Just Keep Creating: The Legend of George Lucas

This conversation between two accomplished directors is so good. It is amazing what George Lucas went through to have the opportunity to deliver one of the greatest cinematic stories of all time. From his time at USC and his transition into the film business, he knew what he wanted to do and knew what he could accomplish. He simply stuck to it and kept going. This conversation is worth every minute, especially if you are working toward a productive and positive goal.

Lucas was hated, felt hated, told that his work was terrible; yet he persevered, probably just by doing what came natural. I am sure that many of us can relate to this type of struggle. These struggles are real and sometimes imagined, yet still important lessons which forge your craft.

That is why it is so important to study the greats. They were laughed at and taunted and told they sucked. They were marred and smeared and vilified and rejected and sometimes isolated. Then, one day someone starts believing in them. In the case of George Lucas, these sponsors did not clearly understand what he was working on but they believed in him as a talented writer and director. This belief, in talent and skill (and the economic potential) is the thing that validates everything. Then the artist must perform, prove the believer right and everyone else wrong.

Can you imagine the vast number of people that George Lucas proved wrong? When you really think about it it is quite beautiful.

The most beautiful thing about George Lucas is that his cinematic success is so much apart of the global culture that everyone that spat on him was essentially invited to the party, a party that never ends. What he created was so visible that it was unavoidable and has long moved beyond its initial impact. Fortunately, we were all able to ride along for the journey.