Don Burns did something recently he probably never imagined when he graduated from Batavia High School in 1992 -- dress up as Darth Vader and recite one of Shakespeare's famous monologues in the Richmond Mausoleum.
Burns, now a teacher in Rochester, was both Darth Vader and executive producer of a Star Wars fan film, Tomorrow & Tomorrow.
The production was a project of 501st Legion's Garrison Excelsior, a worldwide not-for-profit costuming group that raises awareness and money for charities while spreading its members' love for Star Wars.
So far, the film has raised $1,200 for Make-A-Wish.
Burns and another Garrison conceived of the film.
"While researching for upcoming lessons, I happened upon a short film about a Stormtrooper reciting Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech," Burns said. "As an English teacher, and Darth Vader, I've mused with Vader as the title character in Macbeth and was disappointed that I was beaten to the punch. My friend, who is a mask-maker by profession, encouraged me to look further into it and together we mapped out a way to get it done."
Half the movie was shot at Rochester's Sunken Garden and half at the mausoleum in Batavia.
The film was directed by Joseph Palluconi. The editor was Mark Lukenbill.
"When all was said and done, it turned out better than I ever had a right to imagine," Burns said.
Here's a behind-the-scenes video about the making of the film.
