George Lucas talks STAR WARS, Coppola, gender/race + more from Cannes 2024

The director of THX-1138, AMERICAN GRAFFITI and a tiny film called STAR WARS is in town to receive his honourary Palme d'or, and he droped by for a rambling talk with a 1000 of his not-closest friends to regale with tales from the most successful indie filmmaker in history.
SUBSCRIBE to our channel: kzbin.info?sub...
00:00 Beginning
01:33 Being back at Cannes
02:51 Career beginnings
08:48 American Zoetrope
15:06 First Cannes experience
17:35 Why Lucas loves chase sequences and speed
21:26 The origin of Star Wars
26:28 The struggle to get American Graffiti released
32:17 How Star Wars got greenlight
33:47 The release of Star Wars
35:22 Distribution agreement, licensing and sequel rights
41:40 The importance of persistence
47:50 Star Wars going overbudget
50:42 Special Editions
56:18 John Williams's score
01:00:37 Apocalypse Now
01:03:04 Star Wars and Vietnam War
01:04:26 The Phantom Menace
01:06:20 Diversity in Star Wars
01:11:21 Empire Strikes Back and Disney Star Wars
01:13:12 Producing career
01:18:26 Working in San-Francisco
01:21:12 Independence from the studios
Twitter: / thatshelf
Instagram: / thatshelf
letterboxd.com/ThatShelf/
Facebook: / thatshelf
Official Site: thatshelf.com
TOC thanks to @Roxton-zy3t

[@FPdesignfab]

@9:38 "well, to be very honest with you, we weren't really that interested in making money. We were interested in making Movies! That was a big difference."

[@MegalithicEnt]

Persistent focus and passion on The Art first. Then came long term success.

[@trekkiejunk]

Says the guy who created Ewoks to sell toys, since he negotiated all the 3rd party licensee rights.

[@FPdesignfab]

@@trekkiejunk kzbin.infolssUAWfcsgc?si=dWoO13hM8QGNsnWB

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@trekkiejunk Yes, he used merchandise to stay independent just like his friend and mentor Francis Ford Coppola with wine. However the Ewoks weren't created strictly just for merchandising purposes. They serve a very key function of the little guy defeating the big guy. George's films often deal with the little guy achieving the impossible. Not to mention the Ewoks show us what Yoda taught us of size not mattering.

[@creativecatproductions]

The dude was a rich kid already

[@Roxton-zy3lt]

00:00 Beginning 01:33 Being back at Cannes 02:51 Career beginnings 08:48 American Zoetrope 15:06 First Cannes experience 17:35 Why Lucas loves chase sequences and speed 21:26 The origin of Star Wars 26:28 The struggle to get American Graffiti released 32:17 How Star Wars got greenlight 33:47 The release of Star Wars 35:22 Distribution agreement, licensing and sequel rights 41:40 The importance of persistence 47:50 Star Wars going overbudget 50:42 Special Editions 56:18 John Williams's score 01:00:37 Apocalypse Now 01:03:04 Star Wars and Vietnam War 01:04:26 The Phantom Menace 01:06:20 Diversity in Star Wars 01:11:21 Empire Strikes Back and Disney Star Wars 01:13:12 Producing career 01:18:26 Working in San-Francisco 01:21:12 Independence from the studios

[@ThatShelf]

Thanks so much! It's been a crazy fest, really helps that you did that

[@nope5657]

He's starting to sound old 😢

[@mechwarrior13]

Pin this comment

[@Ruylopez778]

It's quite a profound point as an artist that many people want to ignore; you make your art as you see it, and express what matters to you. The audience like it, or don't. That's it. The audience shouldn't dictate what an artist makes, but of course art is made not only for the artist's expression, but for the audience. So the artist has to consider what the audience wants, but ultimately they make what they want for their own objectives and their own sensibilities, whether they are Kurosawa, Kubrick, Coppola, Lucas.

[@keithmacintyre1889]

It was so moving to see George's mentor, Francis Coppola, present Lucas with the Palme d'Or at Cannes... Very touching! Also, after watching this panel, all I can say is "Amen" to EVERY SINGLE THING that he said on that stage! George Lucas changed my life FOREVER when I saw STAR WARS in 1977 at 10 years old, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this man, his entire creative output, and his philosophy. I had the very great fortune to see George Lucas at the Star Wars Celebration 40th Anniversary panel in 2017, and it was one of the most thrilling moments of my entire life... Thank you, Mr. Lucas, for EVERYTHING, "May the Force be with you always", and congratulations! Watch Coppola present Lucas the Palme d'Or here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpnQaH2rfbiLq6c

[@NickTierce]

Truly delighted by George clarifying that he did, in fact, pay Sam Jackson a salary for performing in the movie, and the purple lightsaber was not his compensation.

[@trekkiejunk]

I'm a big Star Wars fan, and i've NEVER heard that rumor.

[@CloneShockTrooper]

I share George Lucas passion for antropology and I myself studied egyptology and archaeology. So happy and greatfull that George Lucas created STAR WARS and Indiana Jones and have been a passionate fan of his work ever since STAR WARS and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[@zoetropeguardian]

I think you'd love Young Indy if you've not watched it already!

[@CloneShockTrooper]

Oh I love it! I was inspired 💯 and I like the way George Lucas introduced the world history in a teaching way through the Young Indiana Jones series 😊 It’s easy to feel the love that George Lucas have of storytelling and done with heart. Amazing person!

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@CloneShockTrooper Beautifully said, friend. That's how I feel too. 😊

[@StarWarsTheory]

Glad to see George ❤

[@DokaiSprirado]

Same

[@mrpotatoguy1]

Glad to see Theory

[@roddungan560]

Hi Theory!

