Cool News
Have you checked out that WIRED! piece on George Lucas yet' Here's why!
Hey folks, Harry here... Steve Silberman of WIRED magazine wanted me to make sure you checked out his interview and story on George Lucas - cuz he's exceptionally proud of it, and he should be. The piece is quite revealing and fun. Here ya go, give it your attention:
Dear Harry and Eric:
Hey guys, I hope you're doing well. (Harry, I interviewed you for Wired News many years ago).
Please consider a link to my new Wired magazine cover story on George Lucas:
Life After Darth
Click Here For The Story!
Please take note:
1) I had lots of access to Lucas and other folks (like Peter Jackson), but this is *not* the typical Lucas story. The article focuses on a previously unknown part of Lucas' life that played a crucial role in his decision to become a filmmaker. Lucas has always claimed that he was "not interested in movies" before he went to film school, but that's not true. In fact, he fell in love with filmmaking by sneaking off to see the edgiest first-wave independent cinema in San Francisco while he was still in highschool. Then once he got to USC, he became obsessed with a bunch of experimental shorts and documentaries produced by the National Film Board of Canada. It turns out that it was the films of great obscure weird pioneers like Stan Brakhage, Jordan Belson, and Arthur Lipsett (as well as Kurosawa and Godard) that inspired him to start making films -- not Flash Gordon serials, as has been universally reported.
2) I also discovered the source of the phrase "the Force"! Obviously, the idea of the Force comes from Buddhism, Joseph Campbell, etc. but until now, no one knew where he got the phrase.
3) My article offers a glimpse of Lucas without his usual stonewall of safe PR-vetted statements around him. Director Peter Jackson also says some wonderful things about how seeing Star Wars as a teenager inspired him, and critic Roger Ebert gives me his wish-list of future Lucas projects.
Also note: Along with the main article is a exceptionally frank online-only question-and-answer session with Lucas in which he talks about his feelings about the response to the new trilogy, Fahrenheit 9/11, and other matters of interest. It is very unusual to get him off his Star Wars talking points and address current events, particularly other people's films!
Click Here
Thank you so much, guys. Keep up the great work.
Steve
-
+ Expand All
-
The trailer was cool. Hope ROTS is decent.
-
Dude, that's crazy. It's nuts, insane.
-
Dude, awesome. Nuts, insane.
-
sorry to burst that guy's bubbles, but most of this information WAS previously available... way to pretend like you 'scooped' this story, whereas you're just re-sharing it, which i give 'props' for.
-
I'm a few years to young to have Star Wars mania; I thought they were pretty cool when I saw them on TV as a kid, but that's about it. I don't have a much invested in the universe as some, and I really didn't like TPM or ATOTC. That being said, I hope ROTS is cool...I know George has the imagination, he just needs the execution. Here's hoping.
-
It wasn't a bad read, but nothing out of the ordinary.
-
Apr 30, 2005 5:59:32 PM CDT
"Wired" employs someone who cannot even properly use the apostro
by salvatoregravano
"Lucas' life"... Christ... I stopped at that point.
-
...for situations when a person's name ends with an s. "SINGULAR PROPER NAMES ENDING IN S: Use only an apostrophe: Achilles' Heel...Hercules' labor, etc." - The Associated Press Stylebook
-
No offence to Wired but the way he talked it up in the email I expected slightly more....still ineresting though.
-
yeah
-
but I thought it was going to be an interview. I like this quote from the article "I know it's amazing, but I don't feel it's amazing. I think if George were here and we could wrestle him onto the carpet, he'd say, 'Yeah, I've gotten into that box, and now I want to get out of that box.'" As I've been saying all along, the problem with the (first two in the) PT: No Heart.
-
its S or Z .... being that my last name ends in Z, this is a huge problem for a lot of people. also, when pronouncing the posessive, you DO NOT prounce the word any differently. so Lucas' and Lucas would be pronounced the same.. you don't say "Lucases"
-
Note that the singular "s" with an apostrophe after it is only valid in ANCIENT names. Jesus', Hercules', etc. are all okay. Lucas' is not. I don't know where the line is drawn, but that's a more accurate explanation. Note the examples above arguing against this were all ancient figures.
