Posted on 01/09/2006 3:47:37 PM PST by KevinDavis
Loni Peristere, visual-effects supervisor on the SF movie Serenity, told SCI FI Wire that the movie's computer-generated visual effects mimicked hand-held camera moves and realistic lens effects, which also directly influenced the F/X on SCI FI Channel's original series Battlestar Galactica.
When Galactica creator Ronald D. Moore and visual-effects supervisor Gary Hutzel saw the visual effects that had been pioneered for director Joss Whedon and Serenity's predecessor TV show, Firefly, they came to Peristere. They told him "that's the way it should be photographed, and please bring those rules to Galactica," Peristere said in an interview. "That is the way this should be shot. And now Galactica has taken on its own set of rules. But it started with appreciation for Firefly and appreciation for work Joss had begun." (Serenity is now available on DVD.)
In Serenity, digital animation of the title spaceship taking off in the rain included raindrops on the camera lens. "When you have a massive ship lifting off, it would be hard for the cameraman to keep the lens clean," said Peristere, who worked with Whedon on both the TV show and movie. "We proposed this as a style to Joss, where the animation would have mounted cameras, depth of field, zoom lenses, all in CG, and he's like, 'Well, yeah, my whole movie is a documentary. Find the story in the camera design.' And we went with it."
Peristere's team from his Zoic Studios created Firefly/Serenity's jerky digital style, which differs from the static style of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the more fluid F/X of the Star Wars films. The style adds a sense of realism, as if things were shot by real people and not created in computers. "It seemed sort of silly to not apply the cinematic language to digital photography as well," Peristere said.
As an example, in Serenity's climactic battle scene, visual-effects designers worked as if they had three camera operators following the title ship. "Our job from an animation standpoint was to create an action that moves through the battle, rather than participating in the battle," Peristere said. "Our pilot is chasing Serenity and has to keep Serenity in frame, even though large chunks of debris and fire is coming toward him." The new Serenity DVD includes features on the creation of the movie's visual effects.
Fox still holds the rights and doubt they will give them up...which is a real shame. Even if they did release the show, from what Whedon had previously said, nobody else (network and cable channels) showed any interest in taking it over.
The best bet for Firefly fans seems to be straight to DVD movies.
Don't look good.
I guess I am the only fan, LOL!
And I really preferred the Kaylee of the series, rather than Serenity. According to an interview I saw, Joss said that they asked Jewel to gain 20 pounds for the show, but didn't bother with it for the movie. I know I've said this in other threads, but I really prefer her look from the show. Her face looks a bit drawn and gaunt in the movie. Still beautiful, but not as beautiful as she was in the show.
I fell in nove with her smile... The smile when she says "I love my captain," or when she first meets Book, and says, "You're going to come with us!" Or the look she gave Serenity after they got away from the Reavers on Whitefall when she said "That's my girl, that's my good girl."
What a gorgeous smile!
Mark
I did the same thing, and bought another as a gift for a friend too!
Mark
Martin Landau's finest hour...;-)
That's it! I don't know why, but I kept thinking Ben Gazarra!
Mark
Mark
Kaylee: "Is that him?"
Mal: "That's the buffet table."
Kaylee: "Well, how can we sure unless we interrogate it?"
Mal: "Fine, go make yourself sick."
Never saw the Serenity series (except half of one episode) but my wife dragged me to the movie, and I liked it. I know people tend to draw a lot of Civil War parallels to the backstory...between the planet locations and the Midwestern accents some of the principals use, I kept thinking to myself, "Great, it's the Kansas/Missouri border wars in space." :)
}:-)4
If you enjoy Serenity, you might want to check out FireFly. The series is on Amazon for $35. It's 4 DVD's worth of rollicking fun.
FireFly takes place before River makes here entrance. It explains how the Captain bought Serentity, where the crew came from; and how they happened across River and the Doc.
It's a hoot.
Already have it...
She's now on Stargate: SG-1.
I think I have new viewing to do on Friday nights!
They have Band of Brothers in the Sci Fi/Fantasy section? Hmmm
She's the new doctor on SG-1.
Saw my first episode of FF around the last of Sept. And had to wonder why anyone with any brains at all would ever cancel a show like that. Seems the best shows are always the ones to get canceled first. One of those "Speaks Volumes" about what the nets think most of it's viewers want.
Also saw the Serenity movie and bought the DVD. Next on the list is the FF DVD.
And can you tell that I loved Firefly?
Ummmmm.....looks less than "Half" to me!!!!!
Who said that network execs had brains??
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