Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database

GEORGE LUCAS:
I'd like to thank the Academy members and the Board of Governors for this tremendous honor, not only for myself, but for the thousands of talented men and women, robots and aliens and others with whom I've been lucky enough to share the creative experience in the last few years. Movies are not made in isolation; it's a group activity. And it's only because of the work, the very hard work, of many actors, writers, directors, producers, creative technicians, thousands of assistants of all kinds, and projectionists, that I'm able to stand here and accept this award. I'm very, very grateful to them all.

I'd especially like to thank a group of devoted individuals who, apart from my parents, have done the most to shape my life: my teachers. From kindergarten through college their struggle—and it was a struggle—to help me learn to grow and learn was not in vain, and it is greatly appreciated. I've always tried to be aware of what I say in my films because all of us who make motion pictures are teachers, teachers with very loud voices. But we will never match the power of the teacher who is able to whisper in a student's ear. Thank you, Francis, for being my mentor. And finally, thanks to my current and most important teachers, my two daughters. They have taught me more and enriched my life beyond anything imaginable. After twenty years this award comes at what I hope is the halfway point in my career, and I assure you that I will strive to be worthy of all it signifies. Thank you very, very much.