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When Star Wars creator George Lucas set out to build a galaxy far, far away, he didn’t just look to the stars; he raided hardware stores, junkyards, and bathroom drawers. That scrappy, DIY spirit has become part of the franchise’s DNA. While the story might be classed as “high-tech space opera,” the props are often shockingly low-budget, not to mention incredibly inventive.

Lucas’s unwavering belief in practical, physical effects laid the groundwork for this hands-on approach. This philosophy continues to shape the saga’s look and legacy today. From potatoes standing in for asteroids to ice cream makers turned into ancient galactic relics, here are some of the weirdest, most brilliant things Star Wars used as props.

1. A ladies’ razor turned Rebel tech

One of the most surprising prop hacks came in The Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon Jinn’s sleek communicator turned out to be… a Gillette ladies' razor.

Before Kevin Feige’s Marvel multiverse, before blue Na’vi forests or digitally de-aged heroes, George Lucas had the Star Wars team making movie magic the old-fashioned way, with puppets, miniatures, matte paintings, and costumes that looked like they’d lived through galactic wars.

Now, nearly five decades later, those practical effects, praised by the American Society of Cinematographers, still hold up better than most CGI.

Back in 1977, Lucas didn’t just launch a franchise. He rewrote the rules of movie-making. Star Wars: A New Hope merged dogfight-inspired model battles, complex costume design, and groundbreaking practical effects into a cinematic experience that was arguably more immersive than any prior film.

My mom still talks about how incredible it was to “fly” onto Tatooine and see the twin suns for the first time during Star Wars’ initial theatrical run.

The Cantina scene alone featured dozens of alien species brought to life through latex masks,...

When Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Michael Crichton's bestselling sci-fi/horror novel hit theaters on June 11, 1993, the entire motion picture medium was forever changed. James Cameron had given us a tantalizing taste of how seamlessly computer-generated imagery could be integrated into a motion picture via "The Abyss" and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," but no one was prepared for Spielberg and his visual FX team (which included Cameron collaborator Dennis Muren) to blast the technology seemingly decades into the future by creating photo-realistic dinosaurs. That moment where Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum get their first look at a living, breathing brachiosaurus induced a new kind of awe in moviegoers, and it remains a blessing and a curse that Spielberg was the man at the helm.

The blessing is that the bar was raised so dizzyingly high for photoreal CGI that, in the immediate wake of the film's blockbuster success,...

David Koepp crafted classic awe and wonder with the original Jurassic Park. The screenwriter returns to the franchise with Jurassic World Rebirth. For the film, Koepp aimed to tap back into some of the original film’s magic – including dread and fear.

Koepp is no stranger to writing spine-tingling, hair-raising tension. Two of his novels, Aurora and Cold Storage, are two page-turning examples. Look no further than Bad Influence, Carlito’s Way, Mission: Impossible, Premium Rush, War of the Worlds, and his most recent trio of Steven Soderbergh films. Don’t forget the cult classic horror film he directed, either – Stir of Echoes.

We covered a few of these films with Koepp, who recently spoke with Daily Dead about writing Jurassic Park and coming back for Rebirth.

Since the first Jurassic Park, you’ve got 30 years of experience. How’d that passing of time influence telling another story in [author] Michael Crichton's world?...

If you're a filmmaker in 1993 having one of the best years in your entire career, then congratulations, because your name must be Steven Spielberg. On top of winning over seven Academy Awards for the highly acclaimed WWII historical drama "Schindler's List," Spielberg was also one of many faces behind adapting Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park" for the big screen. The film not only won three Oscars in the very same ceremony, but it also cemented itself as the pinnacle of CGI wizardry that visual effects artists still look up to. Of course, Spielberg was already a Hollywood staple at this point, having previously pioneered the modern blockbuster as we know it with 1975's "Jaws." All the same, the filmmaker was about to show audiences something they had never seen before, much like Richard Attenborough's ambitious dinosaur mogul John Hammond.

"Jurassic Park" simply doesn't happen without VFX artists Dennis Muren,...

The second season of “Light & Magic,” about the history of VFX giant Industrial Light & Magic (helmed by “Jumanji” director and former Ilm vet Joe Johnston), kicks off with a fascinating glimpse into the making of Jar Jar Binks in the first of three episodes.

The initial fan response to the character was decidedly negative, whether for Jar Jar’s slapstick humor tone clashing with the other stories within “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” or for the Gungan’s broad characterization that some critics and audiences found reflected racist stereotypes. Jar Jar hate has softened a little over time, particularly concerning the work of performer Ahmed Best, who beat out both Robin Williams and Michael Jackson for the role of Binks and has now gotten to save Baby Yoda in the guise of Jedi Master Kelleran Beq in “The Mandalorian.” But Best was the first to step into a mocap suit,...

