The Filmmakers
Executive Producer GEORGE LUCAS is responsible for some of the most popular and successful films ever made. Beginning just 15 years ago, with "American Graffiti," he went on to create five of the top eight all-time boxoffice hits--"Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."
Lucas was born in Modesto, California, where he attended Modesto Junior College before enrolling at the USC Film School. There he made several short films, including the science-fiction short, "THX-1138," which won first prize at the National Student Film Festival.
Not long after, Lucas' close friendship with director Francis Coppola ("The Godfather," "Apocalypse Now") was established. Lucas received a scholarship to observe the making of "Finian's Rainbow," a musical being directed by Coppola. The next year, 1969, Lucas worked as Coppola's assistant on "The Rain People" and made a documentary on the film.
That same year, he and Coppola established American Zoetrope, an independent film production company, north of San Francisco. The company's first project was a full-length version of Lucas' "THX-1138." It starred Robert Duvall.
Lucas directed his second movie in 1973, "American Graffiti," which he also co-wrote. A major boxoffice success, it received five Academy Award nominations. One of its stars was "Willow" director Ron Howard.
Then, in 1976, Lucas wrote and directed the phenomenally successful "Star Wars," which became the number one boxoffice hit of all time. It won seven Oscars. Lucas later wrote the original stories for "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," serving as executive producer of both films.
Lucas was also the executive producer and co-writer of the story for "Raiders of the Lost Ark," which was directed by Steven Spielberg and won five Academy Awards.
For "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," Lucas served as co-executive producer and writer.
He has twice collaboraged with Francis Coppola as an executive producer, first for Akira Kurosawa's Japanese epic, "Kagamusha," and then for "Mishima," based on the life and novels of Japan's Yukio Mishima and directed by Paul Schrader.
In 1986, Lucas served as executive producer for the 3-D musical space
adventure, "Captain EO," starring Michael Jackson. It is shown exclusively
at Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center in Florida.
Lucas and Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm's special effects division,
also brought "Star Wars" to Disneyland in 1987 with STAR TOURS, the ride
which has become the most successful attraction at Disneyland.
Director RON HOWARD has been in show business all of his life, beginning with his first film appearance at age 18 months. He was a successful child actor by the age of five and made the transition to teen actor easily. He began directing his own videotape films at 15, and directed his first feature film at 23, quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most sought-after directors.
Best-known as an actor for his roles on "The Andy Griffith Show" and, later, "Happy Days," Howard's film directing credits include "Grand Theft Auto," "Night Shift," "Splash," "Cocoon" and "Gung Ho."
He was born in Oklahoma to actors Rance and Jean Howard. His mother left the profession to raise Howard and his brother Clint, who starred in the "Gentle Ben" TV series. When Howard was only two-years-old, his father cast him in a summer stock production of "The Seven Year Itch," which he was directing. Howard went on to appear on several of television's finest programs, including "Playhouse 90" and "General Electric Theatre." In 1960, producer Sheldon Leonard cast him as Opie in "The Andy Griffith Show."
Between seasons, Howard pursued a motion picture career, acting in such films as "Five Minutes to Live," "The Music Man" and "Village of the Giants." His performance as the son of widower Glenn Ford in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" won special acclaim. When "The Andy Griffith Show" ended its run in 1967, Howard continued to guest-star on television and co-starred in the Henry Fonda series, "The Smith Family."
At age 15, Howard directed an elaborately-crafted, three-and-one-half minute Super-8 home movie, "Deed of Derring-Do," which won second place in the National Kodak Teenage Film Competition. After graduation from high school, he resumed his acting career with George Lucas' landmark comedy, "American Graffiti." Roles in "Happy Mother's Day--Love George" and "The Spikes Gang" followed.
Howard spent two years in the Cinema Studies program at USC, then left to star in the "Happy Days" TV series, which was on the air for seven years. During his off-season time, Howard appeared in such television dramas as "Act of Love," "Bitter Harvest," "The Locusts" and "Huckleberry Finn." On film, he starred in "The Shootist," opposite John Wayne, and for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.
In 1978, Howard directed "Grand Theft Auto," which he co-wrote with his father. Filmed in just four weeks on a budget of $600,000, it was a boxoffice hit and launched Howard's directing career.
He produced and directed three television features, "Cotton Candy,"
"Through the Magic Pyramid" and "Skyward," which starred Bette Davis and
won both the Christopher and Peabody Awards. He has also served as executive
producer on the film "Leo and Loree," on the television movies "When Your
Lover Leaves" and "Into the Air" and for the HBO series, "Maximum Security."
NIGEL WOOLL, producer of "Willow," began his show business career as a film editor in his native England, working on the popular British series, "Look at Life." He later moved to Pinewood Studiosk where he worked as a floor runner on "Carry On Spying," the last of the "Carry On" series of films.
He soon became a third assistant director, then moved through the ranks to second assistant and first assistant director for such films as "Death of a Snow Queen" and "Lucky Lady." Wooll became a production manager for a number of films, including "Yanks," "Reds" and "Krull."
Wooll's first film as an associate producer was "The Dresser," and he
has worked in that capacity on several other films, among them "Ishtar."
"Willow" is his first film as a full producer.
Associate producer JOE JOHNSTON was part of George Lucas' original "Star Wars" production team. After completing his education at USC, where he majored in graphic design, illustration and product design, the Texas-born Johnston moved immediately into film work.
