More than a movie. How George Lucas came up with "Star Wars

Culture

Over the past 40 years, 9 films have been filmed and a huge number of different TV shows, cartoons and new stories of this famous filmmaker have been created. It is difficult to find a person who would never hear about"Star Wars."

In this article, you immerse yourself in fantastic universe amazing characters and unique worlds of the iconic franchise.

1. Luke Skywalker - Hero with thousands of persons

Despite the fact that George Lucas inspired fantastic fairy tales and Westerns, he founded the universe "Star Wars" around the theories of Joseph Campbell's book "Hero with thousands of persons."

Mythological motives are traced in the book and it is argued that the myths from all over the world, such as Beowulf or King Arthur, have the same structure.

According to Campbell, the hero of the book leaves from the usual everyday world in the world. Wonderful and supernatural: there are fabulous forces and heroes; It returns from this mysterious adventure capable of giving a blessing to neighbor. Lucas built a film model on the ideas of this story, and Luke became her main character.

2. The name of Darth Vader - not so difficult

"This is one of the things that have arisen quickly and, can be said from scratch. Once this idea just appeared in my head," said Lucas.

Later, in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he said: "Dart "In some sense means" dark ", and Wader "-" Father ", so, if you combine both words," Father of Darkness "". It is worth noting that the word "Vader" in the Netherlands really translates as "Father". It could serve as a significant spoiler for Spectators.

3. Easy - key success

The initial screen saver of the film was made with minimal addition effects.
Even the one who is not a fan, remembers the most famous screensaver, which met us in all the films of the franchise.

The exception is the movie "ONE". Unfortunately, there the creators decided to do without her.

Few people know, but the screensaver was created manually: on a black sheet of paper placed yellow letters. The camera flew over them, imitating a kind of movement. In total, it took about three hours to perform this work.

4. " Let the force be with you "

This most famous phrase is found in every film of the Universe "Star Wars "And not only fans franchises are known.. I would like to note that the only time in the movie "Izha-One" Hero Cassian Andor did not give a droid K-2SO to finish it.

5. The origin of the word "Jedi"

Jedi in kinovylennaya - the knight of the light side, serving power. The word "Jedi" comes from the Japanese "Jidai Geki", which is translated as "Historical film, drama."Lucas was fascinated by samurai films and their culture and decided to borrow this word for the name of the knights in his films.

6. Skywalker ... or Starkiller

Initially, Skywalker Luke was named after Starkiller. This name was approved and kept behind the hero until the very beginning of the filming. Fortunately for the creators, the name was never mentioned, so afterwards it changed a little to the one who is now known to fans franchise.

Sword Luca Skywoker

7. Why green

Luminous Sword Luke in "Star Wars: Episode VI - the return of Jedi" was originally blue, but during the shooting there was one problem.

When they shot the scene in the desert, Lyuka's light sword merged with the blue sky and it was not visible. Then George Lucas decided to change the color of the sword with blue on green.

8. Return? But for what?

In one of the versions of the script "Starls: Episode VI - the return of Jedi", Obi-Van Cenobi and iodine were going to leave the power and again return to their physical bodies to help hatch in confrontation with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatin.

9. Unforeseen circumstances

Before starting shooting in "Star Wars: Episode V - Empire Decompices "Artist's leading rolerK Hamill got into a major accident And got a serious face injury. The scene in which Luke Skywalker was caught vamp on the planethot Hot was added to explain the appearance of scars on his face.

10. Be careful to be

During the shooting of the scene in the press for garbage, Mark Hamill detained the breath for so long that the blood vessel burst on his face. In order for the stain that appeared in this place was not noticeable, the creators of the film had to use visual effects.

11. Unusually, practical and durable

Many of the buildings built to shoot scenes on the Tatuene planet are in Tunisia. Some of them are still used by local residents.

The most famous droid

12. How did the famous DROID

George Lucas came up with the name of the R2-D2 droid during the filming of the film "American Graffiti". One of the members of the sound team asked him to play a second track coil again with dialogs, which sounded like "R2-D2 me, please."

This year, the legendary "star wars" created by George Lucas was 40 years old! Since the release of the first film in 1977, the franchise became the most profitable and sign in the history of cinema. Today we will look back down the first film from Saga - episode 4, "New Hope" - what secrets are hiding behind the scene of the first "Star Wars"?

15. Film studios did not want to finance the film

Director George Lucasa was difficult to get financing for "star wars", most studios did not perceive him seriously. Behind the shoulders of Lucas then there were a failed "Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138", and successful "American graffiti".

Disney, who later acquired Lucas Film Company Lucasfilm and the right to Star Wars for $ 4 billion, refused, explaining this by the fact that no one would look like. Then, Lucas signed a contract with the Twentieth century Fox. Who knew that he would bring him a fortune!

14. Alec Ginnes refused to take off in the "Star Wars"

Sir Alec Ginnes is one of the most famous and successful actors who appeared in Saga. Although the role of Obi-Vana Kenobi brought him a huge state, Guinness disliked everything related to "star wars". The actor agreed to the role only after the persistent persuasion of Lucas. Despite all the difficulties, it did not affect his brilliant game - Ginnes was incentive in Saga!

13. Other side of midnight (1977)

"The Twentieth Century Fox" so afraid to lose money on the "Star Wars", which actively offered a film to all cinemas. Many refused, and then "Fox" went to tricks: the studio stated that if the cinemas would refuse "Star Wars", they will not sell the expected film "Other side of midnight" on the bestseller Sidney Sheldon. Results: "Other side of midnight" gathered $ 24 million, not bad, but the "Star Wars" collected $ 237 million.

12. George Lucas have hands down

It seemed that all the negative and uncertainty about the success of the film at one moment were switched to Lucas. He did not even attend the premiere of the film. Instead, he went on a trip with his unsuitable friend Stephen Spielberg, who, by the way, sincerely believed in the success of the "Star Wars".

Lucas even refused the standard directorial fee and agreed $ 175 thousand plus 40% of the profits - and this decision later brought him millions. In addition, the first toys and souvenir products of "Star Wars" were excavated in record time.

