Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Star Wars: Episode 2

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Posted by Paul Rich (Member # 243) on 04-04-2002, 08:56 PM:

So, what kind of hell is everyone going to have to go through for Episode 2? Anyone have anything solid on midnight shows?

-Paul

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 04-05-2002, 06:39 PM:

Midnight shows on 5/16? That should be ruled out given the current international situation. A huge crowd outside a theater would be a nice, easy target for a suicide bomber.

Posted by Paul Rich (Member # 243) on 04-05-2002, 07:10 PM:

Oh please, I really doubt the terrorists would go out of their way to target Star Wars fans. Hehe. I think it would be sad if there weren't midnight shows because of a possible threat of terrorism.

-Paul

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 04-06-2002, 12:15 AM:

I wouldn't discount the terrorist idea there. There are many unaccounted terrorist cells in the United States, and they like to his large public gatherings. Remember they hate anything jewish, and Mr. Lucas does happen to be just that. Just think of the publicity that would be garnered for that.

I would still have them, but tight security.

Dave

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 04-06-2002, 09:54 AM:

I still say no -- due to the current international situation and the excessive hype surrounding Episode 1.

When Episode 1 opened Big Media ran breathless stories about "Sold-Out Crowds Everywhere!" It took Variety to tell the truth: On opening day Episode 1 played to empty seats in suburban theaters and empty theaters in rural areas. You're gonna see the same thing for Episode 2.

Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 04-06-2002, 10:53 AM:

Is Austin Powers going to open W I D E against it? Didn't they do that last time and steal all the business? I was bored silly when Ep-1 made it to the drive-in (despite all threats - only 2 weeks off in glorious FM mono!).

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 04-06-2002, 01:30 PM:

Austin Powers 3 opens 7/26.

FWIW there will be product jams on 5/3, 5/10 and 5/24. Not to mention 1 other movie opening the day after Episode 2.

Advice to Dave B: Peep Upcoming Movies and Film Releases to stay current on release dates.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 04-07-2002, 12:50 PM:

How can a movie be opening the *day* after Ep. 2? Would't that make it on a Saturday?

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 04-07-2002, 01:56 PM:

You can check with 20th Century Fox - but I believe there is nationwide midnight shows the night before. I have also heard of a few fund-raiser screenings for the week before. Kinda like Lord of the Rings - $250 a seat. Don't know the location of those screenings.I do not think the crowds will be as big as Episode I.

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"Running through life at 24 frames per second"

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-07-2002, 02:17 PM:

How can a movie be opening the *day* after Ep. 2? Would't that make it on a Saturday?

opens on May 16th that is a Thursday....we know we are getting the movie but do not know how many prints or if it is having midnight shows on Wednesday night....

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-07-2002, 06:00 PM:

Dave,

Not that it matters very much, but according to Lucas' bio by Dale Pollock, George Lucas was born into a Methodist household. Still, that's infidel enough for Al-Qaeda.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 04-07-2002, 10:43 PM:

Methodist? Wow. I always thought he was jewish. Well he acts jewish anyway.

I dont mean that in a bad way, I am sure I have some jewish in me somewhere.

I myself was born into a converted mormon household, one half from roman catholic and the other from southern baptist. I myself am Agnostic so really it makes no sense to me how anyone can ever spend anytime at all going to church.

Unless your church happens to be a two mile oval and the preacher is Dale Earnhardt JR.

Dave

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 04-08-2002, 08:31 AM:

We have lots of NASCAR-ites in my neck of the woods, and it IS a religion

According to that same bio, it seems that Lucas has little use for organized religion himself (unless it's "The Force," or more accurately, $$$).

At the risk of getting too OT, it would seem that organized religion has done little of late to make this world a better place, anyway. People would be better off respecting each others' common humanity rather than playing "My God can beat up your god" or using their organization to protect child-molestors. Okay, I'm done now <Hillary getting off her soapbox>

Back to Episode 2; I'm interested in seeing it on film (little choice as we're lucky to have at least traditional cinemas around here, they keep closing down) to gauge the quality compared to film-originated product. One of the plusses that Lucas mentioned was that he could take the best take from one actor and combine it with the best take from another actor. To my thinking, that would kill any spark of interplay between performers. But then again, is that what we're looking for in such films?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-08-2002, 09:30 AM:

Perhaps you're confusing Georgy-poo with Steven Spielberg, who is Jewish.

