How did the "The Neverending Story" (20 photos) Bashny.Net

In 1984, the world saw a great movie, which still affects its scale - in regard to the visual effects. He also starred in "pre-computer era," and the set crew and visual effects had to make a lot of feats that turned what had to be the director, and that eventually came out on film and television screens.
We are talking about the movie "The Neverending Story" by Wolfgang Petersen, filmed at the studio Bavaria Films.

The following will be discussed on how to shoot this film.



Summary
Little boy Bastian Bux, recently lost his mother to escape the street from three school bullies, hiding in the bookstore, and as a result "borrows" the book out called "The Neverending Story" with a strange amulet on the cover.



Tami Stronach, who plays the Empress.

Hidden in the attic of the school, Bastian starts to read the story about the country fantasies that devours "Nothing." Residents of the country sent messengers to the Empress-child ivory tower, but it herald announces that she is terminally ill, and could not help; the only one who can save her - to find a cure for her illness - a great warrior named Atreyu. When that occurs, it turns out that this boy a little older Bastian. Herold passes the same amulet that is fixed on the cover of the book, Atreus and hit the road.
Much of the film - it is a journey in search of salvation; towards the end of the movie South oracle tells him that he must find a human child living abroad Fantasy, which will give the Empress a new name, otherwise it will die.

In the future, from a conversation Atreus and monstrous werewolf Gmorka turns out that the search for the boundaries of Fantasia useless and that itself is "Nothing" appeared because more and more people give up their dreams, fall into apathy and despair and lose the ability to dream. Gmork himself, he said, is the servant of the force, which is beneficial to the whole fantasy disappeared as people who either do not dream about anything and everything do not hope, it is easier to manage.

Atreus deals with Gmorkom when he attacks it. Then again, the boy finds Falkor. But it's too late to stop the "Nothing" they do not succeed, and the country is Fantasia dying, turning into the void. We can only ivory tower, to which Atreus and Falkor displays magic amulet.

Upon arrival Atreus now returns only dweller Tower amulet and says led her. In response, she tells him that this is not so; he brought with him the reader of the book, which is experiencing all the same that survived Atreus, and that he just can not even believe that he is - is also part of the story.

At the last moment nothing ties into the Tower. That goes cracks, Atreus, apparently dying, and the Empress, in tears, Bastian calls by name and begs him to save them. He shouts out the window of her new name («Moonchild» - «Child of the Moon"), and all plunged into darkness.

And in the darkness Bastian talking face to face with the Empress, who shows him a single grain of sand glowing, and says that this is all that remains of her country. But now Bastian alone can help her rise again - by their desires.

And then you can see how happy Bastian flies on Falkor across fantasies, seeing all her characters, who met earlier in the book, including the resurrected Atreus and his horse Artaxias, who died in the Swamp of Sorrows.

The film ends with the fact that Bastian was there is still a lot of great adventure, but it is - is another story.

Here's a not a children's philosophical mystery, clothed in the form of a film for children ...... cling to the soul so that even adults, no, no yes and let the tears, looking at the final stage.

Visual Effects: Swamp of Sorrows, a blue screen and ivory tower
This is one of the great strengths of the film. After watching, of course, it becomes apparent that the film was shot, not for them, as many of today's action - but also strength and soul in them has been invested a lot. And the result was more than impressive.

The basis of the visual range of the film went to the sketches and drawings of the artist Ula de Puerto Rico (aka - Ulderiko Gropplero di Troppenburg).

Swamp of Sorrows
For the filming of endless Swamp of Sorrows an area of ​​3000 square meters. meter (three-quarters of the studio Bavaria Films) was covered with dirt and planted with trees; to create the illusion of vastness crew resorted to a relatively simple trick: in the foreground were "planted" trees about five meters in height, in the background exhibited much smaller models, so that the most distant trees have a height of about 30 cm, max. In this film set was also a tilted so that the horizon seemed high (operators had to keep the camera strictly below this horizon).

To heighten the effect of sadness scene was made almost colorless; Some trees are even painted with black paint.



The death knight Artaxias - one of the most tragic scenes in the film.
Thick fog and evaporation were simulated using dry ice and oils for frying, so that on the set sometimes smelled like fast food in the kitchen. It is, after all, so all finished off, that one of the participants said the shooting of "smoky" mixture of Indian spirits to somehow knock off a disgusting smell.

