Last Saturday I visited the Four Seasons Chicago to work my last CS event, as a Marketing & Events Intern. It was quite sad but I sure ended with a BANG!
An Adventure with George Lucas was a befitting title for the soirée, hosted by The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The center would present their Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking to George himself.
The event commenced with a press line, featuring only the important people, for interviews and photographs from the media. George was accompanied by girlfriend Mellody Hobson, president of Chicago’s Ariel Investments and a Good Morning America Financial Contributor. Soon after, Jon Favreau made his way down the line.
After the celeb sighting came the cocktail hour, equipped with R2-D2 shots, Leia girls (with their hair sticking out of the faux buns) and movie reels. And after getting drunk on the abundant theme of Star Wars, guests headed to the Grand Ballroom. Spaceships and saber-inspired bread greeted the attendants.
As the photographer and I stood against the wall, servers carried trays of delectable cuisine. After cleansing the pallet, a dish with layers of what looked like watermelon and cream cheese was presented. Next came a mini double-double backed potato, aside a hearty steak. And for dessert, Four Seasons Chicago’s renowned Chef Kevin Hickey whipped up what I believe was a mini sorbet milkshake and delicious pastry.
Once in a food coma, tastemakers were treated with an interview. Jon Favreau posed questions to George Lucas about his filmmaking style and intertwined morals. This was all very interesting. We found out that George is a fan of mythology. What Greeks believed back in the day has transcended to what we believe now. It’s a clue into why we think the way we do. He also loves to story tell, hence the reason he is a producer, director and writer of movies. (Though, he does not enjoy writing. He purely wrote his own screenplays because he felt unattached to direct someone else’s baby.) He believes that we “use technology to share emotions” such as the first caveman who drew on a wall, then realized if he mixed berries that the colors would make the painting more realistic. This primitive “technology” expressed their believes about buffalo’s godly significance. And I had no idea about the magnitude of technologies that he and his team have implemented—such as one of the first morphing technologies, in Willow, and stop-motion animation, in Jurassic Park.
He also touched on his many theories. One of which I thought was most interesting is called Circus Theory. “Throw a puppy on a freeway” and you’ll capture your audience, George spouted out.
Lastly, before George was presented with his award, he chatted about his interest in capturing the human struggle, coming from a “no you can’t” attitude or situation and turning it around to a “yes I can” moment that’s truly American.