Steven Spielberg is one of the most legendary filmmakers of all time, having given blockbusters across several decades. One of the most beloved films in Spielberg’s filmography is the 1993 sci-fi film Jurassic Park, which was a major box office success and spawned a franchise that is still going strong even today.

A still from the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park (Credit: Universal Pictures).

The film gave viewers one of the most realistic looks at dinosaurs and captivated audiences with its stunning visual effects. While the film proved to be a landmark in terms of advancing CGI, the filmmaker’s original plans involved heavy use of practical effects. As a result, the film would’ve turned out even more terrifying, and here is why that did not happen.

Steven Spielberg replaced plans to use practical effects for Jurassic Park

Steven Spielberg directed 1993’s Jurassic Park, one of the biggest blockbusters of its time,...

Accepting the visual effects Oscar for “Dune : Part Two,” production VFX supervisor Paul Lambert acknowledged the contributions of the film’s VFX vendors, including Dneg and Wylie Co. as well as the “incredible Mpc.”

Mpc – whose work has included “Mufasa” The Lion King,” “The Lion King,” and “The Jungle Book” – is the VFX company that closed on Monday when its parent company Technicolor ceased operations. In a memo to employees, Technicolor Group CEO Caroline Parot wrote, “due to inability to find new investors for the full Group, despite extensive efforts, [Paris-headquartered] Technicolor Group has filed for Court ‘recovery procedure’ before the French Court of Justice.”

The news was met with shock and sadness in the visual effects community. Mpc operated in countries including the U.S., UK, Canada and India and employed thousands of artists. It was founded as The Moving Picture Company in the Soho section of London in...

The excellent work on “Dune: Part Two” claimed the VFX Oscar on Sunday, while also leaving a lingering question of why the movies in the rebooted “Planet of the Apes” franchise have also been consistently outstanding but are still overlooked come final voting for the category’s Academy Award.

Since Wes Ball’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” opened last spring, it was widely considered an Oscar frontrunner among VFX practitioners, and its nomination was pretty much viewed as a no brainer. Then last month, the film, with work led by VFX supervisor Erik Winquist and Weta FX, won the top Visual Effects Society Award for outstanding VFX in a photoreal feature, besting titles including the Dune sequel (which did win three trophies that evening).

This isn’t the first time the Apes franchise has had this result. The Visual Effects Society additionally gave its most coveted prize...

Ron Howard and George Lucas’s 1988 fantasy adventure collaboration Willow is heading to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. More here.

Here’s a pleasant surprise to nearly round out the physical media year. Ron Howard’s much-loved fantasy film Willow, starring Warwick Davis, Joanne Whalley and Val Kilmer, is coming to the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format for the first time.

The disc has been confirmed for a 16th December 2024 release, and you can find more on it – and order yourself a copy – right here.

If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, Willow was a collaboration between George Lucas and Ron Howard, a 1988 film that got mixed reviews on its original release, and decent box office. Cracking score from the much-missed James Horner you get too.

The disc release comes with extra features as well, namely this little lot…

Deleted Scenes with Ron Howard

The Making Of An Adventure with...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

For nearly as long as movies have been a form of mass entertainment, the disaster genre has brought excitement and thrills to the big screen, dating back to 1933's "Deluge," which picks up in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in New York. At some point, these films became big business, commanding big budgets in Hollywood. Look no further than 1998, when both "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" opened mere months from one another, offering radically different takes on the whole asteroid colliding with the Earth scenario. The '90s also gifted us a very important entry in this enduring genre in the form of director Jan de Bont's "Twister."

Released in 1996, "Twister" became something of a phenomenon and a real marker for...

Pageantry. Screw ups. Touching tributes. Private beefs made public. There are plenty of reasons to watch the Oscars. But they all amount to partaking in, witnessing, movie history in its many forms — the high art, the gossip, the record-breaking moments when an arthouse director becomes a household name.

However, there are a lot of ways to set a record. There are big moments like Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King tying the record with 11 trophies or Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite becoming the first film not in English (or silent) to win Best Picture. And then, beyond those sit the oddities and records that are nearly impossible to break. Give me records like Walter Brennan winning three Best Supporting Actor awards because, as a former extra, he was popular with the Union of Film Extras, who were allowed to vote. At least, the story goes, they were allowed...

Walt Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards with 22 wins, including four honorary ones. The closest living competitor to Disney's record is Dennis Muren with nine wins. Disney's impressive Oscar record may never be beaten, solidifying his legacy in the entertainment industry.

