ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, December 9, 2017
East Oregonian
Page 3C
NEW TO THE GALAXY
John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran adjust to stardom in sci-fi ’s biggest franchise
By SANDY COHEN
AP Entertainment Writer
J
ohn Boyega may have a lot
in common with Finn, the
character he plays in “Star
Wars: The Last Jedi,” but a trip
to a London toy store left the
actor fl oored.
Boyega said one of the most
surprising experiences he had
while making the fi lm was
seeing his own larger-than-life
likeness at the Toys “R’’ Us
store he frequented as a kid. The
actor had gone to fi nd a gift for
his newborn nephew when he
came face to face with a giant
cardboard cutout of himself as
Finn.
“There were toys every-
where, and I was just like,
‘Wow,’” Boyega said in a recent
interview. “I’m on the shelf. It’s
strange.”
While he has gotten more
accustomed to his place in the
Star Wars universe after making
his debut as Finn in “The Force
Awakens,” both he and his char-
acter remain awed by the scope
of that world.
A former Stormtrooper who
escapes the First Order to join
the Resistance, Finn is now
emboldened to discover where
he fi ts into the fi ght, Boyega
said.
“It creates a very brave Finn
and he’s eager to do anything to
fi nd out and prove that this is my
position,” said Boyega.
The 25-year-old actor is
poised to do the same in Holly-
wood: His work in Star Wars has
led to other high-profi le roles,
including a part in Kathryn
Bigelow’s “Detroit” and in next
year’s “Pacifi c Rim Uprising.”
“I feel like during the fi lming
of ‘The Last Jedi,’ we were
kind of living parallels to our
characters in a sense,” Boyega
said. “Because Finn is now well
known in the Star Wars universe,
and for me, I’m known within
the industry and our planet and
whatever. Now he has this repu-
tation and it’s hard for him to
keep that up while still fi guring
himself out because he’s been
labeled as a hero.”
Finn’s onscreen heroics in “The
Last Jedi” include an epic battle
with Captain Phasma (Gwendo-
line Christie) that took months of
training and preparation.
Off-screen, Boyega was a
hero to newcomer Kelly Marie
Tran, who plays Rose Tico.
The two met while she was
auditioning for the role, and he
has advocated for her ever since.
“He’s so generous in terms of
being an actor and really kind of
teaching me the ropes because I
was new to this,” Tran said. “I
truly feel like I couldn’t have
had a better partner in this whole
experience.”
As for Boyega, he’s had
some time to get used to the idea
of seeing himself as an action
fi gure. But that was only the
beginning of “The Last Jedi”
branding.
“I recently went to the
grocery store and saw myself
on water,” he said. “That’s the
biggest it gets for me. Every-
body needs water, you know
what I mean?”
elly Marie Tran still
can’t quite believe she’s
in a Star Wars movie.
The 28-year-old was about
to give up on her dreams of
becoming an actress when she
landed a breakthrough role in
“The Last Jedi.”
So after years of toiling and
hoping and working disposable
jobs, Tran is now a movie
star, the kind of person who
holds hands with Laura Dern
at media events and considers
Gwendoline Christie a good
friend.
“I know, right? Let me pinch
myself real quick,” Tran said,
her effervescent excitement
bright and obvious. “I am
just trying to stay present and
really trying to experience
every moment of this. It still
feels very impossible and very
much like it’s all a big dream or
something.”
Tran was plucked from
obscurity to play Rose Tico, a
Resistance mechanic in “The
Last Jedi.” Rose idolizes Resis-
tance fi ghters like pilot Poe
Dameron and former Storm-
trooper Finn, but does her work
behind the scenes.
“She’s never been someone
who has been in the limelight,”
Tran said of her character. “And
then we get to see her get pulled
into the forefront of the action,
and you see how she deals with
it.”
Sounds like art imitating life
for a certain actress.
“Totally, 100 percent,” Tran
said with a beaming grin.
Director Rian Johnson
K
Photos by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
John Boyega (top) and Kelly Marie Tran pose
for photos during the ‘Star Wars: The Last
Jedi’ press junket in Los Angeles.
found her after “a huge,
exhaustive casting search” that
included well-known actresses
and newcomers.
“And Kelly just, I don’t
know, she really jumped out
at me as someone who I was
looking for in the character,”
he said. “I wanted someone
who — thinking back to me as
a kid being a genuine nerd you
could relate to — someone who
didn’t feel like they belong;
someone you wouldn’t neces-
sarily imagine as a big Star
Wars hero. Let’s throw them
in the mix and see the world
through their eyes.”
