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***//BUILDING EMPIRE\\: PAL & NTSC DVD - NEW EDITION NOW ONLINE! ***

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B U I L D I N G   E M P I R E

JULY 2005 - 'The Empire Strikes Back: Audio/Visual Commentary' project underway
OCT 2005 - UPDATE - This project is now called 'BUILDING EMPIRE'
DEC 2005 - UPDATE - Version 1.0 is finished
JAN 2006 - UPDATE - Version 1.1, Spelling mistakes corrected (thanks oojason)
JAN 2006 - UPDATE - Version 1.2, Now 16:9 Anamorphic (aspect ration problem corrected)
JAN 2006 - UPDATE - Version 2.0 (final version) to be finished by Feb 2006
02 MARCH 2006 - UPDATE - Final Version Complete and ready to go.
FEB 2007 - NTSC Version complete and now available on torrent sites.
MARCH 2008 - Updated version shown at Miami Underground Film Festival
01 DEC 2008 - Miami Underground film Festival Edition uploaded to alt.binaries (by Mothr)


Duration: 2hrs 11m (main doco)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Format: MPEG2 Video, 720 x 576 Anamorphic, PAL UK, 25fps,
DVD: Single Layer 4.7GB
Data Rate: 3509.02 kbits/sec

Special Features Include:
Restored Music Sequences
Alternate Crawl
Trailer
Easter Egg

Contains: Building Empire Feature and DVD-ROM Extras:
ESB Radio Drama
ESB 'Story Of' Album
Mark Hamill 1979 Audio Interview
DVD Covers
Video Extra

A List of some of the resources used:
- Empire of Dreams
- Featurettes on 2004 DVD
- SPFX
- Clapperboard: ESB
- Laser Disc Supplementals
- Deleted Magic
- When Star Wars Ruled the World
- AOTC Webdocs (thanks to babyhum for the heads up)
- 20/20 John Williams (thanks ocpmovie!)
- THX Soundtrack
- 'Story of' Album
- Behind the Masks
- The Stars of Star Wars
- Moth3r ESB (PAL)
- Skywalker, BBC Radio 1 programme 1996
- 1979/80 Interviews with cast
- Super 8mm 2 reel Version

Thanks so much to everyone who supported and provided during the making of this project.

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QUICK FAQ
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Q: What did you use to create the project?
A: I used a dual 1GHz G4 Powermac with Final Cut Pro 4.5, DVD Studio Pro 3, A.Pack, Photoshop 7 and Cinematize.

Q: What inspired you to create this project?
A: Firstly a love of the film, but I always thought that audio commentaries could be expanded somewhat to make them Audio and Visual commentaries. And of course Deleted Magic was a big catalyst.

Q: How long did it take to make from start to finish?
A: I started in July 05 and finished in March 06, so about 7 or 8 months.

Q: What sources did you use?
A: Too many to mention, but there is a condensed list above.

Q: How can I get a copy?
A: I am unable to send any more out at present. My advice is to beg a fellow forum member or download it from myspleen.net.

Q: Can I send you some money on Paypal to get a copy?
A: Absolutely not! Money has not been involved in the creation or distribution of this project and it NEVER will.

Q: Are there plans for a NTSC version?
A: The NTSC version has just been completed by caligulathegod and will be available soon.

Q: So, how can I watch a PAL disc in an NTSC country? (see above)
A: Get yourself a new cheapy DVD player, most of them play PAL discs these days. The disc is also region free so your computer's DVD player should play it just fine. For futher details read this page (a few posts down).

Q: Why are there some clips with bars down the sides?
A: I wanted to include both 16:9 clips and 4:3 clips in the project in their original form but given that this is an a/v commentary, I was intent on allowing the viewer the ability to watch the film in the best possible quality. So I plumbed for 16:9. Furthermore, if you don't have a 16:9 TV in the 21st century....

Q: Where can I get a DVD cover for this project?
A: Check in the DVD-ROM folder for some great covers designed by members of this very forum. Also you can now download artwork Cover Art Page

Q: Are there plans for a sequel/prequel?
A: 'Returning to Jedi' is complete. My final chapter "Star Wars Begins' is currently in production.

Q: What is the Miami Underground Film Festival version?
A: On the request of the organiser I was asked to submit both BE and RTJ to the M.U.F.F. I updated both with corrections and some additional footage that had surfaced since the original release.

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Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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If I have anything on my list that can help your project PLEASE let me know (email me for a list - not pm ) and I'd be happy to contribute what I can!

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Just a quick information. If it can help...

In The Muppet Show episode with Mark Hamill, broadcasted february the 21th, in 1980, several months before the release of ESB; it was possible to have a preview of his costume.

http://www.kermitage.com/html/epguide/tms/season4/starwars.html

http://www.lucasfan.com/swtv/muppets3.jpg http://www.lucasfan.com/swtv/mup01.jpg
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Thanks Rik - top man!

Thanks Ash595 for the muppet info, I didn't know that. I may add that little fact!