Disney movies are recipients of various awards, and Walt Disney himself has an unbelievable Oscar record that hasn’t been beaten in over five decades since his last nomination. Walt Disney changed the world of entertainment with the creation of The Walt Disney Company in 1923, which would go on to become a powerhouse in the world of animation and family-friendly content, though the studio has made all types of movies from different genres and for viewers of all ages.

Disney’s reign in the world of animation started in 1928 with the debut of Mickey Mouse in the studio’s first sound film, Steamboat Willie, but the one...

The Will Rogers Picture Pioneers Foundation is holding a screening of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back on Aug. 30, 7Pm at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood to raise funds for its charity.

The non-profit provides support to a multitude of national health and social service programs, as well as financial assistance to members of the motion picture community in times of need. A special appearance will be made by the 501st Legion, an international costuming organization comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans that are committed to supporting communities, moviegoers and charitable causes nationwide.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the historic Tcl Chinese Theatre for their generosity in supporting Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation to raise much-needed funds for members of our community during a time of increasing need,” said Christina Blumer, Executive Director of Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. “We’re also thrilled to collaborate with...

In “I’m a Virgo,” Jharrel Jerome plays a 13-foot-tall teenager in Oakland named Cootie raised by his aunt and uncle (Carmen Ejogo and Mike Epps) in secret. Over the course of the show’s first season, Cootie comes out of hiding, makes friends, and contends with media obsession over his height. Like Riley’s first feature “Sorry to Bother You,” the series develops its own internal logic as it transforms into a scathing indictment of capitalism from some very unexpected directions.

None of that would hold up without its central conceit, which proved challenging, given that Jerome is actually five feet and eight inches. Riley made the show with Amazon on a relatively modest $53 million budget (around the same time that its first season of “Lord of the Rings” cost a reported $1 billion). However, the minimal effects budget wasn’t the only reason he turned to puppets and forced perspective...

In the fall of 1979, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and the rest of the cast and crew arrived on location in the woods of Tennessee to make a movie called "The Evil Dead." It wasn't always called that; its original title was "The Book of the Dead," and there were more suggested titles along the way. Thankfully Raimi went for economy, and the title we know today matches the film: Concise, scary, and in-your-face. 

It also wasn't the first time that Raimi and friends had embarked on such a project. A year earlier, the young filmmaker rustled up $1600 to make a 30-minute proof-of-concept called "Within the Woods" to showcase his team's talent and raise money for their first feature-length movie. It is only just about watchable, but it is fascinating to see some ideas and techniques that Raimi would later use taking shape in the trial run.

"Within the Woods" helped...

Dragonslayer invites fans and newcomers to visit Urland in a newly remastered edition of the 1981 classic, which is now available on Blu-ray and 4K. Paramount Home Entertainment has released the restored edition today, allowing a new generation to experience the Oscar-nominated visual effects of the original. Taking place in a fictionalized version of the sixth century, Dragonslayer follows a young sorcerer's apprentice named Galen as he seeks to rescue Urland from the clutches of the 400-year-old dragon, Vermithrax Pejorative.

Admired not only for its creative fantasy world, Dragonslayer received high praise for its visual effects, which were created by Industrial Light & Magic's Phil Tippett of Star Wars and Jurassic Park fame. The new 4K Ultra HD remaster will focus not only on the delightfully realistic imagery but also include commentary from director Matthew Robbins and his collaborator Guillermo del Toro, who is an avowed fan of the original film.

Related:...

The films in the running for the 2023 Best Visual Effects Oscar are “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Batman,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” Our odds currently indicate that “Avatar: The Way of Water” (31/10) is the frontrunner, followed in order by “Top Gun: Maverick” (39/10), “All Quiet on the Western Front” (9/2), “The Batman” (9/2), and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (9/2).

Included among the 20 individuals in this lineup are 12 past nominees, five of whom have triumphed at least once. The eight first-timers are Geoffrey Baumann (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), “Top Gun: Maverick” trio Seth Hill, Bryan Litson, and Ryan Tudhope, and “All Quiet on the Western Front” quartet Markus Frank, Kamil Jaffar, Viktor Muller, and Frank Petzold.

The two returning contenders who have already won here multiple times each are Joe Letteri (“Avatar: The Way of Water”), who succeeded on four of his previous 10 bids,...

This post contains spoilers for the second episode of "The Mandalorian" season 3.

There are some freaky creatures and robots in the "Star Wars" universe, but the cyborg creation in the latest episode of "The Mandalorian" is one of the freakiest to grace the franchise. If it looks a little familiar, that might be because it's the work of "Star Wars" special effects maestro Phil Tippett, who helped create some of the ground-breaking VFX tech that brought the original trilogy to life, like the At-at walkers and the Battle of Hoth. Tippett recently blew people's minds with his stop-motion feature film, "Mad God," which took him 30 years to finish and release, and he lent his incredible skills to an episode of Rian Johnson's Peacock series "Poker Face," with multiple stop-motion creations coming to life in terrifying glory. 

