Archive for ‘George Lucas’

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George Lucas Honored at Siskel Center

June 17, 2009


(Jon Favreau, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson — Photo courtesy Jimmy Mac.)

This weekend filmmaker George Lucas was honored in Chicago by The Gene Siskel Film Center with a gala event which included an interview by Iron Man director Jon Favreau.

Media were also in attendance including our friends at Force-Cast who covered the event and snagged an interview with The Maker himself.

Jon Favreau conducted an hour-long discussion with George that mostly focused on his technological and artistic contributions to cinema, including his advancements in digital film making, creation of his company, and his hobby of architecture. During the interview, Lucas claimed rules do not work and he stressed the need to think outside the box. George said he developed new film making technologies was because he was lazy and wanted the easiest way to concentrate his attention on the fun aspects of movie making. Lucas also informed attendees that he is working on literally 40 screenplays for television including the development of a second Star Wars animated series. The captive audience hung on every word and the evening ended with a standing ovation for the revolutionary director.

Check out their coverage here:

   19 Comments »    |       Celebrities, George Lucas, events    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

Favreau and Lucas: Mutual Admiration Society

June 8, 2009


(Director Jon Favreau proudly wears his Skywalker Sound shirt on location for Iron Man.)

Iron Man director Jon Favreau will be not only presenting filmmaker George Lucas with the Gene Siskel Film Center Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking next weekend at a gala event, he’ll have the opportunity to interview him about his filmmaking process and influences. Even though Favreau is swamped working on the next Iron Man film, he couldn’t resist the rare request.

“It is hard to drop everything when you’re on a film this big,” he said when we spoke by phone the other day. “But the Art Institute asked me to fly to Chicago for George. Nothing short of the death of a close relative would stop me from boarding that plane.”

Favreau would never agree he is Lucas’ equal, but asked what he admires of the filmmaker, Favreau pointed to a parallel: “What I always loved is he lived through a period when films were nihilistic. The ’70s could be subversive, and I love those films, but he brought a sincere storytelling to what may seem like throwaway popcorn movies, and that hit the bull’s-eye for me.”

Lucas had equally nice things to say about Favreau:

“Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound have had the good fortune of working with Jon [on the 'Iron Man' films],” Lucas said. “I know firsthand that he is the type of filmmaker that crews here love to work with, because he always gives them the opportunity to break new ground.”

Read the full interview here:
Jon Favreau, just a regular guy (via Chicago Tribune)

   1 Comment »    |       Celebrities, George Lucas    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

Happy Birthday, George Lucas!

May 14, 2009

Words/Photos: Bonnie Burton

Today, marks the birth of my boss (well actually — my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss) George Lucas.

Now is the day to reflect on all the good stuff we’ve gotten thanks to the Maker.

Without George Lucas we would never appreciate cruising in classic cars and eating at Mel’s Diner. Without Lucas we would never have imagined a galaxy full of Jedi, Sith, stormtroopers, droids, Wookiees, Ewoks and AT-ATs. Without Lucas we would never have re-enacted outrunning a big boulder while trying to swipe a Golden Fertility Idol. Heck, without Lucas we’d never have known the power of the Force!

So take a moment today to play with your Star Wars action figures, wear your Indy fedora with pride, and try a Jedi Mind Trick on someone you love.

Happy Birthday, Boss!


(Sketch of myself and the Maker by Tom Hodges)

   10 Comments »    |       George Lucas    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

The Big Bang Theory Writes George Lucas

May 14, 2009

We all love The Big Bang Theory! Sheldon does a mean Ackbar impression. They protect themselves against burglars using lightsabers replicas. And well, they’re funny.

But lately, the show has featured a few jabs against The Clone Wars animated series. So the writers of the show issued this letter to George Lucas during the end credits of one of their episodes that aired in November 2008.

It reads:

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #227

Dear George Lucas,

May I call you Mr. Lucas? On behalf of the writers of The Big Bang Theory, I would like to thank you for your astounding body of work, which has awakened the child within us and unleashed our dreams. That being said, we hope you don’t take offense at our good-natured jest regarding your most recent ainmated efforts. Yes they were cheap shots, but we can’t help but hold you to a higher standard — a standard of your own making. In closing, we are looking forward to Indiana Jones 5 – The Curse of the Golden Catheter. Oops, sorry again.

Very truly yours,

The Writers

P.S. To William Shatner of Star Trek 5.
Go ahead, sue us.

Check out the letter here:
The Big Bang Theory Letter to George Lucas
(via Chuck Lorre Production Vanity Card Archives)

   11 Comments »    |       George Lucas, TV, humor    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

Obama More Powerful than Skywalker?

February 13, 2009

President Barack Obama has achieved superstar status complete with a comic book cover hanging out with Spider-Man. But is he an actual hero? George Lucas thinks so. Darth Vader better watch his back.

Yahoo News reports:

Star Wars creator George Lucas was in Washington Wednesday night for the Ford’s Theatre reopening celebration where both he and screen legend Sidney Poitier were being honored with the Ford Theatre Society’s Lincoln medal in a ceremony attended by President Barack Obama, a Lincoln aficionado.

