A Night at Big Rock & Skywalker Ranch

When one of Eric’s dear friends invited us to join her for a screening at Skywalker Ranch our answer was nothing less than a “HELL YES!” Yesterday afternoon Eric and I piled into tiny car and made our way across the bridge and bay to Big Rock Ranch. We’ve had the pleasure of visiting a few times before, but every time I drive up Lucas Valley Road I start dorking out like it’s nobody’s business. Big Rock Ranch is beautiful. Despite the dry winter we’ve been having, the ranch was verdant landscape of lush green hills and trees. The craftsman style architecture accented with rich wood gracefully bridges the natural and man-made elements of the landscape. And don’t even get me started on the inside of the ranch. Decorated with stained glass, Alphonse Mucha artwork, original movie posters, Star Wars memorabilia and Samurai suits, visiting Big Rock is like dying and going to dork heaven.

It so happened that there was a screening of Oscar nominated short animated films that evening, so we got to sit in on three shorts before heading to Skywalker. Each one was strange and delightful, and followed by a Q&A session with the directors and producers. I’m not particularly into the Oscars, but I’ll be crossing my fingers for The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

After the Q&A wrapped up, we piled back into tiny car and drove to Skywalker Ranch. We pulled right up to the Stag, snagged some seats, and waited for the Secret Life of Arriety to start. Before the film began rolling, director Gary Rydstrom gave a short presentation and introduced some of the other Skywalker Sound employees who worked on the film. Even though the Stag was a little too loud for my old lady ears, the sound was incredible, and the film itself was very sweet. We had a great time; a big thanks to Tu-Anh for inviting us out for an evening at Big Rock and Skywalker Ranch (despite my incessant fan-girling). When I become fabulously wealthy I promise to commission a life-size bronze of Master Yoda for your garden for making my dorky dreams come true.