Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has recently made headlines with reports of her alleged plans to step down and retire by the year’s end. While there is no confirmation about Kennedy’s rumored exit, the prolific producer has undoubtedly been a key figure in shaping the galaxy far, far away for the past decade.
Amidst reports of Kennedy’s alleged exit plans, it might be worth taking note of the one technology developed under her regime that has now become commonplace in the Star Wars franchise. In an interview, Kennedy revealed how one of the best Star Wars movies of the recent era helped Lucasfilm perfect the volume technology, and here is what she had to say.
Kathleen Kennedy revealed how Rogue One helped perfect a common Star Wars technology
Ever since the George Lucas days, the Star Wars franchise has been a pioneer in the visual effects space. One of the most prominent contributions the franchise has made to modern filmmaking is the introduction and perfection of Volume Technology.
During an interview with the American Cinematographer Society, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy spoke about the tech’s development, crediting cinematographer Greig Fraser’s work on the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as the blueprint for Volume.
The work we did with Greig Fraser on Rogue One, and the early experimentation he was doing with LED walls, led to a lot of virtual-production tools that we now take for granted.
Kennedy made the above statement, explaining that Fraser, who has also worked on other acclaimed films such as Dune and The Batman, made some key contributions to the tech.
Furthermore, Kennedy stated that Fraser was responsible for bringing his foundational knowledge of cinematography and using it to help the studio transition to the new technology starting with The Mandalorian. As a result, the producer felt that it was important for studios to value cinematographers.
Kathleen Kennedy addressed fears over the rise of AI tools in Hollywood
Aside from shedding light on the development and influence of Volume technology, Kennedy also discussed the rise of AI tools in the filmmaking industry. The Lucasfilm president addressed fears over AI tools replacing certain jobs in the industry.
We need to understand that AI tools are only as good as the person using them. It’s not as though movies are going to be made by someone pushing a button — it’s going to remain a collaborative artform.
Kennedy made the above statement, explaining that despite arguments over AI tools being used in filmmaking, the producer remained committed to keeping the medium collaborative.
Meanwhile, Kennedy’s comments did not condemn the use of AI tools in the industry, which might be seen as a red flag. Kennedy is rumored to be stepping down from her role as Lucasfilm President by the year’s end. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the matter, with conflicting reports coming forward from the media.
The Star Wars movies and TV shows are streaming on Disney+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
