A Case for Star Wars Fan Audio
A Guest Editorial by Jeff Roney

So, you are a Star Wars fan, and you have a story. Maybe there's more to a Yuzzum, maybe you want to re-write ROTJ without ewoks, or maybe you think that Star Wars needs more comedy (I do). What do you do? Do you bottle it up, and live in regret the rest of your life, or do you say, "If George can do it, so can I. I want to produce my story for all the world to experience!" But how? How will you give your story or idea the proper platform? Let's talk about it.

1. Website. Yes, you could do a website. Stretch your artistic flair and tell your story. Say it in text and pictures. The only trouble is there are lots and lots of Star Wars sites out there, so don't expect thousands surfing to your url the first day.

2. Write. Yes, from the cavemen walls to the computer screen filled with inspired words. Get your ideas from your head to the computer screen. There are many great sites that will accept your ideas, but again, there are a lot of people who also write, so there will be a dogfight as you claw your way to the top.

3. Video. (Insert "Hallelujah" chorus here.) This is the holy grail of every Star Wars fan- a video that looks, sounds and smells like the original trilogy. Whether it's a light saber duel on a forest planet or a story of Jedi betrayal on, yes, a forest planet, there are stories to be made (and some that shouldn't) to a video. So, yes, George Jr., make the video, but keep in mind a couple of things:

A. No one will love your video as much as you. If you want quality acting, post-production, etc, it all takes money. Most of us don't have a movie studio backing us.

B. Videos can be done, and some done well, but most are "okay," or languish in pre-production hell for years and die from lack of attention or commitment.

C. You better have a boatload of website bandwidth at your disposal, or good friends at a SW fansite that will host your files.

Oh yes, there is one more way to produce your story . . .

5. Audio. Ah yes, the persecuted step-child of the Star Wars fan projects. Let's think back and remember when audio used to be our friend. From FDR's fireside chats, War of the Worlds, 50's cruising music, to Talk Radio now. Audio has been beat up since the veneer- covered humming box snuck into our livings rooms. Even though we have strayed to video, I tell you, there is an audience for Star Wars fan audio productions. It will take pulling the audience away from the digitized effects-filled screen to putting on those headphones, listening, and using their minds as a canvas.

Fan Audio . . .

A. Costs less to make.

B. Allows you to include people world-wide who can produce a WAV file for you.

C. Takes less bandwidth to share with the world once it's posted to a website

And . . .

D. Fan Audio needs you.

I encourage all who are in their second or third year of hoping to get the cast together to re-shoot the ending to their Jedi masterpiece video to come over to the audio side. "We wanna video, we wanna video," the finicky public rants. Video is a daunting challenge. Audio can tell your story, and do it well. Star Wars Fanworks is a growing hub, and it has a place for you. Star Wars Fan Audio is now in your hands; take it, use it, and tell your story to the world.