Fewer than 20 Star Wars special effects crew members followed ILM's move to San Rafael, seven of whom were key, including Richard Edlund and Dennis Muren. Recruitment occurred over several months from late 1977 onwards. He liked the area, but it was a substantial distance away from the busy film activity and experienced crew in Los Angeles. He also wanted to move ILM from southern California to San Rafael in the north. Lucas had to re-establish ILM and completely re-staff it while managing his burgeoning production firm Lucasfilm. Most of the staff and equipment were used to found a separate effects company, Apogee, Inc., under Star Wars effects supervisor John Dykstra. However, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), a makeshift special effects company formed by Lucas exclusively for Star Wars had shuttered after its release because Lucas had no immediate use for its equipment or staff. Creator George Lucas planned to use his earnings from that film to independently fund the sequel. See also: History of Industrial Light & Magic Founding an effects studio ĭevelopment of The Empire Strikes Back began in 1977, shortly after the release of Star Wars in May. Special effects-related expenses totalled $8 million, and the team was led by Richard Edlund and Brian Johnson to complete the effects. Up to 100 people worked on the nearly 600 effects required for the film, which included miniatures, matte paintings, stop motion, articulated models, and full-size vehicles. Construction began in mid-1978, and the crew operated out of the incomplete building to keep pace with Empire 's filming schedule. Lucas's own special effects company had effectively ceased to exist following the production of Star Wars and he decided to re-establish the company, moving it from central to northern California and building a new facility as its base.
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The development of the film began in 1977, shortly after the release of Star Wars.
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The ensemble cast includes Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker trains to master the Force so he can confront the Sith lord Darth Vader. Set three years after the events of Star Wars, its story follows the battle between the Galactic Empire led by Emperor Palpatine and the Rebel Alliance led by Princess Leia. It is the sequel to Star Wars (1977), the second film in the Star Wars film series, and the fifth chronological chapter of the Skywalker Saga. The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back) is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner, with a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas.