Steven Lisberger! 43rd Anniversary of TRON!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece Of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today is the 28th anniversary of my little brother’s birth and the 43rd anniversary of the classic film, “TRON”! To celebrate, I reached out to the film’s director and writer, Steven Lisberger!

Steven Lisberger is an American filmmaker and animator best known for creating the groundbreaking science fiction film “TRON”. Fascinated by the emerging world of computer graphics in the late 1970s, Lisberger envisioned a movie that could explore the digital landscape in a way no one had seen before. He began developing “TRON” as a hybrid of traditional animation, live-action, and pioneering computer-generated imagery; a bold concept at the time. His background in animation helped shape the film’s sleek, neon-lit visual style, and his passion for technology drove the project forward.

Released by Disney in 1982, “TRON” was ahead of its time in both concept and design. The story follows Kevin Flynn, a video game developer who gets transported into a computer world and must navigate a digital realm ruled by the tyrannical Master Control Program. While some critics were unsure how to react to its dense plot and futuristic visuals, others praised the film for its innovation and originality. Audiences were struck by the film’s stunning visual effects, many of which had never been seen in theaters before, and it quickly gained a loyal fanbase.

Although “TRON” wasn’t a massive box office hit initially, its impact on pop culture and the film industry was enormous. It became a cult classic and a major influence on both the sci-fi genre and the future of digital filmmaking. Lisberger’s vision paved the way for countless movies and video games that followed. Over the years, the film’s reputation grew, eventually leading to a successful sequel, “TRON: Legacy”, in 2010. Today, “TRON” is remembered as a bold and imaginative film that dared to explore the digital frontier; and Steven Lisberger is credited as the visionary who brought that digital dream to life.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: What is your favorite project you’ve been a part of and why does it mean the most to you?

Steven Lisberger: I enjoyed the whole process of creating TRON. It was a great artistic experiment and adventure that went past what had ever been done. What felt the best over the years is going above and beyond the ordinary, or trying to. I have learned a lot by doing this, not just about the creative tools and process but about myself. I only figured this out by actually making films that were more traditional. It’s not easy unleashing creativity in the film business because the costs are so high. I have envied musicians who can form a band and create songs without spending tens of millions and taking 5 or 10 years.

Giancarlo: When you first started to pursue your dreams, did you get any pushback?

Steven Lisberger: The pushback has never really stopped when it comes to film, it has always been a major challenge for me. I am sure it’s not like that for some others who films have been successfully mainstream from the beginning. I am glad I took on the major challenges I did when I was young and had the energy and determination to not give up. What has been a wonderful surprise is the TRON Power Run ride at Disney World. It’s a major success and I give full credit for the Imagineers who created it. I have to believe TRON inspired them and they have inspired me in return.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What would be your advice to anyone who wants to pursue a dream but feels stuck in their current situation?

Steve Lisberger: I have found that I work harder to make dreams happen when I am not just trying to accomplish something for myself. In the case of TRON, there were many other creative people who were counting on me to make it happen. I have never enjoyed or believed in Hollywood’s extreme emphasis on the lone creative “genius”. I think this attitude has contributed to the current poor performance of films in a major way.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing weekend and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo