DUNE - Special Edition

CALADAN LANDING FIELD - update

2011-08-23T23:55:00.000-07:00

Here is an update on the Caladan Landing Field.
Everything is still in progress but SLOWLY coming together (Working on a SyFy channel original movie right now so time is very limited).
I still think I prefer the crystals to the fountains though but will have to see how each looks.

2011-07-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

Atreides Landing Field

As you all might have noticed, I've been pretty quiet in this forum for a while, but My new job - while fun - has plenty of long hours and tight deadlines to meet, so I have barely had a chance (or I must admit - the motivation) to sit down and work on the DUNE: Special Edition...

That said, I AM still working on it!

Found better versions of the original concept art from 1984 a while ago and with a better understanding of what is going on in the art, I reworked My model of the Atreides Landing Field to better reflect the design... (It's still in progress so proportions and sizes are all in flux)

NEW! IMPROVED! Spice Harvester W.I.P.

2010-11-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it!

I've finally had a small amount of time to get back to working on this project and recently came across a whole slew of reference images I had not previously seen on the 2-disc DUNE DVD (Thanks to Joe Lawson for letting Me borrow that).
With the new reference images, I have been able to revisit My spice harvester model and really try and get as much of the detail correct as possible (though I am taking a few liberties here and there)
Worked out a new way to model all the curved parts that allowed Me to UV map them before I curved them and I think the results are looking considerably better than before.
Here's the old model:

And here's the updated one:

"Spotter" Ornithopter

2010-08-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

The "Spotter" is a small ornithopter that circles or hovers over a working spice harvester watching for "worm sign", the tell tale approach of one of the giant native sand worms that can easily lay waste to an entire harvester in moments.

While mentioned in the movie by both Dr Kynes (In a delete scene) and by Duke Leto (during the rescue of the spice harvester workers), the "spotters" are not seen on screen.

I've created several designs & models for the spotters so far but have been unhappy with all of them - as they really didn't match the design aesthetic of the film -

UNTIL NOW...

Found an image of a model on a website that while different from the main ornithopter seen in the movie, to Me seemed just right - that combination of similar but different enough.

So I modeled it up to match the design of My regular "Special Edition" ornithopter" and I am quite happy with how it came out so far. (Though My hypervoxel dust cloud is really lame!)

Interview with DUNE producer Rafaella De Laurentiis

2010-08-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Link to the original Spike TV interview where producer Rafaella De Laurentiis discusses the fabled original running time of Dune.
Rafaella De Laurentiis Interview about Dune

Shameless self promotion

2010-07-29T00:12:00.000-07:00

In a little bit of shameless self-promotion, here's the link to My new Graphic Design/Art/Illustration blog and slideshow: http://sashaburrow.blogspot.com/

2010-07-08T23:02:00.000-07:00

Currently not getting a lot done on the project, as I am focused on finding employment. 5 months in LA without so much as a response is really disheartening. I don't think I'll be able to get much more done until I get work.

That said... the project WILL continue as soon as possible.

Sandworm Update

2010-06-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Have managed to get a little more work done on the sand worm...

3rd Stage Navigator Model

2010-06-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

My friend Greg has been kind enough to help out with some modeling on the 3rd stage guild navigator and sent Me a few images of his progress today.

Link update / Atreides Frigate Model Kit

2010-05-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just updated the link to my website and a couple of other bits of info (Forgot to change them when I moved back to Los Angeles).
I am currently working on updating my graphic design portfolio in the hopes of landing a full-time job - my current one doesn't seem to be working!

As far as the DUNE SE goes, I am currently working on digitally sculpting the sandworm and on reworking the Arrakeen palace/city environment model so I can finish up several shots that require it - most notably the start of the Duke's spice harvesting inspection and the later shots with the emperor's tent.

The model kit of my Atreides frigate arrived in the mail on Monday and it looks great!
(I sent the digital model to a friend who had access to a rapid prototyping 3D printer)
It's quite cool to be able to physically interact with something that I had previously only been able to view on my monitor.
Can't wait to get a little cash so I can paint it up! (NB: The last two photos were taken by the guys who printed the model - Hunk Of Junk Productions)

More Original DUNE Production Art

2010-05-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Was also excited recently to find some more (or better versions) of some of the original production art (By Tony Masters and Ron Miller), including a couple of pieces I had not seen before.
I present them here in rough chronological order

Sean Young (Chani) - Super 8mm Behind The Scenes Footage

2010-05-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Just found this today! Cool stuff!
It is behind the scenes footage filmed by Sean Young of the cast and crew of Dune.
See her being cast in plaster for her stillsuit.
See Francesca Annis (Lady Jessica) flash her panties!
See Kenneth McMillan (Baron Harkonnen) without his fat suit
See Aldo Ray - originally cast as Gurney Halleck.
See everyone sitting around half in their stillsuits,
and more!

(Click the link above the video below to see the whole thing)

Harkonnen Thopter Leaves Arrakeen

2010-05-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Currently working redoing the shot of the Harkonnen ornithopter carrying the captive Paul & Jessica heading for the desert.

Not quite sure how I am going to do all the flame elements as I don't have a library of them, and I need to work on the lighting and the model of the Arrakeen Palace/Mountain needs a lot more work too.
Still, I am liking how this is looking so far as I think showing the relationship between the city and the palace gives the whole thing a "larger" feel.

Here's a frame from the original shot.

Whale Design Concept

2010-05-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

(Click image to enlarge)

Since the whales featured in the factory previs are just stand-ins, I have been working on some concept art - Here's an example showing the whales in their natural environment on the planet of Lankiveil - not trying to go too bizarre as the audience has to be able to work out what it is in the few seconds its on screen. This one is sort of a killer whale/humpback/blue whale mash up.

Whale Fur Factory Previs / Comparison

2010-05-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a comparison between the original Harkonnen scene that has the Baron and Feyd with cat/rat thing and the new version featuring a previz animation of the whale fur factory cut into place.

