Ken Thompson Jr. on CGI

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By Michael Faries

BattlestarGalactica.com spoke with Kenneth Thomson, Jr., Computer Generated Images (CGI) Artist Extraordinaire for the Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer) back in September 1999.  The interview was slightly delayed as Ken and his wife, Mildred brought their second child into this world on September 10th: Ethan James Thomson. Ethan arrived at 3:55PM Pacific Standard Time, weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce. His brother, Christopher, was very happy to have him join the family.

Here's a two part question: First, how did you learn your skill? Secondly, what (and/or who) inspires you?

Well, when I was just in the first grade back in 1971, Star Trek went into syndication. I had watched it before when it originally aired, but my only memory until then was an episode with Kirk, Spock and "George Washington." Of course, it was really Abraham Lincoln, but for some reason that was the way I remembered it. Anyhow, between Star Trek and the Apollo Moon Landings that were going on at the time, my interest in space was very prominent, and remains so to this day. At an early age, I started reading about movies and special effects, mostly Famous Monsters of Filmland and books about Frankenstein, Creature from the Black Lagoon, etc. My parents had a Super-8mm movie camera, and let me play Star Trek and film the adventures. I was hooked on movie making ever since.

When Star Wars came out, I got serious about it, and wrote a script/ comic storyboard, then bought all the Don Post masks, and Kenner toys and made a 45 minute silent epic called STAR WARS EPISODE 4.5 "THE RETURN OF DARTH VADER." I also read a lot about John Dykstra's contributions to both Star Wars and Battlestar, and decided that I wanted to do that kind of work when I grew up.

While I was making this film, Battlestar Galactica premiered on ABC. From that point on, I started to write a Battlestar story, to make that into a movie as well. Sadly, there were no Don Post Cylon helmets, or Viper Pilot uniforms to be had at the time, so it got put on the shelf. When Battlestar Galactica was canceled, I even circulated a petition at my Junior High School, and got over 300 signatures to bring it back. Then Galactica 1980 came along and killed off all the reasons I liked Battlestar (ie., the ORIGINAL CAST AND PREMISE!), so I was left disappointed.

Years later, I started an original story idea, based in a medieval fantasy world, called Demonslayers. That was when I got into computers. I'd been reading every effects article I could find from CINEMAGIC and STARLOG, to books in the library. The movies TRON and The Last Starfighter convinced me that CG was the only way to make films out of my home if I wanted to do that. So, I bought an AMIGA computer, and learned to animate on it. It was so cool because I'd set up an animation to render, then go to class, come home and it was done. Of course that was pretty primitive stuff compared to what we're doing now for The Second Coming. Of course, we still w-a-i-t for rendering!

Can you tell me about some other "series/movies" (or game projects) you have worked for?

In 1990, I partnered up with a friend of mine named Jeff Bryars who'd worked on my Demonslayers project with me, doing cg effects for clientele that needed animated logos, etc. That company was called DIGITAL MASTERS. That went on for a couple of years, and we met another couple of artists at a convention in my home town of Austin, Texas. Josh Logan had a company called MAKEUP AND MONSTERS and John Funk had a huge collection of Star Trek models he'd custom built with lights and electronics.

We all teamed up and formed ART OF ILLUSION SPECIAL EFFECTS STUDIOS. That pretty much consisted of us sharing the bills for a studio where we could work on our productions together, but we all learned from each other, and worked on some fun projects like a Haunted House called Frightline III, that was headed up by Bryan Brown, who became our fifth partner. The Frightline III featured many original masks and props built by the Art of Illusion team, as well as sound effects and general grunt work.

AOI had a few convention appearances in Austin, showing off what we could do for cheap! That's when we met Bjo Trimble, who was a guest at the con. We took her out to dinner, and had a nice time. We kept in contact with her, and a few years later, she remembered us well enough to contact John Funk about a new show called Space Cases that was being produced by Bill Mumy and Peter David for Nickelodeon and Cinar, inc. John gave me a call because they were going to need a cgi model for the pilot.

Since most everyone else had moved on to other endeavors, he and I formed ANIGMA FX GROUP. We needed computer network support and brought in a friend of mine named Jason Spinazzolo to handle that end of it. We did 22 seconds of animation for the pilot that never aired. The show did get made thanks to our efforts, but it was produced in Canada, and they had their own FX department on staff when it went to series.

