Death Star over San Francisco

how did u do this??

haha, this is great!!

Awesome! Who is the author! Please quote the author! :)

You even can see the Deathstar from Berlin Germany !!!
WHOOOHHHHAAA !

Look here:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=tHILvHXlOU8

I think I missed this, but here is my vote. That is not too far from the acoustic reality here. Ha! You missed the Union Street Electric bus with their beep signals, talk and whistles. Good work!

I'm not even a Star Wars fan, but even I got a stirring in my pants from this!!

It's so well done. I love the subtle decisions made...the parrots flying as we catch just a glimpse of the Death Star etc..

Seeing this kind of manipulation does make you wonder what else we are being shown in everyday news footage that isn't really there...???

How on earth did you get over half a million views? Are there that many people registered on Current?

Man, you've got some pretty impressive equipment - it must have cost a small fortune! Wow!

Honestly, with all your (very good) work, there are two things missing:

1/ People from the 501st to give an additional and (almost) real touch. Imagine the scene with the AT-ST with a few scout- and stormtroopers in front of it, and the imperial shuttle landing and then several stormtroopers disembarking and taking position on top of the building!

2/ a commentary. A news commentary, completed by subtexts about the invasion of Earth by a so-called Galactic Empire.

Hey, the 501st is claiming to be conquering Earth. This could be the footage validating this claim! I'd love to see this with even more depth. You could even ask for those guys to send you videos from all over the planet to add details. I think they'd like it.

Imagine, in addition to your SF videos, footage of a few storms and Imperial officers in the streets of New-York, Paris, London, Sidney... Honestly, the Free Tibet protesters were not necessary, and such "international reports" could replace them usefully.

cool on the tower shot, you can see the little ships flying around working on the death star

Pretty cool!

My only complaints

How can you be so good at motion tracking and so crap at holding a video camera still??? (- _ -;)

No, but really in the days of digital image stabilization... it does seem like you're over shaking the camera to show off your skills a bit.

and the "weuw"... hahaha are you so blasé about seeing imperial shuttles explode? and it landed pretty harshly before that, i'd imagine everyone inside thrown to the floor.

but yeah adding the snippets of conversations and all the real life stuff gave it a pretty realistic feel. Amazing job!

OMFG!!!!!!!

The placement of the ships & Death Star in the background rather than foreground in my opinion is the genius move here. And I think that is what has captured everyones imagination. Well Done.

Star Wars live forever.

OK. The next thing we need is a documentary called "The Wild Ewoks of Telegraph Hill." You know, it should have interviews with that guy who leaves rebel junk food out for 'em to eat.

Impressive. Most impressive. Indeed you are powerful as the emperor has forseen.

lol..i had to google this

The Bush administration descends on SF!

Brilliant work - I've seen compositing and 3d motion-tracking in home video like this before but I have no idea what software I'd need for it. Remember seeing a mac package for $300 once I can't remember the app name or link (feh!) Can any one point me to a decent consumer-grade Mac-based application?

mike horn ftw

That Star Destroyer over the Golden Gate bridge was amazing. Cor I enjoyed that vid. Well done to the maker.

well george lucas DOES live in the bay..

seamless!!!!! oh, it must be fleet week again... imperial star destroyers are just an everyday thing in san fran... it certainly isn't the weirdest thing they could have drummed up for that town.

That's really nicely done. Assuming we aren't being invaded by the empire, obviously.

This brought out the Star Wars nerd in me :)

So fake. But so awsome.

*skeeet skeeet skeeeet.... awwww-some...

Neat.

The communal conscience is DEFINITELY getting ready to handle these types of images.... for real. I believe 'They' will not present themselves until 'They' feel we are a peaceful people that won't be threatened. As evidenced worldwide... WE ARE NOT READY... though everything is as it should be. There are no alternatives; only "Is'ness."

ha, love the At-At's

Amazing special effects.

someone needs to get laid

sickness!

Fantastic!
I'd love to see a behind the scenes vid about how this was done :)

The strange thing is, given the other city inhabitants, Chewbacca wouldnt look at all out of place in SanFran.

