The Making of Star Wars (Enhanced Edition)

by Rinzler, J. W.

  “Chewbacca wasn’t given a medal because medals don’t really mean much to Wookiees. They don’t really put too much credence in them. They have different kinds of ceremonies. The Wookiee Chewbacca was in fact given a great prize and honor during a ceremony with his own people. The whole contingent from the Rebel Alliance went to Chewbacca’s people and participated in a very large celebration. It was an honor for the entire Wookiee race.”

  One area that would expand the Star Wars galaxy was Marvel’s continuing comic book series, where fans could follow the exploits of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, et al., until the release of the next film.

  STAR WARS PROGRESSION

  To see which element of Star Wars came from which draft, consult the following coded list.

  KEY CODE

  1/ JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS (EARLY 1973): JOTW

  2/ THE STAR WARS TREATMENT (MAY 1973): TSWT

  3/ THE STAR WARS ROUGH DRAFT (MAY 1974): SWRD

  4/ THE STAR WARS FIRST DRAFT (JULY 1974): TSW1

  5/ ADVENTURES OF THE STARKILLER, EPISODE I: THE STAR WARS, SECOND DRAFT (JANUARY 28, 1975): TSW2

  6/ THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER (EPISODE ONE) “THE STAR WARS,” STORY SYNOPSIS AND TYPED OUTLINE (CIRCA MAY 1, 1975): TSWS

  7/ THE STAR WARS: FROM THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER, THIRD DRAFT (AUGUST 1975): TSW3

  8/ THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER AS TAKEN FROM THE “JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS” (SAGA I) STAR WARS, FOURTH DRAFT (JANUARY 1, 1976): TSW4

  9/ THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER, AS TAKEN FROM THE “JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS” (SAGA I) STAR WARS, REVISED FOURTH DRAFT, SHOOTING SCRIPT, MARCH 15, 1976: SWSS

  3/ STORY BEGINS WITH ROLL-UP (SWRD)

  9/ “A LONG TIME AGO …” (SWSS)

  1/ GALACTIC EMPIRE (JOTW)

  2/ REBELS ON THE RUN DURING A CIVIL WAR (TSWT)

  2/ A PRINCESS (TSWT)

  3/ PRINCESS LEIA (ON THE PLANET AQUILAE) (SWRD)

  5/ LEIA (LARS, COUSIN TO LUKE STARKILLER, DAUGHTER OF OWEN AND BERU LARS; LIVES ON UTAPAU HOMESTEAD) (TSW2)

  5/ LEIA (STARKILLER, HERO OF STORY, ON UTAPAU HOMESTEAD) (TSW2, TEMPORARY REVISION)

  7/ PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA ABOARD THE REBEL SHIP (TSW3)

  2/ A SPACE FORTRESS (TSWT)

  3/ DEATH STAR (ALTERNATE NAME FOR SPACE FORTRESS) (SWRD)

  3/ STAR DESTROYER (TWO-PERSON SIZE) (SWRD)

  5/ STORY OPENS WITH PURSUIT OF REBEL SHIP BY GIANT STAR DESTROYERS (TSW2)

  2/ TWO BICKERING CHARACTERS (BUREAUCRATS, WORKING FOR THE EMPIRE) (TSWT)

  3/ TWO BICKERING ROBOTS, R2D2 AND C3PO (WORKING FOR THE EMPIRE; R2 TALKS) (SWRD)

  5/ R2-D2 AND C-3PO IN SERVICE OF REBELS (TSW2)

  5/ R2-D2 COMMUNICATES WITH “ELECTRONIC SOUNDS” (TSW2)

  3/ STORMTROOPERS (SWRD)

  5/ STORMTROOPERS BLOW OPEN DOOR OF THE REBEL SHIP’S MAIN PASSAGEWAY (AFTER RAPPELLING FROM SHIP ABOVE THROUGH SPACE) (TSW2)

  3/ KNIGHTS OF THE SITH (SWRD)

  3/ SEVEN-FOOT-TALL SITH KNIGHT (SWRD)

  3/ HALF-MAN/HALF-MACHINE CHARACTER (KANE STARKILLER) (SWRD)

  3/ DARTH VADER (A HUMANOID GENERAL) (SWRD)

  5/ DARTH VADER, A SEVEN-FOOT-TALL SITH KNIGHT (TSW2)

