Uncutting Star Wars

So, you think you've seen Star Wars, right? Well, get ready for the Emmy winning "Uncut" version of the film, remade in a series of 15 seconds clips by devoted fans around the world. Come to the library on September 22nd at 6:30 p.m. and experience Star Wars like you've never experienced it before.

Casey Pugh led the project, allowing hundreds of fans to claim clips from the. Once claimed, the clip had to be completed in 30 days then uploaded to the Star Wars Uncut website. An editor came along and pieced the pieces together, mixed in the sound track, and unleashed this wonderful creation on the world.

The idea of remaking Star Wars isn't new. In fact, Star Wars Uncut is the culmination of years of Star Wars inspired fan films. A quick search on Youtube for "star wars fan film" returns over 16,000 results! There is an annual contest and award for the best fan films. Whether made with live action, stop motion, starring people, or featuring Lego figures, these films are a testament to how deeply embedded these movies are in the popular imagination.

Now, you might be asking yourself, "Is this legal?" In this case, Lucasfilm worked with Pugh to support the project. But the larger question of remaking and reusing culture is a complicated one. People like Lawrence Lessig write and speak about the importance of allowing fair use and remixing in culture.

Star Wars Uncut speaks powerfully to the idea that wonderful things happen when people remake things. Why don't you come to the library on the September 22nd and see for yourself?