USA: GEORGE LUCAS PRESENTED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE

Record ID: 191306

  • Title: USA: GEORGE LUCAS PRESENTED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY THE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE
  • Date: 9th June 2005
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 09, 2005) (REUTERS) WIDE OF GEORGE LUCAS ENTERS KODAK THEATER GREETED BY FANS AND FRIENDS VARIOUS OF STEVEN SPIELBERG PRESENTING LUCAS WITH AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WIDE/PAN OF EXTERIOR OF KODAK THEATER SLV SPIELBERG AND LUCAS ON RED CARPET SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) GEORGE LUCAS SAYING: "Well, this is the American Film Institute, it's an important institution and the people who have won this award or received this award before are very important people, so to be included in that group is wonderful." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) STEVEN SPIELBERG SAYING: "He's given the movie industry a second chance to understand that our imagination is our most important asset." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) GEORGE LUCAS SAYING: "One thing that's happening is that it's under a great transition with digital technology and the role of distributors and exhibitors are all going to shift rather dramatically and the roles of the studios are going to shift. I think cinema is going to become much more democratized and a lot more people will be able to enter into the medium and you know be creative and get seen than has ever happened in the past." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) STEVEN SPIELBERG SAYING: "I don't think I'm ever up against George. I think we help each other. George has gotten more people interested in science fiction, some of whom who maybe never saw the last 5 episodes of Star Wars. It only helps other movies that come along of the same genre like "War of the Worlds." We don't compete, we've never competed."
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAE892W13Y93C05NZURW7LDA5VS
  • Story Text: The American Film Institute honors George Lucas with lifetime achievement award.
    The American Film Institute honored George Lucas with its 2005 Life Achievement Award. The creator of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and American Graffiti was recognized by the AFI as a master storyteller and a moving image pioneer.
    Lucas' low-budget film, American Graffiti (1973),was the most successful film of its time. But it was Star Wars (1977), Lucas' third film, which vaulted Lucas to pioneer and visionary status. He created Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom(1984) with Steven Spielberg which made box office records of their own.
    Beyond his storytelling skills, as chairman of Lucasfilm Ltd., Lucas oversaw its growth into all facets of filmmaking and entertainment. Industrial Light and Magic has delivered revolutionary visual effects for scores of films and has made numerous inroads into the world of digital imagery. The computer graphic research division of Lucasfilm was spun-off in 1986 and became Pixar Animation Studios.
    When asked where the movie industry is heading, Lucas responded, "one thing that's happening is that it's under a great transition with digital technology and the role of distributors and exhibitors are all going to shift rather dramatically and the roles of the studios are going to shift. I think cinema is going to become much more democratized and a lot more people will be able to enter into the medium and you know be creative and get seen than has ever happened in the past."
    Steven Spielberg and George Lucas both have science fiction films in theaters this summer. When Spielberg was asked whether there was an element of competition between the two filmmakers, Spielberg responded, "I don't think I'm ever up against George. I think we help each other. George has gotten more people interested in science fiction, some of whom who maybe never saw the last 5 episodes of Star Wars. It only helps other movies that come along of the same genre like "War of the Worlds." We don't compete, we've never competed."
    Lucas' latest film and final Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, is in theaters now.
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