  8/ DARTH VADER, HALF-MAN/HALF-MACHINE (TSW4)

  5/ FIGHT ON REBEL SHIP (BETWEEN DEAK STARKILLER AND DARTH VADER) (TSW2)

  7/ VADER KILLS REBEL OFFICER (RIPS ARM OFF; THROWS OBJECTS WITH FORCE) (TSW3)

  8/ VADER STRANGLES REBEL OFFICER (TSW4)

  5/ ROBOTS SENT TO SURFACE OF DESERT PLANET (UTAPAU) ON A MISSION (TO FIND OWEN LARS) (TSW2)

  7/ PRINCESS LEIA PLACES DEATH STAR PLANS INTO R2-D2 (AND SENDS HIM TO “WHOEVER” ON PLANET SURFACE) (TSW3)

  8/ PRINCESS LEIA SENDS R2-D2, WITH PLANS, TO BEN KENOBI (TSW4)

  5/ LIFEPOD WITH ROBOTS NOT DESTROYED BECAUSE NO LIFE-FORMS ARE DETECTED (TSW2)

  8/ DESERT PLANET “UTAPAU” BECOMES “TATOOINE” (TSW4)

  3/ TWO ROBOTS, TREKKING ACROSS DUNE SEA, ARGUE AND SEPARATE (SWRD)

  4/ JAWAS (HUGE GRAY, FURRY BEASTS) (TSW1)

  5/ R2-D2 SHOT BY JAWAS (THREE-FOOT-TALL PEOPLE) AND TAKEN TO A SANDCRAWLER (TWO STORIES HIGH) (TSW2)

  3/ LANDSPEEDER (DRIVEN BY ANNIKIN) PICKS UP TWO ROBOTS ON THE RUN (SWRD)

  5/ ROBOTS ON HOMESTEAD (WHO HAVE ESCAPED FROM JAWAS, AND RECEIVED DIRECTIONS FOR OWEN LARS) (TSW2)

  6/ ROBOTS SOLD TO OWEN LARS BY JAWAS (TSWS)

  7/ R2-D2 IS OWEN’S SECOND CHOICE (BOUGHT WHEN LUKE NOTICES A BAD MOTIVATOR ON HIS FIRST CHOICE) (TSW3)

  9/ C-3PO SUGGESTS THEY PURCHASE R2-D2 AFTER FIRST ASTROMECH DROID BLOWS ITS TOP (SWSS)

  5/ HOMESTEAD (SEVERAL CONCRETE BUILDINGS) (TSW2)

  9/ HOMESTEAD IN HOLE (SWSS)

  2/ A CANTANKEROUS OLD FARMER (TSWT)

  3/ OWEN LARS (AN ANTHROPOLOGIST ON YAVIN) (SWRD)

  5/ OWEN LARS (EX-WARRIOR/FARMER ON UTAPAU) (TSW2)

  6/ OWEN LARS, A FARMER, ANTAGONISTIC TOWARD LUKE (TSWS)

  2/ SKYWALKER (A GENERAL) (TSWT)

  1/ JEDI (TEMPLAR TRAINEE, CHUIEE TWO THORPE OF KISSEL) (JOTW)

  3/ JEDI IN TRAINING (ANNIKIN STARKILLER) (SWRD)

  5/ LUKE (STARKILLER, BOOKWORM, RELUCTANT SOLDIER) (TSW2)

  9/ LUKE SKYWALKER (FARMER WHO LEARNS JEDI WAYS) (SWSS, WITH LATE REVISIONS)

  1/ AN ACADEMY (JOTW)

  3/ ANCHORHEAD, A PLACE (SWRD)

  3/ DARKLIGHTER AND BIGGS (AS NAMES: SEIG DARKLIGHTER, A REBEL LEADER; BIGGS IS A YOUNG BOY PRINCE) (SWRD)

  5/ DARKLIGHTER (BOGAN APPRENTICE) (TSW2)

  7/ BIGGS DARKLIGHTER, A CADET, FRIENDS WITH LUKE (TSW3)

  5/ DROIDS (AS A WORD, USED BY BIGGS, LUKE’S LITTLE BROTHER, TO REFER TO THE ROBOTS) (TSW2)

  7/ C-3PO HAS OIL BATH (TSW3)

