- Met George Lucas and completely toured his Skywalker Ranch including Skywalker Sound in 2002
- Visited new Lucasfilm campus including Industrial Light & Magic at San Francisco’s historic Presidio in 2014
My first attempt at moviemaking was as a young boy using a Super 8mm film camera. I built miniature sets using my Star Wars action toys (characters and space vehicles) to choreograph a series of action scenes.
Clint Dantinne
Until the second grade, I knew little of pop culture or politics. The year 1977 began with the inauguration of Jimmy Carter. A black and white television set was brought in Mrs. Sulzer’s classroom at Marcus Hook Elementary School. On January 20, I remember watching the ceremonies surrounding our new president. Amy, daughter of the newly elected president and just a couple years older than me, stopped the parade procession to tie her shoe. Later that summer, I overheard my grandparents talking about someone named Elvis that died; whoever he was.
Around the time my birthday on the 27th day of May 1977, neighborhood kids were all talking about this new monster movie set somewhere in space with robots and light swords. Released on a Wednesday, just two days before my eighth birthday, popular culture would be changed forever. Although our family did not attend movies, I learned of the Star Wars saga through merchandise. My dad, excellent at dart marksmanship, won a Star Wars poster for me in 1978 at a nearby carnival on my ninth birthday. My friend down the street was quickly collecting 4 inch plastic toys representing the characters of the film. It wasn’t long before I would also own some Star Wars action figures, their exotic habitats, and their imaginative modes of transportation courtesy of the Kenner toy company. Not having seen the movie, I made up my own heroes and villains. The black robot with the breathing problem fascinated me. On April 23, 1978, my grandfather took me to a family day event at Sun Oil, where Darth Vader was there in person.
My first engagement with the Star Wars was really on the little screen. The Star Wars Holiday Special aired on CBS in November 1978. By that time, the phenomenon and mythology of Star Wars was everywhere. Television viewing was very limited in the house, but my parents granted permission on this occasion. After seeing the two-hour TV special that Friday night, I was left with more questions than answers.
The family ban of going to the movies was finally lifted in 1982. Initially feeling guilty at perhaps my first film screening (other than seeing movies at school or on TV), the taboo made little sense as the credits rolled on this re-release of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. I was hooked. What an incredible experience and thrill ride! I wanted to know more about the credited name ‘George Lucas’ who could create such a world. Although by this time I had missed sequel, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, I read the book to catch up on the story. As the family rules relaxed, I would eventually see more movies. It became a tradition of mine to read the book before seeing the film. During a family reunion in the summer of 1983, we saw Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi at a Phoenix theater. Like many boys of my generation, I developed a crush on Princess Lea. The original Star Wars movie eventually made its network TV debut in June of 1984. I watched as Mark Hamill hosted this landmark television event.
Overtime, I would read many books on the making of films. The process of creating a film was as stimulating as watching a movie. Once reading The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), I wanted to be a filmmaker. I would go on to read Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas (1999) and The Cinema of George Lucas (2005). With VHS then later DVD distribution of movies, I would study the commentaries for the making of all films. One day, I would use this knowledge with my creation of a high school film club.
I went to college for media studies. Radio and television broadcasting were passions, but so was filmmaking. I learned a lot at Widener University, but much more about film at Disney University. Accepted to be on the Walt Disney World College Program during the fall 1990 semester, I took a Film Production class with hands-on experience at their Florida studios. During my Disney days, my primary job function was merchandise at EPCOT, but I worked at other locations too including the Disney-MGM Studios. George Lucas had his fingerprints there as well, literally in cement at Disney’s version of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I worked on his Indy cart (Indiana Jones) and spent some time at Tatooine Traders within his Star Tours attraction. In March 1994, I would take an exam on the campus of his alma mater for an assistant director apprenticeship. Although I did not receive the apprenticeship from the University of Southern California, it was fun being at the film school that launched many careers in the business.
George Lucas re-released his original three Star Wars films in early 1997, this time calling the series Special Edition. He had gone back to the original negatives, digitally enhanced them, and added new scenes. Although I owned copies of Star Wars on VHS like most fans, I was still at the theater to see these classics on the big screen. I observed that Star Wars is most likely the only film in history not to reference life on planet earth and our civilization. Everything happens “A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Far Away…” as simply depicted in text at the start of each film (it is interesting to note that there are absolutely no credits at the beginning of the films). Two years after his Special Edition release, a concept in filmdom called the ‘prequel’ grew in popularity. Audiences knew the conclusion of the Stars Wars story when Return of the Jedi (originally to be called Revenge of the Jedi) was released in 1983. Fans like me had to wait 16 long years to see how the story actually began. The prequels to Star Wars were Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). All the Star Wars films have been released near the end of May nicely coinciding with my birthday.
Without a doubt, the person I most wanted to meet still alive in 2002 was George Lucas. Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, and John Williams were also high on that list. Profits from the George Lucas franchise earned him enough to purchase a valley north of San Francisco now called Skywalker Ranch. The ranch is his private property and a working facility for industry filmmakers. While visiting family in California on May 31, 1992, I got to ride in a private plane over Muir Woods and Skywalker Ranch. At my request, the pilot dropped in altitude and circled the property a few times. But in 2002, I was visiting family in Petaluma again. My aunt knew someone who was working at Skywalker Ranch on the just released Attack of the Clones. It was arranged for my security clearance to enter the property where Mark Everson would show me around.
On July 17, turning right from Lucas Valley Road (coincidentally the road had the name Lucas long before George arrived) through the gates of Skywalker Ranch was like entering the Promised Land. The country roadway meandered until finding a gravel parking area. Just as I was walking toward the prominent Victorian House on the center of the property, out strolls George Lucas and his daughter. I said “Good Morning” before we shook hands. After meeting George, I found my contact. Mark gave me a guided property tour.
Inside the Victorian House, a main hallway features Lucasfilm props… original lightsabers, the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Sankara stones from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and even stuff from Howard the Duck. We toured his impressive library too. Afterwards, we walked back outside past his vineyards to Skywalker Sound. Clint Eastwood had been there only days before mixing the sound to one of his upcoming films. We also saw the theater where films are previewed and George’s own ‘sweet spot’, meaning the best seat to hear the film. Walking outside again around Ewok Lake, we ate lunch at the Fitness Center Dining Room.
A film was released in 2008 called Fanboys, although I did not see it until 2011 on DVD. The film was about Star Wars fanatics that take a cross-country trip to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch so their dying friend could see a screening of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace before its release. The ranch interior scenes were nothing like the real Skywalker Ranch, but it was still funny. The film characters battle Star Trek fans too. In April 1999, I did Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton then hung out with a film friend at Quark’s Bar. That’s about the extent of my being a Trekkie.
The culture of Star Wars lives on today. On April 25, 2008, I attended the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute. The exhibit featured more than 80 costumes, models, and props tying the movies to science. I took their 4½ minute trip to the edge of the universe in a full-size replica of the Millennium Falcon cockpit. On July 29, 2008, I was second row just feet from conductor John Williams at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. John Williams, guest conductor for the Marine Band’s anniversary, performed his title theme from Star Wars, the Imperial March, and other film favorites.
At the end of July 2009, I made the impulsive purchase of a Supreme Edition Darth Vader costume. Working then for a school district, I made use of it while donning the suit for Halloween and promotional events. On November 15, 2009, Is at Section 1, Row 13, Seat 6 for Star Wars in Concert at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Complex. Hosted in person by Anthony Daniels, an orchestra performed selections from the soundtracks of the six films in the Star Wars saga with visual stimuli. I wore a shirt I got at Skywalker Ranch. On May 20, 2011, I participated virtually in a Disney live webcast of the grand opening celebration for the new Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida. George Lucas was there for the festivities.
The impact George Lucas has made on technology and education is significant. Being in the media, I subscribe to several industry publications. I have collected the trade magazines featuring the technological innovations of his companies Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, Skywalker Sound, and LucasArts. Magazines including American Cinematographer, Mix, POST, Millimeter, Audio Media, Electronic Design, Front of House, Markee, and Film & Video are in my collection with articles to the Star Wars franchise. George Lucas continues to inspire me with his imagination and innovations in technology.
I went to the theater to see Phantom Menace in 3D on February 13, 2012.
Disney buys Lucasfilm for $4B announced October 30, 2012. Lucasfilm founder George Lucas said the deal allows him a chance to pass the beloved Star Wars franchise on to a new generation of filmmakers.
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