Debate rages among moviemakers, distributors, and theatre owners alike following George Lucas' announcement last week that he is to release an all-digital version of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace on four screens and shoot Episode 2 of the prequel entirely with digital cameras. Lucas is citing economy as his argument for digital - believing that all-digital productions are by far the most economic in the long run, especially when considering the soaring costs of printing film negatives, shipping heavy canisters around the world, maintaining antiquated projectors and ultimately, enduring the painful process of watching the product disintegrate with time. "The change [in moviemaking and distribution] is going to happen," said Jeff Blake, president of Sony Pictures Releasing, realising the mark of the digital film is quickly making a heavy impression on ageing technology. He added, "And it may happen a lot quicker than a lot of people think" The company's sister Sony affiliate is developing a digital camera for Lucas. Lucas' vision is a technology laced interface servicing the masses with downloadable material. The studio of the 21st century will shoot its motion pictures with digital cameras that interface seamlessly with computers creating special effects. The studio would then beam the movies via satellite to theatres, where they would be downloaded to digital projectors. The movies could then be permanently archived in digital archives, thus overcoming the problem of dusty film vaults. And in this revolution in filmmaking, Lucas is boldly standing his ground at the helm. "I can't think of a better time to be in the motion picture business" he told attendees at last week's National Association of Theatre Owners ShoWest conference in Las Vegas.
Digital Onslaught Is Here
Digital revolution has no scope for 35mm sentimentality...
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