  5/ R2-D2 PROJECTS 3-D HOLOGRAM SOS (ADDRESSED TO LUKE FROM DEAK, HIS BROTHER) (TSW2)

  7/ R2-D2 PROJECTS HOLOGRAM OF LEIA (ADDRESSED TO “WHOEVER”) (TSW3)

  8/ R2-D2 PROJECTS HOLOGRAM OF LEIA FOR GENERAL KENOBI (TSW4)

  3/ TWIN SUNS (WATCHED BY KING KAYOS AND QUEEN BREHA) (SWRD)

  5/ TWIN SUNS (SET AS LUKE WALKS FROM HIS MOTHER’S GRAVE SITE) (TSW2)

  7/ LUKE WATCHES TWIN SUNS (TSW3)

  2/ A LANDSPEEDER GOING ACROSS WASTELANDS IN SEARCH OF LARGER SPACECRAFT FOR TRANSPORT TO A FRIENDLY PLANET (TSWT)

  8/ R2-D2 RUNS AWAY (TSW4)

  9/ LUKE REMOVES R2-D2’S RESTRAINING BOLT (SWSS)

  5/ TUSKENS (SPECIAL SOLDIERS WORKING FOR THE EMPIRE) (TSW2)

  3/ BANTA (AS A WORD; “BANTA FOUR,” AN ENEMY SITH) (SWRD)

  5/ BANTA (“BANTA ONE,” A REBEL FIGHTER IN ATTACK ON DEATH STAR) (TSW2)

  7/ TUSKEN RAIDERS, SAVAGE DESERT NOMADS WHO RIDE “MONSTROUS” BANTHAS, ATTACK LUKE (TSW3)

  1/ THE JEDI (JOTW)

  1/ A “GREAT” JEDI (MACE WINDY) (JOTW)

  3/ A FATHER JEDI (BENDU, KANE STARKILLER) (SWRD)

  6/ AN OLD MAN/JEDI, WHOM LUKE MEETS (ON THE ROAD TO MOS EISLEY), AND WHO TELLS LUKE ABOUT THE MYSTICAL WAYS OF THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) (TSWS)

  7/ GENERAL BEN KENOBI (NAME ADDED TO OLD MAN, HALF-MAN/HALF-MACHINE) (TSW3)

  8/ BEN KENOBI 100 PERCENT HUMAN (TSW4)

  9/ BEN KENOBI NOW “OBI-WAN KENOBI” (SWSS)

  7/ BEN KENOBI RESCUES LUKE (TSW3)

  7/ AT HIS HOUSE, BEN EXPLAINS THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) TO LUKE, AND ONE CHARACTER MUST CONVINCE THE OTHER TO DELIVER VALUABLE INFORMATION (TSW3)

  8/ CIRCUMSTANCES PLAY A LARGER PART IN PUSHING LUKE TOWARD HIS DESTINY (TSW4)

  8/ LUKE DOESN’T KNOW WHO HIS FATHER IS (TSW4)

  9/ KENOBI ASKS LUKE TO ACCOMPANY HIM AND LEARN THE WAYS OF THE FORCE, BUT LUKE HESITATES (SWSS)

  3/ THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) (SWRD)

  5/ EVIL OR DARK SIDE TO THE FORCE (OF OTHERS, THE BOGAN) (TSW2)

  2/ “LAZER SWORD,” A WEAPON (TSWT)

  7/ “LASERSWORD” NOW “LIGHTSABER” (TSW3)

  3/ THE SENATE (SWRD)

  3/ GRANDE MOUFF TARKIN (A CORRUPT RELIGIOUS SENATOR) (SWRD)

  7/ TARKIN (ON YAVI
N, COMMANDER OF THE KESSELIAN DRAGOONS) (TSW3)

  8/ GRANDE MOUFF TARKIN ON THE SIDE OF THE EMPIRE (TSW4)

  3/ THE EMPEROR (SWRD)

  8/ IMPERIAL CHARACTERS COMMANDER TAGGE AND ADMIRAL MOTTI (TSW4)

  8/ JAWAS ATTACKED, AND UNCLE OWEN AND AUNT BERU KILLED, BY STORMTROOPERS (TSW4)

  8/ BONFIRE OF DEAD JAWAS (TSW4)

  5/ LUKE GOES TO MOS EISLEY (TSW2)

