August 7—ENID, Oklahoma—The Dark Lord of the Sith is visiting Enid this weekend, but he hasn’t packed his suit. This is strictly a pleasure trip.
Award-winning actor, writer, motivational speaker and visual effects artist, C. Andrew Nelson is a well-known celebrity, along with Alan Fernandez, who played a Tusken Raider in the original “Star Wars,” at Enid Comic Con.
The annual event kicked off at the Stride Bank Center on Saturday and continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Darth Vader
Nelson is best known for his portrayal of Darth Vader in the special edition of the original “Star Wars” trilogy, as well as in the games Rebel Assault II and Dark Forces released by LucasArts. He even voiced the role of Luke Skywalker for video games when Mark Hamill was unavailable, completing the full “like father, like son” circle.
“I was in the right place at the right time and height,” said the six-foot-tall Nelson as he began donning the Darth Vader suit. When asked why he didn’t bring the suit to Enid, Nelson replied because he doesn’t own it: “not even a glove”.
He said Lucasfilm, where he worked in the early 1990s, was looking for someone to play the part for a charity event at the time, and fitted the suit.
Nelson thought it was “a once in a lifetime opportunity” to play the iconic Dark Lord, but it turned out not to be his only time.
“They kept calling me back and calling me back. Seventy times.’
He said his wife let him count after a while. He has been told that in the last 25 years he has spent more hours in the Darth Vader suit than anyone else.
Nelson was six days before his 15th birthday when he queued for more than two hours to get a “Star Wars” ticket, roughly three weeks after the film premiered in 1977. He remembers the opening scene and decided it was him. wanted to do for a living, even though those who designed the special effects made the job description at the time.
Born in the San Francisco area, Nelson drew at age 6, acted at age 10, and animated at age 12.
“I just couldn’t choose what I wanted to do, so I did it all because nobody told me I couldn’t,” he said, adding that he always likes to tell people, “I’m an ordinary man.” who can do extraordinary things.”
Tusken Raider
While Nelson was queuing at the cinema, Alan Fernandes was just coming off his “opportunity of a lifetime” and playing the part of one of the Tusken Raiders in the original film.
Fernandes was an animal trainer at the time and he says there was no bid for the part. He came as a package deal with Marji, one of the elephants who played the Bantha mounts ridden by the Tusken Raiders in the movie. As her trainer, he was the Raider to ride her, and the rider and his mount can be seen in the first few minutes as the Tusken Raiders are introduced in George Lucas’ film.
“George wanted an elephant and I went with the elephant,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes said he has worked with other films and in other capacities as a trainer, but never to the extent of something like Star Wars. He said film officials have told him he is the last alive of the Tusken Raider actors in the original film.
After the film, he continued his work as a trainer, got married, ran his own business and eventually retired. He was recovering from an accident when a friend took him to Lucas’ ranch, and he became interested in public Comic Con appearances. However, it wasn’t until about three years ago that he started making those appearances.
“I like to do it,” Fernandes said. “Just looking at the smiles of the children – that makes me happy.”
Enid Comic Con
Just inside the secure entrance to the annual Enid Comic Con, Clint Randolph meets customers interested in buying and selling comic books and memorabilia at his sales booth.
“This is my show,” Randolph said, raising his hands to surround the more than 45 vendors lined up in the Stride Bank Center event arena. When asked about his abilities with the event, Randolph replies with a smile, “Founder, creator, whatever you want to call it. King, we’re going with king.”
He’s been bringing Comic Con to Enid for five years now, and this year’s event is similar to last year’s opening day, he said, as the crowd gets bigger and bigger the more COVID-19 gets in the rearview mirror.
Randolph said the show attracts vendors from several states, including Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado. While the main interests remain comic books, superheroes and science fiction, there are also craft and food stalls that set up shop for the weekend.
He only has two main rules for sellers, he said: no nudity and no drug-related items. His family-friendly shows include toys, comic books, “anything you can think of,” he said, and it’s for dressing up and cosplaying and for families to have fun.
One of the local suppliers to suit this year highlights Enid Public Schools Esports program.
Enid High School Esports team members have a booth to show off virtual reality and game programming and the need for donors and sponsors, said Christopher Parker, esports coach and coordinator for the EHS and high school programs.
He said esports gives some students who are not physically or competitively inclined a chance to shine, and the group is pretty much for everyone. And with the addition of VR or virtual reality equipment, “video games aren’t just dodging and dodging.”
Esports promotes scientific skills, team building and critical thinking, Parker said. The program started at EHS in the fall of 2019 and the first year went great, he said. Since then, the team has been rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic, and 54 returning to the high school program next year expect the program’s number to nearly double with interested freshmen.
“My great thing about the program is that it can be added by anyone,” Parker said.
Esports is now in the EPS high schools, with Rocket League games last year. This year, the high schools will play Rocket League in the fall and Super Smash Brothers in the spring, Parker said.
In high school, there are fall games like Clash Royale, Call of Duty: Vanguard, CS:GO, Rainbow 6 (PC), Halo Infinite, Valorant, Super Smash Brothers (Duos), and Fortnite (4v4v4v4 Zone). The spring schedule will play in Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: MW2, Super Smash Brothers (Solos), Beat Saber, Knockout City, Paladins, Rainbow 6 (X-box), and Fortnite (2v2v2v2 Box).
He said the adult-rated games are aimed at seniors and include a guardian waiver. But there are plenty of other games for all learners on the agenda. He said they play on different days and tournaments to keep the numbers manageable, making it more inclusive for everyone.
The high school also hosts a tournament between Oklahoma’s public school programs.
“They (students) are going to play video games at home anyway,” Parker said, adding that with Esports they do it in a constructive, social way in a safe environment.
The Esports booth will be on Comic Con Sunday for anyone interested in learning more about the program.
Hassler is the digital content coordinator for the Enid News & Eagle.
Do you have a question about this story? See something we missed? Do you have a story idea for Violet? Send an email to violeth@enidnews.com.
(c)2022 the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Oklahoma.)
Visit the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Okla.) at www.enidnews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
.
0 Comments