CELEBRATION V: GARY KURTZ

Legendary STAR WARS and EMPIRE Producer Gary Kurtz (pictured above with Mark Hamill and a dummy Yoda on the Dagobah set for the 1979 filming of EMPIRE) was one of the star guests of CV and his stories about the behind the scenes making of the films and working with the stars were very illuminating-he has a brilliant, razor sharp memory on the films- and always worth catching. I was unable to see his one-man talk (and if anyone attended it please get in touch and let me know what was discussed, so I can add it to the blog) but his panel on the making of EMPIRE alongside Jon Berg, Ben Burtt and Lorne Peterson was an enjoyable one.

Now, Kurtz, alongside longtime STAR WARS archivist Jason Joiner, has set up a new website that shows some of the collection that the two have assembled over the years-Joiner himself has many props from all three Classic films, whilst Kurtz, a superb photographer, has his own unique collection of behind the scenes materials which are often used at UK signing events for STAR WARS actors autographs, like the popular LONDON FILM AND COMIC CON and COLLECTORMANIA (also run by Joiner). This site is still in the early days but should prove interesting over time.

Here's the link: http://www.kurtzjoinerarchive.com/index.html

Kurtz was also interviewed by the LOS ANGELES TIMES prior to CV about his work on the two original films, the early plot line for JEDI, why he left the Saga (and working with George Lucas), and his opinions on the recent Prequels.

Here's the link:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/08/star-wars-was-born-a-long-time-ago-but-not-all-that-far-far-away-in-1972-filmmakers-george-lucas-and-gary-kurtz-wer.html

We wish Gary and Jason all the best with their site, and that the formers upcoming film, PANZER 88-more news as and when we get it- is a big success.

Thanks to Chris Baker for the heads up on both these news items.