No CGI for the Silver Surfer?

[ultimatefan]

Pretty odd spy report on www.aintitcool.com, so, like anything from that site, take it with a big grain of salt. He´s saying SS will not be either all CGI or even a combination of it with motion capture, but a crome-ish painted over suit... If it´s true, I really don´t get it, since CGI works pretty well to create that kind of silverish reflective surface - see T1000. I get why The Thing wasn´t CGI, but this, I wouldn´t see the purpose.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

I don't know. They could have the actor on set in a suit and then enhance him with CGI like they did for Colossus in X-Men or Doom at the end of the first movie.

 

[Retroman]

Heres the full the story

Published on Thursday, September 14, 2006 - 6:22am

A Spy Tip About The Silver Surfer?!

Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here.

Okay, here’s your grain of salt. Take that first. And now, check out this tidbit we just got in about the new FANTASTIC FOUR sequel. Personally, I’m very curious about how they’re going to handle The Silver Surfer in this film. It’s a pretty wild character, one of the most fantastic of the Marvel icons that anyone’s attempted to bring to the live-action screen so far. I’m going to do a little more poking into this to see if there’s more we can learn about the approach...


Hello Moriarty,

"Man in Suit" note here.......

I have a confirmation from a colleague from Spectral Motion FX that the Silver Surfer, played by Doug Jones, is NOT going to be a computer generated or motion capture based character like Davy Jones from Pirates 2. The character is being created using a body-suit that is sprayed in a chrome-ish, silver paint scheme.It also appears that the face of the surfer is a fixed, contemplative expression in the head piece appliance with limited mouth movement that will be articulated by Jones' performance in the suit. Additionally, there have been numerous challenges related to placing him within a green screen environment.

Is it me or does it seem odd that an effect that was perfected in 1990/91 with Terminator 2's "T-1000" is being passed over in favor of using a sophisticated Power Rangers suit? Why this is not Motion capture or a 3D based character work is beyond me. Economics? Performance? After John Knoll's landmark mo-cap work on Pirates, should there be any other contemporary effect choice/tool for this 2 year window of FX production? Very odd choice, seems risky in the land of fickle fan boy culture. We'll see how it plays.

Due to NDA's and the tip, Please keep my name anonymous,

Call me: MOLE MAN

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30059

 

[KenK]

I definitely have faith in Doug Jones, but that'll be an interesting make-up effect if they can pull it off. I always envisioned SS having a very chrome/reflective look to him, and I don't see that coming across with practical effects. Any body suit they come up with would have to be remarkably smooth so the paint doesn't look textured, but even then you have to account for the articulation of the arms and legs. Will the suit bunch or crease? Spectral Motion's work on Hellboy was fantastic, IMO, but I feel Silver Surfer's in a whole other category.

I agree with the story, we've had the effects technology to do a convincing Silver Surfer for over a decade, and motion-capture has becoming remarkably sophisticated. Outside of FOX being cheap bastards, I can't imagine a valid reason for the approach they're allegedly taking.

 

[Retroman]

This is what Tim Story has said about the Silver Surfer...

The Silver Surfer's look just continues to get better. We're trying test on the wake that his board will leave and we're starting to really get into the look of his eyes. Classic Surfer looks from the comic. I think you will all enjoy it. Yes, now the question that I keep getting asked too many times...Doug Jones or no Doug Jones. Here's the low down. Doug has been working on a number of things regarding the Surfer. In order for the presence of the CGI SS to appear and move real, we need someone to perfect movement and provide a base, to which WETA can do their thing. That the jest of it. I don't know what that confirms for you guys but there you go.

Source: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...&MyToken=88ffdf97-1c1d-458a-8bcd-8a3f077a7264


and producer Kevin Feige said this recently...

