Gservo
3rd June 2002, 04:19 PM
- The Official StarWars.com Newsletter - Issue #61
Welcome back to the Homing Beacon, the official newsletter of starwars.com.
-------------------------------------
EPISODE II EASTER EGGS
The Star Wars films are brimming with so much detail, that they require
multiple viewings to soak it all in. First time screenings are to watch
the main characters and the core story, but with subsequent viewings
it's hard not to let your eye wander and take in some of the extras.
Sometimes, the details are intentional elements meant to remind you how
the galaxy fits together. Other times, it's an unintentional flub that
illustrates the complexities of filmmaking (keep track of the color of
the clothes that Padmé packs on Coruscant in Episode II, for example).
And, on occasion, the filmmakers purposely put in a little visual joke
to reward sharp-eyed (or in some cases, sharp-eared) movie-goers.
Here's some of the things to watch for the next time you go to see
Attack of the Clones.
Trundling along the streets of Mos Espa as Anakin and Padmé
go to meet Watto is none other than R5-D4, the grumpy astromech
from Episode IV that blows its stack in front of Luke.
What has become a tradition of sorts is the "Wilhelm," the
affectionate moniker given to a very distinct scream sound effect
used in all of the Star Wars films (and quite a few non-Star Wars
films too). In A New Hope, it's the stormtrooper that plummets
down the Death Star chasm. In Episode II, it's a Naboo soldier
thrown in the opening explosion of the film.
The very first shot of Episode II has an homage to another
sci-fi classic as the camera tilts up to the crowded orbital
traffic of Coruscant. "That shot had been executed in 2001: A
Space Odyssey," explains John Knoll, one of Episode II's
Visual Effects Supervisors. "I put an Orion space plane
flying in there."
Star Wars continuity purists will have a hard time
explaining just how an X-wing fighter and TIE fighter got
into the speeder chase over Coruscant.
By now, many have spotted the familiar Millennium Falcon-style
Corellian freighters docked on Naboo. "It was George Lucas'
idea," says VFX Supervisor Pablo Helman. "He said something
like, 'should we dare go there?' And we did." In addition to
those saucer-shaped freighters, expanded universe fans might
be able to spot a Corellian bulk freighter, the same model as
Talon Karrde's Wild Karrde.
It appears that Fett genes and low headroom don't mix. In
an homage to the classic Star Wars misstep, wherein a
stormtrooper bangs his head on a low-hanging door, Jango
Fett also takes a wallop on the noggin -- complete with
sound effect -- as he enters the Slave I after
tangling with Obi-Wan.
"There's these big cow-like creatures called shaaks that
Anakin rides on Naboo," explains Knoll. "The shaaks got to
be a bit of a joke with the crew. I put one in the asteroid
sequence, in a reference to Ken Ralston [visual effects artist
in the classic trilogy] having put potatoes and tennis shoes
in space battle scenes previously. So there's a shaak there,
but it's got the asteroid shader on it with craters. You really
can't see it unless you start to look at it and see the
legs and snout."
"There may be a shaak on fire during the Clone War," hints
Ben Snow, another of Episode II's Visual Effects Supervisors.
"It was almost a competition. Can anyone get a shaak in
their scene?"
Of course, for every confirmed Easter Egg, there are dozens of imagined
ones (Luke's landspeeder? Sebulba? Darth Maul? Joey Fatone?). Keep a
close eye on the screen during your next viewing, but remember: your
eyes can deceive you; don't trust them.
-------------------------------------
RECENT NEWS
-------------------------------------
TPM DVD Depth Commentary
Thanks to software from InterActual, the power of DVD and the
Internet are combined to provide viewers with a new text-based commentary for the Episode I DVD.
http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/news/2002/05/news20020520.html
E3 2002: Begun The Clone Wars Have
LucasArts and Pandemic Studios gave audiences at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3) in LA a first look at their upcoming game
Star Wars: The Clone Wars for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube systems.
http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2002/05/news20020516.html
E3 2002: Star Wars Games Coming to the Consoles
Two major LucasArts Star Wars PC games will be making their way to
game console platforms for a new audience of players to enjoy.
http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2002/05/news20020521.html
Pillars of the Old Republic
Here are some of the most influential loyalists in the waning days
of the Republic.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/news/2002/05/news20020517.html
Splitting the Galaxy
Here is a look at those behind the Separatist movement and their
dark agendas.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/news/2002/05/news20020524.html
Recent Star Wars news...
http://www.starwars.com/swtoday/news.html
-------------------------------------
FEATURES
-------------------------------------
Making Episode II Part 12: Reel 6
Sandwiched between the droid factory and the battles of the Clone War
is the centerpiece of the sixth reel, the massive Geonosian arena,
and the incredible confrontations that occur there.
http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/video/making/making12.html
Samuel L. Jackson: The Jedi Returns
Samuel L. Jackson made such an impression with his brief appearance
as Mace in Episode I that his role was expanded significantly for
Episode II, which finds Windu in the thick of the action.
http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/feature/20020521/index.html
Recent Star Wars features...
http://www.starwars.com/swtoday/features.html
-------------------------------------
ASK THE LUCASFILM JEDI COUNCIL
------------------------------------
In Episode II there appears to be troopers with a color-coding on
their armor. Does this indicate rank and if so what color equates
to what rank?
Read Jocasta Nu's answer here: http://www.starwars.com/community/askjc/jocasta/askjc20020528.html
-------------------------------------
DISCUSSIONS
-------------------------------------
Who is Sifo-Dyas? http://forums.starwars.com/thread.jsp?forum=18&thread=47546
Who do you guys think would best play a good Jedi character
in Episode III? http://forums.starwars.com/thread.jsp?forum=19&thread=50332
Welcome back to the Homing Beacon, the official newsletter of starwars.com.
