New video of my group.

[Deslock]

One of the nice things about being in the 501st, like the DSA, is the fact that you can make some very nice friends, and have some very, very good times for some very good causes. Here's a ''lil video of my group.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7vx_uzsXB0

Some call us great, others laugh and call us names. But in the end, all we are is some fans trying to help make the world a better place. Some great memories with some wonderful people.

Yes, I'm in this video several times. But Y'all don't know what I look like...Nyah! heh.

Take care, God bless, and get your armor NOW!!!, lol.

"F" you Bob Eubanks!!!!

[shocker101]

Tight Deslock. So where at is most of this.

[thatgirlkim]

Stormtroopers as Pimps... okay now Ive REALLY seen it all....lmao
great video Deslock!

[Muncher]

Thoes are cool pics. I hope you have air conditioning in thoes suits, they oughta get very hot.

[Deslock]

Tight Deslock. So where at is most of this.

Our group, the Southern Outpost covers the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisanna, and Alabama.

Those are cool pics. I hope you have air conditioning in those suits, they oughta get very hot.

Yes, I do have an air conditioning system built in. And yes, they ARE uncomfortable, and will pinch you in places you didn't even know you had.

Over time we've been forced to develop fairly thick skins.

At events and conventions we're met with lots of love and affection for all the good work we do for so many different charities and causes. And the general public as a whole I'd say loves us 99%.

The media is a different story. We've had good stories about us, but most absolutely has to "lower the bar", and calls us a bunch of geeks and nerds. Even when they joke about it, it's just not funny. Like the whole Bob Eubanks thing that blew up right in his face.

It's the double standard that bothers most of us. If you go to a football game half naked painted in the colours of your fave team, you're just a kewl fan. But if you wear a Stormtrooper suit to a "Make A Wish" event, to brighten up the day for a dying child, you're a nerd "who needs to get out of their mother's basement", as said by Bob Eubanks.

Watch the trailer of HOAE, and then dare to tell any of us to our faces that we're just a bunch of "nerds and geeks".

Hopefully HOAE will change alot of perceptions about us.

But, truth be told, My Tie Pilot suit, and my Stormy suit was THE very best money that I've ever spent. If you ever have the chance to see how much happiness and joy we create, you'd never regret it either.

And really, Chicks dig the armor.

Trust me.

[VIARELLA]

deslock that was a hott video...really i wasnt never really in to starwars and stuff but the past few years i been i would love to go to something like that..those costumes must be a good buck...great video

[Reaver]

Definately good shit deslock. This is the first time I get to see one of your videos and not get grossed out and wonder what made you post it. :P

Way to represent the DSA.

[Deslock]

Deslock that was a hot video.
Really.
I was never really in to Star Wars and stuff, but in the past few years I
have been. I would love to go to something like that..those costumes must be a good buck...great video.

Thank you. Yes, they're not cheap, a movie quality Vader can get up to about $5 to $6000.00. But the Stormie and others aren't really anywhere near as expensive as you'd think.

Definately good shit Deslock. This is the first time I get to see one of your videos and not get grossed out and wonder what made you post it.

But you must admit, like me, they're never boring. :P

Here's another great tribute video to us all. Which most of all is special to many other members and myself because of the tribute paid to little 7 year old Katie Johnson, The daughter of our founder who recently passed away.

One of the things her father, our founder, commented on in his blog to us that as she was dying from a very painful brain tumor, she never once, that's right, never once complained about all the horrible pain and discomfort she had to go through due her condition, and all the medical attempts to save her life. This brave 'lil warrior fought the good fight right until the very end. And said that if she lived, she wanted to become a Animal Vet, so no animal would suffer like she did.

They made her an honorary Vet, and allowed her to help the doggies and kitties all day at a local shelter.

So they made a poster in her memory that is shown in this video of a Trooper kneeling with his helmet off, in honor of her name, and bravery until the very end.

Because in the tradition of the Empire, a trooper should remain faceless at all times to impose the will of the Emperor. The highest honor a Stormtrooper can give is an order of "Buckets off", so the person being being honored can see the true faces of those that respect their service and sacrifice.

