Donny’s Late TOS Movie Era Interiors

[cardinal biggles]

It ultimately doesn't matter what room Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were in when they observed the trip through the Great Barrier; the VFX for that sequence would have sucked out loud regardless because Shatner allowed himself to get hoodwinked by Bran Ferren swirling ink around a fish tank.

 

[yotsuya]

I've always assumed that that room had view screens, not windows. So it could be anywhere in the ship, though I would put it facing forward. And as a room reserved for officers, it would make sense that it be a location for an emergency beacon.

 

[Workbee]

You are right that the scene is underwhelming but. It's a turning point in the story when Kirk starts to accept the journey - it should have more dramatic impact. I think principal photography had wrapped by the time Shatner knew of the troubles with the effects.

I don't think we can blame it all on the effects. TOS managed to capture imaginations just fine with its comparatively limited effects. This scene was less about the spectacle than Kirk and his reaction to what he was seeing. We really didn't need to see anything at all for the scene to work. What brings this scene down are the story problems and tonal dissonance within the film.

 

[STEPhon IT]

The scene never presented the dangers it lead viewers to believe and that moment felt flat along with what the visuals which should've capitalize it and failed. Matter of perspective but all in all we both love Donny's rendition of that room.

 

[David cgc]

You are right that the scene is underwhelming but. It's a turning point in the story when Kirk starts to accept the journey - it should have more dramatic impact. I think principal photography had wrapped by the time Shatner knew of the troubles with the effects.

Not in this case. The view out the window was done live on set with rear-projection, not as a blue-screen effect. Shatner could see what the Great Barrier would look like while they were shooting the scenes in the observation room.

 

[Workbee]

@STEPhon IT You’re right - as depicted in the film they just kind of went through like it was nothing. I seem to remember something in the novel about Sybok providing some kind of enhancement to the shields. Not sure if that was an invention by J M Dillard or if it was from something in the script that got cut. I watched the scene again and it struck me that there seemed to be no “structure” to the barrier in the way that the V Ger cloud and mutants nebula had somewhat discernible shapes It is also very brief - they are through almost as soon as they enter it. Possibly by the studio pressure to reduce runtime, or budget / effects limitations. Or maybe it was a conscious decision to avoid the a drawn out sequence like the cloud sequence of TMP. Interesting thing - I just realized that SFS, TVH and FC are the only prime trek films without some kind of space cloud/energy/stuff the ship flies into.




@David cgc - very interesting! I had no idea that they had on set projections.

Matter of perspective but all in all we both love Donny's rendition of that room.

Now that is certainly something we agree on. Awesome work Donny! This made this room look even more awesome now that we can get see all the details!

 

[Donny]

It struck me today that I hadn't announced my latest "big news" here, although I’d posted it on my various social media accounts. It’s one of those bad news/good news situations.

Bad news is my day with Cryptic Studios and thus Star Trek Online was on January 5th. Although it was very hard for me to leave the friends I’d made at Cryptic, I hadn’t been very satisfied with the quality of work I was able to achieve with the aged and nearly obsolete Cryptic engine. I’m forever grateful for the start in the industry Cryptic and STO gave me, and the kindness and support I experience from the wonderful people there.

The good news is that I start working for OTOY’s Roddenberry Archive full time starting on Monday! While I can’t share the details of my job or non-public details about project just yet, I thought you guys might like to hear if this wonderful news!

 

[batboy853]

That's awesome news!

 

[137th Gebirg]

Wow… My mind is awash at potential ideas about what new projects they might be having you do in the future, based on your unique talents. I’m thinking 2022 is going to be an interesting year!

 

[blssdwlf]

@Donny - Congratulations and that is Wonderful news!

 

[Michael]

Congratulations, @Donny! This archive project is blessed to have someone with your skills and passion as part of their team!

 

[cardinal biggles]

Congratulations, @Donny! That's awesome news!

 

[STEPhon IT]

Donny I am happy for you; I would love to learn later in the future how you discovered this position and what were you method to achieving your goal in nabbing the position? Some day, but as of tonight I am happy to read you're soaring in new possibilities in your career.

 

[Commander Troi]

Congratulations, @Donny!

 

[Workbee]

Best wishes Donny! This new opportunity sounds really exciting. I am really happy for you.

 

[publiusr]

Good news…your OTOY job is why I went link heavy in an earlier post. I saw on phys.org that smart phone screens coming can support holograms…3D images of auroras are being looked at…and there is a “new method to make AI-generated voices more expressive” that maybe OTOY can get for you….for characters to walk around in your virtual sets.

 

[Mytran]

What a wonderful new opportunity! Hearty congratulations Donny

 

[danellis]

Congratulations, Donny.

dJE

 

[UssGlenn]

I suspected something like this might happen ever since your work was featured in their announcement back in August. Congratulations.

 

[Tomalak]

Fantastic news, and very much deserved! Looking forward to hearing more about this.