  7/ BEN AND LUKE VIEW MOS EISLEY TOGETHER FROM A BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE TOWN (TSW3)

  8/ STORMTROOPERS QUESTION THE ORIGINS OF DROIDS IN MOS EISLEY (TSW4)

  9/ KENOBI DOES MIND TRICK ON STORMTROOPER IN MOS EISLEY (SWSS)

  2/ CANTINA CONFRONTATION (GENERAL SKYWALKER KILLS ALIEN BULLY WITH HIS LAZER SWORD) (TSWT)

  5/ CANTINA CONFRONTATION (AFTER HAN SOLO IS PUSHED ASIDE, LUKE STARKILLER CUTS DOWN SEVERAL ALIENS) (TSW2)

  7/ CANTINA CONFRONTATION: LUKE IS PUSHED ASIDE AND BEN CUTS DOWN (TWO) ALIENS (TSW3)

  1/ THE PHONETICS OF CHUIEE (JOTW)

  1/ A PILOT NAMED HAN (DARDELL THORPE, “CHIEF PILOT OF THE RENOWN GALACTIC CRUISER TARNACK”) (JOTW)

  2/ A GIANT FURRY ALIEN (TSWT)

  3/ CHEWIE (NICKNAME OF DEVIL TWO, A HOTSHOT PILOT) (SWRD)

  3/ HAN SOLO (AN ALIEN UREALLIAN, FRIEND OF KANE STARKILLER) (SWRD)

  3/ CHEWBACCA, A HUGE FURRY WOOKEE, WITH WHOM HAN SOLO CAN COMMUNICATE (THEY MEET ON THE JUNGLE PLANET YAVIN) (SWRD)

  4/ A HHUT CHARACTER (OR “SON HHAT,” RULER OF THE GALACTIC KINGDOM) (TSW1)

  5/ HAN SOLO, HUMANOID CORELLIAN PIRATE/PILOT WITHOUT A SHIP OF HIS OWN, TEAMED UP WITH CHEWBACCA THE WOOKIEE, AND IN DEBT (TO AN ENORMOUSLY FAT CHARACTER NAMED OXUS—ALL ON UTAPAU) (TSW2)

  5/ JABBA THE HUTT (A PIRATE) (TSW2)

  9/ PIRATE SHIP NAMED MILLENNIUM FALCON (SWSS)

  7/ HAN SOLO OWES JABBA THE HUTT MONEY (FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SHIP) (TSW3)

  8/ HAN SOLO MEETS BEN AND LUKE IN CANTINA (TSW4)

  9/ HAN SOLO SHOOTS AN ALIEN IN CANTINA (SWSS)

  9/ HAN IS IN DEBT TO JABBA THE HUTT FOR DROPPING AN ILLEGAL SPICE SHIPMENT (SWSS)

  1/ KISSEL (AS A PLACE) (JOTW)

  3/ THE KESSIL SYSTEM (SWRD)

  2/ AFTER CANTINA, A SPY (TSWT)

  3/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP (WHICH HE’S HELPED STEAL FROM IMPERIALS IN GORDON SPACEPORT) (SWRD)

  5/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP (WHICH HE’S STOLEN SINGLE-HANDEDLY FROM JABBA) (TSW2)

  6/ HAN SOLO, CAPTAIN OF HIS SHIP (TSWS)

  8/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP (AFTER OUTDRAWING IMPERIAL BUREAUCRAT MONTROSS, WHO HAD CLOSED DOWN THE SPACEPORT) (TSW4)

  9/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP AFTER SHOOTOUT WITH STORMTROOPERS (SWSS)

  5/ PIRATE SHIP MAKES JUMP TO “HYPER-SKIP” (TSW2)

  8/ JUMP TO “HYPERSPACE” (TSW4)

  2/ ALDERAAN (A PLANET, CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE) (TSWT)

  3/ SPACE FORTRESS ATTACKS A PLANET (AQUILAE) (SWRD)

  5/ LUKE, HAN, ET AL. TRAVEL TO A PLANET (OGANA MAJOR), WHICH HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY THE DEATH STAR (TSW2)

  7/ KENOBI SENSES THE DESTRUCTION OF A PLANET (ORGANA MAJOR) (TSW3)

