George Lucas comment

[Brad Grimmett]

In this weeks Entertainment Weekly George Lucas is interviewed about Star Wars and he makes this comment:

"It's my money, but I also know what I'm doing. You know, you can keep it rational. I love cameramen and they're very talented and I defend them, but I know how to shoot a picture, so I could actually shoot it myself if I really wanted to. And I'm not going to pay a million to a cameraman. A cameraman can make what the president of the United States makes, but not a million."

I'm wondering what you guys think of that comment.

[Jeff Tanner]

George has lost it. It's official.

 

Respectfully,

 

Jeff

[Guest Daniel J. Ashley-Smith]

You see I told you he was a doughnut!

[Mike Panczenko]

I do think that sounds misinformed, but I should point out that Lucas started his career as a cameraman. Still...

[Patrick Neary]

He also doesn't need a writer, or director, and look at what has resulted from that!

[Brad Grimmett]

He also doesn't need a writer, or director, and look at what has resulted from that!

Here are Lucas' comments on writing since you brought it up:

"You know, I never expect anyone to see a script, because they're terrible. I'm a terrible writer, you know, but because I'm directing it, I don't have to write it, I don't have to show it to a studio, I don't have to sell it to anybody. it doesn't have to be written for somebody else to understand. So I write a minimalist script that has hardly anything in it at all."

He sounds like a film student that think he knows everything. I would guess he's one of those directors that says, "I'll fix it in post" a lot.

[Guest fstop]

didn't he coin the term??

[DavidSloan]

Aww come'on guys...Stars Wars is an American pop icon. *ducks*

[Ignacio Aguilar]

but I know how to shoot a picture, so I could actually shoot it myself if I really wanted to

 

Yeah, sure.

 

That reminds me of American Graffiti. He started to shot the movie without a real DP (only two camera operators). Then, he had to brought Haskell Wexler in when he realized that even shooting in Techniscope everything was out of focus!

 

George Lucas and DPs...

[Jason Maeda]

"You see I told you he was a doughnut!"

 

ummmm......

 

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/...georgelucas.htm

 

jk :ph34r:

[Guest Daniel J. Ashley-Smith]

An incredibly rich and successful doughnut!

[Greg Gross]

I think that what Mr. Lucas has told us is that he has a vision for his film.

I thinks he's well suited for producing,directing,dp,camera operator. I do

have a problem with his statement though if he's downplaying the role of

the dp,camera operator. Almost in all cases the consultation of the dp,cam-

era operator are needed! I would bet that somewhere he has his limitations.

Look at some directors who get into trouble due not taking dp's advice and

there goes the budget! I personally believe that the expertise,knowledge of

dp,camera operator is critical in most filmmaking. Don't forget that a lot of

the time dp's and camera operators are continually problem solving while

making a film. I would like to take him to a big black,empty sound stage,all

devoid of any hint of the film to be shot there. Say romantic comedy, and

ask him how to set up the empty room to shoot the film! I think we all know

dp's and camera operators right here on our forum who could do it.

[Matt Pacini]

Just because Lucas is capable of doing some particular job, doesn't mean that the job is worth less when someone else is doing it.

 

Try using this same logic to pay less to your mechanic, and see if it works. "Hey, I know how to rebuild an engine, so you shouldn't be getting full price".

Ludicrous.

 

It shows the disrespect he's grown to have in talent other than his own, and I think it shows in his recent films, which I have yet to hear anyone over 14 years old say is actually good.

 

Lucas is a brilliant producer.

Everything else, he's just average.

But the problem is, he has so much power and influence, that he's surrounded with people afraid that if they tell the truth, they'll never work again.

They gush over his brilliant creations every time he takes a crap, literally and artistically.

 

Did anyone here read the Liam Neeson interview right after he did Phantom Mayonnaise, where he was so bitter about the experience he said he was considering quitting acting?

Carrie Fisher said once that his only direction to actors during Star Wars was either:

"faster!" or "more intense!"

