A Great Legend Departs
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Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Written by: Mark Lyndon, in70mm.com, London Branch | Date: 11.02.2022 |
 Douglas
Trumbull, father of the Showscan process, from the Schowscan brochure, dated early 1990sA Great Legend Departs Now that he’s gone, the world will surely learn of the great gifts and genius of Douglas Trumbull. There is plenty to read and learn about his many achievements. There will be links galore to explore. • Go to Douglas Trumbull - A Conversation • Go to Immersive filmmaking with Douglas Trumbull • Go to Showscan: A High Impact Experience in 70mm • Go to "Brainstorm" in 65mm • Go to "The Tree of Life" in 65mm - no 70mm prints • Go to Ladies and Gentlemen, This is MAGI Cinema When I saw "2OO1: A Space Odyssey" in 1968, in Cinerama, there was one name that stood out in the credits which came at the end of the immaculate 70mm print - Douglas Trumbull. His contribution to 2001 is the stuff of legend. He was years ahead with his masterpiece "Silent Running". When it came to raising awareness about the importance of the environment, he was there in force. Sir Ridley Scott admitted frankly that Douglas added immeasurably to the atmosphere and feel of his greatest film - "Blade Runner". It was the greatest good fortune for me to have known and befriended Douglas and Julia Trumbull. They generously and immediately accepted me as a friend and fellow enthusiast for all things 70mm. It was very moving to witness his unstinting devotion and dedication to giving generously of his time and talent to the young students who crowded around him, eager to learn from the Maestro. That amazing and magical night at the Widescreen Weekend, which lasted well into the small hours, will never be forgotten by those who were there. At the centre of it all was Douglas Trumbull. |
More in 70mm reading: A day with Doug Trumbull Douglas Trumbull - A Conversation Immersive filmmaking with Douglas Trumbull Ladies and Gentlemen, This is MAGI Cinema “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” |
In Honor of Doug Trumbull
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 From
the filming of the first Showscan demonstration film: "New Magic". Image from the Showscan brochure.I was going to college in Springfield MO in 1984 when Douglas Trumbull was invited to speak at a film class I was taking. He was in town promoting the opening of the midwest’s first Showscan theater built inside the local Chuck E Cheese. The class was invited to a test screening of "New Magic". To say we were all blown away would be an understatement. They were still testing sound levels at this point and I have never been to a more powerful screening, soundscape wise, and I like Nolan films! The illusion was complete for the beginning with the bumbling projectionist, and jaws dropped more with each sequence. We did a Q and A afterwards and we all loved it. I went back several more times fo r different shows but always regretted the limitations on length of program because of how much space the platter of film took up. I was first in line to see Brainstorm when it was released and was sorry it couldn’t have been a true Showscan feature. He was a pioneer since the 60’s and I remember seeing Silent running as a small child and loving it. His Legacy will live on…RIP….. at 60FPS |
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