My top 10 highlights from the book:
1. George Lucas unapologetically invested in what he believed in the most: himself.
2. As soon as I made my first film I thought, Hey, I’m good at this. I know how to do this. From then on I’ve never questioned it.
3. When I discovered film I fell madly in love with it. I ate it. I slept it. 24 hours a day. There was no going back.
4. How many people think the solution to gaining quality control, improving fiscal responsibility, and stimulating technological innovation is to start their own special-effects company? But that’s what he did.
5. One thing would have to change for sure: he’d control the money.
6. My thing about art is that I don’t like the word art because it means pretension and bullshit, and I equate those two directly. I don’t think of myself as an artist. I’m a craftsman. I don’t make a work of art; I make a movie.
7. That was a very dark period for me. We were in dire financial strait. I turned that down [directing someone else’s movie] at my bleakest point, when I was in debt to my parents, in debt to Francis Coppola, in debt to my agent; I was so far in debt I thought I’d never get out. It took years to get from my first film to my second film, banging on doors, trying to get people to give me a chance. Writing, struggling, with no money in the bank… getting little jobs, eking out a living. Trying to stay alive, and pushing a script that nobody wanted. (This movie — American Graffiti —gets made. It makes $55 million on a $1 million investment)
8. I know how good I am. American Graffiti is successful because it came entirely from my head. It was my concept. And that’s the only way I can work.
9. Stay small. Be the best. Don’t lose any money.
10. George Lucas is the Thomas Edison of the modern film industry.
Listen to #345 George Lucas on Apple, Spotify, or the web.
For a limited time only you can get lifetime access to Founders Notes.
That means you will be able to read and search all my highlights and notes for every book I have ever read for Founders podcast -- and every book I will ever read for Founders podcast!
Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders