UFO STRINGS ATTACHED

In one episode (can't remember which) there is a close-up of a UFO and you can actually see the strings holding it up. Maybe someone can tell me theepisode in question. That's the thing about high resolution DVD - it showsup every detail. You can even see the join on Spock's ears on DVDs of the original series of STAR TREK.

All The Best,

BRIAN


     

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The one I always had the problem with was clearly seeing the strings holding up Sky-1 and the Interceptors when they just launched. I know however, that there wasn't much they could do to rectify this problem with what they were able to do back then.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 29, 2010, at 2:51 AM, Brian Serridge <[hidden email]> wrote:

In one episode (can't remember which) there is a close-up of a UFO and you can actually see the strings holding it up. Maybe someone can tell me the episode in question. That's the thing about high resolution DVD - it shows up every detail. You can even see the join on Spock's ears on DVDs of the original series of STAR TREK.

All The Best,

BRIAN

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





     

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> In one episode (can't remember which) there is a close-up of a UFO and
> you can actually see the strings holding it up. Maybe someone can tell me
> the episode in question. That's the thing about high resolution DVD - it
> shows up every detail. You can even see the join on Spock's ears on DVDs
> of the original series of STAR TREK.

This problem is even worse in high definition...

Marc

I can forgive the wires for the same reason I can forgive them being visible in
War of the Worlds- The saucers themselves are just plain COOL and I love that they are really there,
on the miniature set, with real light on them and NOT CGI.

Brian

________________________________
From: Marc Martin <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thu, April 29, 2010 11:57:15 AM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO STRINGS ATTACHED

 
> In one episode (can't remember which) there is a close-up of a UFO and
> you can actually see the strings holding it up. Maybe someone can tell me
> the episode in question. That's the thing about high resolution DVD - it
> shows up every detail. You can even see the join on Spock's ears on DVDs
> of the original series of STAR TREK.

This problem is even worse in high definition.. .

Marc

 


     

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Like someone else mentioned, in the 50's classic War of the World, on Laser, you could see the strings. It was never made to for that type of playback.

Bruce
----- Original Message -----
From: Marc Martin
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 2:57 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO STRINGS ATTACHED



> In one episode (can't remember which) there is a close-up of a UFO and
> you can actually see the strings holding it up. Maybe someone can tell me
> the episode in question. That's the thing about high resolution DVD - it
> shows up every detail. You can even see the join on Spock's ears on DVDs
> of the original series of STAR TREK.

This problem is even worse in high definition...

Marc





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I agree with you 100% about the saucers in the original film "The War Of The Worlds." When the head of the saucer first appears from the pit it looks like a cobra about to strike (which is does on those poor guys). Then laterthe saucer looks like an elegant swan. Absolutely beautiful and stunning effects. CGI can go jump in the river - the old ways are still the best!!! I hope Marc allows this comment even though it is slightly off topic.

All The Best,

BRIAN



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Brian Boskind <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thu, 29 April, 2010 20:49:59
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO STRINGS ATTACHED

 


I can forgive the wires for the same reason I can forgive them being visible in
War of the Worlds- The saucers themselves are just plain COOL and I love that they are really there,
on the miniature set, with real light on them and NOT CGI.

Brian

____________ _________ _________ __
From: Marc Martin <marc@ufoseries. com>
To: SHADO@yahoogroups. com
Sent: Thu, April 29, 2010 11:57:15 AM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] UFO STRINGS ATTACHED

> In one episode (can't remember which) there is a close-up of a UFO and
> you can actually see the strings holding it up. Maybe someone can tell me
> the episode in question. That's the thing about high resolution DVD - it
> shows up every detail. You can even see the join on Spock's ears on DVDs
> of the original series of STAR TREK.

This problem is even worse in high definition.. .

Marc

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:18:45 -0400
"Bruce Sherman" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Like someone else mentioned, in the 50's classic War of the World,
> on Laser, you could see the strings. It was never made to for that
> type of playback.
>

Would have thought that a properly set up cinema projector and screen
would comfortably outdo a laser player, even in the '50s. But I often
remember seeing strings holding up models in various TV shows as a
kid, most memorably Thunderbirds.

Brian Boskind wrote:
>

> I can forgive the wires for the same reason I can forgive them being visible in
> War of the Worlds


Bizarrely, the really visible wires in War of the Worlds are in close ups of the tops of the craft, when the base of the craft are out of shot and there was no need for them to be suspended at all. The charitable explanation is that for some reason they were forced to shoot these effects shots with two cameras and suspension was necessary for the wider shot, but if so that's still a pretty poor excuse.

It's frequently the case that the Gerry Anderson miniature effects were better than even big budget pictures of the time, but there were reasons why other effects technicians may have had a harder time.
Other special effects technicians had to be more generalist and may not have been asked to fly a model from one year to the next, whereas Derek Meddings and Co were doing so on a daily basis for years.

There were also few sources of information on the, often closely-guarded, secrets of various techniques so people often had to devise their own techniques, frequently having to reinvent the wheel.

The Gerry Anderson series also, obviously, had the effects as a large part of the budget and were considered vital to the success of the series. On most other productions at the time effects were often almost an afterthought and the budget and time allotted nearly always inadequate. The advances in effects outside of the Anderson series usually came on big budget productions where effects were vital to the film, like The Battle of Britain or 2001and sufficient time and money were allocated - but those cases were rarities.

Regards
John

> Like someone else mentioned, in the 50's classic War of the World, on Laser, you could see the strings. It was never made to for that type of playback.

The problem was the models were made of beaten copper, and were very heavy,so the wires attaching them were considerably thicker than was usually used.

As a rather sad afternote, after the film, as the copper was seen as expensive, all three models and the 'cobra' neck were sold off for scrap. :(