[@Leonn9000]

Hello there.

[@CloneShockTrooper]

The Maker. Forever grateful to George Lucas for him creating Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

[@Rock-n-Rolla369]

I really want George to direct another film, but it looks like he’s enjoying his retirement. He’s a national treasure.

[@user-sb1ho7ro5z]

Recent photos don’t do George Justice cause he looks FABULOUS for 80. He looks spry, lost weight his voice sounds a lot stronger too

[@Max25670]

his Nikes looking CLEAN too ✨

[@trekkiejunk]

Yeah, he lost a bunch of weight. But man, he should get rid of that waddle.

[@davidallen346]

Remember seeing George with the big mass on his neck. I think he has it under control now. Best of health to him. Just wished Disney would follow his original Star Wars storyline, concepts and ideas with new Star Wars tv series they put out

[@KairuHakubi]

@@trekkiejunk It takes a while to shrink up. In the meantime he needs to have a lot of protein. like a lot. like risk gout or kidney stones. I'm reminded of when Gary Anthony Williams lost a bunch of weight. We lost out on the opportunity for a live action Uncle Ruckus, but it was an inspiration and good to know he'll live longer now.. but man did he have skin flaps hangin' down. and his head looked all huge like when Oprah lost weight.

[@sheevone4359]

1:09:55 thank you George for addressing this!

[@Bristolbadders]

Love any interview with Mr Lucas. Thanks to the guy shouting from audience helping George out when he couldn't remember a few things.

[@christianbrinkley6913]

George is such an inspiration. He could motivate me to take on the whole world. He was the master of telling a story with a message without having to overtly state the message. So grateful for his work.

[@dgeci]

Wow best video of this moment out there. Thanks a lot.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Wow, George Lucas at Cannes. It doesn't get better than that.

[@evanzimmer6315]

I love the prequels, thank you George Lucas. A pure soul making kino after a kino in a world where everyone's just sharpening his knife to 'critique' everything.

[@dereklopez9060]

Agreed. I love the prequel trilogy as well.

[@MulehornGaming]

George just keeps giving me reasons to like him even more.

[@shogunronin]

Thanks for recording man, really appreciated!

[@SuperMrBlaze]

I was so relieved that George was able to come to Cannes! I was afraid that he might have had health issues but luckily he is all right! 😊😊😊

[@roddungan560]

George is so cool. Love all of HIS movies.

[@Khultan]

*FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA AND GEORGE LUCAS G.O.A.T 100%*

[@HelioWakasugui]

We're told now that not only the Jedi and the Sith got The Force wrong, but also George Lucas. Thank god we have Leslye Headland to make things right.

[@mickeyconnor830]

Finally, we've been rescued from our own lived experience and opinions. 😂

[@TheObicobiHD]

Amazing to see this, really enjoy hearing from George always. Thank you, cheers! 💜

[@keyseronthewire2575]

One of the greatest creative visionaries we will ever see in our time. He created arguably the greatest IP ever and it had such an influence on pop culture. He helped usher in a new era of filmmaking via digital technology and SFX. The story of Star Wars is Episodes I-VI... The rise, fall, and redemption of one man: Anakin Skywalker. While on the surface, these films were made for kids, but they're best understood and appreciated by adults... There's so much embedded in those six films... Symbolism, thematics, action, humor, love, undertones, homages, deep-seated and expansive lore, and true original storytelling. God bless George Lucas... Thank the maker! I wish he never sold to Disney... It's clear that ge regrets it but has attempted to let it go, but you can tell it still bothers him a little. Disney doesn't understand what Star Wars really is... They don't understand what the force really is... They only care about pushing an agenda and storytelling is not a priority for them because they tend to only care about activism and identity politics. Its a real shame we'll never get to see his VII-IX but with that being said, I am satisfied with a full and complete saga in the form of I-VI.

[@andrewpanagiotis-lp4is]

Disney needs better leadership for lucasfilm and better filmmakers. also if warner bros or universal studios bought star wars it wouldnt last 5 years and it would be awful and not star wars like. Disney just needs a whole new lucasfilm division

[@keyseronthewire2575]

@@andrewpanagiotis-lp4is yeah... I just don't know if that'll ever happen given how many times they've doubled down on keeping things the way they are and continuing to push out garbage content that doesn't respect the established lore, characters, etc. There'd have to be a major house clean and restructuring of the entire company... I hope one day that will happen, but until then... It's really in the hands of fans to make their own content etc.

[@AnoneemusNoename]

@@keyseronthewire2575 Agreed

[@AnoneemusNoename]

George was too sensitive of the backlash due to the internet just starting to become more of a big thing when the Prequels started dropping. He meant well and was trying to listen to the audience but he needed more ppl in his corner to keep him from overcorrecting. All he had to do was get a better writer for the romance stuff, a punch up guy for dialogue in general and someone to edit down or rework the senate stuff so it was more to the point and palatable. If he'd have followed through with Jar Jar's arc instead of sidelining him all would have been redeemed. Other than that they were great (oh yeah throw away the midiclorian stuff too, keep it vague and mysterious. Don't wanna get into DBZ territory with power levels and stuff lol)

[@philippealain-art]

@@AnoneemusNoename no, the prequels are perfects.

[@-Adam-G]

appreciate the full video of this interview. what was that noise @ 1:17:52 ???

[@jasongorber6968]

Hah! Asshole next to me didn't turn off her ringer. But I like that it sounds like Jar Jar yelling "Annie!"

[@Max25670]

It's great to see George finally receive his flowers these past years.

