.
July 7, 2011, 5:06 pm
adamben from bedstuy says:
what a jerk.
July 7, 2011, 5:29 pm
Trudes from St. Albert says:
I agree with digesource. Nothing wrong with asking. Still I was shocked to hear about this. I just don't like anything bad being said about star wars.
July 7, 2011, 8:02 pm
Ricardo from Bloomfield says:
wow, back in the day on St. Marks Place we used to show monster movies in the basement of a church and served beer from a cooler. to bad, they should just show them anyway.
July 8, 2011, 7:53 am
Fakk2 says:
Dig, the event wasn't to make money. It was for people to get together and watch some movies. What does Lucas want, a dollar on every beer sold? He may get himself a whopping $200, like he needs it!
July 8, 2011, 8:29 am
lawrence from bushwick says:
god Lucas is such a tool. I mean seriously!!
July 8, 2011, 1:59 pm
chuck from earth says:
the original episode IV was the greatest thing when I was 7. Empire was great 2. then he went back and ruined it, along with the franchise in the last 20 years. I wonder if actually is better that he doesnt allow the travesty it has become to be shown publicly!
July 8, 2011, 2:39 pm
DK says:
It cost Lucas more money to stop the show then any royalties he would make on such a small event. He just can't make any exceptions. Don't get me wrong. I'm not sticking up for Lucas. He's still a greedy putz
July 8, 2011, 4:43 pm
agrees with DK from prospect says:
its true. blame the lawyers
July 9, 2011, 9:44 am
Jim Conner says:
George you disappoint me.
July 10, 2011, 12:35 am
Ben from Clinton Hill says:
Blah, all information wishes to be free, blah.
Get the permission slip.
He doesn't want your $2 dollars, he wants to protect the use and image of his works. It is his to do with how he pleases. Not so you can charge $10 for a can of Pabst, unless he says it's okay.
my $0.02
July 10, 2011, 3:49 pm
Ben from Clinton Hill says:
oh, and if you have been flying under the radar until now, they are likely watching now.

Even if you just give them "reasonable notice" that you want to hold the event before you start spending dough promoting it, at least you have a leg to stand on.
July 10, 2011, 3:55 pm
Jake from Park Slope says:
Man, you think with Harry Potter, et al G Lucas would be encouraging people to keep the Star Wars flames a burning. It really bites. What a mega-million loser
July 10, 2011, 6:41 pm
Jay from Bay Ridge says:
I find it hilarious how people are making up excuses for his actions on this, yet you can easily download his movies for free off the internet, yet he is worried about a local bar making a "profit" off his movies? Where is he protecting his art work there? I would of played the movies and stuck it to the man, because it was a free advertisement and showing for his movies, that you never know people may have went out to purchase the actually DVDs to own.

Its honestly such a sad route he chose to go. Before you stop a local bar, work on the people making t-shirts and bootlegs making a profit off of the movies. I guess thats just to much for him to handle with all of his money, so he rather make an example out of local bar.
July 11, 2011, 12:47 am
Joe from Bay Ridge says:
I blame the Lucas scu$@ag lawyers. Good for nothing vultures with nothing else to do with their 9 figure salaries!
July 11, 2011, 2:15 pm
paul says:
I wonder if when lucas was in film school the school got sued by the producers of the films shown in the curriculum?

Douche.
July 13, 2011, 11:33 pm
Dak from Park Slope says:
Are you guys kidding me? You were clearly trying to profit off the back of the most amazing franchises in movie history. If you care that much about Star Wars, play the movies, offer free food and drink and ask people to come back another time to show their appreciation for your generosity.

Otherwise, keep playing Kill Bill 1 & 2, overcharge for your food and drinks and shut the hell up.
July 18, 2011, 10:57 am
Greg S from SoHo says:
Forget about it. You should show the Indiana Jones trilogy 1 instead.
July 28, 2011, 10:58 am
Jamie B from London says:
And this is why I have never taken ANY money for Star Wars Begins - my self made documentary.
Aug. 8, 2011, 9:32 am

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