Along with several other creative young people, Johnston was given the opportunity to work on "Star Wars." He worked in design, model-making and as a storyboard artist for two years before the film's release in 1977. When Lucasfilm's special effects facility, Industrial Light and Magic, moved to San Rafael, California, Johnston moved with it, continuing to design space ships, weaponry and special effects sequences for Lucasfilm productions.
After 10 years with the company, Johnston began a successful free-lance
career, but rejoined the Lucasfilm team when offered the chance to be associate
producer of "Willow."
After studying art at the Oxford Art School, production designer ALLAN CAMERON trained at Birmingham University and the Royal College of the Arts in London, where he studied all aspects of filmmaking, including directing, lighting and editing.
He became a successful production designer with such television assignments as "Edward and Mrs. Simpson" and "The Naked Civil Servant," then moved into films. His first assignment was as assistant art director for "The French Lieutenant's Woman." He then became production designer on "The Honorary Consul," "1984" and "The Fourth Protocol."
Cameron also worked on the television productions of "Lace" and "Princess
Daisy."
Director of photography ADRIAN BIDDLE is best known for his work on
"Aliens" and "The Princess Bride." His background includes extensive experience
as a camera focus puller and, later, cameraman, for dozens of TV commercials
in England. He first gained experience as a protege of director Ridley
Scott, working with him as focus puller for Scott's first two films, "The
Duellists" and "Alien."
Visual effects supervisor DENNIS MUREN has earned five Academy Awards ("The Empire Strikes Back," "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial," "Return of the Jedi," "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Innerspace") and two Academy Award nominations ("Dragonslayer," "Young Sherlock Holmes").
Muren supervised the innovative animal transformation sequence for the
final transformation of Fin Raziel, developed the techniques used for the
brownies, and supervised both the fairy forest sequence with Cherlindrea
and the climatic special effects sequence between the two sorceresses in
Queen Bavmorda's tower. Muren's other feature film credits include "Star
Wars" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
Academy Award winner MICHAEL McALISTER served as plate supervisor on
location in England and New Zealand and visual effects supervisor for the
brownie sequence. His credits include "Indiana Jones and the Temple of
Doom" (for which he won the Oscar), "The Empire Strikes Back," "E.T.: The
Extraterrestrial," "Return of the Jedi," "The Goonies" and "Starman."
Visual effects supervisor PHIL TIPPETT created the stop motion sequences
for the two-headed monster in "Willow." He has created many of the unique
creatures for "Star Wars," "The Empire Strikes Back," "Return of the Jedi"
(for which he received an Academy Award), "Dragonslayer" (Oscar-nominated)
and "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."
Matte painting supervisor CHRISTOPHER EVANS was in charge of overseeing
location photography, painting and miniature landscapes used in creating
the matte shots for "Willow." His previous credits include "E.T.: The Extraterrestrial,"
"Return of the Jedi," "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Cocoon,"
"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," "Batteries Not Included" and "Innerspace."
Oscar-winner JOHN RICHARDSON is the special effects supervisor for "Willow."
Among his screen credits are "Aliens" (for which he won both the British
and American Academy Award), four James Bond films (including "Moonraker,"
"Octopussy," "A View to A Kill" and "The Living Daylights"), "Raise the
Titanic," "ffolkes," "Five Days One Summer," "Trail of the Pink Panther,"
"Curse of the Pink Panther," "Ladyhawke," "The Omen," "Superman" and "A
Bridge Too Far."
Prosthetic make-up designer NICK DUDMAN first entered the film industry when he went to work for Stuart Freeborn during the making of "The Empire Strikes Back," where he worked mainly on Yoda. He stayed with Freeborn nearly four years learning all aspects of the craft, including straight make-up and laboratory work. They worked on "Superman II," "Top Secret" and "Return of the Jedi," where Dudman did all of the prosthetic make-up for the film.
He was later assistant to make-up artist Dick Smith on "The Hunger," then went on to assignments on "The Honorary Consul" and "Supergirl." While working on "Legend," Dudman created a method of application and removal which is still being used throughout the industry.
Dudman subsequently worked on "Labyrinth," "Dead of Winter," "Mona Lisa"
and "The Fantasist."
JAMES HORNER, the classically-trained composer who provides the music for "Willow," is one of the film industry's most prolific writers. Barely in his thirties, he has provided the musical scores for many of the last decade's best films, including "The Dresser," "48 Hours," "Cocoon," and "Aliens." His most recent credits are "Project X," "The Name of the Rose," "Batteries Not Included" and "Little Nikita." He won a 1987 Grammy Award for Best Song for "Somewhere Out There" from "An American Tail."
Living in England for most of his adolescence, Horner attended the Royal College of Music in London before returning to his native California to enroll in USC. After receiving a bachelor's degree, he moved to UCLA for his Master's, then began teaching music theory while working on his Ph.D. degree.
Horner's first film scores were for student projects at the American Film Institute. He then worked on three features for New World Pictures--"The Lady in Red," "Humanoids From the Deep" and "Battle Beyond the Stars."
Among his other films are "The Hand," "Deadly Blessing," "Wolfen," "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper," "Testament," "Uncommon Valor," "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," "P.K. and the Kid," "Something Wicked This Way Comes," "The Journey of Natty Gann," "Brainstorm," "Gorky Park" and "Commando." He also provided the scores for several television movies.