Thanks
J

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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there is also the first appearance of Bobba Fett in Holyday special but I am sure you remember this
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Of course! Thanks anyway.

Grateful if you could PM any more facts as it may end up spoiling the project if you guys know everything before you see it!

J

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Check Star Wars Rarities 1 ...

20/20 on John Williams shows some footage from Empire Strikes Back, they play the carbon freezing chamber scene with the original production sound! Terrific. Edit that in with the "real" picture. I would've.
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By the way, does anyone know exactly where Ralph McQuarrie appears as "General McQuarrie" in Echo base?

Thanks
J

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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From Ralph McQuarrie's official homepage:

You were in a cameo on The Empire Strikes back weren't you?
Yes, they got the artist's together to do a scene that was played out over a Matte painting that I had done of Rebel ships parked in the Ice cave. We were going to be Rebel soldiers. I was a general who walked by from screen right to screen left. You can see me if you know what to look for. Joe Johnston, Harrison Ellinshaw and Mike Pangrazio, stood in the foreground and had a few lines, they didn't trust me with lines, they knew I would flub up (laughs).
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Found this snippet of info about the General Mcquarrie cameo from http://www.ralphmcquarrie.com/interview/mcquarrie/interview.html. Hope it helps.

"You were in a cameo on The Empire Strikes back weren't you?
Yes, they got the artist's together to do a scene that was played out over a Matte painting that I had done of Rebel ships parked in the Ice cave. We were going to be Rebel soldiers. I was a general who walked by from screen right to screen left. You can see me if you know what to look for. Joe Johnston, Harrison Ellinshaw and Mike Pangrazio, stood in the foreground and had a few lines, they didn't trust me with lines, they knew I would flub up (laughs)."

EDIT: Yocke beat me to it.

EDIT UPDATE: Okay I've found the scene: Its about 20 minutes into the film, and comes after vader says "set your course for the Hoth system... General Veers, prepare your men "
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/elvis2/generalmcquarrie.jpg
That's mcquarrie on the right.
I never really noticed it before, but that is a pretty dodgy matte painting of some rebel transports in the background.
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Of course! Thank you!

I knew that Johnston was in was in that scene, I didn't even think to look there. What a duffus!

Thanks again.

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Thanks to the arrival of Clapperboard and the non-subtitled SPFX (thanks Rik!) I am now hard at work on this project.

http://www.zen67493.zen.co.uk/Empire.jpg

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Good news about the rare footage of ESB. Check your PMs.
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By the way. Can anybody confirm whether there is any ESB behind the scenes footage in the Episode III Webdocs please?

Many Thanks
J

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Well, I can confirm that webdocs 1-6, 8-10 & 12-15 don't have any ESB stuff. My copy of 7 doesn't work (corrupt) so I can't tell you about that one. I don't have the last 3 either (18-20).

Webdoc 11: "Becoming Obi-Wan" has some ESB footage, but it's ripped directly from the DVDs (at least I think it is). The same goes for Webdoc 16: "Going to the Dark Side" & Webdoc 17: "Endlessly Compelling". Have a look through those if you can.

Interestingly, there isn't that much BTS stuff in these webdocs, and if there is ever any footage taken directly from the OT films, it's usuall Star Wars or Return of the Jedi. ESB gets left out a bit.

Can anyone clear this up: the press release says that the Episode III DVD will include the 15-part web-documentary series. There are 20 installments. I hope this is just an oversight in the details as I know I'd feel ripped off if not all 20 parts were included on the DVD. I'm sure they will be though.

To contact me outside the forum, for trades and such my email address is my OT.com username @gmail.com

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Hi,

Thanks for the info. I have looked at 11 and yeah it's just regular film footage from the DVD.

I will check the others if I can.

Thanks again
JD

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Would you like me to keep you all up to date with my progress? Or would you rather not hear about it until it's released in a month or so?

J

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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I vote for progress reports!

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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Things are going well on the ESB project. This is how it currenlty stands.

ESB Film runs along with text facts, 'rare' commentary and alternative angles
and takes.

Visual
- Alternate Original Crawl
- Han & Leia 'Romance' scene editied together
- A look at different lines used in 35mm and 70mm prints (not completest, just the most interesting)
- Different takes
- Text straps giving facts about story development and facts about the
production/cast/crew
- Behind the scenes footage that ties into particular scenes / alternate
angles


Audio
(commentary clips from each of the following):
- Irvin Kershner
- Mark Hamill
- John Morton
- Jeremy Bulloch
- Dave Prowse
- Anthony Daniels
- Harrison Ford
- Brain Johnson

- Restored Music, Scored but unused.

** Still looking for rare audio stuff from Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee
Williams (plus anything else that's good) **

Where possible I have picked relatively unheard sound bites from the
cast/crew. Not the usual crap.


http://www.zen67493.zen.co.uk/empireproj.jpg

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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You were lucky to get out of there. (THX Soundtrack! - Production audio)