Star Wars: Episode II | Homing Beacon #16 - Graduating to Fox Studios

Welcome back to the Homing Beacon, the official newsletter of starwars.com, and your first source for exclusive Episode II updates.
Graduating to Fox Studios
Many involved in the production of Episode II have likened the experience to school. Specifically, they cite Episode I as the freshman year, and now Episode II is the sophomore year. Much of that has to do with the fact that so many involved in the production have worked together in the past -- through Episode I and through The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles before that. This is especially true of Production Designer Gavin Bocquet's department.
"I think that probably amongst the people who have done it before, there is a sort of comfort blanket that came with doing the first one," says Bocquet. "Doing the first Star Wars after doing Young Indy was a whole new experience to all of us. It was first thing ever of that size for us. I think we were probably unaware of the slight trepidation we all had while we were doing it. But obviously doing it a second time, you're much more relaxed, even with doing it in another country."
Bocquet and his crew are currently immersed in realizing an immense set in Fox Studios, Australia. "It's a big environment," he says, "which has a big ship in it. Probably the biggest ship, I think, full-size, that has been built. Probably even bigger than the old Millennium Falcon. We're not building all of it, but we're building a fair chunk."
Although some on the crew are old hands at constructing the galaxy far, far away, there are many new Australian crewmembers working diligently to turn Lucas' imagination into reality. This marks the first Star Wars film to be shot in Australia. The previous films, including Episode I, had their studio work done in facilities in England. Comparatively, the Australian film industry is younger than England's. This meant that finding available crew with a certain level of experience was challenging.
"I think Rick McCallum is an incredibly sensible producer and understood that there are certain skills and experience lacking in Sydney, more on the Art Department side. Apart from the last two or three years they haven't been used to building sets that big and that many at that speed," explains Bocquet. "So we brought down a few skills in the Art Department, like the Art Directors and the head of paint, head of plaster, head of carpentry and construction, just to cover those. Underlying that, you have a very new, youthful business down here. There's a great enthusiasm amongst the crew that comes with that."
Bocquet adds, "I think we've hit the balance pretty well. Bringing people versed in Star Wars has a lot to do with continuity as well. You know a lot of our things are for Tatooine and Naboo, and to have people who have never been part of that in Art Department and Construction would have been quite a headache. I think if Episode III is done here, which I think it should be, then we will probably bring less people down."

Click on the headline for the full story

Sir Alec Guinness Remembered
Episode II Production Updates
As the production of Episode II continues at full pace in Sydney, the cast and crew are upbeat about work completed and the remaining tasks ahead.
Jedi Eclipse on the Horizon
The release of Hero's Trial continues the epic New Jedi Order saga, and readers can look forward to its sequel, Jedi Eclipse, the second book of the Agents of Chaos duology.
Episode II: Keeping Pace with Digital Production
The use of digital cameras to shoot Episode II has been a time-saver on numerous parts of the production. Gone is the wait for film to be processed in order to view dailies. As a result, the production has been moving along at a brisk pace.
Other recent Star Wars news...

ep II: on location
Ahmed Best was given a mission... and he chose to accept it: to single-handedly take over the World Wide Web and report back to starwars.com with on-the-spot, unedited, unrehearsed coverage of what's going down on the set of Episode II. on location is your ticket into some of Episode II's most secured locations. You can only get it at starwars.com
George Lucas Episode II Select
Handpicked by George Lucas, these are images that Episode II's writer and director wanted to share with visitors to starwars.com. They're the first ever images direct from the set of Episode II.
Agents of Chaos Arrive
The Yuuzhan Vong continue their unstoppable invasion of the galaxy, leaving devastated worlds in their wake. The New Jedi Order saga continues in the pages of Hero's Trial, by James Luceno. Here's an excerpt from that recently released book.
Coruscant: Heart of the Galaxy
Its surface long forgotten, the planet Coruscant is entirely wrapped in an immense sprawling city marked with skyscrapers kilometers high. Learn the surprising origin of the most important planet in the Star Wars galaxy.
Recent Star Wars features...

Battle of the Fan Sites -- Round II
Last month, readers of starwars.com voted for the best fan.starwars.com sites in the Humor and Episode I-III categories. Now, it's round two - the best in the Community and Cast/Characters categories. Here are the finalists; now it's up to you to determine who's the best.



