Title Designer for John Carpenter’s The Thing Looking to Recreate Iconic Visual Once Again

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As a long-time gamer and movie enthusiast with a particular affinity for sci-fi and horror films, I can’t help but feel excited about Peter Kuran’s upcoming “documentary demonstration” of creating the iconic title sequence for John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece, The Thing.

There’s another upcoming documentary besides “The Thing Expanded” about John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi/horror classic, “The Thing.” Peter Kuran, the designer of the film’s iconic opening titles, intends to produce a behind-the-scenes “documentary demonstration,” and he’s currently crowdfunding for it on Kickstarter.

For years, people have inquired about the methods behind my unique creations, asking, “How did you accomplish that?” I’ve tried to explain my process, but since I hadn’t recorded any behind-the-scenes footage or taken photos, my descriptions were limited. Others attempted to recreate the setup based on available information, but the results fell short. To provide a clearer understanding, I plan to create a short film that showcases the setup and photography techniques used to produce the iconic title, offering insights into the pre-computer and CGI era.

I’ve always been intrigued by the enigmatic ending of “The Thing.” Kurt Russell and John Carpenter spent hours discussing its interpretation.

The Thing Title Designer Hopes to Recreate Effect in “Documentary Demonstration”

At present, the fundraising effort has brought in around $1,200 towards its target of $1,800. According to Kuran, this is the absolute minimum amount required for the project’s execution – including rental fees for a venue, lights, an old Mitchell camera, and related accessories, as well as a tank akin to his earlier one. However, if more funds are collected, the project could potentially expand in scope.

In simple terms, the title of “The Thing from Another World” (released in 1951 and inspired by John W. Campbell Jr.’s novella “Who Goes There?”) sets an ominous tone for Carpenter’s film with its bold and forceful presentation. This aggressive introduction hints at the terrifying ability of the extraterrestrial adversary to infiltrate and consume its human prey by tearing through their defenses, much like how the title seems to burst onto the screen.

In an interview with SYFY Wire during the movie’s 40th anniversary in 2022, Kuran shared that he secured the position instead of Roger Corman’s New World Pictures by offering a lower bid than his rival. Had Carpenter chosen Corman’s studio, the opening credits would have been created by a young James Cameron, who later gained fame with “Terminator.” Kuran expressed his pride in having outcompeted him for the job.

The method of creating a smoky effect inside an aquarium was inspired by an experience during his work on a comparable outcome for “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”. He achieved this by employing a salt heater and sugar. However, the result was disastrous as it filled the entire building with smoke. From that incident, he learned to contain the effect in a tank while working on “The Thing”, preventing the smoke from spreading beyond its boundaries.

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2024-07-15 21:01