Dirt initially wanted to use the most that neither is a natural - extracted from the bottom of the Isar River and brought back to the place of several trucks. What film crew team did not think about it is that it is summer, and that in this very liquid mud hidden legions variety of insect larvae.

In addition, in 1983, Germany has covered the rare heat - well, spotlights on the set of all further warmed mud and larvae enjoyed it very much. As a result, in order to rid the shooting area from swarms of insects vermin, call a specialist took two days.

So they decided to use artificial dirt, but it had problems.

In the "Swamp of Sorrows" filmed three scenes: drowning horse Artaxias Atreus, Atreus and meeting giant tortoises Morley, and the pursuit of the protagonist Gmorkom.

Death Artaxias - one of the most tragic in every sense. The Swamp of Sorrows killed those who rent who lets them in sadness and hopelessness in myself. Artaxias give up and sink.

In fact, on the set we were lined up (and filled with mud), several tanks of different depths. The deepest and were provided with more mobile platforms - and that they were used for the "drowning" and Artaxias and Atreus.

With Artaxias got a problem: he did not want in any hopeless, without a murmur, as required by the script, leave in the mud - albeit only by a neck. The two-week training did not help. It was necessary to bring to the shooting another horse (Kauri), dye it white, chaining the feet descending to the very platform, and so to "drown».

In the scene where Atreyu almost drowned (but it turns out at the last minute pulled out of the swamp Falkor), almost drowning happened now: Hathaway leg stuck in the riser (which goes down), and utyanulo in the swamp. When the actor pulled to the surface, he was already unconscious.

Actually the actor playing Atreus to "swamp" unlucky thorough: he spent several months learning to ride a horse without a saddle, but during filming Artaxias balked - forgive the involuntary pun - and threw its rider into the mud. Yes, so "successful" that Hathaway injured his foot hard on the edge of one of the tanks with mud that formed the swamp.

He was immediately taken to the hospital - just as is, smeared with mud Indian clothing. Fortunately, two days later he was on his feet and able to continue shooting.

Scene with Morley also starred with the mass of tricks. A full-size model of the turtle did not make (it must have been about 15 meters high), detail shot just individual parts of it - the top of a tree with a broken top and side on which Atreus slides down into the mud.



Talking with Atreia Morley. The scene was filmed in parts - Atreya communicated with a blue screen.
"Armor" have made of water rides ("hill"), a height of ten meters. Fall hero would have a height of 2 meters. Health Hathaway have decided once again not to take risks, and was discharged from the US stuntman Bobby Porter - one of very few in the world of professional stuntmen complexion with 12-year-old, the same as at the Hathaway at the time.

Fans dig up oversight in the cult film never miss a chance to poke in a scene where Morla sneezes towards Atreus, so much so that it literally blows the tree on which he climbed. As with the armor of a giant turtle, and with the tree into the mud is flying Porter, and in one of the frames you can see his face - though not clear, but it is clear.

Blue Screen


Masks used for combined shooting.

The crew is actively used a blue screen and blue color filters combined shooting. As you might guess, all flights of scenes filmed that way: separately - mountain landscapes and the city over which riding on Falkor flying Bastian and Atreyu, and separately - the head and neck with Falkor riders (which was shot on a blue background).
Then he created two masks that imprinted using a device known as "optical printer" in the right film, so that the desired area of ​​each frame of shading, and then the images from both films using semitransparent mirrors projected the new film, overlapping each other, so that a desired image.

On the blue screen, starring not only flights, but all the same conversation with the turtle Morley scene where Atreyu wakes up on the sea beach and a few others (for example, a little family talk Atreus branchlivyh gnomes that he is being treated, and taught. Gnomes are much less boy's size, and they are in the frame along with Atreus.

While there was more computer technology, which then Peter Jackson used to reduce the growth of Frodo, Gandalf sitting next to, so that the use of combined shooting obvious.

The ivory tower
Abode of the Empress (in Russian literal translation of its name - "Detopodobnaya Empress" - looks well, too sloppy, but not against the truth trample), stunning in its beauty anyone who sees it - from near or from afar, and having some incredible proportions that , however, it fits perfectly into the concept of the film.



The ivory tower in the film.

Employees Arkadon, which was responsible for the visuals (and which was designed by the same "optical printer"), made several models of the Tower (across the entire and only its upper part) for different plans.



Shooting towers of different plans.

What exactly was done Tower, the information could not be found, - but it is known that because of the terrible heat of the 1983 in one of the most beautiful days not even a model submarine fleet (probably more because of the fact that it is very backlit bright lamp, placed directly within the model).



