A Great Deal of John Dykstra's "Special Effects Magic" Was Left on The "Cutting Room Floor"

 

"The visual effects butchery inflicted on John Dykstra and his 'Apogee' team was massive. While they famously delivered over 300 fx sequences for 'Saga of a Star World', the frantic format re-edits and corporate panic forced the deletion of several highly ambitious, specialized effects shots.

The Carillon Exterior Mining & Energy Flares

Dykstra's team built intricate matte paintings and miniature models meant to establish the outside of 'Carillon' as a volatile, industrial hellscape. The shots featured active, 'Tylium Mining Operatons' with massive energy venting flares shooting from the planet's crust into deep space.

ABC and Universal cut these establishing shots entirely to speed up the transit to the resort floor. By deleting them, the movie loses the visual foreshadowing that the planet is a giant, ticking time bomb."

More to come.

"So Say We All!!"