Star Wars Day has long been unofficially commemorated on 4 May, as in “May the 4th be with you”, referencing one of the most widely recognised greetings in all of science fiction (that’s “May the Force be with you”, if you’ve somehow never heard it).
The phrase was first uttered by Jedi knight Obi Wan Kenobi in the original 1977 film, an instant cult classic that went on to spawn a couple of excellent follow-ups – then separate, not so excellent prequel and sequel trilogies– plus a whole ton of books, cartoons, action figures and video games, laser-etching its way into our cultural lexicon and earning its progenitor, George Lucas, a galactic fortune.
With Star Wars Day looming, SilverStreak speaks to longtime fans who’ve gone more than a couple of parsecs to bring their favourite Star Wars characters to life.
He’s kept up with the franchise since that fateful day, splitting his time between catching all of the new movies and TV serials, and amassing a toy collection with many a Star Wars figurine.
It was only in 2017 that Razib finally took his first tentative steps into the world of cosplay, when he started hanging out at conventions and other events where Star Wars cosplayers gathered to “see and decide if I really like it”.
As it turns out, he did – so he decided to cosplay as a patrol trooper, a variant of the standard stormtrooper that rides around on a speeder bike. “Transport is close to my heart, so I chose to play as a Star Wars character that’s all about that,” says the full-time transportation supervisor.
It took Razib “about six to seven months” to put his entire get-up together. It wasn’t cheap or easy, as most of the parts had to be imported from overseas, though he declines to get into specifics.
Crafting your own costume is possible, though Tyrene says that this generally isn’t as common in Singapore, as most laypeople lack the specialised knowledge or equipment.
While he agrees with Tyrene that the build quality of cosplay parts overseas is generally better and more show-accurate, there’s a catch: “They are made for European or American sizes, so you often have to trim it down or pad it out to fit into it.”
Having to ship it from overseas also makes the hobby all the more expensive – which makes local specialised talent, like those of 46-year-old Kit Woo, all the more valuable. The longtime Star Wars aficionado has been using his electrical engineering knowhow to craft authentic-looking, LED-lit lightsabers for other Star Wars megafans since 2010.
While these lightsabers can’t actually reflect blaster shots or melt through steel bulkheads, they are sturdy enough to withstand the abuse of choreographed lightsaber battles – something else that Kit participates in frequently as a longstanding member of FightSaber.
“I’ve made a lot of friends through the group. Everyone is friendly and willing to share their knowledge,” says Razib. “It’s like we’re one big family.”
“We have around 20 to 30 members who actively participate in weekly training sessions. Anyone can join, regardless of skill level, as we’re all there to have fun and get better,” adds Kit on FightSaber.
Richard, too, finds joy in having managed to forge a little community of around 10 in the Kranak clan.
Indeed, more than just friendship, these organisations also offer Star Wars fanatics an avenue to express their ardour for the franchise in meaningful ways.
These range from crowd engagements, where cosplayers mingle with the public at family carnivals, to marches for the annual Chingay Parade, and even lightsaber performances or charity visits at hospitals and children’s homes.
“The children get so excited when we walk in in our costumes. It’s great that something that I enjoy can also put a smile on their faces,” offers Razib.
Richard of the Kranak Clan offers, “It’s a great joy to see how children react to you when you’re out and about. They walk towards you, wave at you – my kids are all grown up, so why not? It makes us feel happy, to make children feel happy.”
All of these are done on a voluntary basis, with no obligation for Star Wars cosplayers to participate on behalf of the organisation.
