Tag: George Lucas

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Where to stream the Canadian short that inspired George Lucas’ Star Wars

You might not have known it, but Star Wars owes a lot to Canada.

On top of Vancouver’s own Hayden Christensen playing Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in the prequel films and upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series, Star Wars creator George Lucas actually drew heavy inspiration for his original space opera film from Montreal-born filmmaker Arthur Lipsett.

Specifically, Lucas has cited Lipsett’s acclaimed 1963 short 21-87 as a key influence on Star Wars, including the idea of “The Force.” 21-87 is an abstract montage-collage film that offers a commentary on a machine-dominated society, and Lucas has said it was “the kind of movie I wanted to make.”

References to that short can even be found in Princess Leia’s cell (No. 2187) on the Death Star in A New Hope and John Boyega’s character, Stormtrooper FN-2187 (“Finn”), in the sequel trilogy.

As part of this year’s May 4th Star Wars Day celebrations, the official Twitter account of Canada has promoted the short, as has Canada Media Fund’s Made Nous division. Additionally, the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada, which originally produced 21-87, is offering the film for streaming.

You can do so for free on the NFB’s website. Meanwhile, all six of Lucas’ Star Wars films, as well as the sequel trilogy and related media, are streaming on Disney+.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Via: @made_nous

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Potins

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher ‘made out like teenagers’ on Star Wars set

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher "made out like teenagers" on the set of the original ‘Star Wars’ trilogy.

The 66-year-old actor – who played Jedi Master Luke Skywalker alongside the legendary actress’ General Leia Organa in the sci-fi fantasy franchise – has admitted he and Carrie were instantly attracted to one another while shooting ‘Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope’ back in 1977.

Speaking to The Guardian newspaper, Mark said: "Carrie and I were attracted to one another but I knew from previous jobs that it would have been a bad idea [to get involved with someone on set].

"But Carrie and I found pretexts. I remember one time – I’m sure alcohol was involved – we were talking about kissing techniques.

"I said ‘well, I think I’m a fairly good kisser. I like to let the women come to me rather than be aggressive’.

"And she said ‘what do you mean?’ Well, the next thing you know we’re making out like teenagers!

"We were all over each other! The one thing that drew Carrie and me back from the precipice was we kind of became aware of what we were doing and just burst out laughing."

Mark and Carrie have both reprised their roles for the eighth movie ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, which is out in cinemas now, but the American actress sadly died a few months after shooting her scenes.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t just Mark who Carrie had a romantic thing with while filming the blockbusters as, before her death, she revealed that she and Harrison Ford – who played Han Solo – had an "intense" relationship during the making of the first ‘Star Wars’ movie.

Carrie – who lifted the lid on their affair in her recently-published book ‘The Princess Diarist’ – said: "[Harrison] joked about sending for a lawyer, so he was aware of [the diaries] and I told him that if there was anything he didn’t like he should let me know.

"I sent them to him and waited for him to get back to me. He is incredibly private and I am sure the whole thing bugged him but he comes out of it well."

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Potins

Harrison Ford’s tribute to ‘fearless’ Carrie Fisher

Harrison Ford has remembered the "fearless" Carrie Fisher.

The ‘Star Wars’ actor – who plays Han Solo in the science fiction film franchise – has paid tribute to his co-star after she passed away on Tuesday (12.27.16) at the age of 60.

He said in a statement: "Carrie was one-of-a-kind, brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless.

"She lived her life, bravely … My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her."

And George Lucas – who is the creator of ‘Star Wars’ and chose to cast Carrie as Princess Leia in ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ in 1977 – praised Carrie’s "very colourful personality".

He shared: "Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives. She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colourful personality that everyone loved. In ‘Star Wars’, she was our great and powerful princess – feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carrie’s family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all."

Meanwhile, Carrie’s mother Debbie Reynolds has penned a special tribute to her "beloved and amazing" daughter.

Posting on her Facebook account, she wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother (sic)"

Whilst Mark Hamill – who plays Luke Skywalker – simply wrote on Twitter: "No words #Devastated (sic)"

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Potins

Carrie Fisher wasn’t in love with Harrison Ford

Carrie Fisher was not in love with her ‘Star Wars’ co-star Harrison Ford, but she was infatuated with him.

The 60-year-old actress decided to lift the lid on her three-month fling with Harrison in her new memoir ‘The Princess Diarist’ – which details entries in her diary from 40 years ago – which occurred when they were shooting ‘A New Hope’ in London in 1976 and the then-33-year-old actor was married to Mary Marquardt.