"Silver Surfer is herald to a very big thing known as the World Devourer, and needless to say, the Fantastic Four may be encountering him next summer," Feige said of the flick that recently began filming (see "Alba Says 'Fantastic Four 2' Will Be 'Exciting, Hot, New, Fresh' "). "Dr. Doom is back and is more evil than ever. [Special-effects house] Weta is developing a new process, the way they did for Gollum and Kong, to bring the Silver Surfer to life. We're going to use an actor for reference on set, and then it's going to be turned into what I hope is one of the most spectacular CGI effects anyone has ever seen."

Source: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1538925/story.jhtml


So honestly i think this particular report from AICN....

 

[Hellmistress]

if SPECTRAL are doing this (and I'll neither confirm nor deny it ) I will add that it will be superb, believe me. These guys are geniuses.

HM

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

AICN isn't worth the subscription fee.





. . . and yes, I know it's free.

 

[TheShadowCat]

God, I hope they don't plan on spray painting Doug again. Part of the reason that the Abe costume took so long to get into every day (up to 7 hours) was because Doug's arms and legs had to be spray painted blue and than the stripes had to be added. I mean, look at the coloring on this costume: http://www.thedougjonesexperience.com/HBbehindthescenes.jpg

Could you imagine how frustrating it must have been to be in the middle of painting on a stripe and then suddenly sneeze? I just hope they let us know one way or another very soon what's up.

>^^<

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Thankfully, Silver Surfer sports no stripe.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

I just hope they let us know one way or another very soon what's up.

Relax.
The movie is going to blow donkey balls no matter what. It kind of gives you a sense of peace, to know, that in this crazy world, there's one thing you can count on...that Fantastic Four is going to suck so hard it's cranium will implode.

 

[TheShadowCat]

Relax.
The movie is going to blow donkey balls no matter what. It kind of gives you a sense of peace, to know, that in this crazy world, there's one thing you can count on...that Fantastic Four is going to suck so hard it's cranium will implode.

Could you explain to me why you spend so much time nay-saying a movie that's only started filming? Then there's also the question as to why you're even here. Have you nothing better to do with your time? But wait, that's right, trolls have nothing better to do but sit there and try to stir things up. Maybe you should go out and get a job or something. I hear McDonalds is hiring.

>^^<

 

[Hellmistress]

Okay, now let's look at this in a matter-of-fact way. Spectral ARE working on the film. Let's say the report is true ... they are an exceptional FX shop, one of the very best, and I would think as WETA is also involved, that they have made a prosthetic suit that may - MAY - be subject to CG tweaks. Let's not jump to conclusions here, and if Spectral have created a suit, I can assure you that it will ... WILL ... be brilliant. CG does not have to consist of mo-cap or ref-cap you know - this could be state of the art stuff that we don't know about.

HM

 

[Advanced Dark]

Guys the rumor is bull****. Tim Story already stated Surfer was state of the art CGI. Oh and David Duchovny is the Hulk and it's direct to video too.

I forwarded the story to Tim Story on myspace just so he could defuse this rumor or set it straight. There might be a man in suit for a particular scene or two though and that might be what this mole man saw.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Could you explain to me why you spend so much time nay-saying a movie that's only started filming?

I didn't start nay-saying the sequel until I saw those abysmal pics of Chiklis with his macaroni noodle brow, after Story assured everyone they were going to beef it up.

Then there's also the question as to why you're even here. Have you nothing better to do with your time? But wait, that's right, trolls have nothing better to do but sit there and try to stir things up. Maybe you should go out and get a job or something. I hear McDonalds is hiring.

uh...I'm...at work? right now?
most boring and lonely job on Earth, concierge/security at a high rise, where they pay me to sit at a desk for 8-10 hours, waiting, just in case a resident or tenant needs my help?

Also, sorry...messageboards are forums where people go to converse and express themselves.
I don't know why humans have that innate "need" to communicate with their peers and express their opinions, but the fact that they do have it is indisputable.
It's not a place for thousands of people all over the world to read "This _______ is going to RAWK!!!!" and then copy/paste it and post it in lock-step with everyone else.
Expressing a negative opinion is not necessarily being a "troll".

I know it's weird, but I'm one of the few who actually grew up loving a fictional character called "The Thing".
I am not alone in that and you'll find that there are many, many people using the internet who enjoy/are entertained by talking with like-minded people and debating things.