Thursday, August 10, 2000 Issue #16
Welcome back to the Homing Beacon, the official newsletter of starwars.com, and your first source for exclusive Episode II updates. Graduating to Fox Studios Many involved in the production of Episode II have likened the experience to school. Specifically, they cite Episode I as the freshman year, and now Episode II is the sophomore year. Much of that has to do with the fact that so many involved in the production have worked together in the past -- through Episode I and through The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles before that. This is especially true of Production Designer Gavin Bocquet's department. "I think that probably amongst the people who have done it before, there is a sort of comfort blanket that came with doing the first one," says Bocquet. "Doing the first Star Wars after doing Young Indy was a whole new experience to all of us. It was first thing ever of that size for us. I think we were probably unaware of the slight trepidation we all had while we were doing it. But obviously doing it a second time, you're much more relaxed, even with doing it in another country." Bocquet and his crew are currently immersed in realizing an immense set in Fox Studios, Australia. "It's a big environment," he says, "which has a big ship in it. Probably the biggest ship, I think, full-size, that has been built. Probably even bigger than the old Millennium Falcon. We're not building all of it, but we're building a fair chunk." Although some on the crew are old hands at constructing the galaxy far, far away, there are many new Australian crewmembers working diligently to turn Lucas' imagination into reality. This marks the first Star Wars film to be shot in Australia. The previous films, including Episode I, had their studio work done in facilities in England. Comparatively, the Australian film industry is younger than England's. This meant that finding available crew with a certain level of experience was challenging. "I think Rick McCallum is an incredibly sensible producer and understood that there are certain skills and experience lacking in Sydney, more on the Art Department side. Apart from the last two or three years they haven't been used to building sets that big and that many at that speed," explains Bocquet. "So we brought down a few skills in the Art Department, like the Art Directors and the head of paint, head of plaster, head of carpentry and construction, just to cover those. Underlying that, you have a very new, youthful business down here. There's a great enthusiasm amongst the crew that comes with that." Bocquet adds, "I think we've hit the balance pretty well. Bringing people versed in Star Wars has a lot to do with continuity as well. You know a lot of our things are for Tatooine and Naboo, and to have people who have never been part of that in Art Department and Construction would have been quite a headache. I think if Episode III is done here, which I think it should be, then we will probably bring less people down." Click on the headline for the full story Sir Alec Guinness Remembered Episode II Production Updates As the production of Episode II continues at full pace in Sydney, the cast and crew are upbeat about work completed and the remaining tasks ahead. Jedi Eclipse on the Horizon The release of Hero's Trial continues the epic New Jedi Order saga, and readers can look forward to its sequel, Jedi Eclipse, the second book of the Agents of Chaos duology. Episode II: Keeping Pace with Digital Production The use of digital cameras to shoot Episode II has been a time-saver on numerous parts of the production. Gone is the wait for film to be processed in order to view dailies. As a result, the production has been moving along at a brisk pace. *Other recent Star Wars* news... ep II: on location** Ahmed Best was given a mission... and he chose to accept it: to single-handedly take over the World Wide Web and report back to starwars.com with on-the-spot, unedited, unrehearsed coverage of what's going down on the set of Episode II. on location is your ticket into some of Episode II's most secured locations. You can only get it at starwars.com George Lucas Episode II Select Handpicked by George Lucas, these are images that Episode II's writer and director wanted to share with visitors to starwars.com. They're the first ever images direct from the set of Episode II. Agents of Chaos Arrive The Yuuzhan Vong continue their unstoppable invasion of the galaxy, leaving devastated worlds in their wake. The New Jedi Order saga continues in the pages of Hero's Trial, by James Luceno. Here's an excerpt from that recently released book. Coruscant: Heart of the Galaxy Its surface long forgotten, the planet Coruscant is entirely wrapped in an immense sprawling city marked with skyscrapers kilometers high. Learn the surprising origin of the most important planet in the Star Wars galaxy. *Recent Star Wars* features... Battle of the Fan Sites -- Round II** Last month, readers of starwars.com voted for the best fan.starwars.com sites in the Humor and Episode I-III categories. Now, it's round two - the best in the Community and Cast/Characters categories. Here are the finalists; now it's up to you to determine who's the best.	Did a friend forward this to you? If so, click here to receive this free newsletter for yourself. Click here to edit your personal profile or unsubscribe. Click the thumbnail to enlarge. What does this ship have to do with an outboard motor? Find out here. Episode I had quite a warm, organic feel to its design, so what kind of a mood are you trying to convey when designing for Episode II? Read Doug Chiang's answer here.
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