[@rebeljedaii2571]

All the fuss about it being for children remind me of a couple of CS Lewis quotes. “Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” "Even in this world of course it is the stupidest children who are most childish and the stupidest grown-ups who are most grown-up." ― C.S. Lewis I tend to feel the latter are the ones insulting people and insisting its a kids movie and 'get over it' when Disney changes it by dumbing it down and casting out the heart of it.

[@zoetropeguardian]

Reminds me of this one too. “Rather than do some angry, socially relevant film…I realized there was another relevance that is even more important - dreams and fantasies, getting children to believe there is more to life than garbage and killing…Once I got into STAR WARS, it struck me that we had lost all that - a whole generation was growing up without fairy tales. You just don’t get them anymore, and that’s the best stuff in the world - adventures in far-off lands. It’s fun.” “George Lucas Goes Far Out” from the April 1977 issue of American Film Magazine. He's always been crystal clear who these movies are for.

[@jesustovar2549]

And even if it's meant for kids, dosen't mean adults can't appreciate it (Walt Disney and J. R. R. Tolkien also said something among those lines), he said it, I've been recently in Star Wars film forums, theater packed, fans of all ages, from people my age (20) to those who watched the original trilogy in theaters, awesome experience, the pannelist talked about how these movies grew up with him, and he's noticed many details he didn't catched before. J. K. Rowling also wrote Harry Potter for kids, but those kids grew up on par with the story and the characters, so it became more serious, darker, with a more adolescent tone, I think that's what Lucas did with both Star Wars trilogies, especially the prequels Anakin starts as a kid in Episode 1, he's an inmature and hormonal young adult in Episode 2, by Episode 3 he is already an experienced Jedi Knight worried about having children and protecting the woman he loves.

[@jimmies]

I liked that George asserted that it was for kids. I think there's not enough media really being made for kids anymore besides for very young children. It seems like companies always want to appease millennials because they're the internet influencers. It makes for very contrived products and nostalgiagrabs. Also, the kids need inspiration.

[@rebeljedaii2571]

@@jimmies Thing is, it wasn't so divided before. Now they divvy up for 'age' in the market. But Star Wars and that era they did things family friendly. You can aim at kids and still give adults a good time, both in movie and TV. I MISS that. Now they seem to think they have to dumb down for kids stuff and for adults spice it up with sex, blood and gore. This family friendly stuff is no longer being made for the most part.

[@trekkiejunk]

@@jimmies -- A kids movie. Ahhhhh...yes. Kids movies typically have people slicing off limbs and heads. They also have the villain murdering children, heroes being tortured, and others being burned alive right before your eyes. Everything i look for in a series of "kids movies."

[@GaryJRobinson]

Thank you for uploading!

[@RonnieFairley]

Great talk with George Lucas!

[@chriscage669]

1:04:49 when one came out was the beginning of the internet George talks about Star Wars

[@snarkbark2714]

He didnt even really answer the moderators questions but it was still so interesting to listen to what he said

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Nice to see George ❤

[@creativecatproductions]

Thank you very much for posting this amazing, important interview. It’s a shame that Mr Lucas has stuck to so many of the same talking points and justifications but it is what it is. The man has integrity. I have to give him that.

[@TallyTube]

Does literally everyone in that room have a cold

[@WillOfFiree]

You should watch some chess tournament videos :D golden comments in there

[@TrueLunacy]

Nervous habit

[@danapeck5382]

Thanks, what a treat

[@babarizam4525]

Its a very good interview to understand how star wars came into being

[@happyjohn1656]

It was way too hard finding this video 1:56 AM 6/17/2024

[@CloneShockTrooper]

George Lucas the creator of my favorite movies 🎥 ❤️

[@SeniorAdrian]

A Master artist.

[@droe2570]

GL is the man.

[@simpguy24]

I might not agree with every decision he has made concerning Star Wars and Indiana Jones, but I stand by this man 1,000,000% because he understands that people want a good story

[@jeanmichelsourd2]

Who is the one who conducted the interview? Would it be possible to enhance the sound?

[@joeybrisk1869]

Sound gets better about 10 min in.

[@MisterPizzaSir]

Georges is such a chad in sweats an new balances 😂😂 true G

[@Payload25]

Si seulement on pouvait lui donner 50années de plus à vivre, il aurait surement refait quelque chef d'œuvre de plus. Les choses ont fait qu'il a eu la chance qu'on lui dise Ok pour Star Wars mais je me demanderais toujours ce qu'il aurait pu faire de plus. Dans sa carrière, il y a eu Star Wars et Indiana Jones qui sont deux des plus grandes licences du cinéma et j'aimerais beaucoup qu'il fasse quelque chose de plus. Mais vu son âge, il est à la retraite depuis un moment déjà et c'est pour ça que je dis que ce serait bien qu'il est plus de temps devant lui pour créer encore de grande chose. Le jour où nous perdrons tout ces génies, il nous restera quoi? Des suites, des remakes et quelques petits films sans budget car plus personne ne veut prendre de risque. Triste époque!

[@stephaneneron]

Nous sommes malheureusement dans un creux cinématographique. Ces génies du cinéma disparraitrons un jour. Espérons que de nouveaux talents émergent de la masse pour nous créer de nouveaux univers. Personnellement, j'aurais aussi aimé que GL nous produise encore de nouvelles histoires. Je crois qu'il n'a pas été au maximum de son potentiel. Même si j'ai aimé les films Star Wars, j'en suis au point que je trouve le marché saturé de ces pseudos films Star Wars produit par Disney qui ne valent pas ceux que GL nous a offert. Je suis pour un renouveau du cinéma. Nous somme du pour un changement radical.