In the second episode of season 3 of "The Mandalorian," our hero Din Djarin...

(To celebrate "Titanic" and its impending 25th-anniversary re-release, we've put together a week of explorations, inquires, and deep dives into James Cameron's box office-smashing disaster epic.)

James Cameron was not quite the King of the World, or Hollywood for that matter, when he announced in 1995 that he was making an epic drama based on the doomed voyage of the Rms Titanic. He was viewed primarily as an action specialist and, in tandem with collaborators like Stan Winston and Dennis Murren, a visual effects pioneer. "The Terminator" was a B-movie classic that exploded into the mega-blockbuster of "T2: Judgment Day." In between those two movies, Cameron had hit the blockbuster A-list with "Aliens" and nearly lost it all with the pricey commercial disappointment of "The Abyss."

But it was at the bottom of that three-mile-deep trench that Cameron arrived at the project that would vault him to the rarefied,...

The opening of Irvin Kershner's 1980 film "The Empire Strikes Back" didn't leave viewers with must cause for hope. The ending of its predecessor "Star Wars" saw the evil Empire more or less destroyed. A brave cadre of scrappy rebels had gathered in a team of battle crafts to attack and destroy the moon-sized Death Star, a powerful weapon that could destroy an entire planet with one laser blast. With the Death Star destroyed, it appeared that the Good Guys won and the Bad Guys were vanquished.

"The Empire Strikes Back" revealed that the Empire was very much still alive, and was now seeking retribution. The Rebels had taken to hiding out on a remote, frozen world called Hoth, populated only by two-legged beasts of burden and the occasional yeti. The underground rebels' base, however, was almost immediately located by the Empire, and the villains commenced a forward military assault on it.

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that they will be giving the 1981 fantasy film Dragonslayer a 4K Uhd and Blu-ray release on March 21st – and copies are already available for pre-order at This Link! The discs will include over an hour of new special features, as well as an audio commentary with Dragonslayer director Matthew Robbins (who wrote the screenplay with Hal Barwood) and Dragonslayer fan Guillermo del Toro.

Robbins and del Toro have worked together several times over the years, co-writing the screenplays for Mimic, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Crimson Peak, and Pinocchio.

Dragonslayer has the following synopsis: Set in sixth-century England, an ill-tempered, fire-breathing creature—ominously known as Vermithrax Pejorative—terrorizes its citizens until a young sorcerer’s apprentice named Galen (Peter MacNicol) is reluctantly tasked with confronting the beast. For Galen to succeed, it will take more than magic to defeat the dragon.

A press release...

Avatar: The Way of Water — which this week crossed the 2 billion mark at the worldwide box office and is now the sixth highest-grossing movie in history — earned a best picture Oscar nomination this morning, as well as noms for its production design, sound and visual effects.

But James Cameron, who has now directed three of the six highest-grossing movies ever — his 2009 Avatar sits at the top of that chart — was passed over in the directing competition for his groundbreaking film for the 2023 Oscar nominations. (The movie also missed an editing nomination; Cameron edited the movie, along with Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, and the late David Brenner, who died in early 2022).

In this year’s best picture race, Cameron and producer Jon Landau (who together won best picture for Titanic, for which Cameron also claimed the directing trophy) are nominated alongside the producers of All Quiet on the Western Front, The Banshees of Inisherin,...

Let's pretend you like "Star Wars." Based on the box office numbers alone, you probably already do but, just in case you're one of the few hold-outs, let's pretend. You adore Mark Hamill and religiously follow his Twitter. You quote Yoda whenever someone complains about hard work. You used to quote Han Solo but your partner threatened to dip if you ever responded to "I love you" with "I know" again. You're less shy, however, about your love for space and its many wondrous inhabitants. Sure, you probably could do without the Gungans but you day dream about having enough arms to do glorious battle against General Grievous. The point is, at the end of the day, you love "Star Wars."

And Dennis Muren has no idea why. If you don't know who that is, that's okay! You didn't forget about one of your favorite character's actors. Muren might not...

Gale Anne Hurd has been selected by the Visual Effects Society (Ves) as the next recipient of the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to visual arts and filmed entertainment. The award will be presented at the 21st Annual Ves Awards on February 15, 2023, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel.

“Gale Anne Hurd is one of the most respected and influential film and television producers of our generation,” said Ves Chair Lisa Cooke. “By focusing on daring material, championing technological innovations and being the consummate hands-on collaborator, she has carved out a leading position in the previously male-dominated world of the blockbuster, and become a recognized creator of iconic cultural touchstones. Gale is a driving force in our global industry and an exemplary role model, and we are very honored to bestow her with the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The Ves Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by the Ves Board of Directors,...

