Light & Magic is a new documentary coming to Disney+ directed by Lawrence Kasdan on July 27th. It’s such a big deal that an entire panel plus press conference at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim was dedicated to the look behind the scenes of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the special visual effects, animation, and virtual production division that created the visuals from Lucasfilm.
The panel consisted of Ron Howard, Lawrence Kasdan (virtually), Lynwen Brennan (Lucasfilm Executive Vice President), Joe Johnston, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, and Rose Duignan.
Kasdan commented that ILM has an environment where “geniuses help geniuses.” There was no pride, and everyone only wanted to do their job.
That sentiment was echoed by everyone on the panel. And at the heart of it all was George Lucas.
Lucas was vague about things, because he liked choices, but he always had the attitude of “I don’t know how we’re going to do that, but we’re going to do it.”
Duignan said children were really important to Lucas and it was ‘selflessness over selfishness.’ She actually pitched daycare to Lucasfilm, and it was just her three children at first. But since families were so important to Lucas, Lucasfilm approved the expenditure, and other families eventually joined, too.
Lynwen Brennan thanked Duignan, because she was also able to utilize the daycare. She said now the daycare is on site and “there’s a wonderful family feeling there.” Everybody is there with their kids eating lunch, and she even said she was promoted to President while she was maternity leave. So that gives you an idea of how much of a family affair it was and is. “It’s a family affair.”
Duignan said, “You know that if people are happy where their children are- if their children are happy, they’re going to stay.” That was part of the selflessness attitude that made ILM such a great place to work and which fostered creativity.
At the press conference when asked about whether ILM was nervous about secrets or copycats after the documentary the sentiment was it’s not how the sausage is made, it’s who’s making the sausage.
This team is committed to the work. And if the effects work is falling short, then the emotional reaction may be less to the story. Thank to George Lucas, they were the rebel alliance.
Light & Magic premieres on Disney+ on July 27, 2022!