[@sharifmansour9678]

1:17:51 Salacious Crumb?

[@rmd9746]

nice cut man, what happened? Around 1:05:40

[@ericlavallee]

Coooooool

[@joeycardacle4516]

Why is there so many people coughing?

[@onlyjuanhope]

death sticks

[@creativecatproductions]

Literally everyone in France over the age of 50 has smoked for like 40 years. The audience looks to be about 70 years old.

[@sharifmansour9678]

Hi George! Lookin good bro. 😎

[@cnote6923]

It's nice to see Lucas getting the respect he deserves again. However I think he is still dead wrong about not releasing the original theatrical versions. Luckily the internet has already done his work for him.

[@zoetropeguardian]

He doesn't owe it to anyone to release them in any other way than his preferred version. They're his films to do what he wants and like you pointed out you can find them on the internet if you can't respect his wishes to have his films the way he wants them. He never stopped people from doing fanedits and owning them. People who are upset about what he did should think about all of that for a second. Likewise know that he made changes to the Prequels but that didn't receive nearly as much backlash.

[@sabojezles]

There is a LOT of people that has loved the Prequels since they came out me too although for a time I did got brainwashed by the ''Hate the prequels is cool'' wave shit for a time. I think they are fantastic films regardless of flaws.

[@trekkiejunk]

Why does it have to be that people who disagree with you about the Prequels are brainwashed? I hate the Prequels, and i can elucidate why. If you have your own reasons to love them, that's fine, but don't support your love for them by denigrating people's genuine criticism.

[@sabojezles]

@@trekkiejunk I'm talking about myself NOT you or anybody else. IF your hate for them or dislike is genuine GOOD for you, my ''hate'' and ''dislike'' wasn't genuine. Not hard to understand.

[@corvus2512]

If there is any ‘wave’ or artificial trend happening it’s “actually the prequels are amazing” nonsense. Those are bad films, almost on an objective level, it’s bad dialogue, bad acting, pacing, editing it’s all bad. I love George Lucas and I love Star Wars and while I dislike those films, I love the era and the worldbuilding and overall story of the prequels but that doesn’t make them ‘good films’. I was 8 or 9 opening night of the Phantom Menace and already in love with SW and leaving that theatre it obvious something had gone wrong, no brainwashing, no peer pressure to dislike, it was obvious.

[@sabojezles]

@@corvus2512 Regardless of the flaws I really dig the films. I love them as they are. They might not be GOOD but they aren't TRASH either.

[@user-dnf83n0s8sg9u]

So much coughing and sneezing from the audience, haha

[@trekkiejunk]

That's every audience.

[@wealthaddict8800]

George Lucas is truly a legend. Glad to hear his stance from him personally. True Diversity is accepting everyone and not discriminate them cause of skin color or where they come from. Except droids we don't like them! 😂 Just kidding I love C-3PO and R2D2. The whole Clone Wars though is a really good explanation for prejudices against droids.

[@funeralmotors2994]

Bro had dozens of written questions on these pages.

[@TrueLunacy]

Is there an official filming with this?

[@zoetropeguardian]

I emailed Cannes and they told me no official filming is forthcoming. So grateful they're allowing this to stay up.

[@TrueLunacy]

@@zoetropeguardianwhat why?

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@TrueLunacy They didn't say. I would assume it has to do with a certain company hating when he is critical of what they've done to his beautiful creation.

[@TrueLunacy]

@@zoetropeguardian because he didn’t include 20 female cast members? And 20 ethic people in his films? When he actually did… SJW are ruining culture

[@TrueLunacy]

@@zoetropeguardian ridiculous! And KZbin keeps deleting my comments!

[@Ghostlydustup]

George Lucas and Mark Mothersbaugh sound alike.

[@The_Mystical_Man]

Good to see George healthy

[@LaukkuPaukku]

1:05:42 RIP headphone users

[@ThatShelf]

Yeah, very sorry about that, accidentally got dropped on timeline! Working on trying to fix

[@jwstrauc]

it’s sad to see Lucas get stuck in thought and repeat himself in interviews over so many of these years, but I guess it’s inevitable.

[@zoetropeguardian]

It also doesn't help that interviewers rarely ask him anything new. However if anything all of this proves the point that he's consistent and the people who say otherwise don't have a leg to stand on.

[@TheKinoEye]

Guys, we had a fantastic run! 1977 through to when Lucas dumped his business to disney. It's done now. Six awesome movies to live out the rest of our lifetime. About the same amount of good albums, from great rock bands. George is in his senior years. As much as I love Philip Glass, I do realize he's older than Lucas. Philip quite frankly, ain't gonna do another tour of Einstein On The Beach (Come on Phil.. just one more time at BAM! ✊🏿) Let's, right the fuck, right now end all the talk about disney, kk and what have you. IT'S OVER GUYS! Unless it's George is at the helm, WE GOTTA LIVE WITH THE SIX SW MOVIES George has left us. For God sake, we now got KZbin! Watch something else. When's the last time you binge-watched Raiders? THX-1138? George's USC student films? Have you seen even Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress!? Have you read The Hero of a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell? If you have have another go! Some day George will pass on. Are we then still in circles blaming K.Kennedy and B.IGER? Use the Force! Fr fr!! I love us. We are moving on. Let's go!!

[@mree.9794]

lol @ 14:49

[@thebearthingshow]

23:30 - 24:05 George didn't buy flash Gordon because he wasn't making flash Gordon. Disney shouldn't have bought star wars if the didn't want to make star wars.

[@trekkiejunk]

A kids movie. Ahhhhh...yes. Kids movies typically have people slicing off limbs and heads. They also have the villain murdering children, heroes being tortured, and others being burned alive right before your eyes. Everything i look for in a series of "kids movies."

