American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 46
Sci-Fi
Cowboys
Eric knew that
Barry's goal was to
perfection. This
meant that we wanted to give ILM
material that would not require a lot
of manipulation in order for it to
achieve technical
work. If, for instance,
element is shot
bluescreen
a
incorrectly, it takes
lot of extra work later
a
to correct it in
post. As a result, the visual effects
department had much
ence
over
than I had
or even
more influ¬
of shooting
experienced on Outbreak
the process
Air Force One."
ILM's technical
had
a
direct
impact
choice of film stocks.
requirements
Ballhaus's
He explains, "I
on
like Kodak's Vision 320T, which I
used
quite a bit in the film and
exposed at 200 ASA, but for the blue¬
spent six weeks
Despite the size of the set,
"using our wide-angle lenses made it
quite difficult to bring in the Dinos,"
Ballhaus says. "With a 14mm lens,
you can see everything! Our toplight
rigging was not a problem, but the
sidelight was sometimes difficult."
The curved greenhouse-style
walls were made of Plexiglas painted
by the set dressers with a wash to
resemble frosted glass. Beyond that
was a 360-degree desert-landscape
cyclorama. "We used 10 Moleenos
working
and lots and lots of 20Ks in there,"
Above: West and
his
ingenious
sidekick, Artemus
Gordon, board the
Tarantula via
Gordon's rocket-
powered glider,
the Wasp. The
elaborate
stuntwork
required to
achieve this
was done
action
at Warner
Bros.,
where Ballhaus
and his
crew
on the
film's visual-
effects sequences.
The bridge
section of the
Tarantula (below,
right) was
alternately
photographed
with bluescreen
sky backings,
depending on
whether the body
or
Tynes says. "The frosted glass helped,
because doing our sun effect with
Dinos could have resulted in
multiple shadows; the diffusion
blended the light together to make it
seem as if it was coming from one
large source."
Effects
Roundup
Making a final bid to rule the
of the vehicle
would be
seen
in
the shot - and
therefore require
CGI work by ILM's
digital artists.
a
Old West, Loveless utilizes his walk¬
ing Tarantula assault vehicle to
destroy the frontier town of
Silverado. West and Gordon attempt
thwart Loveless's
plans by board¬
ing the Tarantula via Gordon's
rocket-powered glider, the Wasp.
While both contraptions were
primarily rendered as CG models by
Industrial Light & Magic (see story
on
page 48), these mechanical
to
44
July 1999
marvels
whole
were
or
Warner Bros,
visible
also built full-scale in
stages.
onscreen
Tarantula's
at
the
complete version of the Wasp.
Extensive bluescreen and poor man's
process work was used to achieve the
required shots, all of which were
carefully storyboarded or rendered as
video animatics when precise timing
necessary.
supervisor was
Brevig, who is excellent,"
Ballhaus attests. "He and Barry had
worked together on Men in Black, so
Eric
me to use
The wonders
open-air bridge, from
"Our effects
work, ILM asked
include
which Loveless and his cohorts oper¬
ate the multi-limbed device, and a
was
screen
5248, which has less grain and a
better blue layer. I rated it normally
part and filmed on the
100
ASA, and because it's
more
contrasty, I had to use a bit more fill.
I also used some 5293, because its
blue
layer is also better than in the
320T, and I sometimes needed
a
stock faster than 48. I rated the 93
normally at 200 ASA. However, since
all of the effects shots
were
to
be
digitized and manipulated, ILM said
they would work it out so the
contrast
in those shots would match
the
footage shot on the 320T, and
they have done a pretty good job
with that.
"I like the 320T because it has
American Cinematographer - July 1999
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - July 1999
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 1
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 2
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 3
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 4
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 5
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 6
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 7
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 8
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 9
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 10
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 11
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 12
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 13
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 14
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 15
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 16
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 17
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 18
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 19
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 20
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 21
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 22
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 23
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 24
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 25
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 26
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 27
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 28
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 29
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 30
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 31
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 32
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 33
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 34
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 35
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 36
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 37
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 38
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 39
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 40
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 41
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 42
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 43
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 44
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 45
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 46
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 47
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 48
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 49
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 50
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 51
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 52
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 53
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 54
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 55
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 56
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 57
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 58
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 59
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 60
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 61
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 62
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 63
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 64
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 65
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 66
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 67
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 68
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 69
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 70
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 71
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 72
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 73
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 74
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 75
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 76
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 77
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 78
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 79
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 80
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 81
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 82
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 83
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 84
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 85
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 86
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 87
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 88
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 89
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 90
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 91
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 92
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 93
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 94
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 95
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 96
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 97
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 98
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 99
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 100
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 101
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 102
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 103
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 104
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 105
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 106
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 107
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 108
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 109
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 110
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 111
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 112
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 113
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 114
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 115
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 116
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 117
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 118
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 119
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 120
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 121
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 122
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 123
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 124
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 125
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 126
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 127
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 128
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 129
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 130
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 131
American Cinematographer - July 1999 - 132
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com