Paul Duncan / Writer / Editor / Films / Books / Comics

November 9, 1999: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Doug Chiang’s concept for a droid drop ship.
Two years later, Erik Tiemens is still using the concept, but it was not used in the movie.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

November 8, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Derek Thompson’s concept of Vader using the Force to direct a wave of lava at Obi-Wan, who protects himself with a Force shield was in the original animatic, 13:00 in: dai.ly/xs4e1v#StarW...
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

November 7, 2003: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Yannick Dusseault’s concept for scene 170, where the critically wounded Darth Vader is fitted with a life-saving suit, overseen by the Emperor.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

If you are in LA, or anywhere near it, you need to visit the ROBERT CRUMB: TALES OF PARANOIA exhibit at David Zwirner. It is FREE to go read pages and pages of BRAND NEW COMIX PAGES. It is all ORIGINAL ART. Plan your visit now, while you still can: davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/...

November 6, 1996: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang’s concept art shows detail of the Trade Federation ship’s hangar bay entrance as the Republic Cruiser approaches. It took him 3.5 days.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

I was first in line to watch the LAST SHOWING IN VISTAVISION of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER at the VISTA THEATER. The 6:30pm showing was sold out, so I went to the packed 10:45pm show. Great to see this black comedy in this format!

November 5, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Ryan Church’s concept of a crash outside the Jedi Temple: “My thought was that the ship is coming in to destroy the Jedi Temple, and all the Jedi work together to somehow use the Force to push it away.” #StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Today I paid a visit to the amazing Robert Crumb: Tales of Paranoia exhibit at David Zwirner. It is FREE to go read pages and pages of BRAND NEW COMIX PAGES. It is all ORIGINAL ART. Plan your visit now, while you still can:
www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/...

November 3, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Iain McCaig’s concept for the Sith Knight was one of the first designs he worked on when he joined the design department. The basis for the Knights of Ren? #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Just got the proof copy of ROCKY: THE COMPLETE FILMS, which I edited. It's a knockout!
You can preorder from TASCHEN here: www.taschen.com/.../02207/ro...

Written by Harlan Ellison!!!

Aug 1967 / TV Radio Mirror / A great profile on Leonard Nimoy where he recounts meeting JFK in 1956 when he was a taxi driver—JFK encouaged Nimoy to pursue his dream to become an actor!
Read the full interview here:

Aug 1967 / TV Radio Mirror / A great profile on Leonard Nimoy where he recounts meeting JFK in 1956 when he was a taxi driver—JFK encouaged Nimoy to pursue his dream to become an actor! Read the full article in thread.
@leonardnimoy.bsky.social
@startrek.bsky.social

October 29, 1997: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: George Lucas’s detailed editing notes for the opening sequence illustrate the power of nonlinear digital editing. Ben Burtt calls it "cyber-directing" here: youtu.be/j8sBsnYNucM?...
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

I am happy to announce that THE JAMES BOND ARCHIVES, a 192-pg photobook, will be on sale Dec in the EU, and in January in the US.
You can preorder/register interest here: www.taschen.com/en/books/fil...

October 28, 1999: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Several artists submitted designs for Kaminoans. These are concepts by Iain McCaig and Doug Chiang. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Just remembering my wonderful visit to the Skirball Cultural Center LA to see the JACK KIRBY: HEROES AND HUMANITY exhibit.
This is CAPTAIN AMERICA #1: Kirby and Simon smash Fascists wherever they are.
It's a MUST SEE! Info here: skirball.org/museum/jack-... #JackKirby
@jackkirbymuseum.bsky.social

October 27, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Iain McCaig’s concept for Anakin Skywalker, was based on James Robinson (aged 10-11) who played the young William Wallace in Braveheart. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Had a wonderful time this afternoon at Manns Chinese Theater (where STAR WARS was first shown) for the Premiere of THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SEARCH FOR SQUAREPANTS, featuring the magnificent vocal talent of @RealTomKenny and @MarkHamill. This surreal movie is sure to be a hit.

October 25, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: George Lucas’s list of Episode III planets, with hand-written notes about their inhabitants, with each having different environments for them to be immediately distinguishable. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

STANLEY KUBRICK: EYEWITNESS
Ideal for students and fans who want to learn more about the background to the movies, or to think more about the thematic and visual motifs.
This updated edition includes over 250 images from the movies.
Paperback or Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/1077708629

My Books in Print 1: STANLEY KUBRICK: EYEWITNESS
First published in 1999, and one of my best sellers.
It is my equivalent to an illustrated Cliff Notes guide to the films of Stanley Kubrick.
Available as a paperback or Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/1077708629

October 23, 2000: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Iain McCaig’s concept for a clone studying and final frame with Daniel Logan as the young clones. The calligraphy on the drawing is reproduced upside-down on the clothing.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Thanks for the compliment, but sadly I did not edit the Kubrick Archives book—that was Alison Castle. I wrote another book on Kubrick for TASCHEN.

October 22, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: George Lucas considered Iain McCaig’s striking design for Anakin’s hair and costume too far towards the Dark Side.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

This Gary Panter poster design (published in the LA Weekly) was used for Pee-Wee Herman's 1981 stage show, years before the Pee-wee's Playhouse TV show and movies.
@peeweehermann.bsky.social
@laweekly01.bsky.social

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Derek Thompson’s unused storyboard idea where Vader and Obi-Wan duel on a raised platform, Obi-Wan feints, cuts off Vader’s legs, and Vader falls onto the lava beach below. Thompson writes, "Burn, Ani, Burn."
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Michelangelo Antonioni talking about the future of cinema in 1982.
From Wim Wenders' documentary ROOM 666.

October 17, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: "They can fly now!!!" Early concept artwork by Ryan Church showing the clone troopers hang-gliding into the sinkhole as they begin their attack.
#StarWarsArchives19992005
youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Star Wars: A New Hope (1997): Digital matte artist Paul Huston, who had been a model builder on the original film, worked on the Special Edition: “Ben Kenobi’s hut was my design. I built a model and photographed it, and photographed a model of Luke’s landspeeder to use as source material.”