Films start as ideas, and the Star Wars films are no exception. Somewhere between the brilliant concepts of writer/director George Lucas and the finished film, those ideas need to be defined, given flesh, fur, metal plating, texture, and a real, believable location in the galaxy far, far away.

Artists Ryan Church, Dan Gregoire, Iain McCaig, Dermot Power, and Erik Tiemens played vital roles on the team that helped create the finished film. All four will be appearing at Celebration II in the Indiana Convention Center May 3, 4, and 5. You can hear them onstage, watch presentations that will take you inside the process of creating a Star Wars film, and then have the chance to ask them questions of your own.

Ryan Church, Concept Design Supervisor "Growing up in Southern California, I saw Star Wars and I knew I wanted to pursue a career in film concept design," said Church. Church made the move from Walt Disney Imagineering to Industrial Light & Magic in 1998, where he went to work on preproduction concept design in the Digital Features Division. In 2001 Church moved to JAK Productions at Skywalker Ranch where he has created vehicle, architecture, and environment designs for Attack of the Clones. Church has also painted production illustrations and matte layouts, and directed the look of ILM's finished shots for the films.

Dan Gregoire, Pre-visualization & Effects Co-Supervisor Gregoire is one of the leaders of the animatics team for Attack of the Clones. Animatics pre-visualize what the final scenes will look like. They are moving storyboards that are used by the director, actors, editors and effects artists. More than 4,000 animatic shots were used for Attack of the Clones. Gregoire worked as a graphic designer, then worked for Presto Studios in San Diego. While working there he met David Dozoretz, and then moved to Persistence of Vision Digital Entertainment (POVDE) where he worked on Titan AE, Moulin Rouge, and Behind Enemy Lines.

Iain McCaig, Concept Artist In 1990 McCaig was the guest of honor at a science fiction convention when representatives from Lucasfilm saw his fantasy portfolio. He was soon working at Industrial Light & Magic on such notable projects as Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Hook. At ILM McCaig met Doug Chiang, and the two found they worked well together. When Episode I was gearing for pre-production, Chiang recruited McCaig for the film's concept team. During the concept stage for The Phantom Menace, McCaig focused on designing people and wardrobe. "To be honest, that's what I like drawing best," says McCaig. "What I love and am fascinated by most is people. My whole career as a fantasy artist was just an excuse to draw people. But I found they sold better if I put wings and horns on them."

Dermot Power, Concept Artist Power worked closely with Iain McCaig and Costume Designer Trisha Biggar creating the costumes for Episode II Attack of the Clones. He also worked with Concept Design Supervisor Doug Chiang on other concept art for the film. Power has specialized in telling stories through illustration, doing fully-painted comic titles in the U.K. such as Judge Dredd, 2000 AD, and Sláine. When he was brought on the artistic team for Attack of the Clones, Power could say he was fulfilling a boyhood dream. "I'd love to get a time machine and go visit my 9-year-old self," said Power, "which is how old I was when Star Wars first came out, and say, 'Guess what? You're going to work on that!'"

Erik Tiemens, Concept Design Supervisor Tiemens started in the movie industry as a concept artist. He has worked on films, theme park designs, and television shows, while continuing to paint traditional landscapes and figurative works. His most recent project was working on the concept design for Attack of the Clones. "Extensive shot design and color and lighting direction would best describe the job," said Tiemens. Honors for Tiemens include an Honorary Emmy for matte painting on The Young Indiana Jones television series and an Emmy nomination for designing the opening of Star Trek Voyager series. As a concept artist Tiemens was part of the Oscar winning effects team on both Jurassic Park and Forrest Gump. He was also featured in the Art of Star Wars special edition book and the Art of Star Trek book.

Visit the official Wizards of the Coast Star Wars Celebration II site to register for three spectacular days of Star Wars fun in Indianapolis (May 3, 4, and 5), and learn the details on programs, guests, displays, and special events.