On Saturday, September 27th, 2003, the third Echo Base Con (EBCC2003) took place, the official event of the Dutch Star Wars fan club Echo Base. This third edition like its predecessor was in light of a charity. For this edition the Make A Wish foundation was chosen, which fulfills (exceptional) wishes of children with a life threatening decease. The NBC (at the time better known as “De Blokhoeve”) in Nieuwegein was once more the event venue where this time around slightly less than 750 visitors from The Netherlands and abroad visited the EBCC2003. This in part resulted in proceeds of 1.583 euro for the charity.
For the very first time in the world the EBCC2003 presented Irvin Kershner, director of The Empire Strikes Back, as a guest at a convention. Like the previous year in total twelve guests were present. Besides the director of Empire those were: Gary Kurtz (producer of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back), Alan Ruscoe (Bib Fortuna, Lott Dod and Plo Koon in The Phantom Menace), Michael Carter (Bib Fortuna in Return of the Jedi), Rusty Goffe (Kabé, Jawa and Gonk droid in Star Wars), Kenneth Colley (Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), John Hollis (Lobot in The Empire Strikes Back), John Coppinger (Jabba sculptor and Wookiee senator in The Phantom Menace), Paul Blake (Greedo in Star Wars), Jerome Blake (Rune Haako and Mas Amedda in The Phantom Menace), Peter Diamond (stunt coordinator of the Original Trilogy) and Gus Lopez (über collector and owner of The Star Wars Collectors Archive).
The event was sponsored by eBay Netherlands who organised a live auction, both online and at the event. The auction featured numerous exclusive items, such as a dinner with Irvin Kershner and Gary Kurtz. The event also featured activities such as signing sessions, Q&A with the Guests of Honour, play Knights of the Old Republic, play with Bounty Hunter on the Nintendo Gamecube consoles and Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy on PC, win great prices playing the LEGO Clone Trooper competition, and much more.
The convention poster was made by official Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars artist Joe Corroney in cooperation with fellow Star Wars artist Jeff CarlisleThe poster has a dimension of approximately 50 x 70 centimeters and was printed in a limited edition. Only a few of these posters remain today. There were approximately 1,000 tickets available, at a cost of 20 euro at the box office. Tickets could be bought in the pre-sale for as low as 14,50 euro for fan club members.
A photo impression:
Producer Gary Kurtz en regisseur Irvin Kershner
Producer Gary Kurtz en regisseur Irvin Kershner
Producer Gary Kurtz
Regisseur Irvin Kershner
Stuntcoördinator Peter Diamond
Acteur John Hollis (Lobot)
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