Cinema illusionist

Posted on october 17, 2018

An exceptional 70mm screening of “2001: A Space Odyssey” won over the audience of 2,000 at the Auditorium of Lyon last night. If this absolute masterpiece, 50 years old this year, is so captivatingly modern, it is also thanks to the talents of Douglas Trumbull, then a young man, who supervised the special effects during the shooting of the film. Unveiled Monday in his presence, the documentary “Trumbull Land” by Gregory Wallet put a spotlight on this visual genius of modern times.

 Copyright Institut Lumière / Jean-Luc Mège Photography 2018

"It's like an elixir, a magic potion." With a twinkle in his eye, Douglas Trumbull goes in, takes a handful of something akin to coarse salt and puts it into the water, like a young curious chemist, "Part of my philosophy is to use ‘organic’ and natural effects, without the computer.” To innovate, invent, find things that do not exist in real life, such are his motivating forces. Artist, engineer, passionate about science and space, Douglas Trumbull did not predict fate would lead him to become a master of special effects. Illustrator of films for NASA, he fell under the spell of “2001: A Space Odyssey” at age 23. Before "solving problems" for Stanley Kubrick, his mentor, Trumbull had no experience either in production or directing. "I endeavored to do something for him that had never existed." Himself a director, Douglas Trumbull supervised the special effects of Steven Spielberg's First Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977, and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner in 2001. Not bad at all.

Yesterday, in front of 2,000 festivalgoers, Douglas Trumbull shared memories where Kubrick seemed like a friend, even a “substitute father." "I find it remarkable to see this film, 50 years later, in these circumstances. I'm sure Stanley would be have been thrilled to see all of you watching his movie in this beautiful venue. "

Charlotte Pavard, avec Laura Pertuy