Tag Archives: star wars

Is This Film’s Most Overused Sound Effect?

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You don’t have to pay a lot of attention to the Movies to hear it, because it’s everywhere. It’s a short, pained scream that sounds just a little antiquated in the high-budget sound coming from your 11.1 sound system. I’m talking of course about the Wilhelm scream.. No, we’re not talking about those master of Indie production music ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.audionetworkplc.com/production-music/style-genre/popular-styles/indie-britpop/results.aspx) ‘A Wilhelm Scream’ (no, never heard of them), the scream appears in an estimated 216 films and many video games and other media too.

The story of the ‘Wilhelm Scream’, or at least, the ‘Wilhelm Scream’ as a phenomenon, begins with sound designer Benjamin Burtt Jr. finding a reel marked ‘Man being eaten by alligator’ in the sound effects library ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.audionetworkplc.com/sound-effects/) at Warner Bros. Working at the time on ‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’, Burtt was already familiar with the scream. As a sound effect enthusiast, he had noticed it used countless times before in many Warner Bros. movies. In fact, though ‘Star Wars’ was the first instance of the effect being used direct from its source reel, he’d already recorded the scream from movie sources for use in ‘The Scarlett Blade’. He would reuse the scream again and again for the entire Star Wars series as well as ‘Indiana Jones’, ‘More American Graffiti’ and ‘Willow’. Through the years, many other sound engineers have carried on the tradition. Richard Anderson, Burtt’s colleague on Indiana Jones, used the scream in ‘Poltergeist’, ‘Batman Returns’ and countless other films he worked on.

So why is it the ‘Wilhelm scream’? Burtt remembered the sound effect from a 1953 picture called ‘Charge at Feather River’, where the scream is used when a character named Pvt. Wilhelm gets show in the leg with an arrow. The sound effect was actually used two years prior to this film though. ‘Distant Drums’, made in 1951, features the ‘alligator’ scene the reel refers to. The original effect is likely the vocal performance of Sheb Wooley, a character actor who played a minor role in the picture. Sheb Wooley was also a novelty musician whose music library ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.audionetworkplc.com/) included the 1958 release ‘Purple People Eater’.

The Earth Can’t Stop In 2012 Because That’s When Star Wars 3-dimensional Is Released

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Fire up the light-sabers, because “Star Wars 3D” is going to be happening. Every one of the films within the series could be reformatted into digital 3-d. It will take awhile though. The very first is not due out until 2012. The films are coming out in chronological order. The initial launch can be of “Episode 1,” the first prequel. Following the prequels will come the original trilogy.

‘Star Wars’ 3-D is nearly here

Hollywood has exploded with three dimensional films, or rather giving the illusion of three dimensions. Some of the biggest hits within the past few years are released in two dimensional and three dimensional versions, such as “Avatar,” “Clash of the Titans” and others. George Lucas and Industrial Light and Magic are now working together with technology on “Star Wars”. The plan is to make it 3-D. According to The Telegraph, Lucas film insists that it will not be a rush job. Every detail within the series will be turned 3-d. This is going to improve the overall quality of all of the films.

Can easily see the first one in 2012

The first installment in the “Star Wars 3-D” run can be “Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.” The chronological order of the story will be followed as the series is released. The release date is not yet determined for sure. 2012 is the year the business is heading for. It is just a goal though. The Hollywood Reporter tells us that 3-d engineering is something George Lucas may nevertheless need to be certain of. However, viewing the film “Avatar” changed his mind. There isn’t any word on how long it will be between releases.

Having theaters up to date

Theaters need to get up to speed. Too many are still lagging with only 2-D projections. However, 500 are adding 3-D capable projectors per year. More films are being released in 3-D meaning more theaters try to get it. There isn’t any update on whether “Indiana Jones” or “Clone Wars” series will become 3-d anytime soon.

Articles cited

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8032634/George-Lucas-to-release-Star-Wars-in-3D.html

The Hollywood Reporter

hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i677c428c4dc16c2c7592835d50e86a3a

Star Wars Characters I Love

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Are you a fan of some of the great characters in the Star Wars movies? Do you find it difficult to pick a favorite? There are the handsome ones such as Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, the pretty ones such as Princess Leia and Queen Amidala, the wise ones such as Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi and the evil ones such as Darth Vader. Then, there are the downright funny ones such as R2D2, C-3P0, Jar Jar Binks, Chewbacca and Jabba the Hut.

I’m sure most people who love Star Wars have their own favorite characters and may disagree with my favorites. Nevertheless, I’m going to tell you about my own three favorite characters. It wasn’t easy to pick from all my favorites.

1.    Yoda.

Possibly the strangest character in Star Wars is Yoda. He doesn’t look much but looks can be very deceiving. Yoda may be small but he is a powerful Jedi Master and has attained mastery of the Force. His skills with the light sabre are legendary and he is one of the wisest of the Jedi. In this respect, the character of Yoda teaches us not to judge a book by its cover. For example, in The Empire Strikes back Luke Skywalker is sent to Yoda for training. He initially thinks that this strange character is quite comical, but to his shock discovers that Yoda is the Jedi Master he’d been sent to see. Yoda teaches Luke almost everything he knows about the Force and imparts many words of wisdom which sets him on his path of self-discovery. In fact, it is all neatly summed up when Yoda states “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is….”

2. Han Solo.

I think that Han Solo is probably the favorite character os most women who watch Star Wars. He was definitely a very appealing character, especially as played by Harrison Ford. Unlike Luke Skywalker, Han doesn’t have any special powers, but what made this smuggler and mercenary so great is that we see him change from a sarcastic rebel to someone who realizes the importance of being part of a group and fighting for the greater good. As Han changes his outlook to become less selfish and more altruistic, he is able to win the affections of Princess Leia.

3.    Princess Leia

I particularly like Princess Leia. She is not only beautiful, but feisty, forceful, strong-willed, humorous, compassionate and dedicated. These are all positive attributes that all young women should aspire to. You may be surprised to know that, like her twin brother Luke, she learned some ways of using the Force. In fact, she became very capable Jedi knight herself and was very skilled in the use of the light sabre? Probably, one of the most memorable things about Leia, especially for all the men in the world, is her metal bikini, also known as her slave costume.

The Star Wars movies are so iconic, full of wonderful characters and a great story of good over evil. If you love Star Wars, then why not drop by my Star Wars Halloween costume website ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://starwarshalloweencostume.org) to check out the fantastic costumes on display?

Star Wars Characters I Love

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Are you a fan of some of the great characters in the Star Wars movies? Do you find it difficult to pick a favorite? There are the handsome ones such as Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, the pretty ones such as Princess Leia and Queen Amidala, the wise ones such as Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi and the evil ones such as Darth Vader. Then, there are the downright funny ones such as R2D2, C-3P0, Jar Jar Binks, Chewbacca and Jabba the Hut.

I’m sure most people who love Star Wars have their own favorite characters and may disagree with my favorites. Nevertheless, I’m going to tell you about my own three favorite characters. It wasn’t easy to pick from all my favorites.

1.    Yoda.

Possibly the strangest character in Star Wars is Yoda. He doesn’t look much but looks can be very deceiving. Yoda may be small but he is a powerful Jedi Master and has attained mastery of the Force. His skills with the light sabre are legendary and he is one of the wisest of the Jedi. In this respect, the character of Yoda teaches us not to judge a book by its cover. For example, in The Empire Strikes back Luke Skywalker is sent to Yoda for training. He initially thinks that this strange character is quite comical, but to his shock discovers that Yoda is the Jedi Master he’d been sent to see. Yoda teaches Luke almost everything he knows about the Force and imparts many words of wisdom which sets him on his path of self-discovery. In fact, it is all neatly summed up when Yoda states “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is….”

2. Han Solo.

I think that Han Solo is probably the favorite character os most women who watch Star Wars. He was definitely a very appealing character, especially as played by Harrison Ford. Unlike Luke Skywalker, Han doesn’t have any special powers, but what made this smuggler and mercenary so great is that we see him change from a sarcastic rebel to someone who realizes the importance of being part of a group and fighting for the greater good. As Han changes his outlook to become less selfish and more altruistic, he is able to win the affections of Princess Leia.

