Lucasfilm Ltd. | Principles & Practices

by Zachary Gulergun

(Image Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd.)

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Overview:

Lucasfilm Limited is a privately held American film production company that was founded by George Lucas in 1971. It is currently located in Presidio of San Francisco, CA. The company is best known for producing the Star Wars series, the Indiana Jones franchise, and American Graffiti. {1} In addition to motion picture and television production, the company’s global businesses include visual effects, sound, video games, licensing, and online activity. Lucasfilm has been a leading contributor in the advancements of developing new film technology for special effects, sound, and computer animation. {2}

Contents

Brief History
Executives
Top Competitors
Recent News
Contact Information
References

Brief History:

1971 – George Lucas founds Lucasfilm Ltd. with the release of THX 1138
(Image Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd.)
1973 – American Graffiti is released
1975 – Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) division formed
1977 – Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope is released
(Image Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd.)
1978 – Lucas purchases Skywalker Ranch
1979 – Lucasfilm sets up the computer R & D division to create tech needed for digital imaging, electronic editing and interactivity; Skywalker Sound division is formed; Lucas Licensing division is formed
1980 – Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back film is released
1981 – With Steven Spielberg, Raiders of the Lost Ark is released
1982 – LucasArts division formed
1983 – Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi film is released
1984 – Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom film released
1986 – Lucasfilm sells the Pixar technology to Steve Jobs
(Image Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd.)
1989 – Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is released
1993 – Lucasfilm sells the EditDroid and SoundDroid technologies to Avid Technology
1996 – Lucas Online division is formed
2002 – Lucasfilm’s THX group becomes separate company
2003 – Lucas launches Lucasfilm Animation division
2004 – Lucasfilm opens first overseas studio in Singapore {3}

Executives:

Chairman and CEO – George Lucas
President and COO – Micheline Chau {1}

Top Competitors:

Anschutz Film Group, LLC., located in Los Angeles, California.
The Walt Disney Studios, located in Burbank, California.
DreamWorks Studios, located in Universal City, California. {4}

Recent News:

February:

Lucasfilm Ltd., Nerdist Industries, Octagon and Machinima announced that they are launching an Olympic-style lightsaber relay in Southern California the week before San Diego Comic Com International in July. This is yet another great way for the company to bring the Star Wars experience to their fans. {7}
(Image Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd.)

March:

Legoland California debuted it’s expanded Lego ‘Star Wars’ Miniland. Lucasfilm Ltd. and Legoland Model Builders collaborated to create new Lego models for the interactive family theme park. Children from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and members from the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers and Rebel Legion attended the unveiling hosted by general manager Peter Ronchetti. The expanded Miniland featured a new Darth Maul lego model which assisted in promoting the release of The Phantom Menance in 3D. {11}
The Lucas Valley Estates Homeowners Association has appealed the Marin County Planning Commission’s unanimous project approval for Lucasfilm’s new 270,000 square-foot film production studio. This project would add on to Lucasfilm’s Grady Ranch site located in Northern California. The film-production establishment is also designed to include other amenities such as a daycare, overnight stay, and an restaurant. Many of the reasons for appeal don’t outweigh the reasons to allow this project to be approved. Marin County would give 690 job opportunities just for the construction and operation of the new studio. There are also positive economic impacts towards Marin County’s construction and high-tech industry, which have been slow in recent years. “For each $100 million spent on construction, the Marin economy would benefit from $133 million in related local economic activity, not including $4.9 million in state and local taxes. For each 100 employees hired for filmmaking, the county would have 276 total jobs created, bringing local businesses $82 million in annual revenue and $3.8 million a year in taxes.” {10}
Brisk Tea and Star Wars partner up to make an online and mobile deal. Brisk Iced Tea creates a promotional game app that will also promote the 3D release of The
(Image Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd.)

Phantom Menace. Brisk Iced Tea is part of the Pepsi Lipton Iced Tea partnership and Lucasfilm has been connected to PepsiCo for a long time now. They were very ineterested in being advertised during the 2011 Superbowl ad spot that Brisk had acquired. A smart move for Lucasfilm to advertise during the most watched event of the year in the United States. {9}
Lucasfilm sold licenses to Lego so that they can base new building block sets on the Star Wars film characters. Lego surpassed their top competitors by major increases in profit and market share aided by the sale of their new product. {8}

April:

Lucasfilm is one of several defendants in an antitrust lawsuit among major technology companies. “Apple Inc., Google Inc., Intel Corp. and four other technology companies were ordered by a judge to face an antitrust lawsuit claiming they illegally conspired not to poach each other’s employees. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, rejected the companies’ bid to dismiss claims brought under the federal Sherman antitrust law and California’s own antitrust law, the Cartwright Act. Koh said the existence of “Do Not Cold Call” agreements among various defendants “supports the plausible inference that the agreements were negotiated, reached, and policed at the highest levels” of the companies.”The fact that all six identical bilateral agreements were reached in secrecy among seven defendants in a span of two years suggests that these agreements resulted from collusion, and not from coincidence,” Koh added.” {13}
“Lucasfilm shocked Marin County last week when it announced it was abandoning the Grady Ranch production studio project, citing regulatory delays and fierce opposition from homeowners who fear the sprawling complex will lead to more noise, traffic and environmental problems.” They said that it was too late in the process to reconsider doing the project there. {12}
Hundreds of people have signed an online petition that is encouraging Lucasfilm Ltd. to put their new production studio project in Vallejo, California’s Mare Island. After they decided to abandon their plans to build the new property at Grady Ranch in Marin County, citizens across the bay in Vallejo have gathered to send the message that they want the facility there. Lucasfilm made statements alleging that they need the new production studio to be ready by next year. {14}
(Image Copyright Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Contact Information:

1110 Gorgas Ave.

San Fransisco, CA 94129

415-662-1800 {6}

References: