The District

CONCEPT ART LENDS TO THE VISUAL DEPICTION OF IDEAS THAT GIVE HOPE TO A GREAT FILM.

 

There were issues with the filming of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, creative differences lead to Colin Trevorrow being replaced by Star Wars: The Force Awakens writer/ director JJ Abrams. This is what separates The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker from the other Art of Star Wars books. The first half of the book includes art from Trevorrow’s vision and switches to JJ Abrams vision.

There is a lot of art in The Art of The Rise of Skywalker that did not find it’s way into the final film. That is what gives the book a really cool feel, yet leaves on scratching their head wondering why it did not.

Colin Trevorrow had art that feels really cool and that it should have made it’s way into the final product even though JJ Abrams took over the project. Abrams art was pretty cut and dry as to most of it did end up in the film.

But, together the art could have served to bring a more interesting movie to life. Trevorrow’s half of The Art of The Rise of Skywalker was bright yet character’s seem darker so that is an interesting aspect. While once the book sifts to Abrams half the art has a darker tone which played out on screen.

While this is not my favorite Art of Star Wars books it is the one I find most fascinating and the one I go back to most often for the sheer shift in directors and movie feel.

For that reason alone I would say it is worth investing in this Star Wars art book. Again I am not focusing on the movie, people either loved it or hated it that is the fact. I am most interested in the art side and this book is worth the cost.

CONCEPT ART LENDS TO THE VISUAL DEPICTION OF IDEAS THAT GIVE HOPE TO A GREAT FILM.

 

One of the better Star Wars films is Rogue One A Star Wars Story (2016). Sure it filled in the back story of the stolen Death Star plans but it was fantastic storytelling. Like all Star Wars films, Rogue One started as a story and then the art department stepped to being to shape and bring the story to life. The Art of Rogue One A Star Wars Story is one of two Art of books that offer a lot of material that never saw the light of day which is in some cases a bit sad really.

By and large Rogue One is a darker story with a predictable yet melancholy ending that leads to light (Star Wars A New Hope.) What really stands out about the film is the darker tone set up by the dark art in the book.

For starters the movie takes place on multiple different planets all with different environments and backgrounds. While Star wars films do tend to visit different areas Rogue One really went to a bunch each more interesting the the planet before.

The droids are fantastic and many have never been seen before Rogue One, so a tip of the hat to Doug Chaing and his art department for the creativity in each unique droid brought to life from art. Director Krennic, who in a very early concept had facial scars. There is an Underworld Alien, that never made it onto the screen which is a shame. The list goes on and on.

To fully grasp the movie making process, one must take in the concept art it takes to help the finished product. The art and artists do not disappoint in the Rogue One book. While it does have a lot of art that did not make the final cut it offers the reader a chance to view it soak it in and ponder if it was the right thing to leave concept art brought to life either in or or out of the film.

The Art of Rogue One A Star wars Story is a must have for not only Star Wars fans but movie fans and art fans as well.

 

Up Next: The Art of The Mandalorian.

 

 

Concept art lends to the visual depiction of ideas that give hope to a great film.

 

Star Wars and art seem like a perfect partnership. Sure the same can be said for other movies and movie franchises and art, but Star Wars is so visual that the art is part stunning and often overlooked. The Art of Star Wars books offer plenty of concepts some which are used in films and some that never see the light of a movie screen. In the series of articles to come we will go in depth of the Art of Star Wars books, starting with Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Doug Chaing who is the Senior Vice President and Executive Designer of Lucasfilm, is counted on heavily to orchestrate not only the concept art but also how it fits into a film or show. Idea’s, characters and environment’s all need to be brought to life.

Ron Howard did a solid job with the film which is vastly underrated as Doug Chaing and his team did a tremendous job with the concept art. What should and needs to be stressed is not every concept makes it’s way into the final product. But the Art of Star Wars books places many of those art drawings into the books.

It is the art that is cut that the reader either agrees with it being in the film or thinks it should have been in the film but was cut out, that is the beauty of art and film (which is a form of art.) One aspect of Solo the film is it is filmed in dulled out colors and then brighter color throughout the film.

Sometimes the art does not do the film justice and sometimes the film does not do the art justice with Star Wars, Doug Chaing and his art department nail it every time. The films are subjective to the fan as far as like/ dislike but the art is on point time and time again.

For Solo, much of the art in the book presents early stages and not the finished product although final product is shown. The is the interesting part of this book, it really shows the process. Flipping through the pages and seeing how the movie turned out is a fun adventure.

If you are a Star Wars fan or an art fan who also likes films, The Art of Solo: a Star Wars Story is a good way to introduce a very good balance to both.

 

Up next The Art of Rogue One A Star Wars Story