HD scene in Phantom Menace at DVinfo.net

Ben Gurvich · July 11th, 2005, 04:31 AM

I have heard this rumour a few times,does anyone know if its true and also which scene it was.

Also what was the camera and did it have panavision lenses?

Cheers,
Ben Gurvich

Robert Knecht Schmidt · July 11th, 2005, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Gurvich

I have heard this rumour a few times,does anyone know if its true and also which scene it was.

Also what was the camera and did it have panavision lenses?

Cheers,
Ben Gurvich

Pretty blatant if you ask me: It's the scene in which Qui-Gon tells Anakin he's checking his blood for infections. It was the F900 but I'm fairly sure they hadn't Panavised it by that point yet.

Radek Svoboda · July 11th, 2005, 08:30 AM

Episode 2 was shot with Sony F900, Episode 3 with Sony F950. Lucas used Fujinon lenses.

Radek

Ben Gurvich · July 23rd, 2005, 05:32 AM

I watched that scene and it was very dark. But i dont think i would have noticed if i didnt know already. Also, the footage of Ewan McGregor in the ship that is very red and looks pretty average, so im assuming this is on HD too.

Just wondering, is there a massive difference between the lenses they use on differen HD productions, (IE Csi NY, Once upon a time in MEXiCO, 24). Ive checked out the latest season of 24 and it looks to me like digital betacam.

Very sharp but ultimately very unfilm like. It seems HD is inconsistant across the board, unless ofcourse that the film look is dying and is being replaced with ultra sharp, ultra bright uber video looks.

Confused,
Ben Gurvich

Shane Ross · July 24th, 2005, 02:03 AM

As Radek said...it wasn't a scene...it was the whole darn movie. I think even the first film was entirely HD.

Bennis Hahn · July 24th, 2005, 10:17 AM

I'm pretty sure that Lucas said that he had to shoot Episode I on film because the HD cameras were not ready when production started.

Mathieu Ghekiere · July 24th, 2005, 12:20 PM

If you look at the IMDB, with The Phantom Menace, the technical specs, Episode 1 should be have filmed on 35mm, not on HD. Bennis is right.

John Hudson · July 24th, 2005, 03:30 PM

http://www.videotechnology.com/old0604.html

Digital Cinema comming of age.

The Sony CineAlta™ 24p HDW-F900 HDCAM™camcorder system that was used to shoot Star Wars Episode 2.

Sony and Panavision worked with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Lucasfilm on a series of tests that convinced George Lucas and producer, Rick McCallum of the benefits of shooting in digital 24P at 1920 x 1080 HD sampling.

The cost savings for Film Makers is tremendous. Said the producer McCallum, He estimates a saving of US$1.6 million in film stock, dailies (rushes), sound transfers, lab and telecine costs alone. He also maintains that he can document a total saving to the overall production of between $2.5 to 3 million dollars, by shooting HD over film.

On Star Wars Episode 1, Phantom Menace, Lucas shot the equivalent of 1.2 million feet of 35mm film (or about 20,000 feet a day). This would have cost the production $684,000 just for the raw film stock alone. By comparison, Lucas only spent $15,000 for HD tape stock.

For Episode 1 they scanned over a million feet of 35mm film into the digital domain, so they could input it to their computers, making Episode 2,this step was skipped saving some $500,000.

During the shooting, they made true video clones of all the material each day. So they could produce a number of masters that were effectively indistinguishable from each other. This procedure dramatically reduced their negative insurance costs to the tune of about $125,000.

Additional information can be found in the article "Digital Cinema By George" published in the American Cinematographer magazine, September, 2001 page 66. Also in the article "Framing The Future" on page 76 in the same issue.
Filmmaker George Lucas has authored technological innovations feb18 2004, The HollyWood Reporter

Lucasfilm is now using Sony's New 4:4:4 High-Definition Recording System For Star Wars: Episode III, HDC-F950 HD camera and the SRW-5000 HDCAM SR VTR. The HDC-F950 captures uncompressed images at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 in 4:4:4 RGB

Mathieu Ghekiere · July 25th, 2005, 06:17 AM

Oh it would be great if I could steal such a cam, or 'borrow' it from Lucasfilm :-p

Joe Carney · July 25th, 2005, 06:30 PM

Lucas also started using a real time preview of the CG during filiming using a large flat panel display. He could see the final (or close to) sets replacing the blue/green screen while the talent was performing. (this was for Episode III). Pictures showed a comfortable couch on the set and instant playback. very cool.

Yi Fong Yu · July 26th, 2005, 10:00 PM

it's true. search through theforce.net or go on their fanforce message board. it's both the qui gon checking anakin's blood scene as well as ob1 gets promoted scene with yoda@the end.

twas a prototype. episode2 was the first production model.

Barry Gribble · July 27th, 2005, 04:34 AM

Guys,

Yes ep1 was shot on film, but the rumour Ben is referring to is that Lucas said at the time that he shot one scene with HD and challenged anyone to tell him which one it was....

Yi Fong Yu · July 27th, 2005, 07:56 AM

what has been said by ben burtt&lucas is no rumor. the rumor revolves around which shot is HD>

Joshua Starnes · July 31st, 2005, 05:14 PM

Actually, it's only the checking of the blood scene, and that is it - using a prototype of the F900 and, if I am not mistaken, the first specially made panavision lenses they managed to get to work with the camera (though not used for Ep. II).

The scene with Obi-Wan's promotion is shot on film - if you watch the documentary "The Beginning" on the DVD, when they get to the filming of that scene with Frank Oz, the Panavision cameras they used to film it are plainly visible in the background.

