``2001: A Space Odyssey'' Kubrick's thoroughly researched work and the specialists gathered

"2001: A Space Odyssey" synopsis

Will astronaut Bowman (Kia Dullea), who has stepped into a region of space unexplored by humanity, ascend to immortality? With the heartbreaking wish, "HAL, open the entrance!", he begins a journey into the unknown, full of infinite possibilities.

The reason why ``2001: A Space Odyssey'' never feels old is because of the overall appeal of the art, including the mechanical design, sets, miniatures, and special makeup, which completely changed science fiction works afterward. Above all, we must not forget the contribution of advanced special effects technology (*1), which made the incredibly realistic screens possible. Originally, the MGM staff who produced and distributed the film should have also been in charge of the special effects. However, at this time, most Hollywood studios had abolished their special effects departments, and Stanley Kubrick had to start by finding new staff.

Index

• NFB's science education film "Universe"
• Graphic Films and “To the Moon and Beyond”
• UK MGM Studios
• Reviews after the release of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and Trumbull’s reputation

NFB's science education film "Universe"

There are two short films that directly influenced the visuals of 2001: A Space Odyssey. One is ``Universe'' (1960) (*2), produced by NFB (National Film Board of Canada). Although it is a plain black-and-white educational film, it uses detailed space special effects throughout, and Kubrick watched it so many times that he ruined several prints.

The film's directors, Roman Kreuter (*3) and Colin Loh, were then invited to Kubrick's office and had several meetings. I had worked with Kreuter and others for two years, so I had the opportunity to hear about this meeting. Law said that Kubrick did not seem to understand the original author Arthur C. Clarke's vision (particularly the abstract world view after Stargate), so ``we drew pictures to make the image concrete.'' He was talking.

『Universe』

By the way, during this time, Kreuter and Law were known as NFB's "Unit B" and were stars of the short film industry. In fact, the method they created called ``cinema vérité'' has had a great influence on documentarians around the world. As a result, the Canadian government does not recognize their independence and orders them to plan and produce Labyrinth, a theme pavilion for the Montreal World's Fair (Expo'67). As a result, they were forced to leave 2001: A Space Odyssey early.

Unable to give up, Kubrick begged Wally Gentleman, who was in charge of the special effects for Universe, to stay on. So Gentleman quit NFB and became the first special effects supervisor for 2001: A Space Odyssey. Although he actually worked on many scenes, he is not credited in the finished film. The reason for this was that he was mentally exhausted by Kubrick's eccentric personality, and his health worsened to the point that he required surgery, and he returned to Canada in the early spring of 1967.

*1: When this movie was released in 1968, the British notation ``visual effects'' was not widely used in the United States, so it was called by the long title ``special photographic effects.''

*2: Kubrick hired Douglas Lane, who was the narrator of ``Universe,'' to be the voice actor for computer HAL9000 in ``2001: A Space Odyssey.''