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 04-08-2002, 01:31 PM:

Looks like Ewan McGregor has some unflattering comments about Ep 1:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020408/film_nm/arts_britain_starwars_dc_1&cid=600

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 04-08-2002, 05:00 PM:

I think you are right Joe. All this brain damage from sniffing Film-Guard is gettin to me.

Dave

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 04-09-2002, 04:56 PM:

I am hoping that I can run midnight shows.

My theatre already has two requests to attend the first showings on the DLP. One group wants to camp out two weeks ahead of time and the other just wants to reserve seats.

They want to see it in DLP because that is the way George intended it.

Thought you'z guys might find that funny.

I am concerned about all the product coming out after EP2, especially if George gets his way about house placement and time commitment.

Paul.

Posted by Michael Gonzalez (Member # 593) on 04-11-2002, 06:06 PM:

So has there been any news about any special restrictions or demands this time around? Are Drive Ins getting first runs or the usual two weeks no passes? I think that we are going to start selling advance tickets in two weeks. Anybody else using a similar time table?

Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 04-12-2002, 12:05 AM:

For normal shows we tend to sell tickets about one week in advance. For Harry Potter and LotR we started almost a month in advance, so one would assume that we will start selling tix for AOTC pretty soon, although we don't know how many prints we are getting yet, hopefully in the next couple weeks.

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-12-2002, 07:37 PM:

Here, advance tickets for opening run may, 16th - one minute past midnight to be sold next thursday, april 18th from 1300 hrs.
Just a little bit excited...

Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-12-2002, 07:40 PM:

p.s.: we're running EP2 in 35mm, because that's the way it's ment to be in a place called a cinema (70mm being no option, that is...)

Posted by Paul Konen (Member # 41) on 04-19-2002, 10:02 AM:

Our own Ted Costas was interviewed for "Star Wars Homecoming Beacon"

Here is the article:

"It took hundreds of talented people and several years to make Star Wars:
Episode II Attack of the Clones, but as the film's opening day nears, a small
band of specialists takes over, charged with ensuring that the film's audience
sees and hears the movie exactly the way as George Lucas intended. That
group consists of 25 people within the THX Theatre Alignment Program (TAP),
which has provided its quality assurance services on over 1,000 films. But this
history-making project is far from routine -- for the first time every theatre
showing the 35mm film version of the movie will get a first generation print -- a
print with a level of quality that is typically delivered on just a handful of "show"
prints.

The mass production of such high quality prints, which TAP is charged with
checking, is one benefit that comes with the decision to shoot the movie
digitally, because transferring digital footage to film involves fewer duplication
steps than the traditional process. "Image quality suffers slightly with each
generation in the film duplication process," explained Ted Costas, Sales and
Operations Manager for TAP and the Digital Mastering Program (DMP).
"Traditionally, there is one original negative, and from the original negative an
interpositive is made, and from that, multiple internegatives are created. These
are used to produce the prints that are distributed to theatres. But starting with a
digital file -- and it’s a pristine digital source master, certified by THX -- we can
produce multiple original negatives, and then go straight to the final prints. This
way, we're releasing first generation prints to all screens. That's never been done
before."

To check prints, TAP has personnel at labs in Southern California, Toronto,
London, Rome, Mexico City and Sydney, Australia. For the two weeks leading
up to the film's debut, technicians will be checking prints around the clock.
What's more, TAP personnel will accompany every print on its trip from the lab
to the various screening facilities to ensure its safe arrival.

While that effort is underway, other TAP personnel will be aligning theatres --
setting light levels and making sound system adjustments. TAP will also send
each theatre an Episode II information package containing a director’s letter and
service instructions to ensure that each theatre has the information needed for
optimal playback. There will also be the 1-800-PHONE-THX End Credit Service
that gives moviegoers the opportunity to contact THX about any presentation
problems.

Keep checking starwars.com in the coming weeks for more release information."

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 04-19-2002, 11:40 AM:

Too bad TAP can't monitor every booth it's running in to prevent all those scratches that will happen on Day 1.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-19-2002, 04:54 PM:

Scratches? The first day! What??? Oh wait, you're right.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-20-2002, 02:14 AM:

in some cases, sad to say, the scratching will occure as they are building the film up.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 04-20-2002, 02:49 AM:

When that film comes to Stanwood, I just might go down there on my own time and mount that print myself to make sure it is done right!

