Science Fiction Fantasy Design & Implementation

A low-tech look at the high-tech world of movie making

• Science Fiction Fantasy Design & Implementation
• by Adrian S. Bruce
• adrian@inetc.roland.co.jp
• Japanese version available

he Science Fiction Fantasy Design and Implementation site -- otherwise known as SF2D&I -- is a one-man clearinghouse of information about the desktop creation of science fiction scenarios. So what exactly does "science fiction scenarios" mean? Essentially it translates into desktop science fiction movies, typically offered in Windows .AVI or Macintosh .MOV formats. The SF2D&I site itself is a changing gallery of design sketches, artwork, miniatures, sculptures, puppets, sound effects, music, original movies, and "how it was done" material, all of which goes into creating the scenarios.

Much of the work at SF2D&I harkens back to the early careers of movie-making greats like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Using sculptures, models and handmade puppets, site owner Adrian S. Bruce creates stop-frame animations that he combines with computer generated effects. The results are desktop movies with the look and feel of classic science fiction movies. Bruce also gives readers an in-depth look behind the scenes, explaining how the various pieces are put together and then filmed. For instance, Bruce uses only a few puppet bodies that he interchanges with a variety of heads and costumes, giving him cheap access to a cast of thousands. As he puts it, "Very much the poor man's synthetic actors."

Unlike other Web sites related to desktop movies, SF2D&I offers a fascinating low-tech look at a high-tech world. Bruce could use a desktop computer to generate every component of his movies, but instead he chooses to use miniatures and puppets because they are "nostalgic and easy to implement." Sure, 3D rendered graphics and synthesized sounds are great, but they somehow can't compare to a lead actor created from "paper clay," putty and wood.

The behind-the-scenes material Bruce offers is particularly interesting, and even readers who aren't keen on creating their own scenarios will enjoy seeing how Bruce makes his. Most of the "how to" sections also include a list of tools used in any given effect, which is wonderfully handy if readers happen to, say, have Adobe Photoshop and want to try their hand at rotoscoping. Examples of Bruce's work also abound, and it's possible to follow the entire creation process from original sketches to finished movie clips.

The biggest downside to SF2D&I is that there are only a few movie and sound files available. And much of the more interesting written material is interrupted by a "to be continued..." line. Still, most science fiction fans will want to pay at least one visit to SF2D&I, and many will put this out-of-the-way corner of the Web straight into their bookmarks.

This is one of those gems that makes you think, "How come I didn't know about this sooner?" It also offers a rarity on the Web -- something readers haven't seen a hundred times before. -- Craig E.

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