I’m attempting to put this idea into practice so I’m going to lay out as much of its concept as I can. The idea over all to bring a different style in method and story ideas that I feel is missing in sci/fi films and the sub genre of space opera. While it’s called a space opera manifesto a lot of the concepts are for use with sci/fi of any style.
Effects.
Every planning attempt is made to find an In-camera method. Effects should be planned in advance and unless there’s a story reason at a later date, committed to. Miniatures are also to be used whenever you can. Digital compositing is used to aid in this whenever that line is needed. CGI is a last resort. Use of image models or projection maps from miniatures, locations is also to be tried before resorting to CGI. Shot elements should be used as much as possible as well for smoke, fire etc. For example the water falls in “Phantom menace” used salt poured over black cloth comp’ed into the scene. Artists should research older methods and experiment with updating them with digital fixes to minimize the artifacts or tells of these methods. The idea is not throw away 100 years of movie making for quick fix of CGI. This is not a manifesto against CGI its simply for not using it. This is a cost motive as well due to the increasing budgets for complete digital effects as well as the important aesthetics of the above.
Every planning attempt is made to find an In-camera method. Effects should be planned in advance and unless there’s a story reason at a later date, committed to. Miniatures are also to be used whenever you can. Digital compositing is used to aid in this whenever that line is needed. CGI is a last resort. Use of image models or projection maps from miniatures, locations is also to be tried before resorting to CGI. Shot elements should be used as much as possible as well for smoke, fire etc. For example the water falls in “Phantom menace” used salt poured over black cloth comp’ed into the scene. Artists should research older methods and experiment with updating them with digital fixes to minimize the artifacts or tells of these methods. The idea is not throw away 100 years of movie making for quick fix of CGI. This is not a manifesto against CGI its simply for not using it. This is a cost motive as well due to the increasing budgets for complete digital effects as well as the important aesthetics of the above.
Story.
Stories are to emphasis concepts of plot and character over single story drives which fuel most b stories. Set up should be natural involving as little exposition and title carding as possible. Non linear stories and other structure methods are fine as long as the first part is maintained.
Other elements
In terms of style, theatrical elements are encouraged. Such as Francis Ford Coppola experiments in “Tucker” or Baz Luhrmannin’s “Romeo and Juliet”, “Molin Rouge” etc.
This is more of an outline and I’ll try to add any other elements as they come. Any suggestions will be considered.
Stories are to emphasis concepts of plot and character over single story drives which fuel most b stories. Set up should be natural involving as little exposition and title carding as possible. Non linear stories and other structure methods are fine as long as the first part is maintained.
Other elements
In terms of style, theatrical elements are encouraged. Such as Francis Ford Coppola experiments in “Tucker” or Baz Luhrmannin’s “Romeo and Juliet”, “Molin Rouge” etc.
This is more of an outline and I’ll try to add any other elements as they come. Any suggestions will be considered.
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