Brand new CG renders of photographs we grew up with -
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Archive for January, 2009
31
Jan
09
Fresh Baked Classic Images
31
Jan
09
Ghost in the Machine
“… I’ve got you, under my skin…”
In Enterprise episode “Vox Sola”, a lost alien life form hitches a ride IN the ship. That means I got to build a number of spooky “tween”deck spaces and Jefferies tubes for the wraith-like critter to traverse. How great to get to do classic horror lighting! Joy! Continue reading ‘Ghost in the Machine’
30
Jan
09
Xindi Aquatic Interface
Don’t drink the water… the Xindi’s F*** in it!
A concept I submitted for a Xindi Aquatic communication console for Enterprise. The scene was ultimately deleted from the script, but that never diminishes the fun of creating it.
Gary Hutzel prepares to shoot Meinenger’s DS9 mid-ring bay model at Image G. Note C stand with gangway set up to meet the arriving shuttle.
The Romulan shuttle images drex files ran last month were an unexpected hit. Rooting through the archives last night, I came across a cache of shots that had been lost in a temporal whirlpool. Standby to receive data… Continue reading ‘New Romulan Shuttle Shots Uncovered!’
Twice a week and for two summers, impressionable eleven year old Doug Drexler was dropped off by his Dad at the front gate of the world of tomorrow. It did not neccessitate a slingshot around the sun, nor did it call for call for Mr. Atoz and his Atavachron. The lad’s awe inspiring and futuristic destination was not some far flung decade, but then and there in 1964. It rose from the most unlikely of places… a landfill in Flushing Meadow. It was the New York World’s Fair, and it was the proverbial world of tomorrow. It would impress him to the core.
As Spock observed, time could be perceived as a river, with eddies and backwashes. Someone else was washed up onto that shore, and our paths undoubtedly crossed at the jetting waters of the iconic Unisphere, or trekked side by side along the undulating Kodak Moon Deck, or stood in line at Ford’s Magic Skyway. My fellow time traveller was Walter “Matt” Jefferies… aviator, illustrator, art director, and he would become one of the most important artistic influences in my life.
The 1964-65 New York World’s Fair was the largest international exhibition ever buit in the United States, and it was all about THE FUTURE. Never before, and never again would there be such an amazing conglomeration of optimistic, sci-fi, wet dream, futurism in one place. Matt Jefferies absorbed it all with intense fascination. And so the New York World’s Fair was the birthplace of the Star Trek design ethic. I would never be the same because of it… and although you probably were never there, and most likely never heard of it, neither would you… Continue reading ‘Days of Future Past – The Trek\NYWF Connection’
28
Jan
09
For the Good of the Service
Mike Okuda, doing that voodoo, that he do, so well.
There is nothing quite like putting the candy-coating, finishing touches on a spectacular filming miniature. The fact that it is a starship is enough to put you in orbit! I’m sure that most of you are aware that there is a lot of inter-office politics in film production. This can be especially true between two shows being produced by the same company. As observed by a Vulcan scientist of some reknown, “… it is not logical, but it often true.” Although I did work on both shows, I was “officially” on DS9, so when it came time to graphic the Voyager, Mike was forbidden to use crossover crew. There was no good reason for this that we could perceive.
One thing about Mike Okuda, is that all he cares about is doing the best job possible in the time available. When it came time to launch the Voyager, Mike wanted me with him, damn the decree. Continue reading ‘For the Good of the Service’
27
Jan
09
Franz Joseph Lives
Enterprise escorts a Starfleet Transport Command vessel.
An image I planned to use for the Ships of the Line calendar, but Pocket Books was not able to secure the rights to use Franz Joseph’s design. Just ran across it. Thought is was fun!
27
Jan
09
Dis fight is to de det
27
Jan
09
Spaceflight Memorial
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Mike Okuda takes a moment to reflect on America’s heroes, on this significant
day in manned spaceflight -
Most of us who love science fiction are also admirers of the real-life
men and women who risk their lives to explore space. Today marks the
first of three solemn anniversaries of the bravery and sacrifice of
these extraordinary souls. For some unknown reason, although years
apart, each of these wrenching events occurred within a few calendar
days of each other.
On Friday, January 27, 1967, the United States space program was
stunned when a flash fire destroyed the Apollo 1 spacecraft, killing
astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White II, and Roger Chaffee.
Tragedy struck again on January 28, 1986, when frigid temperatures
caused one of Space Shuttle Challenger’s booster motors to burn
through, triggering an explosion in the sky that took the lives of
Francis Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnick, Ronald McNair, Ellison
Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe.
And on a Saturday morning, February 3, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia
disintegrated during re-entry, some 40 miles up, scattering debris
across the United States and killing astronauts Rick Husband, William
McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark,
and Ilan Ramon.
NASA’s incredible successes with Apollo, the Space Shuttle, the
International Space Station, Mars rovers, the Hubble Space Telescope,
and so many other missions have made the dangerous business of space
exploration seem almost routine. But these three tragedies are harsh
reminders of how difficult it is to challenge the cosmos, for the
extreme environments of space will always be a dangerous and
unforgiving arena. These seventeen heroes gave their lives in pursuit
of the human exploration of space, in the hopes that their efforts
would help pave the way to a better tomorrow for all of us.
27
Jan
09
Gary Kerr on Remakes
Curmudgeon Gary Kerr sounds off about movie remakes
Keeping in mind the fact that today’s movies must reflect modern sensibilities, here’s my treatment for a movie I want to pitch:
This is a movie about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but I had to make changes to appeal to my target audience: 15-25 year old males. First, I updated the attacking planes, since Mitsubishi Zeros are over 60 years old. I mean, PROPELLOR planes are so 20th century. Hip, modern audiences wouldn’t believe that these outdated planes could cripple the Pacific Fleet, so in my improved story, the Japanese are flying F-16s, which are way cooler than Zeros.
Second, I moved the site of the attack to the Washington DC Navy Yard so I could have a cool scene where 25-year-old studmuffin FDR floats out of the White House on his hover-chair, witnesses the attack, and realizes that it’s his destiny to win the war. By the way, FDR’s coming from a wealthy, patrician family isn’t edgy enough for today’s young males, so in my version, FDR is confined to his hover-chair, following an assault by his abusive step-father.
Following some steamy sex with his super-hot wife, Eleanor, FDR and the members of his Cabinet (all 25 years old, since they were all in the same high school graduating class), jump into their F-22 Raptors, follow the Japanese jets, and sink the Japanese fleet with tactical nukes. End of story.
Sounds like a sure-fire hit to me! JJ – call me.
Gary
26
Jan
09
Vintage Nimoy
“Massachusetts Slim” takes a break.
One from the vaults. An amazing picture of Leonard Nimoy on the Desilu backlot, vintage 1966. West of the Water tower, and what was shortly to become annexed by Paramount Pictures.
26
Jan
09
The Indomitable Andy Probert
Andy with last years magnificent Ships of the Line Calendar page
Ok, I’m a fan. I genuflect to this artist. I’ve referred to him as “Fountainhead” in past blogs, and if I’ve ever known anyone who might be Howard Roark, it’s him.
His influence on the look of Star Trek after TNG was so powerful that it dominated the shows design ethic for decades to come, even though he was only there for the first season.
He is highly opinionated, and outspoken, sometimes to his own detriment. This has earned him a reputation as a maverick. Some find him infuriating. All find him brilliant.
Just yesterday, a gang of us were chatting back and forth via E-mail about Star Trek design. My favorite part of the debate was between David Merriman, and Andy – Continue reading ‘The Indomitable Andy Probert’
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