  8/ ALDERAAN DESTROYED BY DEATH STAR (OFF SCREEN) (TSW4)

  9/ ALDERAAN BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS ON SCREEN (SWSS)

  3/ DROIDS PLAYING CHESS (SWRD)

  5/ ROBOTS PLAY CHESS-LIKE GAME AGAINST CHEWBACCA (TSW2)

  5/ LUKE PRACTICES WITH TRAINING BALL (ON UTAPAU) (TSW2)

  7/ KENOBI TELLS LUKE TO FEEL THE FORCE, WITH TRAINING REMOTE, ON SHIP (TSW3)

  3/ DARTH VADER PUTS PRINCESS LEIA IN DEATH STAR PRISON (SWRD)

  7/ VADER USES TORTURE ROBOT ON LEIA (IN ALDERAAN PRISON) (TSW3)

  8/ VADER USES ROBOT ON LEIA IN DEATH STAR PRISON (TSW4)

  5/ PIRATE SHIP ESCORTED BY TIES (TO ALDERAAN PRISON PLANET) (TSW2)

  8/ PIRATE SHIP CAUGHT IN DEATH STAR TRACTOR BEAM AFTER CHASING TIE FIGHTER (TSW4)

  5/ HAN, LUKE, AND COMPANY HIDE IN LOCKERS IN THEIR SHIP (WHICH FACILITATES THEIR SNEAKING ONTO ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

  3/ ARTWO PLUGS INTO DEATH STAR (SWRD)

  6/ OLD MAN/JEDI GOES ON HIS OWN MISSION (IN ALDERAAN, TO FIND THE KIBER CRYSTAL) (TSWS)

  8/ ABOARD DEATH STAR, BEN’S MISSION IS TO DISENGAGE TRACTOR BEAM (TSW4)

  3/ “MAY THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) BE WITH YOU” (SAYS KING KAYOS) (SWRD)

  7/ “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU,” BEN SAYS (TSW3)

  8/ HAN AND LUKE DISCOVER THE PRINCESS IS SCHEDULED TO BE TERMINATED (TSW4)

  3/ HERO (ANNIKIN STARKILLER) DISGUISES HIMSELF TO PENETRATE DEATH STAR INTERIOR (SWRD)

  5/ HAN AND LUKE DRESS UP AS STORMTROOPERS AND PRETEND CHEWBACCA IS A PRISONER (TSW2)

  3/ TWO HEROES (ANNIKIN AND VALORUM) RESCUE PRINCESS LEIA FROM THE DEATH STAR DETENTION AREA, ESCAPING INTO A GARBAGE CHUTE (SWRD)

  5/ HAN AND LUKE RESCUE PRISONER (DEAK STARKILLER, ON ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

  6/ HEROES (LUKE, HAN, ET AL.) RESCUE PRINCESS FROM HER DETENTION CELL (ON ALDERAAN) (TSWS)

  6/ PRINCESS LEIA AT ODDS WITH HAN, ATTRACTED TO LUKE (TSWS)

  7/ PRINCESS FINDS ACCESS TO THE GARBAGE CHUTE (TSW3)

  7/ GENERAL KENOBI CAN WALK AROUND UNNOTICED THANKS TO THE FORCE (TSW3)

  4/ DAI NOGA, AS A NAME (FOR JEDI) (TSW1)

  5/ DAI NOGA (A SPIDER-LIKE CREATURE, TRIES TO KILL THE HEROES ON ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

  7/ HEROES FLEE INTO AN AREA (ON ALDERAAN) COVERED WITH SLIMY LIQUID AND ENCOUNTER A DIA NOGU, WHICH YANKS LUKE UNDER WATER (TSW3)

  9/ HEROES RESCUE PRINCESS LEIA FROM CELL ON DEATH STAR, AND THEIR ESCAPE FROM DETENTION AREA LEADS STRAIGHT TO SCENE IN GARBAGE MASHER, WHICH NOW HOLDS

  DIA NOGA (SWSS)

  8/ LUKE AND LEIA SWING ACROSS ABYSS (TSW4)

  2/ PRISON RESCUE AND ENSUING SPACE DOGFIGHT (TSWT)

  3/ SPACE DOGFIGHT WITH GOOD GUYS IN GUNPORTS (SWRD)

