My brother & I recorded sound effects for the cantina aliens after watching the making of Star Wars! I love Ben Burt. Great footage of your visit to Hollywood & obsession!
That’s awesome! The making-of documentary was so inspiring! I’m such a huge Ben Burt fan! I still remember how excited we were that the “making of“ was going to be on television! It was the first chance to see behind the scenes of our favorite movie. Do you still have any of your recordings? If you could find them, I can tell you firsthand. It’s a thrill to listen to your younger self.for sharing your story!
Thanks for this Jon, I would have loved to have known you at this time in my life! Your recollections stir so many of my own memories that I haven't thought about in a long time. There was a kid in my class in 1977 who dressed up for Halloween as his own version of Darth Vader. He was overjoyed when his costume won first prize, but cried when he found out they thought he was a welder. To be fair, he did look like a welder. Glad yours worked out so much better.✌
😂😂😂 why did he look like a welder? That’s not what I was expecting 😆. Thank you for sharing your story and thank you for the kind words. The coolest part about making these videos is hearing from people like you; who mirrored the experiences I had at the time.thanks again. I really appreciate you sharing! And thank you for the laugh.
@@JonBlackstone 😂Really just one of those things that makes sense when you see it. Like how without the mask he looked like Tom Waits. I kind of wish I still knew him just for that.😄
Very enjoyable trip down your memory lane. We are same age, so I relate to it. Unfortunately we didn’t have a kid like you on our block. Even the way you put this together underscores your skills as a filmmaker. You must have considered film school at the time? Your SW overdubs are hilarious. It was the greatest era to be a kid. Speaking of sci-fi films of that era, we got pretty obsessed with Rollerball (1975). It was one of the first serious dystopian movies that left a lasting impression. It was panned by the critics, but I thought James Caan was the messiah. Same sort of experience with Death Race 2000, released that same year. They were both restricted so I didn’t see them until they appeared on late night TV a couple years later. And of course Soylent Green. These were serious films with serious social statements.
I appreciate the kind words and it’s great to find fellow kids of that era! For some reason “Rollerball” gave me a weird feeling. I never saw the movie; but the trailers in the theater had a dark vibe that made me a little afraid if it. Very similar to the vibe I felt about The Exorcist. Now that you mention Rollerball I wanna finally watch it! The ‘70s was the greatest decade for movies no doubt about it. Godfather, Jaws and Star Wars impacted culture like never before. Thank you for noticing the craftsmanship I put into these videos. I had dreams of being a filmmaker but music grabbed my heart by the time I was 16. But I’ve always continued doing some kind of film or video work. There’s nothing I love more than producing these videos. I just love the process. It’s like going on a journey. Hey I hope you have an excellent Christmas and happy new year ahead!
@ Yes, Rollerball was a very dark film, hard to watch the first time, but at the same hard to not watch. The period between ‘74 - ‘76 was a dark time in my life, for reasons I won’t get into, but I found a very strange solace in those films, maybe it was affirming or reflecting what I was feeling at the time. My favourite James Caan picture (apart from Godfather, of course), was The Gambler, which I discovered a few years after its release. What a performance. And to you, sir, a happy Christmas and continued success with your passion projects on this channel.
This is outstanding! . . . Sounds like you and I had very similar reactions, AND very similar acting out with our obsessions with Star Wars. . . Down to even creating our oun movie theater at home and making our oun soundtrack. Mine, however, was a playback of the Last Battle music from the first Star Wars vinyl album, and my friends and I recorded ourselves re-voicing the Death Star attack with our own ad-libs. . . Lol. . . I still own that 40-some year old recording to this day. . . This project of yours is great!! Can't wait for the next episode!
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your own story! I would absolutely love to hear that recording! Did I understand correctly? You had the super eight version? Or did you make a hand made version of the last battle? I would love to share your story on this channel.and recording.
