Star Wars' Cinema Technology | 6842 Valjean Ave | S15-E1
American Innovations
Audible
4.6 • 4.1K Ratings
🗓️ 16 May 2019
⏱️ 46 minutes
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Summary
When STAR WARS debuted in May 1977, it gave rise to a pop-cultural phenomenon unlike any the world had ever seen. The movie was so singular and iconic, and so technically ambitious -- that it almost never came to be.
To bring Star Wars to the screen, new technology had to be invented and existing technology had to be utilized in ways never before imagined. None of the special effects companies in Hollywood could handle the blend of creativity and innovation necessary to bring director George Lucas’s vision to life. So Lucas built his own studio, and forever changed the way movies are made.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're listening to an episode of a Wondery Plus exclusive series. |
| 0:03.6 | To continue listening, join Wondery Plus and enjoy Ad Free Listening to over 40,000 episodes, |
| 0:08.9 | early access to your favorite podcasts and more. |
| 0:11.6 | Find Wondery Plus in the Wunderie app or on Apple Podcasts. April 1975, Los Angeles, California. |
| 0:27.0 | John Dykstra isn't going to be late for this meeting. |
| 0:31.7 | The 27-year- effects assistant drives onto the |
| 0:35.1 | studio lot and pulls up to bungalow 426. It's shabby, single story, and small. |
| 0:42.0 | Reproduction offices always look like Abbey, single story, and small. |
| 0:43.0 | Reproduction offices always look like this. |
| 0:45.9 | They don't always sound like this, though. |
| 0:50.6 | He pushes the door open. Inside, it's dark. The director's back is to him. |
| 0:57.0 | His hands on his hips as he gazes forward, totally immersed in the action. |
| 1:02.0 | And this is serious action. |
| 1:05.0 | World War II documentary footage projected on a floor to ceiling screen. |
| 1:10.0 | P51s and Messerschmidtz in a dog fight. The planes swoop, shoot, explode. |
| 1:17.2 | Without turning, the director comments. |
| 1:20.0 | When he speaks, his voice is light, slightly nasal. |
| 1:23.7 | But there's also something friendly in it, |
| 1:25.7 | reassuring, like Kermit the frog. |
| 1:28.7 | It's all gonna have to look like this, only, you know, |
| 1:31.7 | faster, more intense. |
| 1:33.8 | Han saves Luke. |
... |
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