When George Lucas was trying to pitch WARS, his concept was falling on deaf ears until he met with McQuarrie to draw up a series of production art pieces, illustrating his grand vision. The total package won over execs at 20th Century Fox and legend was born.

In addition to his work on WARS, McQuarry designed spaceships in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and E.T. for Spielberg, as well as many of the ships and creatures in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

Above it all, though, sits STAR WARS, McQuarrie’s calling card. Lucas, who cast the illustrator in EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, released a statement honoring his old friend and creative partner.

“Ralph McQuarrie was the first person I hired to help me envision STAR WARS. His genial contribution, in the form of unequaled production paintings, propelled and inspired all of the cast and crew of the original STAR WARS trilogy. When words could not convey my ideas, I could always point to one of Ralph’s fabulous illustrations and say, ‘Do it like this.’ We will all be benefiting from his oeuvre for generations to come. Beyond that, I will always remember him as a kind and patient, and wonderfully talented, friend and collaborator.”

Quint over at Ain’t It Cool News posted a fantastic gallery of McQuarrie’s work from BATTLESTAR and WARS. Have a look below.

Click below to check out each of the five new posters. What are your thoughts on the poster designs? Do they capture the excitement of the film in 3D? Are you going to see it in 3D? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

What, no love for Jar Jar aficionados?

Source: MintInBox

Here is a classic light saber battle, this one from EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, featuring Anderson at his best. He will be missed, but his work will never go forgotten…

If you can possibly remember last week, we tossed around some rumors regarding the newly registered domain name for StarWarsIdentities.com. By clicking the link you will see that all has been revealed: It’s a new Museum exhibit at the Montreal Science Centre. The exhibit runs from April 19 to September 16, 2012.

Check below to watch a bizarrely cryptic promo video and read the official press release:

For thirty-five years, audiences around the world have followed the adventures of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi heroes of a galaxy far, far away. And now, a new exciting exhibition comes to our own galaxy with Star Wars Identities, a redefined modern exhibition experience in which we will rediscover the unforgettable characters of Star Wars in a whole new way. From the team that brought you Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology, this new innovative exhibition, made possible by Lucasfilm Ltd. and produced by Montreal’s X3 Productions, will make use of an extensive collection from the Lucasfilm Archives to explore the sciences of identity through the characters of Star Wars. The world premiere of this exhibition will be held at the Montreal Science Centre, starting on April 19, 2012.

A stunning collection from the Lucasfilm Archives, a customized, interactive identity quest, and insightful scientific content will all work together in Star Wars Identities to follow the dramatic journeys of Luke and Anakin Skywalker, cinema’s most famous father and son duo. Visitors will develop a better understanding of what makes the characters of Star Wars who they are, and at the same time explore their own identity with one question, at once simple and profound: What forces shape you?

The Components of Identity
Working with the Montreal Science Centre exhibition developers and a committee of scientific advisers, Star Wars Identities has divided its study of identity into three major themes: the origins of the characters, the influences that shape them, and the choices they make during their life. Within these three themes, ten components of human identity are explored: species, genes, parents, and culture in Origins; mentors, friends, and marking events in Influences; and occupation, personality, and values in the final zone, Choices.

These components form the backbone of the exhibition, exploring the complex notion of identity both in the real world and in creative fiction. Original content throughout the exhibition will shed light on each of the components of identity; simultaneously, “making-of” featurettes explore the stories behind the development of many iconic Star Wars characters, explaining how they became who they are, and showing how different creative choices might have made them different characters altogether.

Kyra Bowling, Exhibits Manager at Lucasfilm Ltd., says “the Star Wars saga continues to captivate audiences who find connection to its richly diverse cast of wonderful characters. Star Wars provides a natural lens through which to explore the themes of personal identity and character. This innovative exhibition lets visitors of all ages investigate, in a fun and educational way, the factors and forces that help shape who we are as individuals.”

A vast and exclusive collection of some 200 objects from the Lucasfilm Archives features props, models, costumes, and artwork from the Star Wars films. This rich collection spans the entire Star Wars canon, drawing from the classic (1977-83) and prequel (1999-2005) trilogies, as well as the animated feature The Clone Wars (2008) and the ongoing television series of the same name. Fan favourites like Darth Vader, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, Yoda, the Millennium Falcon and Anakin Skywalker’s full-sized Podracer — among others — are sure to delight visitors of all generations.

An Interactive Quest
Star Wars Identities will place the visitor at the centre of the exhibition experience with an interactive identity quest that spans the duration of the visit. Closely interwoven with the collection and the educational content, this unique interactive experience will use technology to help visitors of all ages create their own personal and original Star Wars identity by incorporating elements of their own identity with fictional elements. Visitors will then leave with their own unique character inspired by the Star Wars universe and with a deeper understanding of the exhibition’s central theme.