11. Dragons Tatina

It is known that the scenes on Tatooin were removed in Tunisia, where there is a place called Tatakuin (Lucasy liked how the name sounds). On the first day of filming, the team collided with difficulties: there was a terrible shower that destroyed several scenery. In the photo - the scene, where the C3PO robot goes past the skeleton of the Chief Dragon. After the end of the shooting in Tunisia, this skeleton was left in the sands.

10. Political problems with Libya

During the filming of "Star Wars", then the Government of Libya led by Muamar Gaddafi threatened Tunisia by a military offensive if his power would not be removed from the border a suspicious "military machine". That is the most "military car", sandy crawler. Lucasa had to obey!

9. Frames of World War II

As you know, to create special effects of "Star Wars" Lukas used frames of the Second World War, collected by him from various film. The influence of war can be seen in the entire franchise: in weapons, fighters, battles, including the final scene of the first film with the destruction of the star of death.

8. Have you noticed? Attacks - Levshi

Blusters ordered for attack aircraft were developed on the basis of the Sterling L2A3 machine gun - a nine-millionth machine gun-machine of the Second World War I used by British troops. Because of the features of the design (with a shot of the right hand, they were distinguished by a strong return to the chest) to keep the blaster could only be left hand. In order to save attack aircraft made left-handers.

7. Luke Skywalker could be .. Woman!

Luke Skywalker has undergone many changes before the approval of the role. At first, the hatch could become Starkiller, then 60-year-old general, gnome and even a woman. George Lucas was worried that there are no women starring, but everything changed after he found the princess leu.

6. How did Chuubak appear?

Above the creation of the image of the Chubakki worked with the Majaart Freiborn, who also worked the image of iodine, and George Lucas himself. At first, I thought that the Chubakka would look like a monkey. As a result, the character's image was modeled in the image and likeness of the Lucas dog named Indiana. The role of Chubakki performed Peter Maikhu, whose height is 222 cm!

5. R2-D2 - Lucas just liked how it sounds

The name of the famous R2-D2 DROID emerged by chance. Working on the scenario of "Star Wars", Lucas heard a combination of "Reel 2, Dialog Track 2", abbreviated "R-2-D-2": he liked the sound and he decided to call the droid just like that.

Someone will surprise the fact that there was a man inside R2-D2! Yes, he played the real actor - Kenny Baker. The growth of Baker was 112 centimeters, which allowed him to be easily fit into R2-D2.

4. Hostile Vader - David Podz

In the original trilogy of "Star Wars", the physical embodiment of Darth Vader played David Paz. However, later due to the strong Bristol accent (he was jokingly called the "farmers") of the face, the actor James Earl Jones said in the voice of Darth Vader.

The PRES was furious, and called the replacement of the act of "reverse racism" (James Earl Jones - Dark-skinned). In addition, there were several unpleasant moments on the shooting area.

3. Mystery of metal playing bones

In the cabin booth "Millennial Falcon" can notice playing bones hanging under the ceiling. In fact, the director Roger Christian was placed there, and the bones - a kind of reference to the film "American Graffiti", where George Lucas and Harrison Ford began working together.

2. Secrets of the scene in the garbage compartment

During the scene in the garbage compartment at the death star Actor Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) so long detained the breath fighting with Dianoga, when she dived under the water, that he burst into the blood vessel. Next: The garbage seal number (3263827), which Khan dictates a hatch, in fact - the phone number Mark Hamilla!

1. Jedi

Where did the Jedi come from? Not surprisingly, Lucasa accidentally attracted this word. "Jedi" comes from the Japanese "Jidai Geki", which is translated as "historical drama": so in Japan, television series about samurai. Lucas somehow heard this word on TV, and decided to use it in the film.

One of the most famous and large-scale projects of "all times and peoples" - the fantastic Saga "Star Wars" - began to be created by the American director George Lucas back in early 1970s. For the realization of his conceived from him, the tremendous efforts were required, which provided the triumph of the first picture, published on the screens in May 1977. Moreover, according to the testimony of those who participated in the creation of this KinoEopopeia, what happened during the work, it could well become a plot for a separate fascinating film. So, where and how to shoot "Star Wars"?

A few words about George Lucas

Before you start a story about how "Star Wars" were filmed, a little attention of the identity of the director should be given.

This is George Lucas today is one of the most wealthy representatives of his profession with capital of $ 5 million, and at the time when the idea of \u200b\u200bthe project came to mind, he was not 30 years old, and he had only two full-length films in his asset. In fairness I must say that he has already shot a movie in fiction genre, but it did not have deafening success. The plot of this picture, known as the "ThX 1138", is a story about the world of the future, where mankind, forced to live underground, rule computers. The film is definitely inferior on the entertainment of "Star Wars", but his heroes are still fighting for their right to remain people and take all decisions on their own.

"Star Wars: Awakening of Power", published in December 2015, became the loudest film of the year, having gathered more than 2 billion dollars. Now the audience is eagerly awaiting the next, eighth episode of Sagi, which will be released in December 2016. In anticipation of the new film, let's look at the filming of the film "Star Wars: Awakening Force" and learn how the bright episodes of the picture were shot.

The appearance of Kaylo Rena
Kylo Ren, he same Ben Solo - Son Khan Solo and Princesses Lei Organs, the main villain of the seventh part of the "Star Wars", who received Jedi's education, which pulled down on the dark side of power and, eventually killing his own father. He loves his grandfather Darth Vader and wants to be like him - probably, therefore, therefore, he is constantly walking in the mask. By the way, the creation of this mask has become for the details of a non-trivial task. They were instructed to make it such that children could easily remember. Experts coped with this task: a mask, silent silver, is definitely striking. In this scene, Kaylo Ren (Actor Adam Driver) arrives at the deserted Planet Jaffa to get a map with the coordinates of Luke Skywalker. As we see, shooting are held in the pavilion, and everything is tightened with green cloths. Dzhaff desert landscape will be added later on the computer.

