Before I start I’d like to point out all material is sourced via this amazing Aliens tribute site: http://aliensarchive.tripod.com/home.html. Though it doesn’t appear to have been updated for a some time it’s still extremely extensive, with script revisions, FX info and costume design and detailing – a must read!
So with regards to this post… here we have a small selection of storyboard frames from everybody’s favourite “Vietnam in Space” movie: Aliens – (Directed James Cameron, 1986). Theses samples are taken from across several drafts I believe and were illustrated by artists Roger Dear, Maciek Piotrowski and Denis Rich, apparently these scan’s are taken from the films Laser Disc Release, although full versions (copies?) of the storyboard do crop occasionally on ebay. The first thing you notice is just how close to the final film print they actually are, you can almost hear them! I’ve tried to arrange them in chronological order from top left and across - I’m not sure the final “fueling” thumbnail (bottom row) made it into the film.
As for the film itself, well I think there’s a fair chance that if your reading this you’ve probably seen it more than once. Better than Ridley Scott’s original? well it’s hardly worth arguing over as both will forever be tagged as visionary film making. As for the sequels? Alien 3 nullifies the events of it’s predecessor and ultimately pails into insignificance, though Fincher’s effort does have it’s merits including some great sets and very nifty camera work. Ressurection as with 3 is best enjoyed when you remove all thought’s of the first two movies, it’s watchable nonsense which is more than can be said for you know what….
Here’s a funny clip giving you a insight into James Cameron’s thoughts on that which is unmentionable: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aKnS7CGWNmU
Ridley Scott’s Storyboard for Alien is here: http://www.sci-fi-o-rama.com/2008/08/26/alien-storyboards/
Following on from the prior post here’s more from Jodorowsky’s gloriously doomed Dune, this time featuring the efforts of Devon’s finest - Chris Foss… nice to feature some of Foss’s work pre-airbrush-gloss!
As before all artwork featured via the excellent http://www.duneinfo.com/
I will endavour to find something original soon!
Top left: “Duke Leto Atreides”
Top right a “Sardaukar” – I still prefer this depiction
Bottom left “Feyd” – played by Sting in Lynch’s 84 Version
Bottom right “Kynes”
All concept Art from Mobieus for the aborted Alejandro Jodorowsky 1976 version of “Dune”. With Mobieus in charge of Costume Design and Storyboarding, Chris Foss taking care of Spaceship’s and Vehicles and H.R.Giger creating the evil Harkonnen Homeworld + a Pink Floyd soundtrack & starring Mick Jagger and Salvador Dali amongst others! it goes without saying this is definitely the greatest film never made. The project stalled when funds dried up and other assorted spanners randomly flew into the creative machine. Truly a project of immense scope and scale – alas never to be, at least not in this Universe!
Read all you need to know about the project, see all the art, interviews and more at this amazing site: http://www.duneinfo.com/ - Thanks Dan for the tip on that! The Mobieus feature is at http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/moebius.asp
It’s also well worth having a read about Alejandro Jodorowsky himself at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodorowsky -
Also some more at:
Manny Z’s Cininite Blog: http://citinite.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/jean-moebius-giraud/
And the excellent io9.com http://io9.com/5088014/costume-designs-and-storyboards-from-the-dune-that-never-was
Another Frank Frazetta concept painting for the Original 70’s Battlestar Galactica featuring one of his trademark muscular female rumps and some pretty evil looking Cylon Raiders. This is a follow up to the earlier Frazetta/BSG post which Charlie Jane Anders (cheers!) has expanded on over at i09.com – article: http://io9.com/5064127/the-savage-barbarians-of-battlestar-galactica
Also check http://www.galactica.tv/ a very extensive Battlestar Galactica fan site…
Ok so here we have one of the worlds premier Sci-Fi Artist’s featured on Sci-Fi-O-Rama for the first time and I’d like to point out that it’s not on merit that Ralphs not popped up before… Ralph Mcquarrie IS Star Wars, every bit as much as George Lucas and if you seek Star Wars Art (and why shouldnt you!) I recommend a Google/Yahoo or Flickr image search..
So Back to (70’s) Battlestar Galatica - and following on from the prior post – here are some of Ralph Mcquarrie’s original concept paintings. Ralph’s work – of course – is pretty close to the finished models/art, but as with his Star Wars art its slightly more streamlined or spindly, in the way that only concept art can be – cooler perhaps?
BTW the reason why this blog isn’t laced with art from visionaries like Syd Mead or Ralph Mcquarrie is that a simple google search (or better yet bookshop) will yield far classier info than I can provide. It’s not that these artists aren’t amazing (of course they are! ) Sci-Fi-O-Rama is more about the off-beat…
Images Sourced Via this BSG forum: http://galacticabbs.com/index.php?showtopic=1931
For more Info:
See a complete overview of his Battlestar Galactica paintings here:
http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-1978—news/ralph-mcquarrie-concept-paintings.html
Or an overview of his concept art for Battlestar Galactica here:http://www.galactica.tv/battlestar-galactica-1978—news/ralph-mcquarrie-concept-sketches.html
Thanks Marcel!