A Team of Experts
In order to develop the exhibition’s scientific content, X3 Productions has collaborated with the Montreal Science Centre content experts to gather a team of specialists from a variety of scientific fields, including genetics, neuropsychology, health sciences, and psychology. Their knowledge and expertise have shaped the exhibition’s structure, and their input has been essential in developing its scientific content and in ensuring that its investigation into identity is up to date and firmly rooted in the sciences.

A Cultural Touchstone
The Star Wars movies have broken box office records and won countless awards over the decades, but it is in the public’s imagination that the franchise has truly made its mark, enchanting audiences of all ages and establishing itself as a cultural touchstone all across the world. The stories continue to resonate today because of their universality: we identify with the characters of Star Wars, and we recognize ourselves in their journeys.

“This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the beloved characters of Star Wars,” says Jacques-Andre Dupont, Executive Producer of X3 Productions. “We get a deeper understanding of their identities, and, at the same time, we get a deeper understanding of our own. The collection, the interactive components, and the scientific content work hand in hand here to create a seamless and exciting experience for our visitors. It’s a character-driven adventure into identity.”

Information and Ticket Sales
Star Wars Identities will premiere at the Montreal Science Centre from April 19 through September 16, 2012. Tickets are on sale now! For complete schedule and ticket information, visit their website at www.montrealsciencecentre.com or contact them at (514) 496-4724 or (877) 496-4724. Visitors can begin their adventure into identity today by visiting StarWarsIdentities.com.

 

There’s been no official mention of a project entitled STAR WARS IDENTITIES, but this is very likely a sign of things to come. It’d be a bit too boastful to suggest this could be a new film following RETURN OF THE JEDI, especially because it doesn’t really fit the criteria of the SW subtitles. What it could be though is an upcoming supplemental STAR WARS property — you know how we love our expanded universe.

I could easily see STAR WARS: IDENTITIES being another off-shoot film (much like the abysmal animated CLONE WARS movie), the long-rumored television series or a new video game, which is what I’d put my money on (unless I’m playing against a wookie, of course.) Doesn’t SW: IDENTITIES just pull up the image of a role-playing element, perhaps similar to THE KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC.

What do you suspect is the truth behind this new installment in a galaxy far, far away?

#10. Sam from TRICK ‘R TREAT

Sam is a delightful little devil, full of the Halloween cheer and just a pinch of murderous rage. Named for Samhain (pronounced SAH-WIN), the original Gaelic festival that many Halloween traditions are based on, the tiny critter represents the greater spirit of the Harvest and forcibly upholds the ritualistic traditions of the ‘ween. Don’t blow your Jack-O-Lanterns out before the night is over, around this guy. A perfect costume for those shorter (and thereby lesser) human beings whom seek an opportunity to be truly intimidating. And don’t forget a huge, festering sack to drag behind you.

#9. The Brain Gremlin from GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH

Though any Gremlin costume would be appreciated, you’ll get full marks for pulling out all the stops with the Brain Gremlin. Truly one of the most delightful additions to Joe Dante’s bizarre sequel to the already strange GREMLINS (I mean the original was a CHRISTMAS movie, remember?), the Brain Gremlin sports a pair of smart spectacles and a charming voice suited for explaining his kinds primal desires. (“YUM YUM” and “GIZMO KA-KA”) Though he’s at our number 9 spot, if you managed to pull out the full Frank Sinatra and belt out a number of New York, New York we may have to put you higher on the list.

#8. King Caesar from GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA

This obscure Kaiju will get you in big with Godzilla fans (and naturally all of us here at FM.) The giant lion-dog-statue deity thingie known as King Caesar first appeared in 1974 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA. Heavily inspired by the design of the Chinese Shisa, Caesar was the dormant guardian of the Asumi family. Awakened from an unnecessarily long musical number, Caesar joined the Big G in taking down his metallic doppelganger. This costume is great for being scary and funny all at once, especially if you can get the ears to twitch.

#7. Mumbo Jumbo from BANJO-KAZOOIE

Ekum Tokum, Booga-bah! The skull-faced Mumbo Jumbo is the self-proclaimed “greatest shaman in all game” and capable of casting some wickedly powerful shapeshifting spells. Pulled straight from the N64 classic BANJO-KAZOOIE, in which an odd dynamic duo of bipedal bear and bird in his backpack go up against a wicked witch. The game is even more ridiculous than it sounds and is all the better for it, and Mumbo is one of the shining examples of its unique charm. This costume has it all, a nice mask, a niche audience and even a grass skirt!

#6. Rhinoceros Beetle from REAL LIFE

This one isn’t from any movie, game, comic book or TV show… this guy’s one of our wonderful real-life monsters, and an amazing one at that. Rhinoceros Beetles are among the largest beetles in the world, and with you dressed as one that distinction would be assured. There are over 300 subfamilies in the Rhino Beetle family, including the famed Hercules Beetle which is the relatively strongest creature on the planet… capable of lifting 850 times its own weight. Now I hope you can see my clear-cut reasoning to dress as one of these guys: imagine the candy haul you could score!