Return R2D2.
In the "awakening force", a small one returned to us again, but the R2D2 smart robot, adored by all the fans of "star wars" without exception. Among millions of adorable, by the way, they are listed and Jay Jay Abrams, the screenwriter and director of the seventh part of the saga. He is so in love with R2D2 that, being directed by the film "Starterk" and "Starterk: Retribution", managed to shove the R2D2 in both paintings! True, the robot from the "Star Wars" appears in every just a few seconds. So an unusual way Abrams gave tribute from childhood to the favorite "Star Wars". Needless to say, Abrams found a place in advance for his favorite in the "Awakening of Power" scenario and, with pleasure, worked with a robot on the set.

Instructions for BB 8
Since Jay Jay Abrams decided to return in advance to the "awakening of power" the famous couple of R2D2 and C3PO robots, it was only logical to add to them another, more modern comrade, who could hit the imagination of the new generation, for which old robots - yesterday. And the new hero, BB 8, it succeeded! He has a charming design, at the same time traditional and modern, and it looks like a mini-pagoda for meditation. But that is completely wonderful, it is managed by the C3O from the remote control, so, unlike predecessors, it does not need artists to strain, taking it to themselves. On this occasion, they tell, the robot did not know at the site for a minute of peace: all that and then they chased him back and forth. In the photo, he is one of the rare moments of downtime.

Daisy Ridley, John Boyga and Oscar Isaac at Comic CON - 2015 Festival in San Diego
Comients Con in San Diego, the largest in the United States, a costume festival on the themes of cinema and comics is Mecca for fans of a wide variety of films, comics, cartoons and serials. In 2015, 167 thousand people took part in the four-day event - a record number in the history of the convention! One of the largest show of the festival was this year the presentation of the film "Star Wars: Awakening Force". She began with the meeting of Abrams and the team of actors with fans, and ended with thematic concert and fireworks. Fans were ramped, and young actors gladly posed with light swords in their hands on the joy of the public.

Khan Solo, Chubbak, Rei and Finn - on the "Millennium Falcon" during a break
The fans were joined when they again saw on the screens of unspecified Khan Solo and his faithful comrade Chubbaku - naturally, on the famous "Millennium Falcon". By the way, to return to the screen the famous Space ship of the smuggler solo was by no means an easy task: after all, it was to restore it in all the details so that the audience did not notice the difference. Designer Darren Gilford received at his disposal all the sketches and drawings of the former "falcon". Mark Harris also helped him, a veteran of film discs, who took part in the creation of the Khan Solo ship on the filming of the film "Star Wars: The Empire shall strike back." Even Harrison Ford, remembering that he had once worked as a carpenter, took part in the construction of the ship. And, you must admit, "Millennium Falcon" succeeded just perfect!

Return of Skywoker Luke
The return of Luke Skywalker, and even performed by the same Mark Hamilla, it became a complete surprise for the audience. Before the release of the film, he was kept in the strictest mystery, not including Skywalker in promotional materials. At the same time, the fans, of course, were found about the presence of a hatch and until the very end were guessing what it would be. Perhaps he will go to the dark side of power? Fortunately, this did not happen. But the fact that the hatch appears only at the end of the painting, besides, quite briefly, many disappointed. But then the screenwriters could not do anything: whenever they tried to make the presence of the hatch more weighty, he fonts under him the entire plot, and the creators were afraid that on his background, the audience would not notice new heroes of Sagi. As a result, Luke appeared only in one episode - but the more weed it was his appearance.

Andy Serkis in the role of Snown - use of the movement capture technology
Andy Serkis is not accustomed to impressive changes in appearance, complex makeup and computer effects: he beat many ugly creatures - from Hollum in the "Lord of the Rings" before the head of the monkey of the Caesar empire in the "planet of the monkeys". This time, a turn of the main villain came, a master of the fear of the first Orden of Snowka. He has a frightened physiognomy, but this time it was not necessary to spend a few hours in the Makeup Service. Cinematographers applied modern motion capture technology, which allows you to apply the desired image to a moving object. Light dots that are visible on Serkis's face, fix the smallest movement of muscles, and then the computer replaces his own face with a terrible mask, which moves the same as the actor's face.

Maz Rope - New Digital Character
Another new character, beyond recognition, modified on the computer, - the old smuggler of the MAZ of the rope, which mysteriously endowed with force. It is simply impossible to learn nipri-chenyku in it. At first, it was planned that the MAZ of the rope would be a puppet character, but then the director decided that the character should be more alive - and wipe after Andy Serkis had to wear a suit for shooting scenes on the capture technology and learn to use it.

Luke, Leia and Khan Solo are reunited in San Diego
For many years, the fans of Star Wars were waiting for this scene: Carry Fisher came to San Diego at the ComicCon festival, the performer of the role of Princess Lei in the first films of the trilogy, Mark Hamill, who fulfilled the Luke Skywalker, and the permanent Khan Solo, incomparable Harrison Ford! Heroes united in front of the fans after after a perennial break together came to the shooting area of \u200b\u200b"Awakening of Power". Mark and Kerry said that he was sincerely glad to return. "Now everything, as if, only still mentally," Kerry Fisher admitted. Following them, Harrison Ford appeared on the stage, hitting the fans of the statement: "I never thought that I would come back. But, after reading the script, I saw there really wonderful ideas, and I am glad that I participate in it." From the mouth of Ford, known for its many years of skeptical attitude to the "Star Wars", it was truly valuable recognition!

Returge Peter Maikhu
The names of Kerry Fisher, Mark Hamilla and Harrison Ford are known to all the fans of "Star Wars". But the name of Peter Mahyu is not at all for hearing, and even more so few people know this actor in the face. Meanwhile, he is the same veteran of Sagi, like Ford, and, moreover, his permanent partner. Peter Maikhu, an actor with an impressive height of 2 meters of 20 centimeters, played Chubbak in the first three films of the trilogy - and now returned to his character in the "awakening of power." True, now the actor is already 71 years old, and it is difficult for him to move on the site in a heavy suit of Pubbaks. Therefore, most scenes requiring active movement in a suit, played Finnish actor Joonas Sidamo, and Mahyu was constantly next to him and, if necessary, gave technical advice.

