The Preamble
As an aspiring filmmaker and storyteller, one of my biggest heroes in the industry is George Lucas. From as young as I can remember, Star Wars has always been an influential part of my life. I still recall watching the original trilogy on our VHS, while playing with my dad's original 1977 action figures when I was merely two years old. This introduced me to a whole new universe that sparked my imagination to create stories and worlds of my own. |
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George Lucas created Star Wars in 1977, a groundbreaking sci-fi fantasy space drama that completely shifted the landscape of the science-fiction genre. After a surprising box-office success and a gaining massive cult-following, Lucas went on to produce two more films in the Star Wars saga: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). Both proved to be a massive success, as Star Wars continued to succeed and grow into a worldwide phenomenon.
In 1999, George Lucas went back to create a new chapter in the Star Wars saga that would change his reputation forever. With the release of The Phantom Menace (1999), the first instalment in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Lucas was met with an overwhelmingly negative response. He received utter hatred towards the movie and its bumbling comic-relief character, Jar Jar Binks.
In 1999, George Lucas went back to create a new chapter in the Star Wars saga that would change his reputation forever. With the release of The Phantom Menace (1999), the first instalment in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Lucas was met with an overwhelmingly negative response. He received utter hatred towards the movie and its bumbling comic-relief character, Jar Jar Binks.
Now say what you will about George Lucas, but regardless of his ill-viewed Prequel Trilogy and some questionably wooden dialogue, George Lucas was able to do something new and groundbreaking with each trilogy. Both trilogies completely shaped the way films were subsequently made, while also shaping and influencing the generations of people he captured with his space adventure a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away... |
To have created something magical, that has not only affected and influenced myself, but the lives countless other people, makes George Lucas someone to admire and aspire to.
The Six Degrees of Separation
Wikipedia states that in 1929, Frigyes Karinthy presented the idea that "all living things and everything else in the world is six or fewer steps away from each other so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps."
It's an interesting notion to think that I could potentially be six steps away from one of my biggest Hollywood heroes, so I thought I would put this theory to the test. After some extensive research and study, I discovered that I actually have a connection to Ol' Georgie boy through one of the greatest directors of our time: Steven Spielberg.
It's an interesting notion to think that I could potentially be six steps away from one of my biggest Hollywood heroes, so I thought I would put this theory to the test. After some extensive research and study, I discovered that I actually have a connection to Ol' Georgie boy through one of the greatest directors of our time: Steven Spielberg.
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#1. Steven Spielberg
As many may know, Steven Spielberg is best friends with George Lucas, having shared many ideas and worked on numerous projects together, most notably, the Indiana Jones franchise. Interestingly enough, Steven Spielberg almost directed Return of the Jedi (1983), but was contractually prohibited due to his membership in the Directors Guild of America (DGA) as well as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which Lucas had left.
Spielberg is known for countless classics including Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler's List (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Lincoln (2012). In 1991, he married Kate Capshaw, who he met on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). They share seven children (three from previous marriages) and move between several homes from New York City to Pacific Palisades, California.
As many may know, Steven Spielberg is best friends with George Lucas, having shared many ideas and worked on numerous projects together, most notably, the Indiana Jones franchise. Interestingly enough, Steven Spielberg almost directed Return of the Jedi (1983), but was contractually prohibited due to his membership in the Directors Guild of America (DGA) as well as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), which Lucas had left.
Spielberg is known for countless classics including Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler's List (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Lincoln (2012). In 1991, he married Kate Capshaw, who he met on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). They share seven children (three from previous marriages) and move between several homes from New York City to Pacific Palisades, California.
#2. Steven Spielberg's Sons
Steven Spielberg has three sons; Max, Theo, and Sawyer. In a former marriage with Amy Irving, Spielberg had Max Samuel, born on June 13, 1985. Kate Capshaw had her own child before marrying Spielberg. Born on August 21, 1988, Capshaw adopted Theo, who Spielberg would later adopt as his own. On March 10, 1992, Kate Capshaw bore Sawyer Avery Spielberg, the youngest of the Spielberg boys.
Although I was unable to ascertain which of Spielberg's three sons it was, one of them is best friends with the neighbour of their home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.
Steven Spielberg has three sons; Max, Theo, and Sawyer. In a former marriage with Amy Irving, Spielberg had Max Samuel, born on June 13, 1985. Kate Capshaw had her own child before marrying Spielberg. Born on August 21, 1988, Capshaw adopted Theo, who Spielberg would later adopt as his own. On March 10, 1992, Kate Capshaw bore Sawyer Avery Spielberg, the youngest of the Spielberg boys.