The documentaries released in 2022 are a versatile mix. Sure, the year saw the expected Netflix true-crime series (including the return of the hit "Unsolved Mysteries" reboot) and celebrations of trailblazers, but we also got the light-hearted, high-spirited stories of unbelievable fraudsters ("The Tinder Swindler"), deeply disturbing stories of human evil ("Our Father"), and scandalous stories of corporate evil ("White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch").

The genre is in undergoing a bit of a boom. For lovers of non-fiction filmmaking, it feels like we have more options now than ever. Last year's critical hit "Flee" redefined what a documentary film looks like, paving the way for the critically acclaimed Canadian animated documentary, "Eternal Spring (長春)." Apple TV+ released a speculative nature documentary series depicting an imagined cretaceous period with "Prehistoric Planet." Neon's trippy indie hit "Moonage Daydream" celebrates David Bowie in a manner wholly unique and fitting for the experimental pop star.

It's difficult to overstate the immense impact "Star Wars" made in Hollywood. Before it exploded into a massive, decades-sprawling, multi-billion dollar franchise, George Lucas' original entry, re-named as "Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope," was a strange and ambitious attempt at bringing the campy space operas the director grew up watching to a modern audience. In a landmark moment, the film introduced a new style of a modern blockbuster and encouraged productions to shift to bigger special effects-heavy adventures — forever changing the theatrical landscape. It wasn't just George Lucas that participated in this revolution, though. His creative team consisted of special effects artists that brought spaceship dogfights and alien worlds to life, a task that was essential to the success of the film and eventual series.

That's why VFX master Dennis Muren, who pioneered both practical and digital effects, has such an enduring legacy within the annals of film history.

While most people love the original "Star Wars" trilogy, they'd also begrudgingly admit that "Return of the Jedi" is where the cracks begin to show. Nothing here is as bad as the prequels, but some of the issues that would define the prequels first start to reveal themselves. In addition to the annoyingly cuddly Ewoks, poor dialogue, and the way Han (Harrison Ford) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) don't seem to have much to do anymore, there's also the problem that it's now easier than ever to pull apart the holes in the plot. 

The biggest offender is the opening sequence where the gang goes to rescue Han, who's been captured, frozen in carbonite, and left hanging around in Jabba the Hutt's lair. As has been nitpicked to death, not a single thing about Luke's plan makes any sense. It's all designed to be as suspenseful and cinematic as possible,...

You'll have to get your scrolling finger ready to review the illustrious career of visual effects maestro Phil Tippett. From the gnarly (and LSD-tinged) conjuring of the Rancor in the far, far away galaxy of "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" (for which he would earn a Best Visual Effects Oscar) to his contributions to the ever-popular fantasy "Willow" under the umbrella of the Industrial Light & Magic (Ilm) team, the award-winning designer and stop-motion artist is responsible for some of cinema's most breathtaking sights.

This year sees the 25th anniversary of "Starship Troopers," a satirical joyride erected on malicious compliance with its source material and buttressed with spectacular creatures crafted under Tippett's care. By the time he came onto the project, Tippet was still moving on the momentum of his VFX creature showcase (credited as "Dinosaur Supervisor") alongside effects titan Stan Winston in Steven Spielberg's 1993 adventure excursion "Jurassic Park.

Click here to read the full article.

Turner Classic Movies and Julien’s Auctions are giving you the chance to own an eponymous mechatronic model employed for Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. All you need is an estimated 2 million to 3 million to make it happen.

E.T and other movie items will go on the auction block when an event billed as “Icons & Idols: Hollywood” takes place live Dec. 17-18 in Beverly Hills and online at JuliensLive.com.

The headliner is the E.T. Hero “No. 1” model that Spielberg brought to life in his 1982 classic. Predating modern CGI technology and effects, the cinematographic marvel, built in 1981, featured 85 points of movement and is regarded as an engineering masterpiece.

“We could not be more honored than to work with the family of Carlo Rambaldi, caretakers of one of the most incredible pop culture figures in the history of Hollywood — E.

Visual effects have come a long way since the first "Star Wars" trilogy premiered in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 1983's "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" broke ground in terms of effects, just as its two predecessors had. One of the people responsible for this was Industrial Light & Magic's Dennis Muren. He worked on the visual effects for both of the first films but had even more responsibility for "Return of the Jedi."  

When you're in demand as a top visual effects artist, you often have to work on more than one project at a time. A while back, Muren spoke to StarWars.com about his experience on the film and how he simultaneously balanced doing work for George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. 

To give you a taste of the work Muren has done, he's provided visual effects for films like "Jurassic Park," "War of the Worlds,...

