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Designing a Death Star Theater
Three separate rooms, one starfield, and a life-sized Han Solo are just a few of the things that help two super "Star Wars" fans get their geek on in this theater.
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This Grand Imperial theater features three seating levels, a stage screen, and a fiber-optic starfield.
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September 18, 2007 | by Rachel Cericola

The main space in the theater is approximately 22 feet from the back wall to the screen. Features inside include three levels of seats, a stage for the screen, and Wertz’s favorite feature, a fiber-optic starfield. (“It’s kind of calming,” he says.) However, for most spectators, that might pale in comparison to the room’s special effects, which includes the Han Solo, a life-size C-3PO and Boba Fett.

Even though the project was completed years ago, Wertz and Stevens are still very in touch with their inner-geek as owners of Paizo Publishing LLC, which publishes and sells over 20,000 game products.

Their interest doesn’t end with their day jobs, or even what’s in their home theater. The couple also has a museum in the house that’s two stories high and about 3,000 square feet of all “Star Wars” memorabilia. “The most recognizable items would be a Millennium Falcon model used in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and a lightsaber used by Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi in ‘Episode I’,” Wertz says.

However, the theater is the real showpiece. “That room looks really cool, but what’s amazing about it is that it sounds really good,” Ward says. “A lot of these concept rooms… they just don’t sound very good.”

Wertz and Stevens don’t have to worry about the quality. And they should know, since they use this theater every day. It’s a good thing too; we wouldn’t want to have to destroy another Death Star. 



Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer
Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.


Equipment list

EQUIPMENT LIST

Design
Doug Chiang

Design & Fabrication
Dillon Works
Mukilteo, Wash.
www.dillonworks.com

System Design & Installation
Definitive Audio
Bellevue, Wash.
www.definitive.com



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Comments (14) Most recent displayed first.
Posted by Pete  on  12/02/09  at  03:45 PM

Greg, I strongly disagree.  I would happily watch any movie in that theater.  And you dont have to be wealthy to make something similar.  you can make your own star fields by making your own panels.  you can do this stuff inexpensively, but it takes lots of time and work and research.  materials?  home depot man!  plywood, plastic sheets, etc…..  the key is, incorporate the money into your home loan when you purchase a home, plan it out.  use your tax return.  have a budget of 2k(this tally includes a 999 projector.  and you can do it if you cant do the loan thing, and you already have a house….2k is not hard to come by if you are employed.

Posted by Greg Francis  on  07/28/09  at  12:13 PM

Bear with me for this awkward sentence. It is kind of depressing for me to see people that obsessed with something that is fun, yes, but seriously NOT that great have so much money that they have a bottomless budget to create a movie set to watch movies on. If only I had that kind of money to spend I would make a general purpose party room instead of an homage to a movie franchise. I would feel like an idiot watching anything besides one of the Star Wars films in that theater.

Posted by 39 Cent Stamp  on  06/27/09  at  12:59 AM

Awesome theater! If you think your only allowed to watch a Starwars movie in this theater you maybe should hit google up for some therapy contact info in your area.

Nothing worse than a negative review based on cost. We all have our opinions about whats OK to spend money on. Some thing $10 drinks at the bar are OK while i think its ridiculous. I can get a 40 oz for 99 cents.

Posted by Tamara  on  11/16/08  at  03:59 PM

Wow! Awesome! I am designing a HT room with the guys from SmarterHomeTheater, and I will definitely be tweaking the plan now! This room is amazing!

Posted by Bill  on  07/23/08  at  04:09 PM

Dont think I’d care to spend that much $ for a room I could only focus watching Star Wars in. Common how would u be able to watch any other movie in that room? a bit Cheesy.


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