@JonBlackstone Oh WOW!. . . Hi! Yes! That would be great! For years, I've been intending to transfer that recording to digital audio and just never got to it. However, this can be just the kick in the pants to finally get that done! For no other reason than to at least share it with my friends who's voices are also on that tape. And also who I've managed to keep in contact with ever since those days. I'd love to share it with you! And a story about it on your channel would be just such an honor from my point of view! So, I can understand how my home "movie theater" comment may have conveyed some bit of some unclear aspects of my story. I will try to sum up. Before I do, it's important that you understand that, if you can make the case that you were the very FIRST Star Wars geek. I truly believe that I can make the case that I am the very LAST original Star Wars geek. Though there is a story behind this fact, for now, it's sufficient to say that I never got to see Star Wars until July 26th, 1978! Yes. More than a year after it was released. And just as you described from your oun experience, Star Wars changed my life. I couldn't imagine how a more perfect movie could have been made for me. Me personally! Just as I'm sure you felt the same way, it REALLY seemed like George Lucas made that movie just for me! Like all us Star Wars fanatics felt. So, skipping to a year later and a year's worth of scavenging for any and all Star Wars products I could afford on my limited budget, I was at a neighborhood 7 Eleven and saw a Sci Fi movie, plastic sealed, magazine three pack! This three pack contained a sci fi fanzine called of all things, Space Wars. It was already a year old, but I didn't care. I ate it up! But perhaps the most exciting part of that magazine was a full page ad for a sci fi paraphernalia mail in company called simply enough, Sci Fi located in Los Angeles CA. In that ad was all three versions of the Super 8 Star Wars films, and I thought I stumbled on the Holy Grail! . . .I set my sights high on the $30 color and sound version and budgeted a savings plan to eventually have enough to purchase it AND a neighbor's used sound Super 8 projector. Long story short, I ended up getting the projector but regrettably received in the mail a returned check from SciFi and a letter explaining that they were out of stock of my ordered item, and that they could not guarantee a restock. My dreams were crushed. Especially since during my wait for my mail order, I used that time to build a "room" just outside my bedroom to be my mini movie theater. So you could imagine my immense disappointment when it turned out I never got the movie. I ended up putting my 12" black and white TV in the theater for Godzilla Week on our local 4 O'clock Movie on channel 7 and invited my friends over to experience the "theater" with me. So, disappointedly, I wish I could tell you I owned the full color sound version of the Super 8 Star Wars film reel, but I never ended up getting it. The vinyl record voice-over recording was a separate endeavor. But I did and still do own a Super 8 camera and had aspirations to make my own epic sci fi adventure that meshed all my favorite sci fi characters together. But I think my bite was much bigger than what I could chew, and it never ended up happening. So, if this story is still of interest to you, then I would be more than happy to share what I have. Just let me know. I don't know how we can make contact away from the public seeing our personal contact information. ? Maybe through Facebook?. . . Whatever you think. But if you are still interested, then so am I!
Wow! Thank you Jon! This is turning out to be a really cool deep dive. There are many things I haven't thought about for a long long time and I know you've stirred up a lot of memories for me. Having access to a good camera like that as a young man certainly has given you a keen eye. I know this kind of thing doesn't fall together on its own. Thank you so much for putting all your time into making really cool content. Very merry, tis the season, happy hollandaise, may your eggs be the Benny of your choosing. 👍
Thanks for watching! I really appreciate the kind words. And I appreciate the laughter too! The end of your comments reminded me of something but I can’t put my finger on it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and blessed new year to come!
It wasn’t that I didn’t like “empire“. My heart was captured by music by that time. So I went off of Star Wars and went into the Beatles. I became a musician and continue to this day. Having said that, I never thought Empire was anywhere near the film the first was. It’s a great movie but it doesn’t have the traditional classic vibe of the first. I don’t know if that makes sense or not? Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing!
You might find this hard to believe, but I am 62 years old and have never seen any of the Star Wars movies, I just was never into it even during it's 70's debut. Oh well to each his own.
