Staff Book and Media Recommendations

Patrick Douglas is a Library Technician at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film

J.W. Rinzler

Even though Star Wars was one of the highest grossing motion pictures ever, most people don't understand how much of a seat-of-the-pants production it really was. The grand vision that was stuck in the back of George Lucas' mind since grad school at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema began as little more than two pages of scribbled notes of a story entitled "Journal of the Whills."

The Making of Star Wars is an in-depth chronicle of the creative process from concept to end product. Each chapter includes a text box with an update of the story line called "Star Wars Progression." Script samples show the changes Lucas made both in the characters and the overall plot. Photographs of casting, model-making, filming, and personal moments illustrate the human side of the venture, while hand-written notes and crudely sketched character designs demonstrate the creative vision. Many of the concept sculptures by Colin Cantwell, concept paintings and drawings by Ralph McQuarrie, and storyboards by Alex Tavoularis are included, as well.

J.W. Rinzler's The Making of Star Wars is a wonderful book, both in its text and its illustrations. It is a must-read for the Star Wars fanatic or anyone interested in filmmaking and recommended to anyone who is simply curious about the creative process.

Reviewed October 2011