| OCR Text |
Show walt Lake Tribune WORLD inday, August 22, 2003 The farce is with Canadian kid after a video ofhim pretending to fight with a “Star Wars”light saber was uploaded on the Web By MARTHAIRVINI The The Associated Press Ghyslain Raza, of Quebec, Canada, is seen goofing around and doing a “Star Wars” style mock battle using a golf ball retriever light saber in frame grabs from a video recorded at his school in November. Classmates found the video and released it onto the Internet. Millions of people have since downloadedtheclip ~ andit's unwantedattention, as far as Ghyslain is concerned. But fans say they enjoy the video and think Ghyslain should enjoy his new-found fame. “I definitely want to respect the kid's privacy,” said Joshua Griffin, editor of TheForce.net, a ‘Star Wars’ Web site. “But . . . It’s so funny. He's the ‘Star Wars Kid’ in all of us.”’ Associated Press It was a moment of unadul terated goofiness, the kind of thing anyone might do with no one watching: A teen from Quebec videotaped himself as he pretended to wielda light saber “Star Wars” style But that private moment went public, very public, when classmates at his high school found the tape in a cabinet and uploaded it onto an Internet filesharing site this past spring. NowGhyslain Raza is known far and wide as the “Star Wars Kid,” with a fan base that only seems to be growing even though he doesn’t want the attention The video shows the slightly portly teen awkwardly twirling day with Ghyslain’s image on a multitude of sites. Elizabeth Murphy, a production manager for a Web design companyin NewYork, says she finds herselfvisiting one of the sites often. “Contraryto popularbelief, I think it is not the Jedi kid’s awkwardness that keeps him in people’s hearts but his undeniable enthusiasm for what he is doing,” Murphysays. “While I feel badfor him becausehe hates his newfound popularity, I re- visit the site anytime I am feeling down. It just cracks me up. I love this kid!” Expertssayit’s no wonderthe video has only increased in popularity. “Tt resonates because weall knowwhat it is like to have moments like that,” says Patricia Leavy, a sociology professor at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., whospecializes in popular culture. Ghyslain’s lawyer, Francois Vigeant, declined to comment, citing an upcoming court hearing. He said the teen and his parents, who live in TroisRivieres, Quebec, were also declining interviews. SALE 17.99 LEVI’S® RED TAB*® JEANS FOR GUYS8-20 569” Loose Straight jeans aE a golf ball retriever like “Star Wars” bad guy Darth Maul, and has been downloaded hundreds of thousandsoftimes. Web sites have been dedicated to the youth. Supporters have raised money for him. Others havestarted a petition to get himinto the next “Star Wars” movie, which Lu casfilm Ltd. is currentlyfilming in Australia. Manyteens who post their images on the Web would probablybethrilled to get this kind of attention. But Ghyslain, who made the video while doing a school project when he was 15, has said he didn’t intendforit to be seen by his classmates, let alonepeople across the world. “T want mylife back,” he said in an e-mail interview with the National Post newspaper, a Canadian daily. Claiming that their son has been humiliated, his parents are suing the parents of the teens who put the video on the Web. Some say the case may become a step towardsetting privacy standards ontheInternet, which has beendifficult terrain to police. But in the meantime, Websurfers are having afield = a ee Nh Fans galore: His parents say he was humiliated 550” Relaxed Fit jeans x, Orig. $30. PRICES THAT CAN'T aa 30% OFF PRICES PLAYWEAR SETS FOR BOYS 4-7 & GIRLS 4-6X SALE 21.99 Orig. $32 Toddlersizes, orig, $29, SALE 24.99 SALE 19.99 GIRLS 7-16 FASHION DENIM Infant sizes, orig. $22, SALE 14.99 25% OFF SOUTHPOLE FOR Orig. $34. GUYS 8-20 Screen tees, ONLY 16.99 SALE 14.99-48.99 SALE Orig. $20-$66. Jeans, shorts, screen tees, wovens,knits. 21 .99 GIRLS 4-6X FASHION DENIM ONLY 3.49-7.99 Orig. $32. Gasoline & R evolt. KIDS’ SOCKS & UNDERWEARBASICS Novelty tees b Knitworks Multiples or singles ae Sa ETA aaa a # Great Escape, orig. $19 SALE 12.99 DENIM SKIRTS Orig. $32. Me Jeans & evolt. | ages } | | Today Downtown Portland and Downtown Salt Lake SAM-9PM Origial prices are offering prices only and may or may not have resulted in sales. Advertised merchandise may be available at these or similar sale pricesint } sales events this season Original prices are used for merchandise with permanent price reductions. Prices shown as “only” will remain ineffect after this nt Extra savings %applied c reduc CHARGE IT WITH MEIER & FRANK WE ALSO WELCOME VISA J prices. Interim mearkdowns may have been taken, Selections vary. MEIER & FRANK always something exciting SHOP ONLINE AT MEIERANDFRANKgifts.com OR BY PHONE 1-800-633-1224 |
