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The Behind the Scenes Pic of the Day has been… BAAAADDDDD!
Upon originally posting this, I neglected to mention the great Craig Reardon who took this picture and worked closely with Randy Cook in executing these great effects. If you loved any movie make-up in the '80s it's more than likely Reardon was involved. If I'm not mistaken the face-ripping sequence in Poltergeist was his baby. So, props to Mr. Reardon and my apologies for not including him in the original post.
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with today’s Behind the Scenes pic!
While most people wouldn’t regard 1987’s THE GATE as a classic film it had a huge impact on me as a kid. From the little demon bastards to the dead guy in the wall this flick really got under my young skin.
Call it nostalgia if you will, but I still get a little of that feeling when I revisit the movie. Plus it’s really fun for anybody interested in practical effects work because Randy Cook (who later went on to spearhead Gollum in the LOTR movies) and his compatriots used every trick in the book to make the evil little hell creatures, summoned by a young Stephen Dorff running a heavy metal record backwards, of course, come to life.
Forced perspective, make-up, stop motion, man in suits!... you name it, they used it.
Randy Cook himself sent me this pic, so it’s a bit unique in that it’s a personal picture from the set, not a professional studio still. I like it because you see the process of filmmaking crystal clear here.
I think this is from the moment the creepy-ass Workman (dude in the wall) falls and scatters into a dozen demons. So what you have is a massively oversized set that, when lined up correctly, will look normal with the kids on their marks. Look at the dresser, how it’s obviously not lined up correctly. Seeing it from this point of view (with the non-costumed effects guys standing next to the costumed demons) is pretty neat if I don’t say so myself.
Click the image for the bigger version! Enjoy!
If you have a pic you think should be included email me. I’m looking for the iconic, the rare or the just plain cool behind the scenes shots to feature here.
Tomorrow’s Behind the Scenes Pic needs your help! See ya’ tomorrow!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Previous Behind the Scenes pics:
- Alien
- Big Trouble In Little China
- Clash of the Titans
- Dr. Strangelove
- Sesame Street
- The Birds
- The Dark Knight
- Batman (1989)
- Batman: The TV Series
- Stephen King’s IT
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- Superman
- The French Connection
- Tron
- The Road Warrior
- Ghostbusters
- King Kong (’33)
- The Empire Strikes Back (Luke with Slate)
- Rebel Without A Cause
- Taxi Driver
- Metropolis
- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
- Tommy Chong Meets The Blues Brothers
- The Empire Strikes Back (Filming the Crawl)
- John Carpenter’s The Thing
- Jaws
- Die Hard
- Aliens
- Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man
- The Howling
- Revenge of the Creature
- The Empire Strikes Back (Vader & Luke Duel)
- The Godfather
- Rambo III
- Vertigo
- Planet of the Apes
- Pan’s Labyrinth
- Labyrinth
- RoboCop
- The Adventures of Robin Hood
- Marathon Man
- Young Frankenstein
- Viva Las Vegas
- The Empire Strikes Back (Han driving a snow cat)
- Rio Bravo
- Giant
- Back to the Future
- The Time Machine
- War of the Worlds (1953)
- Alien (Chestburster)
- On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
- Dr. No
- The Twilight Zone
- Once Upon A Time In The West
- Lawrence of Arabia
- Star Trek: The Original Series
- The Empire Strikes Back (Luke in Wampa Cave)
- Edward Scissorhands
- The Warriors
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
- Requiem for a Dream
- The Princess Bride
- Hard Boiled
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
- They Live
- The Empire Strikes Back (Tippet with Wampa)
- Dirty Harry
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Blade Runner
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (Periscope Ride)
- 1941
- The Godfather (Coppola & Brando)
- The Lady Eve
- 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
- Godzilla
- The Empire Strikes Back (Bald Vader)
- Mary Poppins
- Alien 3
- Total Recall
- The Pink Panther
- Fawlty Towers
- The Trouble With Harry
- Beetlejuice
- The Shining
- Thriller
- An American Werewolf In London
Readers Talkback
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Never seen the movie though.
