Biography
American director, writer, producer and film genius. He is the creator
of the epic "Star Wars" first released in 1977, and its two sequels, "The
Empire Strikes Back" in 1980 and "The Return of the Jedi" in 1983. The
space fantasy had brewed in his mind ever since he first became interested
in film and finally reached the screen as a movie phenomenon of
unprecedented magnitude. Shot in Tunisia and Death Valley and on 11 sound
stages in England, it had a relatively modest budget but some of the most
imaginative and complex special effects the screen had ever seen. The
response was incredible, to the tune of some $200 million in sales. The
first film alone copped 11 Academy Award nominations and seven Oscars in
1977.
The son of an office equipment retailer, Lucas was a racing-car enthusiast as a kid until, at the age of 17,
he was involved in a car accident that resulted in broken bones and crushed lungs. He attended Modesto Junior
College for two years and then enrolled at the Cinema School of USC where he made several prize-winning
films. A scholarship took him to the set of Francis Ford Coppola's "Finian's Rainbow" in 1968. He became a
protégé of Coppola and worked on the production of "The Rain People" the following year. He directed his
first film in 1970, the sci-fi "THX 1138" released March 11, 1971, the year in which he incorporated LucasFilm
Ltd. His "American Graffiti," 1973, was nominated for five Oscars and was one of the most profitable films in
history, remaining a cult favorite.
Lucas offers few details about his private life. He met Marcia Griffin
when he was at USC film school. They married in 1969 and both worked on
the first Star Wars film. The film garnered Academy Award nominations for
him for Best Directing and Best Writing while Marcia took home the Oscar
statuette for Best Editing. Their marriage ended in 1983 when she left
him. In the mid-‘80s, the reclusive filmmaker completed the building of his own walled kingdom in Lucas Valley, CA,
the 3,000 acre Skywalker Ranch. His personal quarters are a short drive from the ranch where as a single dad he is
raising his three adopted kids. His oldest daughter Amanda, born in 1981, was adopted when George was still
married. His daughter Katie was born in 1988 and his son Jett was born in 1993. Several years after his divorce,
Lucas dated Linda Ronstadt, but the relationship did not last. He seldom goes to Hollywood parties, does not enjoy
the glamour-life and is not a "joiner." One friend remarked, "George was a nerd before there were nerds."
He was the executive producer of the Spielberg adventure blockbusters "Raiders of the Lost Ark," 1981, and the
two following Indiana Jones sequels in 1984 and 1989. Directing was never his favorite activity and he did not direct
a film after making Star Wars in 1977 until its long awaited sequel in 1999. The most incredible special effects,
as seen in "Terminator 2," "Jurassic Park" and "Twister," came from computer-generated images created by Lucas'
Industrial Light & Magic effects firm. The sound environment of film has been dramatically altered by his THX Sound
System subsequently used in movie theaters worldwide. Many of the industry's most popular video games have been
created by LucasArts Entertainment, formed in 1982. In 2005 Forbes magazine estimated his net worth to be roughly
$3 billion, and he has a long list of honors and awards to his name including the prestigious Irving Thalberg Award
in 1992. He serves as Chair for George Lucas Educational Foundation which he established in 1991 to document and share
innovative educational practices.
On May 19, 1999, the long awaited Star Wars saga continued with the release of "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom
Menace." It was the first in a series of "prequels." "Episode II: The Attack of the Clones" followed in 2002. On May
19, 2005, his latest, "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is being released in US theatres. Billed as the darkest and
last of the series, the film is expected to be another blockbuster.
Top
Quotes:
- "Everybody has talent, it's just a matter of moving around until you've discovered what it is. A talent is a combination
of something you love a great deal, something you can lose yourself in -- something that you can start at 9 in the morning,
look up from your work and it's 10 o'clock at night -- and something that you have a natural ability to do very well. And
usually those two things go together."
- "Any society begins by realizing that together, by helping each other, you can survive better than if you fight each other
and compete with each other."
- "If America is the pursuit of happiness, the best way to pursue happiness is to help other people. Because there's nothing
else that will make you happier. You can be as rich, and famous, and powerful as you want to be, and it will not bring you happiness."
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What Do You Think?
With the release of his latest episode of the Star Wars saga, Lucas is once again in the news touted for his vision,
his ability to tell a great story of mythological proportion, and the way he has captured the hearts and minds of many
generations. His chart is an interesting study, and perhaps you will see some of his characters in it!
- This man is a creative genius, a visionary, whose ability to dream up mythic stories is executed with technical wizardry. Where
in the chart do you find the planetary placements that might indicate his particular brand of brilliance?
- He is a man who reveals little of himself and who doesn't live or socialize in stereotypical Hollywood style. Where in the chart
do you find the signature of a man who refuses to be in the public eye no matter how successful he is? Where is the man who remains
a devoted single father, sheltering his children from media scrutiny?
- Lucas didn't pursue his career with any particular financial advantage or any particular support from his family or friends. He
talks of how others discouraged him from pursuing a career in film because it wasn't practical. Despite such advice, he followed his
heart and he has made millions doing what he loves to do. Where in the birth chart might you find the promise of generating such a
substantial fortune from his craft?
- If you are a Star Wars fan, what planetary placements do you associate with what characters?
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