-
What a tool, displaying your ignorance here for us to revel in!
-
It's a bit more interesting than the article. I was particularly interesting that he said that Star Wars was made for adolescents transitioning to adulthood (Joseph Campbell's all over that one). So, to put an end to one TB argument, SW is not a kids' film (I don't interpret teenagers as "kids").
-
actually, he's not ignorant - he's correct, though he's ridiculously pissy about it. Lucas's would be correct. Lucas' is incorect, unless we're using Lucas as a plural, which we're not. And the posessive is INDEED pronounced "Lu-cuhs-is" rather than the undifferentiated "Lu-cuhs." This IS all in the current AP style guides. Go check out www.theslot.com and ask Bill Walsh if you still think you're right.
-
Apr 30, 2005 7:35:08 PM CDT
Did George Lucas wear a "I raped your childhood" shirt during th
by iamjacksuserid
I hope so.
-
Current punctuation books say to put the "s" after the apostrophe in names that end in "s", unless it's and ancient name, ends in the "-iz" sound, or is "Jesus". When I was in school, I was taught never to put the "s", so it's probably a recent convention. Lynne Truss in her recent punctuation book says, "These are matters of style and preference, and it's a good idea not to get fixated about them." In other words, it doesn't matter.
-
My copy of the AP Style guide is from 2000, so this must indeed be a recent convention. In my copy, no distinction is made between ancient and current references. The only reason I used Achilles and Hercules as examples is that they were the most "famous" names listed in the examples. "Tennessee Willams'" and "Jules' seat" were also given. I'll have to check out www.theslot.com and ask Bill Walsh when I have a chance. I just used the AP style as a reference because it is one of the most widely-used stylebooks among U.S. publications.
-
Apr 30, 2005 8:20:42 PM CDT
It should be "Lucas's" - I'm not reading some retard's article
by dannychico
If he doesn't even know how to use the singular possessive.
-
I guess everything bad to say about Lucas has been laid out on the table since Greedo shot first. Let's direct our talkback hostility elsewhere and burn this vile interviewer at the stake!! Oh and let me be the FIRST to mention LORD OF THE RINGS in this talkback.
-
Apr 30, 2005 8:37:20 PM CDT
Lucas Is A Great Filmmaker, But Not A Great Film Writer...
by flim springfield
That's not such a bad thing, though I wish someone else wrote the prequels.
-
Well the only real conversation it seems to have spawned is a debate over the correct usage of possessives in regards to the apostrophe...says it all really, doesn't it?
-
Apr 30, 2005 8:53:04 PM CDT
Lucas should have written the stories for the prequels, just as
by jackburton
After all, say what you want about him, but he's a great concept man. What he very definitely isn't though is a great screenwriter, which is why after doing the outline and plotting out the story he should have gotten someone far more talented to pen the damn scripts, with his guidance of course in so far as what directions to take, character and plot wise. That way we could have gotten the best of both worlds. Alas it was not to be I guess, outside of a bit of so called script polishing work (where I'm sure they didn't dare polish too much, and weren't permitted to polish too widely) anyway. I just wish that Lucas would realise and admit his own limitations, and also wake up to the fact that one of the prime reasons that the first trilogy was so successful was because those films were truly collaborative efforts from many and varied talented people all adding their own bits and pieces to form the whole. This time around I fear because Lucas is largely surrounded by yes men now no one dares tell him when something might not be such a good idea or doesn't work, and as far as other parties bringing their own magic to the show, the leash these days is so tight that nothing gets past without George's strict scrutiny and approval first. And you know what, despite it all, I still hope that ROTS doesn't live up to it's acronym and actually manages to kick all our asses. We shall see.