Yi Fong Yu · July 31st, 2005, 11:05 PM

any confirmation of that josh? i can't find it anywhere in news sources.

July 11th, 2005, 04:31 AM	#1
Ben Gurvich Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 329	HD scene in Phantom Menace I have heard this rumour a few times,does anyone know if its true and also which scene it was. Also what was the camera and did it have panavision lenses? Cheers, Ben Gurvich

July 26th, 2005, 10:00 PM	#11
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	it's true. search through theforce.net or go on their fanforce message board. it's both the qui gon checking anakin's blood scene as well as ob1 gets promoted scene with yoda@the end. twas a prototype. episode2 was the first production model. __________________ bow wow wow

July 27th, 2005, 04:34 AM	#12
Barry Gribble Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 817	Guys, Yes ep1 was shot on film, but the rumour Ben is referring to is that Lucas said at the time that he shot one scene with HD and challenged anyone to tell him which one it was.... __________________ Barry Gribble Integral Arts, IMDB

July 27th, 2005, 07:56 AM	#13
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	what has been said by ben burtt&lucas is no rumor. the rumor revolves around which shot is HD> __________________ bow wow wow

July 31st, 2005, 11:05 PM	#15
Yi Fong Yu Trustee Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vulcan Posts: 1,564	any confirmation of that josh? i can't find it anywhere in news sources. __________________ bow wow wow

July 11th, 2005, 08:30 AM	#3
Radek Svoboda Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Prague, Czech Republic Posts: 500	Episode 2 was shot with Sony F900, Episode 3 with Sony F950. Lucas used Fujinon lenses. Radek

July 23rd, 2005, 05:32 AM	#4
Ben Gurvich Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 329	I watched that scene and it was very dark. But i dont think i would have noticed if i didnt know already. Also, the footage of Ewan McGregor in the ship that is very red and looks pretty average, so im assuming this is on HD too. Just wondering, is there a massive difference between the lenses they use on differen HD productions, (IE Csi NY, Once upon a time in MEXiCO, 24). Ive checked out the latest season of 24 and it looks to me like digital betacam. Very sharp but ultimately very unfilm like. It seems HD is inconsistant across the board, unless ofcourse that the film look is dying and is being replaced with ultra sharp, ultra bright uber video looks. Confused, Ben Gurvich

July 24th, 2005, 02:03 AM	#5
Shane Ross Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 539	As Radek said...it wasn't a scene...it was the whole darn movie. I think even the first film was entirely HD.

July 24th, 2005, 10:17 AM	#6
Bennis Hahn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 221	I'm pretty sure that Lucas said that he had to shoot Episode I on film because the HD cameras were not ready when production started.

July 24th, 2005, 12:20 PM	#7
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	If you look at the IMDB, with The Phantom Menace, the technical specs, Episode 1 should be have filmed on 35mm, not on HD. Bennis is right.

July 24th, 2005, 03:30 PM	#8
John Hudson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: 32° 44' N 117° 10' W Posts: 820	http://www.videotechnology.com/old0604.html Digital Cinema comming of age. The Sony CineAlta™ 24p HDW-F900 HDCAM™camcorder system that was used to shoot Star Wars Episode 2. Sony and Panavision worked with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Lucasfilm on a series of tests that convinced George Lucas and producer, Rick McCallum of the benefits of shooting in digital 24P at 1920 x 1080 HD sampling. The cost savings for Film Makers is tremendous. Said the producer McCallum, He estimates a saving of US$1.6 million in film stock, dailies (rushes), sound transfers, lab and telecine costs alone. He also maintains that he can document a total saving to the overall production of between $2.5 to 3 million dollars, by shooting HD over film. On Star Wars Episode 1, Phantom Menace, Lucas shot the equivalent of 1.2 million feet of 35mm film (or about 20,000 feet a day). This would have cost the production $684,000 just for the raw film stock alone. By comparison, Lucas only spent $15,000 for HD tape stock. For Episode 1 they scanned over a million feet of 35mm film into the digital domain, so they could input it to their computers, making Episode 2,this step was skipped saving some $500,000. During the shooting, they made true video clones of all the material each day. So they could produce a number of masters that were effectively indistinguishable from each other. This procedure dramatically reduced their negative insurance costs to the tune of about $125,000. Additional information can be found in the article "Digital Cinema By George" published in the American Cinematographer magazine, September, 2001 page 66. Also in the article "Framing The Future" on page 76 in the same issue. Filmmaker George Lucas has authored technological innovations feb18 2004, The HollyWood Reporter Lucasfilm is now using Sony's New 4:4:4 High-Definition Recording System For Star Wars: Episode III, HDC-F950 HD camera and the SRW-5000 HDCAM SR VTR. The HDC-F950 captures uncompressed images at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 in 4:4:4 RGB

July 25th, 2005, 06:17 AM	#9
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Oh it would be great if I could steal such a cam, or 'borrow' it from Lucasfilm :-p

July 25th, 2005, 06:30 PM	#10
Joe Carney Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centreville Va Posts: 1,828	Lucas also started using a real time preview of the CG during filiming using a large flat panel display. He could see the final (or close to) sets replacing the blue/green screen while the talent was performing. (this was for Episode III). Pictures showed a comfortable couch on the set and instant playback. very cool.

July 31st, 2005, 05:14 PM	#14
Joshua Starnes Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 356	Actually, it's only the checking of the blood scene, and that is it - using a prototype of the F900 and, if I am not mistaken, the first specially made panavision lenses they managed to get to work with the camera (though not used for Ep. II). The scene with Obi-Wan's promotion is shot on film - if you watch the documentary "The Beginning" on the DVD, when they get to the filming of that scene with Frank Oz, the Panavision cameras they used to film it are plainly visible in the background.