Star Wars creator launches new HQ

George Lucas (left) with guests at the opening

Star Wars creator George Lucas has opened new headquarters for his film and video game empire - with a fountain of Jedi master Yoda at its front door.

Lucasfilm has moved to the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco, on a 23-acre site containing 600 miles of fibre-optic cabling.

But Lucas himself says he will stay away from the new HQ to work on a final Indiana Jones film and other projects.

"I'm going to concentrate on making movies," he told reporters.

"In terms of being a corporate executive, I'm pretty much tired."

The new complex is designed to form a "virtual studio" enabling artists, game developers and directors to collaborate on visual effects and digital images. It also includes a 300-seat cinema and smaller theatres which editors can use to review their work.

Creative process

It features tight security, with employees being issued with an ID card which can also be used for purchases in on-site shops and canteens, and cash machine withdrawals.

Industrial Light & Magic senior visual effect supervisor Dennis Muren - who has won six Oscars for his work - said: "The creation of the campus and the technology inside means fewer and fewer obstacles are in the way of the creative process."

Employees will begin moving into the site from next month.

As well as Lucasfilm, special effects house Industrial Light & Magic and video games firm LucasArts will also move into the HQ.