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Dalton wrote:I fail to see how this overrules Fair Use.

Vympel wrote:Absolutely. You cannot post images from hyperspace anywhere, nor quote things from hyperspace verbatim. Paraphrase yes. Have you done that?

Illuminatus Primus wrote:How can you criminalize the very quoting of text?

Over the last couple of days, I've been chatting plot points with Jonathan Rinzler, visiting Senior Editor from LucasBooks. More than most of the crew, we tend to think about the ramifications of the Episode III plot, and how it sends ripples throughout the fictional galaxy. As the editor of the future Visual Dictionary and other sourcebooks to be spun out of Episode III, he needs to keep in mind the big picture. Keeping abreast of Expanded Universe developments is also part of my job.

This conversation reminds me of the inevitable Expanded Universe / movie canon debates that always pop up online. I've always considered such arguments a waste of time for the most part (it's all fictional, after all), but I do respect that the stability of the universe's continuity does mean a great deal to many fans. With that in mind, here's a heads up for future debaters.

For Expanded Universe-is-canon proponents, the inclusion of a character, vehicle designs and other concept art created or expanded in literature will add fuel to their arguments.

For those movie purists who like to counter with pointing out (apparent) contradictions, there's at least two lines of dialogue -- one dealing with the Jedi </databank/organization/thejediorder/> Council, the other with the Republic -- that will require some creative interpretation to make the universe one big happy place again.

At one point in the duel, computer-generated debris falls into frame, and one of the combatants must be careful to deflect it. Thinking ahead, John Knoll and Pablo Helman ask what exactly may be falling into the shot. "A thermocapsulary dehousing assister," deadpans George Lucas. In other words, they'll figure that out later.

In the background stand Senator Po Nudo and his aide in returning costumes from Episode II. I'll never look at the Aqualish quite the same since I've found out that Nick Gillard has taken to calling them "beavers," inspired by their prolific dental appendages. Also in the background are Passel Argente and his aide, Denaria Kee, although they have new costumes. I'm surprised to see Denaria identified as such on the call sheet, since that name was established in the Episode II Visual Dictionary and not by Production. During Production, the aide had the jokey name of Twink Kee.

The call sheets also list computer-generated characters, but they're of course nowhere to be seen. Poggle the Lesser, Wat Tambor, Shu Mai and San Hill will return, though not all will be present in this particular room. In discussing the digital Separatists, I point out to John Knoll the explosive peculiarities of the Skakoan physiology. That is, I mention that should Wat Tambor's pressure suit ever get breached, then, according to the books at least, he should explode.
He found the idea intriguing.

"Well, they start to turn to different sources when they need it, that's why you get the differences," offers George as an explanation. "We get a model that isn't the Jango version, that doesn't bump his head on doors. But then we get versions that can't shoot straight," he laughs. "I can see the corruption in the Empire: someone says to the Emperor, my cousin would like to fight in the wars, but he doesn't want to do any of the actual fighting. Can you clone him? Well, can he shoot? Ah, yeah. Sure he can."

"So how did Anakin get that scar, George?" asks John Knoll

"I don't know. Ask Howard," says George, referring to President of Lucas Licensing Howard Roffman. "That's one of those things that happens in the novels between the movies. I just put it there. He has to explain how it got there. I think Anakin got it slipping in the bathtub, but of course, he's not going to tell anybody that."

Vympel wrote:What links?

For Expanded Universe-is-canon proponents, the inclusion of a character, vehicle designs and other concept art created or expanded in literature will add fuel to their arguments.