Page 67 - Star Wars Insider #182

INTERVIEW: DOUG CHIANG

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to learn 3D software. It was as a teenager in the suburbs of
really hard, but I knew I had to Detroit, Michigan.
do it. For the first three months, “I love what I do,” he grins

I would design during the day, with unabashed enthusiasm. “I
doing my best to keep up with love working with the people
the other artists. At night I would that I’m working with, and I
learn 3D software on my own. love the projects. Even with all
I’m really glad I did, because it’s the pressures of production, it’s
a very effective tool. Improving totally worth it. But the funny
my skills is one of the things thing is—and I think this is true
that drives me, and is why I do of a lot of artists—what drives
10 a lot of homework on my own. me is the fear factor. Every time
I am still adamant now about a new project comes along, I ask
being an artist. Even though I’m myself: Can you still do this?
fans. I help them to push the boundaries without overseeing multiple projects, I “In this industry, we’re all
contradicting what has gone before in the Star Wars always try to carve out time to judged by our last work. So even
universe. What we come up with may not be exactly actually do designs, because I though someone on the outside
what they asked for or were expecting, but we come think it’s so important. It’s a part might say, ‘Hey Doug, you’ve

up with ways to fit the story they want to tell. We of me that I don’t want to lose, accomplished quite a bit,’ I will
all want to try to make our best version of Star Wars and now that I’ve learned some always worry that next week, if I
with respect to George, while also taking that legacy new tools and techniques, it’s can’t do it, I’m out. That’s what
to the next level.” such a fun thing to do. I wish I motivates me to stay on top of it.

Reflecting on his return to Lucasfilm after more had more time, but everybody When you can’t do that anymore,

than a decade away, Chiang admits that it was quite says that, don’t they?” it’s time to move aside—and I do
“frightening” at first. “I was coming back into an Now 30 years into his career, not want to do that yet! I want

environment where I was adamant that I wanted to Chiang looks back on all the to keep this going for as long
be just an artist. I wanted to draw and design things opportunities, successes, and as I can, always getting better
myself,” he explains. “But I was so rusty! occasional stumbles that have as an artist and as a designer. It
“After working more than 10 years as a led him back to Lucasfi lm with really empowers me to know that
production designer where I was mostly supervising nothing but utter gratitude. I’m 56 and I can still learn new
other artists, I remember coming back as an artist All of those experiences have things, still work with the coolest
and realizing that I had to relearn skills, and actually made him the creator that he is people, and hopefully next year
learn new techniques. I always want to be a better today, working in a world that do it all again. It’s just such a

artist than I was last year, and I really pushed myself first sparked his imagination great feeling.”

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