StarWars.com web cam to catch work on 'Episode III'

Posted Tuesday, June 3, 2003 at 2:04 PM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Proving that George Lucas just doesn't have enough money, the official Star Wars web site is set to debut a new subscription-based service with exclusive features. As part of the service, a camera will capture behind-the-scenes footage of production on Star Wars: Episode III in Australia and stream the video to paying fans via the site.

What can fans expect to see on the web cam? Well, no audio for one thing. Also, to protect the storyline from leaking, there will be no images of actual scenes being shot. Head of Lucas Online Jim Ward said, "There are a lot of things we can do with that web cam and not spoil the excitement of the film for fans." The camera will be moved each day to catch a new live perspective for 12 hours. That day's footage will then be replayed while cast and crew are asleep.

Dubbed "Hyperspace", the premium service will debut on June 10 after a three-day free trial starting Thursday. A subscription will cost $19.95 per year and will also include a unique Star Wars-themed email address. Yours could end in "r2-d2.com", "darthvader.net", or your choice of five others.

Ward promises all the existing content on starwars.com will remain free. Hyperspace will add much more to the site and even offer an advertising-free experience on the free site content. He said, "This is the content our biggest fans have been asking us for, and now we're able to provide it to them while maintaining an overall site that's accessible to all levels of Star Wars fans."

Exclusive elements of Hyperspace will also include an Episode III set diary, access to a scene deleted from Episode II and never before released, online availability to the new animated "Clone Wars" series (prior to being shown on the Cartoon Network), and a gallery of new and rare photos from the series.