>^^<

 

[TheShadowCat]

I don't mind you not liking the Thing's costume, but to sit here and state that the movie is going to 'blow donkey balls' is no better than the people who say this movie is going to rock. Let's get the thing made first before we start passing judgement on it. This is right up there saying you don't like a certain food even though you've never tried it. It makes no sense. I have no problem with you saying you hate the Thing's look and go off long rants about it. In fact, more power to you. However, let's not bash or sing high praises for a movie that's only been filming for a couple of weeks now.

Now, back on topic. If Tim Story says that SS is going to be completely CGI, then why are there rumors of Doug Jones playing the role especially since he has repeatedly stated that he won't be doing mo-cap or ref-cap work? Someone's yanking our chain but we'll just have to wait and see which one it is.

>^^<

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

This movie will blow donkey balls like the first one.








t:

 

[Fantastic-Boy]

Hey!Com'on Solid...

 

[halfapple]

It seems like this movie is going to bomb out like the first one.

Just a repeat of FF1, cept add the number 2 .

I"ll still go tho, because Alba will be in it.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

Now, back on topic. If Tim Story says that SS is going to be completely CGI...

Did he really said that the Surfer will be "completely" CGI?

 

[matrix_ghost]

I wouldn't go so far as saying that there woulnd't be any CGI.
While i think the only thing true in that report of AICN is that SPectral Motion designed a suit for Doug Jones to wear , i think it's being used for the technical aspects.

PEople who have the Episode 1 dvd will no doubt remember a scene in the making of documentary.
Anyway , it's how the VFX supervisors John Knoll and Rob Coleman are showing george Lucas the first full animations scenes of Jar Jar.
I think it was Rob who said that the full animation of Jar Jar , as opposed to the head replacement of Ahmed Best worked better , was much cheaper then expected and it took less time to animate it.
Lucas then made a comment about how how they then wasted 100.000 on creating a suit and which point John Knoll replied that even tough the suit that Ahmed best wore wasn't needed , it still provided great reference material for the animation theme. They could see how lighting was , the motion of Jar Jar etc.

And i think this is also the case here. For reference , Spectral designed a chrome painted body suit that Weta will use.

 

[lordofthenerds]

Did he really said that the Surfer will be "completely" CGI?

Retro gave you the quote where he mentioned the Sufer being CGI. And this guy is saying its all suit, no CGI so its BS.

 

[TrailerCues]

CGI is a must for Silver Surfer & like it was mentioned that effect was perfected with the T1000. So why mess up an already good thing

 

[Hellmistress]

I have a confirmation from a colleague from Spectral Motion FX that the Silver Surfer, played by Doug Jones, is NOT going to be a computer generated or motion capture based character like Davy Jones from Pirates 2

Now, as far as I can see from this quote, it merely states that the SS isn't going to be completely CG or use mo-cap. Spectral has already done a character that was heavily prosthetic-based and which used CG tweaks to enhance the character - and that was Abe Sapien in HELLBOY ... played by Doug Jones.

To use a top-class FX makeup shop like Spectral to do mo-cap is a HUGE waste of money - so the whole thing smacks of prosthetics with CG tweaks, and with WETA on board, that can surely only mean state-of-the-art stuff from both shops.

HM

 

[TheShadowCat]

I agree with HM. With Spectral Motion and WETA involved with this movie, it'll probably be Doug in a suit with digital tweeks in post.

>^^<

 

[the a1ant]

I believe Spectral Motion is creating the body suit for Silver Surfer, and WETA is enhancing it with CGI...just like how they did Colossus in X-Men: The Last Stand. Spectral Motion created his body suit used on-set, and it was later mixed with CGI, created by 'Hydraulx' (instead of WETA). WETA only worked on the Alcatraz battle, and the Iceman 'ice-up' effect in X3. I think the AICN guy was just misinformed. He probably assumed since Spectral Motion was working on SS, that there would be no CGI involved, and only practial stuff, lol