Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › Steve Sansweet talks BD 6 film Star Wars and more
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Steve Sansweet talks BD 6 film Star Wars and more

post #1 of 104
7/30/09 at 4:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:

 


Quote:

For those of you who have been following my Comic-Con coverage, you know that I was collecting interviews pertaining to Star Wars, both audio and video. 
 

My first audio interview was with Lucasfilm's head of fan relations and author of The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia Steve Sansweet.
 

We talked about a lot of things, mainly Star Wars.  We did dip into Indiana Jones a little bit.  We talked about how the Star Wars Encyclopedia was written, how he came to work for Lucasfilm, what he does exactly and there are a lot of juicy news tidbits in there.


Star Wars Celebration V was discussed and they really don't have a solid date or place yet, but it will happen in Summer 2010 for the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back.


We also talked about the Blu-ray treatment of Star Wars and what we might be seeing on the Ultimate Box Set of all Six Star Wars movies.  There was also talk about what behind the scenes documentaries form the past we might be seeing on a digital format.  (I'm transcribing that portion of the interview for another article that I'll be posting shortly.)

The Geek Show Podcast was kind enough to host my interview on their iTunes, for the full 15 minute interview, click this link. 


It is this part of the interview where things become really interesting
Quote:

But we got to talking about the Blu-ray edition of Star Wars and this is what was said:
 

Q: Is there any talk whatsoever, and I'm not even going to ask for a date because I know that's ridiculous, but is there any talk about the Star Wars movies on a high definition format?


A: Yeah.  I mean obviously we've been looking at that for a couple of years and I think one of the questions is when is the market penetration there and these days, will there be a market penetration before everything goes streaming? But we've been looking at an ultimate box set of the Star Wars movies, all six of the movies.  And what special features would be.  And clearly these days, if you did an ultimate box set and didn't do it in HD, Blu-ray, it just wouldn't make any sense.  So now it's a matter of thinking okay, we've been thinking about this for a while, we know what kind of assets we want to use, we've done some work in cleaning up things, it's really a matter of making that decision of when's the best time to release it.


Do you wait and have an event because you're working off of the fact that there's going to be a new live action TV series?


All those things are very much in motion.  I can say with pretty good confidence that at some point in the next several years there will be a complete set of Star Wars movies and lots of extras and deleted footage and anything anyone could want.  Although I say that with some trepidation now because our fans want everything, "Why the Holiday Special wasn't on there, you ruined my life!" 


But in the next few years there will be an ultimate box set and certainly a Blu-ray set.


There is much more

Enjoy
Reply
post #2 of 104
7/30/09 at 6:18pm
Per thefreedictionary.com:

several:  Being of a number more than two or three but not many
Reply
post #3 of 104
7/31/09 at 5:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryH View Post

Per thefreedictionary.com:

several:  Being of a number more than two or three but not many
Well, that was random.

Regardless of whether it's "several", "a few" or "a couple", it's good to know that the Blu-ray set of the six Star Wars films is in the pipeline. This has to be Lucasfilm's last chance to release the saga absolutely nailed-on perfect....
Reply
post #4 of 104
7/31/09 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Kaye View Post

Well, that was random.
 
I think what Larry is trying to say is this news is so incredibly vague it borders on worthless.  Or maybe that's just what I'm trying to say. 
Reply
post #5 of 104
7/31/09 at 9:42am
Quote:
 
It's good to know that the Blu-ray set of the six Star Wars films is in the pipeline. This has to be Lucasfilm's last chance to release the saga absolutely nailed-on perfect....

Well, since Lucas apparently fells that all of the "Star Wars" films are never-ending works-in-progress, I can't see how there can ever be a "perfect" or definitive release of them.

If, by some miracle, the unmolested versions of the original three films are included, then I'll be interested. But I wouldn't hold my breath.
Reply
post #6 of 104
7/31/09 at 9:46am
Perhaps the article should be titled:

Star Wars Episodes BD: Absolutely No Hope!