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Cool movie. The eye on the hand always freaked me out.
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first?
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Looks fun though.
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Classic. In what other kid's movie do you get a possessed child being stabbed in the eye with the legs of a Barbie doll?
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and chopper, vader, it's like whoosh, etc. etc. etc.
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'nuff said
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do not care
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I was really looking forward to that.
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Quint. Randy here. Glad you could use the picture, but I'd hoped you'd mention Craig Reardon, who built the suits (based upon my design, I immodestly point out), and did the special makeups ( based upon HIS designs). Craig also took this photo, while I (in picture) was down on the floor trying to make sense to those befuddled stuntmen. We had a blast on that movie.
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Oct. 4, 2010, 5:49 p.m. CST
I remember laughing so hard at the insults used in that movie
by MJDeViant
Putting it in my dvd player right now
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Is that a forced perspective pic or is that some kind of matte painting up on top? It looks so good, I can't tell. When the pic was smaller, I though everything was a miniature.
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I only recently saw THE GATE at a theatrical screening this past year and it was great (paired up with HACKERS of all things). The effects really are outstanding for what was probably a very modestly budget flick. The little demons are so incredibly creepy (I was 44 when we saw the screening this year and I STILL found those little guys incredibly disturbing).
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Regular sized set pieces, hanging in the air, and 4x scale set pieces on the ground for the rubbermen to cavort upon (if base of real wall was 12 ft from camera lens, base of 4x scale wall was 48 feet away, etc).
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This is a classic. And it scared the hell out of me, too. The record playing backwards, what's his nuts in the closet, yeah, this movie fucked with me a bit. The dead guy in the wall and the pics turning bloody were really what put me over the edge.
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tons of respect for planning that all out with REAL sets and props. It wouldn't be considered for a second in today's hollywood, even with far bigger budgets than the Gate certainly had. god damn, i love practical creativity. getting by with what you have- knowledge, skill and budget. I get nostalgic for the Gate too- it's such a weird mix of kid adventure flick and seriously fucked up horror. it'd never be made today at all.
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that came out last year? I have the version that came with the clear jewel case (and the admittedly better cover art). Is it worth the double dip for a once a year title?
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The effects from that film always kept me guessing. Now I know to wich extent forced perspective was used. Thanks, and great work!
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When I saw this movie in the late 80s there were a couple of scenes with those little guys that I just couldn't figure out how they were done. Ultimately, I thought it was the most amazing, smooth and life-like stop-motion I had ever seen. Now I know!
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there was a lot of bad green screen with that little Jester Goblin (mostly when super imposed onto Drew's sleeping torso) but there was also a lot of great set design and scaled props in his scenes too...
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I've never heard of the film but I'm a big Rush fan so I'm nerding out over the huge Alex and Geddy Poster on the wall :-)
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I liked THE GATE - nice mix of creepy situations and kid-saves-the-world fantasy. I never knew how they handled the FX but it always seemed better done than most films of its kind. <br> <br> In fact, seeing this photo makes me consider what a special time the mid-80s to early-90s was for low-budget horror films - so many were elevated and made memorable due to the handcrafted, do-it-yourself FX teams. Where are the modern-day filmmakers who could come up with something like KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE?
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are you/will you be working on The Hobbit?
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...one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
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I don't plan to. Wanted to. We had some preliminary discussions, but schedules and logistics (the real world) got in the way and it didn't work out. I WILL have the pleasure of seeing it with untainted eyes, in the theatre on opening day, and I am really looking forward to that
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Thank's Randy, this one really makes you think. It will probaly only stand out to those of us who saw the film back in the 80's. I never even considered that those creatures were people in costumes. I always assumed they were stop motion. I have to got watch this film again right now.