View it in the new video window above!

Sand Scout

2010-05-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

(Click image to enlarge)

Here is the last of the four lo-res vehicles from DUNE that I have been working on.
This is the 2nd one that is featured in the movie briefly zipping up a ramp into the spice harvester. The shot was apparently only included in the movie so they could have some marketable toys to sell.

I made it by eyeballing it - I couldn't find the "plans" for it, so its definitely a bit "off".
It's not quite finished - there are a few more details to add and of course texturing, but since you won't be seeing this one up close I'm not going to put in too much more time on it.

Harkonnen Whale Fur Factory

2010-04-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

Right before the scene where the Baron and Feyd (carrying the cat/rat thing) go to talk to Thufir, there are 3 "transition" shots.

To Me the first one in particular seems like a real "nothing" shot - it does not add anything to the audiences knowledge of Geidi Prime.

Now recently I happened to have reason to look up the old Gregory Peck version of Moby Dick, and then someone sent Me a link on Facebook to a thing against Japanese whaling and I recalled that in the novel of Dune, the Harkonnens had returned to power through the adroit manipulation of the "whale fur" markets.
In the novel, the whale fur business is concentrated on the Harkonnen colony planet of Lankiveil.

However, since Lankiveil is NOT in the movie version, I had the idea to expand the Harkonnen city environment with a shot that passes through the gruesome whale fur factory and ends with the existing shot of the hose washing the meat off the floor.
If it doesn't end up working here, I may use it in the 2nd filmbook sequence I am developing.

(click image to enlarge)

Sand Tracker

2010-04-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here is the 3rd of 4 vehicles...

(click image to enlarge)

Another DUNE on Blu-Ray review

2010-04-23T13:44:00.001-07:00

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Dune-Blu-ray-Review/9665/

Sand Roller

2010-04-18T19:26:00.000-07:00

(Click On Image To Enlarge)

Here is the lo-res model of the Sand Roller

Sand Crawler 3D Model

2010-04-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Well, here is the 3D version of the model - it's pretty plain Jane at the moment as it is not really supposed to be seen in close up.

SAND CRAWLER

2010-04-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Managed to track down some detailed pictures of the old Revell model of the Sand Crawler vehicle briefly seen in the movie right before the sandworm attacks the spice harvester.

I wasn't going to model it, but I really need a few vehicles to help populate the city new version of Arrakeen city and make it come to life a bit more, so I am going to model a low poly version of this and the other toy vehicles that were made from the movie at the time.

Blu-Ray DVD Review

2010-04-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a review of the Blu-Ray version of Dune over at the Digital Bits.

REVIEW

The reviewer is not a fan of the movie, but more interestingly are the comments about the quality of the release and in particular the omission of the photo gallery and the extended edition (which I thought was going to be on there).

Atreides Frigate Rework

2010-04-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

(click images to enlarge)

Took some time out today detail up the doorway on the frigate. There seemed to be something really funky going on looking at the set photos and it took Me a while to work out that there is a sort of "inset" inside the door frame. Have to detail up that little area (the angled area on each side of the gold door area).
There is also another beam that sticks out where the handrails are that I have not yet modeled as I am not sure how that part fits together.
Also ligned the three little insets that run around the "legs" and the front just above the doorways and fixed up that area so tha panels are all connected and not just "floating"
I think this is about as far as I am going to go at the moment. (Save for some more details on the doorway)
Could of course keep going berzerk with detail but I think I am going to texture/bump/normal map some of the more ornate details.

DUNE - BluRay

2010-03-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are interested, the original theatrical version of Dune (including the horrible extended edition and a bunch of extras previously available on the last DVD release and the failed HD-DVD format) is coming to Blu-Ray on the 27th April 2010.
In fact I think it will just be a "port" of the HD-DVD version (The quality of which was apparently really good) with no new features... but who knows.
You can find it on Amazon here.

Atreides Frigate Rework

2010-03-29T01:45:00.000-07:00

(Click image to enlarge)

Well, ever since Ron Miller sent Me the blueprints and some close up shots of one of the hero flying models (NOT the giant landed model), I have been meaning to get around to fixing up My model a bit.
Started tonight by trimming of the ends of the "wings" - they don't end in a point. Still have to model the "guns" that protrude from there though.
Also worked in the upper "trench" that I had previously missed, with similar detailing going on the back side of the wing section. (It looks different to the movie but I really don;t feel like trying to model that same insanely tiny random details)
After that, I started work redoing all the beveling work, beginning with the top section of the main hull. Have to do the sides and finally found a picture that has some of the detailing for the underside. Gonna try and get this done by the end of the week.

Editing

2010-03-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well now that I finally have enough hard drive space, and my the latest version of the editing software I am using will directly load .vob (DVD video files), I have been able to actually start editing the movie and cutting in my new visual effects.

I am using the DUNE: Third Stage Edition fanedit by PhineasBG and Nighthawks as a base since it contains all the deleted scenes though this edit also needs a good deal of tightening up in places.

The first thing I did was to replace the old 80's Universal logo with the current one since that was an easy fix and then add in my "Secret Report Within the Guild" shot.
I then moved the extended shot where Duke Leto talks to Duncan to a more sensible place (That allows for Duncan to be in the palace during the attack).
I am still trying to determine the best place for the discussion between Duke Leto and Thufir about what the locals called Paul - I was going to put it after the assassination attempt on Paul, but it may have to go elsewhere.
I recut the part where Alia attacks the Baron - the placing of the shot where she holds up the gom jabbar has always bothered me, so I moved to to directly after the Baron's reaction to being sliced, cutting his reaction into two. Also edited out the close up shot of Kyle MacLachlan "falling" down the cliff - that was always just a BAD effect.
Last night I went through and cut out all the effects shots and put them on a separate video track for easy identification - gonna be a lot of work - though obviously I am not going to replace every effect!!! LOL

Opening Shot

2010-03-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

(Click image to enlarge)

I reworked the landing field in front of the palace and added the rocket jets to the Guild transport craft.
Here is a link to the current iteration of the animation, including a look at the original night time set shot.
I still have to match the lighting of the landing fields to the movie - a sort of greenish color - in order to match the subsequent shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf8fyOzAXhQ

The Emperor's Golden Palace

2010-03-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

Well, I now have a slightly faster computer with considerably more RAM and Hard Drive space and a direct X 10 graphics card, so hopefully some of the more complex animation setups are now more achievable!