Kylo Ren laughs
Adam Driver, the performer of the role of Kylo Rena, has excellent comedic actor's abilities. He successfully demonstrated them as in the TV series "Girls", still leaving the HBO channel and in the film "When we were young." In the "awakening force,", however, Adam got the role of the villain without a shadow of the television show Lybki. Nevertheless, the audience could watch the laughing Kylo Rena in the famous American television show "On Saturday in the evening", which in January 2016 showed a five-minute parody of "Star Wars: Awakening Force", in which Kaylo Ren, hiding under the larger of a simple technique, conducts incognito Inspection of the Starkiller Star Base. The parody turned out to be fun, and Adam, looking at the screen, could not resist laughter.

Kerry Fisher and Jay Jay Adams - Friendship on the set
During the shooting between Kerry Fisher and Jay, Jay Adams had a truly warm relationship. "She is just genius," said Adams. "She has free associative thinking, her magnificent skill in everything find funny, the divine flair on the game of words ... I am delighted with her!"
However, this picture hints that, perhaps, between the actress and the director there was something more than friendship. Kerry Fisher is not too lucky in his personal life - perhaps "Star Wars" will be the beginning of a new Star Roman for her?

The most devoted fan of "Star Wars" Simon Pegg on the set
Actor, Writer and Producer Simon Pegg - the greatest fan of "Star Wars". His account dozens of films, including joint work with JJ Adams in the paintings "Mission Impossible-3" and "Star Path". But he never hid, he was ready to give his left hand for obtaining at least an episodic role in the "Star Wars". And he received it! In the "awakening force" Pegg played a threatening type of Goblin with a huge knitted nose. "And although the role was that neither there is a passage, Simon was happy!

Rey, Finn and Kylos Ren: Last Battle
The final battle Rey and Finn with Kaylo Renom is the climax of the whole picture. The choreography of the battle was worked out to the smallest details. In order to add the scene of truth, the creators of the tape did not rely on computer technology, creating a snow-covered planet in the pavilion of a snow-covered planet turned into a deadly base "Starkiller". The ominous frozen forest adds an emotional stress scene.

John Boyaga on the world premiere of "Awakening of Power"
World War Film Wars Movie: Star Wars Wars, 14 December 2015 in the famous Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. It was there in 1977 that the public first saw the fourth (chronolgically the first) part of the "Star Wars", instantly became the cult. The premiere of "Wake-up of force" visited not only the entire film crew, but also many celebrities: to accommodate everyone, the organizers had to stretch to the entrance to the cinema a red carpet length in almost half a kilometer! And the tent for reception stretches for four quarters along the Hollywood Boulevard. The event has become truly cult, under the film.

On May 25, 1977, the premiere of the first film in the "Star Wars" cycle was the fourth episode "New Hope". In honor of the anniversary of one of the most influential paintings in the history of cinema, the disgusting men tell the story of creating an original film, which young cinematographer George Lucas came up with and removed in the mid-70s of the last century.

"I'm leaving for Scorsese. He shoots "New York, New York", and this is real art, not that your kindergarten about space and robots, "said Marsha Lucas her husband George in the midst of work on" star wars ". The 70s stood outside the window, already the "jaws", which showed that the audience are ready for massive entertainment cinema, but in Hollywood, young cleverings were still filled - Coppola, Friedkin, the same Scorseway and others.

The future film Lucas was not perceived at all seriously. No one wanted to take on high-budget fiction for the young audience herself, no one believed in the film, in which there was not a single famous artist, and the first version of the script began with a line "We are talking about Mais Windu, Honorable Jedibenda from Obcchi, connected with Sebi Si Jay Tape, a student of the famous Jedi". Everyone twisted his finger at the temple and advised Lucas again to shoot smart American cinema - as "American graffiti". No one has yet understood that large changes are coming in the industry, and the catalyst, including the "Star Wars". The film, which, finally changed the film industry and almost alone revived the genre of family cinema.

Lucas. Start

George Lucas grew up in the California city of Modesto and always believed that he had a very huge childhood. A strict father was constantly humiliated and scolded son, called a loan, but at the same time he expected that it was George to continue to engage in family business (Lucas family owned a rather profitable stationery store). But Lucas junior had other plans for their own life.
Like Spielberg, he loved to watch television shows from childhood and even at school decided that he would become a director (however, in a mature age he began to deny this early love in the cinema). The father was against, and in the end, Lucas left home before entering the film school. In some amazing way, despite all the humiliation in the family and at school, as well as not too good health (Lucas in school often sick and did little on sports), George managed to take some features from the challenge father - determination and obvious character. These qualities will further help him overcome many personal adversity and, especially professional failures.

In the Film School, the future director of "Star Wars" thanks to the character quickly became a local superstar. Sednikomers later recalled that the young director had practically did not have fun during his studies, did not drink, did not take drugs, it was fed only by chocolate bars and constantly sitting in campus, wrote scenarios and notes for future films. Lucas plunged into his heading with his head, was on a great account of the teachers, and in the end got along with other excellent tasks to remove the student documentary about the shooting of Western "Gold McKenna" with Gregory Pes. As Lucas himself said, being at the real film playground, he was forever got rid of romantic and infantal ideas about Hollywood, as a dream factory.

In the production process of "Gold McCaren" Lucas, about everything: bloated staff and budget, slow rhythm of work and other signs of the "old" Hollywood. He constantly defeated: classmates shot a movie for 300 dollars, and here tens of thousands were spent every day it is not clear what. Lucas was so upset that as a result I almost did not boycott the shooting. He was disappeared by everyone who took part on the film - from directors and actors to illuminates - so he dedicated his picture not work on "gold McCen", but by local landscapes. It was during the filming of his documentary Lucas finally turned into an antistudium person who will remain until the end of his career. However, it will not prevent him from opening several of its companies - for example, the legendary Lucasfilm, which is now.

