Last night, George Lucas himself was interviewed on G4TV’s Attack of the Show and talks about converting Star Wars to 3D as well as the Live action TV Series.
Now Attack of the Show labels this as George Lucas AND Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald, but seeing this video I wonder why he was there at all. Papa Smurf clearly owns this segment.
So here are a few observations and comments I have about this very short but very insightful interview.
Lucas talks about his mission to create a technique and perspective in post conversion 3d that is better. He is a perfectionist and doesn’t like to settle. He simply finds innovative people to do this stuff better. Could a valid post conversion 3d be possible?
He hits on a few things about 3D that I do appreciate. He says the “poke you in the face” efforts are not 3d, and this is where I feel it is more a gimmick. I don’t feel that 3d is at all a gimmick, but rather just another evolutionary technique in feature film effects. But when they deliberately thrust something at the viewer, I find it cheap and it takes me out of the experience.
And he also hits on the live action Star Wars ongoing Television series we have heard about for so long now. It’s “on the shelf” but it is interesting as to why. Once again Lucas refuses to settle, and the budget restraints for TV and his vision for what the show would look like mean he has to find cheaper ways to film it without sacrificing quality.
Despite any of the bile flung at this man for his lack of judgement, I still see him as a visionary. Despite just recycling most of his own product instead of making new original content, this reproduction does have a fringe benefit. New technologies that will reduce the budget of visual films is exactly what Hollywood needs right now.
As I have said many times. 3D is not a fad, it is a new tool in the special effects toobox. Like any effect, it can be done well… or not. I have seen some breathtaking and effective uses of 3d. and I have seen some that are not.
Personally, I can’t wait to see Star Wars in 3d. That podrace scene just looks like it was MADE to be seen in 3d.
Lucas’s inner thoughts:
“convert Star Wars in to 3D = MORE MONEY… I win!”
LOL!
I love that the reason Lucas hasn’t produced the television show is due to effects and budget. Seriously? How about some focus on plot? Wouldn’t it be great to hear the reason they haven’t produced it yet is because they’re working so hard on the script?!
He needs to realize that the fans don’t care about the way things LOOK–we’re just looking for a story that’s good. We don’t watch A New Hope over and over because of the effects–we watch it because the movie tells an awesome, timeless story. He hasn’t done a thing since Willow that had that focus (and that was a re-hash of Star Wars!).
The reimagined Battlestar series managed to be fantastic with a reportly minimal budget for a sci fi show–is Lucas saying he can’t match that production crew’s efforts?
The only way I want to see Star Wars in 3D is when my wall becomes a projector and it’s like the movie is a whole other room.
Seinfeld is a perfect example of what I mean. When in his apartment, it would be like his apartment is just an extension of your apartment. That is when I think 3D will stop being a gimmick and becomes something you couldn’t watch a movie in any other way. Like HD and Surround is today. I personally think this technology isn’t that far away either. But until then you can take you 3D and shove it.
Star tours 2 at Disney should be a fun 3-d experiance (Pod races are now showing)
Hmm…Ghostbusters 3 or Star Wars live action TV…have to wonder which one we’ll see first.
Both projects interestingly being held up by stubborn old men who are just wanting to “get it right”.
That was a great clip. I can’t wait to see what the live action tv show looks like.
Love or hate George, he is a fascinating pioneer.