The Backlot Motion Picture Company
THE WORLD IS OUR BACKLOT
Backlot Influences
Every modern day filmmaker was influenced by a filmmaker who came before them - young filmmakers today might cite as their influences people like Christopher Nolan or James Cameron, but our influences come from the directors who influenced them; the filmmakers from the 60's and 70's who are the true creators of modern cinema -- directors like Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorcese, John Millius and Sydney Pollack, Mike Nichols and Robert Benton and of course, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Our 2 greatest influences have been Steven Spielberg, who singlehandedly created the summer blockbuster season, starting with JAWS -- and of course, George Lucas, who with the creation of STAR WARS, changed the nature of film forever--the first 300 million dollar + box office champ, STAR WARS integrated film and marketing like no film before it; toys, fast food tie-in's and poster and music sales, STAR WARS set new trends on every level of film tie in. The one thing that Lucas can really lay claim to--changing the ENTIRE film industry with independently producing the sequel, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and then creating INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC to do his special effects, and ILM would become the WORLD STANDARD for special effects -- single handedly creating digital effects, or CG as we know it today. George Lucas and his crew of genius' also created non-linear, digital editing which changed how films would be edited forever. Advancements in digital technology for film and sound, creating the THX certification for movie sound systems. No part of the future of filmmaking has not been touched and influenced by George Lucas...
Scene from JAWS taken from MOVIECLIPS on Youtube, c. Universal Studios
ILM Promo Film from ILM Youtube Channel, C.Lucasfilm
Raider of the Lost Ark Scene from Youtube Movie Clips -- C Lucasfilm & Paramount Pictures