The Making of The Empire Strikes Back

The Making of The Empire Strikes Back

OnOctober 22,2013, it was released in enhanced eBook edition, with bonus artwork and pictures that did not come in the print edition.^[3]

Publisher's summary[]

Internal flap[]

In this lavish thirtieth-anniversary tribute to the blockbuster filmStarWars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back,New York Times bestselling authorJ. W. Rinzler draws back the curtain to reveal the intense drama and magnificent wizardry behind the hit movie—without doubt the fan favorite of theStar Wars saga.

Following hisThe Making of Star Wars, the author has once again made use of his unlimited access to the Lucasfilm Archives and its hidden treasures of previously unpublished interviews, photos, artwork, and production mementos. The result is a comprehensive behind-the-scenes, up-close-and-personal look at the trials and triumphs, risks and close calls, inspiration, perspiration, and imagination that went into every facet of this cinematic masterpiece. Here's the inside scoop on:

• the evolution of the script, from story conference and treatment to fifth draft, as conceived, written, and rewritten byGeorge Lucas, famed science-fiction authorLeigh Brackett, and screenwriterLawrence Kasdan
• the development of new key characters, including roguish heroLando Calrissian, sinisterbounty hunterBoba Fett, and iconicJedi MasterYoda
• the challenges of shooting the epic ice planet battle in the frozen reaches of Norway and of conjuring up convincing creatures and craft—fromtauntauns andsnowspeeders toImperial walkers
• the construction of a life-sizedMillennium Falcon and the swampplanet Dagobah inside a specially built soundstage inElstree Studios
• the technique behind master MuppeteerFrank Oz's breathing life into the breakthrough character Yoda
• the creation of the new, improvedIndustrial Light & Magic visual effects facility and the founding of the nowlegendarySkywalker Ranch

In addition, of course, are rare on-the-scene interviews with all the major players: actorsMark Hamill,Harrison Ford,Carrie Fisher,Billy Dee Williams,Anthony Daniels,Peter Mayhew, andDavid Prowse; directorIrvin Kershner; producerGary Kurtz; effects specialistsRichard Edlund,Dennis Muren,Ken Ralston, andPhil Tippett; composerJohn Williams; and many others. Punctuating the epic account is a bounty of drawings, storyboards, and paintings byRalph McQuarrie,Joe Johnston, andIvor Beddoes, along with classic and rare production photos. An added bonus is a Foreword by acclaimed director Ridley Scott.

The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a fittingly glorious celebration of an undisputed space-fantasy moviemilestone. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

J. W. RINZLER, executive editor atLucasfilm, is the author of theNew York Times bestsellerThe Making of Star Wars, as well as theLondon Times bestsellerThe Complete Making of Indiana Jones. Rinzler lives in Petaluma, California.

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Front cover

Back cover

Sources[]

• Full Cover Reveal:The Making of The Empire Strikes Back onStarWars.com(original site is defunct)
• "Blaster" —Star Wars Insider 120
• The Making of the Original Trilogy eBooks Video/Audio — Complete Contents Revealed onStarWars.com(backup link)

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by J. W. Rinzler onPenguin Random House'sofficial website(backup link)