Some clarifications on the whole . . . ‘Star Wars’ saga headed for 3D . . . stuff. The LucasFilm folks are no longer standing firm on the 3D versions of the films starting to play in 2007 for the anniversary. Instead, they are tying the project into the number of digital screens out there . . .

‘Star Wars’ saga headed for 3D
HOLLYWOOD: Plans are underway for the theater release of all six “Stars Wars” blockbusters in 3D format, a producer of the space opera said Wednesday. “As soon as we have enough digital screens out there — 1,500 to 2,000 — which will probably be around 2007, then we’re going to go through this very pain-staking and expensive process of turning all the films into 3D,” producer Rick McCallum told United Press International in a telephone interview. “We did some tests last year and it’s just so breath-taking. … It just allows you to see the film in such a different way.” McCallum said filmmakers Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Robert Zemeckis and Robert Rodriguez all have plans to release 3D movies. “It’s incredible,” McCallum said. “It’s not for every film, but for certain big-event films, I think it will, hopefully, be the catalyst to get people back in theaters.” “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” will be released on DVD Nov. 1.

With the debut run of Chicken Little, for Disney (the 3D conversions were done with the aid of ILM, there were eighty-some-odd digital theatres equipped for that particular system. Rather than so a film 3D version which would increase penetration a hundred folkd, the studios are sticking with that particular digital configuration. That means a lot of theatres will have to convert pretty soon for the Star Wars film three-d-ification to happen. Notice, they are not saying they won’t even be bothering to start the project until there is already a viable install-base for theatres. This would delay the runs even more.

It is fitting that they started this with Chicken Little as the test run, the whole shebang is a bit of a chicken or egg type catch twenty-two as theatres won’t convert to digital three dimension without content and content producers won’t create three dimensional films without an install base to exhibit them.

At least the recent IBM news regarding a cheaper solution for home 3D televisions could mean some fall in price points if it can be applied to the more hardware intensive or at least we could grow a home-based market for 3D content as well.

We’ll see.