USC American Zoetrope & THX 1138

Beginning a new journey in Southern California, George Lucas discovered his true passion, filmmaking. He realized that it was the merging of his two hobbies, art and photography. It was at film school that Lucas began to use film as his canvas as shown in his short films:



Freiheit



Look At Life



THX 1138 Electronic Labyrinth 4EB

His student film THX 1138 won him a scholarship to intern at Warner Bros. Originally he wanted to get into Animation, realizing that the WB Animation offices were closed, he came across, by accident, a film set being directed by a young Francis Ford Coppola.

Realizing Lucas was the only young filmmaker on set (Average crew was in their late 50's) the two soon bonded.

The following documentary, A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope , tells the story of how Lucas and Coppola teamed with other young filmmakers to create an independent film studio, American Zoetrope.

The trials and tribulations of getting their projects funded and greenlit, examines Lucas' disdain for the Hollywood Studio system, as his first feature film, THX 1138, a feature length adaptation of his student film, was taken from him after failing at the box office.

A Long Time Ago In A Town Far, Far Away....

Born in Modesto California (May 14, 1944), George Walton Lucas Jr. had very little interest in movies. The closest to an interest in storytelling was listening to radio serials, watching adventure serials on television, and reading novels such as Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer. His passion was in cars, and as a teen he would cruise around the streets of Modesto. "When I was fifteen, cars kicked in. I started hanging out at a garage, doodling with cars and working on engines… once I was sixteen, I got my license and I could really drive around, out on the streets, and I kind of got lost in cruising from that point on- cars were all consuming to me" (Lucas p.12)



He was an average student, disappointing his parents as he found academics boring and preferred daydreaming his time in class. "I was never described as a bright student. I was always described as somebody who could be doing a lot better than I was doing, not working up to potential. I was so bored" (Lucas p.12). He'd spend his time with friends cruising at night and flirting with the ladies. The cruise culture of the late 50's and early 60's had come and with it, rock n roll. Music and driving became his escape from the mundane classroom, he aspired to become a race car driver but this would soon come to a near fatal halt.

Three days before graduating high school, Lucas was driving his Fiat Bianchina when one of his classmates tail gated him, destroying the vehicle and injuring Lucas. He spent his graduation day in intensive care. His recovering period gave him time to reflect on his life, realizing his close encounter with death, Lucas decided to walk away from his reckless adolescence and hit the books.

Contrary to popular belief, Lucas didn't want to learn filmmaking. After the accident he was unsure of what he wanted to do and contemplated on becoming an architect, photographer or illustrator. At one point he wanted to apply to the Art Center College of Design but the high tuition prevented him. But his determination to pursue an academic subject of interest kept him going. He took general education classes at Modesto Junior college, discovering anthropology, he applied and was accepted to San Francisco State University. His interest in culture and mythology would later help in the making of Star Wars:

"Star Wars came out of my desire to make a modern fairy tale. In college I became fascinated by how culture is transmitted through fairy tales and myths. Fairy tales are how people learn about good and evil, about how to conduct themselves in society" (Kline 1999, 143).

However, his desire to attend Art School was still in the back of his mind and his best friend at the time asked Lucas to accompany him in taking an application test at USC. Lucas recalls, "My best friend was going to USC to go to business school and he wanted me to go and take the test with him. But I said, 'What am I going to do down there?' He said, 'Well if you go down there, they have a school of cinematography, which is like photography, and I know you like photography.' I thought it seemed close enough to art school, and I really wanted to go to art school.' (14). Lucas took the test and despite his average grades was accepted to USC's school of Cinematic Arts.

Introduction

George Lucas has inspired the majority of today's filmmakers and film students. His works have been critically acclaimed and his companies continue to produce major works in visual effects, gaming, television, and film. Personally, it was viewing Star Wars that led to my desire to learn Visual Effects.

