Season 2 was quite an enjoyable watch (only 3 episodes, chiming in at under 3 hours of content) - though I did find myself more invested in stories highlighting ILM’s work on the films outside of Star Wars (though even that was quite ‘showcase-y’ / PR-like).
The sale and closure of the model shop are covered, as well as the final curtain for it in 2023 (The 32Ten Studios) - you could really sense the emotions there from the numerous talented people who’d worked there over the years.
I felt S2 glossed over previous films which used cgi characters and digital films (Windhorse, Young Sherlock Holmes, then that 2000 Clooney comedy - ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’) - if we didn’t know any better this portrays George as the founder of all that (instead of being a fellow pioneer and innovator who embraced and enhanced it). We also get another ‘quicker, better, cheaper’ quote from GL again too re the digital process - though was it really ‘better’? We all know in certain places the 1997 SEs and Prequels look awful in places (unsurprisingly not shown in this).
The pre-1997 SE scenes were shown in the worst quality - though the 1997 SE and PT seemingly in the best quality. It turns out John Knoll may have been a bit of cheat, too 😉 (in trying to prove what can and can’t be done digitally - and how quickly it takes; the story of this did raise a few smiles from both the people featured in this - and likely us viewers).
The art departments and what they came up with for the PT were just superb - their fantastic art (and even the storyboards) are shown very well in this - all kudos to them - and for the other films since.
Found it a little weird that the digital Yoda was ‘bigged up’ as being so much better in TPM - though not too much focus on how bad and inferior the TPM puppet sculpt was… and how it affected filming and Frank Oz’ performance (+ using a heavier and denser silicon based Yoda instead of a re-sculpt with the materials used in the unaltered theatrical OT).
It does come across that George couldn’t reign himself in with the 1997 SE (and Prequels) when it came to inserting digital alterations - playing with all his new toys just because he could - yet seemingly didn’t take into account the effect of the different tone and that impact in and upon the story.
Indeed, any issues and problems from introducing newly replaced scenes into the Special Editions… are glossed over quickly or ignored (Han Shoots First being replaced - and George’s debunked claims on it since, the insertion of Jabba into SW - and debunked claims by George since, Luke’s scream in '97 ESB, Vader’s ‘Noooo’ in ROTJ, Hayden inserted into ROTJ - as well as content such as this - scroll down to Cat. #17 - which Lucasfilm are very much aware of, etc); obviously Lucasfilm don’t want to spotlights, yet a pity they re knot acknowledged or talked about in this documentary.
Also overlooked / omitted are the limitations or poor quality use of CGI in the Prequel Films themselves - despite the doc more than willing to spend some time highlighting and underlining the limitations of practical effects around that era.
^ Edit: I created a thread - Poor quality CGI and CGI-affected shots & scenes in the Prequel Trilogy films… on this issue.
(there was a great old thread on here re CGI issues in the PT - though can’t find it anymore - so have created this centralised new one)
The short segment on George overruling everyone, including CGI supervisor John Knoll, on their pleas to use real actors in physical Clone Trooper armour… to help reduce the sheer CG workload… instead of having them as CGI… was illuminating.
Overall, I’m glad I watched it - an enjoyable 2nd season and an intriguing watch for anyone interested in film history and Lucasfilm… though as posted above… the non-SW content captured and held my interest more than the SW material (probably because much of the SE and PTs have been covered well before - and non-SW work by ILM less so).
One thing I would say… Andor is proof there is much to be said from using real sets and locations in Star Wars - and simply using digital technology as a quality and useful tool to enhance the immersion of the story where/when needed - to say nothing of the negative impact the digital process / endless greenscreen sets had on the actors and the acting performances in the PT era (which was not mentioned in the series). Balance and control are key ingredients in attempting to make compelling storytelling - who knew? 😉
I hope Season 2 of ‘Light & Magic’ is a part of ILM’s 50th anniversary - founded 26th May, 1975.
Otherwise it unfortunately seems much like Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary in 2021 - an opportunity to sell merch & little else…?
• ILM 50th Anniversary Merchandise Now Available Online - at ILM
• ILM Celebrates 50th Anniversary and Announces New Book at ‘Star Wars’ Celebration Japan - at ILM
• ILM’s 50th Anniversary web portal - at ILM (currently only featuring the two above ILM articles selling merch)
• ILM 50th Anniversary Merchandise Now Available Online - at Lucasfilm
• ILM Pioneer Dennis Muren Visits Company’s Original Home for the First Time in Decades - a 2 minute video from ILM
and from Celebration 2025: Japan…
Lighter Darker | EP 017: ILM 50th Anniversary Panel
www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4P8s8o7c3s - a 56 minute video from Celebration 2025 - at the official ILM youtube channel.
The blurb: ‘How did John Knoll decide to pitch the story for Rogue One? What does Rob Coleman recall about the audience’s reaction to Yoda’s first lightsaber fight? What was it like for Fon Davis on his first pyrotechnic model shoot on the Star Wars prequels? How did Masa Narita decide to quit his job as a businessman in Japan and become an artist at ILM in San Francisco? You’ll hear all these stories and more in Episode 17 of Lighter Darker, featuring ILM’s exclusive video coverage of our 50th anniversary panel at Star Wars Celebration Japan, now on YouTube.’
^ unfortunately featuring nobody from ILM at the start back in 1975 - or even anyone from the Original Trilogy era.
Hopefully we’ll see some new content (a doc or short - or detailed article) on the 50 years of ILM, from ILM, come the 26th May…?
Edit: we did get this 4 minute youtube video from ILM: Industrial Light & Magic: 50 Years of Innovation - on the 28th May.
ILM Evolutions: Animation, From Rotoscoping to ‘Rango’
New series exploring ILM’s 50-year legacy kicks off with new interviews featuring original Star Wars animator Chris Cassidy and current ILM animation supervisors Rob Coleman and Hal Hickel. - by Jamie Benning (no, I’ve never heard of him either!)
www.ilm.com/ilm-evolutions-50-animation-part-one