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I really appreciate you taking the time to answer. I almost went in the direction of makeup-special FX after high school, and the on-set stuff fascinates me.
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Anyone know how far back the use of forced-perspective goes? Obviously heavily used in LOTR, and I'd imagine in a spattering of genre-films, but how often does it get used in reality? Is it considered a gamble by directors to use it? Maybe Cecil B Demille used it create the epic feel, dunno. Anyone?
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fucking scared the shit out of me when I was a kid. I just thought that was so cool, that the demons would do that. evil fuckers. I loved this movie, even the creepy part where the nerdy neighbor kid danced with the dead dog!
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Meliès. Check out his miniature ballerina movies. ;)
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Did work on Poltergeist.
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Hanging miniatures were used a lot in silents (there's a very daring one as they enter the coliseum in BEN-HUR). William Cameron Menzies used them in silents like THIEF OF BAGDAD & BELOVED ROGUE. But I was particularly influenced by DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE, from which I shamelessly cribbed
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for a cool process picture & a movie to watch tonight
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Nice one
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Nice one
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Nice one
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Nice one
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Could not find footage, but there's an article and photos here. The dancer was faaar away. http://filmjournal.net/melies/ Thanks again Mr Cook!
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Oh man I'll have to throw on Ben-Hur when I get home and watch for it - that's awesome. Thanx dude for the response.
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Also did the creature in the Dan Ackryod/Albert Brooks intro og The Twilight Zone film.
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That stuff is fantastic and back in 1901, too! Friggin' genius. Probably would have blown audiences' minds. GOLD. Shouts of witchcraft or something coming from the gallery! Imagine what they'd think seeing modern effects.
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Shocked audiences with fake accident and guillotine beheading scenes. He used to be a stage magician, bought a camera not long after it got invented, and invented the jump cut by accident: his film broke while he was filming street activity and people and carriages disappeared/appeared/transformed. The rest is special FX history.
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Is this the one where he stab's an eye in his hand? Loved this movie but could never remember it's name.
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that did happen among hundreds of other wacky things
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I remember now running all my album's backward's after watching this. The Muppet's Show Album was never the same.
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I just heard on "Bagged and Boarded" (a podcast on smodcast.com) that Alex Winter is directing a remake of this in 3-D. I think this movie with a spin from the creator of Freaked will be quite interesting.
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That played the record backwards it was his nerdy friend.
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When I was 11. Quality BTS pic. Need to watch that movie again.
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that's the one, right after the dude hits the floor. damn near wore out the tape slo-moing that scene back-and-forth (frank has seen THE GATE at least 25 times). and that is still one of the best practical effects he's ever seen. thanks, MR. COOK!
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if you were just a kid when it came out.
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Oct. 4, 2010, 10:31 p.m. CST
THANK YOU!! Had imagery in my head but never knew title!!
by George Newman
I remember 2 bits of sequences from when I was 5 or 6 years old--very creepy for a little kid! One in particular is the 'parents' outside the front door trying to trick the children. I wouldnt say that I had nightmares, but i definitely found the images disturbing. Now I FINALLY know what movie it was. I'm looking into buying it immediately
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Wow. I wonder how big that soundstage was. Did they have to use a crane to hang that jacket that's the size of a hot air balloon on the door?
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I've really looked forward to these behind the scenes pictures, but this one has to be my favorite. Being a big fan of "The Gate" I found myself staring at this picture for far too long and being amazed the work it took to make those creatures look so small. Amazingly cool!
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the upper areas are actual size...placed nearer the camera. the lower half of the drawers, the door, and floor are the soundstage builds.<br> and to think it was all for probably a couple seconds of shot, if that. awesome.
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I loved the original as a kid! Creeped me out! And recently watched it again on Showtime, and still loved it. Now, they are remaking it. Alex Winter is directing it. (Yeah, I don't know who he is either) It's in pre-production right now. Even though I loved the original, I am curious to see what they can do with a better budget and today's effects!
