Category: The Lucasfilm Files

The Lucasfilm Files, about Lucasfilm, life at Lucasfilm, photographs, yearbook files

Steve Jobs – The Lost Interview

Great Stories, My Books, not Sci-Fi, The Lucasfilm Files

The the most important person of the end of 20th and the beginning of the 21st century. I have been a solid Windows person up until the moment I saw our lead engineer at Lucas use a botcamped mac. I bought an intel based mac and gradually moved onto the mac side. Once i moved into the mac side – I realized it is like playing the piano as supposed to chopping wood.

Mac allows very smooth and fast workflows – if you make a living on a computer – this is the way to go to minimize the time you spend on managing your OS. And not just that – many innovative ways to approach visual interface and put machines in service of people and increase productivity.

And this is what the person who made all this possible has to say on variety of topics. He was a brilliant guy who was the epitome of what Silicon Valley was about. Or is.
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it is also available on Netflix.

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“..there are certain things you can’t make electrons do..”

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Star Wars From Puppets To Pixels: Digital Characters In Episode II Documentary – and one more reason not to ever give up on what you love

George, Making of Star Wars, Star Wars, The Lucasfilm Files

My original vision for star wars was to have a lot of epic scale to it .. and at the same time have space ships and have creatures.. and all kind of fantastic things going on in it..

 

..Imagine a grown adult says this, and then probably repeats it in a boardroom because at some point George certainly did say this to a money guy, everyone laughs and then he goes on to make this vision and more and makes four billion dollars at the end.

 

There are probably homes in the suburbs where parents still tell their kids to stop dreaming.. but at the end of the day if you didn’t get enough of dreaming as a kid – you should know it is a great way to do adulting too.

 

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and of course a little tiny subversive essay by Paul Graham.. on performing certain tests to try and see what is it that you love :

http://www.paulgraham.com/love.html

Animation Workers Antitrust Litigation – http://www.animationlawsuit.com/

The Lucasfilm Files

If you worked for the following companies you may be eligible for compensation. Get in touch with the Class Action Administrator here http://www.animationlawsuit.com/contact-us.aspx :

Pixar (2004 – 2010), Lucasfilm Ltd., LLC (2004 – 2010), DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (from 2004 – 2010), The Walt Disney Company (2004 – 2010), Sony Pictures Animation Inc. and Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. (2004 – 2010), Blue Sky Studios, Inc. (2005 – 2010) and Two Pic MC LLC f/k/a ImageMovers Digital LLC (2007 – 2010).

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is this lawsuit about?
  2. What is a class action, and who is involved?
  3. Am I a Class Member?
  4. Why are there Settlements with Blue Sky and Sony Pictures?
  5. Why don’t the Settlements end the case?
  6. Is the lawsuit continuing?
  7. What happens if the Plaintiffs later reach a settlement with the Non-Settling Defendants?
  8. Will my manager know whether or how I responded to the Notice?
  1. What is this lawsuit about?The lawsuit claims that Defendants conspired to suppress compensation by agreeing not to solicit each other’s employees and to coordinate compensation policies in violation of federal and state antitrust laws. Each of the Defendants, including Blue Sky and Sony Pictures, denies that it violated any laws or engaged in any wrongdoing. Blue Sky and Sony Pictures have entered into separate Settlement Agreements with Plaintiffs. The other Defendants (DreamWorks Animation, Two Pic (f/k/a Image Movers Digital), Lucasfilm, Pixar, and The Walt Disney Company) have not settled with the Plaintiffs, and the case against them continues. To obtain more information about the claims in this lawsuit, you can view the complaint and other court documents here.Top
  2. What is a class action, and who is involved?In a class action lawsuit, one or more persons called “Named Plaintiffs” or “Class Representatives” sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. The people with similar claims together are a “Class” and are called “Class Members.” A class action resolves the issues for all Class Members, except for those who exclude themselves from the Class. The Court appointed Named Plaintiffs Georgia Cano, Robert Nitsch, and David Wentworth as Class Representatives in this case.Top
  3. Am I a Class Member?For Settlement Class Members, Animation or visual effects employees who held specific job titles at one or more of the Defendant companies during certain time periods may be Settlement Class Members and eligible for a payment from the Settlements when the funds are distributed, if they meet the following class definition:All animation and visual effects employees employed by one or more of the Defendants in the United States who held any of the job titles listed in the attached List of Job Titles by Defendant during the following time periods: Pixar (2001 – 2010), Lucasfilm Ltd., LLC (2001 – 2010), DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (2003 – 2010), The Walt Disney Company (2004 – 2010), Sony Pictures Animation Inc. and Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. (2004 – 2010), Blue Sky Studios, Inc. (2005 – 2010) and Two Pic MC LLC formerly known as ImageMovers Digital LLC (2007 – 2010).  Excluded from the Class are senior executives, members of the board of directors, and persons employed to perform office operation or administrative tasks.To be in the Settlement Class and participate in either Settlement, you must have been an employee and held one or more of the job titles listed on the List of Job Titles by Defendant available here during the time periods mentioned.

    For Litigation Class Members, Animation or visual effects employees who held specific job titles at one or more of the Defendant companies during certain time periods may be Litigation Class Members if they meet the following class definition.

    All animation and visual effects employees employed by one or more of the Defendants in the United States who held any of the job titles listed in the List of Job Titles by Defendant during the following time periods: Pixar (2004 – 2010), Lucasfilm Ltd., LLC (2004 – 2010), DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (from 2004 – 2010), The Walt Disney Company (2004 – 2010), Sony Pictures Animation Inc. and Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. (2004 – 2010), Blue Sky Studios, Inc. (2005 – 2010) and Two Pic MC LLC f/k/a ImageMovers Digital LLC (2007 – 2010).  Excluded from the Class are senior executives, members of the board of directors, and persons employed to perform office operation or administrative tasks.

    To be in the Litigation Class, you must have been an employee and held one or more of the job titles listed on the List of Job Titles by Defendant available hereduring the time periods mentioned.

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  4. Why are there Settlements with Blue Sky and Sony Pictures?The Court has not found in favor of any party, including Plaintiffs, Blue Sky, Sony Pictures or the Non-Settling Defendants. Plaintiffs and Blue Sky, and separately Plaintiffs and Sony Pictures, have agreed to Settlement Agreements which, if they are approved, will bring the claims against Blue Sky and Sony Pictures to an end.  (The Court could also choose to approve one Settlement Agreement, and not the other.)  Settling the case avoids the uncertainty of continuing the case between them and the cost of further litigation, and Settlement Class Members will get the benefits of the Settlements. The Class Representatives and Class Counsel support the Settlements and believe they are in the best interests of the Class.Top
  5. Why don’t the Settlements end the case?Although the Settlements with Blue Sky and Sony Pictures fully resolve the Settlement Class Members’ claims against Blue Sky and Sony Pictures, respectively, the Settlements only partially resolve the case, as it will continue against the Non-Settling Defendants.Top
  6. Is the lawsuit continuing?Blue Sky and Sony Pictures have separately agreed to settle this case.  The Non-Settling Defendants (DreamWorks Animation, Two Pic MC LLC (f/k/a Image Movers Digital LLC), Lucasfilm, Ltd., LLC, Pixar, and The Walt Disney Company) have not agreed to settle, so the lawsuit will continue against them.  More money may become available in the future for Litigation Class Members as a result of additional settlements with and/or a trial against the Non-Settling Defendants, but there is no guarantee this will happen.Top
  7. What happens if the Plaintiffs later reach a settlement with the Non-Settling Defendants?The settlements with Blue Sky and Sony Pictures do not end the case against the Non-Settling Defendants. It cannot be known whether the Plaintiffs would prevail against the Non-Settling Defendants at a trial. If there are additional settlements in the future, there will be notice of those settlements as well for Litigation Class Members.Top
  8. Will my manager know whether or how I responded to the Notice?The Court has appointed an independent, experienced professional Notice and Claims Administrator, Kurtzman Carson Consultants (referred to as “KCC”). The Notice and Claims Administrator will establish and follow procedures to protect the confidentiality of the identity of persons receiving payments or opting out. The Notice and Claims Administrator will issue settlement checks.  The list of those Settlement Class Members receiving checks will not be shared with Defendants, the Court, or Plaintiffs’ counsel.The Notice and Claims Administrator will also receive requests to be excluded from the Settlements.  The Notice and Claims Administrator will be required to share requests to be excluded from the Settlements with Class Counsel and counsel for the Defendants, as well as with the Court.  Objections to the Settlements, as well as the names of those who opt out of the Settlements, will become part of the public record in the court file.Top