-------------------------------------
EPISODE II EASTER EGGS
The Star Wars films are brimming with so much detail, that they require
multiple viewings to soak it all in. First time screenings are to watch
the main characters and the core story, but with subsequent viewings
it's hard not to let your eye wander and take in some of the extras.
Sometimes, the details are intentional elements meant to remind you how
the galaxy fits together. Other times, it's an unintentional flub that
illustrates the complexities of filmmaking (keep track of the color of
the clothes that Padmé packs on Coruscant in Episode II, for example).
And, on occasion, the filmmakers purposely put in a little visual joke
to reward sharp-eyed (or in some cases, sharp-eared) movie-goers.
Here's some of the things to watch for the next time you go to see
Attack of the Clones.
Trundling along the streets of Mos Espa as Anakin and Padmé
go to meet Watto is none other than R5-D4, the grumpy astromech
from Episode IV that blows its stack in front of Luke.
What has become a tradition of sorts is the "Wilhelm," the
affectionate moniker given to a very distinct scream sound effect
used in all of the Star Wars films (and quite a few non-Star Wars
films too). In A New Hope, it's the stormtrooper that plummets
down the Death Star chasm. In Episode II, it's a Naboo soldier
thrown in the opening explosion of the film.
The very first shot of Episode II has an homage to another
sci-fi classic as the camera tilts up to the crowded orbital
traffic of Coruscant. "That shot had been executed in 2001: A
Space Odyssey," explains John Knoll, one of Episode II's
Visual Effects Supervisors. "I put an Orion space plane
flying in there."
Star Wars continuity purists will have a hard time
explaining just how an X-wing fighter and TIE fighter got
into the speeder chase over Coruscant.
By now, many have spotted the familiar Millennium Falcon-style
Corellian freighters docked on Naboo. "It was George Lucas'
idea," says VFX Supervisor Pablo Helman. "He said something
like, 'should we dare go there?' And we did." In addition to
those saucer-shaped freighters, expanded universe fans might
be able to spot a Corellian bulk freighter, the same model as
Talon Karrde's Wild Karrde.
It appears that Fett genes and low headroom don't mix. In
an homage to the classic Star Wars misstep, wherein a
stormtrooper bangs his head on a low-hanging door, Jango
Fett also takes a wallop on the noggin -- complete with
sound effect -- as he enters the Slave I after
tangling with Obi-Wan.
"There's these big cow-like creatures called shaaks that
Anakin rides on Naboo," explains Knoll. "The shaaks got to
be a bit of a joke with the crew. I put one in the asteroid
sequence, in a reference to Ken Ralston [visual effects artist
in the classic trilogy] having put potatoes and tennis shoes
in space battle scenes previously. So there's a shaak there,
but it's got the asteroid shader on it with craters. You really
can't see it unless you start to look at it and see the
legs and snout."
"There may be a shaak on fire during the Clone War," hints
Ben Snow, another of Episode II's Visual Effects Supervisors.
"It was almost a competition. Can anyone get a shaak in
their scene?"
Of course, for every confirmed Easter Egg, there are dozens of imagined
ones (Luke's landspeeder? Sebulba? Darth Maul? Joey Fatone?). Keep a
close eye on the screen during your next viewing, but remember: your
eyes can deceive you; don't trust them.
-------------------------------------
RECENT NEWS
-------------------------------------
TPM DVD Depth Commentary
Thanks to software from InterActual, the power of DVD and the
Internet are combined to provide viewers with a new text-based commentary for the Episode I DVD.
http://www.starwars.com/episode-i/news/2002/05/news20020520.html
E3 2002: Begun The Clone Wars Have
LucasArts and Pandemic Studios gave audiences at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3) in LA a first look at their upcoming game
Star Wars: The Clone Wars for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube systems.
http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2002/05/news20020516.html
E3 2002: Star Wars Games Coming to the Consoles
Two major LucasArts Star Wars PC games will be making their way to
game console platforms for a new audience of players to enjoy.
http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2002/05/news20020521.html
Pillars of the Old Republic
Here are some of the most influential loyalists in the waning days
of the Republic.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/news/2002/05/news20020517.html
Splitting the Galaxy
Here is a look at those behind the Separatist movement and their
dark agendas.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/news/2002/05/news20020524.html
Recent Star Wars news...
http://www.starwars.com/swtoday/news.html
-------------------------------------
FEATURES
-------------------------------------
Making Episode II Part 12: Reel 6
Sandwiched between the droid factory and the battles of the Clone War
is the centerpiece of the sixth reel, the massive Geonosian arena,
and the incredible confrontations that occur there.
http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/video/making/making12.html
Samuel L. Jackson: The Jedi Returns
Samuel L. Jackson made such an impression with his brief appearance
as Mace in Episode I that his role was expanded significantly for
Episode II, which finds Windu in the thick of the action.
http://www.starwars.com/episode-ii/feature/20020521/index.html
Recent Star Wars features...
http://www.starwars.com/swtoday/features.html
-------------------------------------
ASK THE LUCASFILM JEDI COUNCIL
------------------------------------
In Episode II there appears to be troopers with a color-coding on
their armor. Does this indicate rank and if so what color equates
to what rank?
Read Jocasta Nu's answer here: http://www.starwars.com/community/askjc/jocasta/askjc20020528.html
-------------------------------------
DISCUSSIONS
-------------------------------------
Who is Sifo-Dyas? http://forums.starwars.com/thread.jsp?forum=18&thread=47546
Who do you guys think would best play a good Jedi character
in Episode III? http://forums.starwars.com/thread.jsp?forum=19&thread=50332