#345 George Lucas

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Apr 12, 2024

George Lucas faced numerous challenges in his groundbreaking filmmaking journey, embodying creative control and persistence. His rebellious spirit in film school shaped his unique approach, leading to the iconic Star Wars franchise. The podcast dives into his strategic hiring practices and the gamble of independent financing at Skywalker Ranch. It also discusses effective hiring strategies and how fostering a strong company culture can attract exceptional talent, emphasizing the impact of collaboration on cinematic innovation.

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ADVICE

Deep Industry Knowledge

Immerse yourself in your industry's history, rereading books and rewatching films.
Catalog your ideas like Tarantino, enabling their future use.

INSIGHT

Invest in Yourself

George Lucas prioritized investing in himself and his vision.
This allowed him to build a film empire based on his uncompromising vision.

ANECDOTE

Rebellious Youth

George Lucas, a rebellious youth, clashed with his controlling father.
This fueled his lifelong pursuit of control and independence in filmmaking.

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George Lucas, A Life

Brian Jay Jones

Steve Jobs and the NeXT big thing

Randall Stross

Confessions of an Advertising Man

David Ogilvy

First published in 1963, this book revolutionized the world of advertising and became a bible for the 1960s ad generation. It covers topics such as how to manage an advertising agency, acquire and retain clients, build great campaigns, write potent copy, and navigate office politics. The book is filled with Ogilvy's pioneering ideas, inspirational philosophy, and practical advice, making it an essential blueprint for good practice in business.

Setting the Table

Danny Meyer

In this landmark book, Danny Meyer recounts his experiences and the lessons he learned in developing his philosophy of Enlightened Hospitality. Meyer started Union Square Cafe at the age of 27 and has since built a restaurant empire. His philosophy, which emphasizes strong in-house relationships and customer satisfaction, is applicable to any business. The book covers various aspects of running a restaurant, including selecting real estate, hiring, training, and providing exceptional service. Meyer's approach to hospitality extends to guests, the community, suppliers, and investors, and he provides practical advice on how to maintain long-term success through these relationships.

Pieces of the action

Vannevar Bush

In 'Pieces of the Action', Vannevar Bush offers a collection of memoir-essays that reflect on his 60-year career in public affairs. He discusses his role as the architect and administrator of an R&D pipeline that coordinated the work of civilian scientists and the military during World War II, leading to significant innovations such as radar, the proximity fuze, and the mass production of penicillin. The book provides hard-won lessons on operating and managing complex organizations, building bridges between disciplines, and driving ambitious programs to fruition. It also includes personal anecdotes and observations, offering a glimpse into Bush's personality and leadership style. Originally published in 1970, this updated edition includes archival images and a foreword by Ben Reinhardt that contextualizes the lessons for contemporary readers.

Creative Selection

Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs

Ken Kocienda

In 'Creative Selection,' Ken Kocienda offers a detailed look at Apple's software development process during his 15-year tenure at the company. The book focuses on the 'creative selection' process, a method of iterative development through continuous demos and feedback. Kocienda shares stories of his work on key products like the iPhone, iPad, and Safari web browser, and discusses the essential elements of innovation at Apple, including inspiration, collaboration, craft, diligence, decisiveness, taste, and empathy. The book provides insights into the working culture and decision-making processes under Steve Jobs' leadership.

In the company of giants

Rama Dev Jager

This book presents groundbreaking conversations with pioneers of the digital world. It includes interviews with leaders such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, T. J. Rodgers, Gordon Eubanks, Steve Case, and others. The interviews cover their experiences, successes, challenges, and visions for the future of technology. The book provides a unique perspective on the human side of these tech giants and the strategies that drove their companies to success. It highlights the importance of customer focus, hiring good people, and mission-driven businesses, as well as the courage and innovation required to shape the digital world[2][5][6].

Zero to One

Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

Peter Thiel

In 'Zero to One,' Peter Thiel argues that true innovation comes from creating something entirely new, going from 'zero to one,' rather than incrementally improving existing ideas. He emphasizes the importance of vertical progress through technology and the benefits of monopoly in driving innovation. Thiel also discusses the need for long-term planning, the importance of finding the right co-founders, and the power law in startup success. The book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages readers to think critically and aim big to build the future[2][3][5].

Francis Ford Coppola

A Filmmaker's Life

Michael Schumacher

This book provides a detailed account of Francis Ford Coppola's life and career, covering his early years, his apprenticeship under Roger Corman, and his direction of iconic films such as the Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation. It explores his successes and failures, including the challenges faced during the filming of Apocalypse Now and the impact of personal crises on his work. The biography is based on extensive access to Coppola's friends, critics, peers, casts, and crews, offering a complete picture of this complex and conflicted cinematic genius.

A mind at play

How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age

Jimmy Soni

Rob Goodman

This biography, written by Jimmy Soni and Rob Goodman, reveals the full story of Claude Shannon for the first time. It chronicles Shannon's life from his small-town Michigan roots to his groundbreaking work at MIT and Bell Labs. The book highlights his contributions to digital circuit design and information theory, as well as his interactions with notable figures like Alan Turing, John von Neumann, and Albert Einstein. Shannon's personal life, including his interests in juggling, unicycling, and inventing unusual devices, is also explored. The authors provide a detailed and engaging account of Shannon's impact on the information age and his unique blend of playfulness and genius[2][3][4].

The Godfather

Mario Puzo

Published in 1969, 'The Godfather' by Mario Puzo is a crime novel that follows the story of the Corleone family, one of the Five Families of the New York Mafia. The novel spans from the early life of Vito Corleone to the rise of his youngest son, Michael, as the new Don. The story explores themes of loyalty, power, and violence as the family navigates internal conflicts, external threats, and the transition of leadership. Michael, initially reluctant to join the family business, becomes deeply involved after an assassination attempt on his father and eventually succeeds Vito as the head of the family. The novel is known for its realistic portrayal of organized crime and its impact on the characters' personal lives[2][3][4].

Driven

The Virat Kohli Story

Vijay Lokapally

Driven: The Virat Kohli Story, written by Vijay Lokapally, is a detailed account of Virat Kohli's cricketing career. The book covers Kohli's early days, his exploits as a young cricketer, and his transformation into one of the world's top batsmen. It includes interviews with those who have known Kohli closely, such as his childhood coach and teammates, and provides insights into his personal and professional life. The narrative is simple and clear, reflecting Lokapally's extensive experience as a cricket journalist. The book also touches on Kohli's emotional moments, such as his response to personal losses, and his growth as a player and captain[2][4][5].

The Founders

The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley

Jimmy Soni

In 'The Founders', Jimmy Soni delves into the turbulent early days of PayPal, a company that would become one of the world's foremost payment platforms. With hundreds of interviews and unprecedented access to internal material, Soni chronicles the challenges faced by the founders, including bruising competition, internal strife, online fraud, and the dot-com bust of the 2000s. The book highlights how this group of entrepreneurs, often referred to as the 'PayPal mafia', went on to form, fund, and advise leading companies such as Tesla, Facebook, YouTube, SpaceX, and LinkedIn. It is a story of iteration, inventiveness, and the profound impact these individuals had on modern technology and entrepreneurship.

What I learned from rereading George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones.

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(0:01) George Lucas unapologetically invested in what he believed in the most: himself.

(1:00) George Lucas is the Thomas Edison of the modern film industry.

(1:30) A list of biographies written by Brian Jay Jones

(6:00) Elon Musk interviewed by Kevin Rose

(10:15) How many people think the solution to gaining quality control, improving fiscal responsibility, and stimulating technological innovation is to start their own special-effects company? But that’s what he did.

(17:00) When I finally discovered film, I really fell madly in love with it. I ate it. I slept it. 24 hours a day. There was no going back.

(18:00) Those on the margins often come to control the center. (Game of Thrones)

(21:00) As soon as I made my first film, I thought, Hey, I’m good at this. I know how to do this. From then on, I’ve never questioned it.

(23:00) He was becoming increasingly cranky about the idea of working with others and preferred doing everything himself.

(34:00) Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker's Life by Michael Schumacher. (Founders #242)

(42:00) The film Easy Rider was made for $350,000. It grossed over $60 million at the box office.

(45:00) The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley by Jimmy Soni. (Founders #233)

A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age by Jimmy Soni and Rob Goodman (Founders #95)

Steve Jobs & The NeXT Big Thing by Randall Stross. (Founders #77)

(47:00) What we’re striving for is total freedom, where we can finance our pictures, make them our way, release them where we want them released, and be completely free. That’s very hard to do in the world of business. You have to have the money in order to have the power to be free.

(49:00) You should reject the status quo and pursue freedom.

(49:00) People would give anything to quit their jobs. All they have to do is do it. They’re people in cages with open doors.

(51:00) Stay small. Be the best. Don’t lose any money.

(59:00) That was a very dark period for me. We were in dire financial strait. I turned that down [directing someone else’s movie] at my bleakest point, when I was in debt to my parents, in debt to Francis Coppola, in debt to my agent; I was so far in debt I thought I’d never get out. It took years to get from my first film to my second film, banging on doors, trying to get people to give me a chance. Writing, struggling, with no money in the bank… getting little jobs, eking out a living. Trying to stay alive, and pushing a script that nobody wanted.

(1:02:00) “Opening this new restaurant might be the worst mistake I've ever made."

Stanley [Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus] set his martini down, looked me in the eye, and said, "So you made a mistake. You need to understand something important. And listen to me carefully: The road to success is paved with mistakes well handled."

His words remained with me through the night. I repeated them over and over to myself, and it led to a turning point in the way I approached business.

Stanley's lesson reminded me of something my grandfather Irving Harris had always told me:

“The definition of business is problems."

His philosophy came down to a simple fact of business life: success lies not in the elimination of problems but in the art of creative, profitable problem solving. The best companies are those that distinguish themselves by solving problems most effectively.

Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer.

(1:05:00) My thing about art is that I don’t like the word art because it means pretension and bullshit, and I equate those two directly. I don’t think of myself as an artist. I’m a craftsman. I don’t make a work of art; I make a movie.

(1:06:00) I know how good I am. American Graffiti is successful because it came entirely from my head. It was my concept. And that’s the only way I can work.

(1:09:00) Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs by Ken Kocienda. (Founders #281)

(1:21:00) The budget for Star Wars was $11 million. In brought in $775 million at the box office alone!

(1:25:00) Steven Spielberg made over $40 million from the original Star Wars. Spielberg gave Lucas 2.5% of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Lucas gave Spielberg 2.5% of Star Wars. That to 2.5% would earn Spielberg more than $40 million over the next four decades.

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