-
There is some disagreement, but most American English textbooks and grammar texts prefer the "S'" over the awkward "S'S", including my old high school grammar guide and the current Associated Press Stylebook. Some styleguides get really specific and have all sorts of exceptions or variations. ( http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/grammar/Apostro3.html has a good roundup of how different guides have different rules.) Doing a google search on various grammar/english sites generally find those who either say BOTH methods are okay, or those (usually English professors) who say ONLY the "S'" is okay. But in reference to Dannychico, virtually NO ONE says that "S'" is NOT okay. In fact, even the sites that usually recommened "S'S", such as "James's dog", STILL would spell it Lucas' because of the "iz" exception (it's ALWAYS Jesus', for example, never Jesus's). The claim that Lucas' is "wrong" is just silly. Go here: http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/06/ca.s02.cooper.otsc/index.html or, hell, here: http://george.lucas.net/ , for examples. :)
-
Well, that was enough to get me to go out and buy that issue of Wired. It's good to hear a grown up filmmaker talk.
-
Wait, I'm not? dammit!
-
Try that one on for size. Or better yet, get COCOLOPEZ to give us the answer, since he seems to know everything about everything. I'm sure he uses flawless grammar every time he is laboring over all those "high vis" court cases at his downtown Manhattan legal office, interrupted only by snorting lines off of models' hips, with P. Diddy praising his new CD "A Day without a life of tell Tale heart. . . ."
-
are you stuck in the trash compactor with a jammed blaster?? wait, too much star wars in this reply
-
Come on people, the article isn't that bad. Granted, it's the not the best thing in the world, but still. I am really interested to see if Lucas will indeed ever go back to making those films that 'no wants to see.' We have the Star Wars TV shows still to come, as well as Indy IV (for those who still think it will happen). Interesting thing, he mentions two additional TV projects he's thinking about. First time I've heard of that.
-
Of course, AP style is just ONE kind of style, and often goes against proper grammar, which itself isn't static. Since it was done in Wired magazine, I'd think it SHOULD conform to AP style, but it's more important to be internally consistent. It's definitely not a reason to refuse to read an article or to attack others over. If you want to be a grammar weenie, the "s's" is correct in modern usage, IMO, and the acceptance of the other spelling stems from a lapse in grammatical standards, but it's not exactly a deal-breaker!
-
You must have a very small movie/music collection if you avoid "lefties". Most art is created by leftists, like Lucas. It makes sense, because conservitism (sticking with the status quo) is somewhat antithetical to the creative process. Damn, you can't listen to the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart, Beethoven, The Stooges, or Black Flag? You can't watch Apocalypse Now, A Colckwork Orange, Lord of the Rings, Kill Bill, Goodfellas, or Star Wars? Sucks for you.
-
the tiles in my tub need repairing, too.. 19 days
-
What is Lucas smoking? I like how he spins peoples dislikes of the first 2 prequels, because they were non-commercial attempts. Episode 1 had tie-ins with Pizza hut, Taco bell, and KFC (besides the millions of merchandise this movie franchise produced). I guess we just didn't understand Jar Jar Binks because Lucas was channeling David Lynch's main character in Eraser Head. The biggest failure of these prequels is the liability of Anakin. The first movie he was annoying and the second one he was a cocky prick. Unless Anakin is an amazing hero in the first half of ROTS, it will not matter who Darth Vader was under the mask.
http://www.dumdumgoestothecircus.com/ -
Actually there aren't more Republicans, just more voting Republicans than voting Democrats. Also, the majority of Republicans get their information from television and radio talk shows so they'll never see this article.
-
I was in graduated high school in 1993, and during my formative years was taught that "Lucas'" was the correct singular possessive form. That's what I have always used.
Now, I was reading "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" last night and Lynne Truss, the author, went into a long, drawn out explanation about how this has changed in the last generation and that BOTH ARE OKAY.
So, essentially, who fucking cares? -
of the grammatical errors in the opening clause of my post. Thank you for drawing further attention to it.
-
Yes! Lucas movies with controversy! and creativity! and wait.....no spaceships?......none.....oh.....well....nevermind then....
-
Coop is correct. While younger people tend to be more fervent about their beliefs, they also tend to atrophe quickly and neglect to vote. The majority of Republican voters are older, and *never* forget to vote. There are more left-leaning residents of the USA, do not be fooled. They just happen to be lazy twats. Also, Lucas never once complimented FAHRENHEIT 9/11 or Michael Moore. Go back and read. Also, what's with the schoolyard insult? Sir, are you implying that Michael Moore does, in fact, have cooties? Burn, Michael Moore, burn!! Ouch! teh 0wn3d!