THX-1138 and "American graffiti"

Hate for Hollywood Studios at Lucas was as strong as any director of his generation. Like Coppola, Scorsese or Friedkin, George dreamed of shooting smart copyright. He grew up very difficult for the USA 60th - Kennedy's murder and Martin Luther King, a permanent rivalry from the USSR, which, as it seemed, is about to grow into a nuclear war. Like Spielberg, he was not an active pacifist or hippie, was never interested in politics, but everything that happened in the country was certainly affected by his early work.

Its full-length debut "TNH-1138" - cold, "metallic" anti-nightopia is a largely reflection of fears that the American society of that time was impregnated. The history of a person under the name THX-1138, which rises against a totalitarian society managed by computers, in the distant 25th century. Unlike all subsequent Lukas films, this picture is made in a very gloomy, pessimistic style inherent in the new Hollywood of the 70s. Smart science fiction has always been with a creaking in American box office, and "TNH" did not exception - the film fell out of the crash. In addition, while working on him, Lucas was completely disappointed in working with studios - before the ride in Warner Bros. Referred to the film and released on the screens in a new form without the residency of the director. After the failure of the gloomy "TNH" firmly, he decided to remove something life-affirming - a film that would noticeably differ from everything that went out at the time in Hollywood.

This picture was "American graffiti". The story of several young people who live in a small American town and are preparing for the transition to adulthood, Lucas took from his childhood. "I decided to rent a movie about my generation. But not about how everyone lives badly, but about the fact that there is always hope for the best, "he said.
Like "TNH-1138", the new film produced a close friend of director Francis Ford Coppola. The relationship with the father of Lucas did not work out, and the friendship with the Coppille helped him somehow close this gap. The director of the "godfather" at that time was almost a major person in Hollywood and in Otatically helped Lucasa at the start of the career. It was often reached up to the quarrel - for example, Coppola was one of those who remounted "TNH", and in general he often advised George what to do. It is believed that Khan Solo in "Star Wars" is written off from Coppola; About this later.

Without the director of the "Cross Father" there would be no "American graffiti" and the following "Star Wars" following them. It was Coppola that found a million dollars to which Lucas took off his film. After the deafening success of "graffiti", which at the box office collected more than 50 million dollars, the young director became less dependent on studio bosses. From about the moment that Lukas begins, which we still know - calculating, mercantile director, thinking not only about the quality of their films, but also about the profits that they will bring. Somehow, on one of the parties after the release of "Star Wars", a girl approached Lucas and confessed to the love of "TNH-1138", which called the best film in the master's career. Lucas only hound in response: "The film is good, but the money, alas, not earned!". The success of "Graffiti" changed George Lucas forever, to which the nickname "Accountant" had been glued.

Hollywood accountant

The preliminary contract for the production of "Star Wars" Lukas and the film studio "The Twentieth Century Fox" signed before the release of "graffiti", but the spectator success of the painting allowed the director to force the studio authority to revise the terms of the transaction. According to the new requirements of the director, the painting budget was to be increased to 10-12 million dollars, and Lucas himself, in addition to the fee, received the rights to distribute attributes based on the film, soundtrack and other related goods. In the middle of the seventies, the Merchandise industry was developed very badly, and the studio without problems went on the requirements of the director. Only a few years later it became clear that Lucas concluded a unique agreement, ahead of time and secured his profit until the end of his life.

Two people who invented blockbusters - George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg.

On toys and other goods with symbols of "Star Wars" Lucas earned a billionate state. His colleagues are confident that the director knew everything. In some attack of anger before the release of "Star Wars", the rental of Lucas fastened: "I earn some toys several times more than Francis (Coppola) for the whole career. Even the "godfathers" will not need to be removed. "

But more important is another: the director showed that the fate of the film does not end on the cinema box. "Star Wars" became a starting point for the formation of a whole universe, which includes toys, books, video games and a lot more. In other words, the Space Opera George Lucas became the first film that burst into adjacent media springs. But back to the production process, especially since the "Star Wars" became the most difficult film in the career of Lucas.

star Wars

After intoxicating the rolling success, "American Graffiti" Lucas finally decided not to return to the "smart" style of a new Hollywood, despite the advice of a friend Coppola. Francis insisted: "George, now it's time to stop and remove something really meaningful. I want you to become the director "Apocalypse today". " Lucas hesitated for a long time, even traveled to the Philippines to search for attendant, but as a result refused, and Coppola decided to put the film himself. The main reason for the solution: the desire to make a film for the smallest, if you want, Disney audience. The Walt Disney Pictures Studio herself almost did not produce full-length films, and a niche of a big family film was still not busy anyone.

The problem was that no one understood how to shoot such a movie. The second problem - no one understood, or whether such a movie is needed at all. Young Hollywood directors mostly filmed films for a more adult audience, but Lucas decided to take a chance and did not lose. With his success, with Spielberg brought the golden rule of Hollywood for decades ahead: the cinema must be taken primarily for teenagers, they are the most active and paying audience.

Lucas, consciously or on intuition, felt that "Star Wars" should be not just a science fiction fairy tale about space, but a film with a powerful universe, on which it will be possible to come up with. And he with a characteristic zeal burned in books and films in search of sources of inspiration. As a basis, he took the "Space Odyssey" and fantastic TV series about Baka Rogers. In the film Kubrick he admired visual magnificence, he liked a light and relaxed atmosphere in the show. And he tried that the "Star Wars" were made at the junction of these two things. As Spelleberg said, Lucasy managed it perfectly - he created a film on the "synthesis of two genres". Perhaps this is precisely this predetermined the success of the picture.

However, before success it was still far. Scenario Lucas began writing in 1972 under the influence of the books of the American Researcher of Nature and the myths of Joseph Campbell, as well as Carlos Castaneda. From the books of the latter in the "Star Wars" moved the strength, one of the main elements of the mythology of the Universe, and the hero of Don Juan became the prototype of Obi-Van Kenobi. But it was only the beginning: Lucas with greed absorbed everything around, collecting the universe in grains. It is believed that the main history of "Star Wars" he borrowed from the film Akira Kurosava "Three Rounds from the Hidden Fortress". This proves the initial desire of Lucas to invite Tosiro Mifun, the beloved actor Kurosava, for the role of Kenobi, but the director refused this venture.

