To be completely honest, I don’t recall hearing the name ‘Colin Cantwell’ before yesterday afternoon - when I learned about a video interview with him over at Original Prop Blog. However, the fact that many of us haven’t heard of Cantwell it doesn’t mean that his contributions to the Geekscape…indeed to film in general…aren’t hugely significant.
Cantwell is a concept artist/illustrator whose work on high-profile projects shaped not only the early days of productions, but later-stage creative decisions as well. For example: while working closely with Stanley Kubrick, Cantwell suggested the nature and shape of 2001’s title sequence - as well as elements of that film’s now legendary soundscape.
In the formative developmental days of the original STAR WARS film, Cantwell conceived the purpose and the existence of that picture’s now iconic Death Star ‘trench’ - and proposed the climactic action within it. Cantwell’s contributions to STAR WARS were so instrumental that George Lucas asked him to form and open ILM - an opportunity Cantwell declined.
Cantwell was tasked with assembling a test shot for CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRTD KIND at an early juncture of its production, when computer generated FX were being considered for the film (Part 6). The results of the undertaking are rather amusing.
The OPB’s videos include very concept art for the original STAR WARS which I’ve never seen before (Part 5), discussion of Cantwell’s time on BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25th CENTURY television series (Part 6), the development of WAR GAMES’ stunning NORAD control room (part 8), and much more.
This interview offers a highly, highly recommended insight into the creative/developmental processes of our some all-time favorite titles, and an eye opening exploration of a many whose work helped shaped many of the people reading this page into the Geeks they are today.
Check out all parts of the video interview HERE. So glad something like this was done. Too many people in creative process go unheralded…
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Glen Oliver
“Merrick”