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You mean to tell me Bill S. Preston, esquire!, is directing a Gate re-make?! Incredible.
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...Loved you in I, Madman!
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I JUST got back from seeing that at Arclight Hollywood! Fantastic work!!
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Pretty amazing!
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Awesome movies. Very underrated.
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Really holds up well. A lot of kids in my class loved this cos they were'nt allowed to watch Noghtmare on Elm st or Friday the 13th. The only movie that was not allowed in my house was the exorcist. Catholics can be so stoopid lol.
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hahahahahahahahaha...idiot
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When I saw the title for this one I was like "No way are they doing The Gate", and then I was like HOLY SHIT THEY ARE!
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when I was a kid - it gave me the shits right royally.
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Had forgot this movie, but have to get a new copy of it now. Good stuff, and nice pic!
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I think Its on Youtube.
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The size of that set is mindboggling.
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I not only watched the hell out of this movie as a kid, but I just passed a copy down to my niece who has apparently watched it 75 times already! I was always blown away by the minion effects in this movie. After watching all the LOTR extras, then seeing your name pop up in the credits, it all made sense. Thanks for all your hard work over the years. It has definitely been noticed!
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Please stop doing that. It's either unique or it's not. Cool pic, though.
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This is the best pic yet!
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I'm glad to see that others are as fond of this movie as I am. I remember being really impressed with the effects shown in the commercial as a kid. The stand out being the demons arm getting caught in the door, falling off qnd shattering into maggots when it hits the ground. This was an HBO favorite of mine and look forward to watching it again soon. <p> So were the effects as well received as I remember? I remember there being somewhat of a big deal about it.
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When I was 8 years old this movie freaked me the hell out. My younger brother and I couldn't sleep for a week after the kid got the eyeball in his hand! Of course, had to by the DVD the instant it came out!
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Thanks, not sure youtube will do it justice, but good to know.
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but that pic makes me want to. Bravo! I know some people get annoyed with the CGI bashing in here, but for me, it's just about returning to some type of balance between CG and practical. I think practical requires a bit more effort and planning ahead of time... you have to WANT to use practical effects and it seems like most productions just don't want to take the time up front... they'd rather have a VFX supervisor with the chrome ball and the match markers at the ready than take that in-camera risk. I'm doing a short film right now where we're doing an all practical alien that's a rod puppet... it's FUCKING EXPENSIVE compared to CG, but I think the quality you can get if you know what you're doing is amazing and has a magic to it that CGI just doesn't have unless you hire ILM or Weta and even then you have to ride herd so that little mistakes don't get through the gate. On a smaller production forget it... unless the digital effect is tailored to the shot and you know 90% of what you'll get, it's hard to make that look 100% real or even interesting. I think even 'bad' practical effects are fun to look at... so even if you don't get it 100% right, there's something there that's fun to watch and admire. I don't find that with bad or cheap CGI... with one exception - the Syfy original movie Ice Spiders.
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Now that shit creeped me out as a kid. Pic reminded me of that movie.
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I saw THE GATE as a kid and love it dearly and still believe that the only way they could have made some of those shots is they secretly summoned real demons. Now they are just trying to cover it up... It's just to good not to be true.
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Reminds me of back in the day when Fangoria was a cool magazine, and I'd read about Reardon working on Poltergeist or even E.T. Speaking of "The Gate", Prince used to use scenes from this movie mixed with all kind of other stuff in a loop before some of his concerts in the mid 90's in Europe.
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the director of the remake is none other than BILL from Bill and Ted!!!
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it looks great, and there are some awesome "making of" extras. If you like this pic, you have to see some of the extras on the new DVD.
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I used to make my parents rent this all the time when I was around 4-6. Those creepy little fucks used to scare the shit out of me. Them, and the troll from Cats Eye. "You've been baaaaad!!!!" fucking classic
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