Howard Kazanjian

• 1. Armenian Roots And College Years

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  Howard Kazanjian entered the world on the 26th of July 1942 in Los Angeles County. His father hailed from Tigranakert while his mother was born in Pasadena. This Armenian heritage shaped a life that would eventually bridge Hollywood and ancient history. He attended the University of Southern California where he found his first true collaborators. George Lucas sat nearby as a young student with similar ambitions for cinema. They joined Delta Kappa Alpha together and formed a bond that lasted decades. The pair became part of a filmmaker clique known as The Dirty Dozen within the university circuit. These college years saw both men meet their future wives. Kazanjian and Lucas often double dated with their partners during those formative years. Before fame arrived, Kazanjian worked as an assistant director on films like The Wild Bunch. He later served on The Hindenburg under Robert Wise before shifting to production roles. He once stated that the films offered to him were not what he wanted to direct. The movies he wished to make remained unoffered by the industry at large.

• 2. Vice President Of Production Duties

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  Kazanjian took office as Vice President of Production at Lucasfilm in 1977. This role placed him at the center of daily operations immediately after Star Wars hit theaters. He managed strategic decisions through approximately 1984 or 1985. His tenure covered eight critical years for the growing company. The position required intimate knowledge of every department from lighting to logistics. He oversaw the transition from a single film success into a franchise empire. This period included the development of multiple projects simultaneously. Kazanjian handled the business side while directors focused on creative execution. His background in assistant directing gave him practical insight into set operations. He understood how to keep large crews moving efficiently. The pressure mounted as expectations grew for each new release. He navigated complex negotiations between studios and independent creators. His leadership style balanced artistic vision with fiscal responsibility. This era defined his reputation within the American film industry.

• 3. Blue Harvest And Uncredited Work

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  The Empire Strikes Back featured an uncredited producer credit for Howard Kazanjian. He replaced Gary Kurtz midway through that production process. Later work on Return of the Jedi involved a clever deception strategy. Kazanjian proposed shooting under the fake name Blue Harvest. Suppliers might attempt price gouging if they knew the true project. The ruse claimed Blue Harvest was a horror film with the tag line horror beyond imagination. Crew members wore hats and T-shirts bearing the fake title. These items added authenticity to the disguise during filming. The trick successfully protected the budget from inflated costs. Kazanjian also influenced the final scene of Return of the Jedi. Two days before shooting began he suggested adding Anakin Skywalker's ghost. The original ending only showed Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda appearing as spirits. This change altered the emotional conclusion for millions of viewers. His contributions remained largely hidden behind the scenes until later interviews revealed them.

• 4. Casting Ford And Script Changes

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  Kazanjian campaigned heavily for Harrison Ford to play Indiana Jones. He pushed so hard for the actor that he nearly lost his job over it. Jones was originally written as a smoker and drinker character. Kazanjian convinced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to remove those traits. He proposed the Well of the Souls scene based on Egyptian history. Sunlight passing through the Headpiece would reveal the location inside the temple. This idea came from golden statues at Abu Simbel temples in Egypt. The ancient structure allowed sunlight to penetrate the sanctuary once a year. Kazanjian negotiated Ford's deal for Raiders of the Lost Ark with Phil Gersh. He later secured Ford's return for Return of the Jedi despite initial resistance. George Lucas initially believed Harrison would never come back. Kazanjian argued they should write him into the third film. He called David Gersh after Phil went on vacation to finalize terms. Agents often claimed their clients were taken advantage of during negotiations. Kazjian proved these claims false while securing the deal.

• 5. Western History Books And Memoir

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  Since 1998 Kazanjian has served as co-chairman of Tricor Entertainment Inc. He holds a fifty percent share in this independent production company. The organization owns and operates a theater chain exceeding nineteen thousand seats in Southeast Asia. It also runs a separate film distribution business. Kazanjian remains active within the Armenian charity and cultural community. He maintains membership as a USC alumnus throughout his life. In 2023 he attended book signing events hosted by the Armenian Film Society. He lives and works in San Marino, California with his wife Carol Eskijian. Their family includes three children named Peter Noah and Andrew. As of 2010 he remained close friends with George Lucas after decades apart. Kazanjian continues to produce films through various executive producer credits. His career spans over four decades of continuous work in the industry.