Alumnus sculpts for 'Star Wars'

By Chan Tran
Daily Forty-Niner

Princess Leia's metal bikini in "Return of the Jedi." The whales in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." The liquid creature in "The Abyss" and Jar Jar Binks in "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace."

These legendary movie images would not have been possible without the work of Cal State Long Beach alumnus Richard Miller, a concept sculptor at George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic factory.

He remains an unsung hero in the biggest movies of the last three decades – ironically famous and unknown.

"I calculate working on at least 100 movies," Miller said nonchalantly. "But you won't find it on any credits."

Miller started working at ILM in 1983. It was his sculpture for an unrelated project that brought interest to "Jedi" art director Neilo Rodis for Princess Leia's metal bikini.

As a concept sculptor, Miller is in charge of changing the two-dimensional sketches from the art department into three-dimensional designs. Once the sculptures are finished, they are scanned into computers where computer artists manipulate the images into the finished product the audience sees on screen.

He admits that he did not know much about the first two "Star Wars" movies before working at ILM.

"When I was interviewed by Neilo, I kept saying 'No, I didn't see that movie or I didn't see that neither,'" Miller said. "It got to be embarrassing, but he would rather you not be a fan so that you wouldn't repeat what has been done before."

While the movie business was interesting to him, at the age of 39 it was not something he was crazy about.

Miller, who earned a bachelor's in 1976 and master's degree in 1970 from CSULB – both in studio art – wanted to teach.

"That's that reason I went for a master's," said Miller, "I taught at Canada College, Marine Junior, Academy of Arts College in Santa Cruz."

He credits his job at ILM to another CSULB alumnus Lauren Peterson, who was instrumental in showing his work to Rodis.

"At CSULB, I met Peterson, who was one of the original model maker for 'Star Wars,'" Miller said. "We renewed our acquaintance in Santa Cruz."

Peterson, who won an Academy Award for his work on "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," was also the reason why Miller saw the first "Star Wars" movie.

"I saw it because Lauren worked on it," he admitted.

Nineteen years later Miller is still involved with high-profile movies including the technically advance "The Phantom Menace" and yet-to-titled "Episode II," scheduled for release on May 22, 2002.

"On 'Episode I', I did concept sculpting for most of the creatures because the other artists just weren't paying off," he said. And contrary to belief, the ILM employees "do not necessarily work on every Star Wars," according to Miller.

Regardless of the new era of computer technology, Miller and his team still have to paint and make the creatures as realistic as possible. The traditional method is something he values, especially when "all we get is a bare pencil sketch."

But he said art directors usually get too much credit for model making and sculpting work.

In fact, Miller got credited as jeweler in the credits of "Jedi."

"I was totally confused," said Miller, recalling the incident.

"Someone will always tell you what they want. You always have somebody putting in his or her two cents."

And yet, Miller thinks fondly of his innocence on the first day at ILM.

"It was all exciting to me," Miller said. "I was not necessarily a kid but I was stilled enthralled with working there. It was a lot of money for doing something I would do anyway."

The work continues to be thrilling for him.

"There's nothing better than being able to do your own type of work, one that gives you decent a pay and recognition," Miller said. "90 percent of the people you know, know what you did – you can't beat that."

As for what die-hard "Star Wars" fanatics can expect in "Episode II," all that Miller can divulge about the very secretive project is that it has "very interesting creatures.