However, despite all the acclaim, despite what we all know of Lucas and his works, I feel that there has never been a critical case study on the man behind the curtain. Who is George Lucas? Is he really a filmmaker, or a business man? Both? Neither? Why do so many fans share a love-hate relationship with their hero? We praise the original Star Wars but mention the prequels and the majority will go on a fanboy rant. "George Lucas raped my childhood!" This case study will examine Lucas' journey as an artist, from the young car enthusiast living in Modesto California, to the business guru he is today and the business empire he oversees. In researching Lucas I've come across many interesting facts that either contradict or tell a completely different perspective on his journey to create the Saga we know today. It is important to see this case study with a neutral perspective, despite its critical focus, it's a different, and what I hope to be, fresh take. Regardless of your view on Lucas and films, it is important to realize his impact, both a legacy and a controversy.

George Lucas Case Study Outline*

I. Introduction

A. Thesis: The goal of this case-study is to critically examine the impact filmmaker George Lucas has had on modern cinema.
B. Subarguments
1. Legacy: Lucas has changed how films are made. His films have inspired many of today’s great filmmakers, revolutionized the studio system, and allowed for the development of innovative filmmaking techniques.
Controversy: Such change has also led to a mass production of movies as product, no longer is cinema for the sake of aesthetics, they are assembly line branding.
2. It is important to note that regardless of which view you agree with, George Lucas has affected filmmaking. It is my intention to criticize George Lucas in order to bring discussion on his impact and to show both sides of the story.

II. Body

A. Biography
1. Early Years
-His early life in Modesto California and his passion for cars.
-Discovering filmmaking and storytelling.
-USC Film School and meeting Francis Ford Coppolla.
-American Zoetrope, THX1138, and American Graffiti.
2. The Star Wars
-Brief introduction on the development of the franchise.
-Indiana Jones, ILM, and impact.
B. Filming the Saga
1. The struggle of making Star Wars “A New Hope”
2. Several sources contradict the official story of making Star Wars. It’s apparent that most of the story was developed during production and in the subsequent sequels. Production was chaotic, cast/crew didn’t understand what Lucas’ intention was and ILM struggled with the fx.
3. Eventually the culmination of uncertainty and pressure led Lucas on releasing the unfinished product, which surprisingly succeeded. The scars however, led him to focus on the business aspect of moviemaking resulting in hiring new directors and writers for the sequels. He would remain as Executive Producer.
C. The Sequels and Indiana Jones
1. George Lucas realized that as Executive producer he was more able to manage his production company and oversee the overall process of his films without much studio control. This allowed him to work on simultaneous projects and profit from all of them.
2. Various interviews show Lucas’ passion for being independent from the studio system. He became his own studio, running the show with absolute control. Raiders of the Lost Ark became his next franchise. Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz disagreed with Lucas new approach and left after Empire Strikes Back.
3. As Executive Producer he successfully monopolized on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones Franchise. His various assets from Lucasfilm and ILM allowed him to expand his business into a Brand Company. For the next 20 years George Lucas became a visionary at the craft of marketing and business.
D. The Prequels & Future
1. George Lucas admits that making Star Wars was a struggle indeed, but we begin to note that with each film he made, his ability to oversee and control the project allowed for a more efficient method at production.
2. The prequels demonstrate Lucas’ total control over a project without being challenged. Gary Kurtz mentions this in various interviews.
E. Impact
1. George Lucas has inspired today’s great filmmakers and how films are made. ILM continues to be an award winning visual effects facility and Star Wars continues to grow.
2. The fans however share a love and hate relationship as noted in the various fanfilms and criticisms.

III. Conclusion

A. Regardless of your opinion, the life of George Lucas and the history of his films have left an amazing impact on film history.
B. For me George Lucas is a great innovative filmmaker and it’s the pitfalls and obstacles of his journey that make him more interesting. We tend to view our heroes as invincible but when we carefully examine them, they are just like you or me, and that’s inspiring.


*Themes and topics subject to change