I don’t even know how to describe this to y’all… without breaking the NDA that we had to sign before passing the gates.
There was a touchtone phone made out of wood. Anyone know about this? I mean… of the things I witnessed with my own flawed, prescription enhanced eyeballs… a custom wooden touchtone phone that was pointed out to us was maybe… the most unique thing. Hard to rate such things when you’re seeing one of a kind models and props for the biggest franchises around.
That’s just a dumb example of the things that I don’t feel comfortable sharing for fear of disclosing top secret information. It’s such a rarity to get to visit the Main House that I don’t know what is public information or what isn’t. Are the handmade details of the house built to George Lucas’s specifications too much? I mean he’s done what I would have done. He did what everyone probably wants to do. Make a fuck ton of money off of their ideas and then made the home of their dreams. Complete with all the things that will help allow one to fulfill more dreams! A vast reference library that could have more information in it than the internet. A conservatory/solarium just off of that room with a 20+ft tree growing in the center of it. Different levels where the concept artist lived and worked under lock and key. Basement full of all sorts of editing magic. There was a room where sound was stifled right at the moment you made it, it made enjoying media the tops. I would guess, we didn’t to sit and watch the new Mando or anything.
Of all the places in that home I didn’t get into, I super regret not going to the bathroom while I was there. My body must have been suffering shock at what I was witnessing and wouldn’t give me the clue to go to the loo. Oh man… I could have pooped there! UGH!!! Taking that regret to my grave. Ooo… but wait, the Kobe beef burger that I ate there kind of makes up for that, in a reverse sort of way. Right? I mean the cows are raised on the ranch so… the land gave to me instead of me leaving something unwanted.
They do have something of mine they wanted. The spectacle that we were actually there to witness was the Lucas Archive. I’m not sure how much I can even say about how or why I am privileged to even be invited to this magical land, but I’ll say it has to do with art. Art, handmade with love, crafted for money, enjoyed by many! Total Madness really!
Rachel and I were guided though the Star Wars prop and model department. I’m not even going to tight rope walk over what I can and cannot tell you about the masks, maquettes, models of Super Star Destroyers, real Han in Carbonite, Yoda body parts, etc. Y’all can imagine what could be held in those walls, you’ve probably seen some of the original movies and some of the Indiana Jones series right? Stuff like the sacrificial lava cage from Temple of Doom was upright against a wall but there are some iconic pieces like the Death Star model… that wasn’t there. A lot of things are actually being packed up to be relocated to the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, currently under construction in Los Angeles. So Rachel and I got to see many of these props unboxed, unrestored, raw conditions that few will ever see again, on a civilian level that is. There are restorations being done there as well and seeing a model maker at work on a snow plowed walking robot was fascinating to say little. The costume department was enormous and looked like an Indiana Jones dig site, with the piles of molded white plastic Storm Trooper parts laid out like bones and mummies. The ossuary-like racks with Darth Vader helmet variations near the Boba Fett jetpacks. AH! Maybe I’ve said too much!
We had a delicious lunch together with the folks from the different departments we visited. Everyone was so down to Earth and really made the whole experience human. This is the place they work at, a normal place to them but they still seem to appreciate it. It would be hard not too despite the deadlines. Lucas created a dream home and ranch in a place where you could let the mind free.
My mind is a bit freer now after getting this out of my system. We made this visit in February and I had to doodle out the things I saw otherwise I would likely forget the experience. I went over the tour in my mind many times to lock in those mental pathways.
Anyway… it feels like I’m just space-boasting now, but I’m feeling confident talking about my past trips. I’ve got a black and white photo series of my trip to the ICCFA in Las Vegas last year that I might want to discuss.
May the 4th of May mean something to you.