Continued on Page 2!

To get you pumped up for the Blu-ray release – available for THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY, THE PREQUEL TRILOGY, and all six together in THE COMPLETE SAGA – LucasFilm has released a series of six ads that are masterfully edited and pretty darn effective (the first one in particular). See what you think!

If those got you in the mood, take a look at the Amazon page for some more details and pre-order options!

“I loved art, and it was like breathing to me, you know something you do involuntarily, but it was such a great way for me to express myself. You never really appreciate that in the moment. But I look back and art really got me through some tough times, and let people know how I felt. I did some powerful stuff without knowing it when I was a kid.”

Although the talent came to him at a young age, Martinez’s dream was to be a professional basketball player. After 2 years of playing college ball he realized that he would probably never make it into the pros and he decided to hang up his sneakers and focus on his art, but he never regretted the time he spent on the courts.

“I needed something that was a challenge and basketball gave that to me until I was mature enough to take my art abilities seriously.”

And so, Martinez embraced his talents and became what he is today: artist, author, teacher. Now he spends his days contributing to the expression and interpretation of some of the most legendary titles and characters such as Indiana Jones, Captain Jack Sparrow, Spider-man, the X-men and the whole Star Wars crew. While he is incredibly proud of his accomplishments he never forgets how humbling it is to work on such high profile characters.

“These titles and characters are so huge and bigger than life. They have been drawn and written about by some of the greatest artists to ever walk the earth. To be a part of that legacy is just overwhelming to think about sometimes… Being able to contribute to these iconic characters is truly an honor.”

The tricky thing when working with pre-existing characters, especially such well-known and well-developed characters as these, is to stay true to the original while somehow finding a personal connection to inspire you. Martinez suggests drawing to satisfy yourself. If you can appreciate your own art and connect with it your best work will come (along with your fans approval and hopefully a paycheck!).

“I could draw anything you want me to draw, but unless I get involved with the subject matter it’s really static. It’s just a picture. The best example was when I did some art from the TV series ‘Heroes’. When I got the job I knew absolutely nothing about the show. I had plenty of reference pictures, but they meant nothing to me. So I went out and bought the first season of Heroes. I sat there for 3 days with my girlfriend and watched the whole thing before I ever put down one pencil mark… If you look at any great piece of art you will always notice that the artist is really just expressing their experience or their feelings with the subject. With Heroes, I could draw Claire, but what do I have to say about Claire, what are my feelings about her condition, her struggles, and points of view? Illustrating that is what makes my art mine, no matter what the subject is.”

In addition to these works, Martinez is also the author of Creature Features, a how-to-draw book with an alien/sci-fi/monster theme that was recently reviewed here at FM. An avid fan of monsters his entire life, he was more than willing to take on the project when Impact Books approached him with the idea. Determined to keep the process fun, Martinez developed his own teaching style in order to teach student artists in a simple and effective way while not talking down to them or coming across as bland. The result: Creature Features.

“I have loved monsters my whole life. Godzilla, The Wolfman, Clash of the Titans, and of course I got my fix from Famous Monsters of Filmland. I gained a respect for the different types of monsters and what they meant to our culture. Mythic Creatures for instance are very different than monsters like Frankenstein they played a different roll and I wanted to teach that.”

Finally, we asked Mr. Martinez what advice he could give to aspiring artists and he responded with the following:

“1) Patience. This is by far the most needed virtue any artist can have. It takes a long time to record a good year of success, business-wise, as an artist. You have to let your art grow and mature with everything you will learn on the way. Patience will keep you from getting frustrated and help keep you focused on your goals.

2) Be nice to everyone. You never know who you will meet, or who someone is related to. You’ll gain social skills as you go, and learn hotw to network, but from the start you have to be cool to people. People remember that stuff.

3) Believe in yourself. If you don’t nobody will. Simple as that.

4) Dedication. People ask me what one thing do you need to have if you don’t have the first three elements I listed? The answer is dedication. This is an extremely competitive business, and you have to be ready to sacrifice everything for it. That might sound like a lot, but if you LOVE making art, there really is no sacrifice you need to make. If you really want it, it has to be your priority in your life.”

If you have an interest in Randy Martinez’s art, you will be happy to hear of several upcoming releases including his work. February Topps Trading Cards is releasing Star Wars Galaxy Series five, a huge set in which Martinez will have 19+ cards, two of which are in the New Visions Section, two are in “The Best of Star Wars past” section, and fifteen FOIL chase cards will feature his art and signature! Then, in the spring of 2010 his new book, Sketch Card Mania, is being released by Impact Books! Once again we here at FM thank Randy Martinez for his time and advice and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. For more information head on over to his site here.

To purchase Randy Martinez’s art, including how to obtain original artwork, visit ArtInsights Animation and Film Art Gallery.