You at Your Geekiest

[Jeff]

How did Dr. Chris Cooper's father die?

In what general style/motif is Dave Foley's psychiatrist character's office and wardrobe?

Chris Cooper's father died by shooting himself many times until he finally "hit a vital organ and died." (HA!)

Aw man, I can remember those scenes "You're GAY. Your wife knows it, your kids know it... DOGS know it..."

But you got me, Kareem! I can not recall the general style or motif of that office.

You are now the sitting Geek Emeritus. Pick your topic!

[kbadr]

It may have been a trick question, so I apologize. I couldn't confirm it with Google image search, but as far as I remember, the very-white psychiatrist is inexplicably decked out in traditional African garb, and his office decor matches. At least in one of the scenes. It's one of my favorite never-explained subtle jokes. He also has a groucho mustache for no apparent reason. God I love that movie.

Me at my geekiest. Shit, I dunno. I'd say Star Wars, but it would have to mean stuff that happened before 1994.

Let's go with Special Effects/Industrial Light & Magic trivia. (What am I getting myself into...)


Upon review, I call bullshit on my trivia question. Geek crown restored to Jeff Britt on the topic of Brain Candy...

[mpbrockman]

Trek, Python and I have a special secret shame. My giant-ass science-fiction book collection.

Yes, I own every Frank Herbert book ever written.

I'm also damn close with Heinlein and Clarke. I may actually have Clarke covered if you take out the collaborations with Baxter, Lee, Pohl, Hube-McDowell and a few others. I think I have most of the Baxter & Lee ones too.

I've also noticed Kim Stanley Robinson and Greg Bear taking up more shelf space as of late.

Really geeky? I have every James Blish transcription of all the original ST episodes and all of the Alan Dean Foster adaptations from the animated ST series.

[mpbrockman]

Let's go with Special Effects/Industrial Light & Magic trivia. (What am I getting myself into...)

What was the name of the camera developed specifically at ILM for Star Wars (hint: it has it's primary creator's name in it)

Bonus round: what where the 7 axes of said camera?

[kbadr]

Pretty sure it's DykstraFlex, at least that's what my brain said immediately. Named for John Dykstra, one of the effects supervisors on the original Star Wars film.

7 axes of rotation...damn, you got me! I can only think of like 3 or 4 period, camera or no.

Still, game's back in Jeff's court.

[Jeff]

Still, game's back in Jeff's court.

Me? But why? I think you won fair and square. I couldn't even remember that Foley was wearing African garb until you reminded me. I was delighted to be reminded of that.

[Jeff]

Still, game's back in Jeff's court.

Me? But why? I think you won fair and square. I couldn't even remember that Foley was wearing African garb until you reminded me. I was delighted to be reminded of that.

As someone who has been given back the geek crown, I turn around and give it back again. Forward, and Kareem is it!

[happywaffle]

How big was the model of the Death Star that they used in Star Wars (1977)? Reasonably accurate estimate is acceptable.

I don't even know the answer, I'm just wondering.

[kbadr]

Kind of a trick question. There were multiple models for all of the spaceships. For the Deathstar, they'de use relatively small ones (baseball sized or so) for long shots. I don't know the exact size of the bigger one, but I'd guess...6 or 8 feet in diameter. I've seen pictures of the effects guys standing around the full Deathstar model against the blue screen.

Then they also had much more detailed models of the surface that they used to film the attack and explosions leading up to the trench run. Those were flat panels maybe 8 or 10 feet square. They shot a lot of those outside in natural light, since they were so large they'd take up the entire frame.

Oh, and there were matte paintings of the Deathstar too, of course.

So, I don't know the exact dimensions...but I see them in my head. Does that count?

[happywaffle]

Yep, that's a more than sufficient answer. Next question for Kareem!

[poltergasm]

Which character designed the B Wing?

[kbadr]

My instinct was Ackbar, but I did have to look.it up to confirm it, so...I lose!

I still want more Sfx/ILM questions though

[happywaffle]

Wait, Admiral Ackbar designed the B-Wing?

[kbadr]

Well he wasn't.an admiral at the time...

Honestly, I just assumed it was him because it was designed by the Mon calmari and he was the only one they gave a name...

[happywaffle]

Had no idea. It was always my favorite Star Wars ship (no shit it was, cause it's the BEST).

Dammit, now I wanna buy this all over again. http://shop.lego.com/en-US/B-Wing-Starfighter-10227