CLASSIC IMAGE: RE-INVENTING A CLASSIC!

The classic scene that set the standard for future science fiction/fantasy storytelling and blew audiences away worldwide with its truly epic special effects work- the opening to the original 1977 Star Wars involving an Imperial Star Destroyer chasing the Rebel Blockade Runner above Tatooine.

But it's not. Instead, this is an equally impressive moment from the sequence specially re-shot from scratch (using a more-detailed meter long Star Destroyer model from The Empire Strikes Back) for the equally incredible and ground-breaking IMAX screen format, as part of legendary sound designer Ben Burtt's pleasing 1996 documentary Special Effects: Anything Can Happen, shown exclusively in IMAX and OMNI MAX cinemas in the US and Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQjY7ZDWFNo

'ATTACK' AT 20: THE GEONOSIS CONNECTION!

Tracking Jango Fett's Slave 1 to the Geonosian asteroid belt, the hunter soon becomes the hunted when the Fetts' surprise attack him, unleashing heavy weapons and a seismic charge against him. Believed dead, Jango now pilots his ship to a a rendezvous with the Geonosians, unaware that Obi-Wan has generated his own survival trick...

Behind the scenes, the menacing delayed blast sound of the seismic charge was originally developed but never used by sound designer Ben Burtt back in 1976 for A New Hope, and the destruction of Alderaan by the Death Star.

Slave 1 emerges at Geonosis.

Father and son head to Geonosis but soon realize they've been tracked.

Obi-Wan in pursuit!

Slave 1 attacks Obi-wan's Jedi Starfighter.

Obi evades missiles.

The devastating seismic blast!

Hidden, believed dead, in the asteroid field.

A heavy Trade Federation presence embedded on Geonosis is discovered.

HIGH FIDELITY! 'MAKING WAVES - THE ART OF CINEMATIC SOUND'

For many, the original Star Wars of 1977 wasn't just a breakthrough in re-imagined and revolutionary special effects creation. It also helped re-define and re-establish the incredible diversity, power and importance of sound design, as well as its evolution, creation and mixing/editing in the next wave of movies (of all genre types) post the adventures of Luke Skywalker.

The new documentary film from Midge Costin, Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, which has been in limited UK/US cinema release and has also been available to watch online, celebrates the incredible people past, present and future who make films sound so good and whose talents have become such an important part of the movie-making/movie-watching experience. Importantly, alongside great anecdotes and film showcases, it talks about the legacy these men and women leave for the future.

Featuring noteworthy contributions from George Lucas and accomplished veteran Sound Designer/collector Ben Burtt, check out the movie trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsIE4x3xU0Y

More info here:
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/making-waves-art-cinematic-sound-midge-costin-film-soundtrack-documentary

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: THE NEW PEACEMAKERS!

Naboo has been freed from the slimy grip of the Trade Federation, and joy has come for the planet and its people with the news that the noble, dutiful Senator Palpatine has been elected to the highest office in the galaxy- the Republic's Chancellor. Surely this will be a time of new peace and prosperity for all as the happy Palpatine arrives to congratulate Jedi hero Obi-Wan Kenobi and the intriguing powers of young Anakin Skywalker, whose career the statesman will watch 'with great interest'!

A terrific scene with subtly grim foreboding, and one added onto the film late in the day during additional reshoots during early 1999. Care had to be taken to keep Jake Lloyd out of close-up shots because he had gotten older-looking a year and a half on from the original period of filming.

Due to the late scheduling of the reshoots, so close to the film's release, many of the actresses playing the Handmaidens were not available to return, so other members of the production team (including Nick Gillard, who fitted one of the available costumes) and Jake Lloyd's mum, Lisa, took the back ground roles. Another extra filled in for Sio Bibble when actor Oliver Ford Davis was not available - a fact all too clear on screen!

The re-shoot handmaidens, including middle left to right: Lisa Lloyd, LUCASFILM's Lynne Hale, and Nick Gillard! 

Additionally shot in that extra principal photography was the departure of the captured Trade Federation villains, awaiting trial on Coruscant. This replaced an earlier scene filmed but cut, set in the Throne Room with Amidala.

Filming the Trade Federation leaders being taken away.

Rounding off the VIP cameos at the Chancellor's arrival were three key men from the making of the Star Wars films, including Sound Designer/Editor Ben Burtt, Producer Rick McCallum and co-Film Editor Paul Martin Smith.

Ben Burtt in character for blue screen filming insertion 

Burtt, McCallum and Smith line up for the shot filming.

From Pablo Hidalgo/Twitter.

EPISODE VIII: RESISTANCE RED ARROWS!

Old and clunky their latest speeder vehicles may be, but the heroism of the Resistance against the First Oder continues, as seen in this gorgeous piece of aerial art from the Battle of Crait, during the sweeping finale to the The Last Jedi.

