Michael Heilemann28FebFebruary282018

George Lucas on Comics (1975)

A very rare interview snippet with George Lucas recorded in 1975 in which he talks about his relationship with comics.

Michael Heilemann28FebFebruary282018

Michael Heilemann28FebFebruary282016

The Millennium Falcon

It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs.

Michael Heilemann28FebFebruary282016

Michael Heilemann19OctOctober192015

Views From a Ridge

Far from a hive of scum and villany, 2001: A Space Odyssey's Clavius Base might well have been the first visual reference for Mos Eisley

Michael Heilemann19OctOctober192015

Michael Heilemann23AugAugust232015

Artists

The Mœbius Probe

One of art legend Mœbius’s smallest comic book doodles grew to a starring role in Star Wars II.

Michael Heilemann23AugAugust232015

Artists

Michael Heilemann 5AprApril 52015

The Birth of R2-D2

How Douglas Trumbull's 1972 low-budget, bleeding heart science fiction classic yielded not just the basic look of, but the humanity of R2-D2 and robots everywhere.

Michael Heilemann 5AprApril 52015

Michael Heilemann31DecDecember312014

Early Career

The New Cinema (1968)

A 30-minute unaired TV special on late-60s student films, with early Coppola and Lucas interviews.

Michael Heilemann31DecDecember312014

Early Career

Michael Heilemann30DecDecember302014

Early Career

Filmmaker: A Diary by George Lucas (1968)

Lucas's cinema verité documentary for Coppola's The Rain People (1969).

Michael Heilemann30DecDecember302014

Early Career

Filmmaker: A Diary by George Lucas (1968)

Michael Heilemann 7DecDecember 72014

Artists

Cantwell's Concept Art

Colin Cantwell opens up about his work on Star Wars, and shares never before seen concept art.

Michael Heilemann 7DecDecember 72014

Artists

Michael Heilemann15NovNovember152014

Edward Summer

Ed was best known for his comic book store and its association with George Lucas. He passed away in 2014.

Michael Heilemann15NovNovember152014

Michael Heilemann 1AprApril 12014

Music

The Origins and Inspirations of John William's Star Wars Score

John Williams' throwback to romantic adventure films, the most financially successful score of all time, also borrowed from the past.

Michael Heilemann 1AprApril 12014

Music

The Origins and Inspirations of John William's Star Wars Score

Michael Heilemann27MarMarch272014

Openings

Short, but sweet mashup video that looks at the opening of Star Wars and its bevy of influences.

Michael Heilemann27MarMarch272014

Michael Heilemann12MarMarch122014

Music, Artists

Tintin and the Hidden Fortress

Igor Stravinsky, Tintin and the Hidden Fortress. A simple walk through the Jundland Wastes proves itself to be quite layered.

Michael Heilemann12MarMarch122014

Music, Artists

Michael Heilemann 2DecDecember 22013

The Searchers

When it was first released in 1956, John Ford's latest western The Searchers didn't set the world on fire. But it wasn't long before it started its long crawl back into the limelight. And by the late 60s a new generation of film makers, including George Lucas, found renewed inspiration in it.

Michael Heilemann 2DecDecember 22013

Michael Heilemann12SepSeptember122013

Artists

Valérian and Laureline

Following the adventures of spatio-temporal agents Valérian and Laureline as they hurdle through time and space, righting wrongs and getting out of tight jams, Mézières and Christin's trend-setting comic series was lightyears ahead of its time.

Michael Heilemann12SepSeptember122013

Artists

Michael Heilemann31AugAugust312013

Kurosawa

With a career stretching almost 60 years, Akira Kurosawa remains one of the most influential directors in the history of the medium. The pinnacle of his popularity however was perfectly timed with a batch of impressionable USC students ready to take on the world, and his impact on George Lucas in particular is the stuff of legends.

Michael Heilemann31AugAugust312013

Michael Heilemann18AugAugust182013

Scum and Villainy

A hive of scum and villainy, and nexus of western, middle-eastern and eastern influences.

Michael Heilemann18AugAugust182013

Michael Heilemann16AugAugust162013

Casablanca

One of the greatest stories of tragic love ever cast onto the silver screen, Casablanca stood model for Mos Eisley and its scum and villany.

Michael Heilemann16AugAugust162013

Michael Heilemann 9AugAugust 92013

Dark Star

John Carpenter and Dan O'Bannon’s USC short turned feature was a predecessor to Alien and an inspiration to both Star Wars and Star Trek.

Michael Heilemann 9AugAugust 92013

Michael Heilemann 6AugAugust 62013

Artists

B for Berkey

We know that one of John Berkey's paintings became the foundation for The Deathstar, but his influence might have gone beyond that, into the aptly named B-Wing.

Michael Heilemann 6AugAugust 62013

Artists

Michael Heilemann 2AugAugust 22013

Artists

Kaluta's Landspeeder

Luke's speeder is another distinct design in a world filled with them. As it turns out, Flash Gordon flew, and 'died' in one very similar to it half a decade before Luke. Perhaps they both shop at Wioslea?

Michael Heilemann 2AugAugust 22013

Artists