To begin with, I decided I really needed to go and finish up the Emperor's Palace on Kaitain, since it is really the opening FX shot of the movie (Not counting all the intro stuff and the guild's secret report).

I am still working on finishing up the landing field and I have to work out what the heck the guild lander looks like - since it is as really odd shape and I only have a few references for it.

I am also playing around with time of day... all the exterior model shots seem to be set at night in the movie (Caladan Castle, Geidi Prime, Kaitain Palace), so I thought it might look better to try a few alternatives.
So for Kaitain I am trying out a sort of golden sunset kind of look - trying not to make it look too "starwarsy" though.

MOVED

2010-03-09T23:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it's took 3 days to drive from Washington State to Los Angeles, and another week to get internet, but now I'm here looking for work!
Hope to be able to still schedule time to continue working on this project as well!
Just waiting on getting some RAM for a slightly faster PC which a friend loaned to Me so I can then set that up for 3D work and probably retire this old workhorse.
It would certainly help enable Me to complete some of the more ambitious scenes I have planned!

Regards
Sasha

Harkonnen Ornithopter: Update - Feb 22nd 2010

2010-02-22T17:36:00.000-08:00

This will probably be My last update for a few weeks as I have to start packing everything up tomorrow ready for the move from Washington State to Los Angeles on Saturday.
Worked on the wings today and started trying to sort out the underside details.
Set up a rig for animating the landing gear - which you can see midway through extending in this image.

Harkonnen Ornithopter Update

2010-02-16T23:10:00.000-08:00

Since I am only working part time and there is still a week to go before I can really start packing for the move to LA, I have been spending a bit of time trying to finish up the "standard" Harkonnen ornithopter so I can "Special Editionize" it.

Here's where I left it last time...

A bit crap really... had only just sort of started trying to get everything in place.

Now, using the blueprints kindly provided by Dune production artist Ron Miller, it now looks a bit better (Even though there are certain details that just don't show up clearly on the blueprints).

Lots and lots of detail still to add to the main hull (Ironically you can't even see this detail in the movie - at least on the DVD version I have - it might show up on Hi-Def though)
I'm having a helluva time trying to model the large windows at the ends of the main cockpit though - that whole section is really complicated and essentially just intersecting curves in everywhich direction. (See reference pic)

Harko City WIP

2010-02-04T15:59:00.000-08:00

I've been twiddling with this for a while on and off.

(click images to enlarge)

Have had the tram done for a while, but the city structure is new. Have to redo the baby faced "oil burner" and spend a lot of time detailing it - it's covered in scaffolds and piping. Ugh!

I had modeled bolts on the structure but the poly count started to kill My poor old puter (It only has 512Mb RAM), so had to take them off and will have to use textures to depict them I guess. Whipped up a little render to see how it was looking. Pretty basic for now.

(click image to enlarge)

Going to make interchangeable panels with various combinations of parts so I can quickly build the city into whatever shapes I need.
Hope to put some more time into it after I move (Yeah... moving again - to LA again!)

Exodus

2010-02-01T16:36:00.000-08:00

(Click image to expand)

Currently working on this little scene... the original was one of the better VFX shots in the movie but it's still a little wonky by today's standards, so I am trying to really amp up the sense of scale by starting the shot with one of the Atreides ships close to the camera so that it at first seems larger than the Guild Heighliner, but as the shot progresses, you discover just how tiny it is in comparison.

Hope to have more on this one soon. I still have to sculpt the incredibly ornate "door frames" that the ships fly through.

The Emperor's "Steel Tent" - SPECIAL EDITION

2010-01-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

Back to the modeling.

Was reading DUNE the other night while rendering one of those animations and noted that the description for the Emperor's "Steel Tent" included a scale and the number of levels.

It wasn't the lighter that excited Stilgar's awe, Paul knew, but the construction for which the lighter was only the centerpost. A single metal hutment, many stories tall, reached out in a thousand meter circle from the base of the lighter - a tent composed of interlocking metal leaves - the temporary lodging place for five legions of Sardaukar and His Imperial Majesty, The Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV.
From his position squatting at Paul's left, Gurney Halleck said: "I count nine levels to it. Must be quite a few Sardaukar in there."

And I realized that the original model I made based on the movie prop only has six levels. So since this is after all a "special edition" I decided to remodel it to be more "accurate" and add in the extra 3 levels and now the base of it is 1000 meters across (though its not square as there are 3 panels on the top level front & back and 4 panels on the top level at the sides.)
It's still much the same but I made the beams and joints a bit smaller to give a better impression of scale.

ORIGINAL:

SPECIAL EDITION:

SPECIAL EDITION RENDER:

(click images to enlarge)

Paul's Filmbook Lesson

2010-01-21T22:57:00.000-08:00

Click On Images To Enlarge

Well, here is My 1st attempt at redoing the filmbook sequence.
Watch the full animation over at youtube HERE

I wasn't going to touch it until I realized that I had changed the look of the planets a bit so I had to redo those shots, and then one thing let to another and I have redone all the shots, sans the two close up text shots. I also enlarged the screen a bit on first shot where you see the film book - note - the control setup was way ahead of its time: Looks like it has 4 ipod style control wheels - Central button with outer ring.
There are still a whole host of things that need fixing and improving, but you get the idea of where I am going with this I hope!
There is also a deleted scene where Paul is sitting on a bed in a room on Arrakis (After the attempt on his life and shortly before he is drugged by Dr Yueh), where Paul is studying a filmbook. The scene starts rather abruptly and doesn't seem to quite "fit" into the other scenes, so I am considering doing a second filmbook sequence that would start that scene and impart the audience with further knowledge on the things they are about to encounter (The Fremen, the worms, desert survival etc).

