Industrial Light and Magic

Industrial Light + Magic (ILM) is a motion picture special visual effects company, founded in July 1975 by George Lucas and owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. The studio originated in San Rafael, California but is now in the process of moving most of its operations to the Presidio complex in San Francisco, California. ILM will continue to maintain and use its large film studio building in San Rafael, which was built in 1991 specifically for ILM, for principal photography.

Related Topics:
Motion picture - Special visual effects - July 1975 - George Lucas - Lucasfilm Ltd - San Rafael, California - San Francisco, California - 1991

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Lucas wanted Star Wars to include visual effects that had never been seen on film before. He first approached Douglas Trumbull, famous for '. Trumbull declined, but suggested his assistant John Dykstra. Dykstra brought together a small team of college students, artists and engineers who became the Special Visual Effects department on Star Wars. Alongside Dykstra other leading members of the original ILM team were Dennis Muren, Richard Edlund, Joe Johnston and Phil Tippett.

Related Topics:
Star Wars - Douglas Trumbull - John Dykstra - Dennis Muren - Richard Edlund - Joe Johnston - Phil Tippett

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When making The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas reformed most of the team into Industrial Light + Magic in Marin County, California. They have since gone on to produce special effects for over two hundred films, including the Indiana Jones films, the Harry Potter films, the Jurassic Park films, many of the Star Trek films, as well as less dramatic effects in films such as Schindler's List, Snow Falling on Cedars, Magnolia, and several Woody Allen films. ILM also frequently collaborates with Steven Spielberg, with Dennis Muren acting as Visual Effects Supervisor.

Related Topics:
The Empire Strikes Back - Marin County, California - Indiana Jones - Harry Potter - Jurassic Park - Star Trek - Schindler's List - Snow Falling on Cedars - Magnolia - Woody Allen

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ILM established their use of Computer Generated Imagery when they hired Edwin Catmull from NYIT in 1979. John Lasseter worked for ILM in the early 1980s as a computer animator. The computer graphics department was eventually sold to Steve Jobs, which went on to create the first CG animated feature with Toy Story.

Related Topics:
Computer Generated Imagery - Edwin Catmull - John Lasseter - Toy Story

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As of 2005, ILM has received 14 Best Visual Effects Oscars and 20 additional nominations. It had also received 22 technical Oscars.

Related Topics:
As of 2005 - Best Visual Effects - Oscars

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