LAS VEGAS – "Star Wars" creator George Lucas predicts 3-D filmmaking eventually will take over at the movies the way color replaced black and white.

But Lucas and fellow technology pioneers James Cameron, the maker of "Avatar," and DreamWorks Animation boss Jeffrey Katzenberg said digital filmmaking is only in its infancy and will bring vast improvements to how movies are made and seen.

The three spoke Wednesday at a digital-film panel at CinemaCon, a Las Vegas convention for theater owners. The hour-long discussion touched on new filmmaking tools, enhancements to theater sound and how badly presented 3-D movies can sour audiences on digital 3-D films in general.

Theater owners applauded heartily when Lucas said home systems or portable video devices will never replace the moviehouse as the best place to see films.