In response to a question from Idei about what the new digital technology meant to filmmakers like him, Lucas smiled and joked, "It means we're finally going to catch up with the amateur consumer market." The audience of 3,500 laughed loudly. Turning serious, Lucas added: "This is the revolution. We're living it, and this is a great time to be alive."
In 1997, Sony and Panavision were approached jointly by Lucasfilm to develop a high-definition digital system for use in the production of Star Wars: Episode II. Over the past 18 months, the three companies have performed a broad series of tests to confirm key imaging and functional parameters required by Lucasfilm. With the specifications in place, the new camera system will be tested by Lucasfilm for the next few months in anticipation of use in Episode II production starting in June 2000.
"This working relationship between ourselves, Sony and Panavision, represents a model for an industry seeking to capitalize on fast-developing breakthroughs in digital imaging," said Rick McCallum, producer of Episode II, in a prepared statement.
McCallum, who is in Australia working on preproduction of Episode II, was shown on a short video shot in Los Angeles at Panavision headquarters, checking out a prototype of the camera. "My first impression of the camera: I'm awed, I can see the future. I can see that it's here, finally," McCallum said. "We'll be able to capture the film completely digitally, an awesome achievement. It's something that George has wanted to do for so long. We can hand it over to him and say, 'Do whatever you want!'"
On stage at COMDEX, Lucas, Idei and Howard Stringer, chairman and chief executive of Sony Corporation of America, had a brief conversation about the benefits of digital movie technology.
Click here to see the full press release from Sony.
