Lucasfilm to sell Physical Effects Unit — Page 2

Author: ThatArtGuy
Time: 17-Jun-2006 3:25 AM
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Home On The Range was the last traditionally animated Disney feature. Brother Bear was much better...

Author: Nanner Split
Time: 17-Jun-2006 3:35 AM
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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
If you go see it, definitely stay through the credits. Some of my favorite gags come from the end. And it also pays an awesome homage to John Ratzenberger.

"Wait a second......what kind of cut-rate production is this?!"

Author: grifter
Time: 17-Jun-2006 5:39 AM
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that sucks! a part of the history of SFX is disapearing, i hate this CGI frenzy that is going on now, CGIs looks fake! you can't believe them (and if you can't believe something in a movie, then you're out of the movie!)
i'm thingkin about those geniuses that gave us memorable images, they won't be forgotten like GL wishes to!

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 17-Jun-2006 11:09 AM
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Well, I'll say this much - the lion in Witch, Lion and Warddrobe was amazing. I was certainly convinced (and I have an eye for CG)

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: Windexed
Time: 17-Jun-2006 2:25 PM
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Can somebody please explain to me how models were used in the prequels (Ep 2 & 3 especially)? I've heard the comment about how there were more models made for the prequels than the OT numerous times, but I take that with a grain of salt. While models may have been built, I refuse to believe that most were used, and I fully don't believe that very many actually made it into the films themselves.

40,000 million notches away

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 17-Jun-2006 2:37 PM
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Well, in II and III, models were used less for ships and the like and more for blue-screen replacement. Miniature sets were built (like the hallways in Kamino and the Geonosian arena), photographed, and comped in around the actors. Hmm, but were there really any models used for Sith? Nothing comes to mind right off. Any help here?

And ThatArtGuy, thanks for correcting me. Yeah, Home on the Range was the last. I didn't see that one either...

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

Author: zombie84
Time: 17-Jun-2006 2:46 PM
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Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
Well, in II and III, models were used less for ships and the like and more for blue-screen replacement. Miniature sets were built (like the hallways in Kamino and the Geonosian arena), photographed, and comped in around the actors. Hmm, but were there really any models used for Sith? Nothing comes to mind right off. Any help here?

And ThatArtGuy, thanks for correcting me. Yeah, Home on the Range was the last. I didn't see that one either...

For Sith, Utapau was mostly models, and there was quite a few made for Mustafar as well. Padme's apartment model may have been used again as well. True, though, there was much less used in Episode III. Maybe thats why they realised they could just outsource the model work from now on.

For Episode I and II there was probably as much model work as there was CG work if you can believe. The entire Geonosis arena, the Podrace stadium, the interiors of Kamino, much of Coruscant (ie Padme's apartment), pretty much all of Naboo is miniature, the Trade Federation ships, much of the ship explosions were done using models and model/CG combinations. Quite a bit of work.

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 17-Jun-2006 2:53 PM
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I thought Padme's apartment was a real set? From what I've seen, it is. And weren't a lot of the Naboo things shot on location with CG enhancements and replacements?

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

Author: zombie84
Time: 17-Jun-2006 3:13 PM
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The exterior i am speaking of.

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 17-Jun-2006 4:27 PM
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Heh, oh, yeah, of course. Silly me.

And, oh, yeah, I forgot, some of the Jedi Temple interiors in Attack of the Clones were also models. Personally, I would have preferred it had they just built more actual sets, but models are preferable to CG-created environments when the choice is given.

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

Author: Darth Richard
Time: 17-Jun-2006 4:41 PM
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Originally posted by: Nanner Split

Originally posted by: Gaffer Tape
If you go see it, definitely stay through the credits. Some of my favorite gags come from the end. And it also pays an awesome homage to John Ratzenberger.

"Wait a second......what kind of cut-rate production is this?!"

HAHAhahaha I love that part

Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
Well, I'll say this much - the lion in Witch, Lion and Warddrobe was amazing. I was certainly convinced (and I have an eye for CG)

Ya, I have a very good I for CGI too and that movie had me convinced it was real

Author: greencapt
Time: 17-Jun-2006 5:28 PM
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Originally posted by: Darth Richard

Ya, I have a very good I for CGI too and that movie had me convinced it was real

Well, except for the part where Edmond fought against the Master Control Program- when he threw his flying disc into it the scene looked a *bit* fakey.

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 17-Jun-2006 5:42 PM
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Don't dis Tron.

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: Gaffer Tape
Time: 17-Jun-2006 5:46 PM
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Yeah, and don't dis Edmund either!

There is no lingerie in space…

C3PX said: Gaffer is like that hot girl in high school that you think you have a chance with even though she is way out of your league because she is sweet and not a stuck up bitch who pretends you don’t exist… then one day you spot her making out with some skinny twerp, only on second glance you realize it is the goth girl who always sits in the back of class; at that moment it dawns on you why she is never seen hanging off the arm of any of the jocks… and you realize, damn, she really is unobtainable after all. Not that that is going to stop you from dreaming… Only in this case, Gaffer is actually a guy.

Author: Yoda Is Your Father
Time: 17-Jun-2006 6:03 PM
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The Beavers and Aslan looked a bit iffy to me. CGI hair can never beat real hair.

War does not make one great.

Author: ricarleite
Time: 17-Jun-2006 6:49 PM
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It is kinda sad in a way, but it's not like they're closing down, and ILM is not interesting in fake stuff like puppets or go-motion any longer!