Although I was unable to ascertain which of Spielberg's three sons it was, one of them is best friends with the neighbour of their home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.
Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, USA.
#3. The Neighbour Boy
From my sources, I managed to gather that one of Spielberg's sons is best friends with a boy who lives right next to them in their Pacific Palisades home. This neighbour boy and Spielberg's son are apparently quite close and hang out frequently.
As one might imagine, this friend of one of the Spielberg boys grew up living with his parents in their lovely LA home next to the Spielbergs', though I am unaware if he still resides with them.
From my sources, I managed to gather that one of Spielberg's sons is best friends with a boy who lives right next to them in their Pacific Palisades home. This neighbour boy and Spielberg's son are apparently quite close and hang out frequently.
As one might imagine, this friend of one of the Spielberg boys grew up living with his parents in their lovely LA home next to the Spielbergs', though I am unaware if he still resides with them.
#4. Parents of the Neighbour Boy
The neighbour boy's parents, whose names I do not know, are the ones who own the home next to Mr. Spielberg and family. Before this gets too confusing, these parents have a son who's friends with Steven Spielberg's son, whose dad is best friends with George Lucas.
Now I was still quite unsure how this would link to me until I discovered that the neighbour boy's parents have relatives who actually reside in my hometown of Mission, British Columbia, Canada!
The neighbour boy's parents, whose names I do not know, are the ones who own the home next to Mr. Spielberg and family. Before this gets too confusing, these parents have a son who's friends with Steven Spielberg's son, whose dad is best friends with George Lucas.
Now I was still quite unsure how this would link to me until I discovered that the neighbour boy's parents have relatives who actually reside in my hometown of Mission, British Columbia, Canada!
#5. Teye and Gerda DeVries
Teye and Gerda DeVries are the relatives of the parents of the neighbour boy who's friends with Steven Spielberg's son, whose dad is best friends with George Lucas.
Teye and Gerda are from Mission, BC and loved visiting their relatives. They went down to Los Angeles on many occasions, until several years ago when Teye sadly passed away. However, both Teye and Gerda are good friends with my grandparents.
Teye and Gerda DeVries are the relatives of the parents of the neighbour boy who's friends with Steven Spielberg's son, whose dad is best friends with George Lucas.
Teye and Gerda are from Mission, BC and loved visiting their relatives. They went down to Los Angeles on many occasions, until several years ago when Teye sadly passed away. However, both Teye and Gerda are good friends with my grandparents.
Lil Theilmann (Far Left) with Teye DeVries (Left), Gerda DeVries (Right), and George Thielmann (Far Right).
Heritage Park, Mission BC, Canada, 2010.
Heritage Park, Mission BC, Canada, 2010.
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#6. George and Lil Thielmann
There it is, the final link. Everything comes down to George and Lil Theilmann, my grandparents. My grandparents and the DeVries have been friends for many years and even went to church together on a regular basis.
So in essence... My grandparents, George and Lil are good friends with Teye and Gerda DeVries, relatives of the parents of the neighbour who's friends with Steven Spielberg's son, whose dad is best friends with George Lucas.
There it is, the final link. Everything comes down to George and Lil Theilmann, my grandparents. My grandparents and the DeVries have been friends for many years and even went to church together on a regular basis.
So in essence... My grandparents, George and Lil are good friends with Teye and Gerda DeVries, relatives of the parents of the neighbour who's friends with Steven Spielberg's son, whose dad is best friends with George Lucas.
In Summary
At the end of the day, I suppose the greatest thing to take away from all this is that all things are attainable; things aren't as far away as they seem, and it just takes a bit of work and following some steps to reach them. George Lucas is just a man, like you, and like me. He worked hard and stood his ground to make the films he wanted to make by his own means and on his own terms. People feel strongly about the universe he's created, the characters he's conceived, and the story he's written. It's a phenomena that spans multiple generations and has changed the way we look at cinema. Ultimately, that's my greatest goal; tell the story that'll change the world.
At the end of the day, I suppose the greatest thing to take away from all this is that all things are attainable; things aren't as far away as they seem, and it just takes a bit of work and following some steps to reach them. George Lucas is just a man, like you, and like me. He worked hard and stood his ground to make the films he wanted to make by his own means and on his own terms. People feel strongly about the universe he's created, the characters he's conceived, and the story he's written. It's a phenomena that spans multiple generations and has changed the way we look at cinema. Ultimately, that's my greatest goal; tell the story that'll change the world.