Scifi Blog :: Fiction & Movie

“In recent years, science fiction movies have made a big comeback in [Hollywood]. They traditionally cover a wide range of subjects and themes, including several that are uniquely their own. Today’s trend in [science fiction] puts a premium on special effects, backed by today’s cutting-edge technology that can make even the most bizarre scenes seem realistic, such as alien life forms, spectacular battles in outer space, time travel or traveling to other worlds at the speed of light.

Often, science fiction films are purely speculative in nature and are peppered with recurring themes involving science and technology. Other prevalent themes in sci-fi movies are mysticism, magic, the occult and the supernatural, which are also key elements of fantasy or occult/religious movies. In fact, quite a number of films blur the line between these genre, such as Forbidden Planet, Chronicles of Riddick, and the Star Wars series.”

Come join the creative core of the Spider-Man 3 VFX team, Academy® Award-winning Senior Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Stokdyk, Digital Effects

Supervisors Ken Hahn and Peter Nofz, and Animation Supervisor Spencer Cook will reveal the most challenging technical achievements that arose while creating the triple threat of the movie’s three dangerous villains – New Goblin, Venom and Sandman.

Stokdyk, Nofz, Hahn and Cook, who have all worked on the entire Spider-Man trilogy, are coming to Comic-Con to discuss the amazing imagery they created to bring these legendary characters to life!

WHERE: Comic-Con 2007
Room 6B
San Diego Convention Center

WHEN: Thursday, July 26th at 5:15 pm

Scheduled to appear:

Scott Stokdyk, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor, Spider-Man 3
Stokdyk won the 2005 Academy Award® for Achievement in Visual Effects for his work on Spider-Man 2, and was nominated for his work on Spider-Man. Stokdyk’s other projects include Contact, Starship Troopers, Godzilla and Stuart Little. Stokdyk received his first Oscar® nomination in 2000 as Digital Effects Supervisor for Hollow Man.

Ken Hahn, Digital Effects Supervisor, Spider-Man 3
Hahn served as digital effects supervisor on the Nicolas Cage film Ghost Rider early this year, as well as senior CG supervisor on both Academy Award winning Spider-Man™ 2 and the Academy Award®-nominated Spider-Man. Hahn’s other projects include Academy Award nominated Hollow Man, Starship Troopers and Stuart Little, as well as Godzilla.

Peter Nofz, Digital Effects Supervisor, Spider-Man 3
Nofz worked as Technical Director on Stuart Little and Hollow Man, both of which garnered Academy Award® nominations for Best Visual Effects. Nofz was a CG Supervisor on the Academy Award winning film Spider-Man 2 as well as the Academy Award nominated Spider-Man.

Spencer Cook, Animation Supervisor, Spider-Man® 3
Cook’s other credits include animation supervisor on The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, character animator on the Academy Award® winning film Spider-Man® 2, and lead character animator on the Academy Award® nominated films Spider-Man® and Hollow Man.

Please join Scott, Peter, Ken and Spencer in the Imageworks Booth (#4419) on Thursday from 2:00-4:00pm for a special book sale and signing session of The Spider-Man Chronicles: The Art and Making of Spider-Man 3.

Some of the most memorable movie characters have and continue to come from the Science Fiction genre. The reason is that these characters face extraordinary circumstance and must use extraordinary means to overcome them.

The following is a list of ten of the best Science Fiction characters of all time. The two criteria used are the strength of the creation(writing) of the character and the quality of the acting.

On to the list(in no particular order).

1)Jon Anderton: Tom Cruise, Minority Report(2002)
2)Spencer Olham: Gary Sinise, Imposter(2002)
3)Robby Gallagher: Val Kilmer, Red Planet(2001)
4)Dr Clayton Forester: Gene Barry, War Of The Worlds(1953)
5)Commander John J. Adams: Leslie Neilson, Forbidden Planet(1956)
6)Neo: Keanu Reeves, The Matrix(1999)
7)Riddick: Vin Diesel, Pitch Black(2000)
8)Klaatu: Michael Rennie, The Day The Earth Stood Still(1951)
9)Snake Plissken: Kurt Russell, Escape From New York(1981)
10)The Terminator: Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Terminator(1984)

Be sure to rent these movies as soon as possible and check out these great Science Fiction characters for yourself.

You won’t be disappointed.