[@zoetropeguardian]

He's said they're movies for kids since 1977 and that was before the first movie came out at that. They've always been for kids.

[@trekkiejunk]

@@zoetropeguardian -- Yes, i know he said that. That's why i'm commenting. I'm saying that it's dumb. Besides, him claiming they are "for kids" doesn't mean they ARE "for kids" as cited in my examples. Please have an argument beyond, "nuh uh!"

[@zoetropeguardian]

​@@trekkiejunk Have an argument rooted in subjectivity? I'm good. I'll keep to objective fact. Objective fact would point you to knowing he said he wouldn't take a five or six year old to Revenge of the Sith. He believed an eight or nine year old could handle it though. I was going on ten when I saw it and handled it. So his conviction was correct. And whose to say kids can't handle darker things? The first Harry Potter has someone's face and body burnt to crisp. A child is also abused by family members. No one disputes it's a story for kids though. Psychological studies have shown it's all about how violence is portrayed. You wouldn't take a kid to a Quentin Tarantino or John Woo film because these are the definition of stylised violence. Star Wars never had that except tipping that way with Anakin now Darth Vader being burnt intensely. That's the reason it was given a PG-13 instead of the usual PG. A PG-13 Star Wars? That was so unusual at the time. This moment is important though as you have to see the consequences of his and your choices. Unless you think kids shouldn't see how their actions effect everything they do? Edit: I see from your other comment on this video you hate the Prequels. That explains it. Haha

[@creativecatproductions]

The proposition that George Lucas owns the trilogy, so he can do what he wants, really is outrageous. The shots he changed, the edits he made, do not represent the work of the original artists, actors, or its academy award winning editing team. Why aren’t THOSE creators allowed to retain the version of the movie they actually worked on, together, back in 77’? They just don’t matter because they weren’t the producer? George Lucas can criticize old Hollywood all he wants, but he is 100% every bit as bad as, if not worse, than those suits that cut a few minutes from American Graffiti.

[@zoetropeguardian]

Anyone working on a film signs on knowing they're bringing forward the director's vision. In the case of Star Wars they knew they were bringing George's vision to life. Many of the crew that worked on the Original Trilogy also worked on the Special Editions. Ultimately, it's very different as what Hollywood does is take the director out of the picture and have decisions made by suits and marketing teams. The audience of one (director) is far more meaningful as it's someone's vision coming to life without being tested first to see if it will work for an audience. It's the difference between a safe and predictable product. You can't make meaningful art without taking risk. I highly recommend checking out Rick Worley's essay on here about the Special Editions. I'm not sure if it will change your mind but it will give you a more in-depth look at these things and how it goes beyond Star Wars for pieces of art that changed.

[@creativecatproductions]

@@zoetropeguardian but did they literally do this? They helped rewrite his “vision” every step of the way. Have you read the original script? Its incredibly different. Star Wars was made on the fly by the talented team of performers and craftsmen, because the vision kept falling apart. And the, ultimately, it was carefully edited and re-edited as a masterful group effort. George Lucas deserves the credit as the director, but he most certainly didn’t MAKE Star Wars.

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@creativecatproductions Some of the changes were their ideas actually and ones nobody was happy with during the initial release(s). Everything just went through George's final filter. Not beat for beat but a fair amount in Jonathan Rinzler's Making Of book(s). It's fascinating to see how his vision evolved. It's the same with any filmmaker. Almost no film is exactly like the script as you have to find what works when you're filming. George is also a filmmaker that likes creating his films in the editing room as he shoots around things like he is painting instead straight through like a Steven Spielberg who shoots beat for beat usually. George sees things in a mosaic and fine tunes until he's happy with it. He created all of his films like that. He doesn't make films in the traditional way most are used to. So what you're seeing is George's creative process.

[@jimmies]

I think the interviewer could have asked better questions...

[@MohamedAmineAgbet]

Hello, how can I contact the owner of the page?

[@FalconNest]

The fact that, after all these years, George doesn't seem to understand why Jar Jar does not work in the Phantom Menace (because his role and contribution to an already weak and needlessly convoluted plot feels contrived and unnecessary) is baffling.

[@zoetropeguardian]

I don't see kids, who Jar Jar was intended for, complaining. Only adults. George is right. 😊 Besides Jar Jar solves the central issue in the film as he brings the Naboo and Gungans together as they don't like each other much at the start. This is set up pretty early on when the Jedi meet with Boss Nass. The plot is so easy to understand. I'm often surprised by adults especially who claim it's difficult to comprehend. What's so difficult about it?

[@FalconNest]

The plot may be easy to understand but it still makes little sense. I watched this as a kid (10 y-o) and I found Jar Jar silly and goofy (goofier than the Ewoks, for sure). As I said, the problem was the overall plot and, later on, the tonal shifts between goofy and serious. I still remember the theatre being quiet and many grown-ups looking baffled at the end. Certain things make it difficult to suspend one's disbelief, whether you're a child or adult, unless one's brain is dozing all day long or is seriously damaged. I don't see how this is difficult to grasp. George has a right to defend his creative choices, as he can choose to forget the creative debt he owes his ex-wife, Marcia, without whom the first two films and Raiders would have been much poorer. But that doesn't change the fact that many people dislike the Phantom Menace.

