The AP talks digital projection:

The seven major studios formed a group last month to study ways to fight piracy of digitally encoded films and establish standards so competing projection systems can operate interchangeably. The industry wants to avoid mistakes made when digital sound was introduced in the 1990s and theaters were saddled with the expense of three different systems.

"George is a pioneer of this industry, so it makes sense for him to lead the way," said Jim Gianopulos, studio co-chairman for 20th Century Fox, which distributes the "Star Wars" films. "But it is something that's a very substantial undertaking. People want to do it in a proper way."

Theater chains balk at the price, saying the expense must be shared by studios that would save millions on the cost of printing and shipping bulky film reels. Films can be distributed by satellite or on tape or disc for digital projectors.

There's also a sentimental attachment to film among many in the industry. And some insist digital images are cold and cannot yet match the rich color and contrast of celluloid.

The new projection format may be suitable for films created digitally, such as "Attack of the Clones" or the computer-animated tales "Toy Story 2" and "Monsters, Inc.," said John Fithian, president of the National Theatre Owners Association. But traditional film projectors remain the best way to show most movies, he said.

"You don't transition to an entirely new system for one movie. You do it when it's better for the entire industry. That's just not the case yet," Fithian said.

Frank Stirling, executive director of Boeing Digital Cinema, said acceptance of digital projection is coming gradually. The company, a unit of the airplane and aerospace giant, just installed 22 digital projectors at U.S. theaters in time for "Star Wars" and hopes to have 100 of the systems in place by year's end, he said.

"Change is always a challenge for any industry, particularly with new technology," Stirling said.

Rick McCallum, producer of the current "Star Wars" trilogy, said he hopes savvy filmgoers seek out "Attack of the Clones" in digitally projected format.

"If those theaters start doing two or three times the business they do with regular film, theater owners will wake up and see that people do care," McCallum said.

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