John Boyega, who plays
Finn, said he could tell during
the audition process that Tran
had something special.
“We would do chemistry
reads and it was so blatant from
the beginning that she was the
right girl for the part,” he said.
Both Boyega and Daisy
Ridley (Rey) were also relative
unknowns when they joined
the Star Wars universe for
2015’s “The Force Awakens,”
and Tran said they’ve been like
spirit guides as she navigates
a new world of international
appearances and near-religious
fandom.
“It is such a strange expe-
rience,” she said. “You know,
it’s not like taking your driver’s
test or breaking up with your
boyfriend, where you can call
whoever you want to be like,
‘Hey, remember when that
happened?’ This is truly like
you have two other people you
could talk to about it.”
WHAT TO DO
Festivals
Christmas Light Show
•Begins Dec. 1; nightly
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson
Road
www.visitsage.com
Free. Light show accompa-
nied by Christmas music (tune
into 106.9 FM on car radio).
Holiday Stroll
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 3-7 p.m.
•Downtown Pendleton
Free. Tree lighting (5 p.m.),
special deals, hot chocolate
stations, guitar raffl e and San-
ta.
North Main Magic Crawl
Contributed photo
Little Watts presents “A
Seussifi ed Christmas Carol”
Sunday at the Power House
Theater in Walla Walla.
Dr. Seuss meets
Charles Dickens
WALLA WALLA — A
whimsical reinvention of
Charles Dickens’ most beloved
Christmas story will be staged in
Walla Walla.
Performed in wacky
rhymed couplets, “A Seussifi ed
Christmas Carol” is Sunday at
2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Power
House Theater, 111 N. Sixth
St., Walla Walla. Reserved seats
are $12 for adults and $8 for
youths. Photo opportunities
with the characters follow each
performance.
Presented by Little Watts,
the show features zoot-fruited
juices and binka bird geese, from
Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo
Hoo. The tale of glorious holiday
cheer is similar to something Dr.
Seuss might have come up with.
For more information or to
reserve tickets, call 509-529-
6500 or visit www.phtww.com.
Arts Portal hosts
fi nal exhibit of
2017 season
MILTON-FREEWATER —
The photographs of Fran Walker
and jewelry art of Geri Honn
are featured in the upcoming
exhibit at Arts Portal Gallery.
The opening reception for
Season of Magic is Saturday,
Dec. 9 from 2-4 p.m. at the
gallery, 508 N. Main St.,
Milton-Freewater. The free
event includes refreshments and
live entertainment. In addition,
the Mask Project by Milton-
Freewater kindergarten students
made with the Carnegie Picture
Lab is on display.
After the close of the 2017
season, the gallery is planning
to re-open at a new location in
April 2018.
The gallery’s regular hours
are Saturday and Sundays
from noon to 5 p.m. There is
no admission charge. For more
information, call 541-938-5516
or visit www.facebook.com/
artsportalgallery.
•Thursday, Dec. 14; 5-8
p.m.
•North Main Street, Mil-
ton-Freewater
Free. Features fun, food,
wine/beer, vendors, lights, hol-
iday magic and Santa.
Skating with Santa
•Saturday, Dec. 16; 11
a.m.-2 p.m.
•Roy Raley Ice Rink, 1205
S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton
www.pendletonparksan-
drec.com
Free, but kids 10 and un-
der must be accompanied by
an adult. Pictures with Santa,
on-ice activities, bonfi re and
warm drinks.
Hermiston Farmers
Christmas Market
•Saturday, Dec. 16; 2-6
p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 17; 8 a.m.-
4 p.m.
•Hermiston
Conference
Center, 415 S. Highway 395
www.facebook.com
Free. Includes festivities,
crafts, food.
Art, Museums &
Authors
“C-Lager: Stalag Luft IV
and the 86-Day Hunger
March”
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 11 a.m.
•Pendleton Public Library,
502 S.W. Dorion Ave.
www.pendletonlibrary.wee-
bly.com
Free. Vietnam veteran and
clinical therapist David Dorf-
meier shares a multi-media
presentation about his book
that recounts his father’s
World War II military service.
“A Brush with Life”
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 4-8 p.m.
•370 W. Moore Ave., Herm-
iston
Free. Features new oil
paintings by landscape artist
Jim Simpson. The 22 framed
works, ranging from 8-by-10
to 38-by-30, are also for sale
during the exhibit and recep-
tion.
“Season of Magic”
•Saturday & Sundays,
noon-5 p.m.
•Arts Portal Gallery, 508 N.
