Watch out, Hollywood. Cottage Grove is in competition for “Star Wars” viewers.
The city has unveiled its third “Star Wars” video — timed for the worldwide release of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” on Friday.
Sharp-eyed viewers will notice a few differences, however.
The real “Star Wars” movie cost more than $200 million to make, and is packed with Hollywood talent.
The Cottage Grove video has actors who might not be varsity level, said city spokesman Scott Seroka. “We went to the C-squad,” he said.
“Star Wars” fanatic Justin Atkinson directed all three videos. Atkinson, a producer for the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission, said he expects to complete one more in the series, sometime next summer.
Seroka wrote the script and starred as the super-villain Darth Vader.
“I wish I had not worn my tennis shoes,” Seroka said. The not-evil-looking shoes are visible throughout the video.
It begins with Darth Vader teaming up with a storm trooper, played by management assistant Chris Hetland.
They are trying to be helpful, but when they wash a city truck they spray Adam Mosier, manager of the public works vehicles.
“He only did one take of that one,” Seroka said.
The evil pair wanders to the bar at the River Oaks Golf Course. They try to wait on tables, but drop their plates. In that scene, two plates are broken — representing the only costs of the city’s video production.
The finale is the storm trooper driving a Zamboni at the city’s ice rink, to help recreation services manager Molly Pietruszewski.
There are no Zambonis in the real “Star Wars” movie.
At 6-foot-5, Seroka was tall enough to play the legendary bad guy. But he didn’t do Darth Vader’s voice — Atkinson did the voiceovers.
The video publicizes the city’s Jobs Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 30 at the River Oaks Golf Course, 11099 U.S. 61 in Cottage Grove.
The video can be found on Cottage Grove’s Facebook page.