7 Questions with. . . Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas

Hi Chris and Chris. You've got a new book coming out with DK--Star Wars Blueprints: Rebel Edition. What's your favorite illustration from the book?
Reiff: My favorite illustrations are probably the Bowcaster views. It's always been a particular favorite prop of mine and I spent a lot of time really studying the details of it  to get it just right. Things like that are one of the most fun parts of doing these blueprints. . . figuring out how to make the screen-used props make sense with the expanded universe details about how they function. For instance, we figure out in our heads what all the knobs do and how someone might reload the gas and ammo in a weapon. A lot of that never makes it into the posters but just having it figured out makes for a richer illustration--especially when we start showing cut-away views of the internals.

Trevas: My favorite is the Y-Wing. I really wanted to bridge the gap between the factory fresh ship we see in The Clone Wars and the well-worn, Rebel modified version from A New Hope. I discussed many of the details with The Clone Wars concept artist Russell Chong and he provided some valuable behind-the-scenes reference so that we could incorporate even minor details from the cartoon. Dave Filoni gave me a little input as well and he really liked my unique classic-style paint scheme for the Y. Chris R. and I were able to share the final art with The Clone Wars art department in person which was a great experience. We could all relate to the little design dilemmas in working with fictional ships.
 
How long did it take to do all the illustrations?
Trevas: We were working on the art over about 6 or 7 months with various stages of approval and a couple other projects during that time. It's a lot of planning and figuring in the beginning that can be a slow process. During that time we also had San Diego Comic Con, Star Wars Fan Days III, and I got married!

Reiff: Just like Chris T. said, although I didn't get married. But I was Chris' best man at his wedding.

How did you become official Star Wars illustrators?
Reiff: I studied illustration in school but my career has been primarily doing toy design and invention. I have my own companies now but I started working for the guys that originally did the Star Wars toys for Kenner back in 1977. Through that I've been professionally involved in Star Wars projects from action figures to prop replicas for the last 15 years. It's only in the past few years that I've been doing true illustration work as well as the toy design. Chris and I have known each other for years, originally meeting through shared Star Wars interests, and when the opportunity came along to join forces on these projects for DK we jumped on the chance and that really kicked off the latest round of Star Wars fun.

Trevas: Way back in 1995, I showed my portfolio to West End Games at a convention in Chicago. They really liked my work and got me started doing illustrations for Star Wars The Roleplaying Game. Shortly after that I hit it off with the gang at the Star Wars Insider and I was doing the artwork for Star Wars Kids magazine. Further Star Wars projects just snowballed from there and I'm still having fun with a variety of new projects.

What's your favorite DK book that's NOT related to Star Wars?
Trevas: I've always been a fan of the Eyewitness Books which are particularly handy for artists' reference. The Arms and Armor book in particular is great for understanding the basics to keep in mind when designing fantasy weaponry. I also love The Lego Book and its companion book Standing Small about the Lego minifigures. A great guide to all the Legos including the ones I had as a kid (some of which I still have). 

Reiff: The Cool Stuff series is really fun with a lot of great info and imagery on the way things work. My favorite individual books are The Lego Book with all the info and photos about the Lego factory but the companion book and Standing Small (the Lego minifigure book), a particular favorite of mine. 

Will you be at Star Wars Celebration this year?
Reiff: Count on it! I'm looking forward to meeting a bunch of new fans and seeing some old familiar faces. Definitely swing by and tell us your stories.  

Trevas: Absolutely! We're looking forward to signing the new blueprints for fans and hopefully we'll be involved with some other Celebration events as well.  

Yoda vs. a velociraptor. Who wins?
Trevas: Size of teeth and claws matter not. Win Yoda would.

Reiff: Depends on the particular species of raptor and their midichlorian count but without more detailed info on the specific venue for the engagement or on the condition of the combatants, I would have to put my money on Yoda.

What's the last book you read?
Trevas: I've been busy on so many projects I haven't had much time to read lately. I've even fallen behind on my comics. I think the last novel I read was The Time Traveler's Wife (which is my wife's favorite book). Like many books, it was better than the movie and I really enjoyed it.

Reiff: Frank Herbert's Dune. Its always been a favorite and gets a good reread every once in a while just because I enjoy it so much. 

You guys have both been to a few Comic Cons. What's the strangest thing you've ever seen?
Reiff: Wow... That's a lot harder question that I would have thought. There are always so many things to see at Comic-Con that its hard to pick an individual as the strangest. Is it the guy dressed in only a yellow speedo with Pikachu ears and a tail? The large man dressed as Slave Leia? The guy passed out on a bench with a roach crawling on his face? The randomness of hanging out at a party where you end up sharing a drink with Ray Park or Bryan Singer? Maybe just the general surrealness of walking down the street and seeing a group of people in medieval armor having sword fights. The thing is, everything about Comic-con is strange AND awesome! San Diego Comic-Con should be on everyone's list of things to do at least once.

Trevas: Author Ryder Wyndham pulling out a young fan's tooth during one of our book signings. Priceless! While we were signing the boy's book he was showing off his wiggly tooth. Ryder offered to take care of it for him and with his father's consent the tooth was out in a flash.

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