The Bearded Trio

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Oscar-winning Star Wars visual-effects designer Grant McCune, who created scenes with models and miniature films for more than three decades, has died of pancreatic cancer, his production company said on Wednesday. He was 67. McCune, who died Monday at his home in Hidden Hills, 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles, won his Oscar for 1977's Star Wars, the original installment in George Lucas' six-film sci-fi franchise. He shared the honor with John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund and Robert Blalack. McCune also was nominated for an Oscar in 1980 for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Armed with a bachelor's degree in biology, McCune got his start on Jaws, when he and Bill Shourt were hired to make a giant white shark model; neither was credited on the film. He later became a partner at Apogee Prods, where he worked on three dozen films, including Die Hard, Never Say Never Again, Big, Space Balls and Caddyshack. Striking out on his own, McCune such films

 Sources close to the production of Super 8 are claiming that it is in fact viral marketing to promote the upcoming J.J. Abrams film. There’s also video online of a young girl, who was an extra on the film, describing the scene she shot where she was attacked by the creature.

Free Star Wars movie reel. The ad also includes a mention and image of the then upcoming issue of Star Wars Weekly .

Remember Black Milk's series of geeky swimwear, including the R2-D2 suit? Well they're back with a $85 C-3PO model to complement the trashcan one From http://www.geekologie.com/2010/12/definitely_the_droid_you_were.php

Chewbacca Riding a Giant Squirrel Chasing Down Nazis Tyler Edlin was commissioned to create the wonderfully bizarre painting “Chewie Riding a Giant Cute Squirrel Chasing Down Nazis”. I asked my friend Gary what he would like a for a wedding present. At first he said Chewbacca riding a giant squirrel into battle against an unseen force living in the shadows. He added, “give him long flowing fur and his mount should look adorable. He should be riding to expected death on a last charge.”

As fans of Harry Potter get ready for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, news has surfaced that indicates director Steven Spielberg wanted to make Harry Potter an animated franchise. According to The L.A. Times, Alan Horn, President of Warners Bros., revealed that Steven Spielberg wanted to turn Harry Potter into an animated franchise. Horn stated that Warner Bros. wanted Spielberg to be involved in Potter, but weren’t interested in an animated series of films. "I did think it would be worthwhile for Steven Spielberg to direct," Horn said. "We offered it to him. But one of the notions of DreamWorks’ and Steven’s was, ‘Let’s combine a couple of the books, let’s make it animated,’ and that was because of the [visual effects and] Pixar had demonstrated that animated movies could be extremely successful." Horn went on to reveal that he understood the Harry Potter vision of Spielberg but wanted a different direction for the franchise. "Bec

A few days ago we reported that the story going around that Indiana Jones is to be converted to 3D are false.  We just thought we would post it again because it seems the big news companies are now reporting out of date information.  A sudio source told movieline “This is completely false. Right now, we are totally focused on bringing Star Wars to 3-D, and we have no plans to do an Indiana Jones conversion.” To be honest I hope we get proved wrong and Indy comes back to the big screen.  I'll be there.  Watching Raiders on the big screen again would be an amazing opportunity.

IndieCade, the International Festival of Independent Games, has announced that Tim Schafer will be bestowed with the organization's first ever Honorary Trailblazer award.  Tim Schafer is the founder of independent studio Double Fine Productions, but is best known for work as a designer on classic LucasArts adventure titles such as Monkey Island , Full Throttle , Grim Fandango , and Day of the Tentacle .

This is my John Williams playlist on my Iphone.  These are my favourite John Williams tracks.  The "John Williams" playlist gets played all the time usually on random.  I believe that this list contains the best of John Williams.  If I'm missing any please let me know.  I would be more than happy to expand my list.  There are quite a bit of Star Wars and Indiana Jones on the list but lets be honest they are his most famous and some of his best. Cantina Band Star Wars A New Hope Suspecting Lois Takes The Plunge Superman 2  Throne Room And End Credits Star Wars A New Hope  Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner Star Wars A New Hope  Lost Squadron Close Encounters The Menu Jaws 2  Ben’s Death/ Tie Fighter Attack Star Wars A New Hope  Desert Chase Raiders Of The Lost Ark Anakin’s Dream Star Wars Revenge Of The Sith  Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire Star Wars A New Hope  Han Solo And The Princess Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back  Anakin’s Theme Star Wars The Phantom Menace

George Lucas is set to make his first appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Chairman Papanoida in episode four of season three. Sphere Of Influence sees the Star Wars creator's second outing as the blue-skinned resident of Coruscant, after first making a cameo in Revenge Of The Sith (where he had risen to the ranks of 'Baron'). Talking about his role, Lucas said, “My appearance in Episode III was just for fun. Mostly, I did it for my kids. I was wrapping the series, and I’d never been on-screen in a Star Wars film, even though I’d been making them for decades. With The Clone Wars , I get the best of both worlds, because I get a starring role but don’t have to do any acting or wear any blue make-up.” His family, who appeared alongside him in the final live action Star Wars film, will also feature in the animated story, though none of the characters, including Lucas, will be voiced by their human counterparts. However, his daughter Katie Lucas is taking

SHERSTON had a taste of Hollywood when Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg was spotted taking a break from filming War Horse at Castle Combe last week. Regulars at the Rattlebone Inn saw him there on Thursday enjoying a meal. One said: "The minders and the cars outside with the tinted windows that gave it away – and the baseball cap." The director’s current project is an adaptation of a children’s novel by Michael Morpurgo which tells the tale of a farm horse taken to serve in the First World War and the young boy who goes in search of him. It features Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson and Harry Potter star David Thewlis, who also played one of Black Beauty’s owners in the 1994 film. Sherston location shown below. View Larger Map Read more at http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/8420475.Spielberg_drops_in_at_Sherston/

With the Ryder Cup taking place in South Wales in particular Newport where the Celtic Manor is located, it seems Hollywood has taken over the Welsh valleys.  But it doesn't end there because in a couple of weeks time Steven Spielberg is going to be filming War Horse in a small village just a few miles from the Celtic Manor.  That village is Caerwent located about five miles west of Chepstow and eleven miles east of Newport, and was founded by the Romans.  There are a number of roman ruins so much so that some are actually in the residents back gardens. According to the casting agency they require males with black or olive skin, short hair and cut with short back and sides, physically fit and no tattoos. Since I live five miles from where they will be filming naturally I have put my name down for an extra (even though I have white skin its worth a try.) I will let you know if I get a part or not.  If you feel like having a try the link is http://www.castingcollective.co.uk/n