Source: 77-Movie.com | Starlog | FirstShowing.net
Update: I’ve been informed that Starlog.com is the original publisher of this news scoop. Thanks Starlog! You’re awesome!
So most of us Star Wars geeks have now seen Fanboys since its release on DVD on the 10th Anniversary of The Phantom Menace (May 19th). Well, now comes that other Star Wars based movie called “77,” originally titled “5-25-77” – which is the day the original Star Wars film was released.
From the producers of Star Wars and Lost in Translation, and directed by Patrick Read Johnson (Angus; Spaced Invaders), it chronicles the journey of a young sci-fi geek filmmaker alienated in a small rural town in Illinois whose life changes forever when he first sees Star Wars. Unlike Fanboys, it supposedly plays out more like a coming of age drama with some comedic moments throughout. It really is about a filmmaker who has big dreams after seeing the film that changed the way movies were made.
An article about the film at Starlog.com states that this is the autobiographical tale of the director himself. Here’s an excerpt:
For those that aren’t familiar, the short overview is that ’77 is the autobiographical tale of Patrick Read Johnson, a filmmaker from Illinois who may hold the unique title of being the “World’s 1st STAR WARS fan.”
As a teenager, the film-obsessed resident of Wadsworth, Illinois found himself sent on a journey to Hollywood, taken under the wing of Herb Lightman – the editor of American Cinematographer Magazine. The duo found themselves on the sets of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, and a little movie that would come to be known as STAR WARS.
Upon returning to Illinois, Johnson spread the SW Gospel all while trying to plot his own future as a filmmaker.
Johnson condensed the events of his high school years and the trip to the west into one year for ‘77, a coming-of-age film that ties in with the date 5-25-77 – which STAR WARS fans will recognize as the day the film made it’s theatrical debut.
James Zahn, author of the article, also interviews the director.
Everyone who loves Star Wars should want to see this movie. Like Fanboys, it has been shown in limited release at festivals and conventions. Hopefully we’ll see a wider theatrical release for the film soon. Anyone feel like this is The Wonder Years with a Star Wars geek instead of Fred Savage? 
Here is the trailer:
This article is featured on TheForce.net!
Matt said
May 26 2009
Wow, great. Another movie cashing in on the popularity of Star Wars. Here’s an idea. Come up with your own movie that doesn’t involve piggy backing another one.
Dan Geer said
May 26 2009
I say, if it is an enjoyable movie, and is able to bring back memories, it doesn’t matter.
Earmullet said
May 27 2009
One of the producers who made this movie, Gary Kurtz, also produced Star Wars…I think he can piggy back his own film.
Matt said
May 27 2009
Here’s what people are failing to understand. Had Fanboys been about baseball, or even comic collecting, NOBODY would have seen the film. But, because they latched on to Star Wars, suddenly they have a huge fan base who are willing to drop cash to see it. They’re basically duping you into seeing a movie that in general most people wouldn’t bother with! This is the same thing that 77 is doing.
How many of you people are going to see this movie, and also saw Fanboys simply because it had a Star Wars motif? If this movie was about a guy who was inspired by a James Bond film, none of you would be as excited! You’re being duped into seeing a movie you wouldn’t normally care about!
Doesn’t that bother you?
Dan Geer said
May 27 2009
I don’t get as excited about comics or James Bond as much as I do Star Wars. So I don’t consider it being “duped,” when it is about something I care about. It doesn’t bother me one bit.
The people behind these films didn’t make the films to “cash in” on the Star Wars name. If anyone knows anything about Fanboys director Kyle Newman, they would know just how big of a Star Wars geek he is and how the film connects to him on a personal level. Same thing with ‘77 director Patrick Read Johnson.
Having said that, I think that if I saw a preview for Fanboys, and it wasn’t focused on just Star Wars but rather the Fanboy culture in general I still think it’d be something I’d want to see because I do enjoy comics, sci-fi/fantasy movies, etc.
The fact is that no one has done a film on this level about Star Wars fanboys and the anticipation of Episode I. It truly captured the essence of what it was like in 1998 with all the Phantom Menace hype. And no one has done an autobiographical coming of age film “Wonder Years” style about how Star Wars changed his outlook on film making like what ‘77 is doing.
Matt said
May 27 2009
I would agree that nobody has done these types of films before. And, believe me, that’s not my biggest concern that they are now.
My concern is this;
Yes, for now the people making these films care greatly for Star Wars, but at what point do people simply start cashing in on the idea? How soon before everyone out there is making a “What Star Wars Meant To Me” movie? I.E. Oversaturation.
To me it’s like all those “comedies” with the word “Movie” in the title. Everytime you turn around a new one is coming out, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t stand them. They’ve run their course, and they’re far from funny.
I don’t want it to come to a point where every year we have a, “Star Wars Movie”. Yes, a great many people care about Star Wars, and it’s great when we have referances to the Saga that we all know and love, but the concept of basing an entire movie on it will get old. At which point, it may even taint the love we have for the Saga itself.
Too much of a good thing can be bad.
Dan Geer said
May 27 2009
I agree with you there. There probably doesn’t need to be another “What Star Wars meant to me” movie.
But I have no problem with these two because to me they’re completely different movies. “Fanboys” is a comedy about a group of Star Wars nerds who want to break into Skywalker Ranch to see Episode I before one of them dies. “77″ is an autobiography coming of age drama on how a young geeky film maker is inspired to pursue his dream after he sees Star Wars. They’re vastly different movies so I’m fine with it.
77 has been in production for a long time (since 2004, I believe) and most likely didn’t start because they heard of “Fanboys.” And I’m positive “Fanboys” wasn’t inspired by 77 because that script was around in the late 90s.
If another movie comes along with Star Wars as the basis, and it somehow manages to be vastly different from these two, I will also be fine with it. But I don’t think that will happen.
To add to what you said eariler, I chose to watch “Fanboys” because it was a story that I could relate to or seems interesting/entertaining to me. It’s no different than why I watched JFK, and would probably never watch a movie about “James Knox Polk.” JFK is fascinating to me. I don’t even really know who “Polk” is.
Matt said
May 27 2009
You make a valid point with your similarities of Fanboys and JFK. I suppose a major draw for people to any film is the ability to relate to the characters be it fictitious or factual.
I can also see where these two films have very little similarities, and therefore neither one of them is necessarily a result of the other. This will in turn probably mean that 77 will be as enjoyable as Fanboys.
My overall stance, which you appear to agree with, is that future movies of “What Star Wars Meant To Me” films are going to be overkill on the subject.
Bob said
October 6 2009
Matt said, “Wow, great. Another movie cashing in on the popularity of Star Wars. Here’s an idea. Come up with your own movie that doesn’t involve piggy backing another one.”
I knew Invincible, cashing in on Football? Real man great story, football was his story. Rudy, same. The Rookie, take baseball out, same movie? Cinderella man, remove boxing? Are they all CASHING IN?
I was friends with Pat back when I moved to LA and he has a great story. He’s a great guy. He decided to get into film because of Star Wars. His story can not be told without Star Wars. It’s a theme many of us from that time can relate to. We had the end of Vietnam and the disaster of Carter. Our world sucked. Star Wars helped put an end to that and give a positive outlook to the future. Aside from that, it’s about Patrick and his story, a great inspiring story. He’s out of pocket for this movie, so it’s far from CASHING IN. Get over yourself man. You seem like the typical wanna be art house ass that looks for an excuse as to why others are more successful.
Go get em Pat!!!!
Draygin