Duality (film)
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| Duality | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mark Thomas Dave Macomber |
| Starring | Dave Macomber Mark Thomas Stephen Muraoka |
| Music by | John Williams Alan Derian |
| Distributed by | TheForce.net CrewofTwo.com |
Release date | Early 2001 |
Running time | 6:15 |
| Language | English |
Duality is a fanfilm created by Mark Thomas and Dave Macomber. It was released early in 2001. This cut used music from the Star Wars films. A re-scored version was later made available. In addition, there is a behind-the-scenes split-screen comparing the storyboards, bluescreen footage, and final film.
It is one of the first fan films to exclusively use bluescreen footage composited onto virtual backgrounds. The cast consists only of three actors, two of which are the creators. Duality is also the only fanfilm to get its own parody (see below).
The film was originally hosted at TheForce.Net but was pulled upon request when there was a falling out between Mark Thomas and the Star Wars fan film community.
Plot
Sith apprentice Lord Rive (Macomber), is tasked by his master, Darth Oz (Thomas), to battle another apprentice, Darth Blight (Muraoka), as a final test determining who would serve by Oz’s side. The two would-be Sith clash violently with their double-bladed lightsabers while Oz watches via hologram. After a long and vicious lightsaber duel, Rive's weapon is severed in two and Blight loses his saber. A quick brawl later and the two engage in a final bout with the two halves of Rive's saber. It ends with Blight impaled and Rive bisected through the waist. After they die, Darth Oz appears in the flesh. Consumed with fury and wrath at his failure to procure a permanent apprentice, he electrocutes the bodies of the two failed apprentices with Force Lightning.
Behind the Scenes
- Darth Blight's name, apt for a would-be Dark Lord of the Sith, probably speaks for itself.
- Darth Oz's name is likely inspired by "King Osric of Shadizar," a character from the world of Conan the Barbarian. Or, it may be taken from the movie Zardoz, which in turn was taken from The Wizard of Oz. Oz also means "big nose" in the Wookie language and talentless hack in Huttese.
- Lord Rive's name also speaks for itself.[1]
Production
The script was first written by Mark Thomas, with Dave Macomber devising the fight. Filming took place at Alamo Studios in Santa Barbara, California in September of 2000. A teaser trailer was released in November 2000, which featured a slightly different Sith ship and chamber entrance.
Post-production was split between Thomas and Macomber. Thomas primarily handled the digital backgrounds, 3D models animations. Compositing the footage and the lightsaber effects went to Macomber. Lastly, Thomas edited the sound and made the final cut.
Crew of Two's site featured extensive break-downs of the process.
Soundtrack
The first cut of the film featured copyrighted John Williams music (mostly from Phantom Menace). A later release had all-new music by Alan Derian. The Juxtaposition movie features the John Williams track.
Reception
Fan reaction to Duality was mostly positive since its release. Many fan film directors, such as Nick Hallam, have since cited it as inspiration for their own films. If nothing else, it proved that film-level special effects could be produced by the common fan.
Duality has been featured in articles in Apple.com, and Entertainment Weekly.
Criticism has been the lack of story or plot against the flashy visuals, although a rather common element in fanfilms centered around lightsaber battles.
See Adam Bertocci's page for a review.
Connections to other films
Duel
Duel is the production predecessor to Duality. Mark Thomas directed and featured Josh Waller as an Anakin/Luke-esque Jedi and Dave Macomber as a Sith lord (humorously labeled Darth Hideous). As one can imagine, the crew was significantly smaller than on Duality. Duel stands as one of a small number of fanfilms that strays slightly from the Formula and is set in a desert (presumably Tatooine).
Two-ness
Two-ness has the honor of being the one and only fanfilm parody of another fanfilm. Created by Stephen Ballew Roy Thomas, it loosely follows the same plot of Duality. It also spoofs, among other things, Saturday cartoons, Scooby Doo, and the Jetsons.
External links
The Force.net[2] no longer has links to Duality and Crew of Two’s[3] site is down. As such, using the Internet Archive is a must.
- Youtube entry
- ifilm entry
- MPEG and iPod MPEG-4 versions @ pocketmovies.net
- Duel and Duality can also be found here
- Alan Derian’s site
- Alamo Films
- Two-ness can be found on TheForce.net here
Adam Bertocci’s reviews for
Articles and Interviews
