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George Lucas
The essential biography of the influential and beloved filmmaker George Lucas
On May 25, 1977, a problem-plagued, budget-straining independent science-fiction film opened in a mere thirty-two American movie theaters. Conceived, written, and directed by a little-known filmmaker named George Lucas, the movie originally called The Star Wars quickly drew blocks-long lines, bursting box-office records and ushering in a new way for movies to be made, marketed, and merchandised. It is now one of the most adored-and successful-movie franchises of all time.
Now, the author of the bestselling biography Jim Henson delivers a long-awaited, revelatory look into the life and times of the man who created Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Indiana Jones.
If Star Wars wasn't game-changing enough, Lucas went on to create another blockbuster series with Indiana Jones, and he completely transformed the world of special effects and the way movies sound. His innovation and ambition forged Pixar and Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and THX sound.
Lucas's colleagues and competitors offer tantalizing glimpses into his life. His entire career has been stimulated by innovators including Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola, actors such as Harrison Ford, and the very technologies that enabled the creation of his films-and allowed him to keep tinkering with them long after their original releases. Like his unforgettable characters and stories, his influence is unmatched.
On May 25, 1977, a problem-plagued, budget-straining independent science-fiction film opened in a mere thirty-two American movie theaters. Conceived, written, and directed by a little-known filmmaker named George Lucas, the movie originally called The Star Wars quickly drew blocks-long lines, bursting box-office records and ushering in a new way for movies to be made, marketed, and merchandised. It is now one of the most adored-and successful-movie franchises of all time.
Now, the author of the bestselling biography Jim Henson delivers a long-awaited, revelatory look into the life and times of the man who created Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Indiana Jones.
If Star Wars wasn't game-changing enough, Lucas went on to create another blockbuster series with Indiana Jones, and he completely transformed the world of special effects and the way movies sound. His innovation and ambition forged Pixar and Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and THX sound.
Lucas's colleagues and competitors offer tantalizing glimpses into his life. His entire career has been stimulated by innovators including Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola, actors such as Harrison Ford, and the very technologies that enabled the creation of his films-and allowed him to keep tinkering with them long after their original releases. Like his unforgettable characters and stories, his influence is unmatched.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2016
422 people are currently reading
6006 people want to read
About the author
Brian Jay Jones
6 books339 followersBrian Jay Jones is the award-winning, bestselling biographer of some of the world's most iconic creative geniuses, from American writer Washington Irving and Muppet master Jim Henson, to Star Wars creator George Lucas and children's writer/artist Dr. Seuss.
Brian's biography of Jim Henson won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Biography of 2013, an honor he still appreciates every day.
A note from Brian: "I've taken a somewhat different tact with this site, starting with a 'day one' approach where l've added books as I purchased and read them, rather than trying to recreate my entire library (apart from a few favorite biographies that I can't resist sticking on the shelf)."
Subnote: I'm also really bad about updating my books. Sorry about that.
Brian's biography of Jim Henson won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Biography of 2013, an honor he still appreciates every day.
A note from Brian: "I've taken a somewhat different tact with this site, starting with a 'day one' approach where l've added books as I purchased and read them, rather than trying to recreate my entire library (apart from a few favorite biographies that I can't resist sticking on the shelf)."
Subnote: I'm also really bad about updating my books. Sorry about that.
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April 22, 2020
After reading one of the other biographies he penned, I knew it was only a matter of time before I returned to tackle another piece by Brian Jay Jones. In this thoroughly explored piece, Jones tackles the life and times of George Lucas, who was the man behind the lens of many iconic films, most notably six of the Star Wars saga and Indiana Jones, that iconic hero. Jones offers a comprehensive look into the man’s life and a great deal of behind the scenes to exemplify why the reader ought to take note of what Lucas did and the impact he had on others. Born a scrawny kid in California, George Lucas just wanted to have fun, though he seemed to be out of his element. The brunt of many attacks by bullies, young George sought to carve out his own niche and lost himself in the world of comics whenever possible. The new medium of television astonished him, as he could see the stories from his books and comics come to life on the screen, something he imagined that he could do. When he failed at an early newspaper career as a teen, Lucas needed something to occupy his time and school did not seem to be the answer, though his need for fast cars was a means by which to feed his adrenaline rush as well. His grades were poor and his attention wavered at every turn. When George refused to enter the family stationary business, his father refused to bankroll anything in the arts at college, leaving the younger Lucas to turn to something that interested him and yet could still pass muster with his father. George chose film school, not realizing how ‘artistic’ it could be, and thrived from the get-go. Jones explores how Lucas came into his own when taught some of the basics of film, turning a young man with little ambition into a powerhouse. Lucas sought to push the boundaries and challenge everything, all to make a point. His medium was the screen, where he could bring any idea to life and captivate the world, or at least anyone with enough patience to sit through what was playing before them.
It was while in film school at the University of Southern California that Lucas rubbed elbows with a few other up and comers, namely Francis Ford Coppola and a wiry young student, Steven Spielberg. Lucas admired the former and was taken under his wing for a time, while the latter was seen idolising Lucas (which would lead to a life-long friendship, competitive streak, and some collaborative efforts). All three would work together alongside one another throughout Lucas’ career in film, as Jones shows repeatedly. With the education behind him, Lucas made his way out into the world to make movies and influence others. His ideas were bountiful and he sought to create something meaningful from the outset, but financial limitations were always going to be an issue. Jones explores the struggles to get backing as a new kid on the block, though Lucas was never short of ideas. He penned many a proposal and turned out a blockbuster hit in American Graffiti, though it was anything but guaranteed. Lucas continues to search for something better and turned to some of his ideas of a superhero series set in space, which gave birth to perhaps some of the most iconic movie making in the latter part of the 1970s and spawned an ‘empire’ that has become a cult classic. Jones thoroughly discusses and explores the time and effort Lucas spent in writing, directing, and producing the first Star Wars trilogy, which was highly stressful and would cost Lucas a marriage. Jones argues throughout that Lucas had a passion for film that surpassed anything else, leaving others to either join him or wait for it to be convenient for the icon. With an unknown cast and vastly expensive ideas for the time, Lucas sought to bring his dreams to life. Money was the central object and yet things seemed to come together, as the doubters were forced to eat crow and Lucas made a name for himself, while padding his bank account at the same time. Interspersing his work on all things Jedi, Lucas also created another of his life-long ambitions, a more down to earth adventure series with one Indiana Jones in the title role, headed by his Star Wars leading man, Harrison Ford.
By the time the first Star Wars trilogy was done in 1983, Lucas was exhausted and yet still making a name for himself. His work was far from over and with a production company bearing his name, George Lucas was not about to rest on his own laurels. He had been working on Indiana Jones films and set about to keep doing so, trying to keep the series running and the public hungering for his work. As Jones intimates throughout this portion of the biography, Lucas faced many questions about the future of Star Wars, as well as whether he had any ideas. While Lucas would rebuff much of this, he had a few things simmering and chose to tackle the prequel trilogy, helping to explain how things evolved. Jones describes the struggles and the new technology that Lucas had at his fingertips to reinvigorate the original trilogy and how to make this new one even better. Juggling that and some other projects, Lucas also had family obligations and ended up dating to keep himself happy. Jones mentions that he may have finally come out of his shell enough to allow a second person to share his passion, while not choosing moviemaking as his sole mistress. With the success of his movies, Lucas chose to step away from the limelight, though did not want his legacy buried. His sale of Lucasfilms to Disney turned him a massive profit, but also ensured that the Star Wars films would receive their stardom in perpetuity. Finally happy, Lucas could let others worry about the nitty-gritty, as the Force left him to enjoy some form of retirement.
I was so intrigued with how Brian Jay Jones handled another biography I read recently that I knew I would be coming back for this one. While I was just a wee lad when Star Wars was popular, I have seen some of the Lucas-made films and wanted to know more about the man behind them. Jones takes the reader on an amazing journey through the life of George Lucas, showing not only his dazzling moments, but also the pitfalls that he was forced to overcome. From his wimpy childhood days to his battling with others to fund his massive film projects, Lucas was never one to back away from adversity, seeing himself as having reason for his actions. Jones depicts this well throughout, choosing not to deify the man, but also not making him out to be completely out of touch with those around him. While many have said that George Lucas could not relate to his actors, the biography shows a man keenly interested in connecting to those who breathed life into his ideas, though the director/producer always had a vision and god help anyone who stood in his way. There is also a wonderful theme running throughout of the friendships that Lucas made early in his career (Coppola, Spielberg, etc) and how they could come together at times, complementing their respective rise to stardom. Jones uses the three parts of the book to effectively divide Lucas’ life, showing how he rose to notoriety, lived the intense life that was Star Wars and then settled into a career that continued to earn him much fame. I did take a great deal away from this book and hope to learn more about the man, as Jones has paved the way and offered a few interesting pathways worth following. Anyone eager to know the man behind the George Lucas persona need look no further than this book, as Brian Jay Jones has penned yet another powerful biography of someone who was able to wiggle his way into the daily lexicon of those who understand the basics of pop culture. I was so thoroughly impressed and cannot wait to see what else Jones has uncovered on other iconic figures.
Kudos, Mr. Jones, for shining a much-needed light on another wonderful figure. You handle these subjects so well, no wonder people turn to you to tell their lives in print.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
It was while in film school at the University of Southern California that Lucas rubbed elbows with a few other up and comers, namely Francis Ford Coppola and a wiry young student, Steven Spielberg. Lucas admired the former and was taken under his wing for a time, while the latter was seen idolising Lucas (which would lead to a life-long friendship, competitive streak, and some collaborative efforts). All three would work together alongside one another throughout Lucas’ career in film, as Jones shows repeatedly. With the education behind him, Lucas made his way out into the world to make movies and influence others. His ideas were bountiful and he sought to create something meaningful from the outset, but financial limitations were always going to be an issue. Jones explores the struggles to get backing as a new kid on the block, though Lucas was never short of ideas. He penned many a proposal and turned out a blockbuster hit in American Graffiti, though it was anything but guaranteed. Lucas continues to search for something better and turned to some of his ideas of a superhero series set in space, which gave birth to perhaps some of the most iconic movie making in the latter part of the 1970s and spawned an ‘empire’ that has become a cult classic. Jones thoroughly discusses and explores the time and effort Lucas spent in writing, directing, and producing the first Star Wars trilogy, which was highly stressful and would cost Lucas a marriage. Jones argues throughout that Lucas had a passion for film that surpassed anything else, leaving others to either join him or wait for it to be convenient for the icon. With an unknown cast and vastly expensive ideas for the time, Lucas sought to bring his dreams to life. Money was the central object and yet things seemed to come together, as the doubters were forced to eat crow and Lucas made a name for himself, while padding his bank account at the same time. Interspersing his work on all things Jedi, Lucas also created another of his life-long ambitions, a more down to earth adventure series with one Indiana Jones in the title role, headed by his Star Wars leading man, Harrison Ford.
By the time the first Star Wars trilogy was done in 1983, Lucas was exhausted and yet still making a name for himself. His work was far from over and with a production company bearing his name, George Lucas was not about to rest on his own laurels. He had been working on Indiana Jones films and set about to keep doing so, trying to keep the series running and the public hungering for his work. As Jones intimates throughout this portion of the biography, Lucas faced many questions about the future of Star Wars, as well as whether he had any ideas. While Lucas would rebuff much of this, he had a few things simmering and chose to tackle the prequel trilogy, helping to explain how things evolved. Jones describes the struggles and the new technology that Lucas had at his fingertips to reinvigorate the original trilogy and how to make this new one even better. Juggling that and some other projects, Lucas also had family obligations and ended up dating to keep himself happy. Jones mentions that he may have finally come out of his shell enough to allow a second person to share his passion, while not choosing moviemaking as his sole mistress. With the success of his movies, Lucas chose to step away from the limelight, though did not want his legacy buried. His sale of Lucasfilms to Disney turned him a massive profit, but also ensured that the Star Wars films would receive their stardom in perpetuity. Finally happy, Lucas could let others worry about the nitty-gritty, as the Force left him to enjoy some form of retirement.
