The Walt Disney Company published a new feature on September 2 looking back at how Industrial Light & Magic began with the original Star Wars production and grew into a global visual-effects company.
ILM began with a space-opera problem
In May 1975, George Lucas was preparing to make his space opera when he found that no Hollywood effects company could handle the project. He founded ILM, brought in camera expert John Dykstra, and assembled artists, builders and other specialists in an old warehouse in Van Nuys, California.
That team went to work on the 1977 Star Wars, the film that changed visual-effects work and established ILM's place in movie history.
From practical effects to virtual production
The Disney feature says ILM is now headquartered in San Francisco and operates studios in five countries. Its work reaches beyond practical visual effects into feature animation, immersive entertainment and virtual production.
The video includes ILM leaders Janet Lewin and John Knoll, along with Lucasfilm's Doug Chiang. CrowdLevels recently covered ILM's design and performance work on Rotta the Hutt.
A long list of awards
According to The Walt Disney Company, ILM has won 17 BAFTA Awards, 16 Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards, among other honors.
Sources: The Walt Disney Company's ILM feature and the official video.
Image: The Walt Disney Company.