Lucas talks about Bush, Hollywood, what's next

[Neil D]

By Bruce Newman

George Lucas officially opens the $350 million Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco's Presidio this weekend. It represents the culmination of a 30-year revolution Lucas has led in digital filmmaking, and it also marks the beginning of his post-``Star Wars'' career as a writer, director and producer.

During our conversation, Lucas confirmed there will be a long-rumored fourth installment in the ``Indiana Jones'' series, talked about his antipathy for Hollywood and revealed that Anakin Skywalker wasn't really quoting President Bush in ``Revenge of the Sith.'' Well, not exactly.

Q [:"blue"] This must be an exciting time for you, getting to unveil two projects that have been years in the making within the space of about five weeks.[/]

A [:"green"] I don't know. I'm much more into the making of them than I am the unveiling of them.[/]

Q [:"blue"] When you left Los Angeles a generation ago, you were talking about creating an alternative filmmaking community in the Bay Area. Instead, you helped lead a technological revolution. Did you ever envision that when you were starting as a documentary filmmaker?[/]

A [:"green"] No, I'm not really a tech guy. I know how to make movies, but I have no idea in the world how to write software or build a computer. But to make movies like ``Star Wars,'' you need to move the technology forward.[/]

Q [:"blue"] If you had continued making films like ``American Graffiti,'' would the digital revolution ever have happened?[/]

A [:"green"] All art is technology, and there's a constant revision of the way technology allows you to do things. Cinema was a major breakthrough in terms of the arts, and now it's just more malleable than it was. It's not that I invented technology, it's that I said, ``We're using all this stuff [in the sciences], why don't we use it over here, too?''[/]

Q [:"blue"] After the Letterman Center opens, you're going to remain out in Marin at Skywalker Ranch, which will make you somewhat remote from your own headquarters. Are you planning to step back from the business?[/]

A [:"green"] Yes. I'm basically retiring. I've done my bit and I'm going to be there to help them along, but basically they're on their own now. I'm going to be off making movies.[/]

Q [:"blue"] You've talked about making more personal films when the ``Star Wars'' saga was over. You have the means and the opportunity to do anything you want now. How do you decide what to do next?[/]

A [:"green"] I'm going to produce the new ``Indiana Jones'' film, I'm going to produce a film called ``Red Tails'' about African-American fighter pilots. I'm also helping get an animated TV series about ``Star Wars'' called ``Clone Wars'' off the ground. I'm going to spend a year to 18 months getting all these things going, and then I'm going to start writing my own more adventurous, experimental films, which probably will not be as popular as the kind of work I've done in the past. But I like it.[/]

Q [:"blue"] A lot of people felt that in ``Revenge of the Sith,'' Anakin's line to Obi-Wan, ``If you're not with me, then you are my enemy,'' was a reference to George Bush's threat to the rest of the world after Sept. 11.[/]

A [:"green"] Yeah, the film got boycotted by the right wing. They came out against us on their blogs.[/]

Q [:"blue"] Oh, it really seems to have hurt you at the box office.[/]

A [:"green"] Actually, it did affect us in the South a little bit. That's not an original line, you know. That's been said many, many times before in history. It's not like Bush suddenly owns it. The line was actually written before Bush even said it. I wouldn't call Bush that creative in the way he writes his speeches. He's not a Kennedy, or an FDR, or a Lincoln, that's for sure.[/]

[Amelia]

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