I was so intrigued with how Brian Jay Jones handled another biography I read recently that I knew I would be coming back for this one. While I was just a wee lad when Star Wars was popular, I have seen some of the Lucas-made films and wanted to know more about the man behind them. Jones takes the reader on an amazing journey through the life of George Lucas, showing not only his dazzling moments, but also the pitfalls that he was forced to overcome. From his wimpy childhood days to his battling with others to fund his massive film projects, Lucas was never one to back away from adversity, seeing himself as having reason for his actions. Jones depicts this well throughout, choosing not to deify the man, but also not making him out to be completely out of touch with those around him. While many have said that George Lucas could not relate to his actors, the biography shows a man keenly interested in connecting to those who breathed life into his ideas, though the director/producer always had a vision and god help anyone who stood in his way. There is also a wonderful theme running throughout of the friendships that Lucas made early in his career (Coppola, Spielberg, etc) and how they could come together at times, complementing their respective rise to stardom. Jones uses the three parts of the book to effectively divide Lucas’ life, showing how he rose to notoriety, lived the intense life that was Star Wars and then settled into a career that continued to earn him much fame. I did take a great deal away from this book and hope to learn more about the man, as Jones has paved the way and offered a few interesting pathways worth following. Anyone eager to know the man behind the George Lucas persona need look no further than this book, as Brian Jay Jones has penned yet another powerful biography of someone who was able to wiggle his way into the daily lexicon of those who understand the basics of pop culture. I was so thoroughly impressed and cannot wait to see what else Jones has uncovered on other iconic figures.
Kudos, Mr. Jones, for shining a much-needed light on another wonderful figure. You handle these subjects so well, no wonder people turn to you to tell their lives in print.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 24, 2018
This biography was very informative and had a great narrative. I unexpectedly picked it up from the library while getting another book. I definitely do not regret picking it up even though it took me a while to get through it. I can say there was a lot I didn't know that I'm glad that I know now and I would recommend it for others who love love, technology, history, and of course Star Wars.
There is one thing that I didn't like and that would be the constant repetition of the same information. It reminds me what I would do in college to meet the word count or to push out more pages. It definitely drove up the page count and was highly annoying.
The layout of the book was wonderful. I really liked the chronological approach to the chapters since there are a lot of biographies and memoirs, especially lately, that jump around in time. I also liked the parts of the book that was broke down into parts based upon major time periods of George's life. The pictures that were included saved me time looking them up on Google. Which I appreciate. I did not like the last 100 or so pages of source notes but I understand why they're there. Overall, the lay of the book was great.
This book had a lot of information about Mr. Lucas and his life. To me, the author really did his research with digging though news articles, blogs and websites, video, audio, and other books. The unique factor was that the information was easy to read and I was constantly turning pages. It also wasn't a Star Wars centric book despite the cover, which was great, and it really was about George Lucas. I didn't double check the information though. So, I can't say much about that but I'm hoping the editor did their job. Anyways, lots of information and it all added to the story that is George Lucas.
Those that just wanted the Star Wars information may not like it. However, if you want to know about Lucas, to me, this was a great source for a heap of information that was easy to read. There is a lot of repetition of information and it seemed like it was longer than it needed to be. Overall, a wonderful book but be prepared to spend a lot of time reading.
There is one thing that I didn't like and that would be the constant repetition of the same information. It reminds me what I would do in college to meet the word count or to push out more pages. It definitely drove up the page count and was highly annoying.
The layout of the book was wonderful. I really liked the chronological approach to the chapters since there are a lot of biographies and memoirs, especially lately, that jump around in time. I also liked the parts of the book that was broke down into parts based upon major time periods of George's life. The pictures that were included saved me time looking them up on Google. Which I appreciate. I did not like the last 100 or so pages of source notes but I understand why they're there. Overall, the lay of the book was great.
This book had a lot of information about Mr. Lucas and his life. To me, the author really did his research with digging though news articles, blogs and websites, video, audio, and other books. The unique factor was that the information was easy to read and I was constantly turning pages. It also wasn't a Star Wars centric book despite the cover, which was great, and it really was about George Lucas. I didn't double check the information though. So, I can't say much about that but I'm hoping the editor did their job. Anyways, lots of information and it all added to the story that is George Lucas.
Those that just wanted the Star Wars information may not like it. However, if you want to know about Lucas, to me, this was a great source for a heap of information that was easy to read. There is a lot of repetition of information and it seemed like it was longer than it needed to be. Overall, a wonderful book but be prepared to spend a lot of time reading.
October 13, 2021
Biografija pisana tri godine, biografija svima dobro znanog Georgea Lucasa u kojem je detaljno opisan rad jednog od najvećih filmaša današnjice. Čovjek koji je stvarao magiju kroz svoje Ratove zvijezda, Indianu Jonesa, čovjek koji je promijenio način bilježenja snimljenih filmova, unaprijedivši i sam zvuk. Čovjek za kojeg su svi govorili da je težak, mijenjao je svijet svojom vizijom i upornošću. Upoznajte talentiranog Georgea Lucasa!
Cijeli osvrt pronađite ovdje: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
Cijeli osvrt pronađite ovdje: https://knjige-u-svom-filmu.webador.c...
December 23, 2016
Here's something I never thought I'd say: George Lucas is a complicated man. A riddle wrapped in an enigma, wearing a flannel button-down.
He's a man blessed with vision but cursed with poor communication skills, a shrewd businessman who was never in it for the money, a passionate director who went twenty-two years without directing a movie, a logical cool-headed micromanager who found himself nevertheless genuinely hurt when his ardent fans turned on him.
This is not a book about Star Wars. But let's be honest, you know where to find those if you need them. Though there is plenty of neat facts about the making of the series (Did you know that Christopher Walken was initially a front-runner for the role of Han Solo? Did you know the novelization had been in bookstores for half a year before the movie premiered? Did you know it only premiered in 36 theaters?), it's a top-rate account of the man. His early life in Northern California, his desire to make artistic "tone poems" rather than blockbusters, his aversion to the studio system that birthed ILM, THX, and Pixar. His early adoption of computer generated imagery and digital filming. His friendship with Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg. His decision to relinquish control of his empire and let the whole thing go. It's also an account of how much movies and movie-making have changed since this kid and his friends came out of film school all those decades ago and changed it in a generation. It all works together to make a thorough, entertaining, and highly readable account of a man who (in Spielberg's words) has "done more for the collective consciousness of this planet than [he] will ever know."
One final thought: Reading this book, I was reminded of an old saying that goes
Many a man owes his success to his first wife, and his second wife to his success.
Marcia, George's first wife, hangs over this story like a specter. Since their 1983 divorce, she has a been a notorious recluse, so Jones had to go on second-hand information for her. All sources say that she was a master editor and had a strong grasp on the more "human" elements of George's earlier works. She wasn't around to edit or otherwise influence his works after Jedi, and hmmmm, why do you suppose there was such a difference between the original trilogy and everything that followed?
He's a man blessed with vision but cursed with poor communication skills, a shrewd businessman who was never in it for the money, a passionate director who went twenty-two years without directing a movie, a logical cool-headed micromanager who found himself nevertheless genuinely hurt when his ardent fans turned on him.
This is not a book about Star Wars. But let's be honest, you know where to find those if you need them. Though there is plenty of neat facts about the making of the series (Did you know that Christopher Walken was initially a front-runner for the role of Han Solo? Did you know the novelization had been in bookstores for half a year before the movie premiered? Did you know it only premiered in 36 theaters?), it's a top-rate account of the man. His early life in Northern California, his desire to make artistic "tone poems" rather than blockbusters, his aversion to the studio system that birthed ILM, THX, and Pixar. His early adoption of computer generated imagery and digital filming. His friendship with Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg. His decision to relinquish control of his empire and let the whole thing go. It's also an account of how much movies and movie-making have changed since this kid and his friends came out of film school all those decades ago and changed it in a generation. It all works together to make a thorough, entertaining, and highly readable account of a man who (in Spielberg's words) has "done more for the collective consciousness of this planet than [he] will ever know."
One final thought: Reading this book, I was reminded of an old saying that goes
Many a man owes his success to his first wife, and his second wife to his success.
Marcia, George's first wife, hangs over this story like a specter. Since their 1983 divorce, she has a been a notorious recluse, so Jones had to go on second-hand information for her. All sources say that she was a master editor and had a strong grasp on the more "human" elements of George's earlier works. She wasn't around to edit or otherwise influence his works after Jedi, and hmmmm, why do you suppose there was such a difference between the original trilogy and everything that followed?
August 28, 2024
[ESP/ENG]
Al ser una biografía poco puedo decir que anime a leerlo, pero es una obra muy recomendable si se quiere indagar más en la vida de este escritor, director, productor y genio del cine en general.
El autor hace un gran trabajo al recopilar información de muy diversos materiales, y eso se nota, pues es muy completa, con un apartado de notas que mi lector indica que ocupa un 20% del volumen, lo que no es poco.
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Being a biography, I can hardly say anything that encourages you to read it, but it is a highly recommended work if you want to find out more about the life of this writer, director, producer and genius of cinema in general.
The author does a great job in collecting information from very different materials, and it shows, because it is very complete, with a section of notes that my reader indicates that occupies 20% of the volume, which is not a small thing.
Al ser una biografía poco puedo decir que anime a leerlo, pero es una obra muy recomendable si se quiere indagar más en la vida de este escritor, director, productor y genio del cine en general.
El autor hace un gran trabajo al recopilar información de muy diversos materiales, y eso se nota, pues es muy completa, con un apartado de notas que mi lector indica que ocupa un 20% del volumen, lo que no es poco.
------------
Being a biography, I can hardly say anything that encourages you to read it, but it is a highly recommended work if you want to find out more about the life of this writer, director, producer and genius of cinema in general.
The author does a great job in collecting information from very different materials, and it shows, because it is very complete, with a section of notes that my reader indicates that occupies 20% of the volume, which is not a small thing.
July 13, 2023
This year on May 4 I found myself in an eighth grade class and some students asked me what my favorite Star Wars movie is. Easy, I told them without pausing, Return of the Jedi although Empire Strikes Back is a better done movie. Wrong, they told me, Revenge of the Sith, a movie I cannot watch without a box of tissues nearby and YouTube at the ready to watch the myriads of fan fiction made alternate endings afterward. It is the year 2023, and Star Wars has been part of the world’s history for the past forty six years, and part of my own for the thirty when I watched the movies for the first time at a synagogue youth group sleepover, my own parents thinking the movies are too main stream. They are probably in the minority of those who saw the original trilogy only once. Today there is endless room in the universe for plots and characters spawned from an original story whose creator wasn’t sure was going to work. The brain child of this fictional universe that today seems real is one George Lucas. After reading Brian Jay Jones’ biography of Dr Seuss, I had been wanted to read his exploration of Lucas’ life for awhile but didn’t have the time to devote to a full length biography, until I saw it calling to me yet again on the library’s shelves. As with his volume on Dr Seuss, Jones does disappoint in giving readers a comprehensive biography on George Lucas’ life.
George Lucas, Jr was born on May 14, 1944 in Modesto, California to George, Sr and Dorothy Lucas. As with many innovators, George was not much of a student, something Jones also makes clear when he describes Dr Seuss, preferring tinkering with machines and cars to school work. For most of his school life, he was bored because he admitted he just didn’t care for the material presented to him. During his childhood, Lucas and his friends constructed roller coasters in his backyard and read endless comic books, including his favorite Flash Gordon, what he has stated many times was his inspiration for Star Wars. As he got older, fast cars replaced homemade gadgets, as George took up a lifelong love of both engines and auto racing, his first car being a yellow Fiat Bianchina. As with the Millennium Falcon, Lucas would make some adjustments to the engine that would count when needed making the fiat the fastest hunk of junk in Modesto; until he crashed it at the base of his family’s driveway three weeks before his high school graduation and nearly killed himself. There would be other cars, but Lucas, who also had a penchant for photography and movies even as a kid, had a new lease on life and viewed each day as an extra day that he would make the most of. He decided that he would become a student and asserted himself in the classroom, eventually landing at the School of Cinematography at the University of Southern California.
One might say that George Lucas made it big and explored relationships between fathers and sons in his two major movie franchises because he wanted to prove to his own father that he could do it. George, Sr was a stationer and a self made man who operated on principles and always repaid his debts, lessons he passed on to his four children. At first he was skeptical about his only son’s choice of career although the senior Lucas did have a passion for entertainment as shown when he took his family to the opening day of Disneyland in 1955. Whereas George, Sr used connections for this vacation to create family memories, his son became enamored with the rides and the message of both fantasy and entertaining conveyed by Disney. He was hooked: he wanted to make movies and be the one calling all the shots. Even though it would take him decades to become self sufficient, the seed for becoming one of the most famous movie makers of all time was planted when Lucas was a child. In college he easily became the cream of the crop, setting him on a path for telling both his and others’ stories through film, both for good and bad. Jones’ depiction of Lucas is one sided, but whether one agrees with Lucas’ machinations or not, one can not argue that he is gifted and far sighted, as he is responsible for THX, many aspects of digital film, and Pixar as well for credits at the end of movies, all vital aspects of the movie going experience today.