  5/ HAN AND LUKE IN GUNPORTS FIGHTING TIES (AFTER ESCAPE FROM ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

  9/ GUNPORT BATTLE FOLLOWS ESCAPE FROM THE DEATH STAR (SWSS)

  1/ YAVIN (AS A PLANET) (JOTW)

  2/ YAVIN, A JUNGLE PLANET (HOME OF THE WOOKEES) (TSWT)

  5/ REBEL OUTPOST ON FOURTH MOON OF YAVIN (TSW2)

  2/ A RUINED TEMPLE (TSWT)

  3/ ARTWO PROJECTS IMAGE OF DEATH STAR FOR PLANNING PURPOSES (SWRD)

  4/ DODONNA, AS A NAME (A SITH KNIGHT) (TSW1)

  5/ DEBRIEFING OF ATTACK ON DEATH STAR BY DODANA (TSW2)

  5/ HAN REFUSES TO JOIN THE REBELS (TSW2)

  2/ FIGHTER-TYPE SPACECRAFT ATTACK A SPACE FORTRESS (TSWT)

  8/ “X-WING” STARFIGHTER (TSW4)

  5/ LUKE LEADS FIGHT (MAKING TWO PASSES ON EXHAUST PORT; C-3PO AND BAIL ANTILLES FIRE SHOT THAT DESTROYS DEATH STAR) (TSW2)

  3/ A GOVERNOR (WHO WON’T LEAVE THE SPACE FORTRESS WHEN IT IS IN DANGER) (SWRD)

  8/ WEDGE ANTILLES, A PILOT (TSW4)

  8/ R2-D2 DAMAGED IN END BATTLE (TSW4)

  5/ DARTH VADER NEARLY KILLS LUKE, WHEN HAN AND CHEWBACCA COME TO RESCUE (TSW2)

  6/ LUKE BLOWS UP DEATH STAR (WITH BOMB) (TSWS)

  7/ LUKE FIRES SHOT THAT DESTROYS DEATH STAR (TSW3)

  8/ BEN ADVISES USE OF THE FORCE TO LUKE, WHO DOESN’T USE TARGETING COMPUTER (TSW4)

  2/ AWARD CEREMONY (TSWT)

  GLOSSARY

  ANAMORPHIC PROCESS

  The technique of fitting a wide-screen image onto a standard, almost-square film frame by optically “squeezing” it. This is accomplished by photographing through a cylindrically shaped lens in addition to a spherical one. When the image is shown, it is “unsqueezed” by projecting it through the same kind of lens. When an anamorphic lens is used on a camera, the developed film image appears squeezed in the horizontal axis, making it half as wide as it should be. A circle becomes an upright oval; a square becomes a rectangle with its top and bottom half the size of its height. These distorted images are particularly difficult to deal with in the creation of optical effects, so the ILM technicians usually use a nonanamorphic camera system (VistaVision) when they composite images.

  BI-PACK

  Two films tha
t run through a camera or projector at the same time, packed one on top of the other. In special effects work, one usually functions as a matte that will create an unexposed area on the film to be filled in later by some other image; the other may be the fresh, unexposed film or print to be matted. Bi-pack cameras and projectors are commonly used in optical departments and sometimes in special effects or model photography. The matte paintings for the first Star Wars film were photographed with a bi-pack camera system. Bi-pack cameras are equipped with twin sets of magazines, one for the unexposed film and the other for the matte. They run through the camera with their emulsions touching. At ILM bi-pack cameras and projectors are frequently used on optical printers and aerial image printers in the creation of elements for traveling mattes.

  BLUESCREEN PROCESS

  A photographic process that involves filming in front of a brightly illuminated blue screen. After optical rephotography, the process yields film of actors or objects placed against a black background, and also film of their silhouettes against a clear-white background. With these two elements—moving subjects and their identical moving silhouettes—it is possible to place the subjects into any background scene. The silhouette is used to make a moving black space in the background environment, and the image of the actors is inserted into that hole. At ILM the bluescreens are self-lit with fluorescent tubes. The subject in front is lit with white or amber light, and care is taken that no blue from the screen reflects off the subject and none of the light on the subject spills onto the bluescreen. After the film is developed it is rephotographed twice: once with a filter that turns all the blue to black and leaves the subject unaltered, and then with a filter that turns the blue to white and blocks out all other colors, so that the subject becomes the silhouette.

  BLUESPILL