The year-end Christmas season is also now Star Wars season. For a start, Stormtroopers have invaded Singapore!
Update Dec 14, 2017: Read my review of The Last Jedi!
Black Friday has gone by. Cyber Monday is soon to be over too. With that, the year-end (shopping & celebration) season officially begins!
This applies to Asian metropolises like Singapore too, oriental as we might be. Since 2015, the passing of these marketing highpoints also heralds the start of another exciting season. One that involves starships, laser swords, and a certain mystical energy that connects all lifeforms.
Star Wars season.
Yes. Star Wars season is upon Singapore, the high point of which would be Dec 14, the release day of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. In conjunction and in “celebration,” Star Wars themed exhibitions have since been popping up all over the island.
Last evening, I spent several hours checking out the displays at The Centrepoint before heading over to Marina Bay Sands for the special Star Wars Light and Water Show spectacular. Here are the pictures I took. As well as the remnants of my Kamino-like filming at the end of the evening …
The Centrepoint
There was a major Star Wars exhibition happening at this venerable mall. Forgoing typical December Christmas-y decorations, Stormtroopers are instead used as mascots for this year-end.
Marina Bay Sands Star Wars-Themed Light and Water Show
I chose last night to do my round because of this special performance.
Instead of the usual Spectra light and water show at the waterfront, Marina Bay Sands scheduled a special Star Wars-themed display as promotion for The Last Jedi. What I didn’t know was that there was a cosplay event too.
I was very lucky to walk right into a platoon, just before the cosplayers presented themselves to the excited crowds.
A Wet, Wet Star Wars Experience
And … here’s the downer of the evening.
Having previously not been successful with filming Spectra, because of people who kept stopping in front of my camera to go “ooooh,” I secured for myself a front-row spot for the special show. As in, right at the railing before the water and alongside other enthusiasts.
What then happened? Got ourselves drenched silly, we did! The wind, coupled with the force of the jets, kept blowing spray all over us. No matter how I tried to WILL the blast away, it just kept coming in waves. Actually, it got even stronger as the performance climaxed.
No thanks to this, I only managed to record bits and pieces in between all the frantic attempts to shield my camera and wipe the lens. I did manage to record Leia, though. That’s a small comfort, for me, amidst the failure.
I have the chance for a second go, though! There’d be a repeat performance on Dec 15, one day after The Last Jedi premiers. Mediate over how to do it properly, I will now do till then.
Update Dec 15, 2017
Meditate on the method, I didn’t do enough. Arrive early for the vantage spot I failed to do so too! And so I only managed to film this. It’s DRY and clear. But … somehow the previous one feels better.
The Force is truly not with me.
Update Jan 2, 2018