Time went, and the script was written very hard. Over the year, Lucas was able to squeeze out only 13 pages of Abrakadabra, which, repeat, began with the words "We are talking about Mais Windu, Honachent Jedibenda from the omit, connected with Sebi Si Jay Tap, the student of the famous Jedi."

Constantly distracted by "American Graffiti", Lucas could not find the right tone, build a story and find a cross-cutting painting. He wrote and rewritten: the heroes were so much, then not enough. The lines of individual characters - for example, the princesses of Lei - then decreased to the pair of scenes, they turned into main. Darth Vader and Obi-Van Kenobi, who in one of the first scenarios were one character, eventually become two. The force was divided into the good (Ashla) and malicious (Bogan), and Annechnic Starkiller. Moreover, Lucas, which by that time from constant head and gastric pains turned into an unbearable treatment (he wrote exclusively with pencils of the 2nd degree of hardness in notebooks only in green and blue), could not remember the names of some characters, especially Chubakki, each Once giving a new version.

Of course, much in the scenario of the future film Lucas took from life: the Senate and the Empire wrote off from the real American government, the friendship of Luke and Khan Solo - with his own relationship with Coppil, and the main topic made the confrontation of the free resistance (hippie) and a powerful state (USA). After two and a half years, Lucas ended up with a script and began preparations for the shooting, which, however, became no less complex test for the director close to the moral and physical depletion of the director. Because at first it was necessary to choose actors on roles in the film.

Who are these people

While the spouse Marsha finished the editor of the Scorsoesovsky "Taxi driver", Lucas went to Los Angeles to conduct a large-scale casting of "Star Wars". Most of all it was frightened by a meeting with young beauties, among whom he had to choose the only one that will play leu.
Marsha also worried about the infantile and inconspicuous man, who, as it seemed, could easily be in bed with some "girl of the month." But Lucas was adamant, much later stating: "Life is short to exchange for such trifles, like an intrigue with young beauties."

Lucas immediately decided that the film would cost without stars. This on the one hand had to shorten the budget, on the other, to rent a movie with extreme persons. Lucas believed that in a fairy tale, as he called "Star Wars", there should be no passion, sex, lust and other desires, which somehow arise from the audience when they see the movie star on the screen. Hundreds of actors have tasted for the role of Luke, one of which was young Bruce Boxletener, who many years later appeared in the cult scientifically fantastic series "Babylon-5" in the role of Captain John Sheridan. But Lucas, seeing the youthful and very bright face of Hamilla, approved him for the role of the main positive hero.

The role of Lei was the main Starlets of Hollywood of the time, among whom were Jody Foster and Amy Irving, but the role in the end got Carrie Fisher.
Khan Solo eventually played the old familiar Lucas on "American Graffiti" Harrison Ford, although many young stars of the 70s were also tried to the role of smuggler - from Kurt Russell to Sylvester Stallone. The only actor with the name, which was still invited to the film, became Oscar-free Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Vana Kenobi.

Writing music, which will later become no less popular than the film, Lucas, on the advice of Spielberg invited the popularity of John Williams. But with one condition: Williams should have forgotten about his minimalist things from the "jaws" and compose something truly ambitious. Williams agreed and impressive musical theme From the film "Kings Row" of 1942 with the future president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, wrote the title supernation. Already then it was clear that Williams is a unique film composer, which is able to write a shit for the film of any genre. And his soundtrack to the "Star Wars" - in some places, lush and solemn, and in some places, gloomy and anxious - ideally supplemented the film Lucas and is still considered one of the most famous in the history of cinema.

Production weekdays

Despite the success of "American graffiti", no one on the set seriously belonged to the "Star Wars" or to Lukas himself. In this sense, the story with Harrison Ford is very significant, who, without fearing to lose the role, Cocterial Lucas during the casting on what the light is worth: "You can still print such a lambuda, George, but how to pronounce it?!". It did not help find a common language with the film crew and the nature of Lucas. He talked little, practically did not discuss anything with the actors and the film crew and never said "Thank you." As a result, contact with everyone around was lost irretrievably. Lucas later said that I understood why everyone hates directories. "How much I remember on the set, I just did there that I screamed at all and everyone."

They filmed "Star Wars" at the ELSTRU studio in the suburb of London, and problems with actors continued in England. Spielberg said that the artists who played in the "jaws", the first blockbuster in history, also worked impatiently, with some fraction of apathy, because they did not believe in the success and seriousness of the film about the shark-cannibal. With "Star Wars" there was about the same situation: everyone called the film "Disney kindergarten" on the site, laughed at the requisite and appearance of the main characters (Ford, for example, haught the hairstyle of Princess Lei), and did not laid out on the full coil. Spielberg eventually found an approach to the actors, but Lucas, again, because of his modest character, could not.

This led to unexpected consequences: historians of the American cinema claim that the "Star Wars" is the first blockbuster, in which the acting game is absolutely not important. If you wish, you can change the plus-minus of any artist, but the meaning and quality of the paintings will not change (however, the personal fans of Ford, Fisher, Hamille and others may not agree with this. Such a point of view is confirmed by the fact that none of the acting troupes of Star Wars did not subsequently superstar of Hollywood. Exception - Harrison Ford. But his success was largely ensured by the trilogy about Indiana Jones, and not by "Star Wars."

In the situation of Total Chaos and the mistrust of Lucas behaved unexpectedly. Do you remember about ubedsy? So, at a certain point in working on the film, seeing that a friend does not work, helping in working on the film kindly suggested Spielberg. But Lucas was adamant. "He seemed to be afraid that my fingerprints would remain on his film," the director of "Alien" said later. Lucas also constantly sentenced that "Star Wars" must bypass the "jaws" for commercial fees, that he shoots a movie for the smallest audience, and everything around idiots, because they do not understand him. And this despite the constant clashes with the actors, the English group, the participants of which refused to work overtime, and an unknown infection, because of which Lucas had a feet sick. But the character who passed to him from Pope still helped the director to complete the shooting, though Lucas returned from London in a disgusting mood.

