There was a three-alarm fire at Skywalker Ranch’s Main House yesterday evening, reports the Marin Independent Journal. There were no injuries and “little to no damage,” but Ranch and Marin County firefighters did call in backup from nearby San Rafael – to help check that the fire hadn’t spread to elsewhere in the building.
The skimmed book review: Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Innovation
It’s that most wonderful time of the year! All those yummy coffee table books about Lucasfilm hit the shelves, hoping for that cool relative to come along who wants to finally get you something awesome. How about considering Industrial Light & Magic – The Art of Innovation by Pamela Glintenkamp? It’s been a while since anyone has updated the fabulousness that is ILM’s extensive record of movie history.
Ms. Glintenkamp had been hired by Lucasfilm to produce the Lucasfilm History Project. (Wouldn’t you like to get your hands on that?) So when the time came to update the history of ILM, she happily took the job.
While she does start out with a brief overview of the years up to 1995, the book’s true purpose is to document their work from 1996 through 2011. Included in the book are movies from each year that represent ILM at its most innovative and creative. (A complete filmography is included in the back.) The major movies feature quotes from the artists who worked on the films about advancements and challenges, as well as a list of any awards received.
But where this book excels is in the photography. Fantastic screen captures of their work make it really colorful and stimulating. Of course, being a Lucasfilm property, there is more extensive coverage of the Star Wars work. But special effects fans won’t be disappointed in any of it.
This is a must for ILM and special effects fans. As for others? It’s definitely a fine book, but if you have to be careful with your gift money, you might wait to see if it goes on sale.
Out this week: Inside ILM, Fisher’s Shockaholic
Here’s one to put on your holiday wishlist: Industrial Light and Magic: The Art of Innovation should be appearing in stores Tuesday. (It sounds like a companion piece to 1987’s Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special Effects, which I recall thumbing through in Waldenbook’s as a kid.) Also keep an eye out for Carrie Fisher’s latest book, Shockaholic, which should find its way into stores this week.
Our next book release is Drew Karpyshyn’s The Old Republic: Revan on November 15th. I spotted a few minor date changes for 2012 books on Random House’s online catalogue – see them in our book release schedule.
Jennifer Heddle is Lucasbook’s new Senior Editor
The new hire in San Francisco is former Simon & Schuster editor Jennifer Heddle. She previously worked with media tie-ins (among other things) at Pocket/Gallery Books. From the Suvudu annoucement:
“I vividly remember buying Heir to the Empire as soon as it was released and to now be a part of that tradition is both an exciting adventure and a serious responsibility,” says Heddle. “And since I’m also a lifelong comic book fan, I’m really getting to explore the best of both worlds.”
Heddle’s main duty will be overseeing the adult fiction program, which works with Del Rey and Dark Horse. These were previously the duties of Executive Editor Sue Rostoni, who retired earlier this year.
By the way… Heddle is on Twitter.
LFL’s Roffman on keeping Star Wars fresh
Marketing Week’s Laura Snoad talks to Howard Roffman on how Lucasfilm is keeping Star Wars relevant in the post-movie era. He pings on the books, video games, and other merchandising issues. Includes a question from our very own Eliz, the answer to which contains interesting bit on the StarWars.com redesign:
The website will also be easier for people to shop for Star Wars products and connect with other fans to see what other news is being generated from multiple sources. There’s an evolution in StarWars.com from wanting to be the [only] fans’ site to understanding we can connect to other channels that fans use to communicate with each other.
Going behind the scenes on Red Tails
This past week, the Red Tails facebook page brought up an album of new photos showing the cast and crew on location. Also, they released the clip above of the actors on the set talking about how they’ve bonded on the set.
Last week, two of the stars of Red Tails, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard, were at a screening of the companion documentary, Double Victory to the Congressional Black Caucus and talked about the Tuskegee Airmen, blacks in Hollywood, and George Lucas’ role in the films. Two of the original Tuskegee Airmen also took the stage at the screening, sharing their viewpoint on being heroes. Watch for screenings of Double Victory in select cities around Veterans Day.
Catching up, looking back with Sue Rostoni
Knights Archive has a nice interview with Lucasbooks editor Sue Rostoni, who retired not that long ago. They chat about missing Lucasfilm, favorite moments, fan criticism, expanded universe regrets and more.
As an added bonus, there are several tributes to Sue from authors.
In the news: Fans love the Yoda statue, ILM may establish Canadian outpost
A dispatch from the mainstream. The Yoda statue at the Presidio is a landmark for Star Wars fans, an Associated Press article says this week. No, really? Other key Star Wars locales, like Tunisia and Lake Como, are also mentioned.
ILM looking north? The Hollywood Reporter says that Industrial Light + Magic is looking into opening a facility in Vancouver.
Your daily dose of stormtroopers. The Illinois 501st get profiled in the Chicago Tribune.
Baseball. The San Francisco Giants are freezing pitcher Brian Wilson (not the Beach Boy) in carbonite for the Star Wars day on September 4th. Wouldn’t it make more sense to freeze the visiting team’s pitcher?
Science! Spoilers are good for you, says a study by UC San Diego. Okay then!
Red Tails to take flight in January 2012
StarWars.com announced today the release date for Red Tails: January 20, 2012. The film, being produced by George Lucas and directed by Anthony Hemingway, focuses on the story of the Tuskegee airmen in World War II, and stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, and Ne-Yo.
January seems a telling time for Fox to release the film – it seems that it is neither going for Oscar contention nor summer blockbuster status, and it comes out less than a month before The Phantom Menace 3-D.
Lucasfilm loses appeal in U.K. over helmets
Lucasfilm had one of those up and down days in the UK courts.
They lost their appeal of a prior rejection in the UK courts against Andrew Ainsworth and his stormtrooper helmet replicas. In short, the stormtrooper helmets were considered to be utilitarian and not artistic (since they were used as a costume for a movie), so the “antiquated” UK copyright laws did not apply.
But, on the upside, Bloomberg says that this has established that companies can sue to enforce copyrights held in other countries. Corporate lawyers everywhere rejoice.