Sorry to be such a downer but "... in the next several years..." sheesh.
Reply
post #7 of 104
7/31/09 at 10:09am
I agree it's totally vague but it beats the flat out denials at the infancy of DVD that the OT would ever be released on that format.
Reply
post #8 of 104
7/31/09 at 10:43am
Without the original, unaltered versions of Episode IV-VI, I surely will pass on this set, as I did back in 2004.
Reply
post #9 of 104
7/31/09 at 3:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jonathan Kaye View Post


Regardless of whether it's "several", "a few" or "a couple", it's good to know that the Blu-ray set of the six Star Wars films is in the pipeline. This has to be Lucasfilm's last chance to release the saga absolutely nailed-on perfect....
 

Well, I don't think there was anyone here (or on any other forum) who wouldn't think Lucas would not release the Star Wars movies on Blu. Of course they'll be released, it's just a matter of when and how. And since the 'super mega ultimate box set' has been a steady rumor even before the dvd trilogy came out, they'd better make it right this time. And yes, that would mean the originals too, but I'm not holding my breath. It would help to shut up everyone once and for all, though.
Reply
post #10 of 104
7/31/09 at 3:36pm
My prediction:

Six movies (2004 versions) in 1080p AVC w/ DTS-HD MA audio with the same extras as the DVD set (in HD where applicable) and then a sprinkling of new supplements....maybe even these unseen-for-a-long-time making-of docs. They'll be packed in slim cases just like the ST movies.

Oh, and The Phantom Menace should be devoid of any ridiculous edge enhancement. 
Reply
post #11 of 104
7/31/09 at 3:52pm
All Star Wars fans need to know based on past experience
with all the other formats is that it is very likely we will be
milked on multiple releases of the complete saga, each with
supplements or versions that should have been included the
first time around.

My only hope is that Lucas will a little kinder to the fans and
get it right the first time.


 
Reply
post #12 of 104
7/31/09 at 4:43pm
You would think that for business reasons alone that they would want to get them out before streaming becomes a big deal,to milk us for every dime they can
Reply
post #13 of 104
7/31/09 at 5:23pm
Wouldn't Star Wars be one of the titles that would be a lynch pin to increasing market penetration? 
Reply
post #14 of 104
7/31/09 at 7:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Arnette View Post



I think what Larry is trying to say is this news is so incredibly vague it borders on worthless.  Or maybe that's just what I'm trying to say. 
 

Bingo!  Thank you.  I have trouble being so direct. 
Reply
post #15 of 104
8/1/09 at 9:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oliver_A View Post

Without the original, unaltered versions of Episode IV-VI, I surely will pass on this set, as I did back in 2004.
You can put me in that camp, as well- 1977, 1980 & 1983 or no sale.  

(and no, I'm not interested in the world's first letterboxed Blu-Rays, lovingly transferred from the original 1993 laserdisc masters!) 
Reply
post #16 of 104
8/1/09 at 10:16pm
Wait Ron, I thought Star Trek and Evil Dead were the only franchises milking us for all they can get...
Reply
post #17 of 104
8/2/09 at 3:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein View Post

(...)

My only hope is that Lucas will a little kinder to the fans and
get it right the first time.

I don't think they ever got it right on DVD, neither the first nor the second time.

The first time, there was no inclusion of the original versions, lack of deleted scenes, only one documentary for the whole trilogy and, although the sharpness of the new transfers was excellent, it was plagued by a hack job done on the colour correction, plus the sound bugs.

The second time, there were no extras anymore (and I DON'T count the inclusion of the original films, which built this whole money making empire as "extras"), shoddy laserdisc transfers of the originals with heavy DNR and aliasing problems (in lots of scene, lines seem to have been doubled), and the Special Editions still had ALL the bugs which were plaguing the first release.

For me, Star Wars on DVD was a big disappointment, nothing worth waiting the extra long time. From my perspective, they need to do REAL good to redeem themselves. Other, much less "important" (in terms of box office) films, have recieved stellar treatment on DVD. But with Lucasfilm and Star Wars, all it seems to be about is money and how to maximize profits with the least amount of effort. This whole bloody affair almost destroyed my nostalgic love for the first three films.

Therefore, if this Blu Ray set isn't done RIGHT (and I really mean RIGHT, like Bladerunner RIGHT) on the FIRST TIME, well, they can show me pretty much any lack of kindness they want, for me, it's simply: NO SALE.
Reply
post #18 of 104
8/2/09 at 9:08am

I understand being dissapointed that the originals haven't been made available in a quality form but I don't know how anyone can say that they've milked Star Wars on DVD. They've had two distinct releases of the OT in 12 years and one for the prequels. There's movies that have had two DVDs in less than a year of its theatrical release.

Reply
post #19 of 104
8/2/09 at 9:46am
I agree the extras were quite disappointing on the original trilogy.  I mean the three hour documentary was excellent, but I was hoping for more in-depth information and details on the original films, behind-the-scenes, deleted scenes, etc.  Maybe they can finally do it right on BD.
Reply
post #20 of 104
8/2/09 at 10:45am
Quote:
I think one of the questions is when is the market penetration there and these days, will there be a market penetration before everything goes streaming?

Well if you turkeys wait a few YEARS, I'm guessing your market penetration before streaming is going to get increasingly smaller.

Jeezuz.... this ain't rocket science...  is it?

I can't understand why they don't at least have a 2010-2011 release planned. (...and what about the Indiana Jones flicks?)
Reply
post #21 of 104
8/2/09 at 10:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR View Post

I understand being dissapointed that the originals haven't been made available in a quality form but I don't know how anyone can say that they've milked Star Wars on DVD. They've had two distinct releases of the OT in 12 years and one for the prequels. There's movies that have had two DVDs in less than a year of its theatrical release.



I'd even go further and say I don't understand why people feel Lucas "milked" Star Wars on VHS.  Before the 1995 remasters, and with the exception of widescreen versions released around '91 or '92,  all the releases of each Star Wars films were from the same transfer.  They might have been re-released in 1990 in a box set with new artwork, but I believe they were the same transfers done for the initial release of each respective film.  With the exception of the widescreen version, the only instance where you would have "needed" to buy a new copy was the remastered versions released in 1995 but I'd hardly consider re-releasing a film, updating a ten-plus year old transfer, "milking" it.

The 1997 Special Editions I could somewhat  agree with as milking it, but if a fan genuinely disliked the fact that Lucas tinkered with them, I'd see no reason to buy them, or their 2000 re-release, same transfer, but with different artwork and a 10 minute behind-the-scenes of Episode II featurette.  I'm sure some of the hardcore fans bought them just for the artwork and the featurette but it certainly wasn't milking it where more discriminating fans were concerned.

In the end, with the exception of the SEs, I wouldn't say these films were shamelessly re-released anymore than than the average popular movie.

I'm firmly in the camp though that Lucas should've released both versions on DVD back in 2004, or at the very least, held off on re-releasing them in 2006 with the laserdisc transfers in favor of a full blown 30th Anniversary release the next year complete with a state of the art transfer for the original versions. I also think that some of the audio and tranfer issue are inexcusable and idicative of a rush job. It seems like Lucas was genuinely holding to his plan of not releasing them until after the prequels were finished, then almost last minute, decided to move them up to 2004 to help them promote the upcoming Episode III.  Odd though since they did seem to put a lot of work in some areas: Jabba's completely revised in Star Wars, McDiarmid appears in Empire, and there's other numerous little changes here and there, but they couldn't find the time to make the lightsabres look right, especially with Luke's training scene on the Falcon or the climatic fight of ROTJ?!  So if anything, these films are due for a re-release, though it better be blu ray.
Reply
post #22 of 104
8/2/09 at 11:06am
It's not about the number of releases the original trilogy had. It's about building up a huge amount of anticipation over the years and then disappointing the fans with a lacklustre, bug-ridden DVD release. As if no one at Lucasfilm really cares about those films, or understands their appeal.

They are probably the most popular films recieving no kind of love from their own creator. Sure, this whole franchise is what keeps the cash flow going, but deep down inside, George Lucas probably resents the fact that Star Wars was the film which made him one of the most weahlthy and influential persons in film history. Just look at the DVD treatment of THX 1138, which is a much more interesting release than the Star Wars trilogy.

It's this ambivalence between Star Wars (plus the fans) and its creator which is probably the reason why everything from 1997 on feels so coldly calculated and yet, totally out of sync with the spirit of those original films.

I mean, just look a the original Star Wars. For me, it's a pure guilty pleasure, a very funny and energetic movie which clearly transports a lot of 70's feeling. Its hand made special effects, ridiculously funny costumes, theatrical yet fun acting and production mistakes are what makes it a highly entertaining, kind of naive, sympathetic and organic film for me. If you "fix" this film, you fix everything which, I think, made it the huge box-office success it was back in 1977.

I get the exact same kind of vibe when watching this behind the scenes footage of ILM from 1976, while they were doing the special effects. This is the kind of stuff which SHOULD HAVE BEEN on a special edition of Star Wars.

http://www.vimeo.com/5494280

This whole atmosphere, both in this documentary, and in the final film, is a HUGE conrast to how those films are being treated commercially. It has become a cold franchise, devoid of any fun, yet built on one single, very funny film. No one responsible at Lucasfilm seems to understand (or doesn't want to understand) this fact.
Edited by Oliver_A - 8/2/2009 at 06:37 pm GMT
Edited by Oliver_A - 8/2/2009 at 06:40 pm GMT
Reply
post #23 of 104
8/2/09 at 11:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oliver_A View Post

It's not about the number of releases the original trilogy had. It's about building up a huge amount of anticipation over the years and then disappointing the fans with a lacklustre, bug-ridden DVD release. As if no one at Lucasfilm really cares about those films, or understands their appeal.

They are probably the most popular films recieving no kind of love from their own creator. Sure, this whole franchise is what keeps the cash flow going, but deep down inside, George Lucas probably resents the fact that Star Wars was the film which made him one of the most weahlthy and influential persons in film history. Just look at the DVD treatment of THX 1138, which is a much more interesting release than the Star Wars trilogy.
 

I know George Lucas is somehow seen as the antichrist by some people but that's ridiculous. If George Lucas had no love for Star Wars, he wouldn't have spent most of the last 15 years (that's about a quarter of his entire life) on Star Wars with the prequels, cartoon series and, at some point in the future, a live action TV series. And if he was only in it for money, he could have someone else handle everything so he didn't have to bother with something he had no love for and just sat back and counted the money as it poured in.
Reply
post #24 of 104
8/2/09 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR View Post


I know George Lucas is somehow seen as the antichrist by some people but that's ridiculous. If George Lucas had no love for Star Wars, he wouldn't have spent most of the last 15 years (that's about a quarter of his entire life) on Star Wars with the prequels, cartoon series and, at some point in the future, a live action TV series. And if he was only in it for money, he could have someone else handle everything so he didn't have to bother with something he had no love for and just sat back and counted the money as it poured in.

What you describe is not love, but how a business is run. The prequel trilogy are probably the most expensive independent films ever made. You can only finance this if you exploit the popularity of this franchise to its fullest extend. You sell a product and hope to make a profit, in order to keep your company over water.

LOVE begins when we are talking about a filmmaker spending quite some money on restoring his unbeloved (from the public), obscure $700.000 science fiction film from 1970 by Lowry Digital and giving it its own 2 disc special edition DVD, with some very interesting and personal documentaries on it.

LOVE and fun is when I am seeing the people working at ILM on Star Wars in 1976, people whose attitude and spirit clearly had a huge impact on the final film.

http://www.vimeo.com/5494280

However, when I am watching the Laserdisc transfers of my 2006 DVDs, I sense no love for the original films, but a business decision.

"How can we dry up the black market for those fan made DVD's, which have gotten quite popular? And while we are at it, we can clear the rest of our stock from the previous DVD. Yes, they have lots of bugs which could be corrected, but people will still buy them anyway, right?"

Watch THX 1138 and sense the irony about the man who made this film.
Reply
post #25 of 104
8/2/09 at 12:43pm
Personally I was quite happy with the DVD 2004 dvd release of the original trillogy films. I thought they extras and the documentary in particular were quite good.

Frankly you are NEVER going to get the original cuts of the films on anything more than the old laserdisc transfer because Lucas cringes when he sees them. If Lucas liked those versions of the films he would release them, but he clearly doesn't.  You may not like it....but dang get over it already.

Doug
Reply
post #26 of 104
8/2/09 at 12:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce View Post

If Lucas liked those versions of the films he would release them, but he clearly doesn't.  You may not like it....but dang get over it already.

Obviously, you have been living under a rock since 2004. And dang, I will pretty much say anything I want about this issue. ;) If you don't care about the originals, then I am obviously the wrong conversation partner for you.
Reply
post #27 of 104
8/2/09 at 12:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oliver_A View Post




Obviously, you have been living under a rock since 2004. And dang, I will pretty much say anything I want about this issue. ;) If you don't care about the originals, then I am obviously the wrong conversation partner for you.


I saw the originals in 1977 when I was 11, and they are the reason that I'm a film maker. So they are actually hugely important to me.

I haven't been under a rock, I know the alleged issues with the DVD set. They just are a big enough deal to bother me, and are for the most part nit picking. Yes I have my own issues with the special editions, but I feel that on balance they are a huge improvement over the original cuts of the films and am willing to over look the things I don't like.

Doug

Reply
post #28 of 104
8/2/09 at 1:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce View Post





I saw the originals in 1977 when I was 11, and they are the reason that I'm a film maker. So they are actually hugely important to me.

I haven't been under a rock, I know the alleged issues with the DVD set. They just are a big enough deal to bother me, and are for the most part nit picking. Yes I have my own issues with the special editions, but I feel that on balance they are a huge improvement over the original cuts of the films and am willing to over look the things I don't like.

Doug




Your opinion is appreciated, but totaly irrelevant for me, since it will never ever convince me to like the Special Editions. For me, films are always products of their time. I love the original, Academy Award winning special effects. The fact that he changed the trilogy AGAIN for 2004 (although he claimed back in 1997 that these are now the versions he likes) tells me that it's absolutely not about artistic integrity, but merely upgrading an old product which has to be sold in combination with its new, accompanying products. If GL would have made Star Wars in 1997, it would have been a totally different film. Different actors, different technology, different social and cultural influences. That's the ridiculousness about upgrading old films.

But hey, this is all old talk. As always, there are fans telling me how I am supposed to love the new versions. As if my love for the original versions somehow questions or subverts their own, personal decisions. Frankly, I don't give a hoot what version you prefer or that you are telling me to stop caring about my own, personal tastes. ;)


Edited by Oliver_A - 8/2/2009 at 08:22 pm GMT
Reply
post #29 of 104
8/2/09 at 1:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce View Post

Personally I was quite happy with the DVD 2004 dvd release of the original trillogy films. I thought they extras and the documentary in particular were quite good.

Frankly you are NEVER going to get the original cuts of the films on anything more than the old laserdisc transfer because Lucas cringes when he sees them. If Lucas liked those versions of the films he would release them, but he clearly doesn't.  You may not like it....but dang get over it already.

Doug

I just wish that Lucas could see what a lot of us see in those original versions.

My ultimate version of the films would include a totally restored OT (with all the myriad audio versions), both versions of the SEs (1997 and 2004) and the super-duper SEs you know that he has to be working on.

My gut feeling is that, by the time he began working on the Prequels, Lucas gathered so many "yes-men" around him that no one would tell him "no" once in a while. Can you imagine what kind of a film "Revenge of the Sith" could have been if Lucas had allowed someone like Ron Howard or even Spielberg take the reins?
Reply
post #30 of 104
8/2/09 at 1:23pm

Did I say you should like the Special Editions? Not at all. I totally understand if you prefer the original cuts of the films. But I'm getting a little tired of hearing about the "evil motives" of George Lucas. He only wants to pick my pocket. He stole my childhood.

So what if he wants to make more money on the movies. He isn't in business for his health. This is after all show BUSINESS. People aren't in it for heart; they are in it to make money. If they weren't, movies wouldn't cost $100 million or more.

Honestly I don't think the motivation is money so much as a new technology or technique comes along and he feels that he can improve on something. It’s his film whats wrong with that?

Personally if it were up to me I would have all the different cuts of the film on a new set. Including all the different audio mixes of the first film, but its not up to me.

Doug

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Blu-ray
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › Steve Sansweet talks BD 6 film Star Wars and more