Main St., Milton-Freewater
www.facebook.com
Free. Holiday-themed art
exhibit. Runs through Dec. 17.
The Art of the Gift
•Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-
4 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.
•Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Gallery features cre-
ative gifts from craftspeople
from across the nation. Runs
through Dec. 30.
Great Gifts Show
•Tuesday-Sundays,
10
a.m.-6 p.m.
•Peterson’s Gallery and
Chocolatier, 1925 Main St.,
Baker City
www.petersonsgallery.net
Free. Features hand-se-
lected recommendations for
Great Pacifi c wraps up Christmas pageant
PENDLETON — With a promise to
ramp up (or amp up) the holiday spirit,
a variety of regional musicians will take
the stage during the Great Pacifi c Xmas
Pageant.
The annual holiday musical
extravaganza, hosted by James Dean
Kindle & the Eastern Oregon Playboys,
is Sunday, Dec. 17 from 3-7 p.m. at Great
Pacifi c Wine & Coffee Co., 403 S. Main
St., Pendleton. The all-ages event won’t
compete with your holiday budget, as
there is no cover charge.
The afternoon and evening will be
fi lled with brief musical performances
by local musicians. People are invited
to come down and hear renditions of
Christmas tunes, both popular and
obscure.
In addition to Kindle and the Playboys,
this year’s guest performers include
Murray Dunlap, Drew Langton & Jayati
Ramakrishnan, Misty Mouth, REV, Joe
Pitt, The Noodlers and Lincoln Barr.
For more information, contact Kindle
at jamesdeankindle@gmail.com or the
Great Pacifi c at 541-276-1350.
Christmas gifts from new
productions by local favorite
artists. Items include orna-
ments, vases, photography
and unique pieces that can be
used as stocking stuffers.
“Art of Survival -
Enduring the Turmoil
of Tule Lake”
•Monday-Saturdays,
10
a.m.-5 p.m.,
•Tamástslikt Cultural Insti-
tute, near Wildhorse Resort &
Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
$10/adults, $9/senior cit-
izens, $6/youths, free/5 and
under or $25/family of four.
Exhibit probes the complexi-
ty of the Japanese-American
confi nement site in Newell,
California, during World War II.
Runs through Jan. 7.
Music
Light of the World
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 7:30-
9:30 p.m.
•Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 850 S.W.
11th St.
www.facebook.com
Free. Features the Hermis-
ton Community Choir singing
holiday favorites, Dallin Puzey
and other local talent. Refresh-
ments served.
Cory Wilds Band
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 8 p.m.
No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
Holiday Music Festival
•Sunday, Dec. 10; 3:15
p.m.
•Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsympho-
ny.org
$20/adults, $15/students,
seniors, $45/family. Features
the Oregon East Symphony
and Chorale, Our Songs Are
Alive, the Pendleton Men’s
Chorus and the Eastern Ore-
gon Community Big Band.
Christopher Duffley
•Sunday, Dec. 10, 6:30
p.m.
•Heppner High School
•Wednesday, Dec. 13, 6:30
tini Lounge
•Fridays; 9 p.m.-midnight
•Virgil’s at Cimmiyotti’s,
137 S. Main St., Pendleton
No cover. Features marti-
nis, mixology and music.
Holiday Barrel Tasting
•Saturday, Dec. 9; noon-5
p.m.
•Echo Ridge Cellars, 551
N. Thielsen St. & Sno Road
Winery, 111 W. Main St.
$5/tasting fee at both ven-
ues. Both wineries offer holi-
day wine deals and samples
of future releases straight out
of the barrel. Also, a gift basket
workshop is at Echo Ridge.
Theater, stage,
film & lectures
“Despicable Me 3”
Photo contributed by Michelle Hackney
Dressed in festive attire, Murray Dun-
lap heads to the 2016 “Great Pacifi c
Xmas Pageant.” This year’s holiday ex-
travaganza is Dec. 17 at Great Pacifi c
Wine & Coffee Co., Pendleton.
p.m.
•Condon High School
www.facebook.com/com-
munitycounselingsolutions.org
Free. Autistic 16-year-old
New Hampshire youth over-
comes the odds to present
message of inspiration through
presentation and song.
Eryn Bent
•Thursday, Dec. 14; 7-9
p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emi-
grant Ave., Pendleton
No cover during Live Music
Thursday.
Christmas with John
Wambeke & students
•Friday, Dec. 15; 6:30-9:30
p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo
No cover. All ages wel-
come. Share the holiday sea-
son with an evening of Christ-
mas music and budding stars.
The Spirit of the Season
•Friday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m.;
Saturday, Dec. 16, 4 p.m.
