Of Vulcan Heads...

[Ryann866]

I'm searching around for a behind the scenes photo I recall seeing. It was from one of the Trek films (probably TSFS) and it clearly showed a large, full size statue of a Vulcan head on one of the sets.

I had thought for a long time that it was a full-scale prop built for TMP in the scene where Spock is meditating on Vulcan (which was filmed on location in Yellowstone park)

However, the photos on this page (in an article about Trek FX guru Mike Minor) reveal that the head used in that shot was actually a forced perspective miniature.
http://startrekvulcanology.blogspot.com/2010/09/remembering-mike-minor.html

This shot on the set of Trek III shows a large head-like statue behind Nimoy and his cinematographer.
http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/bonus_tsfs/archives/photos/production/production_022.jpg

I believe this set to be a section of The Hall of Ancient Thought from a sequence that was cut from the final film and probably where the photo in question comes from

Does anyone remember seeing a photo of this?

On a side note, while searching around I noticed that the entrance to the Mt. Seleya temple was a re-use of the Genesis cave set from Trek II. Those guys never threw anything away!

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/tsfs/ch10/tsfs1176.jpg

http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/twok_other/bts/bts_twok_genesis_cave.jpg

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

I don't recall "The Hall of Ancient Thought" in any of the script or treatments of ST:TSfS I've read. I believe it's a creation of the novelist in this case.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I don't recall "The Hall of Ancient Thought" in any of the script or treatments of ST:TSfS I've read. I believe it's a creation of the novelist in this case.

The script calls the sets:

EXT. VULCAN HILL

EXT. VULCAN - UPPER LEVEL OF TEMPLE AREA

INT. VULCAN TEMPLE

EXT. VULCAN ALTAR AREA

THE ALTAR

EXT. VULCAN TEMPLE AREA

OUTSIDE THE ALTAR.

 

[Ryann866]

While I'm not proposing that Wikipedia is a reliable source, there is this comment (with the quote attributed to the old Cinefantastique magazine) which talks about a deleted Mt. Seleya sequence --

Elements removed from the Vulcan sequence included a procession through the "Vulcan Hall of Ancient Thought", a space dominated by large heads atop columns and a sculpture towering to a height of 20 feet (6.1 m). The scene was cut because the procession dragged on for too long.

There also is a mention of a deleted section of the Vulcan procession up the mountain in the liner notes for TSFS soundtrack. An extended section of the score can be heard on the album version that played under this section.

I also seem to recall seeing some photos of Vulcan children along the procession line giving the Vulcan salute to Spock as he was carried up the hill.

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

I am aware only of a young girl who gives the Vulcan salute and "Live Long and Prosper" at the base of the stairway up which our heroes ascend with the Vulcan priestesses lifting Spock with, according to some, the power of their minds (if you'll note, their hands are resting on top of Spock). I believe some fan has wronly inserted elements from the novelization into Wiki. The towering sculpture is quite probably the stylized hand in a Vulcan salute visible behind T'Lar.

 

[Ryann866]

I am aware only of a young girl who gives the Vulcan salute and "Live Long and Prosper" at the base of the stairway up which our heroes ascend with the Vulcan priestesses lifting Spock with, according to some, the power of their minds (if you'll note, their hands are resting on top of Spock). I believe some fan has wronly inserted elements from the novelization into Wiki. The towering sculpture is quite probably the stylized hand in a Vulcan salute visible behind T'Lar.

Found some production artwork over on Ottens' site that suggests that this scene of a long procession with Spock's body was at least planned out --

The first drawing looks similar to the set piece behind Nimoy in the behind the scenes photo in the first post.

http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/images/movies/ST3TSFS_VulcanProcessionArt1.jpg
http://movies.trekcore.com/gallery/a...uction_022.jpg

http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/images/movies/ST3TSFS_VulcanProcessionArt3.jpg

http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/images/movies/ST3TSFS_VulcanProcessionArt4.jpg

http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/images/movies/ST3TSFS_VulcanProcessionArt5.jpg

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

Hadn't seen those before. Thanks for the links. But I still don't believe this to be the Hall of Ancient Thoughts from the novelization. But hey, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong.