scans are from ST:M
BUILDING SPECIES 8472
PAGE 1| This article is almost the ST:M article verbatim as I like to retain as many of the original words of the production staff involved, in this case John Teska, whose words are shown in this colour |
scans are from ST:M
| This article is almost the ST:M article verbatim as I like to retain as many of the original words of the production staff involved, in this case John Teska, whose words are shown in this colour |
Casting can make or break a film or tv series, so studios devote a lot of energy to finding the best person to play a role. It is especially difficult on Star Trek as, amazingly!, very few actors look like aliens. Hence, when the show's producers wanted something "really alien" for Species 8472, they decided the answer was to abandon flesh and blood altogether and build a digital performer. Species 8472 looks like a living creature but it is an entirely digital creation that artist John Teska built in a computer at the company Foundation Imaging In California.
Red alert: The picture below is 152Kb. |
The task of constructing the CG creature was given to John Teska at Foundation Imaging. He was ideally suited to the job because, as well as being a skilled computer modeller, he has a background in traditional creature effects such as traditional puppets.
By the time John Teska became involved, concept artist Steve Burg had already produced a set of drawings that showed what the creature should look like but a lot of creative work still had to be done. In fact, the producers handed him several drawings with instructions to use different elements from each one. |
 Steve Burg's drawings gave John Teska a clear idea of what was wanted but that still left plenty of room for interpretation. The finished model (above right) is closely related to but not identical to the concept drawings (example above). |
 |
| TOP | BACK | NEXT | SPECIES 8472 INDEX | ARTICLES INDEX | BRIDGE |