LUCIDMEDIA

Fan Expo – Getting A Load of Tron

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Monday, 31 August 2009 10:47

Obviously the biggest coup of this year’s Fan Expo (and incidentally, the hottest ticket) was the Disney presentation of Tron Legacy. The room was packed for the special 3 pm VIP presentation, and the line-up of people to get in to the open 8 pm show was even longer. But I didn’t stick around for the post-standing room fill riot to see how many didn’t get it. (Note: to the best of my knowledge, there was no actual riot, just a lot of peeved fanboys and girls.)
As for the presentation itself hosted by Legacy co-producer Justin Springer, I’m sure fans expected something more substantive than concept art, a brief live action scene and a rerun of the teaser, but that’s what they got. Then again, what more could be expected? The film itself is still 16 months away from completion and principal photography only finished in Vancouver last month. “It’s important to preserve as much as possible,” said Springer before giving a few scant story details. “At the heart it’s a father/son story,” he explained calling the newly refurbished world of Tron, “darker and more realistic than the first time around.”

Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner will be reprising their roles from the first film; Bridges can be seen in the teaser and Boxleitner’s voice could be heard in a voiceover at the beginning of the clip Springer rolled for the audience. In it, who we presume is Flynn’s grown-up son, finds his eponymous arcade, now closed and boarded up but with all the old arcade games still function and covered inside. At the back of the arcade is, of course, Tron, and behind it, a secret door that leads to the real game. Like how the first film ventured into the then relatively new realm of personal computing, will the new movie dive into themes surrounding the internet and social networking? “How do I answer that without revealing plot details?” pondered Springer aloud. (Answer: it probably does.)

Although Tron creator Steven Lisberger is still heavily involved as a producer, Tron Legacy is being directed by Joseph Kazinski, a commercial director now making his first feature. Springer said that Kazinski’s background as an architect was invaluable in the design process of the film. “We really took design cues from the first film,” explained Springer saying that the design of the first film was the DNA for the sequel. Things have evolved in the world of Tron, from a desolate-looking desertscape to a metropolis that looks as if somebody Troned up the rain-soaked LA from Blade Runner.

Samples of the concept art included not just a look at the environments, but the new vehicles as well. One called a “Light Runner,” which is like a Tron version of an ATV was shown, as well as the art for the new “Light-Cycle” (a life-size model of which was on display on the convention floor). Test footage was also shown of what the fighting style is going to like for the updated gladiatorial games; a combination of a Brazilian martial art called Capoeira and French parkour was developed for the fighters, which allows them to make some amazing jumps without the assistance of wires.

In other odds and ends, yes, the rumours are true, Daft Punk will be scoring the film. In fact, the music you hear in the teaser is a sample of the stuff they’re working on for Tron Legacy. “They’re taking is as a challenge for them to write a film score,” said Springer. And though the film is being done in 3-D, Springer says that using the 3-D option was independent of the consideration to make Tron Legacy in the first place. “We’re trying to use it less as a gimmick and more as a way of trying to bring you into the world.” The film was also shot with 3-D presentation is mind, taking full advantage of the technology instead of doing it in post-production for which there are already a substantial number of effects shots to be completed. Springer did also mention though that a concerted effort was made on the part of filmmakers to great as much practically as possible rather than filming everything in a “Big, green box.”

Check out the teaser trailer for Tron Legacy here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwvuirSEAA and before you judge, keep in mind that this was footage done a year and a half ago.