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@FalconNest It can sometimes take time for audiences to catch up with films or art. There's a lot of great films like the Prequels that were met with mixed reception that are now critically acclaimed. The Godfather and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me are two of them. If you want a third one you could argue The Empire Strikes Back. I never have a problem with the tone shift of The Phantom Menace or any of the Star Wars films as they're movies for kids that adults can watch too. Kids are going for the lightsaber fights more often than not but are absorbing the story. Even as a kid I understood the general story of what is happening and that speaks to George's genius of telling things like a silent film in part. Just because an audience doesn't subjectively connect with something right away doesn't mean the objective qualities are lost. The idea that Marcia Lucas has been overwritten or saved the films is factually incorrect. She herself debunks the narrative in Howard Kazanjian's book. She was only on the first film from August 1976 to Thanksgiving 1976. Her biggest contribution was helping with the ending but she didn't even finish. Paul Hirsch was the only editor on the film from January of 1977 until they wrapped. Meanwhile George was in the editing room the entire time and had final approval. The same thing with the subsequent two films in the trilogy. Both Irvin Kershner and Richard Marquard were hired like television directors. There's scenes Kersh wasn't even on set for and George did the visual effects work so he could focus on the actors. He also cut together the snow battle. He also wrote most of it before Lawrence Kasdan even came into the picture. With Raiders the great majority of the ideas came from him but needed to find a story. He also did editing. He fixed the ark opening scene. Marcia's biggest contribution to the film was showing they loss sight of where Marion went. Like all films though it's a collaborative effort but both Star Wars and Indiana Jones are George's. Indiana Jones is more a collaborative venture with Steven Spielberg but still his creation. Marcia and others didn't save them. George has always been one to create his films in the editing room as he shoots around the movie and assembles the movie in the edit. He sees things like a mosaic and fine tunes until he has a story worth telling.

[@FalconNest]

This is your opinion are you're entitled to it, but stating it as it were a fact is presumptuous to say the least. Marcia's contribution cannot be understated and reading J. W. Rinzler's books on the production of the original trilogy sheds much insight in that regard. Equally important was the contribution of Gary Kurtz and all those who challenged George intellectually. You see what the absence of Marcia's and Kurtz's input impacted the creation of the plot of Jedi (J. W. Rinzler's book on this is very informative). The end of a movie, like the ending of any narrative or play, is crucial: forgetting to have the scene between Jones and Marion at the end of Raiders would have raised an eyebrow to say the least. George tried to shove his ideas about the Whills in the plot of Indy 4 and have aliens in it. Spielberg wasn't keen on the idea and didn't make an effort to disguise this in the documentary released with the DVD and Bluray. Hal Barwood, a friend of and collaborator with Lucas at the start, who then worked at LucasArts for many years producing the most beloved of all Indiana Jones games, Fate of Atlantis, has spoken very frankly about Indy 4. But let's stay on topic. I feel that comparing the Phantom Menace, a film made for (very small?) children as you say, to the Godfather or Fire Walk With Me is inappropriate. It's like comparing modern art to Renaissance art, given how different the genres are. These two films are definitely not aiming at such an audience. Besides, the Godfather was indeed a critical and a commercial success when it came out in 1972. Perhaps comparing the Phantom Menace to the Matrix, a sci-fi that came out the same year and was a critical and commercial success, is more appropriate. I loved the Matrix as a kid and I still do, very much like people loved Star Wars (1977) or Empire as children and still do. Lucas, when asked to comment on the strong criticism towards the Phantom Menace from the fanbase and audience, repeated the same point about the film being made for children and famously said: "I'm sorry if they don't like it. They should go back and see 'The Matrix' or something" (Empire Magazine, issue no. 123, Sept. 1999). So that the comparison between the Phantom Menace and the Matrix is more apt is warranted by George's words. And why was the Matrix critically successful and the Phantom Menace not so much? I don't blame Jar Jar entirely, annoying as he was, but the story. Why does a film made for children contain long parts which are about galactic politics (Valorum and Palpatine, which I still don't understand in the economy of that film)? And why is the plot so bizarre in the Phantom Menace from the point where the Jedi land on Naboo onward? Where were the producers and the collaborators who should have been the voice of reason and provided constructive criticism? Not all criticism is bad, if you are able to learn from it.

