Amazon
1999


Writer/director George Lucas unveils a new Star Wars film


Writer/director George Lucas was having trouble making it as an
avant-garde filmmaker in the early 1970s, when his friends (including
Steven Spielberg and Francis Coppola) convinced him to try his hand at
something more commercial. So he wrote Star Wars--but put it on the shelf
because he wanted to direct American Graffiti first. Twenty-two years
after the release of Star Wars and 16 years after its final sequel, Return
of the Jedi, Lucas plunged back into filmmaking, writing and directing
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In an interview with Amazon.co.uk
contributor Marshall Fine, Lucas talks about why it took him so long
between directing stints.


Amazon.co.uk: Why did it take so long for you to make this prequel to Star
Wars?

George Lucas: I was very frustrated with the first series of films. I had
imagined creating these worlds that were technically impossible to get on
film. The environment was extremely limited. It wasn't until Industrial
Light and Magic was able to create that tyrannosaurus in Jurassic Park
that I thought we had the technology to do what I envisioned. This time I
was able to sit down and let my imagination run wild.

Amazon.co.uk: Did you miss directing?

Lucas: I've made a lot of movies in the last 20 years, just not as a
director. Life gives you many opportunities and sometimes you just take
them. For me, that meant being an executive producer on a lot of projects.
It's a lot of fun in a different way from directing. I do enjoy shooting
as much as directing, so I shot a lot of second-unit things for Indiana
Jones Chronicles.

Amazon.co.uk: Why come back to Star Wars now?

Lucas: One reason was to finish the story. I like working in that Star
Wars world. And part of it was the chance to make the movie in the way
that I had created it in my mind, particularly the alien creatures.
Amazon.co.uk: How do you feel about all the hype surrounding the film?
Lucas: In a situation like this, the film can't possibly live up to
expectations. Some fans have expectations the film can't possibly meet. I
never stopped to consider that when I was making it. I was just making
another movie.

Amazon.co.uk: What about complaints about all the merchandising?
Lucas: The movie and the merchandising are two different things. But I'm
an independent filmmaker in San Francisco. So I had to make sure to
exploit everything we possibly can. I'm a very small company in relation
to the studios. And merchandising has grown into a big opportunity that
helped us finance our movies. Plus I enjoy toys. Letting kids have
toys--even Star Wars toys--and using their imaginations is a good thing.
Amazon.co.uk: What's next?

Lucas: Well, I guess I'm back as a director, because I'm going to direct
parts II and III. The whole trilogy is a nine-year commitment, but I do
want to do them. Star Wars is like this tar baby that I stuck my fist in
23 years ago. I'm a little surprised at how big it got and how it's
dominated my life. But I don't regret it. It's been interesting and
rewarding. Star Wars Feature