Irvin Kershner, director of The Empire Strikes Back, passed away this morning. Kershner balanced George Lucas’s taste for special effects with character depth, by extracting Luke, Leia and Han Solo’s emotional side. In a time before CGI was a staple of filmmaking, Kershner made use of 1970’s era special effects to craft a film that dazzled audiences.
In October, Vanity Fair profiled Kershner ahead of The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back's release. Kershner provides insight into what it was like working with Lucas, the technological restraints they had making the movie, and how the film has been received over the years. It’s a beautiful coffee table book, that’s a wonderful addition to anyone’s bookshelf. Thanks to Lillian for the tip.
