Complex sentence: Shooting began in late 1980 and had a markedly troubled production, with multiple re-writes and re-shoots that spanned nearly three years, ending in director Richard Ciupka detaching his name from the project.
Split into simpler sentences: Shooting began in late 1980 and was the beginning of a troubled production marked by multiple re-writes and re-shoots that spanned nearly three years. The film's protracted production ended in director Richard Ciupka detaching his name from the project.