American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 30
Academy Gives Effects Nod to Abyss
by Jean Turner
Special effects for The Abyss won
Oscar honors on March 26 with
attention focused on John Bruno,
Dennis Muren, ASC, Hoyt Yeatman and Dennis Skotak. The
work is both vast and intricate,
involving 290 effects shots. Nine
visual effects units were made up
from an unusually large number
of artisans contributing to the
whole. Muren, Yeatman and
Bruno coordinated the work of
specially organized in-house
teams as well as groups from
Industrial Light and Magic and
Dream Quest Images. Robert and
Dennis
Skotak, of Aliens fame,
and Gene Warren of Fantasy II
headed other units.
In this film the seamless
effects and their convincing rela¬
28
feat inasmuch as 40% of the live
action scenes were photographed
in South Carolina in a gigantic
freshwater tank 200 feet in di¬
ameter and 55 feet
deep, while
others were made on a dry stage
using smoke to simulate ocean
depths. Model work in various
scales (including a 42-foot surface
ship and a 60-foot submarine) is
intercut with the main unit pho¬
tography. In many instances
miniature elements
are combined
with the actors.
Almost every known
effects technique played a part in
this massive undertaking, rang¬
ing from matte paintings, under¬
miniatures, trick perspec¬
tives, back projection, blue screen
traveling mattes, radio controlled
water
The most unusual scenes
involve undersea aliens which (in
the story) live in the Cayman
Trough, 1700 feet beneath the
surface. These beings and their
submarines
transparent, with working parts
a
pool inside the human habitat
and snakes from room to room
until it touches Mary Elizabeth
Mastrantonio's face. It then simu¬
lates the features and changing
expressions of two of the players.
The highly sophisticated imaging
for these scenes was done in
ILM's computer graphics depart¬
ment.
The undersea city of the
aliens, supposedly half a mile
models, motion control,
the show make the illusion pos¬
puter imaging, and animatronic
across, was
sible. Such
figures.
models,
American
matching is
Cinematographer
no
small
May 1990
luminous and
visible. In one unprecedented
scene an alien
psuedopod rises
like a large tendril of water from
tionship to the overall "look" of
com¬
are
one
actually two 17-foot
of them being made
American Cinematographer - May 1990
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - May 1990
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 1
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 2
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 3
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 4
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 5
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 6
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 7
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 8
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 9
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 10
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 11
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 12
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 13
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 14
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 15
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 16
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 17
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 18
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 19
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 20
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 21
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 22
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 23
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 24
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 25
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 26
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 27
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 28
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 29
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 30
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 31
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 32
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 33
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 34
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 35
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 36
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 37
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 38
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 39
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 40
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 41
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 42
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 43
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 44
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 45
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 46
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 47
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 48
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 49
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 50
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 51
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 52
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 53
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 54
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 55
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 56
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 57
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 58
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 59
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 60
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 61
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 62
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 63
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 64
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 65
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 66
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 67
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 68
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 69
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 70
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 71
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 72
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 73
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 74
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 75
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 76
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 77
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 78
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 79
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 80
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 81
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 82
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 83
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 84
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 85
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 86
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 87
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 88
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 89
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 90
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 91
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 92
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 93
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 94
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 95
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 96
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 97
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 98
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 99
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 100
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 101
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 102
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 103
American Cinematographer - May 1990 - 104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac199001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com