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	Vol.7, No 28, October 18, 1999
	Alumni share their FX secrets with campus By Yoko Ito-Peterson Daily Forty-Niner Special effects artists and Cal State Long Beach alumni shared behind-the-scenes incidents and career opportunities in the film industry at the lecture "FX Secrets: From CSULB and Beyond" Wednesday night at the Design Department Gallery. Speakers Richard Miller and Lorne Peterson, two of the oldest members of special effects company Industrial Light and Magic, discussed their various works including "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Star Trek." The gallery was filled with 400 people, said Rosalinda O'brian at the College of the Arts Some students showed them their portfolios before the lecture. "It's [special effects] like helping a magician achieving his trick," Miller said. "Director gets to be equivalent of magician, but he does not have to worry about how cats will disappear," he said. They explained that their works of old-fashioned drawing and sculpting still have to be done, although computer graphic is slowly taking over. "It's hard for computer graphic people to start from scratch," Peterson said. Through slides and footages, they demonstrated the secrets of special effects to the audience. The whales made for "Star Trek" looked so real that some articles questioned how they got so close to them, Miller said. Those fake whales angered some activists, because they are endangered spieces, Peterson said. Peterson revealed some tricks from "Star Wars: Episode I ? The Phantom Menace" by demonstrating the models.   The huge audience at the races in the movie was made of medical Q-Tips, and they ran a tank of salt to make a waterfall, Peterson said. "Coming up to the idea, cheaper solution is quite satisfactory," Peterson said. Many questions came up from students on how to get in the industry. Miller and Peterson recommended looking for less known companies than ILM.    They also said students need to apply for the job at the right time. "When people were doing 'Titanic,' they employed about 200 model makers," Peterson said.   They also encouraged female students and said that more women are working in the industry now. "Movie industry is hard to get in, but I am determined [to work for the industry]," said James Hong, a senior majoring in industrial design major, after the lecture. Mariska Handoyo, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies said she enjoyed the lecture because the panel explained career opportunities.		Pyramid concert details released   Sedan smacks into campus shuttle   Skateboarders defy on-campus rules   Campus art teaches about domestic abuse   Retiring professors leave voids in CSULB classrooms Closing Holly-wood   Little merit in background check Alumni share their FX secrets with campus   Pantera still confident in its metal sound   Conference shuffle may have domino effect Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.