As a writer, Lawrence Kasdan has crafted stories that would be impossible to tell without the groundbreaking visual effects house Industrial Light & Magic. Kasdan, who co-wrote “The Empire Strikes Back” (and several other “Star Wars” projects), “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Dreamcatcher” (which he also directed), has always been in close proximity to Ilm. But his latest project, a six-part documentary series called “Light & Magic,” goes deep into the history and pedigree of the company, which was created to work on the first “Star Wars” and has transformed the industry, again and again.

In 2019 Kasdan and his wife Meg made a short documentary called “Last Week at Ed’s,” which chronicled the closure of a beloved West Hollywood diner. (The Kasdans frequented it.) “In the process of making that documentary, I fell in love with docs,” Kasdan said. “I love the process. I love not knowing what the story was at the beginning.

Disney+’s new six-part series “Light & Magic” takes audiences inside the magic and history of Industrial Light & Magic, starting with George Lucas’ vision for “Star Wars” and covering how their innovative StageCraft suite of virtual production changed the game in filmmaking.

Speaking with Variety, Janet Lewin, Senior VP of Lucasfilm Visual Effects and General Manager of Ilm, fondly recalls the first time she saw “Star Wars.” “I was 7 years old and was completely blown away. I literally thought there were galaxies like that, far, far away,” she remembers.

Years later, Lewin worked as visual effects producer on “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” and oversaw all aspects of the visual effects and animation business for Lucasfilm and Ilm.

In documenting the rise of Ilm, the series follows the pioneers and VFX trailblazers behind the magic such as Phil Tippett and Dennis Muren.

Tippet is a legend of the VFX world.

Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" was a B-movie transformed into a religious experience via the visual f/x wizardry of Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, and Stan Winston. It represented a quantum leap in terms of computer-generated imagery (which everyone from Hollywood to Topeka already knew as CGI thanks to the watershed "morphing" imagery of James Cameron's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"), casting a spell over moviegoers young and old with that cut from the awestruck expressions of Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum to the stunningly lifelike sight of a thirty-foot tall brachiosaurus. The photorealistic creation of this long-extinct creature from our ancient past...

The post You're All Nuts, Jurassic Park III is The Best Jurassic Park Movie appeared first on /Film.

Industrial Light & Magic, the visual effects house started by George Lucas, is finally getting a documentary series. And it’s coming to Disney+.

The new documentary series, directed by “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Force Awakens” screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, is a six-part affair that will debut exclusively on Disney+ on July 27.

And what’s more, On Friday, May 27, attendees of the Star Wars Celebration will be among the first in the world to get a sneak peek at the project, called “Light & Magic,” with a panel featuring Lawrence Kasdan and Ron Howard. The panel will also feature VFX titans Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston and Rose Duignan, and Lynwen Brennan, Lucasfilm executive vice president and general manager.

The last documentary about Ilm, “Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible,” directed by Leslie Iwerks (who helmed Disney+’s documentary series crown jewel “The Imagineering Story”), was released in 2010 (it currently...

The films in the running for the 2022 Best Visual Effects Oscar are “Dune,” “Free Guy,” “No Time to Die,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Our odds currently indicate that “Dune” (31/10) is the frontrunner, followed in order by “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (4/1), “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (4/1), “No Time to Die” (9/2), and “Free Guy” (9/2).

Included among the 19 individuals are 12 past nominees, four of whom have triumphed at least once. The seven first-timers are Brian Connor (“Dune”), Nikos Kalaitzidis (“Free Guy”), Sean Noel Walker (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), and pairs Joel Green and Charlie Noble (“No Time to Die”) and Scott Edelstein and Chris Waegner (“Spider-Man: No Way Home”).

Connor’s three fellow “Dune” nominees – Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, and Gerd Nefzer – have each won this award at least once before. Lambert and Nefzer prevailed in 2018 for “Blade Runner 2049,...

Given its subject matter, it’s fitting that Scott Leberecht’s documentary “Spaz” is so committed to throwing a middle finger to the filmmaking establishment, but in wielding awkward narrative tools, Leberecht undermines his own film’s idiosyncratic subject. The film follows Steve “Spaz” Williams, the revolutionary and rebellious visual effects designer behind “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “Jurassic Park,” “The Mask,” and so forth, to build out

“I had it all,” Williams laments in the film’s opening voiceover, clumsily calling up the wide variety of films that open with the similarly toned (and now meme’d to death) “you’re probably wondering how I got here?” query. The framing is cliche, setting up an unnecessary narrative artificiality to what’s clearly a real heartache. But once Leberecht throws the narrative back into his engaging subject’s hands to recount his turbulent life, from childhood to his time at Lucasfilm...

