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Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special Effects

Thomas G. Smith; introduction by George Lucas

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Summary

Thomas G. Smith tells the early history of Industrial Light & Magic, from its start in a warehouse to its work on the Star Wars trilogy, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. and Poltergeist. The illustrated company account focuses on the special-effects work behind those films. George Lucas contributes the introduction.

  • SourceGoogle Books — publisher synopsis and edition · Synopsis: ILM warehouse origins and effects work on Star Wars trilogy, Raiders, E.T., Poltergeist; Bibliographic information: Thomas Graham Smith; Ballantine 1986; ISBN 9780345322630.
  • SourceCiNii Books — full responsibility statement · Bibliographic Information: Thomas G. Smith; introduction by George Lucas; Ballantine Books, 1986, 1st ed; ISBN 0345322630; LCCN 86003298; xi, 279 pages.
  • SourceLucasfilm — research resource list · For school projects and research: Industrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special Effects (Del Rey, 1986).

Why read it Our view

Use the company history to study how a team builds specialist production capacity for demanding projects. Compare the needs of a film with the skills and tools an effects business must develop.

Written about

  • George LucasCompany founder; introduction contributor
    A history of the effects company Lucas founded, with an introduction by him. The introduction credit is separate from Smith’s authorship and does not prove whole-book reading or recommendation.
    Source