Duality (Star Wars fan 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(s)	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).

[edit] 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. The melee ends with both Rive and Blight landing a killing blow. Oz cannot contain his fury for his failure.

[edit] 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 of 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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).

[edit] 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.