My brother & I recorded sound effects for the cantina aliens after watching the making of Star Wars! I love Ben Burt. Great footage of your visit to Hollywood & obsession!
That’s awesome! The making-of documentary was so inspiring! I’m such a huge Ben Burt fan! I still remember how excited we were that the “making of“ was going to be on television! It was the first chance to see behind the scenes of our favorite movie. Do you still have any of your recordings? If you could find them, I can tell you firsthand. It’s a thrill to listen to your younger self.for sharing your story!
Thanks for this Jon, I would have loved to have known you at this time in my life! Your recollections stir so many of my own memories that I haven't thought about in a long time. There was a kid in my class in 1977 who dressed up for Halloween as his own version of Darth Vader. He was overjoyed when his costume won first prize, but cried when he found out they thought he was a welder. To be fair, he did look like a welder. Glad yours worked out so much better.✌
😂😂😂 why did he look like a welder? That’s not what I was expecting 😆. Thank you for sharing your story and thank you for the kind words. The coolest part about making these videos is hearing from people like you; who mirrored the experiences I had at the time.thanks again. I really appreciate you sharing! And thank you for the laugh.
@@JonBlackstone 😂Really just one of those things that makes sense when you see it. Like how without the mask he looked like Tom Waits. I kind of wish I still knew him just for that.😄
Very enjoyable trip down your memory lane. We are same age, so I relate to it. Unfortunately we didn’t have a kid like you on our block. Even the way you put this together underscores your skills as a filmmaker. You must have considered film school at the time? Your SW overdubs are hilarious. It was the greatest era to be a kid. Speaking of sci-fi films of that era, we got pretty obsessed with Rollerball (1975). It was one of the first serious dystopian movies that left a lasting impression. It was panned by the critics, but I thought James Caan was the messiah. Same sort of experience with Death Race 2000, released that same year. They were both restricted so I didn’t see them until they appeared on late night TV a couple years later. And of course Soylent Green. These were serious films with serious social statements.
I appreciate the kind words and it’s great to find fellow kids of that era! For some reason “Rollerball” gave me a weird feeling. I never saw the movie; but the trailers in the theater had a dark vibe that made me a little afraid if it. Very similar to the vibe I felt about The Exorcist. Now that you mention Rollerball I wanna finally watch it! The ‘70s was the greatest decade for movies no doubt about it. Godfather, Jaws and Star Wars impacted culture like never before. Thank you for noticing the craftsmanship I put into these videos. I had dreams of being a filmmaker but music grabbed my heart by the time I was 16. But I’ve always continued doing some kind of film or video work. There’s nothing I love more than producing these videos. I just love the process. It’s like going on a journey. Hey I hope you have an excellent Christmas and happy new year ahead!
@
Yes, Rollerball was a very dark film, hard to watch the first time, but at the same hard to not watch. The period between ‘74 - ‘76 was a dark time in my life, for reasons I won’t get into, but I found a very strange solace in those films, maybe it was affirming or reflecting what I was feeling at the time. My favourite James Caan picture (apart from Godfather, of course), was The Gambler, which I discovered a few years after its release. What a performance. And to you, sir, a happy Christmas and continued success with your passion projects on this channel.
This is outstanding! . . . Sounds like you and I had very similar reactions, AND very similar acting out with our obsessions with Star Wars. . . Down to even creating our oun movie theater at home and making our oun soundtrack. Mine, however, was a playback of the Last Battle music from the first Star Wars vinyl album, and my friends and I recorded ourselves re-voicing the Death Star attack with our own ad-libs. . . Lol. . . I still own that 40-some year old recording to this day. . . This project of yours is great!! Can't wait for the next episode!
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your own story! I would absolutely love to hear that recording! Did I understand correctly? You had the super eight version? Or did you make a hand made version of the last battle? I would love to share your story on this channel.and recording.
