- I think that very much media makes real life more
digestible for other people, and especially Star Wars,
because there are so many planets and places to go.
It makes perfect sense that there
would be all types of identities in a galaxy far, far away.
- Every day-- - When I was really little--
- Empire Strikes Back--
- Everyone has a Star Wars story.
I'm Jordan Hembrough, and I'm meeting Star Wars fans
virtually who have been inspired and changed by the galaxy far,
far away.
Today, I'm talking with Justice of Del Mar California.
Justice's Star Wars journey is one of artistic inspiration,
identity, and community.
This is Justice's Star Wars story.
Justice, thank you so much for doing this.
I really appreciate it.
- Absolutely.
I'm so happy to.
- Why don't you tell me all about your Star Wars story
and how it began for you?
- My Star Wars story began in 2004, seeing "The Phantom
Menace" on the VHS.
And had to stop in the middle in the middle of a pod race,
and I was so upset because I wanted
to know what happened next.
And thankfully, two days later, I got
to go back and finish the film.
And that kind of catapulted me into watching "Attack
of the Clones" on VHS and then "Revenge of the Sith"
in theaters.
And from there, "Clone Wars" came out,
and the rest is kind of history.
- So as a child, you connect to any character, specifically?
- Yes, the first character that I connected with was Padme
Amidala, because she was this well-dressed, well-educated,
and well-spoken young girl.
And I loved the style of the fashion,
and how this powerful female leader could
also be powerfully dressed.
- Now, Viceroy, we will discuss a new treaty.
- Is fashion still very, very important with you in your life
right now?
And did Star Wars impact your fashion sense?
- I really think that it's an important way
of how we get to express ourselves to other people.
And for ourselves, too.
And as a queer gender nonconforming person,
fashion is the way that people see me first
and as a way that I can express myself without having to speak.
So it's really, I think, amazing that the costuming
of the prequel trilogy is just so diverse,
and there's just so much, and so many bright colors
and beautiful clothes coming from the galaxy
that I wanted to have the same experience.
And every day, I kind of dressed to impress.
But a character that really does speak to me, too,
and was kind of I grew up with was Ahsoka Tano.
And seeing her progression over the "Clone Wars" series,
to then come back in "Rebels" was just
such an incredible journey to go along with her,
and have my love for Star Wars grow as people's
love for Ahsoka grew.
And to follow this character's trajectory
from somebody who people didn't want around to one
of the most celebrated characters in the franchise.
- What does Ahsoka's story arc mean to you personally?
- Ahsoka's story arc for me is about not giving up,
and not having to be defined by where you came from.
And just really being focused on the moment,
and being focused on the people that you love.
And letting that take you where it will.
I remember such a pivotal moment for me
was during Ahsoka and Vader's duel
on Malachor, when she tells him that--
- I am no Jedi.
- And she doesn't have to go into what she is now.
She isn't a Jedi.
And we have to take Ahsoka as she is.
And for me, being non-binary is very
much about carving my own path through gender and
through identity in the world.
So I know what I'm not.
And I think what's beautiful about Ahsoka
is that we've seen her grow up and navigate her own path.
And for me, that's what my life is about, too.
- You've got another really cool hobby right now, too.
You do cosplaying, right?
- Yes.
- Tell me about that.
- I've been cosplaying since my sophomore year of high school.
And what was really wonderful to me about cosplay
was that I could dress as any character,
and nobody could tell me that that was wrong.
Because if I was dressed as Barriss Offee
or as Ahsoka and I was wearing a dress,
that was OK, because that's what this character's wore.
And it wasn't kind of breaching, I
guess, like, a social contract.
And even, like, characters such as Revan,
this character who, to the player's choice,
can be any gender.
And I got to embody this character,
which is really cool.
Cosplay for me was this way of expressing myself.
- So has your relationship with Star
Wars sort of evolved, actually, as you've
gotten older, as well?
- I would say so.
As I've pursued the entertainment industry,
as my profession has very much given me
more of an appreciation for Star Wars, and everybody behind it.
I really think as I have evolved and kind of grown up with Star
Wars, I've seen it evolved, too, and bring
out more diversity and more opportunities
for people of diverse backgrounds
to connect with characters.
And that's really been wonderful for me.
For a lot of people, seeing in media
makes it easier for them to understand
and kind of connect with.
And especially Star Wars, because there are so
many species and different planets and places to go,
it makes perfect sense that there
would be all types of identities in a galaxy far, far away.
I think that very much media makes real life more
digestible for other people.
And I think seeing more of that would absolutely
make it easier for people to understand
and celebrate in everyday life.
- So were there any Star Wars stories that actually
inspired you to become a storyteller?
- Yes, the first season in the "Clone Wars" box set
was kind of where I first got my footing of,
like, oh, I can tell stories, because I remember diving
into the featurettes and learning about Dave Loney,
and that the characters were somebody else's work.
And that you can go forward into storytelling as a career.
So in that moment, I knew that I wanted to pursue storytelling.
Eventually, I applied to USC as a screenwriting major
and I got in.
- That's cool!
How does that make you feel?
- I, pre-pandemic, took classes the George Lucas
building every single day.
Getting to learn in that impressive shadow
has been really wonderful.
George Lucas walked the same ground decades ago.
And I, too, can do anything.
Now I've been at UNC for four years as a writing for screen
and television major, but I also remember
being really influenced by the Knights of the Old Republic
games and The Force Unleashed, and really
loving the storytelling that comes
out of long form gameplay.
And that has led me to work in the games industry, as well.
- Justice, if you could actually meet your younger self,
what would you say to yourself?
- I always think of the quote from "The Last Jedi."
Hope is like the sun--
if you only believe in it when you can see it,
then you'll never make it through the night.
And that means so much to me, because there are
a lot of hard moments in life.
But for me, Star Wars is about hope, and that there
will be a brighter tomorrow.
And if I could convey anything to my younger self,
it would be that--
is that there will always be hope.
- Justice, you are a filmmaker, a fashion icon,
and one hell of a storyteller.
I cannot wait to see the next chapter that
you write in your own life.
Thank you so much for doing this.
Really, thank you.
I love this one.
Thank you so much for doing this.
- Thank you, Jordan.
- May the force be with you.