Colin Cantwell, who has an incredible career in science and the arts, will be doing an exclusive meet and greet at Julien’s Auctions on Friday, December 5th from 1:30 to 3:00. Colin Cantwell famously made the first prototype models for George Lucas back in 1974/1975; the first realizations for the X-Wing Fighter, the Y-Wing Fighter, the Tie Fighter, the Star Destroyer, the Death Star, the Landspeeder, the Sandcrawler, and the Millennium Falcon, as well as the T-16 Skyhopper. His original, never before seen concept artwork from 1974/1975 will be up for auction at Julien’s Auctions on Saturday, December 6th at 10 AM, as well as other artifacts from his work on 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Omnimax/IMAX, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and WarGames, as well as the mission plans from his work with NASA and CBS on the Apollo XI moon landing mission in 1969. At 82 years old, this is Mr. Cantwell’s first meet and greet and autograph signing, so a very rare opportunity to meet a legend in classic science fiction film and television. [Read more…]
EXCLUSIVE: Video Interview with Colin Cantwell on ’74/’75 Star Wars Prototypes & Never Publicly Shown Concept Art, The Apollo XI Moon Landing with NASA & CBS, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, WarGames and More
Colin Cantwell is a dreamer. However, he’s is one of those rare individuals who is not content to merely dream, but to imagine how to make dreams a reality, and takes action to make things happen. And if the tool or method that he requires does not exist, he will invent it. He is about thinking up possibilities that others would find… impossible. He is also quite modest, regardless of his incredible accomplishments across a broad spectrum of disciplines. He seems to be entirely self-motivated and has an internal engine driving him to achieve the results that bring his dreams to life. My other observation, through my conversations with him at his home in Colorado some months ago, is that he is not only brilliant, but he is unrestrained by the divisions and categorizations that frame the lives of most of the rest of us. Like the great Leonardo da Vinci, Colin Cantwell is gifted with a great diversity of talents, as a scientist, inventor, artist, special and computer effects wizard, architect, engineer, and I’m sure a number of other abilities. In my opinion, he is one of our great national treasures that “we” didn’t know about. He played a significant role in Star Wars: A New Hope, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Omnimax/IMAX, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and WarGames, working with some of our greatest film auteurs like George Lucas, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg. He worked with NASA and CBS on the Apollo XI moon landing mission. He even won over “the greatest architect of all-time”, Frank Lloyd Wright. And at 82 years of age, he continues to work on his life achievements; with his concept of Cosmic Biodesics, only now is the rest of the world catching up to his ideas. [Read more…]
San Diego Comic-Con 2014: Photography Journal (Cosplay/Costumes/Sights of The Convention) (#SDCC)
As part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2014, this article features photos of cosplayers and fans wearing costumes, and other people in and around the convention center and Exhibit Hall, as well as the Gaslamp District, and other places in an around the action during the event. [Read more…]
San Diego Comic-Con 2014: Photography Journal (Sights Around The Convention Center and Gaslamp Quarter) (#SDCC)
As part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2014, this article features photos from the main Exhibit Hall of the convention center, areas around the convention center, the Gaslamp Quarter, and other places in an around the action during the event. [Read more…]
San Diego Comic-Con 2014: Game of Thrones Exhibit “Survive The Realm” (#SDCC)
The Game of Thrones “Survive the Realm” interactive experience and exhibit was held across from the Omni Hotel in the Gaslamp District during Comic-Con this week, and featured a number of original costumes from the popular HBO cable television series based on the George R.R. Martin novels. Also featured were green screen opportunities to have animated photos taken with one of the dragons (Drogon) was well (see mine here) as a “Climbing the Wall” virtual reality experience and a photo op chance to sit in the Iron Throne. For the true fan, there were also professional tattoo artists on site giving GOT-inspired tattoos. [Read more…]
HBO Presents Comic-Con International: San Diego’s 40th Annual Masquerade 2014 Photography & Contest Winners List (500+ Photos, #SDCC)
This year marks the 40th Masquerade at Comic-Con International. Presented by HBO, there were a total of 41 entries (individuals and groups). I am happy to report that my own personal favorite entry – “Giant Monsters All Out Attack” – won best of show… [Read more…]
TMZ Reports Michael Jackson Estate Files Lawsuit Against Premiere Props
TMZ and other media outlets are today reporting that the Michael Jackson Estate has filed a Federal lawsuit again Hollywood movie prop and memorabilia dealer Premiere Props; that the auction house was “duping potential buyers with a get-rich-quick scheme”. Per the article, Premiere Props offered concert photos for sale of the 1984 Victory Tour, and that Michael Jackson had originally hired the photographer and owned rights to the photos. According to TMZ, “[t]he Estate claims Premiere Props put the photos up for auction, and misled buyers into believing they would also own copyright on the pics — a huge selling point, because the buyer could make a fortune by reprinting and selling the pics”. [Read more…]
San Diego Comic-Con 2014: Random Photos from Preview Night/Wednesday Night (#SDCC)
This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2014. This article features a variety of photos from Wednesday / “Preview Night”… [Read more…]