Clayton Sandell is one of the authors of the reference book Star Wars: Timelines[1] and behind-the-scenes books Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive,[3] and the upcoming Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: A Visual Archive.[4]
Sandell is also a contributing feature writer for the websites of Industrial Light & Magic[5] and Skywalker Sound[6] and has written for StarWars.com[7].
Biography
At ABC News, in 2018, Sandell co-produced The Force of Sound, a documentary on the sound design of Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi that featured sound designers Matthew Wood, Ren Klyce, and director Rian Johnson.[2]
Sandell has produced a series of TV news features on visual effects and sound design in relation to Star Wars.[8] In 2023, he reported on the closure of 32Ten Studios, the San Rafael, California special effects company that worked on Star Wars projects and was based in the former Kerner Blvd. home of ILM.[9] He has also chronicled the mental health challenges faced by Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace actor Jake Lloyd[10].
As a Star Wars Celebration stage host, Sandell moderated the "Bringing Worlds to Life: The Concept Artists of ILM" panel with guests Doug Chiang in 2023,[11] and the Lucasfilm Publishing "Manga Mania!" in 2025.[12]
He is also an honorary member of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion costuming groups.[13]
Works
Filmography
| Year | Title | Contribution(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Force of Sound | Co-producer | An ABC News Features production[2] |
| 2019 | Disneyland Opens Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge | Host | ABC News[14] |
Bibliography
| Year | Title | Contribution(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Star Wars: Timelines | Co-author[1] | |
| 2024 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive | Co-author[3] | |
| 2025 | ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’: ILM’s Visual Effects Treasure Chest, From At Attin to Starport Borgo (Part I) | Writer | Published on ILM.com[5] |
| 2025 | ILM Pioneer Dennis Muren Visits Company’s Original Home for the First Time in Decades | Writer / Photographer | Published on ILM.com[15] |
| 2025 | Sounds of ‘Sith’: MPSE Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Episode III with Special Screening] | Writer / Photographer | Published on Skywalker Sound Medium[6] |
| 2026 | Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: A Visual Archive | Co-author[4] |
Sources
Chart the History of the Galaxy in Star Wars: Timelines – Exclusive on StarWars.com (backup link)- SWCA 2022: 7 Things We Learned from the Lucasfilm Publishing Behind the Page Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Riot Racing, Droidekas, and Crosshair's Sneer: Star Wars: The Bad Batch Animation Director Keith Kellogg Talks Season 2 So Far on StarWars.com (backup link)
- StarWars.com Fan Spotlight: Honeymoon Aboard the Halcyon on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Plan Ahead with the Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Panel Schedule on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "It's About Time: The Inside Story of Star Wars: Timelines" — Star Wars Insider 217
- SWCE 2023: 10 Reveals from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- StarWars.com Fan Spotlight: Keith Yarde Is a Star Wars Fan Like his Father, Kerwin, Before Him on StarWars.com (backup link)
- NYCC 2023: 13 Highlights from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 223
- Phase III of The High Republic And All The Lucasfilm Publishing News from Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 – UPDATE on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
Star Wars Timelines on Dorling Kindersley's official United States website (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2
ABC News Features Explores "The Force of Sound" on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive on Insight Editions' official website (backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: A Visual Archive on Insight Editions' official website (backup link)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’: ILM’s Visual Effects Treasure Chest, From At Attin to Starport Borgo on Industrial Light & Magic's official website (backup link)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sounds of ‘Sith’: MPSE Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Episode III with Special Screening by Clayton Sandell on Medium (May 19, 2025) (backup link)
- ↑ Clayton Sandell on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ VFX & SOUND DESIGN on Clayton Sandell's official website (backup link archived on July 10, 2025)
- ↑ Legendary movie effects studio shutting down amid strikes by Clayton Sandell on Scripps (October 13, 2023) (backup link archived on June 12, 2025)
- ↑ Jake Lloyd's Personal Saga: New Focus Is Helping Determine His Current Reality by Clayton Sandell (@claytonsandell) on Substack (January 1, 2025) (backup link)
- ↑ Plan Ahead with the Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Panel Schedule on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Phase III of The High Republic And All The Lucasfilm Publishing News from Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 – UPDATE on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Clayton Sandell (@claytonsandell) on Instagram (post on December 7, 2024) (backup link)
- ↑ Disneyland opens 'Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge' on ABC News (May 30, 2019) (backup link archived on May 18, 2025)
- ↑ ILM Pioneer Dennis Muren Visits Company’s Original Home for the First Time in Decades on Industrial Light & Magic's official website (backup link)
