A brilliant star of sci-fi cinema has gone supernova
February 8, 2022 3:41 PM Subscribe
Douglas Trumbull, visual effects visionary, has died at 79. Legendary for his work on 2001: A Space Odyssey (including the Star Gate sequence), he also had a hand in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner and The Tree of Life, and directed Silent Running and Brainstorm.
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posted by mikelieman at 3:47 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by mikelieman at 3:47 PM on February 8, 2022
Years ago I was lucky enough to watch UFOTOG, his tech-demo for pixel-independent frame-rates. Capture at 120fps, & build a pipeline to downscale as desired. Want a projector running footage at 24fps in the background of a lush 60fps fight scene with details running at 120fps? He was your guy.
He had quite the vision for film tech, I'd be curious to see if something might come of his last efforts there.
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posted by CrystalDave at 3:51 PM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
It [MAGI] shoots and projects native 3D in 4K at 120 fps, using an innovative technique he calls "cadence," which had never been used in previous 3D systems: "We were shooting 60 [frames] per eye, projector was going 120—left eye, right eye, left eye, right eye. You’re shooting the same way you’re going to project it. And that's when this magic happens. It's only one flash per frame, and the sequence is actually temporally correct. There are in fact 120 different positions. Anything that moves in front of the camera is going to have 120 different positions."He held a Q&A after, & was visibly excited at the prospect of 'punching past the soap-opera effect' into new frontiers. I think he was looking for that One Big Hit tech-wise for a while, but he had what I thought was an interesting insight, about Avatar being the forcing function getting a lot of theaters to make the jump to digital projection, & a lot of projectors that were upgraded-to had the capability for a *lot* more than they were being used for.
He had quite the vision for film tech, I'd be curious to see if something might come of his last efforts there.
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posted by CrystalDave at 3:51 PM on February 8, 2022 [7 favorites]
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"Silent Running" is one of my top 3 favorite movies of all time.
Let's not forget his work on "The Starlost", either (the videos in that link don't work, but Starlost is up on the Internet Archive, for intrepid searchers).
posted by hanov3r at 3:52 PM on February 8, 2022 [6 favorites]
"Silent Running" is one of my top 3 favorite movies of all time.
Let's not forget his work on "The Starlost", either (the videos in that link don't work, but Starlost is up on the Internet Archive, for intrepid searchers).
posted by hanov3r at 3:52 PM on February 8, 2022 [6 favorites]
Huey, Dewey and Louie bid a fond farewell.
posted by valkane at 4:05 PM on February 8, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by valkane at 4:05 PM on February 8, 2022 [9 favorites]
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posted by skye.dancer at 4:22 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by skye.dancer at 4:22 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by doctornemo at 4:24 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by doctornemo at 4:24 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:25 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:25 PM on February 8, 2022
🎞️
posted by clavdivs at 4:26 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by clavdivs at 4:26 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
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posted by doctor_negative at 4:28 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by doctor_negative at 4:28 PM on February 8, 2022
What a career. Hard to even calculate he effect he's had on our collective unconscious.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:44 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:44 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
A few years ago, I re-watched 2001 to see if it was as impressive as I remembered when I watched its premiere in 1968. It was pretty much the same feeling of awe I had as a 9 year sci-fi junkie, especially the wonderful special effects. Now I need to find where Silent Running is streaming.
Thanks Douglas.
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posted by jabo at 4:57 PM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
Thanks Douglas.
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posted by jabo at 4:57 PM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
He directed (because Robert Wise didn't have time) two iconic sequences in Star Trek: The Motion Picture: the slow, glorious reveal of the refurbished Enterprise, and Spock's solitary journey through the inner workings of V'Ger. They're both incredible "set pieces."
In my town they had one of his experimental movie theaters with very high frame rates, but all I remember was scenes of roller coaster rides and flying through clouds. Nothing great. I did see Brainstorm in the theater, though, which switched from 70mm for "virtual reality" to 35mm for "reality." All I remember about that film is being really embarrassed by the VR sex scene, since I was young.
posted by jabah at 5:00 PM on February 8, 2022 [5 favorites]
In my town they had one of his experimental movie theaters with very high frame rates, but all I remember was scenes of roller coaster rides and flying through clouds. Nothing great. I did see Brainstorm in the theater, though, which switched from 70mm for "virtual reality" to 35mm for "reality." All I remember about that film is being really embarrassed by the VR sex scene, since I was young.
