Star Wars - Return of the Jedi opening sequence

[Mylex]

Here is my next project

Because there is no HD material of Star Wars available I'll create the opening seqence of Star Wars VI in CG :-)

Here are some early shots...

Please make your comments

mylex

Credits:

Shuttle by Fabio, Stardestroyer by Fractalsponge, Tie Fighter by Al Meerow

[Meurig]

Looks like a good start

It also looks like the star destroyer has no textures, and IMO you have your atmosphere far too strong.

[Tenement 01]

Is the lighting on the Death star matching the lighting on Endor? It looks a wee bit off. Looking forward to seeing the scene progress.

[volkov]

Looks like a fun project.

It's not on Blu-ray yet, but the altered CG version (2004?) of the Original Trilogy is shown on premium cable TV/satellite in HD. I still have Jedi in HD on my TiVo from years ago.

[Mylex]

I did some modification on the endor atmosphere, I think this looks much better..

[Tenement 01]

Much nicer take on the Endor atmos. More please.

[GeorgeB]

Very cool. The second set of pics looks way better. How much of the start are you going to re-create?

[Mylex]

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Very cool. The second set of pics looks way better. How much of the start are you going to re-create?

So this is the final version of the Endor shot, I think I'll recreate until the shutlle arrives at the Death Star Hangar Bay.

There are some difficult takes in there so I'll see how good I move forward.

Here is the first preview of Take 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTNFlge5L84

[Mylex]

Now the first 2 shots of Take 3, I think one Stardestroyer is enough for this small scene.

[Rigel]

You certainly got the scale of the star destroyer down pat! That thing just keeps coming and coming. . .

[Mylex]

Originally Posted by Rigel

You certainly got the scale of the star destroyer down pat! That thing just keeps coming and coming. . .

I think scale is ok, because I had to fit the sequence to the sound file of the movie, so the point when the shuttle and the Tie fighter leaving the hangar the animation and the sound are in sync.

Reducing the scale would be the result to drop down the speed of the Stardestroyer.

When you're looking this take with sound, you'll see it's ok.

[Robert Simmons]

I think everything so far looks VERY NICE!
.
.
.
.

[Mylex]

Take 4 - The Shuttle Cockpit

now it's going to be a little bit difficult, I need two CG Pilots.

I newer worked with characters before so I decided the audience is the pilot and looking over the cockpit to the deathstar.

To get more action in this scene I animated the lights and instruments of the shuttle cockpit.

Credits: Shuttle Cockpit by Lorenzo Mangogna

[Mylex]

Take 4 - The Shuttle Cockpit with CG Pilot

This was the first attempt to work with a CG character, what do you think, is the look of the scene realistic or can you immediately identify that it is CG character ?

[Robert Simmons]

Originally Posted by Mylex

So this is the final version of the Endor shot, I think I'll recreate until the shutlle arrives at the Death Star Hangar Bay.

There are some difficult takes in there so I'll see how good I move forward.

Here is the first preview of Take 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTNFlge5L84

I was had something occur to me. The Death Star seems a bit static and lifeless being still the entire length of the shot. Would it be possible to have it rotating on it's axis to the right just enough to give the shot some subtle suggstion to give it more life? Just a passing thought.

Looking good so far.....

[Mylex]

Take 4 + 6

Continue with the two shuttle scenes, another camera angle and I worked a little bit with the CG pilot, now he's getting some realistic hair.

Hope this makes the scene much more realistic :-)

Take 2 The STD now with better texturing

[wave of light]

I have no idea how I missed this thread. Excellent opening.

[Mylex]

Here is a preview of Take 4 - The first shuttle sequence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXfiO4qHGw0

[Mylex]

Next scene Take 7

[ST-One]

In this shot the lighting on the ISD really works quite well.

[Andrew March]

This is looking quite good, by the way who did the death Star Model and what software are you using.

[Mylex]

Originally Posted by Andrew March

This is looking quite good, by the way who did the death Star Model and what software are you using.

A lot of tries were needed to get this, thanks for your criticism. If I don't get it, I definitly didn't worked on this take again

I'm using 3DS MAX and the STD Model is from Fractalsponge, found at scifi3D.com

[Andrew March]

No, who made the Death Star model, not the Star Destroyer, you know Death Star big space station thing

[Mylex]

Originally Posted by Andrew March

No, who made the Death Star model, not the Star Destroyer, you know Death Star big space station thing

Sorry, sometimes I can't read .... The Death Star is from Thomas Banner, found also at scifi3D.com

[Mylex]

Take 5 - Death Star Command Station

The third officer ist entering the room and take a look out of the windows

[Mylex]

Take 5 A + B Update

now it's finished for rendering, the third officer is in holiday :-(

[Mylex]

Some modifications.

Take 5

I changed the geometry of the DS command station, clean the door and add a control panel

Some changes in the room lighting

Take 4 + 6

The shuttle pilot got a new head, I used some figure elements of poser because they are looking more realistic.

[Tenement 01]

Keep em' coming! It's looking really, really cool.

[Mylex]

Next Update

Take 8 + 9

It was hard work to create this section of the death star, to match with the movie

A preview of Take 9 can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rbc3CqmaEyk

[Mylex]

Take 10

for now the last take

The very first preview of the DS Hangar, it will be a hard work to fill it, because this set will be used for the dialog scenes
of Vader and the DS Commander.

But therefor I have to create a detailed mesh of the Commander.

The dialog takes would be added until I have played with the talk designer function of poser to get realistic facial expression.