Stick to producing, George.

Not writing, not directing, just producing.

 

Matt Pacini

[Guest Daniel J. Ashley-Smith]

Actually I reckon George just likes to do things himself then they?ll get done exactly the way he wants. It's a bit like me, when I make my films I do a lot of the stuff myself. Quite simply because I know exactly what I want, I know how to do it so what?s the problem. Sure I could get someone else to do it, and I'm sure they would do a great job of it, but it won?t be exactly what I wanted.

 

Sometimes it's just easier to do things yourself, and then you have complete control. It's almost like you don't trust anybody else.

[Jayson Crothers]

Actually I reckon George just likes to do things himself then they?ll get done exactly the way he wants. It's a bit like me, when I make my films I do a lot of the stuff myself. Quite simply because I know exactly what I want, I know how to do it so what?s the problem. Sure I could get someone else to do it, and I'm sure they would do a great job of it, but it won?t be exactly what I wanted.

 

Sometimes it's just easier to do things yourself, and then you have complete control. It's almost like you don't trust anybody else.

One of two responses to this idea - if you hire and surround yourself with people talented in their respective fields, they'll often (if not usually) build upon your inital idea and present you with something better or more refined. Secondly; if you're not getting what you want from someone, then you're likely not communicating it clearly to that person - this isn't an attack by any means, but rather I'm offering the notion that if people aren't understanding what you're asking for, perhaps it's the way you're explaining it/asking for it.

[Tenolian Bell]

At the end of these last two Star Wars films. The incredibly long lists of digital animators, illustrators, rotoscopers and so on clearly show he's doing it all by himself.

 

Ironically enough I will be seeing George Lucas this weekend as he presents the directos cut of THX 1138 at USC.

[J. Lamar King IMPOSTOR]

Lucas is a brilliant producer.

Everything else, he's just average.

But the problem is, he has so much power and influence, that he's surrounded with people afraid that if they tell the truth, they'll never work again.

They gush over his brilliant creations every time he takes a crap, literally and artistically.

 

Did anyone here read the Liam Neeson interview right after he did Phantom Mayonnaise, where he was so bitter about the experience he said he was considering quitting acting?

Carrie Fisher said once that his only direction to actors during Star Wars was either:

"faster!" or "more intense!"

Stick to producing, George.

Not writing, not directing, just producing.

 

Matt Pacini

This reminds me there is a quote and I believe it's on video on one of those " the making of" things recorded quite some time ago, where Lucas says something to the effect of 'I didn't like not having control of my film as a director so on my next film I elevated myself to Producer so I could have complete control.' IMHO his directing has been going down hill ever since. I wonder if it's a case of having so much, you don't have to struggle and thus you don't get the creativity that comes from having to struggle.

 

You look at an emotionaly sterile film like 'Phantom Menace' and ask yourself, "Is this the same guy who directed 'American Graffiti'? That film has more atmosphere, texture and emotion than the most expensive computer in the universe could ever create.

[J. Anthony Gonzales]

He also doesn't need a writer, or director, and look at what has resulted from that!

Oh, and don't forget, he doesn't need ACTORS either! JarJar Binks makes Pacino look like a hack!

 

But I digress...

 

Lucas' challenge stands from his long standing dictum that he will only make G or PG movies. People want action-adventure Star Wars, not family theater.

 

Lucas will make what he wants to make, though, regardless. And nobody is going to argue with him.

 

 

John G.

[Bill Totolo]

Just saw the original STAR WARS at the Santa Monica pier under the stars. So much fun to see this film with an audience. It really is timeless.

[Guest Daniel J. Ashley-Smith]

Yeh we all loved the originals, I'm not so keen on the new ones. The films are concentrated more on special effects rather than the actual story.

 

One of two responses to this idea - if you hire and surround yourself with people talented in their respective fields, they'll often (if not usually) build upon your inital idea and present you with something better or more refined. Secondly; if you're not getting what you want from someone, then you're likely not communicating it clearly to that person - this isn't an attack by any means, but rather I'm offering the notion that if people aren't understanding what you're asking for, perhaps it's the way you're explaining it/asking for it.