To this day the order of "buckets off" is shown as the ultimate show of respect in the 501st. So that they may see that there are real people behind the faceless force of the Empire.

We literally spend hundreds, if not thousands on these costumes. We volunteer our time, and a helluva lot of money to do the things we do for charity. We don't do it for personal gain, not celebrity. We do it because it's fun, and sometimes it's the right thing to do. Even if we do cry afterwards.

Honestly, think about it. Get your armor, and join us. It's one helluva ride.

But it's worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8h-jLH3lG0

Des.

Grandmaster Pealoaf Sweetness. 8)

[Deslock]

And I'd like to thank everyone for their kind comments. Thank you. Really.

[Deslock]

Party Southern Outpost style!!!!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YbUVN58FnI

[Zabka]

Some impressive gear being worn out there, Des.

Hey, I was wondering something. In watching all of these vids, it made me notice that most of the participants seem fairly ethnically homogeneous. I know that you have an array of backgrounds professionally within the 501st, but how ethnically diverse is it?

[Deslock]

This should pretty much answer your question Zabka. The new trailer of HOAE2007 is up. And it should be in theaters soon. :

http://www.heartofanempire.com/downloads/HOAE2007Trailer.wmv

The one sweet lil' boy sums up why we do this, even though we're constantly chided and made fun of by the media, some of which you'll see in that trailer.

"One of my dreams has come true. I'm colouring with Darth Vader!!"

There is nothing more saddening and so desperately needed, than what we do for children's hospitals. But My God, it will break your heart.

"F" you, Bob Eubanks.

[Zabka]

That's a great trailer. I am glad that the approach is not quite so mocking as Trekkies was...although that was funny, it was clearly intended to allow the audience to snicker at those fans.

While I know that the organization is international, I was wondering specifically within the US or maybe just in the Southern Outpost. I am wondering if the fandom is more specific to the white male/female demographic or if there is some representation across all ethnicities. More of a sociological question than anything as I would find it fascinating to see how cultural differences within the States draw some people to the 501st and other not.

[Deslock]

I was wondering specifically within the US or maybe just in the Southern Outpost. I am wondering if the fandom is more specific to the white male/female demographic or if there is some representation across all ethnicities. More of a sociological question than anything as I would find it fascinating to see how cultural differences within the States draw some people to the 501st and other not.

There are members of different races in the 501st., in all truth it seems that it seems mostly white people have this bizarre need to dress up in costumes. The Southern Outpost does have black, Asian, and Hispanic members too, but it seems they have more sense than to be caught on film, lol. At least without their helmets off. I rarely if ever allow any pictures of me with my bucket off. Mainly because Lucasfilm doesn't like it.
We're supposed to be the faceless minions of the Empire.

We rarely remove our helmets in public, and we have strong rules in place in regards to swearing, bad behavior, and try to find a place where no one can see us when we take a smoke break. Not a good role model for the kids if the see Vader, the Emperor, or even a lowly Stormie "spark one up".

Technically, due trademark and copyright laws, we could be percieved as an "illegal" group. We exist at George Lucas's discretion. And we know this, and so does he. There is no good publicity in him hitting us all with "cease and desist's". No point in biting the hand that feeds you. But he does allow us to exist. He could shut us down quite handily if he wanted too.

But we are good "unpaid" PR for his dream, and his company. We've been told to behave within his guidelines. And we try to. We really do.
We are the "Uberfans".

He noticed the HUUUGE amount of charity work we do for sooooo many good causes, that he knows that while we may be wearing Armor that he didn't personally profit from, we make him, and his dream come alive for so many people.

So unlike Paramount, that slammed the Trekkies in so many ways, Lucasfilm went the opposite direction and has actually honored us many times.

We've been placed as people in his books, games, movies, and now in the Rose Parade as his personal honor guard carrying all the flags of the world.

A few dorks wearing plastic suits have reached the pinacle of actually becoming "canon" in the Star Wars universe.

Who'da thunk it?

Those children in the hospital visit will remember those moments for the rest of their lives, and so will we.

Thank you Mr. Lucas, for letting us help keep the dream alive!

"F" you, Bob Eubanks! :P

[madmax32]

Wow, you guys F'ing rock! Keep up the good work.