DUNE "Special Edition" WIP Showreel

2010-01-14T17:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
Well, I've uploaded the showreel I have been working on since Christmas.
It contains most of the animations and tweaks that I have in a relatively presentable stage... most of them have been on YouTube before, but a few I have not released before. See it HERE
It certainly does not cover everything I have been working on... just the reasonably presentable stuff!
Still a lot of work to do... but it is starting to come together and hopefully there will be a few exciting developments soon. (Fingers crossed - Just have to get some employment on My end to keep things going!).
Also interesting is that Paramount has hired director Pierre Morel (Taken, District 13), to direct their long in the works version of Dune. I will certainly be interested to see where they take that!

"Spice Mining Inspection To Start Immediately"

2009-12-29T19:54:00.000-08:00

(Click image for larger view)

Here is the full version of the first part of the Spice Mining Inspection sequence. (Click link for video)
This sequence is interrupted midway through by a sequence featuring Dr Yueh inspecting enemy bodies. I have started working on the 2nd part of the sequence featuring the Spice Harvester and the worm attack but it is a ways off.
There are several shots in the scene that are not done yet, since they require frame by frame rotoscoping to remove the background and I am still working on it.
NONE of the shots are finals as My computer is 7 years old and struggling to generate the complex effects I am trying to accomplish at any reasonable speed.
I am hoping to improve each shot as this project progresses.
Currently the new effects are cut in to match the original soundtrack. This is ideally not how I would like the scene to run so I will have to spend time creating a new soundtrack/effects to match the new effects.
I am really keen to get your constructive feedback so I can (in the long run) improve these shots.
Yes, I know My rotoscoping could be MUCH better! LOL
This youtube version has been heavily compressed so the quality is not the best.

"We're wasting time Sire"

2009-12-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

(Click images to enlarge)

This shot is a bit harder to do as the camera pans from right to left with a subtle change in elevation as well, so I am trying to match move this by hand as best I can. It has also been a rotoscoping nightmare but I am almost done! Then all that remains to do is render out the far background and the thopter in separate layers and composite it all together! Then I think I am almost ready to release about 80% of the 1st half of the sequence, just in time for Christmas.

Judge of the change... and Imperial Ecologist...

2009-12-14T17:07:00.000-08:00

Well, here is a little taste of what I am currently working on... rotoscoping out the original background from behind Dr Kynes (Max Von Sydow), and replacing it with My new ornithopter model and the landing pad (based on a mix of the original concept art and the final production model of the Arakeen palace and grounds).
In the original shot, the ornithopter is housed at the base of a shaft deep inside the palace, but I really wanted to open it up so it didn't feel like a small soundstage set.
Since the new shot features outdoor lighting, I have had to lighten the shot a bit and give it more of a daylight tint.
This is currently a concept composite to see how the shot will look when assembled.
There are 3 primary layers:
1: The original shot of Dr Kynes (Rotoscoped, lightened and color corrected)
2: The ornithopter and landing pad (Have to turn of those front lights on the thopter though and the thopter is smaller because it is further back)
3: The palace wall and shield effect with the mountainous shield wall cliffs in the distance (Distorted by the shield effect).
Luckily there is no sky visible in this shot, so there is no need to worry about the color of it for now! LOL
Would love to get your constructive feedback on this shot, so comment away!

2009-12-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Well, as you may have noticed, the poll "What scene in the movie would you most like to see "redone"?" has closed and the results are in!

32%: Final battle vs Sardaukar

25%: Atreides frigates dock with guild heighliner above Caladan

14%: Folding Space

14%: Emperor's Arrival / Landsraad above Arrakis

10%: Worm chase + Paul falling from cliff

3%: Piter's arrival by tram on Geidi Prime

0%: Harkonnen ornithopter flight & crash

I find the results interesting, simply because I would have had a completely different order! Though I do agree with the top two results.. but surely that horrible greenscreen shot of Paul "Falling" down the cliff would be higher up the list! LOL

Sadly, I am nowhere near being able to tackle the final the final battle - would have to spend a lot of time making new assests (Fremen, Sardaukar etc) in order for that to happen.

However, on a more positive note, I have already spent some time working on a new animation for the Atreides ships docking with the Guild ship and I think that will be the next sequence I tackle once I get the Duke's spice harvesting inspection (Version 1) completed.

Happy holidays all and thanks for reading!

Hopefully the job market will pick up in the new year and I will at last be able to find work!

Regards

Sasha

Update: 2nd Stage Navigator

2009-12-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

(Click image for larger version)

I completely resculpted the 2nd Stage Navigator I had been working on.
I think it's starting to get there but I have to fix a few things like the mouth, tentacle thingies and teeth.
Have to learn how to texture him and such like now - that is the real key to selling a character like this.

"They defend the spice sands... as to their relationship with the spice... who knows?"

2009-11-27T21:23:00.000-08:00

Original shot.

Enhanced shot (v1.0)

(click on images to enlarge)

Spent the last few days rotoscoping several hundred frames to remove the thopter cockpit window from behind Dr Kynes (Max Von Sydow) so I could place the new desert dunes render in place. I also took the opportunity to lighten the really dark footage so it looks like they are out flying during the day - I really do not like the orange filtered sky used in all the original out-door effects shots.

Sand, Sand Everywhere...

