Conference noted::sf

114.0. "Star Wars and Dune news" by NACHO::LYNCH () Fri Aug 03 1984 18:57

Here's something of interest that Jerry Boyajian submitted to the USENET.
Hope you don't mind me copying it here, Jerry.

-- Bill

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From CINEFANTASTIQUE, Vol. 14 #4/5, September 1984 (reprinted w/o permission):

		STAR WARS IV: ROCK & ROLL INSPIRED

   After wrapping up work on INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, director
Steven Spielberg and producer Frank Marshall began scouting locations for the
next installment of George Lucas' STAR WARS saga, which Spielberg will direct.
   Filming begins this September in Hollywood, a shift from the series' tradi-
tional production base at London's Pinewood Studios. Lucasfilm producer Howard
Kazanjian is said to have insisted on the move for the film, to be titled either
THE OLD REPUBLIC or THE CLONE WARS. Effects will feature ILM's version of the
kind of computer-animated spaceships developed first by rival expert John Whit-
ney, Jr., on view now in Universal's THE LAST STARFIGHTER.
   Lucas was widely quoted when RETURN OF THE JEDI was released last year that
he would swear off involvement with the series to take a much-needed rest. Rock
star Linda Ronstadt is said to have rekindled Lucas' interest in STAR WARS. The
couple has been linked romantically in the press. Ronstadt starred in Univer-
sal's version of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE last year. When asked whether Ronstadt
would appear in the new STAR WARS film or provide songs, sources close to Lucas-
film smiled broadly, but kept mum.

********************

BTW, this issue of CINEFANTASTIQUE has 32 pages worth of material on the forth-
coming DUNE film. One might be dubious about the fact that it's a "diary" of the
production written by Paul Sammon, the publicist for the film (if any of you saw
a presentation of the film at an sf convention, it was most likely Sammon doing
it), but it's information presented is worthwhile, and it's chock full of nice
production photos. So, if you want to see the designs for the Guild Navigators,
or an H.R. Giger (ALIEN) painting of a sandworm for the aborted Jodorowsky DUNE
production, this is where to go. It's an expensive magazine (this double-sized
issue, 112 pages, costs $8.95), but if you're really interested in sf/fantasy
films, it's worth it.

--- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC, Maynard, MA)

A reply to Jerry's posting from the USENET:

Subject: Re: Next SW film begins production

When I heard that this rumor had started at Cinefantastique, I discounted it
immediately.  This publication has an unaccountable grudge against Lucasfilm,
and anything they say is suspect.  Nevertheless, I checked the rumor out with
two independent sources at Lucasfilm.  While neither source is an ultimate
authority (i.e. not George or Steven), both were people in positions where I
would expect them to have definitive knowledge.  Both sources denied any
knowledge of any planned SW production.  Neither could state certainly that a
production would not be undertaken in the future, but for the moment it appears
that nothing is in the works.  (Note that neither source said that no SW movie
was in the works, only that they knew of none.  Presumably this doesn't include
the already announced Ewok TV movie, due for broadcast in November.)

I didn't bother with a response to the Usenet, because there are times when
I feel that responding to Usenet articles is like shovling s**t against the
tide. Anyways, I disagree that CINEFANTASTIQUE has an "unreasonable grudge"
against Lucasfilms. The trouble started when CINEFANTASIQUE published some
material about RETURN OF THE JEDI that gave away some of the plot elements.
Lucasfilms was understandably pissed, and has generally been uncooperative with
CINFANTASTIQUE in providing information about its projects. If anybody has a
grudge against anybody else, it's Lucasfilms against CINEFANTASTIQUE. I may
be naive at times, but I'd hardly believe that CINEFANTASTIQUE would just make
up a story lik that just to get Lucasfilms' goat.

--- jerry

Does anyone know of a bookstore that handles CINEFANTASTIQUE in the Worcester-
Framingham areas?
I was a semi-avid reader of the magazine before I moved here but haven't been
able to find it since.

Thanks,\
Barry.

Well, I have a subscription, so I don't need to keep track of what bookstores
carry it. The only place I *know* of in this area carries it is the Hudson
Bookshop on Main St. by the rotary (in Hudson, of course). The Fabulous
Fiction Bookstore in Worcester (on Park Ave., near Webster Sq.) may also
carry it, but I'm not positive on that. You might also check the Walden's in
the mall in Worcester center.

--- jerry