3.    Princess Leia

I particularly like Princess Leia. She is not only beautiful, but feisty, forceful, strong-willed, humorous, compassionate and dedicated. These are all positive attributes that all young women should aspire to. You may be surprised to know that, like her twin brother Luke, she learned some ways of using the Force. In fact, she became very capable Jedi knight herself and was very skilled in the use of the light sabre? Probably, one of the most memorable things about Leia, especially for all the men in the world, is her metal bikini, also known as her slave costume.

The Star Wars movies are so iconic, full of wonderful characters and a great story of good over evil. If you love Star Wars, then why not drop by my Star Wars Halloween costume website ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://starwarshalloweencostume.org) to check out the fantastic costumes on display?

Star Wars Is Marked By May The Fourth Be With You

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Star Wars ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/05/04/star-wars-quotes-may-the-forth-be-with-you/) gets its own day today with quotes. Obi-Wan Kenobi with a lisp isn’t May the Fourth be With you. May 4 is Star Wars Day, thanks to a play on the classic Jedi Knight phrase “May the force be with you,” in the Star Wars movie series. Star Wars geeks celebrate May the Fourth be with you by integrating Star Wars quotes into their conversations. The most popular Star Wars quotes that most people recognize appear on May the Fourth be with you in lists all over the web. But the obscure Star Wars quotes like a personal loan ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://personalmoneystore.com/personal-loans/personal-loan/) to forgotten scenes are the most fun, such as “I suggest a new strategy, R2. Let the wookiee win.”

May the Fourth be with you is the day

For movie nerds, “May the Force be with you” is to Star Wars what “Live long and prosper” is to Star Trek. It is the biggest of all Star Wars quotes; a symbol of the status the Star Wars universe has achieved in our culture ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/02/24/admiral-ackbar-ole-miss-mascot/). At least one character says “May the Force be with you” in every one of the six George Lucas’ Star Wars movies. In 2005, the line was chosen as No. 8 on the American Film Institute list, AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes. To set the record straight, a definition is given by the geeks at Wookieepedia:

“May the Force be with you” was a phrase used to wish luck, generally when individuals parted ways or the object of the expression was facing some sort of imminent challenge. The phrase implied the speaker’s wish that the power of the Force would be working alongside the addressee, in order that the addressee’s goals would be more effectively accomplished.”

Yoda and his quotes

May the fourth be with you will be the most popular Star Wars quotes said by Yoda. Yoda’s trademark idiom of reversing the subject and predicate in sentences can be used by people to imitate the little green badass in virtually any conversation. For example, “The bus to work, I will take,” uses the same twisted sentence structure as the Yoda quote “Strong I am, with the force.” Yoda quotes are all over the web. Quotemountain.com has some samples for us:

Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you. Grave danger you are in. Impatient you are. Try not. Do or do not, there is no try. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will. Always in motion is the future. Size matters not. Blind we are, if creation of this clone army we could not see. Help you I can, yes. Agree with you the council does. Your apprentice Skywalker will be. When 900 years you reach, look as good, you will not.

Star Wars quotes plenty

In virtually every situation described above, May the Force be with you is spoken by Star Wars characters. Even Han Solo, whose most famous Star Wars quote may be “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid,” blesses Luke Skywalker with the quote before the attack on the Death Star battle station in the first Star Wars movie released in 197. In that film, Princess Leia, jumping into Luke’s arms and about to swing on a rope like Tarzan and Jane over a bottomless chasm, simply says “Good luck.”

Resources for the article

American Film Institute list, AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes

http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx

little green badass

http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/yoda/

first Star Wars movie released in 197

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/

Episode III Star Wars

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The chronology of the Star Wars saga truly became complete with the release of the Episode iii Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. In the Clone Wars, George Lucas showed us the way it all started with the childhood of Anakin Skywalker, that was to become Darth Vader in its adult years, and how the story had to move on. Episode iii Star Wars was released in May 2005 and enjoyed great reviews from critics, registering a huge box office success seven days after the launching. The series has always occupied a unique place in the history of cinema, which is why everybody was anxious to see how it all started.