-
What has more crap on it. Internet hands down.
-
I hear lots of talk about a star wars tv show. Does anyone have details about it, such as time frame (Between ep.3 /4 or afer ep.6) or when it's coming out?
-
And thus... I borrow Chicken George's sign-off.
-
There are two of them:
1) Clone Wars Season 4, a 30-minute show in CGI
2) SW Live action - a 100-episode series (of about 4 seasons), starring Aayla Secura and her battle against the Empire (it's Episode 3.5). -
KE KE KE KE KE
-
History is fiction. Documentaries are cool because they show history. But people are closed minded. Open minded people like documentaries because they like to explore possibilities and learn about history. But history is fiction. I invented special effects and licensed them to John Dykstra. Joseph Campbell learned from me. I made movies nobody thought would sell and proved them wrong. Like Howard the Duck, Tucker and my magnum opus THX 1138. I didn't want Yoda to be like Kermit the Frog. I wanted him to be more like Grover. I didn't like all this foam rubber in Jabba (What a slap in the face of Jim Henson!). Socieities have all these stories to tell you what's right and wrong and don't you dare deviate from the path. That makes people close minded and then they don't understand my movies... like Episode 1 and 2.
-
May 01, 2005 12:55:27 PM CDT
"Lucas embraced these films with the enthusiasm of a suburban go
by dr. meirschultz
Great article, but that is the stupidest line I've ever read.
-
I, for one, did enjoy this article. I thought it was interesting that Lucas' (note apostrophe use) favorite films of the last few years were "Being John Malkovich" and "Amelie". Especially in the case of Amelie, I agree with him. Oh, and I have to agree with Dr. Meirschultz: the "suburban goth" line was bizarre.
-
the English language is always evolving. For example, syllabus used to be pluralized by 'syllabi'(because of its Latin roots). 'Syllabuses' is now also correct because it's become widely accepted (meaning 'syllabi' might be on its way out). BOTH possessive forms of Lucas are currently accepted. As long as it's consistent throughout the article. Now shut the fuck up.
-
Fatboy continues to spread the myth that this story was always fully formed from the beginning. It's so clearly been made up on the fly with only a few details (the Kenobi/Skywalker battle on the lava planet) articulated. None of it makes sense. None of it fits. Luke spends all of Ep. IV in love with Leia and she even liplocks him in V to make Han jealous, but yeah, he always was gonna make them siblings. Even Luke couldn't buy the excuse Kenobi gave him about saying Vader hunted down and mudered Anakin.
-
May 01, 2005 8:14:05 PM CDT
Sounds like every other fluff piece on GL ever written
by inspectordoppler
And I don't care what cool weird movies he claims to like or have been influenced by - look at the poo poo he's actually put on the screen over the past ten years.
-
Shouldn't you have added an exclamation point to your last sentence to really emphasize that you want everyone to shut the fuck up?
-
Suck my balls'.
-
May 02, 2005 9:08:25 AM CDT
If you could look at these issues more open-mindedly -- at what'
by rev_skarekroe
Why does George Lucas hate America?
-
Perhaps the reason the special edition of E.T. sold better than the special edition of Star Wars is it included the original edition. Not spitting on the fans and film history is a real plus.
-
...so George wanted to have sex with his mother?
-
ET sold so many VHS because Amblin waited something like eight years before they released the then-most moneymaking film of all time on tape. By that time, the marketing pipelines were in place to get the word out, not like when Star Wars first came out in those really chintzy (not to mention expensive) white-cased pan'n'scan first editions. I'm fairly certain the re-release of the trilogy in widescreen and pan'n'scan (in 1994, I believe) out-sold ET. You are right about the DVDs though, Lucas can do whatever he wants to the speds (heh) but give me my original trilogy with it! Ah well, guess I'm lucky - I have the 9 laserdisc release of the original unmolested trilogy with an assload of special stuff. Wheee!
-
I'll see you one Trilogy and raise you one "Alphaville," ya hack.
-
May 02, 2005 12:19:50 PM CDT
Is this the same guy who had Jar-Jar step in a pile of shit in E
by baron karza
Real GL film-maker please stand up.