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@FalconNest I'm in no way denying their contributions but the films always went through George's filter and final say. He was the one leading the way and making the final decision to how things were to come out. Especially with the VFX and editing. Arguably two of the four most important ingredients to Star Wars. I'm also stating facts based on Paul Hirsch's book and the same Making Of books you are by Jonathan Rinzler. Let's also not forget Gary Kurtz was fired for very valid reasons on Empire. George also had to save his bacon on Return to Oz. He forced that film to go overbudget as well. I don't really have any problems with Return of the Jedi. I think it objectively met its goals. Maybe you have problems with these films but things you're stating for reasons are subjective. Just like your criticisms of The Phantom Menace. They're subjective. I do agree Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is flawed in certain ways but it goes back to 50's B Sci-Fi and can still be a lot of fun. It's actually my second favourite in the series after Temple of Doom. That's my subjective feelings though and doesn't necessarily reflect the objective qualities with the Indy films. By the way, the Whills were never an idea he wanted to explore in Indy 4. Spielberg may have not necessarily liked the idea of aliens but that's how the Indy films always worked as it was always about compromise to something they could both agree upon. Just remember not everyone is going to like the same things. This doesn't mean they're objectively bad. It just means you don't connect with something. 1. Jar Jar is meant to be annoying. That's the whole point. He's the annoying sidekick like C-3PO but in the Buster Keaton sense. 2. I've never actually seen a kid complain about the politics and how they work. They gloss over them just like they do when the Original Trilogy has discussions about the Imperial Senate being dissolved, Leia being on a diplomatic mission when we meet her, Lando having union and supply problems, and etc.. The Prequels are naturally more political as we are seeing how the Empire in the second trilogy came to exist. The scene with Palpatine, Valorum, Padmé, and the senate lasts a few minutes. Just like the scene discussing the Imperial Senate in A New Hope. It's a non-issue. It makes perfect sense. The scene is very self explanatory as it's showing how ineffective the senate is at handling pity arguments that leads to Valorum being given the vote of no confidence. Palpatine carefully planted in Padmé during their meeting that the senate has no interest in the common good. Padmé mentions the courts taking longer to decide despite how she knows her people need her. Then with careful manipulation in the actual senate scene Palpatine gets the Trade Federation representative to ask for a commission be sent to Naboo to investigate if the planet has indeed been invaded. One thing leads to another with Palpatine in her ear, Padmé proposes the vote of no confidence as she is dismayed by the lack of diplomacy as she wants her planet safe. She is indeed "young and naive" and "you will find controlling her not to be difficult" as Palpatine says earlier in the film. 3. What's bizarre about it? They get stuck on Tatooine and need Anakin's help to earn the credits to pay for a hyperdrive generator to get to the capital of the Republic. Once there they don't get the help they need and head back to Naboo. Jar Jar leads Padmé to the Gungans so they together can stop the Trade Federation. At the same time there's a possible dark warrior who might be a Sith. The Jedi handle him. One of the Jedi die and the other inexperienced one promises to take the responsibility his dying master placed on him. It ends with Palpatine in power and getting exactly what he wanted while on the surface it is a child's adventure movie where it seems the good guys won. It's very purposely done to show gradually how engulfed the galaxy becomes. 4. They all challenged George. Jonathan Rinzler debunked this narrative multiple times before he passed away. I also don't see Star Wars as sci-fi. It's a space opera as George has often stated. He also said at the time he liked The Matrix but that's not the film he was making as his target audience is different. Regardless of the examples I gave you'll always find films people subjectively don't like but this doesn't mean they're bad films.

[@enriquesinghjr]

I love that he has been a billionaire for most of his life and looks like he buys his clothes at the Walmart lol.

[@EagleLeader1]

Lol I like to see George just doesn't care anymore, he's like I'm rich & successful enough I don't need to wear dress pants.

[@AnitaAran]

sound is terrible, i don’t understand a thing. What a pitty

[@zoetropeguardian]

It helps having headphones and does get better as it goes along.

[@creativecatproductions]

George Lucas fixes movies as if he’s never seen one.

[@hankstorm3135]

sequels are not canon confirmed:

[@stepfalcon]

How?

[@hankstorm3135]

@@stepfalcon he said something along the lines that, i paraphrase ''they took the story to another place than he intended''

[@stepfalcon]

@@hankstorm3135 ok and? He sold it

[@alexsuno1387]

​@@stepfalcon He is the creator

[@stepfalcon]

@@alexsuno1387 again, he sold it. He doesn't decide what is canon anymore.

[@BlackAdder1970]

George looking boss.. dude is a billionaire. He can dress how he wants

[@themichaelhartwell]

I love George but he doesn't have to put Luke and Han down to appease critics by saying Leia is the hero. 01:09:52 Stormtroopers were enemy combatants, sure, but they were still human. I get it, it's war made palatable for a family audience, but still war and I don't think there is a need to deny that if you're fighting evil you kill your enemies in war.

[@aldunlop4622]

@@zoetropeguardian There are ensemble movies with several main characters. Yes, the story of a New Hope is about Leia's mission to destroy the Death Star, but the bigger story is about redeeming Vader and destroying the Empire so the story goes in a different direction and becomes Luke's journey as well.

[@aldunlop4622]

@@zoetropeguardian No problem.

[@zoetropeguardian]

He's been saying this for years. Leia is the hero. A New Hope is her story and her mission to bring Obi-Wan back with her to help the Rebellion. This failed and Luke only tags along in the first film despite being the one who goes on the hero's journey. He also planned for her to become the Supreme Chancellor by Episode IX in his Sequels. He said this would've brought Balance of the Force. Likewise the story was about her two children. So Leia very much is the key player in the long run of Star Wars even though we sadly didn't see it due to Disney's failures. Ironically they treated her worse by putting her in a coma but they say they're so progressive. And also worth noting, just how A New Hope is Leia's story The Phantom Menace is Padmé's. Padmé is on a mission to get the senate to help her resolve the Trade Federation's control over Naboo. This also doesn't go as planned as the group end up meeting up with Anakin. The story of Star Wars wouldn't work without the women characters!

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@aldunlop4622 First reposted. Thank you.

[@aldunlop4622]

@@zoetropeguardian Actually I've had time to think about this while I was making my dinner, and I completely disagree. Leia is NOT the hero. She is a plot convenience to make the story happen. You're confusing plot with theme. Some movies are about plot. A leads to B leads to C. job done. Star Wars is about theme. It's about Luke becoming a man, it's a coming-of-age story, about a bored, unfulfilled boy on a farm at the ass end of nowhere who wants to get out, see the world, go on adventures. And adventure comes knocking. His family is killed and he discovers his father was killed by an evil man and decides to leave and help a princess in trouble. He later learns he has powers. From a film theory point of view, Leia is a plot device to drive the hero to go on his quest. If it was a computer game, she would be an NPC giving the main character a quest. The quest is to destroy the Death Star, but the underlying meaning of the movie is learn first realising that he is Force sensitive, and that he trusts and believes in it, and gives himself over to it. Luke experiences character growth throughout the movie, Leia does not, she's just a big deal in the Rebellion. Han is mostly a side character but he does learn to start being one of the good guys instead of just a cynical smuggler.

