Back Into The Abyss: Part 5

Part 5 of "Back Into The Abyss": a mini-documentary exploring the process and struggles that Steve and his crew undertook to create the NTI creatures for the James Cameron hit film "The Abyss". In this episode, Steve talks about building the full scale NTI for the close up shots with Ed Harris, and the advice James Cameron gave him one sunny day,

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Steve
• Johnson
• Rubber
• Rules
• James
• Jim
• Cameron
• Abyss
• special
• effects
• fx
• alien
• NTI
• underwater
• ocean
• fiber
• optic
• behind
• scenes

[jesperc20]

It's getting increasingly clear that Cameron is a genuine asshole. A brilliant, hardworking, talented asshole. I'd never work with him.. but I sure do appreciate the end products.

[TheDSil]

@Durwood71 Except at the time, CGI was nowhere near advanced enough to create the effects they were going for. All the fluid dynamics of the fins, and delicate lighting effects and translucency of the bodies... totally impossible.

[Durwood71]

@McdonaldSpecial No, I'm implying that the end result doesn't look any different than if the creatures had been created using CGI.

[McdonaldSpecial]

@Durwood71 Are you implying they look less authentic than actual puppets? lol

[Durwood71]

@WormyT So isn't it ironic that they look like CGI?

[RogerRabid]

Just re-rented and watched this movie last night. I command you to see it with the commentary. You would not believe how often the special effects are matte paintings, on set illusions, puppets, miniatures, forced perspectives, real underwater sets, the list goes on. This movie is one of the few defining examples of why we should cut back on CG. Even if the pseudopod still looks awesome.

[sonnybrown]

This movie made me want to get into film when I was a kid. Now I'm 32, live in LA and am working on music. I wouldn't be in LA if it weren't for this film. Thanks for your hard work Steve.

[WormyT]

Those were beautiful creatures! So glad you didn't go CG at the time. Thank you for sharing. I wish I had the guts to go into film.

Damn, now I want to get The Abyss on Bluray.

[frumpyb]

Great to see these and hear the stories.

I think you're right about the mindset, as in it's a bunch of people trying to make something look as good as possible. Though physically making something is so much cooler than all of us stuck behind computers wishing we were moore than computer geeks.

[SonOfSpork]

Thank you for sharing your adventures

with us!