Exclusive: After a production hiatus of a few years, filming is back underway on making-of documentary Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II, which will feature interviews with Dan Aykroyd, the late Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, director and producer Ivan Reitman, producers Joe Medjuck and Michael C. Gross, and Ilm’s Dennis Muren.

The film will include a score from film and TV vet Randy Edelman who scored Ghostbusters II.

Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II hails from UK brother and sister team, Anthony and Claire Bueno. It is a Bueno Production, produced by Claire Bueno, and executive-produced by Laurence Gornall of Unannounced Films.

Screen Media is theatrically re-releasing the same team’s Ghostbusters I making-of doc, Cleanin’ Up The Town (2019), on October 1.

The theatrical and VOD re-release will come shortly before Jason Reitman’s anticipated Ghostbusters: Afterlife arrives in November.

“Contrary to popular belief, Ghostbusters II...

Screen Media has just announced they'll be releasing an extended version of their genre documentary Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters, just in time for the Halloween season. The doc takes us back to the making of the classic with behind-the-scenes footage and boasts 46 interviews with cast and crew alongside never-before-seen archive material. The cast and crew talk candidly and reminisce of the magical and chaotic time they spent making one of our all time favorites.

Among the interviews and stories told, we see Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver to Annie Potts, David Margulies, William Atherton, Kurt Fuller and Jason Reitman, with Director Ivan Reitman, Producer Michael C. Gross, Visual Effects crew including Richard Edlund, Terry Windell, Dennis Muren and Steve Johnson, musicians Ray Parker Jr and The Bus Boys. They discuss our delicious Stay Puft marshmallow man! It was directed by Anthony Bueno who also...

While it may not be Friday the 13th, Tuesday the 13th is still shaping up to be a great day for horror fans, as we have a ton of great Blu-ray and DVD releases to look forward to. For all you Phans out there, Well Go USA has put together a new box set celebrating the Phantasm series, complete with a replica silver sphere to boot, and for those of you who have been looking forward to Scream Factory’s Collector’s Edition Blu of the House of Wax remake, your wait is nearly over. In terms of new horrors headed home this week, Held, Monster Seafood Wars, Queen of Spades and The Night (2020) are being released on Tuesday as well. And if you happened to miss it in theaters or on HBO Max earlier this year, you can finally catch up with the new Mortal Kombat tomorrow on a variety of formats.

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is officially 30 years old as of July 1, 2021. The James Cameron-directed film is widely regarded as one of the best action films ever made and one of the best sequels ever made. To mark the 30th anniversary, Cameron participated in a lengthy oral history of the film published by The Ringer. While discussing the early writing process, the director revealed the idea to create Sarah Connor’s 10-year-old son, John Connor, hit him during an ecstasy trip.

“I remember sitting there once, high on E, writing notes for ‘Terminator,’ and I was struck by Sting’s song, that ‘I hope the Russians love their children too,'” Cameron said. “And I thought, ‘You know what? The idea of a nuclear war is just so antithetical to life itself.’ That’s where the kid came from.”

Who knew one of the seminal figures of “The Terminator” franchise...

The Visual Effects Society has named Oscar-winning director-producer-screenwriter Peter Jackson as the forthcoming recipient of the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to filmed entertainment. The award will be presented at the 19th Annual Ves Awards, streaming worldwide on April 6 or 7 (depending on time zone) and hosted by comedian Patton Oswalt.

The Ves Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed by the Ves Board of Directors, recognizes an outstanding body of work that has significantly contributed to the art and/or science of the visual effects industry. Ves will honor Jackson for “his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound gift for blending iconic imagery and unforgettable narrative on an epic scale.” Indeed, Jackson made history with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously.

Ves also cited “Jackson’s ability to harness craft to bring his unique visions to life and...

Previous winners include Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Jon Favreau.

Peter Jackson will receive the Visual Effects Society’s lifetime achievement award at the 19th Annual Ves Awards on April 6.

The Ves Lifetime Achievement Award recognises “an outstanding body of work that has significantly contributed to the art and/or science of the visual effects industry”.

Calling Jackson “one of the most innovative filmmakers of our generation”, Ves board chair Lisa Cooke added: “Peter pushes the known boundaries of filmmaking and his vision and contributions to the art are legendary.”

Jackson added, “If I was ever going to be...

Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren will receive the View Conference’s 2020 Visionary Award during this year’s event, which is taking place both in-person in Turin, Italy, and virtually.

The longtime VFX maven is best known for his work on the original “Star Wars,” as well as “The Abyss,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Jurassic Park.” Currently he is creative director and senior visual effects supervisor and Ilm, working on the company’s ground-breaking techniques and technologies. He’s won nine Oscars.