[@azv343]

So much contempt for his fans

[@amazinghorizon8270]

How so? Where does he show any negative emotion to his fans?

[@ludovicoc7046]

He should have quit Star Wars after Return of the Jedi and instead funded low budget indie films by aspiring filmmakers.

[@zoetropeguardian]

That wasn't going to happen as he lost much of his wealth in his divorce from his first wife. He focused this time on developing technologies like EditDroid and what became Pixar. He also made films with friends such as Indiana Jones, Tucker, Labyrinth, Kagemusha, and Willow during this time. In the early 90's he also had a revolutionary TV show that is overlooked in how it changed television and Radioland Murders. He returned to Star Wars after that!

[@matthewgaudet4064]

@@zoetropeguardian , I loved the Young Indy series as a kid. Why does everyone hate George?

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@matthewgaudet4064 It's such a great series. It changed my life just like Star Wars. I wish I knew. I think a big part of it is some refuse to understand why with him but instead focus on what they think his art should be or what he should do. They expect things instead of taking things for what they are. It's impossible to meet that type of expectation. George is a truly genuine and great man. I will always love and respect him. He's my hero for life.

[@matthewgaudet4064]

@@zoetropeguardian , what do you think of Icons Unearthed and yes men, or saying he was racist. And all the myth about Star Wars being saved in the edit by his then wife. I know it's not true because George was uncredited as editor on all 3 of the originals and you can see him sitting at an edit bay or table even on Empire which they claim he had nothing to do with.

[@zoetropeguardian]

@@matthewgaudet4064 I think Icons Unearthed, like The People versus George Lucas, is made by people who pick and choose words and run with it as though it's objective fact. They don't give full context to anything but instead focus on what they want him to say. Vice who made Icons Unearthed is owned in part by Disney. While the other is made by people who hate the SEs and Prequels without any objective reasons as to why. Take that how you will. He didn't hire "yes men". Jonathan Rinzler debunked this narrative before he passed away. If he were racist, do you really think he'd be hiring Black, Indian, Asian, and countless other ethnic groups in his films and giving them roles that let them shine? Do you think he'd have two episodes of Young Indy calling out racism? Do you think he'd fund an all black film himself? And lastly, do you think his wife Mellody Hobson, known in part for her speech about not being colour blind, would marry him? People need to get real. She didn't "save" it. She was away making other films when he was writing and likewise she was only on the edit of A New Hope from August 1976 to Thanksgiving 1976. George meanwhile was in the editing room the entire time and guided the ship in all phases. I mean he even designed the X-Wing and TIE Fighter. She didn't even like the film when George showed it to his friends. So to act like she "saved it" is just straight up lying. He was indeed. He also wrote most of Empire himself before Lawrence Kasdan even came into the picture. Lines such as "luminous being are we, not this crude matter", "No, I am your father", and "I am not a committee" are all George. Kasdan also hated Han and Leia's relationship. That was all George. He also did the VFX so Irvin Kershner could focus on the directing the film under George's guidelines on how it was to be shot. It's very much the same with Jedi and Richard Marquard. It's really sad to me. The truth is out there but people can't be bothered to look. It's very easy to find the answers but they don't want to for reasons I still don't quite understand.

[@mistaando9741]

The prequels still suck but i love the guy

[@kikecolunge2704]

"THE NEW FILMS (SEQUELS) HAVE A LOT OF TALENT, GREAT IDEAS AND PRODUCTION. I FEEL LIKE THEY COME FROM MY CHILDREN." - George Lucas on Cannes 2024

[@jaredponton3283]

Timestamp?

[@zoetropeguardian]

He's describing the films he made as his children. You forgot the second part of the quote.

[@Black_Swan_Rider]

They are kids movies....just ignore the burnt out corpses of Luke's surrogate parents, limbs chopped off, torture, a planet blown up millions dead!

[@beavisdoge237]

Cover their eyes

[@samwoodson9603]

They are kids movies. If you’re an adult trying to convince yourself they’re not kids movies you need to grow up. Grown up movies didn’t have their own dedicated aisle at Toys R Us. It’s okay to like kids movies as an adult. Kids movies have artistic merit too.

[@NatsumiTakanawa]

I've liked SW my whole life, including before the prequels (dad was a big nerd). Episode 5, the darkest movie of the franchise, has always been my favorite. And ever since 1999, the phantom menace is my favorite prequel. I like both the gritty and lighthearted side of Star Wars. The reality is, SW was always meant to be palatable for family audiences. Lucas always wanted it to be adventurous, with light hearted eliments to it.

[@danielesalvi4389]

Well, kids movies can be scary and intense too!

[@mickeyburnsmusic]

Yeah because children’s stories and fairytales never had any subject matter like that! Ummm Hansel and Gretel is a story about CANNIBALISM

[@JP-xw2kf]

Star wars was saved in the edit

[@samwoodson9603]

This has been debunked. Watch “How ‘How Star Wars was Saved in the Edit’ was Saved in the Edit.”

[@Nitrobotti]

Debunked! You tried 😂

[@paulatreides1354]

like all movies ?

[@mcmarshakk311]

good thing George Lucas was there to direct his editors!

[@Kevon420]

True, so was American Graffiti. Still two great films.

[@managers6667]

cancel him

[@Alex-rl4ll]

Why?

[@goaway9977]

​@@Alex-rl4ll Why not?

[@MrInsaneA]

Yeah sure, cancel one of the greatest artists who ever lived and one of the most humanist, good people who have ever lived. Great thinking!

[@Alex-rl4ll]

@@goaway9977 weird

[@TheAngeyMovieCritic]

He got canceled for every Star Wars he made since Jedi