Posted by James R. Hammonds, Jr (Member # 673) on 04-20-2002, 04:27 AM:

Why bother?
Just because its STAR WARS doesnt mean a thing.
People should think of how they would treat this film and other "important" or big bucks films and treat ALL films the same way.
Even crap like GLITTER, ON THE LINE, and FREDDY GOT FINGERED.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 04-20-2002, 06:15 AM:

Bingo! And James gets the prize!

(Of course you did forget to add Scorpion King to that list.)

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 04-20-2002, 01:26 PM:

I liked Scorpion King

Posted by Kelsey Black (Member # 126) on 04-21-2002, 02:37 AM:

Ditto on liking Scorpion King

I need a "check your brain at the door" reprieve from everything serious in life once in awhile. And this one wasn't absurdly stupid, it was comically so. Entertainment well done.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 04-21-2002, 06:34 AM:

I saw Episode 1 ,first show opening date, in my local multiplex as we weren't due to screen it for 6 weeks. Call me sad if you like.

3 minutes in there was lovely green emulsion scratching down one side.
I went to "contact" the projectionist via the wonderfully helpful front of house staff to be told that "the projectionist would attend to it when he got back from one of the other booths"

When I pointed out that 300 people had paid to see this new print on the first day and the print was already trashed the cheery spotty youth told me that it didn't matter there was another print running two screens down.

I left at that point and have not returned since

Posted by Christopher Duvall (Member # 284) on 04-22-2002, 02:31 AM:

Dick Vaughn stated:
"When I pointed out that 300 people had paid to see this new print on the first day and the print was already trashed the cheery spotty youth told me that it didn't matter there was another print running two screens down."

This is why Lucas is an advocate of digital cinema even though the technology is not ready for prime time yet. There seems to be no pride anymore...

Posted by Kelsey Black (Member # 126) on 04-22-2002, 03:44 AM:

As a General Manager and a Projectionist concerned with giving the best quality presentation possible, digital projection definately has it's appealing qualities. However, at this point in the game, the financial aspect of it is prohibitive. Also, I have seen demos of digital projection before, and until I can get AT LEAST 4k x 2k resolution, I'm not interested. Also, I haven't seen a demo that was on a screen larger than 15' wide, so I'll probably have to bump my figure up when I see something in a closer to real-life situation.
Other things that keep me from being TOO interested in digital projection: data compression, total cost of ownership, life-cycle duration, and obsolescence.

Now for my 2 cents regarding Episode 2: for the time being, but possibly changing, I am on Fox's low grossing list. Therefore, it is impossible for me to get EP2 on release. Myself and my film booker were speaking tonight, and neither of us could remember off the top of our heads for certain when EP1 was made available to low grossers... anyone know?
Anyone know, or have a reasonable guesstimate of when to expect EP2 in my greedy little fingers (as well as other low-grossers)?
Maybe if EP2 is made in a super-wide release, the gap might not be so painfully long.

Hmm, I wonder if George is concerned enough with presentation quality to give me a new print, rather than the most damaged one (first to go) from the StuporPlex that got 5 prints on release.
ah, but I can dream, can't I?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-22-2002, 05:08 PM:

Christopher Duvall said: "This is why Lucas is an advocate of digital cinema even though the technology is not ready for prime time yet. There seems to be no pride anymore."

IMHO, "Film Done Right" is far superior to today's digital cinema systems for image quality. Unfortunately, there's enough "film done wrong" to make digital cinema seem better in some cases. I'm not encouraged, because I've seen plenty of "digital done wrong" already too.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 04-22-2002, 06:07 PM:

I believe that Lucas did Star Wars all in digital for a few reasons.

1. Since the film has so many Computer Generated effects, like almost all the backgrounds, why not shoot the actors in digital to facilitate integrating the images.

2. Using digital for the live action is less expensive than film only in the respect of skipping a step to integrate with the C.G.

3. As long as the film is produced and edited digitally, then why not present it in that way as well, if you are able.

I am sure if you were to ask him, he would say that digital production has it's place but that it is not the ultimate replacement for film. I am also pretty certain that if he were to direct a live action film that didn't require any C.G. that he would consider using film.

This is all speculation on my part. Remember, this is a man who loves film. And it's his party he can shoot in Pixel Vision if he wants to.

In my experience, movies produced digitally look very good presented digitally. And while movies that are produced on film and presented digitally usually loose a lot in the translation, they still look ok as long as you aren’t too close and comparing it to the original film. So I am sure that Attack of the Clones will look great on film and digital.