“Dennis Muren is a force of nature and a real living legend,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Throughout his career, he has elevated his craft to the highest levels and inspired young artists to follow him into the stratosphere. He is, without question, a worthy recipient of this year’s Visionary Award.”

Muren will give a keynote address on Friday, Oct. 23, the last day of the conference,...

The View Conference is offering free streaming access to its 2020 program, which runs from Oct. 18-23 in Turin, Italy.

“There has been so much bad news in 2020, so I’m thrilled to be able to share some great news for a change,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Everyone could use some extra light and joy in their lives, so we have made the unprecedented decision to make this year’s conference completely free.” Those who register will have streaming access to the conference’s 125 online and on-site talks, workshops, master classes and panels.

“Every session will be available online, allowing anyone to attend anywhere in the world,” said Gutierrez. “This is a fantastic chance to grow the View community and to welcome into our family participants who are unable to travel to Torino or buy a full access pass.”

Keynote speakers include Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull, Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren,...

Cartoon Saloon co-founder and creative director Tomm Moore will take part in a presentation about his latest film, “Wolfwalkers,” during the 2020 View Conference, along with his co-director, Ross Stewart, and other key artists.

“Wolfwalkers,” which generated lots of buzz during the Toronto Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, is the latest film from Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon. The studio’s “The Secret of Kells” and “Song of the Sea,” both directed by Moore, were nominated for Academy Awards for animated feature. “Wolfwalkers” will stream worldwide on Apple TV Plus later this year.

Joining Moore and Stewart for the 90-minute online talk will be assistant director Mark Mullery, character designer Sandra Andersen, art director Maria Pareja and animation supervisor Svend Rothmann Bonde.

“We are lucky to be able to enjoy the work of such wonderful storytellers as Cartoon Saloon,” said conference director Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Their exquisite films...

After taking viewers on a walk down the macabre memory lane of ’80s horror cinema with the documentary In Search of Darkness (coming to Shudder later this year), CreatorVC is now giving fans of ’80s sci-fi a similar experience to look forward to with the new documentary In Search of Tomorrow. Although its main focus is on sci-fi films of the ’80s, there are still plenty of insightful scares examined in the new documentary, as the latest trailer highlights the documentary's inclusion of many memorable movies from the horror/sci-fi subgenre.

From Aliens and Invaders From Mars (1986) to Predator and The Thing, the new In Search of Tomorrow trailer shows what happened when horror and sci-fi collided to create iconic cinema moments and masterful practical effects.

Here's what writer/director/producer David Weiner had to say about the horror sci-fi elements of In Search of Tomorrow:

"Eighties Sci-Fi was packed with memorable horror-crossover elements,...

After taking viewers on a walk down the macabre memory lane of ’80s horror cinema with the documentary In Search of Darkness (coming to Shudder later this year), CreatorVC is now giving fans of ’80s sci-fi a similar experience to look forward to with the new documentary In Search of Tomorrow. Featuring interviews with more than 40 (and counting) notable actors, directors, writers, special effects artists, and composers who helped bring iconic ’80s sci-fi films to life In Search of Tomorrow has launched its official Kickstarter campaign.

Running until midnight Pst on May 17th, the Kickstarter campaign for In Search of Tomorrow includes seven support platforms, and not only allows sci-fi fans to support the documentary, but also become a part of its immersive celebration of ’80s sci-fi cinema, including a Discord community that will allow supporters to participate in watch parties and Q&As with special guests from the documentary.

In this edition of Star Wars Bits: Star Wars: The High Republic interviews and updates Star Wars Battlefront II – The Age of Rebellion update Clone Wars Declassified: five highlights from “A Distant Echo” Talking Bay 94: A Star Wars Podcast interviews Dennis Muren, Jake Lunt Davies J.J. Lendl’s Star Wars: The Sequel Trilogy lithograph art […]

The post Star Wars Bits: The High Republic, Battlefront II Updates, The Art and Imagery of The Mandalorian, Clone Wars Declassified, and More! appeared first on /Film.

Given the decades-spanning narrative of “The Irishman,” visual effects supervisor Pablo Helman had an unenviable task: turn back the clock for septuagenarians Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. In fact, when Martin Scorsese told Helman what he wanted him to do, he admits his first thought was, “Boy, we’re in trouble.” Watch our exclusive video interview with Helman above.

See Martin Scorsese movies: All 25 films ranked worst to best

The Netflix release covers around 50 years, from the 1950s to the 2000s, in telling the story of Frank Sheeran (De Niro) from his beginnings as a lowly truck driver to his career as a mob hit man for Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and his involvement in the disappearance of Teamsters union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino). Visual effects were needed to de-age the actors several decades, while makeup aged them into their characters’ later years.

This was “a very risky move for all of us,...