Star Wars

"Many people imagine that nothing could be more fun and potentially more lucrative than making movies. After all, in its first four years, Star Wars returned profits of over $150 million on an initial investment of $11 million. Nonetheless, ego gratification rather than money may often be the only return on an investment in film. As in other endeavors, what you see is not always what you get. In fact, of any ten major theatrical films produced, on the average, six or seven may be broadly characterized as unprofitable and one might break even.1"

"Michael and I negotiated with each other tortuously on every detail before we engaged with Lucas’s representatives. Michael was right to win the risk argument and take on the movie, but I did make certain that if it was successful, we wouldn’t be in the position of Fox, which had only a one-picture license from *Star Wars.* I insisted we had the right to make sequels on the same terms as the original, given that the terms on the original were so much higher than anyone else had ever received. I wanted to retch once, and then not have to regurgitate in a new negotiation if the film was a success. And I wanted it in the clearest, most unambiguous language that all the parties agreed to and understood; there would be no new negotiating if George Lucas wanted to do a sequel. After the squabbling, all was settled and off they went to make the movie, and miracle of miracles, they made it on budget and on schedule."