Lucas says that, in a contest between Luke Skywalker and Obama, our 44th president wins hands down — even without the lightsaber.

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SOURCE:
Yahoo News

   No Comments »    |       George Lucas, Politics, in the media    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

Jaime King Shows Off Her Clone Cred

January 14, 2009

While promoting her new horror film My Bloody Valentine 3-D, actress Jaime King is quick to point out to the press that she’s not only a real geek, but she’s a big Star Wars fan as well. Here’s an excerpt from a recent interview she gave FEAR.net.

I heard you are a Star Wars geek.
I am. I am actually doing the new Clone Wars animated series right now. I’m excited about that.

Which voice are you?
I can’t tell you yet, but I play a few voices. I harassed [Clone Wars director] Dave Filoni until he gave me a part. I sent him emails, and I followed him around Comic-Con saying “Hire me. Hire me. Hire me. Hire me.”

You have been to Skywalker Ranch, right?
Yes, I have. That was the best. I have gone a few times – every excuse I can find to go there, I use. And then I cry when I have to go. It’s utopia for me. The idea of being out in nature, then having all these guys there, doing what they do creatively… being in that environment…. I feel like George Lucas has created something so universal, that speaks everyone’s language, that transcends time and age. It’s something everyone can relate to. I just think George Lucas is awesome.

(more…)

   No Comments »    |       Celebrities, Clone Wars, Fanboys, George Lucas    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

George Lucas Wants You to Rock

January 12, 2009

Itching to start up your own awesome band? Maybe buying a brand new Gibson guitar signed by George Lucas will motivate you to become a rock god. Lucky for you, George Lucas joins other icons, artists, and musicians to raise money with a special upcoming Guitar Gala to help keep the legendary Phoenix building stay standing and offering music and art programs to the citizens of Petaluma, Calif.

The Guitar Gala will feature approximately 20 guitars (donated by the Gibson Foundation), each designed and customized by local and nationally recognized visual artists.

In additon to filmmaker George Lucas, other artists committed to the program include Devo, Seth Green of Robot Chicken, Stan Lee of Marvel Comics, Les Claypool of Primus, Jack Haye, Chris Clark (of Motown fame), Michael Garlington, Chris Jehly, Anna Oneglia, Lia May-Bird, Ricky Watts, Jared Powell, Josh Staples of the New Trust, and Jason Jenkins. The event will feature a live Internet auction of the guitars as well as a silent auction.

The entire proceeds from the Guitar Gala will be dedicated to supporting the free-of-charge after-school music, theater and arts programs for at-risk youth of the North Bay — as well as to help preserve the historic Phoenix Theater, which has served as an important performing arts venue for over 100 years — hosting a diverse group of artists ranging from Enrico Caruso to Louis Armstrong, from Carlos Santana, Sublime, and Metallica to Green Day and Hilary Duff.

The gala takes place Feb. 27-28, 2009 at the Petaluma Phoenix Center in Petaluma, Calif.

Learn more about the event and the guitars up for auction here:
The Phoenix Carnaval and Guitar Gala

   No Comments »    |       Collecting, George Lucas, Star Wars Rocks, charity    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

Justin Timberlake and C-3PO Together At Last

December 3, 2008


(Who do you trust more to bring sexy back?)

The droids and celebs come out for a night to celebrate Samuel L. Jackson receiving the 2008 American Cinematheque Award. Artoo, accompanied by his counterpart, translator, and traveling companion C-3PO, was nice enough to send along a few snapshots of his star-studded night to Starwars.com. The ceremony airs on AMC December 9th with special appearances by the maker himself, George Lucas.

Read the full article with more photos here:
Droid Report from Beverly Hills (Starwars.com)

   3 Comments »    |       Celebrities, George Lucas, Movie News    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

George Lucas’s Celebration Intro

July 19, 2008

Throughout Celebration Japan on the digital stage is a video greeting/interview from George Lucas, who could not attend but nonetheless sent his best wishes. Here is a transcript of that video:

dvd-screenshot.jpg

(more…)

   2 Comments »    |       Celebration Japan, George Lucas    |       Permalink
   Posted by Pabawan

George Lucas Wants You to Vote

July 1, 2008

Hip hop stars Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Ciara, Egypt, Doug E. Fresh, Flo Rida, Russell Simmons, oh and filmmaker George Lucas, think you should register and vote in 2008.

VIDEO: George Lucas in Vote For It ‘08

More on the “Vote For It ‘08″ PSA:

VFI08 is a joint initiative between the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), and online ad network and marketing company, CPX Interactive. The overarching purpose of the joint initiative is to serve as a call-to-action to America’s youth vote, emphasizing the importance of connectivity to the growing national political spirit and the necessity of empowering one’s self thru the exercise of the most basic responsibility…that is the right to vote.

Get more info here:
VoteForIt08.org

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SOURCE: TheForce.net

   6 Comments »    |       Celebrities, George Lucas, Politics    |       Permalink
   Posted by bonniegrrl

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