2009-11-20T20:16:00.000-08:00

Sand dunes are a real pain in the ass to model convincingly... they are very distinctive looking, and quite tricky to texture... I initially just put a few bumps and dips into a subdivided plain and while it was fine for just getting an idea of scale and motion, they really doesn't look like "real" sand dunes...

So I have tried a different approach - this time using a greyscale height map that I drew using an aerial photo of sand dune formations in the Namib Desert...

As you can see it looks a bit more convincing (The dunes in the back are still the original "bumps") ... still not quite there and I suspect I am going to have to hand model some "Hero" dunes for close up work as these dunes do not hold up under close scrutiny.

Plans within plans...

2009-11-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

(click to enlarge images)

For those of you who are interested, and since My own model is a modified "shorter" version (See earlier posts), I am uploading the plans for the Harkonnen "Hammer" ship, in case someone is interested in making the full version of it.
These are scans from the reduced version of the blueprints kindly loaned to Me by Ron Miller, who has been very helpful to Me throughout this project.
However, I think there are some minor changes between the plans and the actual miniatures that were built, so you may want to check other references as well.
I am always looking for more references - especially photos of the filming models and scans of other blueprints, so please contact Me if you happen to have any!

2nd Stage Navigator

2009-11-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

Since zbrush is a program I have been needing to learn, I decided to have a crack at sculpting the 2nd Stage Navigator head... still learning though... have to try and create a texture for it. SO here is a look at what I've come up with so far... added the eye and "spice gas" very quickly in photoshop just to give an idea of how it will look...

2nd Stage Guild Navigator

2009-11-02T15:35:00.000-08:00

Here's something on My wish list... head replacements for the 2nd stage guild navigators.
Although originally conceived as an animatronic head (Image Here), ultimately it appears there was not enough time or money to complete development and in the final movie, the 2nd stage guild navigators wear some rather silly looking "gimp" masks.

(2nd Stage Gimp Navigator with translator microphone)

With advances in technology, most notably Star Wars Episode 3, where Christopher Lee's head was successfully composited over the stunt double's head for much of the climactic duel at the start of the film, I feel it would be possible to replace the heads with the originally designed ones (Which bridge the evolution between the human 1st Stage Navigators seen prominently in the movie, and the giant mutated 3rd Stage Guild Navigators). Today I had some time on My hands, so I did a ROUGH composite in photoshop to see how the final product might look (Only better!).

(Concept of 2nd Stage Guild Navigator)

Harkonnen Frigate (Special Edition Version)

2009-11-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

(Click images for larger version)

So I managed to get some more time this weekend to go in and really try and finidh up My special edition version of the Harkonnen Frigate.
It took quite a bit of work to get the main hull into the shape I wanted, since it was not designed to be so short and getting all the shapes to blend together was a challenge.
I think over all that it has been fairly successful - though I have had to change many details, but will have to wait to see how it looks rendered.
There are still plenty of small details I need to add to it but wanted to show you how it is coming together.
You can see the new orithopter launcher doors on the underside of the main "wings"... originally these were along the side of the hull - but remained mostly unseen and definitely unused in the final movie.

Harkonnen Frigate ("Hammer Ship")

2009-10-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

(Click on images for larger view)

I finally decided to get back to working on the Harkonnen frigate over the weekend. I had started it some time ago, but really only had the basic shapes done.
Now with the blueprints I have really been able to get into it!
I start by tracing the blueprints in Adobe Illustrator, then import that into Lightwave, where I can use it to construct the model more easily. So far I have redone the main body... next it's on to redoing the "wings".
I am going to point out that since this is the special edition, the model is also going to be for the special edition - which means it is NOT going to have the long tail section and IS going to be roughly similar in configuration to the Atreides and Emperor's frigates... My logic behind this change is that the Guild uses a standardized docking system in their Heighliners - therefore all ships are roughly the same shape (given some latitude for local deisgn preferences).
The second major change is going to be moving the unseen and unused "Thopter Launch Bays" from the tail of the frigate, to the underside of the "wings"... I think it will fit three thopters per side... but will have to wait until I get both ships to scale.

Special Edition Scenes List

2009-10-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Recently went through the theatrical cut of DUNE and made a list of all the scenes I'd like to change/update/improve (Whether I will is another matter entirely!), and thought I would post it for you all to check out!
Would love to hear your comments on which scenes I've listed you'd really like redone, which ones you think are fine as is, and maybe some I've missed!

(Added a new poll on the right hand side too, so cast your vote!)

DUNE (Theatrical Cut) Shot Fix List.

1: Universal Logo:
Use New One

2: Opening Title Credits:
Redo text in 3D before Irulan comes on.

3: Irulan Introduction:
Color correction and morph her face to make seamless speech without fade ins/outs.

4: DUNE Title and credits:
Redo all text in 3D dune font.

5: Secret Report within the guild scene:
Redo entirely all the way up to the first shot of the guild exiting the ship… same audio/voice though.

6: 3rd Stage Guild Navigator meets the Emperor:
Fix Navigator with “blue eyes” and orange spice gas in his tank. Replace crappy 2nd stage navigator costume masks with CG heads based on original concept sculpture.

7: Caladan Establishing Scene:
Take that wonderful footage of the waves crashing on the rocks but instead of cross-fading to crappy model waves, keep shot going, panning and tilting from waves up the cliff to the castle at the top.

8: Paul’s Filmbook:
Make the screen larger and also recreate the same shots but with the new 3D planets and animation of Carryall and Harvesters.

9: Shield Fight:
Fix that weird shot of Paul that actually seems to be his stunt double.

10: Wierding Module (ALL SHOTS!):
Create new “sonic blast” effect.

11: Robot Fight:
Possibly add some more blades to the robot and make the fight seem more deadly?

12: The Duke & Paul:
Fix bluescreen shot of The Duke and Paul looking out to sea to match with opening Caladan shot and color correct.

13: Burning Hand Shot:
Is it possible to make this more realistic and match the Reverand Mother’s description?

14: The Duke in his study:
“Fix” the “lightning window” – I feel something could be done here.

15: Geidi Prime Establishing Scene:
New effects shot following tram past a line of the cherub faced oil burners as it heads towards Harko city. Fix bluescreen shots of Piter in tram to match new effects.

16: Atreides Departure From Caladan:
New FX shot based on concept art of Caladan “Crystal Palace” airfield. Shot starts as effect but ends with the footage of Paul, Leto & Jessica walking up the steps to their frigate and turning to face their troops. Possible reverse shot of what they see? (Lush greenness, water, their loyal troops)

17: Frigate Takeoff:
New FX shot of frigate taking off and entering space… Currently there is that weird “window” shot. Possibly continue from previous shot once the Atreides are onboard.

18: Frigates Dock With Heighliner:
New FX shots recreate old model shots but in a more spectacular fashion and can do a continuous shot all the way into the Heighliner and docking – then intercut with actors as per original.

19: Folding Space:
Redo all of this sequence. Same thing but different! LOL. Have the 3rd Stage Navigator creating the vision of the planets with his mind rather than the beam out of the mouth. Keep blue rings and oddness of whole sequence. Use the new transition of Heighliner at Caladan to Heighliner at Arrakis FX instead of that annoying cross-fade of Heighliner model.

20: New Atreides ship arrival on Dune and flying into Arrakeen shots.

21: DUNE (All Shots!):
Heatwaves on FX/model/studio shots where appropriate to match Paul, Leto and Jessica disembarking on Arrakis shot. Need to show how hot this planet is! REMOVE orange filter from ALL shots. Sky needs to read as sky!!!

22: Spice Mining Inspection:
Replace all model and thopter FX shots. Replace bluescreen elements in interior cockpit shots with new FX. Keep worm swallowing Spice Harvester shot but match colors.

23: Harkonnen Surprise Attack:
All new FX sequence. Harkonnen Thopters launch from Harkonnen “Hammer” ships and attack Arrakeen palace wall and airfield. “Hammer” ships land amongst wreckage and disgorge troops who enter palace through breach in the wall from the airfield. Use “Masssive” or similar to create Sardaukar and Atreides armies clashing. Refilm some more vicious hand to hand combat scenes that look more like soldiers fighting rather than stunt men bouncing on trampolines. Fix ground moving under stunt men.

24: Duncan Idaho:
Fix “shot” FX of Sardaukar shooting Atreides troopers in hall then Duncan shooting him. Create model of actor Richard Jordan for head replacement of stunt man (Or use entirely synthetic actor) to extend Duncan’s fight by a couple of shots and make his death more heroic. One of the most important characters in the whole series gets short changed in the original!

25: Harkonnen Thopter:
Redo all external Harkonnen thopter shots with new FX. Replace all interior bluescreen elements to match new FX. Possibly keep original model crashing in sand shots.

26: Worm Chase:
Fix blue screen shots and get rid of the awful “green night” sky color (IN ALL NIGHT SHOTS). Add in a wide shot showing ACTUAL relationship of worm to Paul and Jessica as they are running. FIX paul falling down cliff shot… possibly just remove awful bluescreen shot of Paul.

27: Hall of Holy Warriors:
Use CG characters to bring the crowd to life a bit more or something… especially the Sayyadinas along the side of the shot. 3D the environment or something.

28: Riding The Sandworm:
Fix ALL bluescreen shots here and remove awful orange filter.

29: Eyes Of The Ibad:
Make sure everyone who is supposed to have blue eyes has them in every shot!

30: Emperor’s Arrival/Landsraad Blockade:
All new FX shots showing size of Blockade, Sardaukar landing ships in formation and the Emperor’s ship heading down to Arrakis.

31: Fremen Army:
All new “Massive/Crowd Simulation” shots of Fremen army.

32: Baron’s Arrival in Arrakeen.
New FX shot of the Baron’s frigate flying towards Arrakeen while he listens to the news of Raban’s arrest.

33: Paul’s Binoculars:
New FX shots of Arrakeen, the Emperor’s Steel Tent and the relationship to the city, the palace and the shield wall to match all previous new FX shots.

34: Worm Riders:
Fix bluescreen shots of Fremen running along worm’s back.

35: Sandstorm:
New shots of gathering storm that actually look like a sandstorm! Shots of Steel Tent and Airfield being effected by storm – REALLY need to play up this effect and how it reduces visibility so the aircraft can’t take off.

36: Final Battle:
Needs a lot of work. New Massive FX of clashing armies that make the Sardaukar look like a trained fighting force rather than a bunch of extras. New “shot” FX for all weapons. Blue eyes on all Fremen. Add some hand to hand combat shots? Fix all worm/sand/Sardaukar interactions!

37: Do something with that rather odd “Rain on Arrakis” ending!

What I'm Aiming For

2009-10-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to enlarge!)

Today I thought I'd post a couple of screenshots... the first is the raw render, the second is after I've processed it in photoshop - it's more the look I am going for - though there are of little details that need to be added... in particular sand interaction... especially between the wheels of the harvester and the sand and the 'thopter's landing gear and the sand. All want to sort of have the sand blow around in the downdraft from the 'thopter's wings.

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion..."

2009-10-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

(Click on images to see larger version)

The introduction to Giedi Prime is another example of a scene where I think it could work just a bit better composition wise... I love the design of everything - very gothic/industrial, but the shots as edited in the theatrical edition are somewhat confusing and it really is incredibly dark... So I've built a model of the Harkonnen tram and have started work on the enormous "oil burners" - the giant cherub faces that spew black smoke, though I only have a few reference photos of them. Going to have to make up some of the detail there. The script describes this part of the surface of the planet as an ocean of black oil, so I think My general intention is just to set the scene a little better and give the audience a real sense of what this place is like. Eventually, I hope to make a lo-res Piter De Vries model to go in the tram, so you can see him in there.
Also need to model Harko City and possibly the landing pad from where Piter is coming (I imagine that the landing pads are far away across the ocean of oil to prevent the escape of an of the slave labor).

DVD Packaging

2009-10-09T00:53:00.000-07:00

Here's something amusing... found this old paper mock up I made for a 4-disc DUNE special edition DVD case.
It's closely based on the 4-disc Lord Of The Rings DVD packaging which I liked at the time.
Disc 1 was to contain the Special Edition.
Disc 2 would have the theatrical cut and possibly the extended edition - though I loathe that version.
Disc 3 would have behind the scenes documentaries and so forth
Disc 4 would contain updated versions of Cryo's DUNE and Westwood's DUNE 2 (Dune 2000)
and there was to be a booklet with "pop-up" elements!

It's all a bit out of date now, so have started revamping the design for Blu-Ray!

The Duke's Inspection

2009-10-01T23:42:00.000-07:00

(Click images to enlarge. Click Thread Title For youTube Video.)

With a little bit of help in the rendering department, I've finally finished the first version of this shot as Duke Leto pilots his ornithopter (followed by escort) over the city of Arrakeen and past the spice refinery before heading out over the shield wall.
There's still many things I'd like to do to this shot so hopefully it will continue to improve over time.
Any suggestions would be welcome!

W32.Virut

2009-09-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

Ugh! Spent the last week dealing with a REALLY nasty virus - fromt the V32.Virut family - super nasty one that infects all .exe, .scr, .html & .htm files on your machine... and then blocks access to anti-virus websites and proceeds to download lots of other malware and viruses. Had over 1200 infections. You REALLY don't want this to get on your machine.
Had to reformat My C: drive.
There is a very useful tool for removing it over at AVG antivirus.

More importantly all My DUNE SPECIAL EDITION FILES are safe... have to make another backup of them ASAP.
Have to keep a close eye on My computer over the next few days and make sure it doesn't come back...
Hope to start back into it asap!

Carryall

2009-09-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

(Click images to see larger versions)

Added more detail to the Carryall model, though its quite difficult as I only have 4 solid reference photos of it and none of them show the top of it clearly or the shape of the wing tips properly, so I've had to "make up" certain details. I still need to detail the Harvester docking areas and add the strange little doohicky that goes on the lower front section. The original model was silver, but owing to the way it was shot and the orange filter that was placed over most of the special effect shots, you can't tell that in the movie.
I've included a render of the carryall landing at the spice refinery as Duke Leto flies past in the ornithopter.

City of Arrakeen

2009-08-28T23:00:00.001-07:00

Have finally knuckled down to work on on of the most difficult parts of this project... trying to rebuild the city of Arrakeen - where much of the action in the movie takes place. While the Arrakeen palace and nearby landing field were built as series of minatures/biggatures, and partial sets, the city itself is represented only by a couple of matte paintings.

My revised version of the Duke's 'thopter flight requires a shot following the Duke as he flies over the city past the spice refinery and up over the shield wall. (Originally it was simply two shots in the movie that feature an almost unrecognizable 'thopter sort of flying straight up - not very interesting.)
So, in order to accomplish that I have been creating an entire 3D cityscape that can be viewed from any angle.

I admit that I couldn't be arsed modeling buildings from scratch so I downloaded a pack of 20 tatooine buildings - originally modeled in MAX and converted to Lightwave by someone. However once I opened them up, I discovered they were badly made with incredibly high poly & point counts so I ended up having to remodel every single one of them as a lo-res model - cutting the the poly count by up to 80% in some cases. I also removed the distinctive dome shapes replacing them with sort of concave roofs. I also modeled some windtraps and other buildings based on the old DUNE 2 and DUNE 2000 games as a bit of a Easter egg.

I've added in the 20 palm trees by the palace (a show of water wealth) - featured in several photos of the original model but not in evidence in the movie.

Still plenty to do - Have to work on the landing filed some more and the spice silo yards and actually do the detailing on the spice refinery.

The 3rd Stage Guild Navigator

2009-08-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

(Click on preview for larger image)

Continuing on yesterday's blue eye theme, another important character that didn't get the blue eye treatment is the 3rd Stage Guild Navigator (or even the 1st and 2nd stage navigators).
I also don't like the fact that the orange spice gas is more of a dirty brown/tan color so I've whipped up a little animation test where I rotoscoped in the gas and the blue eyes to see how it would all look.

3rd Stage Guild Navigator Rotoscope Test

Who Could Pose As A Freman?

2009-08-20T21:31:00.000-07:00

(Click on images for larger version. Top: Enhanced frame. Bottom: Original Theatrical Frame)

The sadistic Piter De Vries as played wonderfully by character Actor Brad Dourif (Alien Resurrection, Lord Of The Rings) acts not only as the Baron Harkonnen's mentat but as a "twisted" mentat, he also acts as an assassin. Consuming spice in large quantities - a privilage of being the Baron's right hand man - his eyes have taken on the blue within blue coloring of a spice addict.
The Atreides worry that with those eyes, Piter would be the perfect assassin - able to pass for one of the native fremen.
However, in the movie - presumably in order to save money on the rotoscoping effect and not confuse the audience as to who the bad guys are - Piter does not have the blue within blue eyes.
I had a quick go in photoshop today at recoloring his eyes to see how he'd look. (Yes, I did muck around with the green wall as well!)

Castle Caladan

2009-08-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

(Click previews for larger image)

For the introduction to the planet Caladan in the movie, it starts with a really awesome panning shot of enormous waves crashing against a rugged coastline, before cutting to a really awful model cliff side and totally out of scale waves, before cutting again to show the Castle where the Duke and his family reside.
My vision here, using modern digital compositing techniques, will be to extend the first panning shot, so it continues up the ragged cliffs until the castle is revealed at the top... possibly having the camera close in on the window where paul is sitting, then cutting back tot he interior shot that starts at the window with the rain outside and pans over to see Paul at his desk.
I've included an image of the model, a mock up of what I sort of want it to look lik, a render of the model and a render of the planet Caladan.

