Between 1999 and 2009 Lightsabre.co.uk brought news, fanfic, podcasts and much, much more to the masses. Our eighty-eighth guests was an assistant to Stephen Sansweet and Mary Franklin – Chris Gereke.
Lightsabre – Chris, welcome to Lightsabre.
CG – Thank you! I appreciate you asking me to be a part of your Lightsabre site.
Lightsabre – You’ve had an amazingly busy year in 2007 travelling the globe with Steve and visiting the many great 30th anniversary conventions. Which ones did you find the most enjoyable?
CG – Wow, Celebration Europe was amazing. The UK Star Wars fans were amazing hosts (along with the other Europeans). Celebration IV was awesome just in scale alone. San Diego Comic Con, Dallas Sci-Fi Expo and Paris the Reunion II were also fun shows.
Lightsabre – Tell us something about yourself. What got you into the collecting arena?
CG – I am a proud husband and father of 3 younglings. I teach young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders at a Houston Area school. My dad got me hooked on Star Wars. My Dad took my brother and I to the movies to see Star Wars back in the 80’s. On my 6th birthday I received a X-Wing Fighter and a Millennium Falcon after that you could say I was hooked. My hero was Luke Skywalker.
Lightsabre – What is it like to be a part of the Star Wars phenomenon?
CG – I love every aspect of Star Wars. Star Wars is more than the movies for me. I have life-long friends thanks to Star Wars collecting. Star Wars is a community of wonderful people that share a common experience of these movies. Star Wars fans have been touched in their hearts and minds deep into their core by these movies and its characters. I love Star Wars. I am trying to get my kids interested in Star Wars so I can pass the lightsaber onto them.
Lightsabre – How did you manage to get the gig working alongside Steve Sansweet?
CG – The Force, Jedi Mind Trick, lol. I volunteer with a wonderful group of Star Wars fans called Club Jade that volunteers with the 501st at Star Wars conventions and events. Mary Franklin and Steve Sansweet are the heart, mind, muscle, and soul of Star Wars. Mary taught me everything I know:) Steve honed my skills:)
Lightsabre – Travelling in that company alongside your fellow assistants must be fascinating. How often do you come across things that make you stand back in amazement?
CG – I try to keep my composure:) Steve Sansweet is a living Star Wars Jedi Rock star guru if I may say so I have the utmost love, respect, and admiration for the man. He has an incredible love and energy for everything Star Wars. I have to admit meeting Mark Hamill and David Prowse was not too shabby either. Every time, each event has wonderful celebs, fans, and artists. I love seeing anything new as far as Star Wars collectibles, art, books, or games. The Elvis Trooper is worth the price of admission to the cons alone. I was working the Star Wars charity auction at Celebration Europe and Simon Pegg had purchased the Darth Vader helmet. I thought that was really awesome.
Lightsabre – The new Star Wars TV shows are on the way. What are you hoping to see from them?
CG – I would love to see a Star Wars series that is as successful and long running as Star Trek or edgy and sexy as Battlestar Galactica or Firefly. The animated Clone Wars series looks amazing. and the live action series. I would love to see a dark, sexy, gritty Star Wars epic masterpiece with Boba Fett, Han Solo, Obi-Wan, Bossk, Darth Vader…teenage Luke and Leia? Sith rivals, Also. I can’t wait for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed to release next year:)
Lightsabre – At Celebration Europe you were present for the Battle on the Bridge, where dozens of Star Wars fans enacted a Lightsabre battle on Victoria Dock Bridge. Had you ever seen anything quite like that before?
CG – Amazing. I had not seen any lightsaber battle to that scale only a few guys and gals with the lightsabers at conventions.
I have a Star Wars buddy in Houston, Jedi 12’ inch Tony, that battled a massive Darth Vader with his MR lightsaber and nearly lost his saber and head from Vader’s massive swing at the midnight showing of Revenge of the Sith.
Lightsabre – Which of the myriad Star Wars characters do you feel the most affinity for?
CG – Wookiees. I love the Wookiees.
Lightsabre – Tell us something of your other interests outside of Star Wars?
CG – Other that Star Wars? huh? What kind of question is this? Is there anything else besides Star Wars? My family, fishing, travelling, music, football, and baseball.
Lightsabre – With the new shows on the way in 2008 and 2009, how busy are you expecting to be?
CG – I hope to be a part of any Star Wars (or Indiana Jones) event. Hopefully, Star Wars Celebrations🙂 Comic Con:)
Lightsabre – What lies ahead for you in the future?
CG – Life, love, family, friends, work, and Star Wars🙂
Lightsabre – A quick question about our site, Lightsabre. Any comments?
CG – Lightsabre is a great website:) I love that Lightsabre and Star Wars are involved with charities and the community. The Lightsabre staff and members make the website wonderful:)
Lightsabre – It’s been a great interview, and thanks for being our guest on Lightsabre. Just one final question. You have to join Steve and company on a convention and you have a choice of three to go on, all with specific themes. The first is in the Arctic and is Hoth themed, the second in Guatemala and based on Yavin and the third in the Sahara based on Tatooine. Which do you choose and why?
CG – I would have to say the convention based on Tatooine. Jabba’s Sail Barge would be a nice refuge from the heat, with R2 serving the drinks and Slave Leia and Luke fighting the Rancor as entertainment.
This interview was originally posted on www.lightsabre.co.uk on 9th December 2007.
