An Open Letter to Star Wars Insider: Thank You!

Screenshot-1Today, I’m going to do something a little different than to just report the news. This is an open letter to Star Wars Insider following a recent inclusion in the “Bantha Tracks” section in their latest issue (pictured above).

 

 

A few months ago, I attended Star Wars Celebration Anaheim with my dad. In spite of being huge Star Wars fans, neither of us had ever attended a Celebration convention previously. It was a very busy business trip for me (I wrote fifteen articles in the span of four days – many of them on an unstable wi-fi connection, to boot!), but we had a lot of fun, what with being a part of the crowd that first heard “Chewie… We’re home!”, marathoning six Star Wars movies over three nights, and getting a look at the Rogue One teaser that I was absolutely not expecting. When I got back from Anaheim on a red eye trip, I was operating on a few hours of sleep and I still had to attend a three-hour lecture… but of course, that was all more than worth the few minutes that I had with the real Luke and Leia.

 

The opportunity to have a photograph with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher – my favorite part of the trip – was something that we came up with just before we left for the convention. The extensively long line we got into cost us our original flight back home, but we got a good shot with the duo, who were both enthusiastic, even after hours of taking other photos. We were so excited that neither of us could really believe that it actually happened – my Dad really likes Fisher’s sense of humor (and her writing), and I’m a huge nut for Hamill’s many, many voice acting roles. As the editors and readers of Star Wars Insider magazine now know, this photograph was the result.

 

Pomojema Dad Mark CarrieI have been a longtime fan of Insider since the time of the Special Editions (when I first got to watch these wonderful movies in the theater for the first time). In a way, I’ve come to realize that the way the magazine covered the world of Star Wars with such love and care became a factor that got me into blogging about Star Wars in the first place. So when I found out that the picture made it into the magazine’s “Bantha Tracks” section (along with a message that my dad wrote about the experience), it was like the same unbelievable experience of hanging out with the Skywalker twins all over again. It feels surreal knowing that the picture and message were selected out of what must have been hundreds of mailed messages.

 

From a Star Wars 7 News blogger to editors of an official Star Wars publication, this shout-out in “Bantha Tracks” has meant a lot to me. Thank you very much, and may the Force be with you – always!

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

49 thoughts on “An Open Letter to Star Wars Insider: Thank You!

  • July 22, 2015 at 11:06 pm
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    Rock On!

  • July 22, 2015 at 11:09 pm
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    Nice! I envy you 🙂

  • July 22, 2015 at 11:14 pm
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    That’s a cool story. Now I need to go back and take a look at the issue again.

  • July 22, 2015 at 11:15 pm
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    Noooice!
    I have a lot of good memories of Insider. As well as Star Wars Galaxy Magazine. That’s awsome that you got to strike a pose with the twins!

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:12 am
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    Great picture!

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:25 am
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    Ted Nugent would approve.

    Like a dog in heat.

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:51 am
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    Rock on, Pomojema! But, please, take the choke hold off of Princess Leia. 🙂

    • July 23, 2015 at 3:09 am
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      The funny thing is, I wasn’t going to do that before we took the picture. She was the one who put my arm around her neck like that!

      • July 23, 2015 at 7:05 am
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        Did Leia learn a new Force power?

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:57 am
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    Notice that sweet choke hold he’s got Princess Leia in. Is this a clue as to how Leia dies in episode 7? Analyze…. Analyze!!!

    • July 23, 2015 at 3:10 am
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      Yes, I can confirm that I filmed a cameo where I kill Leia. (My NDA expired.) I get to play Darth Plagueis.

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:57 am
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    Pomo, ol’ pal… as though the photo itself weren’t cool enough (which it is… like, Frank-Sinatra-Stepping-Out-Of-A-Helicopter-With-A-Drink-In-His-Hand cool!) the fact that they also ran it in the SW Insider just punches it into hyperdrive, cool-wise.

    Nice one, brother!

    • July 23, 2015 at 3:10 am
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      [Sends fist bump over the internet!]

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:06 am
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    It’s nice to mention somehow that this appeared in Insider, Pomojema, besides it’s a funny photo.

