Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 22h

October 13, 1978: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: #OTD Triple-I created this DIGITAL X-wing fighter, constructed from 60k polygons by Art Durinski, for @ILMVFX to make “Star Wars 2,” but it was too expensive. See Triple I’s test footage here: youtu.be/i8zjMQz5Ftg

5 20

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 1d

Isn't that what book/film reviewers do? And then we completely ignore them and read/watch them anyway to make up our own mind? 🤔

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 1d

October 11, 1976: Star Wars: The Death Star surface & foreground guns for shot 243 were filmed. After being combined with 2 X-wings, stars, gun flash,& lasers, Lucas OK’d the shot on Dec 21, but it was redone for May 9, 1977 approval for May 25 release.
#StarWarsArchives19771983
youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

2 12

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 2d

October 10, 1996: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang’s concept painting for the victory celebration in Theed. It took Doug 8.3 days to complete and you can understand why.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

1 9

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 5d

October 9, 1985: Star Wars: Droids: Don't you think that the Roller Gulper design for the Droids episode “The Great Heep” resembles General Grievous’s wheel bike seen 20 years later in Revenge of the Sith (2005)?
#StarWarsArchives19771983
youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

1 6

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 6d

It was a pleasure meeting Raymond Benson at the launch of his new FELIX LEITER novel THE HOOK AND THE EYE, set in a Noirish 1950s America.
We chatted about our shared love for Noir author Jim Thompson, as well as filmmakers Bergman, Welles and Melies.
Thanks to Ajay Chowdhury for the foto.

2

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 8d

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: George Lucas writes which lightsabers are to be used by which characters.
From left: Anakin Skywalker (Ep III)/Luke Skywalker (Eps IV-V), Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Eps I-II), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Eps III-IV), Mace Windu, and Count Dooku.
#StarWarsArchives19992005

1 2 11

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 9d

Happy to announce that ROCKY: THE COMPLETE FILMS, a photo book detailing the life of @sylvesterstallon2.bsky.social's everyman hero, will be on sale Nov (EU) / Jan (US).
Order here: www.taschen.com/.../02207/ro...
My unboxing of the SOLD OUT ART EDITION here: youtu.be/oStYNWvswBw?...

1 2

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 9d

Just watched Season 4, episode 5 of @thebearfx.bsky.social and was surprised to find Ritchie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) with a copy of the 2006 MICHAEL MANN book I edited, especially because the character is a devote Ridley Scott fan.

6

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 10d

Did you know that James Bond was one of the influences George Lucas put into the mix when he created The Star Wars? Here's a page from my original manuscript for #StarWarsArchives19771983: youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

2 8

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 11d

October 3, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: This Ryan Church concept shows a Star Destroyer (top left) docking on Mustafar, and collection panels overhanging the lava at right.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

1 6

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 12d

Found this in my files—before MICHAEL MANN: THE COMPLETE FILMS was published in 2006, the chapter on COLLATERAL was published in a booklet for the 2005 Oscar run.

1 3

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 12d

October 2, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang (OFFICIAL)’s Tatooine concept art was later adapted for Beggar’s Canyon in the Pod Race.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

6

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 14d

I always thought that this looked like the Pink Panthermobile.

1 10

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 14d

September 30, 1999: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Doug Chiang’s computer generated speeder concept.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

1 1 12

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 15d

September 26, 2001: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Ryan Church’s concept art showing Palpatine surveying the clone troops, in formation, preparing for the war ahead. So EPIC I had to put it across a double-spread in my book.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

6

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 19d

September 25, 1997: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Theed estuary scene was shot with the actors at Pinewood Studios.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

1 10

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 21d

September 23, 1999: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Jay Shuster successfully merged the eyes of the Mandalorian bounty hunter helmet with the mouth of the Stormtrooper helmet, leading to the Clone Trooper helmet.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

16

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 22d

Happy to hear that you enjoy them. It was an amazing exprience to make them.

1

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 22d

September 22, 1978: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: The blueprint for the Main Hangar Deck by Michael Lamont (who worked on Bond, Harry Potter, Aliens) shows the precise location and sizes of all the vehicles, as well as the detail of the ice caves.
#StarWarsArchives19771983
youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

1 8

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 24d

September 20, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Terryl Whitlatch has air whales as part of the Gungan air force, an idea that was not used in the film. #StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

3 6 40

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 25d

Vinegar Syndrome: I opened a random box at the Sony Archives and got the unmistakeable whiff of vinegar syndrome—the acetate was deteriorating and bubbbling. This is the negative of ad art from the 1959 Film Noir CITY OF FEAR. The archive scans it hi res then disposes of it.

1 2

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 28d

From the Sony Archives: Starship Troopers (1997): KNOW YOUR FOE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? youtu.be/x2z52-PQQl0?...

3

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · 29d

September 16, 1996: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang’s artwork depicting the Gungan army emerging from the swamp includes the lumbering fambaa, based on a dinosaur concept, and the kaadu, inspired by an ostrich. It took him 6 days to complete. #StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

1 12

Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics @kershed.bsky.social · Sep 14

September 14, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Terryl Whitlatch’s concepts for “Jar Jar Binx” influenced by the attributes of frogs and dragons. Jar Jar is still very large compared with Padmé.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

10