posted by jabah at 5:00 PM on February 8, 2022 [5 favorites]
Mentally setting a reminder to queue up the Star Gate/Echoes mashup this weekend. I'd watch it tonight, but I need to be sober in the morning. I hate being old.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:01 PM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 5:01 PM on February 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
A true Visionary. RIP
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:20 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by Liquidwolf at 5:20 PM on February 8, 2022
🎥
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:24 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:24 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
From Craft Leaders: Douglas Trumbull, Special Effects Supervisor, Adrian Pennington, IBC Interviews, 13 December 2018:
posted by cenoxo at 5:38 PM on February 8, 2022 [6 favorites]
...Trumbull has always strived for photorealism which is why he is generally disparaging of films made entirely of digital VFX.More about Trumbull and his amazing work in his Wikipedia bio.
“I feel models bring a higher degree of credibility to the screen than computer graphics yet very few models are built for films today,” he says. “Obtaining perfect photorealism is the hardest part of the whole equation. With digital the issue is always how many layers and textures you can apply before the render time for the shot goes on for so long you have to back off.”
He caveats, “That’s not to say that you can’t do amazing things with CGI. The synthetic tiger in Life of Pi, for example, is indistinguishable from the real thing. It’s beautiful and something you could never do with puppets and prosthetics. Also, digital composition with blue and green screen is far superior to using an optical printer.
“But when you allow yourself the latitude to experiment using miniatures or a water tank or chemicals, fluids or natural lighting there will something wonderfully unexpected."
posted by cenoxo at 5:38 PM on February 8, 2022 [6 favorites]
He was an architect and artist of the sublime in the very 19th century version of that word to my young eyes.
The mothership in Close Encounters........
Thank you Doug and may you go with grace
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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 5:40 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
The mothership in Close Encounters........
Thank you Doug and may you go with grace
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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 5:40 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
Starlost.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:28 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:28 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by miles per flower at 7:12 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by miles per flower at 7:12 PM on February 8, 2022
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The opening to Blade Runner.
I was a special effects nerd as a kid in the 70s and Trumbull and his protégé, John Dykstra were like gods to me.
posted by octothorpe at 7:15 PM on February 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
The opening to Blade Runner.
I was a special effects nerd as a kid in the 70s and Trumbull and his protégé, John Dykstra were like gods to me.
posted by octothorpe at 7:15 PM on February 8, 2022 [4 favorites]
His impact on the art of visual storytelling is entirely incalculable.
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posted by dbiedny at 7:21 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by dbiedny at 7:21 PM on February 8, 2022
What everybody said, emphasis the incalculable.
posted by y2karl at 7:26 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by y2karl at 7:26 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh my, legendary is almost an understatement. What an incredible career, and how lucky we were to see the imagination come to life through his work.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 7:50 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by kitten kaboodle at 7:50 PM on February 8, 2022
I am extremely lucky... I was able to see Douglas Trumbull speaking at TIFF Bell Lightbox in 2008. He spoke about his career, mostly about his work on '2001: A Space Odyssey', but 'Silent Running' and 'Blade Runner' as well. I was mesmerised by just how naturally he spoke about some truly groundbreaking effects work. Now I am going to have to go see if that talk, or any other talks by him are available online.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:15 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:15 PM on February 8, 2022
Brainstorm had a huge impact on me as a kid. I watched on either HBO or Betamax. I'm sure the FPS effects didn't come through but it affected me in a very deep way -- especially the interrogation and afterlife sequences. I read that he was incredibly embittered by the experience of trying to make it according to his vision while the suits kept interfering. Assuming that's the case, we could have been blessed with quite a few great films that I'm guessing he had in his head.
Of course his work on 2001 can't possibly be overestimated. We are profoundly lucky to have gotten just that.
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posted by treepour at 8:20 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
Of course his work on 2001 can't possibly be overestimated. We are profoundly lucky to have gotten just that.
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posted by treepour at 8:20 PM on February 8, 2022 [3 favorites]
…if that talk, or any other talks by him are available online.
