When we think about directors who have had a powerful impact on the sci-fi movie world, George Lucas and Stanley Kubrick come up. Even though they’re both huge names, they have different ways of making movies. Let’s dive into how George Lucas, the mastermind behind the Star Wars movies, tackles filmmaking.
How George Lucas Makes his Movies: A Fast and Focused Approach
George Lucas stood at the helm of the original Star Wars trilogy and even returned to direct the prequel trilogy. Nick Gillard, who made the cool stunts in these movies, recently spilled the beans on Lucas’ unique way of directing. Everyone used to think Lucas was a ‘one-take kind of guy’. But Nick says, “When George gets something right, there’s no point in doing it over and over again.” In other words, if Lucas nailed a scene in one take, he knew it was time to move on.
Another director, Stanley Kubrick, who made the legendary ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ in 1968, often went for numerous takes until he got his perfect shot. However, Lucas didn’t follow in Kubrick’s footsteps. Shows just how different two big-time directors can be, right?
George Lucas: The Master Editor
We can’t chat about Lucas’ filmmaking technique without talking about his love for editing. Shocking as it sounds, Lucas once confessed that he doesn’t enjoy directing. Still, he loved Star Wars so much that he came back to direct the prequels.
When asked about Lucas’ favorite part of the filmmaking process, Gillard divulged that it was the editing process. Lucas’ style can be described as: “Loose, fast, intense, and very, very focused;” Gillard says. According to him, “He knows exactly what he needs to do to get into the editing room and he can’t wait to get there. That’s his favorite part.”
Lucas’ love for editing gives us some pretty solid clues as to why Star Wars stands out with its spectacular visual effects and sound design.
Star Wars: A Pop Culture Giant
The Star Wars movies turned George Lucas into a global superstar. But it didn’t just stop at the movies; Star Wars turned into a huge franchise. It spread to TV shows, comics, merchandise and captured the hearts of people everywhere for decades.
Although Lucas was directly involved only in a few Star Wars pieces, his genius still shines through. Even today, you can find all sorts of Star Wars content on Disney+. It’s clear that the galaxy saga born in 1977 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
In a Nutshell
While George Lucas might stand in stark contrast to directors like Stanley Kubrick, it doesn’t make his films any less impressive. His love for editing and his knack for nailing scenes in fewer takes has worked wonders for the Star Wars franchise. Just like Gillard said about Lucas, “He knows exactly what he needs to do to get into the editing room and he can’t wait to get there.”
Indeed, Lucas’ unique take on filmmaking forever changed the face of sci-fi cinema, leaving us with movies we can’t forget. So, next time you’re re-watching Star Wars – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t do that? – remember that the man behind the magic took a totally different route to make it happen!
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