Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) has chosen Prime Focus to do the 3D conversion of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace for theatrical release.
Prime Focus was chosen after an exhaustive testing process of the company’s proprietary View-D process. The cutting-edge conversion is scheduled to hit 3D theater screens on February 10, 2012.
“It was incredibly important to me that we have the technology, the resources and the time to do this right,” said Star Wars creator George Lucas. “I’m very happy with the results I’ve been seeing on Episode I.”
Prime Focus founder and CEO Namit Malhotra said: “To be chosen by Lucasfilm as a trusted partner, and to be given the time and opportunity to re-present this series as a new experience to both old and new audiences alike, is an incredible honor. For a project of this importance and magnitude, Lucasfilm and ILM would only have chosen a company with the best talent in the industry, leading proprietary technology and infrastructure, a production-proven pipeline and unmatched scale. I am hugely proud that Prime Focus is that company.”
The extensive conversion process is being completed under the close supervision of John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor for ILM.
“Getting really good results from stereo conversion requires a lot of attention to detail and it is imperative that you take the time to get it right – and that’s just what we’re doing,” said Knoll. ”We’re taking a different approach than you might expect. George’s vision has been to add dimension to the film in subtle ways. This isn’t a novelty conversion, with things jumping out at the audience; our goal has been to enhance the classic Star Wars theatrical experience, utilizing the latest cinematic tools and techniques.”
Prime Focus has delivered 3D and/or visual effects work on films such as “Avatar,” “Shrek,” “Tron: Legacy,” “Narnia: Dawn Treader,” and most recently “Sucker Punch. Deploying its global View-D conversion team on the Star Wars project, led out of the Prime Focus Hollywood office, artists in Los Angeles, London and Mumbai are delivering shots via Prime Focus’ ‘Global Digital Pipeline.’
— By Scott Hettrick