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    “Star Wars” talk dominates Comic-Con as 4-day event begins

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1056 Views
    Natalia Knapp poses with a Furbaca on display on Preview Night at Comic-Con International held at the San Diego Convention Center Wednesday July 8, 2015 in San Diego. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Invision/AP)

    By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer

    SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) --

    If anticipation for this year's Comic-Con had a soundtrack, it would be John Williams' instantly recognizable, Oscar-winning "Star Wars" theme.

    The latest take on the beloved space opera was top of mind for fans Wednesday night as the annual pop-culture convention opened for a preview of its colorful showroom floor. Comic-Con officially begins Thursday.

    "Everyone loves 'Star Wars,'" said Kristen McLaughlin of Los Angeles. The 23-year-old, wearing a Captain America costume, said she plans to spend Thursday night waiting in line for Lucasfilm's Friday afternoon presentation on "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

    More than 130,000 fans are expected at the San Diego Convention Center over the next four days for autograph signings, TV and film presentations, toy shopping, costume contests and other artistic engagements inspired by comic books and superheroes.

    "Star Wars" has a major presence in the massive showroom, with a mini-mall of booths dedicated to its characters. There are Chewbacca rugs and Storm Trooper sweaters, limited-edition Darth Vader skateboard decks and Yoda backpacks, plus Sith Lord pet outfits and Ewok stuffed animals.

    A life-size replica of Rey's Speeder Bike from the new film is on display.

    "To a certain extent, it's a giant commercial," Shane Morrison, 34, of Glendale, California, said of the annual convention. "But we pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to be part of it."

    He was most interested in the latest collectible figurines. "Just seeing all the new toys — that's a lot of what Comic-Con is about," he said, surrounded by his purchases.

    Wayne Wadler amassed more than 15 giant bags of exclusive toys within minutes of Comic-Con's doors opening. He expects to sell them all in one weekend at his comic-book shop in Riverside, California. The most popular collectibles right now? "Star Wars," he said.

    A line snaked through the convention center for a toy booth selling translucent Darth Vader dolls and oversized Boba Fett figurines.

    For the ninth year in a row, Dave Jamer, 46, came to Comic-Con dressed as Boba Phat, his 1970s approach to the "Star Wars" character. His buddy Daniel Enlow, 67, was clad as "Pirate Pimp Vader." He paired a Darth Vader helmet with a brocade smoking jacket.

    Even entertainment competitors are excited about the seventh "Star Wars" installment.

    "I'm excited that 'Star Wars' is coming here. We love JJ Abrams and have his shows," said Lisa Gregorian, chief marketing officer for Warner Bros. Television Group, which is premiering its new "Supergirl" show at Comic-Con.

    Other anticipated properties at the convention include "The Walking Dead," ''Game of Thrones," ''Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2."

    As crowds passed by the convention center, a lone busker stood across the street in the grass. In front of her was a music stand. Charise Zablotsky, a 26-year-old who performs with the La Jolla Symphony, chose a special selection for this night.

    She plugged her violin into a tiny amp, and played the opening notes of the "Star Wars" theme.

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    Tags:Comic-ConStar Wars



    Theodor Pištěk, Czech Oscar-winning costume designer, dies at 93

    Thursday, December 4, 2025
    Theodor Pistek, Czech costume and stage designer and painter in Prague, Oct. 18, 2022. Pistek, who won an Academy Award for his work on “Amadeus” has died. He was 93. (Katerina Sulova/CTK via AP, File)

    Theodor Pištěk, a Czech costume and stage designer and painter who won an Academy Award for his work on the 1984 film "Amadeus," has died. He was 93.

    His death was announced on Thursday by the town of Mukařov, just east of Prague, where he lived and was confirmed by his family to the local CTK news agency. They said he died on Wednesday but gave no other details.

    Pištěk's costumes appeared in the films of director František Vláčil from the end of 1950s, including "Marketa Lazarová" and "The Valley of the Bees," but his most famous work appears in the movies by late Czech-born director Milos Forman.

    The two became friends during their mandatory military service in communist Czechoslovakia.

    Forman ended up settling in the United States following the 1968 Soviet led invasion of Czechoslovakia, and while Pištěk remained in Czechoslovakia, they two nonetheless cooperated on films.

    Pištěk won an Academy Award for best costume design in multiple-Oscar winner "Amadeus," which was filmed in Czechoslovakia.

    As he accepted the award in 1985, he called it "the biggest and happiest day of my film career."

    Pištěk was also nominated for an Academy award for Forman's 1989 movie "Valmont." He won the the French Cesar award for that film.

    Pištěk and Forman also worked together on "The People vs. Larry Flynt."

    Pištěk was born on Oct 25, 1932, in Prague to parents who were both actors. He graduated from Prague's Academy of Fine Arts in 1958. Until the middle of the 1970s, Pištěk was also involved in motor racing as a driver and cars became a subject of paintings he made that were displayed in the United States and elsewhere.

    After the 1989 Velvet Revolution led by late Vaclav Havel that ousted... Read More

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