I also believe that jumping whole hog in to digital production would be a very bad thing. I am also not in a great big rush to purchase a digital projector. My 1960 era Simplex projectors are running quite well, thank you.

Posted by Michael Barry (Member # 237) on 04-26-2002, 11:06 AM:

...but imagine if 70MM origination had taken place? Sure, it would have cost more to scan those images into a computer, etc, but if it can be done for IMAX resolution then 70MM quality output shouldn't be a problem.

So while it would cost more, take longer, be more cumbersome, etc...imagine the results!

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-26-2002, 01:18 PM:

Michael Barry said: "Sure, it would have cost more to scan those images into a computer, etc, but if it can be done for IMAX resolution then 70MM quality output shouldn't be a problem."

Agreed. Nothing wrong with "Digital Done Right". I'm really looking forward to "Stuart Little 2", which reportedly uses 4K for scanning the original 35mm film (mostly Kodak VISION Expression 500T Color Negative Film 5284), and 4K for recording back out onto film. Likewise, the digital reformatting of "Beauty and the Beast" looks very good on a huge 70mm IMAX screen.

With today's sharp color negative films and high resolution "digital intermediate", Kodak's Dr. Roger Morton has shown that today's 35mm color negative film will be able to match the quality of 65mm negative film printed to 70mm prints:
http://www.kodak.com/country/US/en/motion/students/onCampus/oct2001/dfm.shtml

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 04-26-2002, 05:48 PM:

I don't know. Whenever I hear the claims about what today's 35mm film negatives can do versus 65mm, I always think of the most obvious question: why not use that new super-duper emulsion on 65mm film negative stock? Why not produce in 65mm?

I think it is very good "Stuart Little 2" is using a 4K standard for digital work instead of a puny 2K standard. This is long overdue considering the brute force power of current computer rendering farm technology. Some of the first CGI work done for film was recorded out at 4K over a decade ago using computers less powerful than the ones sitting on most of our desks. At least 4K resolution will do some justice for 35mm film prints.

Now if only some film production can get the guts to shoot a movie in 70mm and do any CGI work for that in a level of sharpness worthy for that large format.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-29-2002, 02:57 PM:

Bobby Henderson said: "why not use that new super-duper emulsion on 65mm film negative stock? Why not produce in 65mm?"

I agree that the ultimate quality will use 65mm negative --- to paraphrase the ads for "Godzilla", "Size DOES matter!".

But Kodak's work in this area gives great promise of significant increases in the quality of images originated on 35mm film, because 35mm film already can support such high resolution digital enhancement.

BTW, ironically, "Godzilla" used the smaller image area of Super-35 rather than anamorphic origination, and it showed on the screen:
http://us.imdb.com/Technical?0120685

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 05-01-2002, 05:22 AM:

What an honour for 2 Kiwis to be the Fetts ,Boba (Daniel Logan)Fett and Temuera Morrison as Jango Fett , from such a small part in the other films to a father and son combo shows that George does listen to the fans sometimes.

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A KIWI eats,roots & Leaves.

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 05-01-2002, 07:05 PM:

Jake the Muss should be able to kick any one's butt.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 05-01-2002, 08:51 PM:

And the Muss gets a speaking part as Jango "COOK the MAAAN some Eggs" well it's abit more civilised than that (speaking to a JEDI)

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A KIWI eats,roots & Leaves.

Posted by Richard C. Wolfe (Member # 431) on 05-02-2002, 11:02 PM:

I went to the screening of Star Wars II this morning. It was enjoyable although slow at spots. The sets and art was fantastic, much better then any of the others. I suppose digital had something to do with that. I kept thinking as I watched it... Wow, this was recorded on tape and transferred to film. Amazing how beautiful the images were. It was shown on a screen about 45 feet wide. I wonder how a digital projected image would have looked that large? However, I was shocked to see the print was scratched for a few minutes near the middle.
I think this film will have a much larger young female audience then the others thanks to Hayden Christensen. This guy puts Leonardo DeCaprio and the other heartthrobs to shame. If the gals went nuts over Leo in Titanic, they will melt over Hyden in this one... and he is still a good guy in this eposode.
Should open big, hold well for a few weeks, but may not have the legs of others. It is starting to get a little old now. I actually think the next one will have more "want to see" as that is the one that takes Anikan over to the dark side. Of course, they have to see this one to find that out. I really think that if this picture has strong legs it will be due to the young girls going back again and again to drool over Hayden.

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 05-02-2002, 11:55 PM:

Perhaps "Cook the Man some Ewoks"

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 05-03-2002, 01:32 AM:

I just got back from the exhibitor's screening of Send in the Clones as well. It was at the AMC Van Ness 1000 in San Francisco. It was on Film as well.

We enjoyed seeing it, but...

It appeared grainy at the beginning and the colors seemed off like the print wasn't perfectly color timed. We noticed one lab splice.

I thought the writing and acting were sub-par. The Action scenes (what few there were) were fantastic. The imagery was great. The alien characters were wonderful. The spaceships were cool. It dragged in the middle. My butt hurt towards the end.

All in all it was the greatest achievement in animated motion pictures I have ever seen.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-03-2002, 02:47 AM:

Here's your answer:

Bring back the professional projectionists, either union or non-union, and kick the F****** popcorn salespeople out of the G** D***** booth!

I get sick and tired of hearing and seeing F***** up presentations by those A******* in the Horse's A**** big theater chains (and some independents as well) who don't give a Rat's A** about what the F*** they are doing or don't have the slightest F****** idea which end of the F****** "Camera" the light comes out of!!! Jeeze, give our industry a break!

Kind of harsh, but it had to be said in terms everyone understands. Maybe the pride of "Film Done Right" will reign once again as it did many years ago.

Now you truly know how I feel about this.

Paul G. Thompson
AQC USN (retired)

Posted by Jacob Huber (Member # 1138) on 05-03-2002, 03:09 AM:

Amen Paul. Ever since I've gotten in the booth (6 months or so), I've dedicated all my time to making our cinema's presentaion the best. At one point before I was in the booth, 14 of 20 of our movies were scratched somehow, some almost trashed. Since I've been there, we've had maybe 4 scratches (mostly roller flange and/or platter scratches). Damn lazy ass bastards.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-03-2002, 03:56 AM:

Jacob, it sounds almost like the Drill Sargeant in the movie "Full Metal Jacket, doesn't it?

Well, that was the military way in those days.

Hope I didn't offend anyone. Like I said before, there are some things that have to be said, and some of us don't really care about who is listening.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-03-2002, 04:35 AM:

The next person who has a report/review/update on Episode II from a screening, please go ahead and start a thread in the "Movie Review" forum. Thanks.

EDIT: Oops, never mind I see someone has already started it.

P.S. Nicely put, Paul. Were you shaking that weenie at me while I read your post?

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-03-2002, 04:57 AM:

No, Brad. I think just about all of the members of Film-Tech are or want to be professionals in our industry.

I just got a little frustrated at some of the things I read about that should never happen. How can it be stopped? What happened to training? What happened to professionalism? What happened to the sense of pride? What happened to Showmanship?

I walk away mumbling to myself looking for answers.......

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 05-03-2002, 10:02 AM:

Good on you Paul! Here, Here!

BTW...Please stop shaking your weenie at Brad...

Thank you.

:grin:

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"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage". - Indiana Jones.

Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 05-04-2002, 10:40 AM:

Paul, I totally second that! I think we should start a Film Tech theater chain. Then we know we'll have nothing but the best professionals in the booth.

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This one time, at Projection Camp, I stuck a xenon bulb....

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-04-2002, 12:55 PM:

Ken, you can bet your butt on that one.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 05-04-2002, 06:49 PM:

The problem is that the bean counters like to have every department set up as a profit center, and calculate the budgets depending on profit ratios. The projection department just spends bags of money on supplies and staff and never brings in a whiff of income...
HEY, MORONS!!! Every f***ing penny you see come in is made by the projection department! This is a MOVIE HOUSE! With no MOVIES there is no MONEY!! If you manage to RUIN the presentation quality like you seem to be TRYING to do... everyone will STAY HOME watching a DVD and you will be UNEMPLOYED, so WAKE UP![/rant]

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 05-10-2002, 06:26 PM:

Mentioned this in another post but it's worth repeating here.

One of my co-workers has a friend who works in a multiplex in a New Jersey suburb. According to this theater worker, there are plenty of advance tickets available for Episode 2 -- and the midnight show on 5/16 at this particular theater is not sold out.

Oh well. This past week the press went ga-ga over an upcoming tour by the Rolling Stones -- who haven't had a hit since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.