Academy to celebrate Star Wars 30th

Mar 29, 2007 by Ian Evans

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Great To Be Nominated” series will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Star Wars with a screening and panel discussion on Monday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

The 1977 Best Picture nominee’s screening will be followed by a panel discussion that will include writer-director George Lucas; producer Gary Kurtz; editors Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch; visual effects team members John Dykstra, Richard Edlund and Robert Blalack; art director Leslie Dilley; and sound specialists Ben Burtt, Don MacDougall and George “Ray” West.

Star Wars was nominated for ten Academy Awards® and took home Oscars® for Art Direction (John Barry, Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley; Set Decoration: Roger Christian), Costume Design (John Mollo), Film Editing (Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas, Richard Chew), Music — Original score (John Williams), Sound (Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler, Derek Ball) and Visual Effects (John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune, Robert Blalack). Benjamin Burtt, Jr. received a Special Achievement Award for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices in the film. The film also received nominations for Actor in a Supporting Role (Alec Guinness), Directing (George Lucas), Best Picture (Gary Kurtz, producer) and Writing — Screenplay written directly for the screen (Lucas).

Tickets for “Star Wars” will be available starting April 9 at a cost of $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, depending on availability, on the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.