Digital Technologies

Lucas Pronounces Digital Capture "Inevitable”

LAS VEGAS -- At a Sony press event held at NAB, director George Lucas, terming himself an "independent filmmaker," ("although you might not think of me as an independent filmmaker," he admitted) rebuffed questions concerning the film industry's resistance to adopting digital formats. "It's inevitable," Lucas said, confident that the industry has "achieved critical mass on digital capture."

George Lucas (right)
recounts the production
of "Episode 2"
with Sony's
Larry Thorpe:
"We've been involved
in this process
for seven or eight years."
Photo by
Jon Silberg

Before introducing Lucas to the audience, Sony screened a tape with "Star Wars Episode II" crew members relating their experiences of the film's production. Lucas spoke of having reached the "celluloid ceiling" with film as an acquisition format, while producer Rick McCallum termed the experience of shooting using the 24p format "an unprecedented success -- I can't imagine going back to film."

Sharing the stage with Sony's tireless 24p advocate, Larry Thorpe, Lucas maintained, "I'm not trying to convert anyone -- I'm just recounting our experiences on 'Episode II.'" Lucas credited the 24p format with being "economically more conducive," and reported that the "advantages enormously outweigh the disadvantages."

"I'm a storyteller," Lucas emphasized.

"If it looks good to me on the screen, I'm happy."

Panasonic AJ-HDC27V
A variable frame rate, progressive scan HD Cinema camera
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