From: "robert winkler" <robert.winkler@canrem.com>
Subject: spaceroots
Reply-To: "robert winkler" <robert.winkler@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:44:51 EST

             < CONTINUED  FROM  PREVIOUS  MESSAGE >

                          Part 3 of 3  (61 lines)

3) there's no s/f movie without expensive sets, how would you get
   them ?

Many of my acquaintances & I have been designing spaceships,
speeders, spacestations, etc. for years as a hobby. We're not some
specially gifted geniuses (I can't even draw a tree...), but we DID
manage some impressive designs. There're, again, THOUSANDS of guys
like us, like you, stashing away these sketches, 'cause in ourself,
individually, can't make a complete movie. But we'd LOVE to submit
these designs for a movie - & 10 guys... 50 guys... 10 sketches...
50 sketches... together... To make these models all by one person'd
cost thousands - but to make ONE model'd cost (even from prime
material ordered from California, such as liquid plastic, invisible
wire, etc.) less than US $ 100, which we all could manage.

The same is true for equipment, paintings, etc. Making a laser
blaster would cost about 10 bucks (mind you, ALL the Star Wars
weapons were modified guns from the '40s, such as a Mauser - Solo's
pistol - & a Sterling SMG - the imperial blaster). Whole sets can be
constructed from garbage (paper mixed with water, popcans, egg-
boxes, styrofoam fillings from TV and VCR packaging, wirenets,
etc.) then painted to the proper colour.

Also, there're plenty of `ready-made' sets. Futuristic looking
buildings & their halls (look around in the less known part of your
downtown), empty factories, closed down querries, hydroelectric
stations & their basement, junkyards, demolition sites, etc.

4) what about the special f/x?

Yeah, what about them ?  Ever seen a firecracker explode shown in
SLOW motion ?  Ever seen mirror f/x ?  Coppola's f/x crew said that
they could make a lot more from the money 'cause they `rediscovered'
the old techniques of f/x - Dracula certainly doesn't look cheap...

Ever seen a Video Toaster?  Babylon 5 is made with it, & so will
hopefully a lot of other movies. A complete VToaster set would cost
about 8000 (including the single-frame VCR), but many TV stations or
video boots have it for rent, & there're quite a number of guys
outthere (perhaps YOU too) who already owns one. Besides, with the
sales going up the price's going down - just by looking at the ads
in the papers, I found a 400 dollar decrease in the course of 3
months...

5) what about music?

Royalty free music is available on CDs. Sound f/x on CDs are
available in the thousands (see `Spectacular Sound Effects' series
in Canada) again, royalty free. There're plenty of amateur bands &
orchestras trying to get their music a chance. Or, for that matter,
have you recently listened to classical music? Try out Dvorzak's New
World Symphony (allegro), or Shostakovich' Symphony No 5, then try
to envision a movie behind it...

Well, so much about it. You could start writing the stories,
screenplays, anything you want. I know, it's right now barely more
than a farfetched fantasy, but I'd still be interested in getting
your reaction.

Oh, & sorry for taking your time. Take care

Robert
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Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
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