Howard Kazanjian is best known as the producer of the worldwide box office hit conclusion to the original Star Wars saga with Return of the Jedi, where he had to bring his lifelong friend George Lucas's epic blockbuster filmed across the world in on both budget and time for its then May 1983 release, as well as vitally making sure it delivered the storytelling goods to millions of devoted fans eager to see the further adventures of Luke Skywalker and friends. No easy task for sure, but one that Kazanjian ultimately handled and professionally realized via strong discipline, creative inspiration, some occasional no-nonsense directness, and using the rare ability to 'listen' to people and work things out when there were problems. Most importantly, Kazanjian had, and still has, a wealth of knowledge and life-experience about how to make Hollywood/Independent movies, and make them work well. Discover his career, not just on Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark (where you'll see and appreciate his critical input on both in new ways) but over a variety of other movie and TV projects across fifty years (most notably in the seventies and mid-eighties - an incredible and certainly magical time), within a rightfully celebrated in-depth, all-new book: Howard Kazanjian - A Producer's Life, available now from Cameron Books.
Adapted with Kazanjian by the late and much-missed film historian and novelist J.W. Rinzler (with additional support from archivist Brandon Alinger), packed with terrific rare photos, and featuring some diverse collaborators happily recalling Kazanjian's hard work and dedication to all the projects he's worked on (including contributions and a foreword from the producer's rarely interviewed friend, Marcia Lucas - a major coup for the book), A Producer's Life is well worth adding to your behind the scenes collection and will prove a must-have for aspiring film-makers.
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