Yet this reminds me of Lucasarts pulling the plug on Sam and Max 2 and Full Throttle 2 just to concentrate on doing Star Wars related games. It's understandable yet SAD and PATHETIC beyond recognition.

“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering

Author: Tiptup
Time: 17-Jun-2006 7:24 PM
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Originally posted by: ricarleite
Yet this reminds me of Lucasarts pulling the plug on Sam and Max 2 and Full Throttle 2 just to concentrate on doing Star Wars related games. It's understandable yet SAD and PATHETIC beyond recognition.

Definitely a heartless move as well. If the object of art is to simply make money then I want nothing to do with art.

"Now all Lucas has to do is make a cgi version of himself. It will be better than the original and fit his original vision." - skyjedi2005

Author: greencapt
Time: 17-Jun-2006 7:24 PM
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Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
The Beavers and Aslan looked a bit iffy to me. CGI hair can never beat real hair.

Am *I* the ONLY person who had to read this post several times and STILL could only think... oh nevermind.

Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
Don't dis Tron.

With any gods of your choice as my witness I would NEVER dis Tron! C'mon MBJ, you've read enough of my posts to realize that.

(and FYI the new comic series, based on 2.0 but running with the ideas of the movie, is pretty cool. For that matter the first issue of a new Buckaroo Bonzai comic, written by creator Earl Mac Rauch, is out as well... cool stuff)

Author: RRS-1980
Time: 18-Jun-2006 7:35 PM
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What's even worse is that their SW-related games became inferior as well. Where are the times when "X-Wing" and "Dark Forces" rocked the world?

Speaking about the models - the old AMT/ERTL plastic model kits were of rather poor quality (mold, scale problems, manuals), yet at least they were full blown model kits - and now I found EIII models which are already pre-painted and parts only need to be snapped together... WTF? Did they forget about the real modelers out there? On the other hand, Japanese or low-run US kits are quite expensive...

And I wanted that darned Republican Destroyer in my collection

I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...

Author: Yoda Is Your Father
Time: 22-Jun-2006 11:43 PM
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I just watched Back to the Future 2. I found ILM's optical effects work in that movie to be far, far more impressive, believable and seamless than their recent digital work. These days, anyone can do CGI and we've all pointed out how easily it can be spotted, but BTTF2 is something else. Sure, you can catch the odd effect here and there, but does it detract? No. It pulls you into the movie. Seeing a real delorean lowered into a real set on wires or hydrolics is far better then seeing a CGI delorean. And to any detractors of model work out there: The model work in BTTF2 is bloody amazing. That shot where the delorean flies out of the sky, it's wheels return to their standard driving position, the car lands, drives down the street into a driveway and the dog gets out, all in one continuous shot: Fantastic.

War does not make one great.

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 22-Jun-2006 11:48 PM
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^^* Agreed.

"With any gods of your choice as my witness I would NEVER dis Tron! C'mon MBJ, you've read enough of my posts to realize that. (and FYI the new comic series, based on 2.0 but running with the ideas of the movie, is pretty cool. For that matter the first issue of a new Buckaroo Bonzai comic, written by creator Earl Mac Rauch, is out as well... cool stuff) "

LOL...I know, man. It's all good.

BTW, is this a paper comic book series? I'd love to see it, and the BB comic as well.

Speaking of Tron, I had to do a Father's Day video for my church, and based it on a motorcycle theme, pasting people's faces on segments from DVDs (Charlie's Angels II, Terminator, Easy Rider.) I had a really cool fade into Tron, and putting the faces inside the bikes was tough, but worth it.)

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: Mike O
Time: 19-Sep-2006 9:08 PM
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This makes no logical sense. Why would ILM sell that unit? You'd think that it'd be raking the profits. LFL can't possibly be in finacial trouble. What is going on?

“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.”

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

Author: ShiftyEyes
Time: 19-Sep-2006 9:14 PM
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Originally posted by: Mike O
This makes no logical sense. Why would ILM sell that unit? You'd think that it'd be raking the profits. LFL can't possibly be in finacial trouble. What is going on?

Well, they did just spring a couple hundred million for their new facilities.

Author: Go-Mer-Tonic
Time: 19-Sep-2006 9:24 PM
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I think Lucas is just getting the companies to be able to work on their own so he can go off into the pasture so to speak.

They used more models in any one of the prequel films than they used in the entire classic trilogy combined, and they will still be the top choice for ILM, so in that regards not a whole lot will change really.

So many act like CG is so easy to spot, but a lot of the times I see them pointing to these miniatures and models and real photographic elements.

I like how the original article made it out like LOTR used mostly models and Lucas uses mostly CG. As far as I can tell they are both running about neck and neck with their huge summer blockbusters in regards to their use of both models and CG.

Your focus determines your reality.

Author: crazyrabbits
Time: 19-Sep-2006 9:27 PM
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Originally posted by: ricarleite
It is kinda sad in a way, but it's not like they're closing down, and ILM is not interesting in fake stuff like puppets or go-motion any longer!

Yet this reminds me of Lucasarts pulling the plug on Sam and Max 2 and Full Throttle 2 just to concentrate on doing Star Wars related games. It's understandable yet SAD and PATHETIC beyond recognition.

I would have liked to see Sam & Max 2. The original was awesome. Day Of The Tentacle was also really good as well.