Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop - Hardcover

Peterson, Lorne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1933784105 ISBN 13: 9781933784106

Publisher: Insight Editions, 2006

Synopsis

From the producers of the acclaimed Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars comes an inside look at the secrets behind the saga’s artful models and sculptures. Lorne Peterson, model and sculpture designer for the entire Star Wars saga, takes us on a journey through the intricate process of crafting and sculpting the models from sketch to screen and the artistry behind the dazzling results.
Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop features more than 300 full-color photographs and illustrations from the Lucasfilm archives, models from all six films, interviews, images and text with concept sculptors, an overview of the ILM model shop from 1976 through today and numerous gatefolds of the most loved models.
ILM virtually redefined visual effects and blazed a trail into the digital realm, follow behind the camera and into the rarely seen workshops and an amazing look at the creation of movie magic. Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Modelshop takes readers behind-the-scenes for the first in-depth look at these amazing models and the process behind their creation, punctuated by Lorne Peterson’s exuberance and dedication to craft.
This unique visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan.
Limited Edition features: a tipped in vellum sheet for number and signature, 5 gatefolds, 4 bound-in postcard sheets, a bound-in 12 page booklet describing the "white" model process, an accordian foldout containing all cut-outs of the ships, a bound-in Model Shop booklet detailing the model shop evolution, and a gatefold of "The Family Tree" of all the modelmakers involved in the 30 year process of creating the Star Wars legacy. Also included in the clamshell box: a make your own” Millennium Falcon model kit that features as the front of the clamshell, DVD of model shop documentaries, a 32 page book showcasing all of the computer graphics surrounding the models and the special effects of the films, an 8 page booklet that will serve as a guide to all the model pieces included in the limited edition including a certificate of authenticity, AND a Landspeeder Model with detachable rear fin - the reproduction based on the original cast and painting by Peterson - with four seats for figures of Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

About this title

About the Author:

Lorne Peterson is one of the founding members of Industrial Light & Magic; he was hired by George Lucas to create the models for Star Wars. In 1978, Peterson was invited by Lucas to oversee the entire production of models for The Empire Strikes Back. His signature is evident on nearly every model used in the original trilogy. Peterson’s work is showcased in the entire Star Wars saga, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the Ewok movies, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Galaxy Quest, and Van Helsing. He was honored with an Academy Award® and a BAFTA Award for the special effects work in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
George Lucas is the creator of the phenomenally successful Star Wars saga and Indiana Jones series. He has been writing and directing for more than twenty-five years.

From Publishers Weekly:

This meticulous look at the models, miniatures and sculptures that make up the Star Wars movie universe is sure to make the short list for fans. Model and sculpture designer Peterson takes the reader through a guided tour of the Star Wars series, giving extra attention to fan favorites. Some of the more popular vehicles, such as the AT-AT Walkers and the Millenium Falcon get their own detailed gatefolds. Peterson's tight prose keeps the book on track, offering all sorts of trivia without dwelling on minutiae. While the later movies have certainly benefited from computer-generated special effects, he explains it was more cost-effective and realistic to create many of the sets, backgrounds and vehicles via sculptures and models. Readers will learn that the crowds watching the pod race from The Phantom Menace, for example, were not entirely computer generated-thousands of painted Q-Tips were used to fill out the stadium, "ultimately creating an image that looked very realistic." Peterson covers everything from how to create fake blood for a severed arm (raspberry yogurt mixed with tempera paint) to employing wheelchair motors in order to enable R2-D2 to navigate the gritty Tunisian desert where the first film was shot. Fans will find everything from the holographic chess set from the first film to Darth Vader's mask from Revenge of the Sith lovingly photographed and described in detail. Many of the models regularly tour museums, but this comprehensive examination offers fans a more informed appreciation for the work that went into the series.
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About this edition

• Publisher: Insight Editions
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1933784105
• ISBN 13: 9781933784106
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 216