After the frosty reception from critics of THX 1138, Lucas put himself on the map with American Graffiti, a story that paid homage to growing up in Modesto. By this time, however, he was done with motion picture companies as he saw how ruthless the men in the boardroom were. Lucas wanted to be his own boss and control every aspect of film making. He would have on again off again feuds with those closest to him including Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz. His sixty hour work weeks would come at the expense of his marriage because there was no time for a marriage when one’s first love was making movies. In 1977, Lucas would finally gain some self sufficiency with a film called Star Wars. Lucas wanted to make a movie that would pay homage to the Flash Gordon Comics and serials that he enjoyed as a kid. How little did he know that this story of good versus evil would produce a dynasty that will be enjoyed for generations to come. Jones divides the biography into a trilogy: life before, during, and after the original Stars Wars trilogy. The writing is easy to the point of being a fast reading book, perhaps paying homage to Lucas’ love of fast cars. One could also point out that the average reader knows much about Star Wars and Lucas’ other franchise Indiana Jones so reading about the mind behind the movies is much like piecing together a puzzle of how these iconic parts of history fit into place. For one not well versed in the Star Wars universe, the biography might be tedious at times, and I could also see why one would feel sympathy toward Lucas’ ex-wife Marcia, who is a gifted film editor in her own right. Marcia believed that George should be making the kind of films that Martin Scorcese is known for rather than feel good stories. This lead to a parting of ways as each continued down a career path that has surpassed expectations and dreams.
Although he has had animosity toward Hollywood, Lucas won a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute in 2005. His presenter: his longtime friend and collaborator Steven Spielberg, the one friend who he has maintained all these years. Today, Star Wars for good or bad is owned by Disney. Every Major League Baseball team hosts a Star Wars night as close to May 4 as possible, as the day has become something of a national holiday in the United States. There are everything from key chains to a Star Wars Shakespeare series, written by a high school English teacher who is using the epic to introduce his students to the Bard’s language. I must admit, that Shakespeare Star Wars is the only Shakespeare I enjoy. Time marches on and generations continue to debate Star Wars themes and plots. My own kids grew up on the Clone Wars television show, and I last summer we screened the original trilogy at home as part of family movie night. Now I have a teenager as obsessed with Revenge of the Sith, the movie I can’t watch without tissues, as I am with Return of the Jedi. Lucas has children who are just as big Star Wars fans as their father. Perhaps they can change the franchise for the better in the years to come. For a Star Wars fan, Brian Jay Jones’ exploration of George Lucas life may have been one side, but that can be explained: Jones is also a huge Star Wars fan. Love him or despise him, George Lucas has left a gift to history that will be both dissected and enjoyed by fans for generations to come.
3.5 stars, round to 4
George Lucas, Jr was born on May 14, 1944 in Modesto, California to George, Sr and Dorothy Lucas. As with many innovators, George was not much of a student, something Jones also makes clear when he describes Dr Seuss, preferring tinkering with machines and cars to school work. For most of his school life, he was bored because he admitted he just didn’t care for the material presented to him. During his childhood, Lucas and his friends constructed roller coasters in his backyard and read endless comic books, including his favorite Flash Gordon, what he has stated many times was his inspiration for Star Wars. As he got older, fast cars replaced homemade gadgets, as George took up a lifelong love of both engines and auto racing, his first car being a yellow Fiat Bianchina. As with the Millennium Falcon, Lucas would make some adjustments to the engine that would count when needed making the fiat the fastest hunk of junk in Modesto; until he crashed it at the base of his family’s driveway three weeks before his high school graduation and nearly killed himself. There would be other cars, but Lucas, who also had a penchant for photography and movies even as a kid, had a new lease on life and viewed each day as an extra day that he would make the most of. He decided that he would become a student and asserted himself in the classroom, eventually landing at the School of Cinematography at the University of Southern California.
One might say that George Lucas made it big and explored relationships between fathers and sons in his two major movie franchises because he wanted to prove to his own father that he could do it. George, Sr was a stationer and a self made man who operated on principles and always repaid his debts, lessons he passed on to his four children. At first he was skeptical about his only son’s choice of career although the senior Lucas did have a passion for entertainment as shown when he took his family to the opening day of Disneyland in 1955. Whereas George, Sr used connections for this vacation to create family memories, his son became enamored with the rides and the message of both fantasy and entertaining conveyed by Disney. He was hooked: he wanted to make movies and be the one calling all the shots. Even though it would take him decades to become self sufficient, the seed for becoming one of the most famous movie makers of all time was planted when Lucas was a child. In college he easily became the cream of the crop, setting him on a path for telling both his and others’ stories through film, both for good and bad. Jones’ depiction of Lucas is one sided, but whether one agrees with Lucas’ machinations or not, one can not argue that he is gifted and far sighted, as he is responsible for THX, many aspects of digital film, and Pixar as well for credits at the end of movies, all vital aspects of the movie going experience today.
After the frosty reception from critics of THX 1138, Lucas put himself on the map with American Graffiti, a story that paid homage to growing up in Modesto. By this time, however, he was done with motion picture companies as he saw how ruthless the men in the boardroom were. Lucas wanted to be his own boss and control every aspect of film making. He would have on again off again feuds with those closest to him including Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz. His sixty hour work weeks would come at the expense of his marriage because there was no time for a marriage when one’s first love was making movies. In 1977, Lucas would finally gain some self sufficiency with a film called Star Wars. Lucas wanted to make a movie that would pay homage to the Flash Gordon Comics and serials that he enjoyed as a kid. How little did he know that this story of good versus evil would produce a dynasty that will be enjoyed for generations to come. Jones divides the biography into a trilogy: life before, during, and after the original Stars Wars trilogy. The writing is easy to the point of being a fast reading book, perhaps paying homage to Lucas’ love of fast cars. One could also point out that the average reader knows much about Star Wars and Lucas’ other franchise Indiana Jones so reading about the mind behind the movies is much like piecing together a puzzle of how these iconic parts of history fit into place. For one not well versed in the Star Wars universe, the biography might be tedious at times, and I could also see why one would feel sympathy toward Lucas’ ex-wife Marcia, who is a gifted film editor in her own right. Marcia believed that George should be making the kind of films that Martin Scorcese is known for rather than feel good stories. This lead to a parting of ways as each continued down a career path that has surpassed expectations and dreams.
Although he has had animosity toward Hollywood, Lucas won a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute in 2005. His presenter: his longtime friend and collaborator Steven Spielberg, the one friend who he has maintained all these years. Today, Star Wars for good or bad is owned by Disney. Every Major League Baseball team hosts a Star Wars night as close to May 4 as possible, as the day has become something of a national holiday in the United States. There are everything from key chains to a Star Wars Shakespeare series, written by a high school English teacher who is using the epic to introduce his students to the Bard’s language. I must admit, that Shakespeare Star Wars is the only Shakespeare I enjoy. Time marches on and generations continue to debate Star Wars themes and plots. My own kids grew up on the Clone Wars television show, and I last summer we screened the original trilogy at home as part of family movie night. Now I have a teenager as obsessed with Revenge of the Sith, the movie I can’t watch without tissues, as I am with Return of the Jedi. Lucas has children who are just as big Star Wars fans as their father. Perhaps they can change the franchise for the better in the years to come. For a Star Wars fan, Brian Jay Jones’ exploration of George Lucas life may have been one side, but that can be explained: Jones is also a huge Star Wars fan. Love him or despise him, George Lucas has left a gift to history that will be both dissected and enjoyed by fans for generations to come.
3.5 stars, round to 4
June 25, 2017
In the 1960’s the studio system with stars under contract was essentially gone, but the studio attitude and culture were still alive. Film executives were stunned by the success of “Easy Rider” and had still not adjusted when Lucas, Spielberg and Coppola arrived on the scene. Of the three, Lucas made the most fundamental changes in film making and the way business was done.
Brian Jay Jones takes you through a childhood where comics supplied the excitement missing in his family and school life. In his teens it was cars and motors. After a borderline academic career, going to USC was an accidental beginning. Jones shows you how the car interest spawned “American Graffiti” and comics “Star Wars”.
While the studio executives may have been hoping for the next Fred Alistair, Lucas knew the value of the new content. The studio barely supported his “American Graffiti” with an $800,000 budget. Since they barely expected a profit, Lucas easily negotiated 40% of it for himself. He used half of the budget to license music (a concept new to film at the time) hired unknowns (executives were still sold on the idea that stars carried films) and gave away percentages for services.
The same lack of faith applied to “Star Wars”, a much more ambitious production with an $8 million budget. Again Lucas negotiated 40% of the profits and this time got merchandising rights.
The music backdrops, “toyetic” scripts (Lucas would not kill off characters with merchandise value) the THX sound system and Pixar animation were all pioneered by Lucas as he paved the way for independent film makers.
This a biography of a career more than of a person. For most of Lucas’s life, career and self were one and the same. You get a glimpse of the professional ups and downs of Lucas, Spielberg and Coppola and the interplay of fans, critics and studio executives. You learn how the scripts were written, sets made, actors (not) coached and technology developed. You feel the time and money pressures, the long days and the unexpected such as weather disasters in Tunisia and Norway.
All the significant people here are men with a two exceptions. Marsha Lucas must have been indispensable film editor. Her grasp of character and story, in the examples given, seem to be beyond those of her husband. Lucas’s second wife, accomplished in the financial industry, is not part of the story. Another late appearing woman, Kathleen Kennedy seems to come from no where but emerges as being so trusted she is tapped to run the “empire” as Lucas slips into retirement.
I’ve never been a “Star Wars” fan. For me, the music was/is great, the special effects impressive, but the story line disjointed. I am now vindicated in that some of the crew feel the same way, and regarding some scenes, Lucas does too.
The book is packed with information. Jones, while not able to interview key people, did very well from the “outer circles” to put together a cohesive narrative. While it is more reportorial than adulatory, you get an appreciation (if you don’t already have it) for Lucas’s many accomplishments.
Brian Jay Jones takes you through a childhood where comics supplied the excitement missing in his family and school life. In his teens it was cars and motors. After a borderline academic career, going to USC was an accidental beginning. Jones shows you how the car interest spawned “American Graffiti” and comics “Star Wars”.
While the studio executives may have been hoping for the next Fred Alistair, Lucas knew the value of the new content. The studio barely supported his “American Graffiti” with an $800,000 budget. Since they barely expected a profit, Lucas easily negotiated 40% of it for himself. He used half of the budget to license music (a concept new to film at the time) hired unknowns (executives were still sold on the idea that stars carried films) and gave away percentages for services.
The same lack of faith applied to “Star Wars”, a much more ambitious production with an $8 million budget. Again Lucas negotiated 40% of the profits and this time got merchandising rights.
The music backdrops, “toyetic” scripts (Lucas would not kill off characters with merchandise value) the THX sound system and Pixar animation were all pioneered by Lucas as he paved the way for independent film makers.
This a biography of a career more than of a person. For most of Lucas’s life, career and self were one and the same. You get a glimpse of the professional ups and downs of Lucas, Spielberg and Coppola and the interplay of fans, critics and studio executives. You learn how the scripts were written, sets made, actors (not) coached and technology developed. You feel the time and money pressures, the long days and the unexpected such as weather disasters in Tunisia and Norway.
All the significant people here are men with a two exceptions. Marsha Lucas must have been indispensable film editor. Her grasp of character and story, in the examples given, seem to be beyond those of her husband. Lucas’s second wife, accomplished in the financial industry, is not part of the story. Another late appearing woman, Kathleen Kennedy seems to come from no where but emerges as being so trusted she is tapped to run the “empire” as Lucas slips into retirement.
I’ve never been a “Star Wars” fan. For me, the music was/is great, the special effects impressive, but the story line disjointed. I am now vindicated in that some of the crew feel the same way, and regarding some scenes, Lucas does too.
The book is packed with information. Jones, while not able to interview key people, did very well from the “outer circles” to put together a cohesive narrative. While it is more reportorial than adulatory, you get an appreciation (if you don’t already have it) for Lucas’s many accomplishments.
June 17, 2022
You couldn't possibly ask for a more sympathetic and understanding biographer than Brian Jay Jones. He really bends over backwards to make George Lucas seem sympathetic at every stage of his life. The only problem is, it doesn't work. George Lucas comes across as a creepy little guy who hates emotion and genuinely prefers machines to people. A lot of reviewers have commented on the fact that Lucas' first wife, Marcia, comes across as much more talented and engaging than her husband. But the problem is, everyone comes across as more human than George Lucas. Even Steven Spielberg!
The one impressive thing about Lucas is the way he created his own material. Steven Spielberg took a cheap best seller called JAWS and made it into a movie classic. Francis Coppola took a cheap best seller called THE GODFATHER and made it into a movie classic. Only George Lucas had the imagination to build the world of Star Wars from scratch. He invented not only the characters, but the history, the cultures, and the physical setting of dozens of different worlds. On that level, you have to take your hat off to him. But as a person, he just gets creepier as the book goes along.
There were a lot of classic stories about Star Wars and Indiana Jones, but the one quote that really sums up the evil that is George Lucas was about a flop film nobody really saw, Red Tails. It was about the all-black Tuskegee Airmen. And mind you, this is a quote *from* George Lucas. He said he was "making the movie for black teenagers" and then he said, (I can hardly believe this) "Because *they* have the right to have their history put on film and sort of Hollywoodized and made corny and great too!"
I wish I could believe he was joking.
The one impressive thing about Lucas is the way he created his own material. Steven Spielberg took a cheap best seller called JAWS and made it into a movie classic. Francis Coppola took a cheap best seller called THE GODFATHER and made it into a movie classic. Only George Lucas had the imagination to build the world of Star Wars from scratch. He invented not only the characters, but the history, the cultures, and the physical setting of dozens of different worlds. On that level, you have to take your hat off to him. But as a person, he just gets creepier as the book goes along.
There were a lot of classic stories about Star Wars and Indiana Jones, but the one quote that really sums up the evil that is George Lucas was about a flop film nobody really saw, Red Tails. It was about the all-black Tuskegee Airmen. And mind you, this is a quote *from* George Lucas. He said he was "making the movie for black teenagers" and then he said, (I can hardly believe this) "Because *they* have the right to have their history put on film and sort of Hollywoodized and made corny and great too!"
I wish I could believe he was joking.
January 22, 2020
“You know, maybe I want to be a director. I don’t want people to tell me what to do.”
I was a thought that suddenly flashed into the conscious of the young George Lucas. A moment of clarity that set the course of his personal and professional lives.
It came at the 15% point of Brian Jay Jones masterfully written biography of the great filmmaker.
I paused at this quote, remembering that someone once said something rather profound about moments like these. After a little searching I discovered it was Conan O’Brien. This is what he had to say:
“The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.”
It seemed to apply to this phase in Lucas’s story.
After all, he’d just got a lucky break, then found himself disappointed.
His lucky break came when he landed a job as a grip (filmmaking technician) at the U.S. Information Agency. I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but now that I’ve read this book, I realize how difficult I was for talented young people to get into the movie making business at that time.
As the story goes, Lucas was only at the USIA a short time when he got a rare opportunity to do editing work on an assignment for a project titled, “Journey to the Pacific,” a film sponsored by the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity about President Johnson’s 1966 visit to Manila, Philippines. The film’s theme was emblematic of the ideals of Johnson’s “Great Society” domestic program of elimination of poverty and racial injustice. And while Lucas appreciated the altruistic theme of the film, he did not care for the heavy-handed ways that government films were micromanaged.
“If you make a picture for the government, they want it to look good,” Lucas remembered. For example, he was told that Lady Bird Johnson couldn’t be shown at unflattering angles, while no shot could be used in which President Johnson’s bald spot was visible. The tight controls continued in the editing room as well, “You can’t cut this way; you’ve got to cut this way…”
I laughed as I considered this turn of events, realizing that as a “Star Wars” fan, I had the U.S. Government to thank for helping “encourage” George Lucas to be a director. If they had given him just a bit more freedom, this moment of clarity may not have come, and Lucas’s path may have been much altered.
But this wasn’t Lucas’s only moment of clarity in the early part of the book. The other one appeared about twenty pages earlier when Lucas said,
“When I finally discovered film, I really fell madly in love with it. I ate and slept it 24 hours a day.”
This realization hit Lucas as he began his studies as a film student in the division of Cinema at USC’s School of the Performing Arts. In his younger years, he’d loved building interesting contraptions and dioramas that he always referred to as “his environments.” He and a friend had once constructed a four-foot-tall, “kid’s rollercoaster” in the backyard of his family home. At USC, his interest in constructing “environments” was reinvigorated as he was now learning how to construct sets. His time at USC also reconnected him with his love of developing strong, unforgettable characters as he once did based on the inspiration of painter Norman Rockwell and Walt Disney’s character Scrooge McDuck. He wanted, to tell stories….
And he wanted to do it using film.
Another chapter of his realization came shortly before this, in 1964 when he’d received his Associate in Arts Degree from Modesto Junior College. His grades had been good enough to get him into USC where this important discovery was made. I mention his grades, because prior to his time at Modesto College, during his high school years, George Lucas was not a very diligent student. But he’d “turned over a new leaf” in college, a short time after his first major moment of clarity came…
“I’ve got to get serious about school.”
He made this pact with himself from his bed, convalescing after a serious car accident, one he was lucky to have survived at all.
The accident, and the months of recovery that followed, gave this young man the opportunity to reevaluate the direction his life was taking. In the two years immediately preceding the accident, he was consumed with speed, especially in the form of fast cars. In those years he’d modified his own racer, and spent weekends at the racetrack, working with other racers in the pits. He found himself addicted to the adrenalin rush of speed.
But previous to that, as a boy, and later as a young teen, he’d been intrigued with storytelling, especially the stories of “good guys vs. bad guys,” in the form of novels, comic books and the popular TV shows and movies of the time. But once he reached the driving age, he temporarily forgot his earlier loves.
So, it was while he convalesced, month after month in bed, that he dedicated himself to becoming a better student. He also had time to read and watch TV, both of which helped him “reacquaint” himself with his love of storytelling. Luckily for him, his high school teachers decided to “bump up” his grades and allow him to graduate high school. These were the two factors that allowed him to make the entrance requirements for Modesto College.
And he did not waste that opportunity.
He worked hard at college, a positive change in his study habits that played a factor in convincing his father, who was helping to finance his education, to allow him to study at USC, if only he could manage to get accepted.
So it was, in this early part of the book that the author helped me understand and appreciate the development of the young filmmaker, one “moment of clarity” after another. Jones captured these important realizations as he showed us the young man’s growing maturity and developing sense of self that paid off in spades when he walked through the doors of that amazingly energizing orbit of creativity that was the USC Film School of Lucas’s time there.
These were the aspects of Lucas’s life that I’d always been intrigued by…I wanted to know how his passion for film began, and how he came to understand that he wanted to spend his life telling stories using the medium of film.
Jones did a superb job of answering these questions for me, and along the way did so in a wonderful way that I hadn’t anticipated.
Often times, when it comes to biographies, the writer spends quite a bit of time “in and around” the immediate time when important people make discoveries or come to key realizations in their lives. But after reading this book, I realized that Jones had utilized a subtly different approach. He did so by revealing George’s ever developing interests, even those of his earliest days, until his time as a young adult, all pulled together in one, long “thread” of life experiences. By doing this, the biographer gives context and deeper meaning to the “moments of clarity” when they arrive. It’s like building with blocks, one by one, until the entire finished product is revealed, better understood as a “sum of the parts” than just the finished product itself.
By using this storytelling technique, I found myself understanding and appreciating the man himself with greater depth and clarity. It takes great skill, patience and diligence to write in such a way.
Brian Jay Jones did so and did it very well…taking me, the reader on one “Lucas escapade” after another. He captured and held my attention with tales of a young filmmaker’s early realization of his unique talent followed by amazing stories of “the carpenter actor,” the “savior cameraman,” “Kitbasher” Cantwell, “Used Universe” Painter McQuarrie, “Chewbacca” the Alaskan Malamute, embittered studio executives and “treehouse” offices. I was intrigued with Lucas’s film cataloguing system named “Reel 2, Dialogue 2” that birthed the name of a beloved character, and I had no idea that Lucas and his first wife Marcia spent so much of their married life editing film together, or how close Lucas was to the ebullient, larger than life iconic director Francis Ford Coppola.
Also, Brian Jay Jones did a superb job of bringing to light many aspects of Lucas’s life that I had not idea about and were amazingly imagination inspiring at the same time. One scene described in the book was about Lucas’s most famous girlfriend, (later fiancée), an internationally renowned singer songwriter who adored Lucas and was often seen carrying a “Empire Strikes Back” lunchbox with her as she travelled to recording sessions or interviews.
I took joy in reading how much George Lucas treasured his three adopted children, and how he described single moms as heroes of the highest order.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the spellbinding life of George Lucas, a man who gave fairytales to a generation that never had them.
A most remarkable biography of a most remarkable man.
I was sad when this reading ride ended...highly recommend this one….
I was a thought that suddenly flashed into the conscious of the young George Lucas. A moment of clarity that set the course of his personal and professional lives.
It came at the 15% point of Brian Jay Jones masterfully written biography of the great filmmaker.
I paused at this quote, remembering that someone once said something rather profound about moments like these. After a little searching I discovered it was Conan O’Brien. This is what he had to say:
“The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.”
It seemed to apply to this phase in Lucas’s story.
After all, he’d just got a lucky break, then found himself disappointed.
His lucky break came when he landed a job as a grip (filmmaking technician) at the U.S. Information Agency. I know, it doesn’t sound like much, but now that I’ve read this book, I realize how difficult I was for talented young people to get into the movie making business at that time.
As the story goes, Lucas was only at the USIA a short time when he got a rare opportunity to do editing work on an assignment for a project titled, “Journey to the Pacific,” a film sponsored by the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity about President Johnson’s 1966 visit to Manila, Philippines. The film’s theme was emblematic of the ideals of Johnson’s “Great Society” domestic program of elimination of poverty and racial injustice. And while Lucas appreciated the altruistic theme of the film, he did not care for the heavy-handed ways that government films were micromanaged.
“If you make a picture for the government, they want it to look good,” Lucas remembered. For example, he was told that Lady Bird Johnson couldn’t be shown at unflattering angles, while no shot could be used in which President Johnson’s bald spot was visible. The tight controls continued in the editing room as well, “You can’t cut this way; you’ve got to cut this way…”
I laughed as I considered this turn of events, realizing that as a “Star Wars” fan, I had the U.S. Government to thank for helping “encourage” George Lucas to be a director. If they had given him just a bit more freedom, this moment of clarity may not have come, and Lucas’s path may have been much altered.
But this wasn’t Lucas’s only moment of clarity in the early part of the book. The other one appeared about twenty pages earlier when Lucas said,
“When I finally discovered film, I really fell madly in love with it. I ate and slept it 24 hours a day.”
This realization hit Lucas as he began his studies as a film student in the division of Cinema at USC’s School of the Performing Arts. In his younger years, he’d loved building interesting contraptions and dioramas that he always referred to as “his environments.” He and a friend had once constructed a four-foot-tall, “kid’s rollercoaster” in the backyard of his family home. At USC, his interest in constructing “environments” was reinvigorated as he was now learning how to construct sets. His time at USC also reconnected him with his love of developing strong, unforgettable characters as he once did based on the inspiration of painter Norman Rockwell and Walt Disney’s character Scrooge McDuck. He wanted, to tell stories….
And he wanted to do it using film.
Another chapter of his realization came shortly before this, in 1964 when he’d received his Associate in Arts Degree from Modesto Junior College. His grades had been good enough to get him into USC where this important discovery was made. I mention his grades, because prior to his time at Modesto College, during his high school years, George Lucas was not a very diligent student. But he’d “turned over a new leaf” in college, a short time after his first major moment of clarity came…
“I’ve got to get serious about school.”
He made this pact with himself from his bed, convalescing after a serious car accident, one he was lucky to have survived at all.
