The Opening Scene by the Numbers:Frames 4,710 Seconds 196.26 Minutes 3.271 CPU Hours 117,384.16 Disk Space 184.3 Gb 100% CG Frames 4,205 Pixels 13,396,973,280 Feet of film 320.2 Film recorder time 16 hours People on shot 19.5 RenderMan shaders 55+ Lines of shader code 15,372 Total Particles 6,542,233 (we think) Layers in composite 98 # times we crashed the servers 25 (at least) Processors used at once 128 Shortest frame time 12 seconds Longest frame time 18.4 hours--from the Special Edition |
Jena does not have blue eyes, of course. She has brown eyes. They tried blue contacts (no pun intended), but they looked too blue, so they colored her eyes digitally. The eye (before she blinks) is also a 3D computer model, and the reflection includes a shot of the Machine (without the rings). |
See that video on the big monitor? See its reflection on the floor? They were added digitally later. |
See that big dish in the background? Nope, it's not real. It was added digitally. |
You guessed it, that interview with Larry King and the reflections on the TV screen were added digitally later. |
See that sky? It's not real. It was painted and added digitally. Is there anything these guys can't do? |
The quadruple star pattern is just about everywhere. Look at the poster on Ellie's wall in Arecibo and then the VLA. The painting is by Jon Lomberg, who did some amazing work for Cosmos, the Voyager Record, and more (including Contact's cover). |