    But,

    Posting an open letter for this seems to me a call to protagonism. We have seen this photo before and you keep posting stories surrounding it. Like that podcast you did being the only non-updated post in the site that came on top of news again and again, decreasing the exposition of other posts by other site members that were more interesting and fresh.

    I hope you take this as it is: an individual opinion of a daily sw7n visitor. And I want a be clear with this: in another site I wouldn’t care to put this oponion: I just the site members are doing (including you) a great job and this kind pf post diminish the editorial quality of it.

    • July 23, 2015 at 2:04 am
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      I disagree. We’re all fans here (obviously) and while I’m envious, i think it’s a cool story and worthy of the site.

      • July 23, 2015 at 2:22 am
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        Nice, Chris.

        As I said, just an individual opinion here. I just find this the kind of post you would find in a single-author’s blog. Viral-Hide have been working hard today to bring three posts with actual news and I don’t get why his work comes second.

        This is a good site, it’s gaining popularity because it’s well done and gets exclusives from time to time, but this photo and its story have been already posted before, during Celebration, where it belongs, and I don’t think appearing in Bantha Tracks makes it news again. A tweet? Yes. A Cantina post? Yes. An Oscar-winner speech in the head of the site? In my humble opinion, not.

    • July 23, 2015 at 3:26 am
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      I was actually debating on whether or not to post this. I was fully aware of the concerns from the beginning. Viral Hide and the others gave me the say-so. We featured those two podcasts because we were talking about Star Wars. (For the record, there were updates to the podcast, I just didn’t label them as such. Every time it went to the top of the page, another segment was added.)

      Believe me, I am the last person to want the site to turn into “Pomojema and pals”. The other staff do wonderful jobs making this news site and the forum some of the best Star Wars community gatherings on the web (and I’m not saying that with a shred of hyperbole), and I know that I’m a small part of that. I didn’t want this to detract from what they do, so I wrote this post for a slow news day – when there wouldn’t be any headlines from other users to detract from. I was considering writing this as a message board post, but I felt that if I did, then I don’t think it would have had a chance to get the author’s attention. (He actually sent a tweet back at us, to which I’m even more grateful.)

      Your concern has been noted and I will most certainly keep it in mind. Thank you for the feedback – it is greatly appreciated.

      PS: Viral Hide actually posted the article. I wrote it as a draft. So him posting this above today’s news was his decision, not mine.

      • July 23, 2015 at 9:44 am
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        Thank you for the friendly response, I really appreciate it, specially because my opinion seems to be in minority.

        Keep on the good work, this site rocks!

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:13 am
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    Congratulations Pomojema, keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your experience with us.

    (i guess not all anonymous writters are trolls. 😉

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:24 am
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    the “pat yourself on the back” article this isn’t “news” SW7N, we need a separate blog or the cantina for journals and other useless articles…

    wow SW7N, I suspected you would delete that ↑ post so I saved it for reposting, this is just an opinion. Why are you being nazis and restricting free speech?

    Delete my posts again and ill just re-post, and I have many proxies so banning wont work

    • July 23, 2015 at 1:42 am
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      Freedom of speech just means you aren’t arrested for your speech…it doesn’t mean you don’t suffer consequence. By the way…great article! 1337, you’re bantha fodder…

    • July 23, 2015 at 1:46 am
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      I agree the cantina is a perfect fit for this. Viral Hide has three good stories today and this shouldn’t be the head new.

      • July 23, 2015 at 3:37 am
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        Viral Hide chose to post this when he did. I had it saved as a draft to post whenever.

    • July 23, 2015 at 3:32 am
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      See my response above, I have already addressed this.

    • July 23, 2015 at 6:36 am
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      A website deleted something you wrote on their forum, the government didn’t prevent you from speaking.

  • July 23, 2015 at 1:47 am
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    As long as Star Wars episode 7 has a big ol’ confederate flag waving from the millennium falcon, I’ll be happy.

    • July 23, 2015 at 2:06 am
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      I hope not on the confederate flag. That flag does not belong on the millennium falcon (neither does any flag). FYI, I’m a Floridian too and we will not secede.