The accident, and the months of recovery that followed, gave this young man the opportunity to reevaluate the direction his life was taking. In the two years immediately preceding the accident, he was consumed with speed, especially in the form of fast cars. In those years he’d modified his own racer, and spent weekends at the racetrack, working with other racers in the pits. He found himself addicted to the adrenalin rush of speed.
But previous to that, as a boy, and later as a young teen, he’d been intrigued with storytelling, especially the stories of “good guys vs. bad guys,” in the form of novels, comic books and the popular TV shows and movies of the time. But once he reached the driving age, he temporarily forgot his earlier loves.
So, it was while he convalesced, month after month in bed, that he dedicated himself to becoming a better student. He also had time to read and watch TV, both of which helped him “reacquaint” himself with his love of storytelling. Luckily for him, his high school teachers decided to “bump up” his grades and allow him to graduate high school. These were the two factors that allowed him to make the entrance requirements for Modesto College.
And he did not waste that opportunity.
He worked hard at college, a positive change in his study habits that played a factor in convincing his father, who was helping to finance his education, to allow him to study at USC, if only he could manage to get accepted.
So it was, in this early part of the book that the author helped me understand and appreciate the development of the young filmmaker, one “moment of clarity” after another. Jones captured these important realizations as he showed us the young man’s growing maturity and developing sense of self that paid off in spades when he walked through the doors of that amazingly energizing orbit of creativity that was the USC Film School of Lucas’s time there.
These were the aspects of Lucas’s life that I’d always been intrigued by…I wanted to know how his passion for film began, and how he came to understand that he wanted to spend his life telling stories using the medium of film.
Jones did a superb job of answering these questions for me, and along the way did so in a wonderful way that I hadn’t anticipated.
Often times, when it comes to biographies, the writer spends quite a bit of time “in and around” the immediate time when important people make discoveries or come to key realizations in their lives. But after reading this book, I realized that Jones had utilized a subtly different approach. He did so by revealing George’s ever developing interests, even those of his earliest days, until his time as a young adult, all pulled together in one, long “thread” of life experiences. By doing this, the biographer gives context and deeper meaning to the “moments of clarity” when they arrive. It’s like building with blocks, one by one, until the entire finished product is revealed, better understood as a “sum of the parts” than just the finished product itself.
By using this storytelling technique, I found myself understanding and appreciating the man himself with greater depth and clarity. It takes great skill, patience and diligence to write in such a way.
Brian Jay Jones did so and did it very well…taking me, the reader on one “Lucas escapade” after another. He captured and held my attention with tales of a young filmmaker’s early realization of his unique talent followed by amazing stories of “the carpenter actor,” the “savior cameraman,” “Kitbasher” Cantwell, “Used Universe” Painter McQuarrie, “Chewbacca” the Alaskan Malamute, embittered studio executives and “treehouse” offices. I was intrigued with Lucas’s film cataloguing system named “Reel 2, Dialogue 2” that birthed the name of a beloved character, and I had no idea that Lucas and his first wife Marcia spent so much of their married life editing film together, or how close Lucas was to the ebullient, larger than life iconic director Francis Ford Coppola.
Also, Brian Jay Jones did a superb job of bringing to light many aspects of Lucas’s life that I had not idea about and were amazingly imagination inspiring at the same time. One scene described in the book was about Lucas’s most famous girlfriend, (later fiancée), an internationally renowned singer songwriter who adored Lucas and was often seen carrying a “Empire Strikes Back” lunchbox with her as she travelled to recording sessions or interviews.
I took joy in reading how much George Lucas treasured his three adopted children, and how he described single moms as heroes of the highest order.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the spellbinding life of George Lucas, a man who gave fairytales to a generation that never had them.
A most remarkable biography of a most remarkable man.
I was sad when this reading ride ended...highly recommend this one….
February 7, 2017
I read Brian Jay Jones' biography of Jim Henson when it first came out and found myself captivated. Jones conveyed Henson's passion for his work and his joie de vivre. When I saw that Jones had written a book about George Lucas, I was cautiously optimistic. I was interested to see what somebody with Jones' talent could do with one of the most influential filmmakers in history. On the other hand, I wondered if the world really needed another biography of George Lucas.
After reading the book, I've concluded that the world probably didn't need another biography of Lucas. Jones doesn't bring anything new to our understanding of Lucas. In other words, if you're an obsessive Star Wars/Lucas fan, have read previous Lucas biographies, and/or follow Lucas-related news, you probably won't learn anything new in this book. On the other hand, if you don't know much about Lucas and want to learn more, Jones' book is a good place to start. This book is a useful single-volume account of George Lucas' life.
To be sure, there are already enough books about the making of the original Star Wars films to fill a small library. Dale Pollock's "Skywalking" is still widely considered the most authoritative biography of Lucas' life up through the mid-1980s. J.W. Rinzler's "Making of..." books are the definitive account of the making of the Star Wars films. There aren't as many sources covering the later stages of Lucas' career, including the Prequels and sale of Lucasfilm to Disney. Jones' book does cover this period of Lucas' life, but not in nearly the same amount of detail as the original trilogy era. So it's admittedly hard for a biography to find anything new to say about Lucas, and Jones doesn't really succeed in doing so.
Where Jones does succeed is in synthesizing the existing sources and knowledge about Lucas into a readable single volume. Unlike most books about George Lucas, Jones' "George Lucas" is very much a biography of the man and not just an account of the making of Star Wars. The book covers everything from Lucas' parents to "Strange Magic," the last movie Lucas produced (as of early 2017).
Jones also has a gift for presenting Lucas as a human being, which is no small feat considering the extent to which the man who has been mythologized over the decades (in no small part due to Lucas' own efforts). Jones' Lucas is the same introvert familiar to Star Wars fans, but also a loving father and a helpless romantic. One of the most interesting parts of Jones' account is Lucas' relationship with Mellody Hobson. Jones conveys the romance in a way that seldom comes out in other sources.
That said, I can't help but be a bit disappointed by Jones' book, largely because my expectations were so high after reading Jones' Henson biography. When Jones described the art of puppetry in his Henson biography, I gained a newfound appreciation for the art form. By contrast, Jones doesn't seem to have as much passion for Lucas or Star Wars. I never felt excited when reading about Lucas' innovations in filmmaking or digital art.
Ultimately, I feel like this book might have been written a bit too early. It can't stand the test of time as a single-volume biography of Lucas if only because Lucas himself is still alive and his story is not yet over (he vows to make more movies, including Indiana Jones 5). Then again, perhaps I'm not the target audience. This book should prove very useful to new Lucas fans, those who only tuned in to the Star Wars franchise with the release of "The Force Awakens." And, as an introduction to Lucas' life, Jones' book works well.
[Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
After reading the book, I've concluded that the world probably didn't need another biography of Lucas. Jones doesn't bring anything new to our understanding of Lucas. In other words, if you're an obsessive Star Wars/Lucas fan, have read previous Lucas biographies, and/or follow Lucas-related news, you probably won't learn anything new in this book. On the other hand, if you don't know much about Lucas and want to learn more, Jones' book is a good place to start. This book is a useful single-volume account of George Lucas' life.
To be sure, there are already enough books about the making of the original Star Wars films to fill a small library. Dale Pollock's "Skywalking" is still widely considered the most authoritative biography of Lucas' life up through the mid-1980s. J.W. Rinzler's "Making of..." books are the definitive account of the making of the Star Wars films. There aren't as many sources covering the later stages of Lucas' career, including the Prequels and sale of Lucasfilm to Disney. Jones' book does cover this period of Lucas' life, but not in nearly the same amount of detail as the original trilogy era. So it's admittedly hard for a biography to find anything new to say about Lucas, and Jones doesn't really succeed in doing so.
Where Jones does succeed is in synthesizing the existing sources and knowledge about Lucas into a readable single volume. Unlike most books about George Lucas, Jones' "George Lucas" is very much a biography of the man and not just an account of the making of Star Wars. The book covers everything from Lucas' parents to "Strange Magic," the last movie Lucas produced (as of early 2017).
Jones also has a gift for presenting Lucas as a human being, which is no small feat considering the extent to which the man who has been mythologized over the decades (in no small part due to Lucas' own efforts). Jones' Lucas is the same introvert familiar to Star Wars fans, but also a loving father and a helpless romantic. One of the most interesting parts of Jones' account is Lucas' relationship with Mellody Hobson. Jones conveys the romance in a way that seldom comes out in other sources.
That said, I can't help but be a bit disappointed by Jones' book, largely because my expectations were so high after reading Jones' Henson biography. When Jones described the art of puppetry in his Henson biography, I gained a newfound appreciation for the art form. By contrast, Jones doesn't seem to have as much passion for Lucas or Star Wars. I never felt excited when reading about Lucas' innovations in filmmaking or digital art.
Ultimately, I feel like this book might have been written a bit too early. It can't stand the test of time as a single-volume biography of Lucas if only because Lucas himself is still alive and his story is not yet over (he vows to make more movies, including Indiana Jones 5). Then again, perhaps I'm not the target audience. This book should prove very useful to new Lucas fans, those who only tuned in to the Star Wars franchise with the release of "The Force Awakens." And, as an introduction to Lucas' life, Jones' book works well.
[Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]
February 7, 2020
4.5
"Лесно е да ангажираш емоционално зрителите - отвърнал и той. - Всеки може да го направи, дори със затворени очи. Просто взимаш едно котенце и караш някого да му извие врата."
"Критиците са съвременните вандали. Същите са като онези, дето пръскат стените със спрейове."
"Не можете да ми платите такава сума, че да се навия отново да правя филм - оплаква се той пред "Ню Йорк Таймс". - Мъчително е. Ужасно. Поболявам се. Хваща ме настинка и почвам да кашлям, когато режисирам. Нищо чудно това да е някакъв психоматичен проблем. Чуствам се зле. Има огромно напрежение и емоционална болка...Но въпреки това го правя, и обичам да го правя. Същото е като изкачването на върхове."
"От писането човек лудва - казва по-късно Лукас. - Психясваш. Толкова се въбуждаш и мисълта ти тръгва в такива странни посоки, че е цяло чудо, че писателите не ги прибират някъде."
Спилбърг - "Ти си направил за колективното съзнание на тази планета повече, отколкото можеш да си представиш."
"Когато през декември 2015 г. журналистът Чарли Роуз го попитал какъв би могъл да бъде първият ред от некролога му, Лукас обобщил много точно дългогодишната си кариера, и то по начин, подобаващ на скромен, но същевременно дързък човек:
"Опитах" - казал той с усмивка. "
"Лесно е да ангажираш емоционално зрителите - отвърнал и той. - Всеки може да го направи, дори със затворени очи. Просто взимаш едно котенце и караш някого да му извие врата."
"Критиците са съвременните вандали. Същите са като онези, дето пръскат стените със спрейове."
"Не можете да ми платите такава сума, че да се навия отново да правя филм - оплаква се той пред "Ню Йорк Таймс". - Мъчително е. Ужасно. Поболявам се. Хваща ме настинка и почвам да кашлям, когато режисирам. Нищо чудно това да е някакъв психоматичен проблем. Чуствам се зле. Има огромно напрежение и емоционална болка...Но въпреки това го правя, и обичам да го правя. Същото е като изкачването на върхове."
"От писането човек лудва - казва по-късно Лукас. - Психясваш. Толкова се въбуждаш и мисълта ти тръгва в такива странни посоки, че е цяло чудо, че писателите не ги прибират някъде."
Спилбърг - "Ти си направил за колективното съзнание на тази планета повече, отколкото можеш да си представиш."
"Когато през декември 2015 г. журналистът Чарли Роуз го попитал какъв би могъл да бъде първият ред от некролога му, Лукас обобщил много точно дългогодишната си кариера, и то по начин, подобаващ на скромен, но същевременно дързък човек:
"Опитах" - казал той с усмивка. "
August 24, 2017
I enjoyed this biography about George Lucas. His vision for his craft was evident. I liked that this wasn't all sunshine and roses. He seemed dedicated to doing things 'his way' as he set out in college.
He immediately started doing things outside the box. When he had a little power, a little money and a little fame, he set up his business so that he'd have complete control over everything. I thought it was ironic that we created the same environment he bucked against in college and his early movies.
I thought this was going to feel long, but it didn't at all. His life was fascinating and his list of accomplishments was long and distinguished.
He wasn't a warm fuzzy personality, but I like how he stayed true to who he was and what he wanted.
