And what was I going to do next? And I clearly had to think about it because I hadn't anticipated quite such a critical and commercial flop as this. And in the interstices of that I was asked by George Lucas to come in and help to take over a film that he was making with Francis [Ford] Coppola. Both of whom had supported me throughout my career, but particularly on Return to Oz, when I had been fired. They came to keep me on the film.
So naturally, I said, 'Of course, I will do this.' And this was the film, Captain EO, with Michael Jackson. And it is a science fiction film made for Disney. The same people who had made Return to Oz. 20 minutes long, and it was a three-dimensional film as a kind of a ride, an experience. They were dubbing it 4D, meaning not only was it optically in 3D, but there were special effects in the theatre, explosions and lights going off. So that it was to use a phrase that had not yet become current, it was a very immersive experience.
And for a while – I think, it's been surpassed – but for a while, minute by minute, it was the most expensive film ever made. For 20 minutes, and it cost $20 million, I forget. But $1 million a minute. At that time, in that budget, I don't know what the math would be today. And I got out of that three or four experiences, learning experiences. Working with 3D – that was the first and only time that I had worked on 3D. And I not only edited the film, but also directed some second unit stuff. So you're looking at somebody who has a fairly unique experience of directing Michael Jackson in a 3D 70 mm scene.
