Hi folks! You may or may not have heard of the film, “The People vs. George Lucas” but uh…you will now!
THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS is a no-holds-barred, no stone unturned, completely uncensored, yet balanced cultural examination of the conflicted dynamic between the great George Lucas and his fans over the past three decades. Chock-full of impassioned interviews, stop-motion and 3D animation, Super 8 action figure films, puppet rants and many other surprises, this unique participatory doc is the ultimate expression of the fans’ obsession for a man and a universe that defined an entire generation.
It’s a fun and interesting take on George Lucas, Star Wars, and the wide mix of fans that either love the whole thing, hate the whole thing, or are somewhat unsure what to believe. Some think Lucas has lost his mind and refuse to forgive him for raping their childhood, others can’t fault the guy for following his vision, and yet others remain ambivalent.
This film documents all of the above in a fun way, without taking sides, and will hopefully be entertaining. It’s well shot, has some budget behind it, and is going for a worldwide theatrical release, starting this year at SXSW in Texas as a headliner. (See the info/press release below)
I was contacted by the producers a while back (going on two years now I suppose) and was asked to be interviewed for the film. I agreed and I believe some of that footage has made it into the final film. It’ll probably just be a few seconds here or there so keep your eyes open for the old T-bone!
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FILM INFO
Revered by some, feared and demonized by others, George Lucas is undoubtedly one of the most passionately debated and vilified filmmakers in movie history. Why have so many of his original fans turned against him to decry the release of the Special Editions and the Prequel Trilogy? Why is he still the recurring target of bloggers, critics and self-proclaimed devotees? And why are millions of others staunchly prepared to defend him in the face of innumerable allegations?
THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS explores the titanic struggle between a Godlike filmmaker and his legions of fans over the most popular franchise in movie history. The film combines key testimonies from the likes of Gary Kurtz (Producer of AMERICAN GRAFITTI, STAR WARS and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK), Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN, AMERICAN GODS), Dave Prowse (aka Darth Vader), Anthony Waye (Executive Producer of the BOND franchise), and Dale Pollock (George Lucas’s Biographer, Author of SKYWALKING) with fan footage from around the globe, and impassioned testimonies from George’s staunchest fans and foes.
A tribute to the YouTube generation, this unique participatory documentary examines and articulates the many contentious issues that have become an integral part of the Star Wars mystique, and deconstructs George Lucas’s cultural legacy through the prism of his fans. Fundamentally, THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS is about how new media interacts with old media, as well as ownership and copyright in the digital age.
Production Notes
Genesis of the Project
As an ardent Star Wars fan and collector, Film Director Alexandre O. Philippe has found himself engaged in numerous debates about George Lucas’s legacy and the cultural relevance of the many debates surrounding the Star Wars franchise. While enjoying a crew meal on location in Waco, TX, for a commercial shoot, Philippe found himself in another impassioned debate with Robert Muratore, Director of Photography. “I had the title in my head for years,” recollects Alexandre, “but it really came to life during the summer of 2007. Robert seemed really enthusiastic about making this film, and he’s the one who convinced me to move forward with it.”
Documenting the single most peculiar relationship between a popular artist and his fans called for a participatory approach. We are talking about a dominant cultural debate that refuses to die, and about one of the most powerful and influential filmmakers in the history of our medium—a man who defied the system against all odds and revolutionized the industry. The project’s open call for contributions led to thousands of fan emails and submissions, including puppet skits, 3D animation, claymation, grindhouse commercials, vintage 8mm films, hours and hours of webcam rants, fanedits, fan vids, and even kids’ drawings.
Filming
Nearly three years in the making, and 63,686 frequent flier miles, 634 hours of footage, 14TB of drive space, 126 interviews, thousands of fan emails and submissions, and only three death threats later… THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS has been an odyssey in documentary filmmaking.
Principal Photography began in early 2008, and has spanned three continents. Additionally, fan submissions poured in from every corner of the globe, including Brazil, Poland, Germany, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Sweden, France, Japan, Antarctica, and more!
Post Production
The sheer amount of both original and submitted footage (634 hours total) led to months of painstaking logging work. Many impassioned fan submissions were several hours in length. Out of respect for the fans and the participatory process, we ensured that every frame was considered.
The eclectic mix of formats, frame rates and production qualities led to technical challenges that required innovative techniques and solutions from our editing team. An estimated 30 weeks of actual editing time were required to complete the project for our World Premiere at South by Southwest in March 2010.
Key Contributors
Gary Kurtz (Producer of AMERICAN GRAFITTI, STAR WARS and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK)
Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN, AMERICAN GODS)
David Brin (Author, THE POSTMAN, STAR WARS ON TRIAL)
David Prowse (aka Darth Vader)
Anthony Waye (Executive Producer of the BOND franchise)
Dale Pollock (George Lucas’s Biographer, Author of SKYWALKING)
Wendy Ide (Film Critic, THE TIMES)
Sandy Lieberson (Former Head of Production at 20th Century Fox)
Ian Freer (EMPIRE MAGAZINE)
Todd Hansen (THE ONION)
Glenn Kenny (Film critic and author, A GALAXY NOT SO FAR AWAY)
Joe Leydon (Film critic, VARIETY contributor)
Jeff Bond (Editor-In-Chief, GEEK MONTHLY)
Jonathon London (Geekscape.net)
Eric Stough (Director of Animator, SOUTH PARK)
Chris Gore (FILMTHREAT)
Daryl G. Frazetti (Cultural Anthropologist)
Tony Millionaire (Cartoonist, SOCKY MONKEY, MAAKIES)
Chris Stompolos (Producer, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION)
Joe Nussbaum (Director, GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE)
Kevin Rubio (Director, TROOPS)
Casey Pugh (Creator, STAR WARS UNCUT)
Paul Yates (Director, THE TRIAL OF HAN SOLO)
Festivals and Awards
THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS will World Premiere in the prestigious Spotlight Premieres section at the South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Austin, Texas, which runs from March 12th to 21st 2010.
Further screenings at worldwide festivals will be announced on www.peoplevsgeorge.com.