Metropolis robot replica

Tim Hintsala created a fantastic wearable replica costume of the Metropolis robot.

Autobianchi Y10

The introductory commercial for the Y10 car in 1985 is still remembered in Italy today.  The imagery, seemingly straight out of a science fiction film certainly caught the public imagination.



Shot in the world famous Cinecitta studios in the pre-CGI days it used the oldest robot trick in the book, the costumed performer, in this case a tall, thin Hawaiian model called Sheba.  She described her ordeal in a newspaper interview at the time.  If you know about this, please let me know.

Incidentally, Hajima Sorayama had exhibited his work in Italy the previous year.  His work would strongly influence robots in the 80s, just as Chris Cunningham's design for the Bjork video did in the 00s

Why Metropolis ?

It was this image in the Larousse Encyclopaedia that got my attention as a child. Was it a statue ? A robot ? How did it work ? What was this Metropolis film about ?

It was several years before I finally saw Metropolis and decades after it was made, the design and imagery of the film struck me like a ton of bricks. Being a lover of Science-Fiction I became captivated by one of the most famous movie icons ever.

I spent years collecting images and information about this film, but information was often far and few between and a lot was contradictory and people willing to help me didn't always point me in the right direction. But thanks to the internet and computer technology I was able to substantially update my collection, though it is likely to remain a never-ending quest.

Kropserkel goes Metropolis

Kropserkel is a Canadian prop-making company that has produced a number or stunning models and replicas of famous movie props and costumes.

A few years ago they announced that they would be doing a full-size replica of the Metropolis robot and according to the internet buzz, something will see the light of day in 2009.

For more information :

http://kropserkel.com/

The Metropolis Robot

The Bibliotheque du Film, attached to the world famous Cinématheque in Paris has a very interesting site about the "Maschinenmensch" robot woman from Metropolis.

Videos of the restored version and rare images donated personally by Fritz Lang as well as detailed 3D photos of the robot replica made by Walther Shultze-Mittendorf can be found here :

http://metropolis.robot.bifi.fr/

Metropolis rediscovered

By now you must have heard the news that nearly all the lost footage of Metropolis has been rediscovered in an archive in Buenos Aires.

Several scenes by secondary characters were excised from the film after the premiere. Further cuts by Channing Pollock completely transformed the story of the film.

So now we will be able to see the performance by Fritz Rasp, which received rave reviews back in 1927.

Hel's memorial scene is also back, but the rediscovered footage does show something odd. Until now it was always assumed that the monument to Hel's memory was done using the Schufftann process. But as you can see on the image below, this doesn't seem likely as the curtain moves in front of the statue. So the Hel monument, like many other sets was actually fully built, which you can see here

As for Maria and her robot doppleganger they should get more scenes, including one where she gets her instructions to pervert Fredersen's orders and Maria's escape.

Robotskin part deux

Here is the translation of my interview with Matthieu Poirier for the Robotskin TV ad.

1) Could you tell us about Wizz and your work ?

I am in charge of postproduction at wizz and my job is to gather talented people for specific projects.

Wizz is a postproduction and graphic production company

We work with 3D digital compositing tools and traditional 2D animation (Cartoons)

Our customers are ad agencies, TV networks and movie production houses

2) What scenes or elements did you work on and how long ?

All shots needed fixing in postproduction. We touched up the set, which wasn't fully finished in some parts.

All lighting on the robot was done in 3D (except for the hair) as well as the cables coming out of her back at the beginning of the film.

Her neck was animated in 3D on the last shot.

3) What effect was the hardest to do.

This film didn't have any difficult special effects. The hardest to do is to capture the universe of the director and bring out images that do not betray the rushes. The effects should never try to upstage the actual footage. A flashy effect is by all means a failed effect.

4) What effect are you most proud of

The fact that we did not insist on making the robot in 3D. It was very tempting, and the director had a very good idea.

5) Many people cannot believe the robot wasn't fully done in CGI. Does this surprise you ?

That is a great compliment ... to create doubt about what you see on the screen, is proof you are doing a good job.

6) In the 1927 film Metropolis, actress Brigitte Helm, already played a state of the art female robot, wearing a plastic-wood costume painted in bronze. Today between virtual images and real robots like ASIMO or the ACTROID, is it still realistic to use an actress wearing a costume in 2007 ?

YES, all depends on the talent of the filmmaker. This shows that Fritz Lang is a better director than Michael Bay and that Ridley Scott created the best Alien without CGI.

7) If we gave you full creative control, what would you change ?

I don't think there will be towels in the future

(Personal note, I don't think Douglas Adams would agree)

8) Would you like a personal shaving robot ?

I don't shave that much at the moment.

10) Did we forget to ask you an important question ?

The postproduction time ?

As usual we didn't have much time to finish the effects, three weeks in all.

And also a brief look at the making of the clip :

Making of pub TV
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