Two years ago, I sent in a demo reel to New World Computing, the producers of the Might and Magic series of fantasy role-playing/strategy games and was hired. I made the move to California and have been enjoying it immensely. A whole world of opportunities has opened up for me here.

So, when did you get contacted by the Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming crew? Inquiring minds want to know...

Well, I had read Richard's book, Battlestar Galactica: Armageddon and that was my first look at Battlestar in years. I wasn't even aware of the revival until I went to see him at the Pasadena Grand Slam convention in April. I just had this idea that here was someone still doing Galactica the way I'd like to see it done, and of course it was Captain Apollo himself!

So I took along my portfolio to see if he'd like to pitch it as an animated series using cgi, like Starship Troopers is currently being done by Foundation Imaging. But then I realized he was already nearly finished with an even better project, and could use someone to do cg Cylons. Actually, I was somewhat shocked when he immediately asked me to come to their production meeting the following Wednesday night. Of course I said "sure" and it's been a roller coaster since.

How did that happen? (How were you contacted? How did you get involved?)

I went to the meeting after reviewing everything available on the internet and collecting resources I'd had in boxes for years, (including my old Battlestar script, hehehe) and met with the rest of the cgi team. We divvied up the shot list and got started making models.

Were you brought onboard with one specific task?

I worked primarily on 3d cylons. The new mech types, the flying drones, the 3d versions of the original cylons, and the new human chip Cylon. I also made a new Imperious Leader and throne room, which I based on drawings by Andy Probert, who also worked with us via long distance and internet from Texas. I did quite a few compositing shots, putting Baltar in a hangar bay (built by Lee Stringer and Gabriel Koerner), putting Apollo in space in his Viper for a shot or two, and blowing up another unfortunate pilot, as well as doing some planetary flybys for Starbuck's daughter, Ciena.

I also did animatics with Mike McAdams, which were essentially moving storyboards for several of the space battles that appear in the trailer. I also created the turbo effect for the Vipers, and did some rotoscope work, adding laser fire to a shot where Apollo dives and fires his blasters. Oh yeah, and I got to blow up Kobol, the planet where the human race began. Kind of an honor, I guess, right up there with Baltar's.

Richard is a very inspiring person. What did you learn from him?

Richard is a really talented, and people oriented person. He's also a bit like Tom Sawyer, because he gets a lot of people to work on things for FUN, which means no money! Hahaha. But, sometimes that's the best way, because you can have this unlimited budget when people are donating their energy out of love for something. I had played a little Tom Sawyer in my days of filmaking and knew that it's really a rare priveledge to get to do something like this, and all the great opportunities that come from it.

Did you find yourself contributing to the story process? ("Let's try this, etc.")

You bet. Although the story of the show was already written and copyrighted, Richard really listens to our ideas and let's us run with them regarding the look and feel of our scenes, which gave us the leeway to have some creative freedom. We had several weeks of brainstorming sessions and design work to do before we started our end of production.

For example, all the designs were not set in stone, and I was able to suggest future uses for the mech Cylon design that weren't in the script, because I felt these cylons should be able to operate in the vacuum of space, to board ships, etc. So there were a few little extras we got to throw in. But for as for the story itself, it was already set in place. I think Richard realizes that we're all able to contribute solid ideas, especially the fans of the show.

One thing Battlestar Galactica did was leave about a million directions it could have gone. It's like a prelude to a series. It takes a peek at the what-ifs we all ask when we get philisophical, and so opens up endless possibilities. That's why I think it should make a comeback, and why Richard should be leading that revival.

I don't personally care to see something that spoils the original. I mean, it was a great show! It doesn't need to be re-invented. That is a waste of time, and a simple attempt to cash in on a franchise when an old show is re-made that has nothing to do with the original. If Star Trek had been re-cast with different actors, it would have flopped, in my opinion. Creating a Next Generation ended up being succesful for Star Trek because they honored the original, not ignored it. I think the same is true of Battlestar Galactica.

At this year's San Diego Comic Convention, Richard joked during the Battlestar Galactica panel session that he was publicly apologizing to all of spouses/families of those involved on the trailer for their sacrified time/efforts... So how did yours feel about it?

Yeah, that's funny because he was talking to my video camera at that moment. My wife was pregnant with our second son all throughout the production of the trailer, and she was threatening bodily harm if he didn't let me finish it up. Of course, she was only kidding, but I think Richard felt a little guilty! My son Christopher is best buds with Richard. They always have a good time when he comes over to work on the trailer at my place. Chris keeps on building those Lego fleet ships and vipers for Richard to put into the show!

Ken, how did the unveiling of the trailer move you?

Well, the first time I saw it was at Richard's house at that first meeting. There were two tapes. One was the actual trailer as it existed at the time, and it was impressive if not completely polished. I remembered being very excited, because even then, I think it could have sold the show. Then he brought out another tape with some effects that were done by Foundation Imaging that were the level he wanted us to achieve if not surpass. They were really good shots and I felt a bit intimidated. But we busted our butts and did a whole slew of new stuff that made it into the trailer, and the whole thing turned out incredible!

It must have felt wonderful to sit on that panel after the finished trailer was shown for the first time to the public.

It was great!

We're seeing an increase in the numbers of new Battlestar Galactica fans. Some of them, new and old, want to be a part of this production. What would you recommend to someone who wants to break into the CGI field?

Get a PC, buy 3d Studio Max or Lightwave and start animating. If you want it, go after it. Eat, sleep and breathe 3d animation, and you've got a good chance of getting into it. Read about it. Go where the work is.

Do you wish someone had given you this advice?

Well, that's what I did, personally. It just seemed the only way to make it happen. Nobody just hands you the chance these days--if they ever did.

Do you have any favorite designs? I would think that the new Cylon design from Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming is what you are most proud of.

Yeah, I like 'em all. I'd like them even better if I'd had more time to make them perfect in every way. But they turned out fine for what we did. I wanted to do more, but I wasn't there when they shot it last year, so I had only certain angles to work with. I would have liked to do more shots that integrated the Cylons I did with the live action elements. Maybe if we do the series... :) I'm actually most proud of the collection of all the shots put together that compose the entire trailer. In that context, everything becomes a work of art. I like Mike's Battlestar a whole lot. I also liked James Betteridge's Scarlet Viper.

It looks like Ralph McQuarrie influenced your work...

Richard showed me a picture of the Ralph McQuarrie painting, and said he'd like that design for a more sinister Cylon, which I thought was a cool idea. I had already created the original for that first meeting with Richard, and just modified it to create the new one.

Any additional influences?

Andy Probert had also sent me several design sketches that had a big influence on my stuff. I'll ask him about posting some of his drawings soon so everyone can see them.

Do you have a favorite episode (or episodes) from the original series?

The pilot, "Lost Planet of the Gods," "The Living Legend," "War of the Gods," "Greetings from Earth," "Hand of God." I really liked them all, but those stand out as favorites.

So many fans are adamant that many of the original elements from the show remain in a new Galactica production. Richard appears to be listening to the fans on this. Can you tell us about old and new designs in the trailer?

I think it's fantastic to include the old and the new together! You get the best of both worlds that way! Heck, I've got old computers that I still use even though I've got new ones that are state of the art. If you've got limited resources that are hard to replace, you're not going to have a lot of shiny new designs.

You're going to get prototypes on a limited run. Improvements to existing designs where possible, and cannibalization of older ships for raw parts to keep the fleet going. If it's possible, the fleet is even more rag-tag, but now armed to the teeth, and a bit leaner, meaner and faster.

Is anyone tackling a new robotic daggit design? "Muffit II" from the original series seems so outdated these days.

I'm not supposed to tell anyone, but what the heck? The new Imperious Leader is really MUFFY! Just kidding. He isn't in the trailer, that's all I KNOW for sure. There's always talk about creative cameos and how to keep him from being another Jar-Jar. :)

<laughing> True. Any particularly funny moments while making the trailer?

Well, Richard got a kick out of my son saying he wanted to play "Foxey" in the trailer.

Any particularly challenging moments?

Not exactly. The whole project was challenging. Mostly it was trying to do 4 to 5 shots at one time, and juggling what I was doing on it, as well as my real job keeping me extremely busy. That's why it is imperative that anyone who wants to do this stuff really love to do it, because for the duration, you don't have a life!

Any last thoughts? Any non-Galactica projects you want to talk about?

Demonslayers! Support your local filmmakers! Check out my web page if you're looking for something to fund! Raymar3d's Home Page.

Thanks, Ken!

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