METROPOLIS & C-3P0

Robot maintenance.

The Maschinenmensch (German for "machine-human") from Metropolis, is a gynoid (female robot and female android) played by German actress Brigitte Helm in both its robot form and human incarnation. Named Maria in the film, and "Futura" in the Novel, she was the first robot ever depicted in cinema. Robot Maria's haunting blank face, slightly open lips, and pronounced female curves in the film have been the subject of disgust and fascination alike.

C-3PO was played by Anthony Daniels in all six Star Wars films. Daniels initially did not agree to be cast as C-3PO; but changed his mind after reading C-3PO's part in the script and seeing a concept painting by Ralph McQuarrie, who based his early design largely on the Maschinenmensch from the Fritz Lang masterpiece Metropolis.

Lang (right) checks preparations for an upcoming scene.  Metropolis, 1927.

A young George Lucas confers with Anthony Daniels as C-3P0 on location in Tunisia, 1976.

PROMONTORY SUMMIT 1869

In May 1869, the railheads of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads finally met at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. For some reason I cannot explain, I've always loved this image. It sparked my imagination as a kid. 

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UPSTREAM COLOR

Writer/Director Shane Carruth's new film "Upstream Color" has a new trailer. Carruth is best known for his independent film "Primer", which was honored at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival with the Grand Jury Prize. Carruth, a former software engineer with an undergraduate degree in mathematics, utilized his technical knowledge on the project. "Upstream Color" is his first film in almost 10 years. His next project, a science fiction film tentatively entitled, "Topiary", is currently in development.

ILM AVENGERS VISUAL EFFECTS REEL

Still the best in the business. Check out the great work from ILM on the Avengers. Mind boggling.  

We are proud to present this video which showcases some of ILM's Oscar nominated effects work for the 2012 hit film, "Marvel's The Avengers". This reel represents a small fraction of the work created by over 200 ILM artists, scientists, and engineers backed up by a world class production team.

DAVID BOWIE

Happy 66th birthday to David Bowie who also breaks his 10 year silence today with the release of his new album, "The Next Day".

Segment from "Extras" where a random encounter with a music legend in an exclusive pub ends up as an embarrassment.

CLOUDS INTERACTIVE DOCUMENTARY

The creative practitioners featured in the documentary represent a new breed of interdisciplinary artists who combine software engineering, audiovisual design, and cultural engagement. CLOUDS explores the themes of creativity, aesthetics, simulation, and sharing articulated by these luminaries in the computational arts community.

Counter to the widespread perception of code as exclusively utilitarian, this generation of hacker-artists struggles to develop new forms of visual expression, expanding the vocabulary of technology to resonate at a deeper human level. In an increasingly data-driven culture, our subjects act as intermediaries who can help us to navigate and make sense of our evolving digital universe.

Support this project.

FALLEN ASTRONAUT

“Fallen Astronaut” is a 3 inch tall aluminum sculpture of a human figure was left on the moon in 1971 by Apollo 15 astronauts. Created by Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck, the sculpture is a memorial for astronauts and cosmonauts who have died in the pursuit of space exploration.


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FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

About ten years ago I read Michael Schumacher's biography, "Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker's Life". I so enjoyed the book that I read it a second time right after I finished it.

For me, Coppola is the greatest American artist working in film. While I have great admiration for the likes of Kubrick and contemporary artists like Paul Thomas Anderson, there's something special and unique about Coppola. Some friends sent a link to this short video clip and it sums up some of what makes him so amazing.

Eleanor Coppola came to San Francisco State University (Francis' brother August Coppola was the Dean of the School of the Arts) and spoke to the cinema department back when I was a student there in 1990 and she showed parts of her documentary "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse". This is still the single greatest documentary on the art of filmmaking. It rivals the actual film.

I set out to make a documentary myself following an artist who was working in cinematic forms, using Eleanor Coppola's film as a model and ispiration. But the artist I was following never showed the passion, sensitivity, humanity or vunerability you see in Coppola which is what makes him so relateable as a subject. When analyzing these differences, I realized that I could never make an honest film without alienating the subject and the project was shelved.  

About once a year I go back and watch "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse" as a way to connect back to my passion for filmmaking. This little clip is a great synopsis of the film and its overarching message.

© Matt Wallin. All rights reserved.