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

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

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.”

October 13, 1978: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: #OTD Triple-I created this DIGITAL X-wing fighter, constructed from 60k polygons by Art Durinski, for @ILMVFX to make “Star Wars 2,” but it was too expensive. See Triple I’s test footage here: youtu.be/i8zjMQz5Ftg

October 11, 1976: Star Wars: The Death Star surface & foreground guns for shot 243 were filmed. After being combined with 2 X-wings, stars, gun flash,& lasers, Lucas OK’d the shot on Dec 21, but it was redone for May 9, 1977 approval for May 25 release. #StarWarsArchives19771983 youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

October 10, 1996: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang’s concept painting for the victory celebration in Theed. It took Doug 8.3 days to complete and you can understand why. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

October 9, 1985: Star Wars: Droids: Don't you think that the Roller Gulper design for the Droids episode “The Great Heep” resembles General Grievous’s wheel bike seen 20 years later in Revenge of the Sith (2005)? #StarWarsArchives19771983 youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

It was a pleasure meeting Raymond Benson at the launch of his new FELIX LEITER novel THE HOOK AND THE EYE, set in a Noirish 1950s America. We chatted about our shared love for Noir author Jim Thompson, as well as filmmakers Bergman, Welles and Melies. Thanks to Ajay Chowdhury for the foto.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: George Lucas writes which lightsabers are to be used by which characters. From left: Anakin Skywalker (Ep III)/Luke Skywalker (Eps IV-V), Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Eps I-II), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Eps III-IV), Mace Windu, and Count Dooku. #StarWarsArchives19992005

Happy to announce that ROCKY: THE COMPLETE FILMS, a photo book detailing the life of @sylvesterstallon2.bsky.social's everyman hero, will be on sale Nov (EU) / Jan (US). Order here: www.taschen.com/.../02207/ro... My unboxing of the SOLD OUT ART EDITION here: youtu.be/oStYNWvswBw?...

Just watched Season 4, episode 5 of @thebearfx.bsky.social and was surprised to find Ritchie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) with a copy of the 2006 MICHAEL MANN book I edited, especially because the character is a devote Ridley Scott fan.

Did you know that James Bond was one of the influences George Lucas put into the mix when he created The Star Wars? Here's a page from my original manuscript for #StarWarsArchives19771983: youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

October 3, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: This Ryan Church concept shows a Star Destroyer (top left) docking on Mustafar, and collection panels overhanging the lava at right. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Found this in my files—before MICHAEL MANN: THE COMPLETE FILMS was published in 2006, the chapter on COLLATERAL was published in a booklet for the 2005 Oscar run.

October 2, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang (OFFICIAL)’s Tatooine concept art was later adapted for Beggar’s Canyon in the Pod Race. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

September 30, 1999: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Doug Chiang’s computer generated speeder concept. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

September 26, 2001: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Ryan Church’s concept art showing Palpatine surveying the clone troops, in formation, preparing for the war ahead. So EPIC I had to put it across a double-spread in my book. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

September 25, 1997: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Theed estuary scene was shot with the actors at Pinewood Studios. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

September 23, 1999: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Jay Shuster successfully merged the eyes of the Mandalorian bounty hunter helmet with the mouth of the Stormtrooper helmet, leading to the Clone Trooper helmet. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

September 22, 1978: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: The blueprint for the Main Hangar Deck by Michael Lamont (who worked on Bond, Harry Potter, Aliens) shows the precise location and sizes of all the vehicles, as well as the detail of the ice caves. #StarWarsArchives19771983 youtu.be/fgKQaRMBuVs

September 20, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Terryl Whitlatch has air whales as part of the Gungan air force, an idea that was not used in the film. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Vinegar Syndrome: I opened a random box at the Sony Archives and got the unmistakeable whiff of vinegar syndrome—the acetate was deteriorating and bubbbling. This is the negative of ad art from the 1959 Film Noir CITY OF FEAR. The archive scans it hi res then disposes of it.

From the Sony Archives: Starship Troopers (1997): KNOW YOUR FOE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? youtu.be/x2z52-PQQl0?...

September 16, 1996: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Doug Chiang’s artwork depicting the Gungan army emerging from the swamp includes the lumbering fambaa, based on a dinosaur concept, and the kaadu, inspired by an ostrich. It took him 6 days to complete. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

September 14, 1995: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Terryl Whitlatch’s concepts for “Jar Jar Binx” influenced by the attributes of frogs and dragons. Jar Jar is still very large compared with Padmé. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

From the Sony Archives: This is the giant brass pod from MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN (1994) where Victor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) gave birth to the Creature (Robert De Niro).

The great Dan Kamin, mime artiste extraordinaire, is doing an online course on CHARLIE CHAPLIN. Find out more here: roundtable.org/live-courses...

These are the current BD / Comics / Graphic Novels on sale at FNAC in Le Havre this week. The space for BD has been moved and reduced since I last visited this time last year. The Manga space is larger. Also the range and space for DVD/Blu-Rays has also been reduced.

The TASCHEN SALE is ON this WEEKEND ONLY! These FILM BOOKS are currently discounted: www.taschen.com/en/books/sal... #taschensale #sale #filmbooks

September 3-5, 2003: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: George Lucas shot the fight scene with Count Dooku and Dooku’s execution at the hands of Anakin on the General’s Quarters set. Here, Lucas uses 2 digital cameras. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

Nice to see Taschen books in the @museelouvre.bsky.social #bookshop. My #filmnoir #book is the only #filmbook in the #store

September 2, 2000: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Scene 60 was shot on the Sasso San Martino near Lenno, Lake Como. The crew of 115 were called for 7 a.m., got the first shot at 10:42 a.m., completed 38 setups, and wrapped at 16:20 p.m. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

August 31, 2000: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The rain in Lake Como caused an electrical malfunction with a resultant delay, so they used the ambient light to shoot the marriage of Anakin and Padmé. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

August 29, 2002: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: I love this Alex Raymond/Flash Gordon/Errol Flynn moment in Ryan Church’s concept for a rescue from Bridge World/Cato Neimoidia. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

August 28, 2003: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Alex Jaeger added refinements and details to the clone tank designed by Joe Johnson for The Empire Strikes Back in 1977. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

August 27, 2001: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: I love Ryan Church’s depiction of shot GCW (Geonosis Clone War) 180, where the gunships swoop down and fire upon the enemy. This is my fave version of the shot, with Jedi cruisers overhead. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk

I have been working through the weekend and Bank Holiday on a number of books which will be released this year and next. Here is a list of books (spoiler-free since they are confidential) on sale or coming your way over the next year.

FILM NOIR Poster from my collection: VOICE IN THE WIND (1944) Before Film Noir was called "Film Noir" it was called "a strange new kind of picture." VOICE IN THE WIND features Francis Lederer as an amnesiac Czech pianist—through flashbacks we see his persecution by the Germans during WW2.

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: Constructing Count Dooku’s solar sail ship on Stage 2 at Fox Studios Australia in preparation for filming the Dooku Jedi battle on August 21, 2000. #StarWarsArchives19992005 youtu.be/Ocm__ZQTZVk