The Motion Picture – Sky Bulletin
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The recount of an interview from TrekMovie.com in 2019 sheds light on a significant behind-the-scenes challenge faced during the making of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture”. Douglas Trumbull, the brilliant mind behind the movie’s special photographic effects, scrutinized director Robert Wise’s initial footage of Spock’s spacewalk and found it lacking considerably. Trumbull voiced his concerns:
“I thought the whole thing just looked completely unusable and just not serviceable at all. Badly lit, badly designed, and it just looked like guys hanging on wires. And this was before the more present-day of wire removal and a lot of stuff we could do digitally. They just didn’t pay any attention to weightlessness or any of the things associated with that.”
Armed with his recent nomination for Best Visual Effects at the Academy Awards for his work on “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and facing the potential debacle in a high-budget film, Trumbull made a bold proposition to Wise. Given the urgency and the significant $44 million budget of the film, he advocated for a complete reshoot of the scene. Considering Wise’s esteemed reputation, with two Best Director Oscars to his name, the conversation was set to be intriguing.
FAQ about the Spacewalk Scene Redo in Star Trek: The Motion Picture
- Who is Douglas Trumbull?
Douglas Trumbull is a prominent figures in visual effects, known for his contributions to cinema, including films like “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Blade Runner,” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
- What was the issue with the original spacewalk scene?
The original footage appeared amateurish, with poor lighting and design that failed to convey the illusion of weightlessness in space. It looked dated, by Trumbull’s standards, akin to individuals simply dangling from wires.
- How did Robert Wise respond to Trumbull’s proposition to reshoot the scene?
The article does not explicitly detail Wise’s response, but the implication is that Trumbull’s concern must have been taken seriously given the reshoot proposition and the high stakes involved with the film’s success.
Conclusion
The challenge of the spacewalk scene in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” underscores the crucial role of visual effects in storytelling, particularly in science fiction. Douglas Trumbull’s insistence on reshooting the scene demonstrates a commitment to the integrity of the film’s visual representation of space. Even with the technological limitations of the time, his dedication and the eventual decision to address the problem speaks volumes about the talents behind this iconic film and their desire to create a believable and engaging cinematic experience.
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