Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Star Wars Optical Printer F.S.

This is topic Star Wars Optical Printer F.S. in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-27-2003, 08:43 PM:

Sad but true and I suppose this was pre ILM equipment too.
Here is the link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=628&item=2937101125

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-27-2003, 09:12 PM:

Wow. 10 grand. I hope he can prove its the real deal. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-27-2003, 09:47 PM:

I can't imagine anyone who could use this. Everyone pretty much composites digitally anymore.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 06-27-2003, 09:52 PM:

It doesn't seem likely that this was used for Star Wars at least the way it appears in the picture with all film paths running vertically. VistaVision to 35mm 4-perf would require the camera head to be running one way while the projector heads the other--although not necessary horizontal projectors and vertical camera--it can be opposite of that if the image is going through sideways.

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 06-27-2003, 10:14 PM:

The seller has zero transactions in his feedback file. Not an encouragement for such an expense, and he gives no specs for
the parts included, as one would expect for such an item...

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-27-2003, 11:03 PM:

Certainly it can be VistaVision, and probably other formats by changing optics and movements in the aeriel projectors and camera. The projectors are running vertically, thats all, and since the VV elements woulda been in the two projectors and the film in the camera at the far end, its probable that the film in the camera looped around and the movement was sideways 90 degrees to the projectors to expose the neg. These don't run very fast anyway as its all pin regestered.

The original Empire Vista Printer was on display in the lobby at ILM for a long time. Donno if it still is though.

On examination I found this printed in the upper corner of the picture....

Weather it was or was not used on Star Wars doesn't really matter much as it is sure a nice piece of machine work!
Mark

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 06-28-2003, 01:12 AM:

Can anybody tell who manufactured this, or is it a custom job?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-28-2003, 10:26 AM:

Optical printers are rarely off the shelf items....Donno who made it, lots of custom printers have been built since the 20's. Looks to be built on an old large lathe bed. The lamphouse is obvuiosly old. Doesn't mean it isn't capable of churning out good images though....
Mark

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 06-28-2003, 01:26 PM:

I thought that at first, Steve. But then it looked like the magazines were offset a bit, from top to bottom, so I figured it possibly could be VV.

Posted by Sam Hunter (Member # 1119) on 06-28-2003, 02:44 PM:

Years ago there was a special on the special effects for the star wars movie and they showed the optical printer and that kinda looks like it. However, bear in mind that was back in 77-78 and I have warped my brain once or twice since then. Maybe Jeff Joseph can shed some light on this.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 07-02-2003, 01:47 PM:

I once hosted cinematographer Richard Edlund of ILM (shortly after Episode IV was released) at a Rochester SMPTE section meeting. I recall the VistaVision cameras they used for the VFX had the logos from Oldsmobile "VistaCruiser" automobiles.

Posted by Hillary Charles (Member # 769) on 07-02-2003, 04:43 PM:

I just checked the ebay link, and it came up as an invalid item [Frown]

Posted by Peter Eaves (Member # 451) on 07-02-2003, 05:35 PM:

I haven't seen a picture of this printer but there were optical printer made on which the camera could be tilted 90 degrees to allow for VistaVision to 4-perf conversions. If anyone can post the picture I'd love to see it. I worked on such a machine in Pittsburgh some years ago. The printer was basically an Oxberry aerial head optical printer that had been converted by Boss Films in Marina del Ray, CA. The lamphouse was a standard halogen lamp with an tive color wheel for scene to scene color correction. Boss Films went out of business some years ago and the machine ended up in Pittsburgh. It could also be used for making 1:1 35mm opticals.

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 07-06-2003, 12:36 AM:

Indeed, it looks like this item and all of the seller's other items were pulled from auction. By whom or for what reason is a mystery as they just all disappeared....

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 07-06-2003, 07:40 AM:

Wouldn`t the original Empire printer Mark mentioned be the same as the original Star Wars printer? I recall reading they dug the machine up somewhere as it was the only equipment in those days which could do what they wanted. So I think it is rather more likely that they used the same machine again for Empire.