The full-sized model of the tower was also not the smallest sizes.

Visual Effects: nonhuman characters
Their film is not much, but still - very memorable. And some surprisingly "live". It is worth noting that the model they were made for large size and heavy, so that the viewer has the strong impression that they are - real.

Skaloed (Rock Biter)
Monumental size being one of the first inhabitants of Fantasy appears in the frame (scaring those who see it). As it turns out, it eats stones - and they are richer than all sorts of mineral inclusions, the more joyful it.



Skaloed

For this "monster" three models were produced. The biggest - sedentary, it is present in the film the most. The actual height of it was 1, 6 meters, it produced of painted foam.

The second model - Skaloed riding on his "mobile device", reminiscent of both asphalt skating rink and children's bicycle. Ironically, the "stone roller" could move independently - in the model contains a powerful electric motor with a drive to the front axle and the battery, from which he ate, were installed in the saddle. The model of the mobile skaloeda do not need - only the eyes and legs. Their movements are controlled remotely. All combination weighed about 100 kg.



Skaloed large and heavyweight in the frame, and on the set

The third model was used only in one scene - where Skaloed climbs down from his "rink". And here it was necessary to make a suit and wear it the actor (Colin Gildera). Rubber suit weighed about 20 kg, and it was very hard to move. Once Gilder lost his balance and fell, and was able to get up already only with assistance. Just how hot it was in that suit, and can not speak.

Bat
Ever inhibited even fell asleep on the fly "stupid mouse" is only visible in a hanging position - and flying. The close-ups it is 2, 3-meter puppet. Two puppeteers pumped fur to simulate breathing of the creature, another ruled the nostrils and eyelids.



Bat that all the time falling asleep on the fly

Fleet snail
3, 5-foot snail with a motor, designed by Colin Arthur (and costing big money), was used in all three shooting day - but the scene it was very memorable.

Movement of the head and the muzzle was headed just 7 people - so the scene with her participation has turned out very touching.


Fleet snail was equipped with a powerful electric motor too. At some point it so dispersed that the accident occurred
200-pound device is driven by a powerful electric motor - is too powerful, as it turned out: at some point, even a snail came off the rails, which is not pleased either film crew nor the actor, who was sitting astride this "miracle».

Morla, a giant tortoise
Morley filmed in parts (it is written below) - but it still needed to manufacture several models. The largest - three-meter - was used for filming close-up, in particular, the "conversation" with Atreus. Head movement and facial expressions turtle operators in charge of a team and the work they have been very difficult, given that she had to say, rolling his eyes (and even roll them), and even sneeze.

From the water attractions we have made another design which was to portray the 15-meter Morley - its filmed in part in the scenes in the Swamp of Sorrows.



For this scene filmed three-meter model Morley

There was another model quite tiny: the layout of only 50 cm in height, and the top - a tiny figurines depicting Atreus.

Falkor

Wingless, but the flying Dragon Luck (Gluekdrache), one of the most memorable characters in the film and one of the "living" dolls ... However, a doll that 15-meter structure with the core of aviation began as something even not dare to call.



Falkor dragon luck

Only one neck dragon has 3 meters in length; clearly a dog's head (thanks to which Falkor and to be so memorable character), weighed 100 kg. She was 16 moving parts to control which took 36 tackles - and very rather big team of operators.

The body of the dragon was covered with 10 thousand (!) Scales, each the size of a palm, and pasted it on top in the overall ease quintals angora, in addition, painted in pink color.

Designed Falkor in general Giuseppe Tortora, but the head of Arthur Collin came up, and he had to redo it several times - until, finally, one of the options did not like the director.



The entire length of 15 meters had Falkor

A full-scale "doll" is still exhibited in the Museum of Bavaria Film Studios, and everybody can sit on her neck.
There was another model - a small, 40-cm. On its development and production, however, are gone for six months. She was supposed to look like a perfect copy of a large model,

By the way, for the second film, "The Neverending Story" was produced another full-size model, and its creators had to paste over the body of the "little" Falkor two thousand scales the size of a pinhead each. Instead angora rabbit fur was used.

This model could bend and move in any direction; it was used for scenes where Falkor flying in the sky one.

Gmork
Werewolf servant unnamed in the film force behind "Nothing." First, in his "role" would remove a Great Dane, disguised as a wolf, but then this idea was abandoned because it was too obvious that this is not even a wolf, and especially not a werewolf.