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:00 am
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    Congrats on getting to experience that! As much Star Wars as we’re getting, I hope I get the chance to go some time! What a great follow-up to my Star Wars ibsessed childhood and this incredible experience or getting to relive my childhood thanks to the Sequel Trilogy that I’ve waited simce 1997 to see!

    Always enjoy interacting with you on the forums, you do a good job of being a normal fan like us, when you could be a little more stand-offish, being a moderator or admin of a very popular Star Wars news site..

    Don’t listen to the haters, great article, I enjoy openly sharing in the excitement with other fans! Doesn’t always have to be the analysis or criticism that many of us get so much of on the forums.

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:14 am
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    you rock star wars i like it the cover of star wars insider of darth vader and asoka tano from star wars rebels if they could do season 3 of the tv series with new heroes and villians with awesome space battles revive x-wing starfighters rebel ships season 2 awesome if they all new episodes on disney xd i want the title for star wars episode 8 the force within then for star wars episode 9 the force strikes and all new titles of the star wars franchise long live star wars forever george lucas you rock

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:35 am
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    Confederate flag on the falcon? trolls?you people are insane,who cares if they post another pic of a family who met Mark and Carrie? I for one loved the story and did not see it the first time,so thanks SW7N great story.Get a life to some or get your hand of your playstation and toy blasters. Let the movie and JJ do their thang,Go Star wars…..

  • July 23, 2015 at 4:04 am
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    Man nice article!

    • July 23, 2015 at 2:29 pm
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      Thanks for the link, another example of the real bond that exists in the SW family.

  • July 23, 2015 at 5:05 am
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    Hey you,… Get your damn hands off her!

  • July 23, 2015 at 5:18 am
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    Good for you Pomo! I think you do an awesome job! you deserve that and more into the future! Congrats!

  • July 23, 2015 at 6:13 am
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    Great story… I’m so happy for you and your father.

  • July 23, 2015 at 7:09 am
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    Loved this personal article. Ignore the stupid comments.

  • July 23, 2015 at 7:38 am
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    Cool for both of you! I thought this was going to be a complaint at first that the magazine did something wrong lol.

    Plot twist… open letter with praise in mind!

    • July 23, 2015 at 12:41 pm
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      That you have openly shared a moment of personal Star Wars joy, and expressed further elation when that moment has been recognised by a (personally) esteemed entity, establishes, in my mind at least, the fact that you share a heart felt passion for Star Wars that rivals my own. Hats off to you, young Skywalker, I shall watch your career with great interest…

  • July 23, 2015 at 11:55 am
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    Wow great photo and memory for you two! Jealous a bit!

  • July 23, 2015 at 12:14 pm
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    In TFA Jabba’s son will choke Leia out of revenge for his father. So that how she’ll meet her death.

    • July 23, 2015 at 2:32 pm
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      Never bring a choking device to a gunfight… Remember, she has friends…

  • July 23, 2015 at 2:29 pm
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    Pomojema, did you get a chance to have a brief conversation with the Stars? I know there was a line and all, but I was curious if they knew you were a staff member on (insert my personal opinion in 3…2…1…) the best SW news site on the internet. Did Insider know or was it a random choosing of your photo? I also want to note that you have become the face and voice of SW7N as you are the only one we have seen and heard. Was this intentional on behalf of the other staff members or your personal choice?

  • July 23, 2015 at 3:53 pm
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    That’s Carrie Fisher’s way of saying “This is killing me.”

  • July 23, 2015 at 8:22 pm
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    Hard to get over these toothpicks they consider lightsabers

  • July 24, 2015 at 7:27 am
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    I look at you and I get a douchebag vibe

  • July 24, 2015 at 1:41 pm
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    Great pic,but its spoilt all our fantasies about you looking like comic book guy from the Simpsons.lol
    Keep up the great work mate,this site rocks.

    • July 24, 2015 at 2:03 pm
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      I hope that people realize that there are 7 writers contributing to this blog. They are all helping running it. Thanks guys!

      And again, fantastic photo @Pomojema. I am so jealous. 🙂

      • July 24, 2015 at 3:13 pm
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        Wretched hive of scum and villiany…

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