The Bearded Trio

Retro Sci-Fi Trivia Time!  ​Take a look at this snippet from Starburst Vol. 1, No. 3 which appropriately features Close Encounters on the cover.  The segment in the news section explains just how much George Lucas and Steven Spielberg loved Chuck Jones’ legendary cartoon, Duck Dodgers in the 24½ Century.  ​According to the article: ​George Lucas loved it so much he opened his initial Hollywood cast and crew screening of Star Wars with it, eventually getting it to play before the main feature in a San Francisco cinema. ​Steven Spielberg gave it a shoutout in Close Encounters, where it plays on the TV in the playroom scene ("H'h'h'happy birthday, you thing from another world, you!"). ​​I love finding little stories like this in old mags. The hype for a movie or the industry back then seemed more exciting and more innocent, but at the same time, more cosy.  But rose tinted glasses and all that as they say - Rob The Bearded Trio - The Site For Steven Spielberg, Geo...

Thank you for creating a galaxy for us to play in — and for changing cinema in ways most people don’t even realise. Lucas didn’t just give us Star Wars. He reshaped the entire filmmaking landscape behind the camera: Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) — founded because the effects Lucas needed simply didn’t exist. ILM went on to pioneer motion control photography, digital compositing, CGI characters, and the modern VFX pipeline. Almost every blockbuster today owes something to ILM’s breakthroughs. THX — created to standardise and improve cinema sound. Lucas wanted audiences to hear films the way filmmakers intended, so he built a system that revolutionised audio quality in theatres worldwide. Non‑linear editing — Lucas pushed for digital editing long before it was mainstream. His work with EditDroid paved the way for Avid and the entire digital editing revolution. Digital cinematography — The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones were key stepping stones in moving Hollywood from film...

The Documentary That Led To The Bearded Trio The documentary The Beginning: The Making of Star Wars Episode I is more than just a behind‑the‑scenes look at The Phantom Menace — it’s the reason this page and our website exist at all. I’ve been a fan of Spielberg, Lucas and Williams since the 70s. Their films, their music, and especially the behind‑the‑scenes magic have always grabbed me. This documentary is one of the best windows into filmmaking I’ve ever seen. No commentary, no narration — just the feeling that you’re standing in the room with the incredible people who brought the film to life. I first watched it around the time The Phantom Menace came out, but when I revisited it in 2009 something clicked. It sparked the urge to create a place that celebrated the work of these three legends. A way to say thank you for the decades of movie magic they’ve given us. That spark became The Bearded Trio. So yes — this documentary is partly responsible for everything we’ve built here togethe...

As we get older, I often wonder if nostalgia loses its effect on us, or becomes more powerful. On one hand, as we age, we gain wisdom about the people and world around us; a normal thought is “Why couldn’t I have this understanding when I was younger?” On the other hand, in the modern world it can often be a challenge to find positive things about said world. Our parents age and depart. Our political leaders fail us. Everything is worse than it was, which naturally gives rise to wishing for a time when things weren’t so bad. Hence, nostalgia. I don’t think any single thing stirs nostalgia in me quite like Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983). I am often amazed at how I look back on my life and see how significant Star Wars events coincide with inflection points within my life. Friday, May 27, 1983, my dad picked me up after completing his work week and we drove to the local theater in Farmington Hills, Michigan, not long before the 6 p.m. showing. But he had a plan, due to the lines a...

On the opening weekend of The Phantom Menace, Rumours Were Already Happening for Episode II If there's one thing I like doing is reading a magazine from years ago just to see what wild rumours were doing the rounds back then.  Back in '99 the hype was of course for Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace.  But in July's edition of SFX the attention was already leaning towards the sequel!   The article on page 13 (shown above) was obviously written on the opening weekend of The Phantom Menace where it states the movie had toppled "The Lost World's" record of most successful opening day in screen history.  "While Steven Spielberg's dinofest took $26.1 million on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 1997, Episode 1 bagged a gross of $28,542,349 in its first 24 hours, a litle short of the $30 million confidently predicted by industry insiders.  One estimate puts its potential worldwide gross at $1.5 Billion." The Lucasfilm President of the time, Gord...

Six-Part Docuseries Debuts Exclusively on Disney+ July 27 Today, Disney+ released the trailer and key art for Lucasfilm and Imagine Documentaries’ “Light & Magic,” an immersive series that chronicles the untold history of world-renowned Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the special visual effects, animation and virtual production division of Lucasfilm. Granted unparalleled access, Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan takes viewers on an adventure behind the curtain of Industrial Light & Magic. Learn about the pioneers of modern filmmaking as we go on a journey to bring George Lucas' vision to life. These filmmakers would then go on to inspire the entire industry of visual effects. The series is directed by Lawrence Kasdan, and the executive producers are Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Justin Wilkes, Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy and Michelle Rejwan. All six episodes of “Light & Magic” premiere on July 27, exclusively on Disney+. Twitter: @DisneyP...

Top ten lists of an artist's work are never controversial. Nope. Never any discourse, disagreement or finger-pointing with these! But eh, I don't care. My top 10 list of John Williams Star Wars tracks is unique to me and needs neither validation nor dispute from anyone else Your list is 100 percent as legitimate as mine or anyone else's. That's the beauty of the art John Williams has created over his eight decade career of film music composition. You love what you love, and no one need love it like you do. So here is my list, with YouTube links for your listening pleasure. These tracks come from officially released John Williams tracks for the Star Wars films only. 1. City in the Clouds - Empire Strikes Back For me, the word "ethereal" was invented to describe this track.  We begin this track on Dagobah as Luke's Jedi powers are clearly growing. When used correctly, as it is here, the celeste might be my favorite musical instrument. It delicately plays as ...

