Charles Corrente, Paul Starybrat, and Gary Manion are members of the 501st Connecticut Garrison in Seymour.
The group, about 40 members strong, specializes in making hand-made, movie-prop-quality uniforms worn by the bad guys in the “Star Wars” movies — Storm Troopers, Darth Vader, Bobba Fett and so on.
They travel the state raising money for charity and appear in costume at various “Star Wars” conventions.
Two-thirds of the Valley Indy staff are huge fans of the original “Star Wars” trilogy. Jodie Mozdzer’s never seen the movies.
They’ll be appearing in downtown Seymour Saturday, May 14 for a “Star Wars” movie marathon. Click here for more information.
All proceeds from the even will benefit the Strand Theater Renovation Fund. Ticket and contact info for the “Star Wars” marathon is posted at the end of the Q & A. Click here to download a flyer for the event.
Note: The guys slip into their Storm Trooper personas as the interview progresses.
Valley Indy: Did Han shoot first?
Paul: “Definitely, absolutely.”
Gary: “He’s the only one that shot.”
Background below or here for non-Star Wars geeks. Article continues after the video.
Valley Indy: If you met George Lucas in a bar, what would you say?
Charles: “I did meet him in a bar. I said ‘Thank you, Mr. Lucas.’ And he said ‘Thank you.’ I was too scared to say anything else.”
Valley Indy: You’re on a deserted island and you can only take one ‘Star Wars’ character with you. Who do you go with?
Charles: The Emperor. He’s someone to talk to.
Paul: “Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), because I already made out with her once. I can do it again … It’s a true story. We actually kissed on stage. It was pretty awesome. It was an event we did on my 35th birthday. If you go onto our website you can see the movie. So if I died tomorrow I’d be very happy.” Click here to see the video.
Valley Indy: Are Storm Troopers evil?
Paul: “We’re just misunderstood.”
Charles: “They’re just following orders … No, they are (evil).”
Valley Indy: Is Luke Skywalker a war criminal for blowing up the Death Star while it was under construction and killing all those innocent contractors in “Return of the Jedi?”
Gary: “I had friends on that Death Star!”
Charles: “Yes, that wasn’t very nice. They should have issued some sort of evacuation notice or something. Come on.”
Paul: “May the Force be with you indeed!”
Valley Indy: What is the bigger “Star Wars” crime, Bobba Fett’s lame death in Jedi or Jar Jar Binks?
Paul: “I would say the bigger crime was Bobba Fetts’ death. He died like a chump. He was killed by accident. That was the irony, the baddest guy in the universe gets killed by accident.”
Valley Indy: What is the best of the six films and why?
Gary: “For me it was “A New Hope” (the original film). Nobody had ever seen that before. Because I was at a younger age too, so it was a little more impressionable.”
Paul: “It had great contour and stuff nobody had seen. Science fiction before that was laughable, it was a dead genre.”
Charles: “When I watch New Hope, that’s the only one I won’t turn off. I will sit through it, it’s my favorite film. and I feel it brings you back to being a kid again.”
Valley Indy: Aren’t Trekkies lame?
Paul: “Well, uh, no. We have Phasers right here (points to replica weapon from “Star Trek”). We cover all areas. When I was a kid I don’t think I liked it that much. I grew eventually to love (Star Trek).
Valley Indy: Does it bug you that Captain Kirk would whip Luke Skywalker’s butt in a fight, even though Luke has superpowers?
Paul: “This is what I think would happen. If Captain Kirk saw Princess Leia in the gold bikini, there would be some kind of persuasion thing there, because Kirk is a ladies man. Luke is a chump. So while in the midst of Kirk kissing Leia, Luke might off him, if possible. But he’s too good of a guy. Yeah, Kirk would win. I’m not mad about it though.”
Valley Indy: When you wear your Storm Trooper uniform, have you ever been tempted to kill a guy dressed as a Ewok?
Paul: “I carry an Ewok, actually, from time to time. I put him in a little pocket. People ask me what he’s for. Truthfully, little kids may get a little intimidated by seeing me, so I show them the Ewok and they feel a little more comfortable because it’s cute. When adults ask me what the Ewok is for, I tell them it’s for lunch.”
STAR WARS MARATHON DETAILS
The Strand Theater is at 165 Main St.
The “Star Wars” marathon is Saturday, May 14. The original trilogy will be screened.
Showtimes are 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Advance tickets are advised. Tickets are being sold at Dragonflies, LLC at 33 Bank St.
Tickets are $15 for all three movies.
Tickets are $20 at the door. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.
For more information, call 203 888 5887.