Gifts from George, And The Importance of Being Stupid

George, My Books, Star Wars, The Lucasfilm Files

George was one of the most generous employers I have had – in addition to a six figure compensation and having my dream job, free life drawing and sculpture classes, cafeteria with sushi chefs, costume parties complete with indoor luna park, George regularly dispatched gifts to employees. I know for certain that anyone that has ever worked for George, for the most part, has had the time of their lives. The decision to leave Lucasfilm was probably the stupidest thing I have ever done but I had to go and pursue a war of my own, do my own battles and do a Star Wars of my own making.

 

Speaking of stupid things – being stupid is one of the most important things that will ever happen to you. If you sense that you were somewhat a stupid child – make sure to retain and hold onto that quality. I was personally a stupid child, and lived almost entirely in my head. Later on, when i had to work and create imaginary environments and worlds for large corporations – I felt at home and had no problem inhabiting imaginary worlds for hours on end and could conjure silly and stupid things on the fly. It turned out that was very profitable.

 

After all Star Wars was a stupid popcorn movie, wasn’t it? It was so much full on silly we didn’t see it coming – and all of a sudden fell in love with it.

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Gifts from George - Star Wars Anakin Skywalker toy

 

When I first moved to the States I lived in Ohio and had to buy a car. Now, for starters, I had only been in a driver’s seat about three times previously while getting my driver’s license in Europe ( i wouldn’t call that driving ) – my knowledge of cars was limited to general knowledge about a car  – front, back and wheels below. With very limited resources and had to buy anything that moved really for around a thousand dollars. Had I not been stupid about it – i would never have bought an adorable, stick shift Audi Quattro 1997 that had the windows fall down while I was driving mid-winter on the highway. If I were smart about it – I would have taken the bus and would have skipped the part with trying to hold the middle of the lane ( not hitting nearby cars ), crying my eyes out while trying to merge into traffic on a bridge between Ohio and Kentucky.

 

Until this day I cannot touch stick shift with a ten foot pole. So what happened to the silly Audi? Well, owing to the fact that I lived on the border between the good and the bad parts of town – someone slammed into it with full force and then run away ( they never found the culprit, obviously drunk driving in the early hours of the morning ). The Audi got totaled and  State Farm gave me three thousand dollars compensation, which i used to move to California and start my career as a digital artist there.

 

 

 

 

 

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Speaking of stupid – there is a theory in Japanese and Korean aesthetics where imperfections,  accidental damage ( like cracks in pottery ),  roughness and irregularity are highly valued. There is the art of Kintsugi and Wabi-sabi.

 

If you look at the Star Wars universe – it is a well-used world, with cracks and scratches and battle damage. In Wabi-sabi it is called the “appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes”.. Leonard Koren says wabi-sabi is  “the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of traditional Japanese beauty and it occupies roughly the same position in the Japanese pantheon of aesthetic values as do the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the West.”
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Han Solo stuck in carbonite pencil case

 

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Stupid is the other side of the Mastery coin. When you are stupid you act without having made the necessary calculations, which is exactly what you do when you have mastered a craft, an art or a process.

 

This is what Sadhguru says intuition does – allows you to skip the calculations because, in case of mastery, you have accumulated enough information and skills that will enable you to enter a state of flow. Often times you do not have all the data – you do not have all the information available to you. You will need to make decision based on very little information. At the same time you may have not enough time to do the calculations. this is when intuition steps in. Not enough information, and not enough time – ( short of course of hurting yourself of others ) I have always relied on being stupid.

 

 

A picnic set !