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Galactic News
Friday January 11, 2002
Homing Beacon
#51
The latest Homing Beacon has arrived and trying to prepare for an international release can be difficult. "It's going to be a madhouse for the next six months," says Producer Rick McCallum. In addition to completing Episode II for North American release, international versions must be completed in time for next spring. As announced last November, Episode II will open in most countries within the same month, a move that considerably squeezes the time required to produce international mixes.
"It means we have to have the finished film done a month ahead of what we did for Episode I," says McCallum. "It means we have to audition and cast 60 to 80 actors to do the parts in each country, and we're in 30 different countries. All the parts have to be translated. It's a very intense, complicated and time-consuming period, but awfully fun if we can pull it off." International agents in each territory gather a shortlist of local voice talent which are then sent to the production. "We listen to them and approve them, but that can take a long time because there are maybe four to five ! actors for each part in each country. It takes a good day to really analyze everybody for one country -- if you have 30 countries, that's a month, and the only way you can do it." Some of the vocal talents of returning Episode I characters will again return for Episode II. "We were very happy with Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman's characters in almost every country. We also listened to feedback from every country. Some of it was very intense from dedicated fans who care a lot about the subtleties that no one else sees. It takes a long time."