Star Tours Redo?

[Master Yoda]

fewer reshoots? when they film something, it's also shot on a video system so they can literally jump from the scene, and the director can show the actors seconds later.....you can even see this example in a lot of "making of" documentaries.

if we are comparing time it takes, when lucas shoots the film in digital he films it with a Digital HD Camera with tons of blue/green screens, and then spends over a year addding stuff. The principle shooting for Episode III was DONE in September 2003....

Um....the film gets to the theatre less than 24 hours before it goes to the public, sometimes even less. That gives us time to build it up (approx. one hour per print), and then screen it (and fix or order a new print if nessesary). When we do advanced screenings, the print gets there less than 2 hours before the screening....just enough time to build it up....did I mention that Security personel are watching this whole process for advanced screenings. Films arrive this late to stop pirating. The only time I've had a print arrive as much as 3 days early was "The Passion of the Christ" Lucas is VERY STRICT about his prints, they will arrive locked, with a code name (not star wars III) printed on the can.

if, by chance, you were talking about the printing process vs. digital copying than that's a different animal. the printing takes some time, but movies are done WAY before they come out in theatres, so that doesn't matter one bit.

The problem with digital (other than the contrast problems, color problems etc.) is that it's run off a computer. They lock up quite often, and they are not reliable (see Test Track). And as for the print degrading over time, they have spare prints, but the guys @ disney modify the projectors to be very gentle on the film. The only time I've seen a poor presentation was at the end of a Hall of Presidents Life cycle. They have replaced the print since (or maybe even to digital).

If you want to see how good a print can look, go to the Terminator atraction or It's Tough to be a Bug.

edit: and for those who think Lucas is done, he plans on making all 6 films 3D for an IMAX presentation in 2007 :-(

My mistake. I was referring to the printing process not the building up time. From what was reported Lucas had nearly a month of extra time to tweak the final cut of the digital version of Episode 2. Now with most directors this wouldn’t make a difference but we all know Lucas and he will keep tweaking even after the movie is finished. In the making of Episode 3 webdocs on Hyperspace Rick McCollum (sp?) spoke several times of how the almost instant nature of the digital cameras saved tons of reshoots. He described the process of shooting with film and all the time it takes to develop a print and then view it took nearly a day where as with the digital system they simply replayed it. The principal photography was done in 60 days on Episode 2 with about a week of reshoots after. The numbers I remember on Episode 1 were quite higher than that. And yes there are problems with the current digital process but it is still in its infancy. I have no doubt that we will see more films move into the digital arena as the technology improves and the cost comes down. However we both know artists never let go of traditional styles very easily. There are still people out there that prefer vinyl over CD so film will still be here for a while.

 

[fiftiesdean]

I don't doubt that Lucas keeps messing with stuff, if you read into Star Wars history...when Star Wars IV came out, many people claimed that when they saw the premiere, and then he put into wide release, it was changed.....he denies it to this day...but I tend to agree with the masses of people that claim they saw a certain scene. Out Film School up here is switching to Digital, theatres are, as well as productions companies everyday. People are telling me that a projectionist is a dead-end job now....what they don't realize is there is a lot more involved in running Digital, so I'm safe for a while

a lot of directors are pullin for this DLP system, Tarantino "guest directed" a part of 'Sin City' using HD Digital Cameras....and he is a Sworn Film Guy....when asked in an interview it seemed like he is changing....

I just like film too much and I've yet to see a DLP presentation that matches film on a large screen.

 

[Master Yoda]

The one confirmed change to ANH was the addition of Episode IV to the opening crawl. I believe this happened on its second theatrical release roughly 1 year after its original release. And just to add I’m one of the few diehard Star Wars fans that likes the modifications that have been made to the original trilogy.

 

[AEfx]

The one confirmed change to ANH was the addition of Episode IV to the opening crawl. I believe this happened on its second theatrical release roughly 1 year after its original release. And just to add I’m one of the few diehard Star Wars fans that likes the modifications that have been made to the original trilogy.

Hehe then you aren't a die hard fan.

Just teasing you!

Personally, I feel like I'm watching a cartoon layered on top of my favorite movie, but that's just me. I like practical effects - you know, when Leia, Luke, and Han were running through corridors on the Death Star, or wherever, it was REAL...those sets actually existed which lends a great deal of realism as opposed to the "you know it's a green screen" look that he is going for now.

Anyway, Lucas still lies about the ANH crawl - Lucasfilm swears it's always been there.

As to Star Tours, so many great ideas...but now it seems Lucas is going to redo the six films...yet AGAIN...so it's doubtful ST is on his radar.

On second thought, maybe on his visit a few weeks ago he saw how dated it all was - I'm just afraid he's going to take them current ride film, add a bunch of cartoons (no matter how "good" CGI is, I can *always* tell, especially when it's put on top of existing footage decades old) and put Jar Jar in the drivers seat.

...shiver...

Maybe we'd be better if they just left it alone. We'll be starting a "Stitch's Great Mistake"-style thread recalling the current ride with nostalgia.

AEfx

 

[Master Yoda]

Hehe then you aren't a die hard fan.

Die hard fan? Not me

Hey you kids get away from my framed “Revenge of the Jedi” poster and put my light sabers down! :lol:

 

[AndyMagic]

I don't doubt that Lucas keeps messing with stuff, if you read into Star Wars history...when Star Wars IV came out, many people claimed that when they saw the premiere, and then he put into wide release, it was changed.....he denies it to this day...but I tend to agree with the masses of people that claim they saw a certain scene. Out Film School up here is switching to Digital, theatres are, as well as productions companies everyday. People are telling me that a projectionist is a dead-end job now....what they don't realize is there is a lot more involved in running Digital, so I'm safe for a while

a lot of directors are pullin for this DLP system, Tarantino "guest directed" a part of 'Sin City' using HD Digital Cameras....and he is a Sworn Film Guy....when asked in an interview it seemed like he is changing....

I just like film too much and I've yet to see a DLP presentation that matches film on a large screen.

I'm a film major so I live for this stuff. I'd say HD cameras are getting pretty darn close and their advantages far outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to CERTAIN movies. Sin City looked stunning (as did Sky Captain) but I couldn't imagine a classic hollywood movie like say, "Cold Mountain" being shot on video just yet. I've taken film classes and I've also taken video classes and I think you are downplaying what a pain in the butt film really is. Read some interviews with director Robert Rodriguez and he pretty much spells out why video is so much better when it comes to his kind of movies. You completely ignored the fact that with film, the cinematographer and gaffers can spend HOURS lighting a scene. Video is much easier to light for because light meters aren't needed and what is shown on the screen is exactly what is being shot. In film, what you see through the viewfinder is never really accurate. Also, check out Robert's Once Upon a Time in Mexico. That movie was also shot using DV but I'd be hard pressed to find someone that didn't think it looked amazing and remarkably close to film. I'd say within 20 years, about 50 percent of films will be shot on video. Just my prediction.

 

[fiftiesdean]

well, Rodriquez is shooting a lot movies that need CGI and it's a LOT easier when they shoot on Video. This is a huge can of worms, and I don't argue that video isn't recorded at the same "resolution", but they can't come close to projecting it the way film looks.

and speaking of which, Soarin' uses the IMAX HD Film system....15perf/70mm running at 48 fps. Digital has some catching up to do...