Problems chased the film not only on the set, but also beyond. Industrial Light & Magic Studios, which had to do special effects for the film, categorically lacked experience and resources. The initial composition of four people worked in the director's garage in the wild. The problem was that no one removed the magnificent, rhythmic fiction, and the visual techniques had to come up literally on the go.

ILM were so inexperienced that in the end in half the budget for special effects made only 4 seconds of the picture. Lucas was in rabies, long screamed and threatened to close the studio. Masters of special effects were fixed to the premiere, but their initial failures director did not forget, depriving all the award workers. Already then the director knew how to count money, but never learned to forgive.

Installation is another thing that bothered Lucas. For the science fiction blockbuster "Star Wars" in his first editions were mounted in the "vulgar-pretentious" manner, which was not at all satisfied the director. Lucas was already on the verge - friends and colleagues said that he became cruel and rude, and all the questions were answered by one phrase: "30%, ready by 30%!" And in despair, he asked for help from his wife. While Marsha mounted the first version of the picture without special effects, it came to her from Scorsese, whom she considered the best director of Hollywood. It happened that we described in the very first paragraph - Marsha flew to Los Angeles, throwing Lucas a few months before the premiere, but still completed the preliminary version of the picture.

Demarsh wives did not strongly upset the director, who by this time came, it seems to all the rakes that could only. He was disturbed not so much the reaction of spouses and production problems, but also an unsuccessful reference date of the picture. Studio "Fox" planned to release a film on the eve of the commemoration day (May 30), hoping that on the weekend the people would prefer the cinema to other entertainment. The problem was that other film studios were actively preparing for the holiday - together with the "Star Wars" on the screens were to leave "Smokey and a gangster", "the abyss" and other films. And there and Friedkin with the "sorcerer". Lucas told everyone that happiness would be if his film would fall into the top three cash films following the holidays.

Shows Friends and Studio Bosses

The success of the "Star Wars" Lucas did not believe it because all the director's colleagues did not believe. According to the legend, Lucas showed an incomplemented version of the picture without special effects to its friends-cinematographers - Coppol, Friedkin, Scorsese, Spielberg and others - shortly before the premiere. Everyone was shocked. Coppola, the closest friend of Lucas, could not understand how George could refuse to produce an "apocalypse today", for the sake of this "children's nonsense". The rest shared the position of the director of the Great Father. Marsha cried aside. Bryan de Palma, who called "power" "Perdezhem", and desperately scolded the film for the fact that the heroes are constantly carrying some kind of cockroach. But Lucas expected to make a clear cinema for the widest audience.

The only one who supported the director and the film was Spielberg, who issued a prophetic phrase: "Man, it will look." The author of the "Jaws" was then preparing for the release of "close contacts of the third degree" and considered his film too esoteric and difficult for the mass audience. And "Star Wars", according to him, were created on the synthesis of genres and should have been literally literally everyone who does not turn his nose from science fiction.

Before displaying Studio Bosses, ILM worked not to twist the hands of seven days a week to finish special effects. Marsha has already returned from Scorsese and participated in the final installation. The spouse of Lucas herself began to gradually decline to the film, which with the imposition of graphics played with new colors (in the first embodiments there were no scenes, others were replaced by personnel from military chronicles). She, like Lucas, was very worried about watching, but she had her own "Lacmus paper." "I knew that if the audience did not come to the episode with the appearance on board the" Falcon of the Millennium "Khan Solo (when he had saved the hatch), then write whales," said Marsha. But, thank God, the show of "Star Wars" was not bad. Some people, of course, slept, but most were delighted with the film. "Star Wars" reached the finish line, at the end of which the film was waiting for the audience.

Premiere and Furore

On Wednesday, on May 25, 1977, Marsha and George Lucas went to the establishment of Hamburger Hamlit in Los Angeles. They worked so much in the past few weeks that they had completely forgotten about the legend that the American premiere of "Star Wars" was appointed for that day. Hamburger Hamlit was located on the Hollywood Boulevard, opposite the famous "Chinese theater" (there is now a ceremony of the "Oscars". Going to the institution, they saw that a huge crowd was gathered before the cinema - no less than a thousand people. The movement was blocked, limousines approached from all sides, simple viewers went crazy. Lucas has said many years later that only seeing this crowd, he realized that "Star Wars" could be a hit.

However, fantastic films have never disappeared the Hollywood cashier until that time. But be that as it may, Chet Lucas sighed with relief - the film will pay off, judging by the hitch, and in the following rolling weeks will give way to new premieres. With this thought they were put on vacation at Maui. Upon arrival, they checked the answering machine - hundreds of calls from studio bosses, agents and the other God to understand who. Messages were about one content - Lucas advised to see the news releases. The director included TV and Oboml: on all channels they walked plots about unprecedented queues for the shows of "Star Wars". People went crazy, resell Stydoroga tickets for the film or, on the contrary, went several times - in general, real madness was going on.

Three months later, reports came - "Star Wars" overcame a 100 millionth mark. Lucas realized that he became the rich thing that he had everything. But, as the director later admitted, he fully felt a triumph later when a telegram came from home from Coppola, who in Asia in the Flour took the "apocalypse today." It was only one phrase - "Money came out. Francis.

More than the movie

By November 1977, "Star Wars" overtook the "jaws" at the cash collecting and became the most successful commercial film in the history of American rental at that time. Lucas received more than $ 25 million under the contract, and as many studio paid to other people who participated in the project - actors, producers, operators, and so on. The only ones who did not receive neither the cent, as we have already said, was the ILM special effects studio, which was so dissatisfied with Lucas. However, the latter were recovered on subsequent episodes and eventually became the most powerful Hollywood studio on visual effects.

Realizing that "Star Wars" is one hundred percent hit, Lucas immediately began to attack the "Fox" studio. When re-renting the original film, he added a prescription "Episode IV: New Hope", and also launched into production on unprecedented conditions (77% of the fees!) Sikvel "Empire shall cause a retaliatory blow." His film became a phenomenon, and not only at the expense of successful rental and auditorium, but also sales of the concomitant attributes.

Of course, the reasons for the popularity of "Star Wars" lie not only in the plane of the business. The film Lucas fell in the soul of a huge number of people for many reasons, which first, of course, tried to describe the film crims of the time. They unanimously praised Lucas for the fact that he was almost alone revived the genre of family cinema, turning science fiction in a real fairy tale. It is no coincidence that aesthetically "Star Wars" are similar not only to the "Space Odyssey", but also to the main fairy tale of the American people - the "wizard from Oz."

Others wrote that Lucas, together with Spielberg, the first in the new Hollywood began to shoot a clear and pleasant to millions of genre cinema.

"Star Wars", indeed, a film in which there is no halftone, and including this makes his favorite picture of millions of viewers.

Villains here look and behave in such a way that it becomes immediately clear who they are, and that they never (except one) will not switch to the bright side of power.

The same with positive characters. Not in vain in one of the late editions of the film Lucas remouncing the scene with Khan Solo and Grid, so that the smuggling is the only ambiguous character of the original trilogy (except Vader) - did not look bad.

Such a black and white story, in which good and evil absolutely, it became no coincidence that the film workers in the United States were soul, and then all over the world. Humanity - and especially the American society - is tired of living, as it was customary to speak, in the atmosphere "Storms and Natika". Vietnam and murder of politicians, Watergate and the Cold War - all this is fascinated by the country's population. Americans wanted to finally find in the massive entertainment cinema to the outstand, and not the continuation of the banquet. Therefore, fashion for tough, realistic movies of the new Hollywood gradually faded.

The audience simply was tired of the "smart" Hollywood paintings of the Quicks, Coppola and other directors, in which it was sometimes difficult to figure out, and just wanted what easily. Lucas then often accused that his "Star Wars" did not simply changed the industry, but killed the concept of "intellectual blockbuster", which then filmed his friends-colleagues Lucas. The director himself, of course, was revealed and said something like "the audience herself decides", but the time really has changed.

But the truth lied somewhere in the middle of these two opinions. On the one hand, of course, Lucas and much has been simplified. On the other hand, the context in the "Star Wars" did not go anywhere. This is a film about America in the broadest sense of the word. Parallels are traced once or twice: the Senate - the Government, Palpatine - Nixon, the rebels - Vietnamese, the Empire - the USA, and so on. Also, the confrontation of the latter can be compared with the Melnikov War of the new Hollywood with studio bosses. This depth, which is not so noticeable in the "New Hope", to "Jedi's Return" becomes more than obvious.

Returning to the words of Spielberg, who said that Lucas got a film at the junction of two genres
We will add: not just genres, but eras. From the previous "his" generation of Coppole, Scorsese and others, he took some classic, but bold moves - allusions to modern society, complex installation, a multi-layered way - adding a visual row, the sound of "Dolby" and intonation, which is even the smallest Children.

And also "Star Wars" opened the art of an episode and an image to the world, which subsequently moved to the video games beloved by us.

As Lucas himself said, he always loved to tell (one of the first in commercial cinema) through a visual series, not the word.

But Furour and world recognition, of course, would not be without the incredible courage of Lucas. After all, we will repeat, despite the lack of support from the studio and colleagues and even his wife, he continued to bend his line. If "Jaws" - the first blockbuster in history - after all, they were largely similar to the films of the new Hollywood (with a correction for a large shark). "Star Wars" were a real breakthrough, the film, which established new laws in cinema.

Now the world is impossible to imagine without the "star wars", as well as without a TV or mobile phone. This film, like any blockbuster, did not just won a multi-million audience and a bunch of money, but also strongly developed the industry technically. A little less than half of the cash fees left towards the cinemas that began to order more advanced equipment to show expensive spectacular cinema in all its glory. And therefore "Star Wars", and any blockbuster after, very important for all cinema. Thus, the space of the Jedi and poems became an integral part of not just world culture or film industry, but also of all our lives.

In the distant-distant galaxy

What happened next, you also know. For several decades, Lucas left the director to producers. Together with each other, Spielberg launched another super-profit franchise - the adventure trilogy "Indiana Jones". Earned billions of dollars on toys and other related products with the symbols of "Star Wars", made friends with Disney and discovered several thematic attractions based on saga in Disneyland. Returned to the cinema, making a new trilogy, and also a bunch of everything. All the achievements of Lucas will not fit in any article of the world.

Scorsese somehow told the story of the Montage of the film "New York, New York". Lucas, who finished "Star Wars" in parallel, somehow went to the assembly to a friend and said: "I know, Martin, how to increase the cash receipts of your film by 8-10 million. Make so that in the finals of the heroes de Niro and Minhelli went to the sunset, holding hands. " This advice after watching the unfinished version of the film himself remembers the whole life. In that rainy California day, the author of the "taxi driver" understood the main thing: he will never be his commercial Hollywood cinema.

As the director's friend's colleagues say, Lucas has not changed much since he filmed the first "Star Wars" in his garage. He and now - a dull man who always goes to his goal and knows how to count money. Still, the last quality, as well as the commercial vein allowed Lucas to earn not just a lot, but a lot of money. Along with Spielberg, he is still the richest director of Hollywood.

Nobodynaya Lukas is still incomprehensible to calculate. His "Star Wars" of an extended-popular fairy tale Formate "Dolby" turned into a vigorous all-providing Makhina, the most influential Jesheski franchise in the world. Vitoga Iszhe Jogubil Lucas, who is the ismed of the Izou-Hollywood clever, glowing the life of the monster of the Montrazen Break, turned into a completely interesting director. Noeto, how soubimat speech situations, a completely different story.

Atond, B1977, was not happier than the man of Hollywood. Oned the whole world, it was only the beginning.