American director, screenwriter and producer George Lucas is one of modern day cinema's most successful filmmakers with franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones to his credit.Lucas grew up in the suburb of Modesto in California who dreamed of being a racing car driver. But after a nearly fatal accident he switched his interest to movies.At college he showed a passion for camera trickery and cinematography before going on to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (USC).Here he was influenced by lecturer Lester Novros and dean of the USC Film Department Slavko Vorkapich. He graduated with bachelor of fine arts in film in 1967.After being turned down by the United States Air Force he re-enrolled as a USC graduate in film production and worked as a teaching instructor for U.S. Navy students.In 1969, with fellow director Francis Ford Coppola, Lucas set up studio American Zoetrope, which was designed to move away from the controlling and oppressive restraints of top Hollywood studios.

In 1971 Lucas made his directorial debut with THX 1138, which was based on one of his short student movies.

THX 1138 created a futuristic, underground world in which bald, drone-like workers are forced to take drugs to regulate their moods and stifle their libidos.

THX 1138 (Robert Duvall) and his mate LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie) are factory workers, building the robotic police that keep order in their stark world.

The soundtrack to their lives is a news service that continually lists information about factory accidents, as well as sex and drug crimes, à la George Orwell's 1984.

There are electronic confessionals where workers admit to mistakes they've made, outlets THX uses to express his unhappiness with his life.

When LUH decides she and THX should stop taking their medication, their sense of humanity--and their desire and love for each other as a couple--is unleashed.

It's not long, however, before they are imprisoned for this crime, and LUH learns that she is pregnant. Separated from LUH, THX embarks on a journey to find her, with the help of rebel SEN (Donald Pleasence) and hologram SRT (Don Pedro Colley), eventually attempting escape to the outside world.

But it was his second picture where Lucas really made a name for himself with American Graffiti.

Set in 1962 the film follows one night in the lives of several recently graduated high school students.

The genial Steve (Ron Howard) prepares to leave for college the next day, and Laurie (Cindy Williams), his girlfriend, is upset by his impending departure.

Laurie's brother, Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), the class intellectual, is also slated for college, but he has serious doubts about his future.

Also included here are the hopeless nerd (Charles Martin Smith) and the eternally cool drag racer, John (Paul LeMat), who feels pressure to live up to his reputation.

The film made Lucas an instant millionaire and was a box office success. It went on to be nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture and Director, but lost all five.

The Star Wars series: A New Hope in 1977, The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983 was to be the success story of Lucas'' career going on to become one of the most successful franchises of all time.

In 1994 Lucas began writing the three Star Wars prequels The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Despite mixed reviews for the first two movies all three were a massive box office success bringing Star Wars to a new generation.

However the Star Wars adventure is still not over for Lucas who is to produce a television series based on the movies.

A friendship with filmmaker Steven Spielberg lead to the birth of the Indiana Jones franchise.

With Harrison Ford once again in the starring role Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has had a popularity spanning over twenty five years making Indiana Jones a cinematic icon.

During the filming of Star Wars Lucas secured the licensing rights and in 2006 Forbes estimated the director's personal wealth at $3.5 billion

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is released 22 May. Star Wars television show will debut in 2009.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw