‘Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex’
It’s no secret that practical effects have fallen in favor of GCI. In most cases, I enjoy a well-blended mixture of the two. If the effect can be pulled off with practical effects, then why not? Sure, different teams and skill sets are required, but we can’t let this artform slip into the deep abyss…unless it’s going to surface with a giant sea creature attached to it.
Over the past couple years, a documentary has been in the works, focusing on practical monster effects and the people involved who have made it possible. The trailer includes footage from films, such as Star Wars, Hellboy, Gremlins, Aliens, Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Critters, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space!
The synopsis for the documentary is below.
“The success of Avatar, Jurassic World, the Planet of the Apes reboot or series like The Lord of the Rings has proved one thing: movie creatures have never been as popular as they are today.
Finding its roots in ancient folklore and mythology, the art of creating monsters for the big screen is on the other hand as old as cinema itself. From early experiments with apes and dinosaurs to the birth of special make-up effects, from the pinnacle of animatronics to the digital revolution, Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex explores a century of cinematic thrills and wonders. Most importantly, the feature film focuses on the relationship between the creatures and their makers: like modern Frankensteins, special effects wizards create life out of raw material, art and complex machinery.
For two and a half years, Gilles Penso and Alexandre Poncet have met all the greatest artists in the genre, visited dozens of studios and gathered hours of exclusive footage from classics like Gremlins, Ghostbusters, The Abyss, Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, Starship Troopers or Spider-Man 2. The result celebrates a world of human imagination and unparalleled artistry, but also shows how fragile traditional crafts have become, in the wake of futurist technologies.”
I’m excited to see what the documentary has to offer. The trailer features several behind the scenes footage, which is very promising. I want to be taken back in time and feel like I’m in the trenches with the special effects teams, right where all the action is. The documentary is headed for the 2016 European Film Market in Berlin. With that said, there are currently no release dates available, but you can keep up to date by through the official Facebook page.
One more thing! This kick-ass poster was created by Alex Tuis. Check out his website at a.tuis.free.fr for more information and portfolio examples.
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Tags: Art, Documentary, Frankenstein, Monster Effects, Monsters
Categories: Documentary, Movies