Sometimes you have to really ponder what you're gonna say in a review, but this one seemed to fall into place. An acquaintance recently told me about a Star Wars fan film about Darth Maul's resurrection that was really well done. So, I've been searching the web for it incessantly ever since. I haven't found it yet but I did happen upon an Italian Star Wars fan film that is so quality, that it ascends the title "fan film." I think this hour long movie stands heads above the rest for two reasons: 1) they must have found a very wealthy Star Wars fanatic to back the project; and 2) technology has come so far that a lot of the visual elements of Star Wars we all love and identify with, are rather easy to do with some good Macs these days. Now here's where it all comes together because the event I just attended made it crystal clear who is truly responsible for a Star Wars fan film so good...why George Lucas of course! Not making sense yet? Well, Michael Rubin, who wrote the book Droidmaker: George Lucas & the Digital Revelution, established the history of Lucasfilm's involvment in the evolution of digital filmmaking...and subsequently, independent filmmaking. Lucas had lofty goals and visions when he built Skywalker Ranch but he hired talented and competent people to fill out his dreams. And Michael knows all about it, he worked at Skywalker Ranch. As did a certain Dr. Alvy Ray Smith, who was the man behind Pixar. This SIGGRAPH speaking engagement was a chance for Michael and Alvy to convey the stories from the book (and more) in a very personal way. Their interaction as writer and subject is obviously surpassed by a true friendship. Michael's part of the talk highlighted a lot of actual technologies, whereas Alvy basically pointed out that Lucas was blind to the potential of Pixar. That seems a tad ironic seeing as the biggest event in the Star Wars universe in years, the Clone Wars series, is CG animation. I don't have to tell people this was a must-see 'cause the theater was packed, but if Michael and Alvy are in your town doing their live-action Droidmaker adaptation, don't miss it.