The Scoop

With his Star Wars Trilogy, George Lucas revised the mythic battle between good and evil for an entire generation - and simultaneously made a killing by marketing related merchandise. The corporate legacy of that creative success, The Lucas Companies are divided into five autonomous business units. LucasArts Entertainment develops and publishes interactive computer games and is currently the leading PC game maker in the U.S. Lucasfilm, a production studio that has won 17 Oscars, works on all of George Lucas' feature film and television projects, including the long-awaited Star Wars prequels, and the business related to THX technology. The two remaining prequels are greatly anticipated, even given the "luke"-warm reception the first prequel received. The third unit, Lucas Digital, includes the special effects masters Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. Lucas Licensing handles the truly prodigious merchandising activities relating to the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies. Lucas Learning develops educational computer software. All five companies are highly regarded in their respective industries for their constant innovation. Lucasfilms is expanding with a 23 acre campus in Presidio, CA, designed to hold more than 2000 technical gurus who work for the empire. Truly, the force is with George Lucas!

Getting Hired

Each of the three Lucas Companies locations has its own job hotline and Web page with hiring information. The Burbank location of the THX TAP and Digital Mastering Program hires interns. To learn about opportunities at Lucasfilm, call (415) 662-1999 or consult www.lucasfilm.com; for job opportunities at LucasArts, call (415) 444-8495 or consult www.lucasarts.com; to view a list of openings at Lucas Digital consult www.ilm-jobs.com, or call (415) 258-2100. The hiring process consists of a series of interviews, starting with Human Resources, and then with people in the department that you're interested in - including the department head. "The whole place is pretty relaxed, and I think the interview process reflects that," a source says.

Lucas Companies accepts resumes and keeps all suitable resumes on file; candidates are contacted as relevant openings become available. One recent hire describes trying to land a position for three years before meeting success. A tip: don't overdress during the interview. Says one insider: "We often snicker just a little bit when interviewees come overdressed. You would want to look nice for an interview, but you would also want to look like you would fit in with the rest of the casual dressers." Applicants for Arts positions must fill out a Submission Policy form (available on the Web at www.lucasarts.com) before sending in a portfolio or demonstration tape. Average entry-level salaries for receptionists/administrative assistants is $20,000; for technical assistants, $32,000; for accountants, $35,000. Graphic artists make $45,000

Our Survey Says

May the force guide me in deciding what T-shirt to wear

Employees call George Lucas a "visionary" and a "generous" boss who has "gone to great lengths to create a creative working environment." The atmosphere is so "laid back" and "relaxed" that one employee said that his greatest daily dilemma is "deciding which color T-shirt I'm going to wear to work." Notes one contact: "It's a very creative environment, with an astounding flow of ideas and concepts that are continually discussed." Moreover, Lucas Companies' "international prestige throughout the film world" gives it the "cachet" to hire "talent from all over the world." As a result, the "multiracial and multinational" offices often "resembles the United Nations" more than a film company. "It's not uncommon to hear conversations in French, Spanish, Japanese, or Chinese while walking through the office," one employee comments. This diversity of people makes Lucas Companies a very interesting place to work. "There are a TON of personalities," a contact says. "We have over 800 people, so you get at least one of everything."

Perks to make even a wookie feel at home

Although the salary is "generally at the middle to low end of the average salaries in our industry," employees say that the "outstanding" benefits and perks make up for it. Perks? "Lunches at Skywalker Ranch, company sponsored daycare, free screenings of just about any movie that ever comes out, and the best parties in California." The hours are normally 45-50 per week, depending on the department, but there is a great deal flexibility, and "things get pretty intense near a ship date." "If you're a salaried employee - most artists, programmers, and management are - you're pretty much free to set your own hours within reason," an insider says. It's no wonder, say employees, that Working Woman usually has us as the top 1 or 2 company to work for each year, and we usually make Fortune's top 10 of the 100 best companies to work for."

Employment Contact

Human Resources
(415) 258-2100

Key Competitors

Paramount Pictures;

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