ALIEN Makers Documentary

[Thedus]

As I've been working my way through this thread a question came to mind, and anyone who was there is free to answer since this goes out to all:

When Ridley was brought on to ALIEN he didn't really "get" science fiction.  ALIEN was really his first go in the genre.  I know that Ridley was offered "guidance" as to how to handle a science fiction film from those in the producers' chairs, but how much guidance was offered from the crew that was in the trenches and creating the models and VFX that would help drive the story?  Did he come to any of you for such guidance since several of the crew had been involved with science fiction before (such as Martin Bower, Brian Johnson, Nick Allder, Dennis Lowe, et al.)?  Or did any of the crew offer unsolicited advise?

[BlackWatch]

Not that I'm trying to answer for those who were there, but... I get the feeling Ridley didn't really need the advice. The story, after all, really is Truckers in Space, so the only real science-fiction element to the film is the creature itself. And that Ridley knew how to handle from the start - hide it in darkness. Everything else just sort of falls into place.

To me "science-fiction" usually requires "suspension of belief" for a film to work (ie. life on other planets, warp drive, matter transporters, etc). Again, aside from the creature, which was so wonderfully designed by Giger, Alien didn't really require much of that. The story really was about regular people in a remarkable situation (exception of Ash, of course).

The rest of the movie's elements are more suspense/thriller/horror than sci-fi...

That's my take on it anyway. For what it's worth.

[Thedus]

True, but what comes to mind for me was Ridley's initial idea to make Ash an alien as opposed to an android (the word "Martian" keeps coming to mind, but I'm not sure if that was Ridley's word or not).  Ridley seemed to be working with a rather stereotypical view of what a sci-fi film was.  And wasn't there some hesitation to bring him on board because he'd never done sci-fi before?

[wmmvrrvrrmm]

True, but what comes to mind for me was Ridley's initial idea to make Ash an alien as opposed to an android (the word "Martian" keeps coming to mind, but I'm not sure if that was Ridley's word or not).  Ridley seemed to be working with a rather stereotypical view of what a sci-fi film was.  And wasn't there some hesitation to bring him on board because he'd never done sci-fi before?

I haven't found anything in any magazine article or DVD where anyone said that Ash was ever going to be an alien. Although he did for a while think about having a Martian amongst the crew which he talked about to Fantastic Films. And then I'm not sure what the Martian is supposed to be. So from the brief description of a person with slightly waxy skin and two small holes in his head, I would be asking if he isn't an alien, is he just a human who has been genetically modified to deal with a different environment.

And just to add to that, in FF he acknowledged that by getting rid of the Martian and keeping all the crew human, the robot would be a complete surprise.

[Dennis Lowe]

...Any chance of getting Brian Johnson and/or Nick Allder into this conversation?

I emailed Brian Johnson a few days ago about this thread but still no reply as yet, I don't have Nick's contact details so that's a dead end.

[Dennis Lowe]

....... but how much guidance was offered from the crew that was in the trenches and creating the models and VFX that would help drive the story?  Did he come to any of you for such guidance since several of the crew had been involved with science fiction before (such as Martin Bower, Brian Johnson, Nick Allder, Dennis Lowe, et al.)?  Or did any of the crew offer unsolicited advise?

From my side of the trench it felt more like an 'Open Source' system whereby anyone could comment on the look and design of the models, whether or not that was taken on board was another matter.
The important thing was that Ridley would listen to whoever had an idea (doesn't happen a lot in the film industry) and if it was better than his, then he would change it to make a better movie.
For me, it was a classic case of allowing people to be involved in the process, a situation that is constantly being ignored by the industry.


I remember one day when Ridley and Ivor Powell came to Bray to look at some of the model work (can't exactly remember what part) but as they turned to leave Ivor commented "you guys are really enjoying this aren't you" so they were well aware of the 'vibe' being created.

[Faltskogian]

I hope one (or all!) of our honoured members of the A L I E N crew can shed some light on this...

I recall reading at the time that a different opening shot had been done which involved a viewpoint of moving through space with stars flying by, the viewpoint (dunno what the heck to call it!) zooms into a close up off the refinery and ends as it goes up to and in the bridge window of the USCSS Nostromo.

Well i hope that makes sense! a similar viewpoint was used in the first trailer for A L I E N and it got a fair few mentions in the film magazines out then, so i,m kurious to know if it was filmed or was just a idea.

Thanks!

D.F.

[Dennis Lowe]

I recently created a conceptual design for the classic Colonial Viper from Battlestar Galactica as a personal project.  I have yet to texture it and animate it, but the weeks spent creating nurnies, fleshing out the design, modeling the body, engines, and what all... she's very close to me. She doesn't exist in the physical world, but I built her all the same.  I pulled, pushed, and created geometry - and just like any of my projects (contracted or person) I'm very close to her.

...Shameless plug to my site.

I should have got you to do the CGI on the docu!!......

Nice work

[Dennis Lowe]

I hope one (or all!) of our honoured members of the A L I E N crew can shed some light on this...

I recall reading at the time that a different opening shot had been done which involved a viewpoint of moving through space with stars flying by, the viewpoint (dunno what the heck to call it!) zooms into a close up off the refinery and ends as it goes up to and in the bridge window of the USCSS Nostromo.

Well i hope that makes sense! a similar viewpoint was used in the first trailer for A L I E N and it got a fair few mentions in the film magazines out then, so i,m kurious to know if it was filmed or was just a idea.

Thanks!

D.F.

I can't recall of an alternative opening to the film, the camera dolly only had dumb servos so we could only turn a knob that varied the speed and that was it, we would have to have had proper motion control to get that effect. I suggested to Nick if we could go to motion control before we started to build the camera rig (as Star Wars had set the pace) but We really didn't have the budget for that as the film was still in it's 'B' phase.

[Faltskogian]

Thanks for the reply Dennis much appreciated.

'Tis something that's been bugging me for years! (infact when i went to see A L I E N on its first release i was expecting to see that opening! wot a twit!

df

[Simon Deering]

Jon, Dennis and Simon,

It's both a privilege and a pleasure to be able to communicate with you guys who worked on this great film.  Especially this year, the 30th anniversary.

Cheers Monty

Its a real pleasure being here and am thoroughly enjoying the enthusiasm and interest ! what a fast thread .. I cant keep up !

[Dennis Lowe]

Hi  Simon

I've been uploading the neg scans from Jon, Bill and myself to Alien Experience, do you want me to upload yours?

[Dennis Lowe]

But I see I'm up to 86 Posts on here already. I'll no doubt have the piss taken out of me by Dennis tomorrow for being the ALIEN miniatures crew windbag. So be it.

Fret thee not Jon...it's really interesting to learn from other sources.
It's impossible to see the production from all angles when you're in the middle of it so I'm just as fascinated by reading the posts as I learn from a different viewpoint.

[Simon Deering]

Or they get Paul Anderson to write it.

Haha hilarious

[Simon Deering]

Delightful .. I hope those chains dont drip on your stuff as well..