The affair began after the pair – who played eventual lovers Princess Leia and Harrison Ford in the original trilogy – after attending a birthday party for the film’s director George Lucas but fizzled out in a matter of weeks.

Carrie – who was 19 at the time of the tryst – doesn’t think she or Harrison, now 74, had feelings strong enough to be described as love but she was very attracted to the screen heartthrob.

During an interview on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ she was asked by the host if they were in love, to which Carrie responded: "Well it depends on who you ask. I was infatuation, probably. Love is more mature."

Although the ‘Star Wars’ cast and crew were close, Carrie insists it was not hard for her and Harrison to hide their relationship from people.

She said: "I told other stuff to distract people so they wouldn’t figure it out. No one thought it was happening at the time."

She jokingly added: "I don’t even know if he did. No, he did."

Carrie believes she and Harrison – who were reunited in a galaxy far, far away in 2015 blockbuster ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ – got together mainly because they were in the UK and lonely because they were away from their friends and family.

She told Ellen: "That’s because everybody was away from home, so them the rules – I didn’t know this. I was 19. No one told me about location rules, or lack of rules. But you can do whatever you want, as long as you film the movie. They can sleep together if their family’s not around."

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Potins

Star Wars Identities will convert non-fans to The Force

The ‘Star Wars Identities’ exhibition has the power to convert non-fans to the ways of ‘The Force’, according to the attraction’s creator Laela French.

French is responsible for bringing the interactive exhibit to The O2 in London which features over 200 props, models, costumes and rare artwork from the franchise’s near 40-year history including the mold of Han Solo’s in carbonite, the Darth Vader costume worn by David Prowse in the original trilogy and the puppet of Yoda that was used in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’.

As visitors walk around the exhibition they learn about the complex notion of identity through the characters of ‘Star Wars’ and must participate in an interactive identity quest based on the journeys of Luke Skywalker and his father Anakin Skywalker. The choices the participants make result in the creation of their own ‘Star Wars’ character at the end of the tour and whether they will be on the Light Side or the Dark Side of The Force.

French is the director of archives at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts which is based at ‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas’ Skywalker ranch in California and as someone who is "not the biggest ‘Star Wars’ nerd" she wanted to come up with an experience that would impress those not obsessed with the galaxy far, far away.

Speaking to BANG Showbiz at a preview of ‘Star Wars Identities’, she shared: "I’m not the biggest ‘Star Wars’ nerd – disclaimer! But I did it 17 times the first time I went round because it was so much fun, this makes us go back to making us like little kids again.

"People said you’ll get uber fans going but I’ve really curated this exhibition for the non-fans. Uber fans are going to show up and I’ve put surprises in this for them and I make sure that it’s fresh for them, but I’m really focusing on the skeptics and the non-fans because that’s where the challenge is at … I think this is the best exhibition we’ve ever done for a ‘Star Wars’ collection, I’m really proud to bring it here to London."

‘Star Wars Identities’ is on a world tour so fans across the globe can see these artifacts as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts is not open to the public and French has revealed she has been told by countless visitors that the exhibition has made entire families ‘Star Wars’ fans.

She said: "We’ve had people tell us, ‘Oh we brought our parents and they weren’t fans. And we converted them.’ I think that’s because they see the mythology underneath it, they see the heroes’ journey and all of a sudden the people who don’t do science fiction open up to it because this is more than science fiction. They appreciate it. We’ve had some great stories, my favorite is a family came and the son was the super-fan, he raised his kids as fans but the grandparents had never seen the films they came through ‘Identities’ and the grandparents were like, ‘Oh my god! I don’t know why we missed this in 1977, this is great!’ And then they had a movie-fest where the grandparents and the grandchildren watched ‘Star Wars’ together. That’s so cool, it’s great to hear."

Other highlights include the droid suits worn by Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO and the remote control BB-8 unit from most recent ‘Star Wars’ movie ‘The Force Awakens’.

There is also artwork showing slug-like villain Jabba the Hutt with legs and the remote control used on the giant puppet in ‘Return of the Jedi’, and costumes worn by Harrison Ford as Han, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Mark Hamill as Luke.

‘Star Wars Identities’ runs from November 18, 2016 to September 3, 2017 with tickets on sale at www.theo2.co.uk/starwars now.

