The Making of the Predalien
By Amalgamated Dynamics co-founders, Alec Gillis & Tom Woodruff, Jr.
It was expected that Alien vs Predator: Requiem would feature a return of the Alien Warrior and its nemesis, The Predator. The new addition was the Predalien.
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- Creating a Hybrid Alien and Predator Creature
- One Boy's Impact on the Predalien
- Using a “Predometer” for the Creature
Creating a Hybrid Alien and Predator Creature
In designing this hybrid of the two creatures, we had to keep in mind that the infant Chestburster had gestated inside a Predator, but it was not actually an offspring of a Predator. It was still basically an Alien, but it had taken on some of the characteristics of its host. It also had to look more like an Alien so that the audience would believe it's loyalties were with the Alien species and not the Predators. To estimate the proportion of the combo, we went with 80% Alien and 20% Predator.
(FX Legend Steve Wang sculpts the Predalien head at Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc.)
(Steve Wang working on the Predalien head for AVPR at ADI.)
(ADI mold-maker Jim McLoughlin prepares the Predalien head sculpture for molding.)
One Boy's Impact on the Predalien
That 80/20 proportion changed a bit when a 14-year old happened to be walking through the halls of Fox, saw the maquette and said "Wow! Cool Alien!" This observation led to much discussion about how to make it look more like a Predator, and some last minute adding of dreadlocks to increase the Predator feel.
(Master fx artists Steve Wang, Hiroshi Katagiri & Casey Love sculpt the Predalien body.)
(Casey Love, Corey Schubert, Hiroshi Katagiri & Steve Wang sculpt the Predalien body at ADI.)
(Master sculptor Hiroshi Katagiri sculpts detail into the Predalien's tail.)
(Monster painter Mike Larrabee lays down the base coat on the Predalien suit for AVPR.)
(Monster painter Mike Larrabee adds final details to the Predalien head for AVPR.)
Using a “Predometer” for the Creature
To measure this new Alien/Predator proportion, ADI had to invent new, cutting edge technology that we dubbed the "Predometer". Able to make complex calculations instantaneously, this super-futuristic device analyzed the shapes and colorations of all known Predator specimens, juxtaposed vector based imagery of the developing design and quantified the information within .0004 nanomicrotonnes, and comes to a conclusion beyond the capacity of the human brain. The answer was 32.5% Predator.
To calculate the percentage of Alien was simpler.
We used a Giger counter.
-Alec Gillis & Tom Woodruff, Jr.
Co-founders Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc.
Youtube channel: studioADI
Courses with the Creators of the Predalien
- Directing Creatures with Alec Gillis
- Make A Monster Suit - Part One: Creature Sculpting with Alec Gillis
- Make A Monster Suit - Part Two: Mold Making, Foam Latex & Paint with Alec Gillis
- Monster Suit Performance with Tom Woodruff Jr.
- Character Design Techniques: Sketching, Photoshop, Sculpting & Prosthetic Makeup Testing with Tom Woodruff Jr.
- How To Paint A Monster Mask with Steve Wang
- Creature Design - Digital to Practical with Casey Love
- Creature Design - Practical to Digital with Casey Love
- Sculpey Painting Techniques with Casey Love
- How to Sculpt a Creature - Maquette Sculpture Techniques - Part 1 with Casey Love