Though the sequence was a tour de force for ILM's visual effects, its accompanying sound was as equally important, and no less striking. Find out more about its conception for the film, here:

http://comicbook.com/starwars/2018/02/17/star-wars-documentary-the-last-jedi-sound-effects/

http://www.starwars.com/news/abc-news-nightline-explores-the-force-of-sound

Image: Vanity Fair magazine.

Though looking forward, this brief featurette also looks back to the work for the original STAR WARS saga pioneered by sound designer Ben Burtt. Sadly, this great talent, always enthused about the importance of sound in all types of films, has seemingly been poorly and disappointingly treated by Disney/Lucasfilm since the franchise takeover of recent years, if this recent Vanity Fair article is anything go by:

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/12/ben-burtt-star-wars-sound

With thanks to Chris Baker for the feature link.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: WIRED FOR SOUND!

Ben Burtt at work on STAR WARS. Note all the early storyboards around him.

Knowing that sound and sound design were going to be such an important and 'organic' part of their cinematic space fantasy, George Lucas and Gary Kurtz certainly hit pay dirt with their discovery and cultivation of enthused young sound design genius Ben Burtt, hungry to work on the film and seeing its potential straight away, emergent with acclaim from USC and with a passion for all kinds of sounds around the world. Operating from the basement of George Lucas's Parkway home for the most part, Burtt's epic contributions to the film, especially linked to Artoo Detoo, Chewbacca, the lightsaber hum and many, many more iconic sounds, has not diminished.

http://www.starwars.com/video/ben-burtt-interview-the-sound-of-lightsabers

1993 interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWiuKNPqkko

2018: A nostalgic trip with Ben Burtt back to the original location of Sprocket Systems:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K6YUPXLI2o&feature=youtu.be

Burtt's behind the sounds book of the six-film saga. An essential purchase.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sounds-Star-Wars-J-Rinzler/dp/0857200763/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1511793850&sr=8-8&keywords=sounds+of+star+wars+book

'STAR WARS' AT 40: CONFRONTATION OF LIGHT AND DARK

"You can't win, Darth. If my blade should find its mark, you will cease to exist. But I warn you, if you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine..."

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Orange denotes filmed but cut dialogue)

After weeks of prior rehearsal/choreography, the period of May 27th to June 1st, 1976 sees the filming at Elstree of the iconic first lightsaber duel seen in a STAR WARS movie - the conflict between Obi-Wan Kenobi and his former pupil, Darth Vader.

Posed publicity image with the light reflective blades.

The hilt-rotating, light reflecting tape lightsaber blades used by Sir Alec Guinness and David Prowse were incredibly fragile- bits can literally be seen breaking off them if you look carefully at the film, and many replacement blades had to used after continued snapping. Wooden swords were also used for studio rehearsals and posed publicity imagery, with the lit blade energy airbrushed on to selected shots a year later. As Dave Prowse, in the hard to see and bulky to wear Vader costume, fought Obi-Wan, the sequence where the two are close-in and Vader pushes Obi-Wan away saw the muscleman/actor unintentionally send Sir Alec flying across the corridor floor. Thankfully, he was was winded rather than sustaining any injuries.

Despite his filmic demise, Guinness was aware that he would come back later to do the Force "ghost" voice of Kenobi aiding Luke in the Death Star space battle, and the fact that, even then (and before the film was even completed), that there was the vague potential for a sequel and the character's return in some capacity.

Filming the start of the duel.

Jamie Harcourt holds the clapperboard as the latter portion of the scene is filmed again.

In the film's later post production editing some parts of the sequence are noticeably flipped.

Star Wars Empire of Dreams Part 3 The Stunts of Star Wars - YouTube

The start of the duel shot from the alternate angle.

Forty years on, many modern day STAR WARS fans have dismissed this original duel as slow and lacking excitement in comparison to the more sophisticated lightsaber clashes of the later films, but I say they don't know what they're talking about. Back in 1977, this sequence was good enough to capture the hearts and minds of millions of spellbound fans, launching their collective imaginations about the past history between Obi-Wan and Darth, and generating lots of imitative action from kids in playgrounds clashing with invisible laser swords and making Ben Burtt's unique humming sound...

Star Wars Featurette: The Birth of the Lightsaber - YouTube
Ben Burtt Interview: The Sound of Lightsabers - YouTube

Classic autograph quotes from Dave Prowse and Sir Alec Guinness.

One notable re-edit of this sequence can be found in fan film-maker Adywan's STAR WARS REVISITED, where he literally expands/revises the opening part of the duel in a very impressive way, scene flipping footage to further and impressive effect.

Star Wars Obiwan vs Vader Fan Edit - YouTube

THE 'SITH' AT TEN: A JEDI's BEST FRIEND...

Ever faithful to his master, despite noticing his recent moody personality changes, Artoo Detoo is ready for action in the side cockpit of Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Starfighter, in this lovely behind the scenes image at the FOX Studios, Australia for EPISODE III in 2003.

STAR WARS: The Complete Saga auf Blu-ray: Archive Collection Explanations: R2 D2 HD - YouTube