Art of the Force awakens for Star Wars day
With artwork, costumed appearances, toy display and a team from Lucasfilm S'pore, Star Wars Day looks set to be a blast
Star Wars was the biggest thing in the galaxy for Mr Mas Shafreen when he was growing up.
So when some old friends he met through collecting Star Wars merchandise proposed planning an inaugural Star Wars Day event for fans in Singapore in 2014, he jumped at being a part of it - and has been ever since.
Mr Mas, 43, is the founder of Band of Doodlers, a local group for artists who are interested in doodling, drawing and illustration.
A few of them will be working on a series of four large white canvasses - measuring 1m by 1.2m - at this year's #MAYTHE4THSG, which will be held at OCBC Square at the Singapore Sports Hub today and tomorrow.
The collaborative artwork will be auctioned off for charity.
Fans will also be able to buy custom-designed Star Wars artwork by Band of Doodlers on site.
This is the third Star Wars Day held in Singapore.
May 4 is often commemorated as Star Wars Day by fans worldwide. The date is a play on the sci-fi movie franchise's catchphrase "May the Force be with you".
Mr Mas told The New Paper: "I am more than happy to volunteer Band of Doodlers' services for the festivities. Not only do we get to connect with other Star Wars fans, we also get to do good for society."
He jokingly added: "Isn't that the aim of Star Wars? To bring goodness to the galaxy?"
Attendees can expect appearances by the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, FightSaber performances and workshops and a Star Wars-themed kids' fashion parade.
There will also be the largest public display of Star Wars toys and collectibles in South-east Asia put up by fans, and a presentation panel by Lucasfilm Singapore featuring the Singaporean crew involved in the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
While taking part in Star Wars Day was a given for Mr Mas, another featured artist at this year's edition came into the gig by accident.
CARICATURES
Mr Jashorn Lee, 49, was sketching by himself at the inaugural Star Wars Day in 2014, at Jurong Regional Library, when he caught the attention of fellow attendees, who approached him to draw Star Wars-themed caricatures of them.
Shortly after, a queue formed and Mr Lee was asked by the organisers to return officially for Star Wars Day the following year.
Even though drawing for six hours without a break can be tiring, the freelance artist, who charges between $12 and $15 for each piece, does it because he does not want to disappoint the children who wait faithfully in line for their turn.
Mr Lee, who has been a Star Wars fan since "Day One", said: "It is nice to see parents, who grew up with the original trilogy, project their excitement onto their kids, who come all dressed up as their favourite characters."
Star Wars Day S'pore (#MAYTHE4THSG) 2016
WHEN Today and tomorrow, 11am to 8pm
WHERE OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub
ADMISSION Free
Superfan: Interacting with fellow fans is the best part
Over the years, he has celebrated Star Wars Day all over the world.
Local Star Wars superfan Chris Gomez, who made headlines in January for watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens 57 times in 50 days since the film's release here on Dec 17 last year, will attend Day 2 of the local edition. It will be his second time celebrating Star Wars Day here.
The angel investor told TNP: "This event might bring a lot of excitement to the newer fans, who are going after watching (The Force Awakens), but I have experienced it before. Having said that, events like these are always great and they are a good Star Wars fix for us."
"I am mostly looking forward to meeting fellow fans, who are going to be taking their figurines and toys along. Interacting with them is the best part because we get to discuss one another's interests and in the process learn something new about Star Wars we might not have known. I am also hoping to buy some," he said.
ROGUE ONE
Star Wars Day is also the perfect way to tide fans over as they eagerly wait for the stand-alone spin-off Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which opens here on Dec 17.
Mr Gomez said: "The trailer really makes you believe this movie is going to be amazing. It showed me a side of the Star Wars universe I have been dying to see.
"And (Hong Kong action star) Donnie Yen is amazing (in it). If he fights like he did in (2006 Hong Kong martial arts action flick) Dragon Tiger Gate in Rogue One, that will be awesome."
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