He immediately started doing things outside the box. When he had a little power, a little money and a little fame, he set up his business so that he'd have complete control over everything. I thought it was ironic that we created the same environment he bucked against in college and his early movies.
I thought this was going to feel long, but it didn't at all. His life was fascinating and his list of accomplishments was long and distinguished.
He wasn't a warm fuzzy personality, but I like how he stayed true to who he was and what he wanted.
June 24, 2021
This is a very competent biography of George Lucas. A good example of how an otherwise common man with a singular vision and supportive connections can achieve great things. And like many great achievers, he found himself at the right place at the right time. I did not finish the book. Turns out I'm not that into all things George Lucas. In this instance, I'm fine with enjoying the art without knowing about the artist.
July 4, 2022
Exceptionally well-researched and -structured biography of Star Wars maestro George Lucas, who proves to be a fascinating subject: creative spirit; tortured artist; forward-thinking filmmaker; reluctant businessman; emotional cipher; stubborn control freak.
Brian Jay Jones walks the reader through Lucas' life from his childhood in Modesto to the release of The Force Awakens in 2015. While there is, ultimately, little truly new information and few direct insights in this unauthorized profile -- it was clearly written without his subject's consent or participation -- Jones does an excellent job of collating the zillion floating facts about Lucas and assembling them into an epic linear narrative that demonstrates a remarkably consistent lifelong worldview behind his enigmatic (and often, to his fans, frustrating) public persona.
In Lucas, I couldn't help but see a tragic kinship with Michael Corleone of The Godfather, as a man of humble origins who'd yearned to live an unassuming life making avant-garde films inexplicably found himself the head of a staggeringly successful business empire, a position he occupied successfully if never altogether comfortably. As the years and decades wore on, he assuaged himself with quixotic fantasies he'd soon "get out" -- he'd return to the kind of experimental filmmaking he'd always intended to pursue. But at some point -- as Michael himself came to realize -- you've gone so far down life's path, there's just no turning back.
George Lucas: A Life read to me like the story of someone who achieved everything he set out to do... yet seldom took much joy or satisfaction from it. It certainly explains the wistful undercurrent in so much of his work, this despite the gee-whiz wonder for which his brand is celebrated: The story of George Lucas, like so many of the stories by George Lucas, seems on its surface to be a fairytale fantasy of underdog triumph, but closer scrutiny suggests it's more of a hero's journey that, in the final tally, fell very, very short of personal expectations. One needn't read this biography to fully appreciate or understand that; any true student of Lucas' filmography can see that's what he's been trying to tell us about himself all along.
Brian Jay Jones walks the reader through Lucas' life from his childhood in Modesto to the release of The Force Awakens in 2015. While there is, ultimately, little truly new information and few direct insights in this unauthorized profile -- it was clearly written without his subject's consent or participation -- Jones does an excellent job of collating the zillion floating facts about Lucas and assembling them into an epic linear narrative that demonstrates a remarkably consistent lifelong worldview behind his enigmatic (and often, to his fans, frustrating) public persona.
In Lucas, I couldn't help but see a tragic kinship with Michael Corleone of The Godfather, as a man of humble origins who'd yearned to live an unassuming life making avant-garde films inexplicably found himself the head of a staggeringly successful business empire, a position he occupied successfully if never altogether comfortably. As the years and decades wore on, he assuaged himself with quixotic fantasies he'd soon "get out" -- he'd return to the kind of experimental filmmaking he'd always intended to pursue. But at some point -- as Michael himself came to realize -- you've gone so far down life's path, there's just no turning back.
George Lucas: A Life read to me like the story of someone who achieved everything he set out to do... yet seldom took much joy or satisfaction from it. It certainly explains the wistful undercurrent in so much of his work, this despite the gee-whiz wonder for which his brand is celebrated: The story of George Lucas, like so many of the stories by George Lucas, seems on its surface to be a fairytale fantasy of underdog triumph, but closer scrutiny suggests it's more of a hero's journey that, in the final tally, fell very, very short of personal expectations. One needn't read this biography to fully appreciate or understand that; any true student of Lucas' filmography can see that's what he's been trying to tell us about himself all along.
September 6, 2023
I live biographies that remind me why I have heroes—and at the same time doesn’t gloss over the weaknesses, shortcomings, and struggles of those heroes.
George Lucas is a far from perfect person, but his can do attitude, his understanding of what people need, and his grasp of a good story all inspire me. This book shows all these elements and is written in a crisp way that invites a reader with little understanding of the film industry to explore the world of George Lucas and remember that great people overcome great obstacles when making history.
George Lucas is a far from perfect person, but his can do attitude, his understanding of what people need, and his grasp of a good story all inspire me. This book shows all these elements and is written in a crisp way that invites a reader with little understanding of the film industry to explore the world of George Lucas and remember that great people overcome great obstacles when making history.
January 23, 2025
Oh my! The nerd in me still lives!
We did Star Wars marathons growing up so on at least two occasions I have watched Episodes 1-6 in a single waking period. Star Wars The Phantom Menace was my first theater experience at the age of 3. And when I was growing up Star Wars wasn't just a fun story but it was true myth, that galaxy was out there somewhere and I could almost reach out and touch it I was sure.
George Lucas is and was an incredible man. The sheer magnitude of his effect on Hollywood, filmmaking, technology and culture is hard to comprehend.
While I did watch every special feature and BTS doc I could about the making of Star Wars there was much of Lucas' life I was unfamiliar with. Namely he failed in his first marriage because he could never put his wife before his projects. Ultimately this leaves a large black spot on an incredible life. But as he aged his concern for family grew and it was often noted that all he wanted to be remembered for was being a good dad. It seems that in many ways he has succeeded at that.
Final note that struck me is the idea of passing things on. He rejected the stationary company his father intended to pass on to him to pursue cars and then movies. And the biography wraps up in 2016 a year after The Force Awakens and several years after the Disney sell. It doesn't seem as though Lucas was particularly pleased with the results in this first part of a new trilogy. I don't know how he feels about the rest of what Disney has done but overall I would say it's been a general disaster. Like most family businesses that sell to a larger corporation the brand fundamentally changes or simply disappears and the family doesn't get to stay involved. As Lucas turned down the generational success offered to him by his father and then sold his success to the highest bidder I wonder where SW would be now if he had trained and equipped his children to steward and shepherd the universe that he created.
Never sell.
We did Star Wars marathons growing up so on at least two occasions I have watched Episodes 1-6 in a single waking period. Star Wars The Phantom Menace was my first theater experience at the age of 3. And when I was growing up Star Wars wasn't just a fun story but it was true myth, that galaxy was out there somewhere and I could almost reach out and touch it I was sure.
George Lucas is and was an incredible man. The sheer magnitude of his effect on Hollywood, filmmaking, technology and culture is hard to comprehend.
While I did watch every special feature and BTS doc I could about the making of Star Wars there was much of Lucas' life I was unfamiliar with. Namely he failed in his first marriage because he could never put his wife before his projects. Ultimately this leaves a large black spot on an incredible life. But as he aged his concern for family grew and it was often noted that all he wanted to be remembered for was being a good dad. It seems that in many ways he has succeeded at that.
Final note that struck me is the idea of passing things on. He rejected the stationary company his father intended to pass on to him to pursue cars and then movies. And the biography wraps up in 2016 a year after The Force Awakens and several years after the Disney sell. It doesn't seem as though Lucas was particularly pleased with the results in this first part of a new trilogy. I don't know how he feels about the rest of what Disney has done but overall I would say it's been a general disaster. Like most family businesses that sell to a larger corporation the brand fundamentally changes or simply disappears and the family doesn't get to stay involved. As Lucas turned down the generational success offered to him by his father and then sold his success to the highest bidder I wonder where SW would be now if he had trained and equipped his children to steward and shepherd the universe that he created.
Never sell.
September 3, 2017
I'm guessing this not an authorised biography, as Lucas comes across as less than mythical and certainly no saint, but rather as an eccentric artist and business manager with an almost pathological need for total control. It isn't a hatchet-job, either, but rather a more realistic, non-hagiographical, non-sensational, non-scandalous narrative of the life of one of our generation's last great shapers of western culture. The greatness, the flaws, the creativity, the mis-steps, the vision, the blindness, everything is a mixed bag in this biography, with the result that this is story of a life, artistic, and business career that will warn as well as inspire.
February 7, 2017
This book was a good exploration of George Lucas life and career. Most of the book dealt with his Star Wars era since that makes the bulk of his story. Some times used to cover Indiana Jones and others but not as much as Star Wars. This book is good but some issues with incorrect facts for example the book stated that "Avatar" was the highest grossing film of 2010 but its considered to be 2009. This was one of the few mistakes that it had but overall the book was entertaining and showcases the influence of Lucas to the culture.
November 17, 2017
George Lucas za mnoge je, a pogotovo fanove njegovog rada, vječna enigma. Čovjek koji je svojim radom zauvijek promijenio svijet filma i način na koji se filmovi stvaraju jedan je najuspješnjijih i najpoznatijih filmskih redatelja na svijetu, ali je istodobno vrlo zatvorena i povučena osoba, koja se teško snalazi u komunikaciji s ljudima, pa čak i vlastitim glumcima. Kao vizionar koji će svoje vizije, ako mu se da potpuna kontrola nad time, lako pretočiti u film, ali će ih teško objasniti ljudima koji bi taj film trebali financirati; Lucas je savršen izbor za biografiju, tj. dokumentiranje njegovog života.
Brian Jay Jones potrudio se u ovoj nam knjizi predstaviti Georgea Lucasa kao sve što on jest: introvert, vizionar, genij; iznimno talentirani filmaš, ali i osoba s kojom je ponekad noćna mora surađivati. Od njegovog djetinjstva i mladih dana, do stvaranja filmske Sile kakva će se teško ponoviti, Jones nam je uspio približiti Lucasa i prikazati nam njegov put od buntovnog umjetnika do filmske legende.
Knjiga je podijeljena na tri dijela, nazivi kojih predstavljaju hommage originalnoj trilogiji Star Warsa: Nada, Imperij i Povratak. Kroz te dijelove pratimo Lucasov put od njegovih prvih redateljskih pokušaja i ostvarenja do stvaranja kompanije koja će revolucionarizirati kompletnu filmsku industriju.
Kao tinejdžer, Lucas se volio motati oko automobila i automobliskih utrka, a san mu je bio postati profesionalni vozač utrka. Kreativan i umjetnički nastrojen bio je oduvijek, te se, nakon što ga je automobilska nesreća odvratila od sna o vožnji utrka, posve posvetio ganjanju umjetničke karijere. Ovdje je naišao i na prvi problem, u obliku svog oca, koji je odbio financirati Lucasov studij umjetnosti, te je Lucas kompromisno upisao studij kinematografije: studij dovoljno mutnog naziva da ga njegov otac podrži, a opet dovoljno umjetnički da zadovolji Lucasove apetite. Ovim je kompromisom, ni ne znajući, Lucas započeo svoj filmski put.
No taj filmski put, kako ga ova knjiga sjajno opisuje, bio je sve samo ne lak. Filmska industrija 1960-ih i 1970-ih nije baš bila zainteresirana za mlade i odvažne redatelje, a posao u filmskom studiju mogao si dobiti samo ako si već bio član nekog sindikata. Kao buntovniku i samotnjaku po prirodi, Lucasu nije padalo na pamet da postane članom sindikata, već se odlučio probiti sam i ostvariti svoj san - što koštalo da koštalo. Ova ga je odluka dovela do mnogih problema, nesuglasica sa šefovima filmskih studija, brojnih odbijenica i općenito neshvaćanja, ali Lucas nije odustajao.
Snimiti film tih godina nije bilo nimalo lako, niti brzo: bile su potrebne silne pripreme, mnogo novca, mnogo ljudi koje se moralo angažirati, i cijeli je proces stvaranja filma - od predprodukcije do završne montaže - trajao godinama. Tijekom tih godina filmski bi se studiji često znali predomišljati, smanjivati budžet i oduzimati kontrolu nad filmovima - što je Lucasu, kao ultimativnom kontrol freaku, bila najveća noćna mora. Trnovit je bio njegov put do stvaranja svog prvog igranog filma, ali kad je stigao do cilja tog puta, konačni rezultat: film Američki grafiti pokazao se vrlo uspješnim i označio Lucasa kao redateljsko ime za koje će se definitivno još čuti.