There’s a lot to watch in YouTube search results for “Douglas Trumbull”.
posted by cenoxo at 8:51 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
There’s a lot to watch in YouTube search results for “Douglas Trumbull”.
posted by cenoxo at 8:51 PM on February 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by equalpants at 9:08 PM on February 8, 2022
posted by equalpants at 9:08 PM on February 8, 2022
I have a vivid childhood memory of getting ready to see ST:TMP either a 3rd or 4th time, and reading the ST:TMP comic book I had somehow gotten my hands on, and the thing that sticks out is that I was aware of how super-stoked I was at the time, and took a minute to savor the moment. The Enterprise reveal and Spock Walk were a big part of this anticipation, I couldn't wait to see those scenes again.
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posted by credulous at 9:25 PM on February 8, 2022
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posted by credulous at 9:25 PM on February 8, 2022
To plagarise Wikipedia
"Because of the immensely troubled production and disagreements with MGM, Trumbull opted never to direct a Hollywood film again after Brainstorm. In 1983 he stated:
I have no interest . . .in doing another Hollywood feature film. . . . Absolutely none. The movie business is so totally screwed up that I just don't have the energy to invest three or four years in a feature film. Moviemaking is like waging war. It destroys your personal life, too. The people who can survive the process of making films have largely given up their personal lives in order to do that, just because it's such a battle to make a movie. And in doing that, they've isolated themselves from the very audience that they're trying to reach"
posted by Narrative_Historian at 12:10 AM on February 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
"Because of the immensely troubled production and disagreements with MGM, Trumbull opted never to direct a Hollywood film again after Brainstorm. In 1983 he stated:
I have no interest . . .in doing another Hollywood feature film. . . . Absolutely none. The movie business is so totally screwed up that I just don't have the energy to invest three or four years in a feature film. Moviemaking is like waging war. It destroys your personal life, too. The people who can survive the process of making films have largely given up their personal lives in order to do that, just because it's such a battle to make a movie. And in doing that, they've isolated themselves from the very audience that they're trying to reach"
posted by Narrative_Historian at 12:10 AM on February 9, 2022 [4 favorites]
I want to also say that if you haven't seen the Director's Cut version of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," you're missing out on some amazing imagery. It's probably best appreciated as a weird, exploratory very 1970s science-fiction film that also happens to occasionally make use of "Star Trek" characters.
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posted by HunterFelt at 1:43 AM on February 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
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posted by HunterFelt at 1:43 AM on February 9, 2022 [3 favorites]
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posted by dannyboybell at 3:40 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by dannyboybell at 3:40 AM on February 9, 2022
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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 3:53 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 3:53 AM on February 9, 2022
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posted by The Bellman at 5:47 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by The Bellman at 5:47 AM on February 9, 2022
yeah, the backstory of Brainstorm continues to infuriate me. I did see it more than once way back when on its theatrical release. A worthy and disturbing investigation into all kinds of stuff -- even life after death.
posted by philip-random at 8:56 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by philip-random at 8:56 AM on February 9, 2022
I had no idea that Trumbull was in his early-to-mid-20s when he worked on 2001. That is absolutely mind-blowing. What a visionary!
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:41 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 9:41 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 10:00 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by JoeXIII007 at 10:00 AM on February 9, 2022
I just read Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece by Michael Benson and Trumbull literally talked himself into a job by cold-calling Kubrick and started out in the production doing small tasks but worked his way up to be one of the main special effects people by the end of post-production.
posted by octothorpe at 10:11 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 10:11 AM on February 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Token Meme at 11:11 AM on February 9, 2022
posted by Token Meme at 11:11 AM on February 9, 2022
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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 3:15 PM on February 9, 2022
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 3:15 PM on February 9, 2022
F'n LEGEND! .
posted by Capricorn13 at 3:45 PM on February 9, 2022
posted by Capricorn13 at 3:45 PM on February 9, 2022
I am extremely lucky... I was able to see Douglas Trumbull speaking at TIFF Bell Lightbox
Thank you cenoxo... the talk that I attended is here. I highly recommend it.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:04 PM on February 10, 2022
Thank you cenoxo... the talk that I attended is here. I highly recommend it.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:04 PM on February 10, 2022
He was a really nice guy. I got to see him give a presentation at the Boston Sci Fi Film Festival a few years ago where he talked about stuff he'd done and then later he presented a really nice print of 2001. Such a brilliant man, and he helped define what the future would look like for a lot of folks my age.
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posted by rmd1023 at 2:38 PM on February 11, 2022
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posted by rmd1023 at 2:38 PM on February 11, 2022
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posted by inpHilltr8r at 6:34 PM on February 12, 2022
posted by inpHilltr8r at 6:34 PM on February 12, 2022
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