How King Kong Was Filmed (Or Not)

These days, it's pretty easy to find out how a film was made. There's a plethora of websites, podcasts, books, you name it. Chances are you'll even find your favourite filmmakers sharing their secrets personally on social media. "'King Kong' - How Did They Make It?" - Movie Classic, May 1933. Back in the 1930s, … Continue reading How King Kong Was Filmed (Or Not)

Cinefex 153 – High Octane Aliens

Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror flick Alien is probably my favourite film of all time. So imagine how thrilled I was to get the gig covering Alien: Covenant for the new issue of Cinefex. Since the average Cinefex article runs to about 26 pages (yes, we really do dig deep with our stories), that's a big gig. As … Continue reading Cinefex 153 – High Octane Aliens

There’s a Big Ape On My Desk

However, I do know that I watched King Kong again on VHS tape not long after I’d developed an unhealthy passion for animation and visual effects – specifically, after viewing a documentary on the making of The Empire Strikes Back. As I recall, this early version of the now-familiar “Special Features” section of your average … Continue reading There’s a Big Ape On My Desk

Revisiting Cinefex (29): Star Trek IV, King Kong Lives, Top Gun

It's hardware all the way on both the front and back covers of Cinefex #29. Up front is the Klingon 'Bird of Prey' spaceship swooping under the Golden Gate Bridge in Leonard Nimoy's 1986 film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. The back cover shows a missile strike on a MiG fighter from Tony Scott's … Continue reading Revisiting Cinefex (29): Star Trek IV, King Kong Lives, Top Gun