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Cinéma

George Lucas supports J.J.Abrams at Star Wars premiere

J.J. Abrams and George Lucas walked the red carpet together at the world premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ on Monday night (14.12.15).

The movie’s director was given the seal of approval from the 71-year-old Hollywood legend – who created the sci-fi franchise and directed and produced the first six ‘Star Wars’ films before selling Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company in 2012 – when they attended he highly anticipated event at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

Abrams – who revealed he was overwhelmed at the ”surreal” hype surrounding the movie – was given a big thumbs up from Lucas, as he placed a supportive arm around the acclaimed director.

Speaking about why the franchise has become such a huge part of popular culture since the first movie came out in 1977, Lucas told reporters on the red carpet: ”I didn’t think it would be this big when it started. It’s a film about families and what one generation leaves behind another generation has to deal with.

”I started off wanting to do a film for young people who were going through adolescence, with mythological themes and spiritual themes. ”That is what resonated with people.”

Lucas, 71, talking about how the cycle of life influences the sci-fi saga, he added: ”It’s about what one generation leaves behind and the next generation has to deal with.”

The premiere was also attended by the cast of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ with stars such as Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Max von Sydow Gwendolyn Christie and Harrison Ford – who was accompanied by his wife Calista Flockhart – all in attendance.

The movie opens in cinemas worldwide on Friday (18.12.15).

 

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Cinéma

A musical for George Lucas

A few days after he announced his intention to relaunch Star Wars in 3D, The Hollywood Reporter says George Lucas is working on a secret project.

Based at his Skywalker Ranch in California, Lucas is working on an untitled animated movie musical in computer graphics.

Lucas will produce the project while Kevin Munroe (TMNT) will direct. The film is said to feature fairies. Screenwriter David Berenbaum (Elf, The Spiderwick Chronicles) is currently working on the story.

In the meantime, Lucas finished the adventure Red Tails. He wrote the script and and wore an executive producer hat. This project was inspired by the exploits of the first African American air combat unit during World War Two. Starring Terrence Howard et Cuba Gooding Jr., the film will be released in 2010.

Lucas is also working on the fifth Indiana Jones which is still being written.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Unique Normal Rockwell Exhibition

The Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington will exhibit the works of Norman Rockwell beginning July 2, 2010.

Two of America’s greatest movie directors, George Lucus and Steven Spielberg, will lend their private Normal Rockwell collection to the Smithsonian until January 2, 2011.

In addition, more than 50 Norman Rockwell paintings will also be on display. Star Wars director, George Lucas, has lent the oldest piece, a painting of the cover of Life magazine from 1917.

Born in 1894, Rockwell became famous for his realistic paintings depicting the typical American life. He died in 1978, leaving behind a considerable artistic heritage in the United States.

 

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Potins

Harrison Ford Is Ready for Another Indiana Jones

The American star was recently in France for the Deauville American Film Festival, where he was a guest of honour.

The 67-year-old actor told Figaro that he wouldn’t hesitate to return to his role as the well-known archeologist under the direction of Steven Spielberg.

"The story for the new Indiana Jones is in the process of taking form," Ford said, adding, "Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and myself are agreed on what the fifth adventure will concern, and George is actively at work. If the script is good, I’ll be very happy to put the costume on again." 
 
In the meantime, Harrison Ford will star in The Crowley Project, a drama which opens in theatres next year.

 

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Potins

George Lucas Tops Best-Paid List

According to a Forbes.com list, Lucas, the mastermind of Star Wars, is the wealthiest man of the year with his $170 million salary.

The director has his production company Lucasfilm to thank, after its release of several science-fiction films and other projects.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg lands in second place, with an estimated $150 million made between June 2008 and June 2009. His whopping salary is the result of his work on the new Indiana Jones film, and for the production of the films Eagle Eye, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes in at third position with $100 million.

The list, compiling the estimated rough salaries of this year’s male producers, comedians, musicians and influential personalities in the industry, was made through information gathered from managers, agents and other Hollywood sources.

Here is the list of the ten highest paid men in Hollywood:

1. George Lucas – $170 million

2. Steven Spielberg – $150 million

3. Jerry Bruckheimer – $100 million

4. Jerry Seinfeld – $85 million

5. Dr. Phil McGraw – $80 million

6. Tyler Perry – $75 million

7. Dick Wolf – $75 million

8. Simon Cowell – $75 million

9. Bruce Springsteen – $70 million

10. Howard Stern – $70 million