 

Yeh I see what you are saying. And quite right yeh, it's about the communication. Just depends on how good a "communicator" you are, and anyone working in film should be good at that (Especially George)

You can tell George didn't exactly think that one through. When creating a film as big as Star Wars you can afford to hire the best in the business, and you can rest assure that they WILL do a fantastic job of it, regardless or not if it's not what you previously imagined it to be. He might be a great director/producer, but leave the other stuff to professionals that specialise in that field. I tend to do a lot of the stuff myself, but it's slightly different in my situation, my work doesn?t stand upon 300 million pounds. When George walks into DreamWorks or wherever and asks for 200 million quid they probably write the cheque out there and then, when I walk in and ask for 200 quid they fall on their backs laughing. Usually I just hire amateurs, sorry, un-sung professionals. Shootingpeople.com is fantastic; people will work for free just to gain the experience.

[Sergei Levy]

Lucas' remarks are quite funny. I, for one, am quite pleased that the Star Wars films are over. I sense great personal films in the coming years.

[Guest Daniel J. Ashley-Smith]

The films are over? I thought they were still filming Ep. 3.

 

Do you reckon when Ep. 3 comes out they?ll make a box set with the complete Saga? I was going to buy the box set of the original star wars on DVD today but I'm thinking of leaving it until Ep. 3 comes out and then I?ll buy the complete Saga.

[David Charles]

You people are all crazy! Don't you know that Lucas has the electronic ability to find out where each of you live. He's dispatching Storm Troopers to your homes right now, soon you'll all be dead. Like a bunch of Jawas in episode 1, or was that episode 9, or 27?

 

The greatest of all his films was of course the original 1977 Star Wars. The other two where pretty good. The last two...well...young Jedi uses power to float fruit so he can make hot young queen giggle. Enough said.

 

FYI, I actually met Lucas at his ranch in 1998. Shook his hand, talked to him, and I even got pictures to prove it. Seemed like a nice guy, much shorter in person though.

 

DC

[Greg Gross]

Its times like this that I wish James Wong Howe(god bless him) was around.

I would like to hear his comments concerning Mr. Lucas's oppinion of camera

operators and not being worth a million dollars to shoot a film. Especially since

you now have movies grossing 120 million,140 million dollars.

 

 

Greg Gross, Professional Photographer

Student cinematographer

[Carlos M. Icaza]

George Lucas is the Bill Gates of Hollywood.

 

The one everyone loves to hate because of his success. Like Lucas, Gates has also said some rather stupid things in his days, such as the now infamous, 640k ought to be enough.

 

You got to remember he got spurned really bad when shopping Star Wars. So much so, lore has it that when he talked about toys and tie-ins for Star Wars, he was laughed at, and because nobody thought the movie would be a hit, they gave him rights to the toys just as a token and also because the toy movie market didn't exist as well, nobody wanted to gamble on some silly little movie about space cowboys. (Sure sure, will never happen, here you got and shut up). Star Wars practically invented the movie toy market and the tie-ins, as much as Jaws gets credited for the Summer BlockBuster moniker, Star Wars convinced Hollywood that toys and merchandise tie-ins were money maker and became part of the Hollywood movie machine. He practically re-invented special effects and set industry standard for movie sound.

 

StarWars Episode I and II were resume pieces for his special effects house. He is no dumbo. I practically have the same graphics workhorse engine now on my dual g5 that some people probably do at ILM. I can practically re-create some, if not, most movie special effects with off the shelves software like Maya, After Effects, Shake, Avid. Sure, I'll pay probably more than your local yokel, but the fact is, I can, and I could take business away from ILM. Lucas is just protecting his turf. I would do the same if I were in his shoes.

 

As for his statement, well, remember, 640k ought to be more than enough for everybody.

 

Cheers,

 

C.-