@JonBlackstone Oh WOW!. . . Hi! Yes! That would be great! For years, I've been intending to transfer that recording to digital audio and just never got to it. However, this can be just the kick in the pants to finally get that done! For no other reason than to at least share it with my friends who's voices are also on that tape. And also who I've managed to keep in contact with ever since those days. I'd love to share it with you! And a story about it on your channel would be just such an honor from my point of view!
So, I can understand how my home "movie theater" comment may have conveyed some bit of some unclear aspects of my story. I will try to sum up. Before I do, it's important that you understand that, if you can make the case that you were the very FIRST Star Wars geek. I truly believe that I can make the case that I am the very LAST original Star Wars geek. Though there is a story behind this fact, for now, it's sufficient to say that I never got to see Star Wars until July 26th, 1978! Yes. More than a year after it was released. And just as you described from your oun experience, Star Wars changed my life. I couldn't imagine how a more perfect movie could have been made for me. Me personally! Just as I'm sure you felt the same way, it REALLY seemed like George Lucas made that movie just for me! Like all us Star Wars fanatics felt. So, skipping to a year later and a year's worth of scavenging for any and all Star Wars products I could afford on my limited budget, I was at a neighborhood 7 Eleven and saw a Sci Fi movie, plastic sealed, magazine three pack! This three pack contained a sci fi fanzine called of all things, Space Wars. It was already a year old, but I didn't care. I ate it up! But perhaps the most exciting part of that magazine was a full page ad for a sci fi paraphernalia mail in company called simply enough, Sci Fi located in Los Angeles CA. In that ad was all three versions of the Super 8 Star Wars films, and I thought I stumbled on the Holy Grail! . . .I set my sights high on the $30 color and sound version and budgeted a savings plan to eventually have enough to purchase it AND a neighbor's used sound Super 8 projector. Long story short, I ended up getting the projector but regrettably received in the mail a returned check from SciFi and a letter explaining that they were out of stock of my ordered item, and that they could not guarantee a restock. My dreams were crushed. Especially since during my wait for my mail order, I used that time to build a "room" just outside my bedroom to be my mini movie theater. So you could imagine my immense disappointment when it turned out I never got the movie. I ended up putting my 12" black and white TV in the theater for Godzilla Week on our local 4 O'clock Movie on channel 7 and invited my friends over to experience the "theater" with me. So, disappointedly, I wish I could tell you I owned the full color sound version of the Super 8 Star Wars film reel, but I never ended up getting it. The vinyl record voice-over recording was a separate endeavor. But I did and still do own a Super 8 camera and had aspirations to make my own epic sci fi adventure that meshed all my favorite sci fi characters together. But I think my bite was much bigger than what I could chew, and it never ended up happening. So, if this story is still of interest to you, then I would be more than happy to share what I have. Just let me know. I don't know how we can make contact away from the public seeing our personal contact information. ? Maybe through Facebook?. . . Whatever you think. But if you are still interested, then so am I!
Wow! Thank you Jon! This is turning out to be a really cool deep dive. There are many things I haven't thought about for a long long time and I know you've stirred up a lot of memories for me.
Having access to a good camera like that as a young man certainly has given you a keen eye.
I know this kind of thing doesn't fall together on its own. Thank you so much for putting all your time into making really cool content.
Very merry, tis the season, happy hollandaise, may your eggs be the Benny of your choosing.
👍
Thanks for watching! I really appreciate the kind words. And I appreciate the laughter too! The end of your comments reminded me of something but I can’t put my finger on it. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and blessed new year to come!
Thanks for the video. What about the Empire Strikes Back? Did you not like it?
It wasn’t that I didn’t like “empire“. My heart was captured by music by that time. So I went off of Star Wars and went into the Beatles. I became a musician and continue to this day. Having said that, I never thought Empire was anywhere near the film the first was. It’s a great movie but it doesn’t have the traditional classic vibe of the first. I don’t know if that makes sense or not? Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing!
You might find this hard to believe, but I am 62 years old and have never seen any of the Star Wars movies, I just was never into it even during it's 70's debut. Oh well to each his own.