•Echo Community Center,
20 Bonanza St.
•Sunday, Dec. 17, 4 p.m.
•Connell High School, 1100
W. Clark St., Connell, WA
www.inlandnorthwestmu-
sicians.com
Free, donations accepted.
Holiday concert of the Inland
Northwest Musicians (due to
limited seating, reservations
are required for the Echo
concerts by calling 541-289-
4696).
Debra Arlyn &
the Goodness
•Friday, Dec.15; Saturday,
Dec.16; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission.
Great Pacific
Christmas Extravaganza
•Sunday, Dec. 17; 3-7 p.m.
•Great Pacifi c Wine &
Coffee Co., 403 S. Main St.,
Pendleton
No cover. All ages. Get
ready to amp up your holiday
spirit with James Dean Kindle
& the Eastern Oregon Play-
boys, Lincoln Barr and a whole
host of other local musicians.
Holiday cheer starts at noon
and continues into the after-
noon/evening.
Nuketown
•Friday, Dec. 22; Saturday,
Dec. 23; 8 p.m. No cover
•Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
I-84 Exit 216, Mission
Night life
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 6:45
p.m. No cover
•Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton
No cover. 21 and older.
Food specials, $500 hot seat,
play Fantasy Rodeo to win
prizes.
Karaoke w/DJ David
Bar,
DJ & Trivia
•Saturdays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Mac’s Trivia Night
•Tuesdays; 7 p.m. No cover
•Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton
21 and older. Eat. Drink.
Think. Teams of 2-8 compete
in trivia contest with other
teams. Live host and prizes,
including $50 gift card for win-
ning team.
Christmas Trivia
•Wednesday, Dec. 20; 8
p.m.
•40 Taps, 337 S.W. Emi-
grant Ave., Pendleton
No cover. Includes ugly
sweater contest and prizes.
Wine tasting
•Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
•Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Karaoke w/DJ David
•Fridays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports
1501 Sixth St., Umatilla
Swim Team
Talent Show auditions
•Tuesday, Dec. 12; 6:30-8
p.m.
•Hermiston High School
commons, 600 S. First St.
Free. All ages and talents
welcome. The show, which
includes prizes, is Saturday,
Jan. 6 (admission $10). Raises
money for transportation costs
for Hermiston High School
swim team. (Lynne Hamblin at
541-571-5691 or lynne.ham-
blin@hermiston.k12.or.us).
“Elf”
NFR Watch Party
•Saturdays; 8 p.m.
•Riverside Sports
1501 Sixth St., Umatilla
•Saturday, Dec. 9; 2:15
p.m.
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson
Road, Boardman
www.visitsage.com
$3/includes popcorn. A
meet-and-greet with a Despi-
cable Me minion is 45 minutes
prior to both screenings (no
charge with movie admission).
Non-perishable food donations
accepted.
Bar,
DJ and dancing
•Fridays, 8 p.m.
•The Pheasant, 149 E.
Main St., Hermiston
Karaoke
•Fridays; 9 p.m.
•Midway Tavern, 1750 N.
First St., Hermiston
Cimmi’s Late Night Mar-
•Friday, Dec. 22; 7:15 p.m.
•SAGE Center, 101 Olson
Road, Boardman
www.visitsage.com
$3/includes popcorn. Peo-
ple are encouraged to wear
their pajamas. Fundraiser for
Riverside High School Oper-
ation Graduation. Additional
donations accepted.
“As the Ball Drops on
Times Square”
•Sunday, Dec. 31; 5:30
p.m.
•Maxwell Siding Event
Center, 145 N. First Place,
Hermiston
$45. Murder mystery dinner
theater presentation features
prime rib or lemon chicken
dinner. Also, party favors and
toasting in the New Year with
sparkling cider. Formal wear
encouraged, but not required.
For tickets, call 541-571-7293
or 541-567-8774.
Hot tickets
•Dirty Voltage. (AC-DC
tribute band) Dec. 31, Pheas-
ant Bar & Grill. Tickets ($20) via
https://thepheasant.ticketleap.
com
•Dancing with the Hermis-
ton Stars. Jan. 13, Hermiston
High School. Tickets ($10-$20)
via www.desertartscouncil.com
•Chicks with Hits (featur-
ing Pam Tillis, Terri Clark and
Suzy Bogguss), Jan 26 at Wild-
horse Resort & Casino. Tickets
for the 21-and-older shows
($49-$79) available via the
Wildhorse Gift Shop or www.
wildhorseresort.com
———
Want to get your event list-
ed in our calendar? Send in-
formation to community@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.