Guild Heighliner

2009-08-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

(Click image for large view. Click post heading for animation on youtube)

Here is the massive Spacing Guild transport ship. It is so enormous, it dwarfs the huge Atreides Frigates. While most of the model is essential a lightly detailed tube, the mid-section is festooned with mechanical detail. For this I used freely available "greeble" & "nurny" detail models - usually only on two sides of the model to keep the polygon count low while rendering.
The main part of the model that is incomplete are the huge golden "doorways" that open into the interior of the Heighliner. I have various refernce pictures, but none of them show the detail clearly, so I have had to do My best to make it look ok... just have to make some "normal maps" to help create the intricate surface patterns and get some better texturing done.

Film Book

2009-08-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

(Click images for larger view)

A simple prop model made in order to facilitate integration of the new planet models that Paul would be looking at.Considering modern technology, the size of the screen seemed too small, so I have enlarged it... however, the four circular "control" knobs while kind of simple looking in 1984 actually now resemble the control wheel of an ipod, with the black central button and a gold "navigation ring".

Emperor's Palace on Kaitain

2009-08-13T15:41:00.001-07:00

(click images for large view)

While essentially fairly simple structures (albeit with some ornate detailing), the alternating cube step areas were difficult to work out as the reference photos were fuzzy and did not show the detail clearly. The purpose of creating this model is to feature it in the new opening sequence where the guild ship lands next to the palace.

Arakis, Dune, Desert Planet

2009-08-13T00:09:00.000-07:00

(Click on images for larger version. Click on post title for link to animation on youtube)

Nothing tricky about this!
A simple set of nested spheres. One for the planet, one for the atmosphere.
No precipitation on Dune, so no clouds (unless they are dust or sand clouds/storms.)
I used the map in the novel to create the texture for the "main" part of the planet (the north pole to 40 degrees). Also managed to find one for the south pole - also to 40 degrees. The region in between is open desert.
My original model had the northern hemisphere map taking up the whole of the northern hemisphere and looked "wrong", so I researched it a bit further and finally took note of the note on the original map.

Emperor's Frigate and Steel Tent

2009-08-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

I think this was the third model I started on after the Atreides Ornithopter and Frigate.
I ended up drawing all the detailed patterning on it in Adobe Illustrator and importing the line work into Lightwave and using that as the basis of the shapes. In fact, that is a process I have used for much of the detailed work as I find trying to create it directly in Lightwave is a huge hassle.
The steel tent posed a problem in modeling it, since I couldn't make one side and then clone it and taper it all since some of the shapes became distorted.
It was only while I was modeling the tent that I noticed there is a sort of "door" partway up the front face... presumably for aircraft?

Harkonnen Ornithopter

2009-08-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

I rather like this interesting "bug-like" ornithopter, though I was never impressed by the stubby little wings on it.
This is the incomplete model of the movie 'thopter based on photos of a model kit. As Ron Miller the production artist was kind enough to send Me the blueprints, I will probably be reworking this quite considerably.
The Special Edition version will replace the round globe like "thrusters" at the end of each arm with a modified version that reflect the design established in the Special Edition version of the Atreides 'thopter, though with a distinctly Harkonnen flavor.

Atreides Ornithopter

2009-08-12T23:03:00.000-07:00

(Click on images for larger view. Click TITLE to link to animation on youtube)

Here's the one that started it all. Modeled in Lightwave 9.5.
I first modeled the 'thopter from the theatrical release using reference photos of a really good model kit that I found on the net.
Once I had made the original one I decided to adapt it into a new "flapping" version.
As I rather like the unique "U" shape of the Harkonnen 'thopter from the movie and because nearly all technologies end up having the same basic geometry (Look at jet airplanes for example... while each manufacturer makes them look different, the same components are all there in roughly the same places), I decided to make the Atreides thopter roughly have that same shape, although in this case its more of a "V" shape.
The wings themselves have been through numerous iterations, but are ultimately a sort of flexible "Spring" in a wing shape, with a section of aircraft wing in the middle for flaps and mounting things like sensors and weapons. The underside of each wing houses a small "foot" that extends when landed to support the tal heavy design.
As in the book, the 'thopter also features small booster rockets - and I am thinking of having some unfold at the back of the central hull for landing purposes.
The landing gear was a pain in the ass to model and rig to work as I have only two or three fuzzy images of what it is supposed to look like.

Spice Harvester

2009-08-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

(Click image to see larger view)

Here is the incomplete model of the Spice Harvester I have been working on. It's based upon as many frame captures from the DVD and still images as I could locate and a couple of photos from the ever helpful Ron Miller, who had just sold his small filming model of the spice harvester on ebay. It's interesting to note that the cockpit area on the filming models is quite different between the small and hero scale models. I chose to go with the hero scale shape. Have never been able to find an adequate image that explains how the wheels attach to the body. There are three "arms" on the small models but they are not detailed.
I also noticed that the "arm" the cockpit sits along is mounted on a trackthat leads to a "well" in the main body that is not visible in most of the movie shots. It would appear that the cockpit retracts into this "well" - possibly during transport and also for the crew to enter the main body of the Harvester, so I have rigged that to animate if need be. Also have the wheels rigged so that when the body moves the wheels all rotate at the correct speed.

Atreides Frigate

2009-08-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

(Click Images To View Full Size)

Here is My model of the Atreides Frigate modeled in Lightwave 9.5.
It's a fairly complicated design with lots of curving, tapered surfaces and intricate surface details that were tricky to model.
This is the older version, as I was able to contact Ron Miller the production artist on the movie, who was kind enough to supply Me with some of the original blueprints and several shots of the original filming models he had in his possession . Having studied those, I can see that I am going to have to make significant changes.