LEGO STUDIOS
Now YOU can be Steven Spielberg

By James G. DeRuvo, Hardware Editor

    Steven Spielberg's latest film creation isn’t "Jurassic Park III" (which is to be a Joe Johnston film due in 2001) or a sequel to "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial" (which we all pray he never decides to do). It isn't even the long-anticipated Indy 4 (which looks closer to coming to fruition since the signing of "The Sixth Sense's" M. Night Shyamalan to write a screenplay). No, Steven’s latest project, in cooperation with the Lego toy company, is LEGO STUDIOS.

    Building on the notion that children already tell stories when they play with their toys, LEGO STUDIOS gives them a chance to film and share their stories with friends via the Internet or by e-mail. 

    Lego Studios contains everything a budding filmmaker needs to create not only live action digital video shorts, but stop motion animation as well. And this is its strong point. The software is loaded into your computer and the editing is so simple that the kids it is designed for will be making Lego shorts in no time. You first build your "story," then capture the action on the PC movie camera. Using the kid-friendly editing software with professional functionality, you can edit your footage and add music and sound effects. 

    There’s a large assortment of LEGO bricks and special pieces in the set that allows for special effects and stunts. They include Quick-build Buildings that rebuild in seconds, a Cast and crew of LEGO players and various set tools like a Camera sled (for pans, tilts, etc.), fan, lights, and more. There are even Guide Sticks which enable you move your characters and cars without showing your hands on camera.

    The PC movie camera has LEGO studs on the outside housing to give it the LEGO look and feel. The studs allow you to mount the camera firmly in place using LEGO bricks. The camera has full-motion video and digital still modes. Using the software and the digital still mode, you can create stop-motion animation -- where objects appear to move on their own! The manual focus ring allows you to zoom in on an object as close as an inch so those LEGO figures look life size! Once you've loaded the software, all you have to do is plug the camera in the USB port and you're ready to film.

    You can also use your camera to communicate even when you’re not making a film. By using the audio and video features of Microsoft Windows Netmeeting, the LEGO camera can be used to share ideas and information, communicate with several people at once, exchange pictures, and send and receive real-time video. You can even use the LEGO camera to remotely view items placed in front of the lens, or show things to your friends in real-time. 

    The LEGO & Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set also includes an instruction booklet with "Tips & Tricks for Movie Making," which helps you get started in a fast, fun and easy way. Using small examples, the book shows how to use the right camera angles and special effects. 

    LEGO and Spielberg worked closely with Pinnacle Systems to make their video editing software and to make it kid friendly. Pinnacle adapted its Studio video editing software to meet the unique requirements of playfulness and ease of use required by the LEGO and Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set. 

    For future releases, Pinnacle Systems' is developing an inexpensive PC USB camcorder interface. This product allows kids to use their family's camcorder to expand their video creativity.

    There are also add-on studios, including Explosion Studios, Car Stunt Studios, Dino Head Attack, and the Temple of Gloom.

    If you want to see the depth and quality of films made with LEGO STUDIOS, go to Lego’s website at http://www.lego.com and view the shorts in Quicktime. Whether you watch DINO COP, TEMPLE OF GLOOM, or JURASSIC BARK, you’ll be amazed how this movie making kit can create such stunning stop motion animation. And priced at $179.00, it’s the ideal Christmas gift for the child who wants to be a director when he grows up. For more information or to buy a Lego Studios set, click here.

Minimum PC Requirements:
Pentium 233 MMX
32 MB of RAM
DirectX 7 compatible graphics/sound card
Windows 98 Second Edition and Millennium Edition
USB Port
CD-ROM drive
100 MB hard disk space (200 MB recommended)
Internet browser (optional)

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Revised: October 15, 2002 02:42 PM Pacific Time.