I was nine years old, galloping down the carpeted stairs of my childhood home in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It was 1982. I was intent on getting a snack, but it was just a quick snack. The kind of snack that wasn't worth going all the way to the record player to lift the needle while you were out of the room. I wanted that music to already be playing when I returned to my bedroom with that coveted snack. "Heroics of Luke and Han" was coming out of my primitive little record player, from the soundtrack album Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). As I started my sprint back up the stairs, my mom called to me. I think I defied the laws of gravity in stopping, waiting to hear about either the speed of my movement or the questionable nutritional quality of my snack. "I just wanted to say how nice it is that you're listening to classical music!" my mom declared to me, also hearing the bombastic music from my bedroom.  I paused for an indignant moment before ...

George Lucas Feeling Unwell On The Set Of Raiders Of The Lost Ark George Lucas And His Sea Sickness On the fourth day of shooting for Raiders of the Lost Ark, cast and crew headed out to sea for what looked like a calm day, just like the day before.  Filming was on the Bantu Wind from June 23rd to the 27th, 1980.  Unfortunately, the conditions soon became rough.  The teams were divided into small boats, The Aiglon II was Spielberg's boat, Venus des Lles were the crews.  Safety boats, tugboats, and a dory were all used.  What is a dory boat?   A dory is a small, shallow-draft boat around five metres in length. George Lucas was on the dory. The dory was actually damaged during the day as the weather worsened and a large swell caused it to run into another boat.  Several people became ill including George Lucas.  He wasn't alone though as executive producer, Howard Kazanjian also came down with sea sickness.  So much that he spent t...

Les Dilley Gets Outstanding Contribution Award At BAFTA WALES. On Sunday, production designer and art director Leslie (Les) Dilley received the Outstanding Contribution Award , one of the highest accolades BAFTA can award at the British Academy Cymru Awards.  It was streamed live online and Alex Jones (not that one) was the host. Les Dilley was born in the Rhondda, Wales and has worked on some of the most iconic movies such as Star Wars: A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Alien to name but a few. James Cameron started off the compliments explaining how he had the pleasure of working with Les in 1988 on The Abyss  and how it was a "horrifically challenging film for a number of reasons and we always that felt we were in such great hands from the design, from the sense of functionality of this deep ocean  underwater drilling rig to the execution of it, Les was able to build sets that were so real, feeling to us as the crew and to the audience ...

Cymru am byth, George! During the Welsh Bafta's this Sunday, George Lucas will be giving a special message along with James Cameron and others. Handing our awards will be Catherine Zeta-Jones and singer Katherine Jenkins to name a few.  TV series, Dark Materials has a whopping nine nominations and Sir Anthony Hopkins is up for best actor for his performance as Pope Benedict XVI in The Two Popes. There will be 21 categories in total and George Lucas will be giving his special message for the outstanding contribution to film and television.  Welshman, art director and production designer, Leslie Dilley will receive the award.  Dilley won an Oscar for Star Wars in 1978 and for Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981. You can find out more about the Welsh Baftas by clicking here along with details on how to watch the ceremony live. The Bearded Trio - The Site For Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Williams and a whole lot more.

Here's a short video showing George Lucas introducing a Battle Droid to Steven Spielberg for the first time while making Star Wars The Phantom Menace. The Bearded Trio - The Site For Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Williams and a whole lot more.

We've taken a look at Steven Spielberg in front of the camera. Well, his pal George Lucas has also shown his face a few times in the spotlights. We could come up with a few stills, to prove that. Spielberg and Lucas worked together on  Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , and maybe that's why the teamed up together in this cameo as well. Both directors portrayed missionaries, portrayed in the background, who are waiting at the airport, the moment Indy tries to escape Lao Che by plane. Another cameo where George is barely visible and not recognizable at all,  is his bit-part in Spielberg's  Hook .  In one scene we see a couple floating in the sky, kissing each other.  This couple is made up of George Lucas and none other that Carrie Fisher. Lucky for us, George's next came gives us a very clear look at him.  The film is  Beverly Hills Cop 3 , and the scene is one where a couple comes forward, rather disappointed, that their day o...

The Magic of Special Effects, this hour-long 1984 episode spends a lot of its time with the Industrial Light & Magic team. Look out for Steven Spielberg and George Lucas A 1984 documentary on special effects for "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", "Explorers", "Return of the Jedi", and "2010". The section in particular on how they did the 150 ships battle scene in Jedi shows just how much manual work went into the shot (it took months).

George Lucas talks about his early life at film school and reflects on the cinematic process with reference to his movies, including the creation of Star Wars. Rach

I MISS GOING TO THE THEATER The year of 2020 has taken a lot away from us. For some, it's been the ultimate loss, the loss of loved ones to the evil that is COVID-19. Other losses are more cosmetic or comfort losses.  Perhaps the most "comfort" loss I have felt has been the loss of going to the theater during peak movie season in the summer. In saying this, I am keeping the perspective that the virus has impacted hundreds of thousands of people across the country and the world at a deep level. I do not mean to equate my loss of not going to a theater with those who have lost loved ones. They don't compare. But this is a website that deals with films we love and the people who make them, so in that spirit... I miss going to the theater. Like so many of you, my first exposure to a movie theater came in that summer of 1977 when Star Wars: A New Hope moved its way into our consciousness. Four-year-old me was enveloped in darkness, the constantly flashing images on the scr...