Episode III Star Wars ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://nightstarinfo.com/about-stars/episode-iii-star-wars/)

In the 70s, George Lucas only focused on plot development with insistence on major events, which left room for plenty of chronological gaps. Back then, details came second on the priority list, and the important facts were the ones to count for film making. Episode iii Star Wars needed several scene modifications before it was released, as the director altered scenes, scripts and editing. Nevertheless, the result was worth waiting for, since Episode iii Star Wars speaks about more than just the beginnings of the galactic empire, as it plunges into a revelation of evil and its corrupting force.

Episode III Star Wars ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://nightstarinfo.com/about-stars/episode-iii-star-wars/)

Design required just as much attention as the screenplay for Episode iii Star Wars, and Lucas was fully aware of it. The art department would work on hundreds of patterns that were supposed to appear on screen. During the film making, they even used pre-visualization techniques to get an idea of how the scenes and the characters would appear in the final version. Steven Spielberg also assisted the making of the Revenge of the Sith, observing all the work that Lucas and his team devoted themselves to for the analysis of every sequence. Stunts are an incredible and must-have part of the film, particularly in what the fight scenes are concerned; thus, the famous duel moment between Anakin and Obi-Wan is rendered at the speed at which it actually took place, with very little cuts used to increase velocity.

Episode III Star Wars ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://nightstarinfo.com/about-stars/episode-iii-star-wars/)

Episode iii Star Wars was filmed almost exclusively on the stages of the Fox Studios in Sidney, Australia, although various backgrounds were later shot for the purpose of creating practical environments. Thus, a team filmed the eruption of Mount Etna in Italy, and the material was used in the end of the film to create the background of the Mustafar planet. Episode iii Star Wars also had a theatrical counterpart that was released almost in the same time with the movie. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2005, without entering the competition, while the play was put on stage four days later.

Star Wars Vintage Toys: The Coolest Collectibles Available!

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Opinions vary on the “coolest” vintage toy markets, but most fingers point to vintage Transformers, vintage Pez, vintage Star Wars, and vintage Hot Wheels. Out of all of these, Star Wars vintage toys ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.starwars-vintagetoys.com/) are arguably among the most valuable individually, though with the myriad Pez variations and prototypes on the market, Pez are probably more valuable in sum.

In 1977, Kenner produced an original line of 12 Star Wars toys, and this entire line is highly desirable to Star Wars enthusiasts, each netting over two thousand dollars if still in good condition and in their original packaging. The most expensive Star Wars toy is argued to be Vlix, a short-lived character who appeared in a Braziliam cartoon. Vlix fetches well over six thousand dollars if in good condition.

Contributing to the valuation of these toys is the license exclusivity. As an example, Kenner Canada, located in Toronto, Ontario, was the Canadian licensee for Star Wars figures in Canada for a decade beginning in the late 70′s, but only distributed about 10 percent of the market at that time. That, in addition to the fact that the Canadian lines featured bilingual packaging, adds an interesting twist to those interested in the collectible value of Star Wars figures.

Another interesting collectible item available, but incredibly difficult to find, are toy prototypes. Prototypes and unfinished products are very common in other markets, , but much rarer in the Star Wars market.

While many Star Wars fans are young, and because there has been a rush of new licenses released, these newer figures will likely never attain the valuations that current vintage toys attained. For example, a new release features Star Wars toys that morph from characters like Darth Vader into objects like the Death Star. These Transformers figures ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.transformersfigures.net/) mashups are hot right now, but supply is also high, removing one of the valuation factors from the equation.

There are also other foreign releases, with the Japanese toy lines being very unique, and therefore, highly desirable and very collectible. European toys are also popular and regularly confused with Canadian releases, due to their bilingual packaging. The easiest way to tell these releases apart is by viewing the address on the package, which will clearly indicate the country of origin.

With Star Wars toys, you have heavy demand for vintage toys, top-quality vintage figures, a killer movie franchise, collectible opportunities, and a rabid fan base. All of these factors lead many professional collectors to believe that Star Wars vintage action figures ^(http://www.indiefilmhouse.com/goto/http://www.starwars-vintagetoys.com/) will retain their value for the long haul.

So dig in your attic, uncover that old Landspeeder or AT-AT Walker, and see if you have a collectible on your hands!