Bez obzira na uspjehe, Lucas je vječno bio nezadovoljan što je uvijek morao biti prepušten na milost i nemilost filmskih studija. Nikada ga nije zanimao novac, ono što je želio bila je kontrola. S tim na umu osnovao je Lucasfilm Ltd., kompaniju koja će postati jedna od najpoznatijih i najuspješnijih na svijetu, te kasnije stati uz bok 'starim divovima' poput 20th Century Foxa, Universala ili United Artists-a. Njegova Industrial Light & Magic, THX, kao i kasnije Pixar, Lucasov su način da kaže 'kad ne možeš dobiti ono što želiš, napravi to sam.' Součen s nemogućnošću da mu netko isporuči specijalne efekte, animaciju i zvuk kakav mu je potreban da bi ostvario svoju filmsku viziju, Lucas je odlučio sve sam stvoriti, time započevši revoluciju na polju filmske slike, zvuka i specijalnih efekata.
Star Wars - koji će postati filmska franšiza koja će zauvijek promijeniti svijet filma - u početku su bili tek Lucasova ideja za film 'nalik Flash Gordonu'. Lucasu su trebale godine i godine, puno truda i muke da svoju ideju uobliči u nešto što će i ostali prepoznati kao fantastičnu ideju za znanstveno-fantastični film. Čak i nakon što je uspio dovršiti scenarij (nekoliko verzija scenarija) i dobiti novac za financiranje snimanja, proći će još dugo dok Star Wars ne ugledaju svjetlo dana kao onakvi kakve ih danas znamo. Na koncu, to se i dogodilo. A kao što znamo - ostalo je povijest.
Kao fanu Star Wars serijala, ova knjiga za mene je uistinu fascinantno štivo. No ono što sam otkrila čitajući je, također, je i to da bi ona mogla itekako zainteresirati i sve filmofile općenito, bez obzira na to koliko im je drag sam George Lucas. Jer, osim što ova knjiga donosi iscrpan uvid u Lucasov život i djelo, ona je ujedno i sjajan svjedok o tome kako je funkcionirao svijet filma u 1960-ima, 70-ima i 80-ima, te nam prikazuje kako je tekao put do slave jednog nezavisnog mladog filmaša koji se odlučio probiti kroz prilično zatvoren svijet filmskih studija koji su izrazito skeptično promatrali takve kao on.
Osim samog Lucasa, ova knjiga ispunjena je još nekolicinom 'zvjezdanih' imena, poput Francisa Forda Coppole i Stevena Spielberga, s kojima je Lucas bio (i još jest) dobar prijatelj. Kako su trojica filmaša često surađivala i družila se, osim Lucasovih filmskih početaka, ova knjiga dokumentirala je i Coppoline i Spielbergove početke također, dajući nam time uvid u različite puteve kojim su u to doba prolazili mladi redatelji kako bi si stvorili ime u prilično negostoljubivoj industriji.
Bez obzira na to volite li Star Wars filmove, ili Lucasov filmski opus općenito, ne možete poreći da je George Lucas svojim radom zauvijek promijenio svijet filma i način na koji se filmovi rade. Ova knjiga nije samo o Lucasu, niti je samo o Star Wars-ima. Ona predstavlja dokumentarni dokaz jednog filmskog razdoblja, jedne filmske ere koju je George Lucas preokrenuo naglavačke - i učinio boljom. Fanovima Star Wars serijala teško da moram ovu knjigu posebno preporučivati (zar ne?), ali zato ću ju preporučiti svim ljubiteljima filma i svakome tko uživa čitajući biografije složenih ličnosti, povučenih geekova koji su skloni mijenjanju svijeta oko sebe. George Lucas to svakako jest.
Brian Jay Jones potrudio se u ovoj nam knjizi predstaviti Georgea Lucasa kao sve što on jest: introvert, vizionar, genij; iznimno talentirani filmaš, ali i osoba s kojom je ponekad noćna mora surađivati. Od njegovog djetinjstva i mladih dana, do stvaranja filmske Sile kakva će se teško ponoviti, Jones nam je uspio približiti Lucasa i prikazati nam njegov put od buntovnog umjetnika do filmske legende.
Knjiga je podijeljena na tri dijela, nazivi kojih predstavljaju hommage originalnoj trilogiji Star Warsa: Nada, Imperij i Povratak. Kroz te dijelove pratimo Lucasov put od njegovih prvih redateljskih pokušaja i ostvarenja do stvaranja kompanije koja će revolucionarizirati kompletnu filmsku industriju.
Kao tinejdžer, Lucas se volio motati oko automobila i automobliskih utrka, a san mu je bio postati profesionalni vozač utrka. Kreativan i umjetnički nastrojen bio je oduvijek, te se, nakon što ga je automobilska nesreća odvratila od sna o vožnji utrka, posve posvetio ganjanju umjetničke karijere. Ovdje je naišao i na prvi problem, u obliku svog oca, koji je odbio financirati Lucasov studij umjetnosti, te je Lucas kompromisno upisao studij kinematografije: studij dovoljno mutnog naziva da ga njegov otac podrži, a opet dovoljno umjetnički da zadovolji Lucasove apetite. Ovim je kompromisom, ni ne znajući, Lucas započeo svoj filmski put.
No taj filmski put, kako ga ova knjiga sjajno opisuje, bio je sve samo ne lak. Filmska industrija 1960-ih i 1970-ih nije baš bila zainteresirana za mlade i odvažne redatelje, a posao u filmskom studiju mogao si dobiti samo ako si već bio član nekog sindikata. Kao buntovniku i samotnjaku po prirodi, Lucasu nije padalo na pamet da postane članom sindikata, već se odlučio probiti sam i ostvariti svoj san - što koštalo da koštalo. Ova ga je odluka dovela do mnogih problema, nesuglasica sa šefovima filmskih studija, brojnih odbijenica i općenito neshvaćanja, ali Lucas nije odustajao.
Snimiti film tih godina nije bilo nimalo lako, niti brzo: bile su potrebne silne pripreme, mnogo novca, mnogo ljudi koje se moralo angažirati, i cijeli je proces stvaranja filma - od predprodukcije do završne montaže - trajao godinama. Tijekom tih godina filmski bi se studiji često znali predomišljati, smanjivati budžet i oduzimati kontrolu nad filmovima - što je Lucasu, kao ultimativnom kontrol freaku, bila najveća noćna mora. Trnovit je bio njegov put do stvaranja svog prvog igranog filma, ali kad je stigao do cilja tog puta, konačni rezultat: film Američki grafiti pokazao se vrlo uspješnim i označio Lucasa kao redateljsko ime za koje će se definitivno još čuti.
Bez obzira na uspjehe, Lucas je vječno bio nezadovoljan što je uvijek morao biti prepušten na milost i nemilost filmskih studija. Nikada ga nije zanimao novac, ono što je želio bila je kontrola. S tim na umu osnovao je Lucasfilm Ltd., kompaniju koja će postati jedna od najpoznatijih i najuspješnijih na svijetu, te kasnije stati uz bok 'starim divovima' poput 20th Century Foxa, Universala ili United Artists-a. Njegova Industrial Light & Magic, THX, kao i kasnije Pixar, Lucasov su način da kaže 'kad ne možeš dobiti ono što želiš, napravi to sam.' Součen s nemogućnošću da mu netko isporuči specijalne efekte, animaciju i zvuk kakav mu je potreban da bi ostvario svoju filmsku viziju, Lucas je odlučio sve sam stvoriti, time započevši revoluciju na polju filmske slike, zvuka i specijalnih efekata.
Star Wars - koji će postati filmska franšiza koja će zauvijek promijeniti svijet filma - u početku su bili tek Lucasova ideja za film 'nalik Flash Gordonu'. Lucasu su trebale godine i godine, puno truda i muke da svoju ideju uobliči u nešto što će i ostali prepoznati kao fantastičnu ideju za znanstveno-fantastični film. Čak i nakon što je uspio dovršiti scenarij (nekoliko verzija scenarija) i dobiti novac za financiranje snimanja, proći će još dugo dok Star Wars ne ugledaju svjetlo dana kao onakvi kakve ih danas znamo. Na koncu, to se i dogodilo. A kao što znamo - ostalo je povijest.
Kao fanu Star Wars serijala, ova knjiga za mene je uistinu fascinantno štivo. No ono što sam otkrila čitajući je, također, je i to da bi ona mogla itekako zainteresirati i sve filmofile općenito, bez obzira na to koliko im je drag sam George Lucas. Jer, osim što ova knjiga donosi iscrpan uvid u Lucasov život i djelo, ona je ujedno i sjajan svjedok o tome kako je funkcionirao svijet filma u 1960-ima, 70-ima i 80-ima, te nam prikazuje kako je tekao put do slave jednog nezavisnog mladog filmaša koji se odlučio probiti kroz prilično zatvoren svijet filmskih studija koji su izrazito skeptično promatrali takve kao on.
Osim samog Lucasa, ova knjiga ispunjena je još nekolicinom 'zvjezdanih' imena, poput Francisa Forda Coppole i Stevena Spielberga, s kojima je Lucas bio (i još jest) dobar prijatelj. Kako su trojica filmaša često surađivala i družila se, osim Lucasovih filmskih početaka, ova knjiga dokumentirala je i Coppoline i Spielbergove početke također, dajući nam time uvid u različite puteve kojim su u to doba prolazili mladi redatelji kako bi si stvorili ime u prilično negostoljubivoj industriji.
Bez obzira na to volite li Star Wars filmove, ili Lucasov filmski opus općenito, ne možete poreći da je George Lucas svojim radom zauvijek promijenio svijet filma i način na koji se filmovi rade. Ova knjiga nije samo o Lucasu, niti je samo o Star Wars-ima. Ona predstavlja dokumentarni dokaz jednog filmskog razdoblja, jedne filmske ere koju je George Lucas preokrenuo naglavačke - i učinio boljom. Fanovima Star Wars serijala teško da moram ovu knjigu posebno preporučivati (zar ne?), ali zato ću ju preporučiti svim ljubiteljima filma i svakome tko uživa čitajući biografije složenih ličnosti, povučenih geekova koji su skloni mijenjanju svijeta oko sebe. George Lucas to svakako jest.
April 30, 2018
Кой е Джордж Лукас? Човекът зад „Междузвездни войни” и „Индиана Джоунс” – франчайзи, превърнали се в абсолютен поп-културен феномен, любими истории за цели поколения. Един от най-успешните кино творци на всички времена. Пионер на новите технологии, чиито филми пряко или косвено са тласнали инструментите на съвременното кино светлинни години напред. Визионер. Разказвач. Творец на митове. Един от най-богатите хора на планетата. Меценат и филантроп. Скромен брадат мъж с благ нрав, който страни от медийните изяви и обича карирани ризи и сини джинси. Невъзможно е да го определим и да разкажем за него с няколко думи. Затова пък, Брайън Джоунс ще ви го представи в 504 страници, изпълнени с интригуващи подробности и невероятни факти. Дефинитивната биографична книга „George Lucas: A Life” излиза на български от изд. „Hybrid books”. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...
February 27, 2017
Fascinating Insights Into the Life of George Lucas
Well-written biographies are revealing and filled with valuable lessons for the reader. Brian Jay Jones has crafted an excellent biography GEORGE LUCAS. I listened to the audiobook version and heard it cover to cover. While today, George Lucas is on the Forbes list as one of the wealthiest people in the U.S. (a billionaire in fact), he came from a humble background. Growing up in Modesto, California and the son of a business man who owned a stationary shop, Lucas was not instantly successful. GEORGE LUCAS takes the reader on a journey to see the details of his up and down career. The storytelling details in this book are excellent and enjoyable. I highly recommend this audiobook.
Well-written biographies are revealing and filled with valuable lessons for the reader. Brian Jay Jones has crafted an excellent biography GEORGE LUCAS. I listened to the audiobook version and heard it cover to cover. While today, George Lucas is on the Forbes list as one of the wealthiest people in the U.S. (a billionaire in fact), he came from a humble background. Growing up in Modesto, California and the son of a business man who owned a stationary shop, Lucas was not instantly successful. GEORGE LUCAS takes the reader on a journey to see the details of his up and down career. The storytelling details in this book are excellent and enjoyable. I highly recommend this audiobook.
November 10, 2018
Да твърдиш, че ще станеш милионер още преди да навършиш 30 години, след което да го постигнеш, не е нещо, с което много хора могат да се похвалят, особено ако си роден в малко градче като Модесто, а баща ти е собственик на книжарница. Разбира се, успехът никога не идва лесно.
