Building Sci-fi Moviescapes: The Science Behind the Fiction

by Matt Hanson

Building Sci-fi Moviescapes provides a rare, behind-the-scenes examination of how the digital city and space-scapes in science fiction movies are created through the eyes of directors, producers, production designers, and visualization artists.

This is a stunning showcase of some of the most impressive digital city and space-scapes to come out of the movies, from Hollywood, as well as the Japanese and European film industries. From seminal movies of the 1980s such as Tron and Bladerunner, to classic series such as The Matrix and Star Wars, to recent films such as Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, this book is the definitive guide to the imagined aesthetics of the future.

Through authoritative commentary and interviews with key directors, producers, production designers, and 3D visual artists, Building Sci-fi Moviescapes explores trends and digital visualization methods in science fiction films from the last three decades.

* A celebration in design and creativity in Sci-Fi filmmaking for the CG artist
* Access to reavealing interviews with key 3D industry professionals
* Rich creative inspiration for Sci-Fi filmmakers

Genres: Nonfiction, Film

Paperback

First published July 15, 2005

Reviews

[Parka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you behind the scenes to look at how sci-fi cities are created. It showcases some of the definitive movies in the science fiction genre, from 1982 up to 2004. You'll get to see how designs have evolved with time, and judge for yourself if they have withstood the change of time.

There are interviews with directors, designers and crew working on the set. They explain the process of conceptualizing the city set designs and their symbolism and function to the movie.

The pages are filled with lots of movie stills and a few design sketches.

Here's a list of the movies featured:

* Blade Runner
* Tron
* Dune
* Brazil
* Batman
* Patlabor
* Total Recall
* Alien
* Memories
* The City of Lost Children
* Johnny Mnemonic
* The Fifth Element
* Starship Troopers
* Dark city
* Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
* A.I. Artificial Intelligence
* Metropolic
* Minority Report
* Solaris
* Code 46
* The Matrix Revolutions
* Wonderful Days
* Natural City
* i, Robot
* Appleseed
* Immortel
* Casshern
* Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
* 2046
* Innocence: Ghost in the Shell 2

As you can see from the list, there are anime movies as well as European movies included.

This book is recommended to all sci-fi movie fans, particularly those who make a living designing and conceptualizing for a living.

This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.