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You wouldn't think he'd become what he now is from his early days. He was fascinated in comic books, especially "Buck Rogers" and "Flash Gordon. " And though this might allude to the Star Wars movies he still didn't know what to do with his life by the time he became a teenager. Bored with the tedium and out-of-date teaching methods, he was a poor student and found excitement in car racing. Only a hint of this past is found in his movie's fast pace and constant energy as well as the use of jumpsuits (X-wing fighter uniforms). Lucas's hobby of car racing abruptly came to a halt when he was rammed broadside by another car off the race track. The other car was going so fast it plowed itself and George's car into a tree at 60 miles an hour.
By a fortunate quirk of fate, his seatbelt was defective and he flew free of the car. Though he was injured, if he had remained in the car the impact would have killed him. Instead of being able to attend his own high school graduation he lay in the hospital. It was at this time he came to the realization that he had to find a purpose in his life and fulfill it. Education and THX 1138 He attended the University of Southern California, majoring in film. He mistakenly enrolled in the university, thinking "film" meant "photography, " but once he began to work in motion pictures he knew this was what he loved.
He proved to be so good at it that he won a scholarship from Warner Brothers to study film making at the studio. He was where he met Francis Ford Coppola and became good friends despite their opposite personalities. Idealistic about creating new types of movies than the conventional studios were permitting, they founded American Zoetrope. This new type of studio encouraged young film makers and funded experimental films with the support of Warner Brothers. Unfortunately rough times were ahead for Lucas and Zoetrope. When Lucas released his first film, THX 1138, Warner Brothers was outraged.
THX 1138 did not follow the standard narrative style, instead moving the story along with images rather than by extensive characters and dialogue. The images were startling, the sound rich and the ideas behind it compelling, but these were not the things that become blockbusters. Warner Brothers resented this, cutting scenes and dropping the film carelessly into the theater, setting it up for failure. Warner Brothers tactic worked. Indeed it was a financial failure and things looked bleak for Lucas's and American Zoetrope's future.
Lucas, however, remained determined and decided to shoot a film he and his audience could relate to: the teenage experience in the 50 's. It was called American Graffitti. American Graffitti Unlike THX 1138, this movie was huge success and related personally to the audience. Not only was it a money maker, but it proved to be a learning experience for Lucas. Though it lacked the visionary, experimental quality of his earlier film, he learned what the audience expected and enjoyed in movies: a strong narrative style and characters they could relate to. Lucas would learn how to strike a balance between THX 1138 and American Graffitti in his next film, Star Wars.
In many ways Star Wars could not exist without American Graffitti not only because of the learning experience, but also financially. After American Graffitti Lucas had earned a small fortune and could have retired, but with this money he began the production of Star Wars and created three new companies with it: THX, Lucasfilm, and ILM. Star Wars Without a doubt, if you mentioned the name of George Lucas the first thing that would come to mind is Star Wars with Indiana Jones a close second. Even today movie critics are still scratching their heads on this film.
What made it so special and why did it become such a cultural phenomenon? I'll be discussing this on a separate webpage, but admittedly, Star Wars was a unique marriage between the old and the new. Inspired by old serials, comic books, mythology, and movies such as the "Seven Safari. " There have been many rip-offs and new technology since its release, but certainly this movie and its sequels retain a freshness, a creative edge and a wonderful story at its heart. It is science-fiction, but with a mythological core and one of the reasons it has so many fans today is everyone loves a good story set in a believable universe.
Indiana Jones In the tradition of Star Wars Lucas and Steven Spielberg paired up to create Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Strongly influence by the serials they used to see as children, the Nazis proved an easy and effective bad guy while Indiana Jones, an archeologist and adventurer, tries to find the Ark of the Covenant and take it away from the Nazis. This movie, like its fast paced, light hearted Star Wars would also spin off its own sequels (and merchandise) in years to come. Willow After the incredible success of the Star Wars Trilogy, Lucas was financially secure enough to take on the story of Willow, a dwarf-like Nelson who must save the baby, Elora Date, from the evil sorceress, Queen Bavmorda. The queen wishes to destroy Elora, for it has been prophesied she will end the queen's evil rule.
It is obvious that Lucas was confident in Willow's success. He had the money and the technology to accomplish it along with a very good story. When it opened, however, the audience didn't turn out as he had expected. The box office receipts barely covered the expense of the picture. For this reason, Lucas continued Willow's story in books rather than in two more films, like he had originally planned. The Future Lucas completed the Indiana Jones and then launched the TV series Young Indy Chronicles.
The companies he founded back in the late 70 's not only are successful, but are considered one of the finest in the world. High budgeted movies seek ILM to produce stunning visit effects and the music industry often records it albums with Skywalker Sound. And Lucas created a hum of excitement when he released Star Wars: Special Edition and is currently working on a new Star Wars trilogy, this time going back 50 years before "A New Hope" exploring the friendship and adventures of Obi-wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and the Queen, Luke and Leia's mother.
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Research essay sample on Warner Brothers Star Wars