-
May 02, 2005 1:26:35 PM CDT
Wait, What Exactly Was Stopping Him From Making The Films He Wan
by zombiesolutions
was it the bazillions of dollars, unlimited freetime, or the sprawling film studio compound where he can do anything he wanted, anytime he wanted? i'm confused. oh, it was Star Wars' fault! that's weird. why didn't he hire a bunch of other directors and writers to do them like everyone on earth was hoping, then? clearly he had the resources. i mean, that's what i would have done if i was an obscenely wealthy "tortured artist." i'd be all like, "hey, (insert name of your favorite competent genre director / screen writer here), i wanna go make some esoteric art pitchures, so can you take my mega-zillion dollar, iron-clad, failure proof franchise and make some cool "popcorn movies" for the aging gen-xers? they need to believe in the power of cinema again. oh you can? thanks (name of your favorite competent genre director / screen writer here)!" [i'm willing to hope that ROTS is cool, and signs are pointing to the fact that it is, but, so far, the best thing out of this prequel thingee has been the Clone Wars cartoon -- that which Lucas had the least input into... kinda makes think, don't it? heres to hoping i'll be eating my words in two weeks. cheers! and may the force be with all y'all.]
-
I have to agree that I do not think when that line was spoken it was already decided who the "other" would be. It seemed tacked-on, like they needed more to keep the buzz going until the next movie. And making Leia Luke's sister was, to me, such a cop-out. Or killing two birds with one stone - answer the question of who is the "other" and at the same time resolve the Luke/Lei/Han triangle. To me it lacked imagination.
-
and he admits's he rapeded Tom's's childrenhood. Didn't he, precious's's?
-
A quote from the interview:
".....he became that way and thought he was doing the right thing. He eventually realizes he's going down the dark path, but he thinks it's justifiable. The idea is to see how a democracy becomes a dictatorship, and how a good person goes bad -- and still, in the end, thinks he's doing the right thing."
Doesn't Lucas recognize the irony in all these statements about Vader?? Geeesh....
-
The amount of money that Lucas puts back into the inustry d....oh fuck, who cares.
-
You are right on about "no, there is another." It wasn't Leia, which is insanely obvious to anyone who has watched Star Wars or The Empire Strikes Back (Luke in love with Leia, Leia MAKING OUT with Luke). According to Gary Kurtz, who produced SW and TESB, refering to what was supposed to be the story for Return of the Jedi: "So the story was quite a bit more poignant and the ending was the coronation of Leia as the queen of what was left of her people, to take over the royal symbol. That meant she was then isolated from all of the rest and Luke went off then by himself. It was basically a kind of bittersweet ending. She
-
Your post was incorrect and you think the writer was an idiot. "Lucas' life...", that's written correctly you dumb fuck.
-
It's incredible how people misunderstand the creative process. Apparently, all artists are supposed to come up with one linear version of their piece and release it. No drafts, no revisions. No consideration for the fact that an artist may be facing the restraints of technology, funding, people/executives actively undermining their work. Luke and Leia weren't always twins? Well, to those of us who have actually read "The Star Wars" script that's no shock because Luke is a 50 year old general. Artists constantly go through revisions, new drafts, etc. As for the article in Wired, it is not some vindictive indictment of George Lucas. Not even close. Nor is some apology given, or deserved. It's just good journalism, plain and simple. It is well written, thought provoking, and much better than the current Time cover story or the recent Vanity Fair article. No film maker has had to endure the ridiculous scrutiny and personal attacks Lucas has. He's brought us American Graffitti, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, THX 1138, ILM, Edit Droid, THX, LucasArts, Pixar, etc., yet some people feel the need to villify him. Their comments define them, not George Lucas.
-
He spelled it correctly, jackass. Get a clue.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 439 total posts 159 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 144 total posts 142 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 155 total posts 140 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 55 total posts 45 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 196 total posts 45 posts
- I am The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day! No, I’m the Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day! -- 35 total posts 35 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 60 total posts 34 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 127 total posts 32 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 513 total posts 29 posts
- The Sensorties Revisit The Friday Docback (And Still Smell)!! DOCTOR WHO Story #7 Again, The Coming Of Season/Series 7, And More!! -- 118 total posts 27 posts