Любопитен факт, който прочетох в биографията на Джоунс, е как Лукас е привлякъл Джон Бари – гениалния дизайнер на декори, работил по „Портокал с часовников механизъм“, към продукцията. Разбрах и как Бен Бърт е сътворил гласът на уукито. За да пресъздаде характерните ревове, стонове и скимтене на Чубака, Бърт подбира селекция от звуци, сред които тези на четири вида мечки, лъв, тюлен и морж. Именно той оказва помощ и при озвучаването на корабите, лазерните пушки и светлинните мечове, които станаха емблематични за поредицата и научната фантастика като цяло.
Брайън Джоунс безспорно се е справил добре със събирането на любопитни факти за Джордж Лукас и поднасянето им по вълнуващ, последователен начин, а снимките само допринасят за цялостната наслада от допира с тази книга.
Цялото ревю - тук: http://azcheta.com/dzhordzh-lukas-tvo...
Любопитен факт, който прочетох в биографията на Джоунс, е как Лукас е привлякъл Джон Бари – гениалния дизайнер на декори, работил по „Портокал с часовников механизъм“, към продукцията. Разбрах и как Бен Бърт е сътворил гласът на уукито. За да пресъздаде характерните ревове, стонове и скимтене на Чубака, Бърт подбира селекция от звуци, сред които тези на четири вида мечки, лъв, тюлен и морж. Именно той оказва помощ и при озвучаването на корабите, лазерните пушки и светлинните мечове, които станаха емблематични за поредицата и научната фантастика като цяло.
Брайън Джоунс безспорно се е справил добре със събирането на любопитни факти за Джордж Лукас и поднасянето им по вълнуващ, последователен начин, а снимките само допринасят за цялостната наслада от допира с тази книга.
Цялото ревю - тук: http://azcheta.com/dzhordzh-lukas-tvo...
September 10, 2022
I am finally reading this one. It’s been on my list forever but have been saving it for the right time. I’m on my trip to Star Wars land and Hollywood Studios for the second time in two years this week, so I figured now is the best time. It’s a huge book with tons of good tidbits and facts about George. Lots of his quotes, I found interesting. He is pretty self aware about his talent.
It did take a while to get thru all of this book. It is fairly large, and it’s a lot to trudge through at times.
I found part II Empire the most fascinating of the book. How writing was hard for him and he never bled more than writing Star Wars. I do wish that Ewok adventure had been made. We need more Ewoks ha.
I found lots of interesting paragraphs and name drops during the last quarter of the read. So much creative movies and fantasy stories went thru George Lucas. It’s actually amazing to read it all in one
It did take a while to get thru all of this book. It is fairly large, and it’s a lot to trudge through at times.
I found part II Empire the most fascinating of the book. How writing was hard for him and he never bled more than writing Star Wars. I do wish that Ewok adventure had been made. We need more Ewoks ha.
I found lots of interesting paragraphs and name drops during the last quarter of the read. So much creative movies and fantasy stories went thru George Lucas. It’s actually amazing to read it all in one
April 16, 2022
Nevím, jestli se vůbec můžu přiznat, ale neviděla jsem ani jeden díl Star Wars. Vím sice, jak vypadá Yoda, ale to bude způsobeno spíš tím humbukem kolem merchandisingu a průmyslem těch "blbostí" kolem.
Budiž mi ale omluvou, že Indianu Jonese miluju. (I když poslední díl už mě nenadchnul a Chrám zkázy je na můj vkus dost temný.)
Když jsem četla před nedávnem knihu Továrna na sny, měla jsem možnost nahlédnout do zákulisí hollywodského businessu a dostatečně si ho znechutit.
A proto mi tato kniha byla o to sympatičtější, že G. Lucas se alespoň snažil se zavedeným způsobem realizace filmových zakázek bojovat, i když po svém...
Nevím, nakolik je kniha objektivní, ale po přečtení jsem si musela George Lucase zamilovat.
Srovnala bych to s Jobsovým životopisem, kdy, přestože nejsem příznivcem Applu, knihu jsem si moc užila a ráda jsem se dozvěděla informace z pro mě neznámého prostředí.
Budiž mi ale omluvou, že Indianu Jonese miluju. (I když poslední díl už mě nenadchnul a Chrám zkázy je na můj vkus dost temný.)
Když jsem četla před nedávnem knihu Továrna na sny, měla jsem možnost nahlédnout do zákulisí hollywodského businessu a dostatečně si ho znechutit.
A proto mi tato kniha byla o to sympatičtější, že G. Lucas se alespoň snažil se zavedeným způsobem realizace filmových zakázek bojovat, i když po svém...
Nevím, nakolik je kniha objektivní, ale po přečtení jsem si musela George Lucase zamilovat.
Srovnala bych to s Jobsovým životopisem, kdy, přestože nejsem příznivcem Applu, knihu jsem si moc užila a ráda jsem se dozvěděla informace z pro mě neznámého prostředí.
July 9, 2018
George Lucas, the modern day Homer/Thomas Edison, has received a biography that pulls no punches and truly honors his incredible legacy.
Brian Jay Jones has written an incredibly compelling account of Lucas's life and his impact on cinema. The insights this book offers illuminate how each of his iconic films were affected and formed by his life experiences and crises.
Lucas doesn't get enough credit for his influence, and yet he doesn't care about that. The biography doesn't portray a man obsessed with his image, but instead a loyal friend, a shrewd businessman, a stubborn artist, and a caring father.
Brian Jay Jones has written an incredibly compelling account of Lucas's life and his impact on cinema. The insights this book offers illuminate how each of his iconic films were affected and formed by his life experiences and crises.
Lucas doesn't get enough credit for his influence, and yet he doesn't care about that. The biography doesn't portray a man obsessed with his image, but instead a loyal friend, a shrewd businessman, a stubborn artist, and a caring father.
October 21, 2019
El material repasa la trayectoria cinematográfica y la vida de George Lucas, el creador de StarWars, mi saga preferida en cine.
Le tengo un cariño especial a George ya que crecí emocionado con la trilogía original.
El libro, no autorizado, revela una personalidad obsesiva y controladora en cuanto a sus películas. Destaca además su lucha constante contra los grandes estudios de Hollywood.
En cuanto a lo literario, el presente es sólo un recorte y pego de declaraciones y entrevistas.
May the force be with you!
Le tengo un cariño especial a George ya que crecí emocionado con la trilogía original.
El libro, no autorizado, revela una personalidad obsesiva y controladora en cuanto a sus películas. Destaca además su lucha constante contra los grandes estudios de Hollywood.
En cuanto a lo literario, el presente es sólo un recorte y pego de declaraciones y entrevistas.
May the force be with you!
February 3, 2021
George Lucas is the creative force behind billion-dollar franchises; Star Wars and Indiana Jones. As a child, I watched the VHS tapes of the original Star Wars trilogy every weekend. Back then, we had the remastered copies as well. I remember watching the interview portions of the film with Leonard Maltin and being fascinated. Star Wars was almost a disaster. There was nothing like it, and the studios kept getting in the way. I respect Lucas for what he created, but some of his later choices fall flat. I can point fingers as much as I want from my Internet Armchair, but Lucas created many marvelous ideas.
I watched the original trilogy, as I mentioned, and I watched the prequel trilogy. I had lost interest by the time the sequel trilogy came out, so I never watched those. Since I watched the originals so often, I never fell for the Mandela Effect with Vader's line to Luke. As for the prequels, I didn't see those too often. I didn't own the DVDs or VHS tapes of those movies. The Phantom Menace was okay, but Anakin's nickname irritated me and still does. The Attack of the Clones had Natalie Portman's midriff. The Revenge of the Sith was terrible; I hated how Mace Windu died. Although Lucas is a creative man, he has many flaws. He doesn't like to listen to people who disagree with him and his vision.
Brian Jay Jones delivers a fantastic biography of Lucas and covers up to 2016. I learned many things from this book. I knew about Industrial Light & Magic, but I did not know about Pixar. I did not know that Harrison Ford didn't like being Han Solo.
I watched the original trilogy, as I mentioned, and I watched the prequel trilogy. I had lost interest by the time the sequel trilogy came out, so I never watched those. Since I watched the originals so often, I never fell for the Mandela Effect with Vader's line to Luke. As for the prequels, I didn't see those too often. I didn't own the DVDs or VHS tapes of those movies. The Phantom Menace was okay, but Anakin's nickname irritated me and still does. The Attack of the Clones had Natalie Portman's midriff. The Revenge of the Sith was terrible; I hated how Mace Windu died. Although Lucas is a creative man, he has many flaws. He doesn't like to listen to people who disagree with him and his vision.
Brian Jay Jones delivers a fantastic biography of Lucas and covers up to 2016. I learned many things from this book. I knew about Industrial Light & Magic, but I did not know about Pixar. I did not know that Harrison Ford didn't like being Han Solo.
August 1, 2017
For such a dull, humorless, somewhat authoritarian and anti-social, and stubborn director and writer and, honestly, a bit of a genius, George Lucas makes a pretty fascinating subject of a biography. This takes you from his childhood in Modesto, CA right up to his billionaire status after selling his empire, of sorts, to Disney. You learn about his relationships with Spielberg and the prickly, yet mentor-like friendship with Francis Ford Coppola. He wanted to make art films and he did in film school and wanted to change the way the public saw films and how they watched them. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (in this opinion, his masterpiece) was quite a historical film in terms of structure and look and the way music and sound were used. So many films copied it and today it seems ... pedestrian. But it changed movies in many ways. Of course, there is STAR WARS and Lucas' aim to make a Flash Gordon serial and to just make people happy. The creation of that unexpected blockbuster changed his direction and altered his life and his fortune and his marriage. The man predicted and foretold the streaming of films in our homes, DVDs, social networking and video gaming. Kind of impressive person. In many ways, he is our modern day Disney and, ironically, sold it all off to that company that promised him story approval and such ... well, they did. Then they lied. He isn't happy right now, but this book was a 'happy' easy surprising educating read for anyone interested in movies..
March 29, 2019
I cannot give this book high enough praise, based mainly on the author's research and easy style, which makes the book flow from start to finish much like a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. I went into this book with a masters in Star Wars, I emerged with a Ph.D. It should have been called "A History of Star Wars, with oh yeah, some George Lucas too" which is praise, not criticism. The book was less about George's emotional, interpersonal life, and more about his professional life, which, let's face it, is inextricably wound up with the greatest film franchise ever conceived. George's desire for control, and the Hollywood politics move the narrative along well but, in my opinion, the real unsung hero of this tale is George's ex-wife, Marcia Lucas. I'd love to have gotten more of her perspective. A brilliant editor and collaborator in her own right, she played second fiddle to George's love affair with his work, and I was surprised to discover in the acknowledgments that this bio was "unauthorized." Jones' research seemed exhaustive, and his skill is formidable. May the Force be with you. (I realize this review is a little scattered, but I'm cooking dinner at the same time I'm reviewing.)
February 14, 2021
While our upcoming Book of the Mouse Club podcast will mainly focus on Jim Henson, I felt compelled to read Brian Jay Jones' George Lucas biography after my re-read of Henson, and I am glad I did. There are a lot of parallels between the two given their independent spirits, desire for control and end result of their companies in Disney's hands. Henson's biography is more finite given his death in 1990, but there's so much of George Lucas' story in this biography even with him still living that it makes sense to close his journey as the company was sold to Disney, effectively removing it from George's influence.
I consider myself only a casual Star Wars fan, so I think this biography works for those, like me, who just enjoy biographies as well as those who are huge fans of the universe George created. Brian Jay Jones mentions in his acknowledgments that this is unauthorized and he didn't have primary access to many of George's circle, a stark contrast to the Henson biography that even includes passages from Henson's personal journal. However, readers would never know it as Jones effectively relies on quotes from the media to give George and his pals a voice in the narrative.
I consider myself only a casual Star Wars fan, so I think this biography works for those, like me, who just enjoy biographies as well as those who are huge fans of the universe George created. Brian Jay Jones mentions in his acknowledgments that this is unauthorized and he didn't have primary access to many of George's circle, a stark contrast to the Henson biography that even includes passages from Henson's personal journal. However, readers would never know it as Jones effectively relies on quotes from the media to give George and his pals a voice in the narrative.
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