Articles

LucasArts hires teenage wizzkid 30 May, 2004 / Comments: 13

By jp-30


The SF Gate reports a welcome change of pace; Lucasarts hiring new talent.
Around the office at LucasArts, Ryan Wieber is simply known as the "light-saber kid."

The nickname works because he's the video game firm's light-saber special effects guru. It works even better because he really is just a kid.

About a year ago, Wieber was living the life of a normal teenager. After picking up his diploma at Del Mar High School in San Jose, he was taking a few classes at De Anza College and working part time at Blockbuster Video.

That's when a senior effects artist at LucasArts in San Rafael called.
Find out the rest of the information in the full article here.

Update: Here's the background straight from the horse's mouth - Ryan was a regular at theforce.net's fanfilms board. Ryan Wieber: Associate Effects Artist for LucasArts .

Source: SF Gate

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13 Comments

  • Dalixam on 30 May, 2004, 19:35…
    Why would it make us think again?

    He's a Star Wars fanboy. Surpise, surprise. Has anyone seen his movies?
  • jp-30 on 30 May, 2004, 20:14…
    >> Why would it make us think again?

    Because there's a fair bit of negativity in this thread. I thought an opportunity to see how the guy helped out in the SW FanFilm community over the years & read how the job landed on his lap first-hand might counter some of the negative comments being bandied about.

    I guess I was mistaken. :(
  • Jake on 31 May, 2004, 14:13…
    Yeah I was a bit of an ass earlier :) I think its cool that LucasArts is looking outside of "the norm" and hiring a fan to work there, I just think the article presented it in a bit of a ridiculous light ("he makes lightsabers? hes hired!").

    I know of a couple other people who have been hired at LEC because of sketches they've done of Star Wars ships and that sort of thing. I actually got an interview there for a webmaster position around a year ago, but I was unprepared and supremely nervous and gave a terrible interview, probably amongst other things so I'm still here :)
  • Dalixam on 30 May, 2004, 19:58…
    Edit: (Intended)

    You can see the movie here:
    http://www.theforce.net/theater/fxprojects/ryandork/index.shtml

    The movie is pretty lame and embarassing, but I must admit the effects are darn good. Congrats Ryan.
  • jp-30 on 30 May, 2004, 18:13…
    Here, this might make you think again. I *knew* this story sounded familiar! :)

    http://boards.theforce.net/Fan_Films/b10015/13138282/p1

  • Marek on 30 May, 2004, 17:45…
    29 veteran employees get fired, then they hire a 19 year old light saber expert? Hmmmm ??
  • jp-30 on 30 May, 2004, 18:06…
    Well, if you read the article, the kid was picked up in September last year, well before the recent job cuts. Most likely LEC gifting a story on 'hiring new young staff' to the SF Gate is simply a PR excercise to help combat the recent negative publicity.
  • Marek on 30 May, 2004, 18:33…
    Well, I didn't read the article as I couldn't really be bothered.
  • jp-30 on 30 May, 2004, 18:35…
    Well, the new link I give above (and have added to the story) provides a better background. Good on Ryan for getting hired (nearly a year ago). Bummer that he's possibly currently being used as a PR exercise, though.
  • telarium on 30 May, 2004, 22:55…
    Speaking of LucasArts PR shenanigans, anyone played Ben's Game yet?

    Follow the link...
  • Jayel on 30 May, 2004, 16:57…
    LIGHTSABRE EFFECTS????
    They must be kidding, or the guy who hired the kid must be an idiot! A 14-year old kid with a digital camcoder and afterfx can create professional looking lightsabre!

    Another evidence that Lucasarts is full of idiots
  • jp-30 on 30 May, 2004, 18:09…
    Well the 'idiot' who hired him has since "left" LucasArts according to the article;

    >> "I called him at home ... and a woman answers and says he was at work," said Young, who has since left LucasArts and now lives in Austin, Texas."<<
  • Jake on 30 May, 2004, 17:23…
    There's a difference between good and bad lightsaber effects, and congrats to that guy, but yeah, 15 year olds have been making digital Star Wars lightsaber movies on home PC's since 1995-6. I might know from experience ?