Star Trek V Production Order

[Albertese]

I'm watching Star Trek V. I notice that all the bridge shots seem to be using rear projection on the main viewer so the cast gets to look at and interact with a live image instead of an image to be matted in later. So, does anyone know if these were shot last in the production order so they'd have a chance to shoot the footage for rear projection, of Klaa and Sybok and so on? Just wondering.

--Alex

 

[Aldo]

I wish I could answer your question, but sadly I cannot.

However you are correct, most of the effects in TFF (with exceptions of course) are done in camera, not only does it make things look better (like the images in the viewscreen), but it is cheaper too, from what I hear. I may be wrong and don't mind to be corrected.

 

[Ryann866]

I'm watching Star Trek V. I notice that all the bridge shots seem to be using rear projection on the main viewer so the cast gets to look at and interact with a live image instead of an image to be matted in later. So, does anyone know if these were shot last in the production order so they'd have a chance to shoot the footage for rear projection, of Klaa and Sybok and so on? Just wondering.

--Alex

The first day of production they shot three small bits that would be played back live on set -- the "real estate" commercial that plays in the Nimbus III bar, the Klingon commander that appears on Vixis's console, and Harve Bennett as the Starfleet Admiral.

The Admiral footage was beam-split onto the viewscreen as a rear-projected image. The other two were video playback.

They then went off on location and shot the Yosemite sequence, followed by the opening mind meld scenes at Cuddy Back in the desert.

Following that, they shot at Trona Peaks for the God Planet scenes and the exterior of Paradise City.

After these locations they returned to Paramount and shot on the shuttlebay, then the Enterprise bridge, the Klingon bridge, the interior of the Paradise City bar, followed by the observation room scenes.

Once that was done they moved onto the God "cathedral" built on a Paramount Stage, then sickbay ( a minor redress of TNG set) the Jefferies tube, and the turbo shaft, then outside for the shot of Spock grabbing Kirk as he falls on a mountain wall set that was turned on its side to hide the wires.

They concluded shooting on the campfire set -- which was also built inside a stage.

They used a lot of rear-projection on the bridge and in the observation room (where it worked really well as they approached the Great Barrier). I'm not sure if the shots of Klaa demanding Kirk were rear-process... probably not since they shot on the Klingon bridge after they shot on the Enterprise bridge.

All of this info (and how each location had a ton of technical difficulties) can be found in Shatner's daughter's book about the making of the film.

Hope that helps!

 

[Maurice]

The Admiral footage was beam-split onto the viewscreen as a rear-projected image. The other two were video playback.

Why the heck would anyone use a beam-splitter for a simple rear projection? You use beam-splitters for FRONT projection, not rear.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

They used a lot of rear-projection on the bridge and in the observation room (where it worked really well as they approached the Great Barrier).

Whatever the process was exactly, I agree. This was one of the few parts of the movie that actually impressed me. I recall thinking that it looked very realistic on the big screen.

 

[Albertese]

Cool. I'll have to track down that book someday. Thanks for the info.

--Alex

 

[Ryann866]

The Admiral footage was beam-split onto the viewscreen as a rear-projected image. The other two were video playback.

Why the heck would anyone use a beam-splitter for a simple rear projection? You use beam-splitters for FRONT projection, not rear.

You're right... to clarify, the graphic technical readout that appears next to Bennett was beam split onto the shot... then the whole thing was rear projected onto the bridge viewscreen.

Also, the backdrop out the window behind him was a blow up translight of the futuristic city from Logan's Run.