Harbinger Down: an All Practical FX Film
By Academy Award-nominated Creature Creator, Alec Gillis
Co-founder of ADI along with Tom Woodruff, Jr.
Jump To Section
- Where the Idea for the Sci-Fi Horror Film Started
- Digital Creep on The Thing (2011)
- Practical FX Fans Show the Love
- A New Golden Age for Practical Creatures
- A Tactile, Visceral Filmgoing Experience
- We Need Your Support
Where the Idea for the Sci-Fi Horror Film Started
Sitting in a theatre on the Universal lot awaiting the dimming lights to signal our first viewing of the final cut of The Thing (2011) was an odd experience. We’d had a great time working on the film, and made a lot of new friends. Considering that we had only been given 3 months to design and build all the Animatronics and Makeup Effects, we felt it was among our strongest work. And yet, somehow, we knew not much of it would end up in the final film.
Click on the video thumbnails above to check out some of ADI's work on The Thing.
Digital Creep on The Thing (2011)
The release date had been pushed by almost a year. That meant more test screenings, more scrutiny, and unfortunately, more time for people to start second-guessing the effects. We call it digital creep.
For reasons we’ll just call ‘stylistic decisions,' much of our work had been swabbed with the CG paintbrush. Not surprised, but still disappointed, we waited respectfully for the film to come and go before we posted a YouTube video of what we created.
(ADI's The Thing Behind-the-Scenes video that started it all. Click to watch.)
Practical FX Fans Show the Love
Then, it happened. Love. Coming from the last place we expected. The internet?! The fans were not just sympathetic, they were as heartbroken as we were! (In some cases, maybe more so. We have developed thick skins over the years.)
That outpouring of support for our work led us to post videos of our rejected design for the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and our work in Ridley Scott’s aborted version of I Am Legend. Again, the fan approval was overwhelming.
Click the Videos above to check out ADI's Spider-Man & I Am Legend tests.
A New Golden Age for Practical Creatures
But it wasn’t just the virtual high-five ego stroke we found uplifting. It was the burning, yearning desire expressed by the fans to get back to the organic quality of films from the pre-digital age. That Golden Age of Creatures called the 1980s.
Around the same time we started putting up videos we started working with Stan Winston School. Again we saw the great appreciation not only for the work Stan and his team created, but for Practical Effects in general. And appropriately, it was my mentor’s son, Matt Winston, who suggested that we do a Kickstarter campaign. And the most exciting thing is, we’ve been called upon to do it by the fans. They have spoken. In fact, they’ve been shouting. Hollywood has not listened, but we have.
(Using decades of in-the-trenches experience, the production team led by Alec Gillis will keep costs low on Harbinger Down while delivering maximum visual effects.)
A Tactile, Visceral Filmgoing Experience
The pitch? We will make an all-Practical Creature Effects film. No CG creatures allowed. And we’ll use miniatures too. Maybe even some stop motion. The goal? To give the fans the tactile, visceral creature experience so rarely found in today’s sci-fi/ horror films.
(Harbinger Down will feature all "in-camera" Practical FX creature work.)
What’s the story? Well, we can tell you it’ll be in the spirit of two of the greatest sci-fi/horror films of all time, Alien and The Thing. We hope you’ll check out the Kickstarter campaign:
Harbinger Down: An All Practical Creature FX Film by Alec Gillis/ADI
(Harbinger Down designs. Click to view them on Kickstarter.)
We Need Your Support
So here we are… we’ve shot a trailer, built the campaign, and are ready to go. We hope all of you will support the campaign in whatever way you can. Through pledges, through spreading the word on social media.
As Practical Effects Artists and fans it takes all of our effort.
Thanks for your support for Harbinger Down.
Alec Gillis
- For updates, check out ADI’s YouTube channel: studioADI’s Channel
- Go to our Facebook page: studioADI
- Follow Alec on Twitter: @alec_gillis
- Instagram too: @alec_gillis