Page 66 - Star Wars Insider #182

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG

08
working on his own passion 07
projects, including the illustrated
novel Robota, and Mechanika,
a how-to book for budding
sci-fi artists.
“I like to do my own projects,”
Chiang explains. “Robota actually
came about when I was working
with George. I needed another
outlet, I wanted to improve my
skills and challenge myself even
further. Not that my day job
wasn’t challenging enough,” he
clarifi es. “But Robota allowed
me to go in a different direction.
The idea was something that
I was always kind of thinking
about, ever since I was a kid. In
some ways, it was a project that
instigated my whole portfolio
and got me the job on Star
Wars, combining old and new
technology with Western art.”
Return to the fold
Today, Star Wars is back at the
forefront of Chiang’s attention.
After spending 11 years away

from Lucasfilm, he returned
to the fold in 2013, when he
accepted the position of vice
president and executive
creative director.
“My role now is to help
oversee all the Star Wars designs
for all of our franchise projects, Those projects have included 07 Art from day is different because things
Chiang’s Robota
including the theme parks,” he the latest big-screen installments change very quickly in terms
(Digital).
says. “It’s a fantastic job and I of the Skywalker Saga, and the of story or the demands of the
wouldn’t trade it for anything, standalone Star Wars Story fi lms. 08 “Jodphur direction. It’s a unique role.”
Warriors” from
but it can be hard work, too. Right now, Chiang’s day-to-day And with Lucas no longer
Robota by Doug
There are usually three to fi ve is largely concerned with the Chiang (acrylic). driving the look of the Star
projects on the go at any time, as-yet-untitled Episode IX. “We Wars world, Chiang is a unique
09 Chiang at
and different fi lmmakers have are currently in a heavy design Pinewood resource for his fellow designers,
their own very specifi c points period for Episode IX,” he says. Studios during too, able to offer authentic
Rogue One: A
of view about how they want “So I’m busy overseeing other advice about how ‘George might
Star Wars Story.
things to be. My job is to help artists and helping to guide have done it.’ “I do my best to

guide those visions, whether the team, and managing all 10 “Desert fulfill that role,” Chiang demurs,
Derelict” from
that means art directing other the other projects, while still “but there’s only one George
Robota by Doug

designers, or contributing art finding time to contribute some Chiang (acrylic) Lucas! Now, instead of George
myself, working on several actual artwork. It’s a really rich we have a collection of people,
projects at once.” environment to be in, and every myself included, and the Story
Group, who use our knowledge
of the Star Wars universe to see
“It really empowers me to know that just how much we can break the
I’m 56 and I can still learn new things, rules and push the envelope.
“The new filmmakers are very

still work with the coolest people, and much like myself, in that we all
hopefully next year do it all again.” grew up with the original trilogy
and we are all huge Star Wars
66 / STAR WARS INSIDER

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