Absolute gold.

so cool.

Nice touch with the ending with the feral parrots of Telegraph Hill / Embarcadero.

Their screeches are more menacing than any Stars Wars sound effects anyhow (keeps the tourists in check).

George Lucas is out of it for a little while and everyone starts getting delusions of grandeur.

Can't wait til Ewoks invade San Francisco!

very well done

Damn, just shy of a million views.
Is this the most viewed pod on current of all time?

Rad.

That was fuckin SWEET!

damm that is pretty wild......who ever did this..has some mad skills...the shot of the death star in the sky rocks.....that would make a killer poster

this has to be the best thing ever on current.com

I knew Dick Cheney was planning something xP

That was just Insanely cool! Wow, just WOW!!

It game me a good solid kick in my geek button :p

This... was awesome. I completely love this. I'm just waiting to see it hit other areas. Maybe it could go through the Midwest, cause some mayhem in NYC and hop over the pond to torment some English next?

Is this on the sky real?If it's not,you are sick!!!

this video really works on so many levels, in part because it elaborates upon the reality of San Francisco which is somewhat fantastical itself with its futuristic Transamerica Bldg, enormous bridge, and steep scenic contours... a great choice of background on which to then ROCK THE GFX!

Do Rio next!

I loved this video so much, makes you dream of ships flying along your skyline, great work mhorn, you made look like some holiday video ha ha very funny

Incredible!

things could be worse, see?

great work, Mike Horn.

if it weren't so well done, it would be hilarious -- as it is, it's terrifying. brilliant.

oh man! this is so cool!

"when the Light Sabers go down in the city, and Death Star shines on the bay..."

Wel Done.

dude the numbers are going mental. you are a viral superstar!

Impressive. Most impressive.

Great motion-tracking, compositing, film-look, blur, & grain management.

I love the TIE fighters with cop lights flashing during the parade.

A subtle dig on our attitudes toward our own military as well, no doubt.

Fing lame. This was way worse than the movies were and they suck too. By the way I’m burning my kids Star Wars Is Lame legos right now.

Very good!

@mhorn -- I keep coming back to the sense of atmosphere you've created in this clip...seriously, awesome job. Keeping the casual conversations about NY vs. LA, the oysters, the protest screams...all of this adds to the sense of realism and depth that would've been lost had it gone the "whoa, look at that" route.

Well, I guess this is goodbye my friends. I have enlisted in the Galactic Empire. I just couldn't pass up the pay and benefits in this turbulent economy. Besides, I hear the Emperor is not such a bad guy, and quite frankly, I have always wanted to wear one of those helmets. Take care, and think well of me.

That's the second generation Death Star. I hear that Death Star is so poorly built you could fly a Millennium Falcon right through the middle of it

Hey blove, the Bay Area is where they did all the StarWars FX to begin with. The SF Bay Area is home to George Lucus, to many digital FX geeks, and digital FX schools.

Ok.. what? And how? And wow!

Why San Francisco? Why not New York.....Or London....
or Fresno?

nicely done

"i didn't really like Galactic City that much. Galactic City is cool but it's not like my favorite place. But I've never been to Tatooine, so I dunno"

(Note: The part of Cloud City will be played by San Francisco)

This video just made every nerd neuron in my brain fire at once. I think I almost had a stroke.

this is soooo sick! ...do you know if the death star is fully operational?

My friend in the 501st will absolutely love this...

Whoah.. I knew Gavin Newsome was in league with the dark side..

So bummed I was summering in Endor that weekend. Would have loved to see the Tie-fighter flyover at a AT&AT park.

Now I know who to go to for all my tracking needs. Nice job, now get some sleep for chrissake.

I am so going to reenact all of this with my hordes of Star Wars legos.
I just need to find a bunch of goofy looking joggers and crazy shirtless protestors, and a Chinese media lady... and that lego AT-ST walker and star destroyerr are all set to go...

I totally thought my friends were joking ... damn!

Fricking awesome. BBQ oysters.