Labyrinth Jim Henson 1986

http://minersfoundry.org/labyrinth-friday-october-19-2012/labyrinth-poster-5/

Labyrinth is one of my favorite films of all time. from the loving characters to the amazing performance from David Bowie this is an outstanding film. Jim Henson did an amazing job and this film has lived on ever now. This film is so creative and have original songs performed by David Bowie that where created for this film. I personally love this film because i think this is a creative film and tests peoples imagination.

The visual effects in this film our incredible and show why Jim Henson was the greatest puppeteer. This also has some typical 80s green screen effects.

The puppets 

As in all Jim Henson's greatest movies they involve puppets. On the Goblin Kings chamber scene there where "48 puppets on that set and 50/52/53 puppeteer working at one time" says Brain Henson the puppeteer co-ordinator.


http://cinematicthoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/labyrinth-1986-jim-henson-jennifer.html
The main puppets that had speaking rolls would be spoken on set by their puppeteer and then that would be used in the film. Any puppet on a wall was controlled by a head size hole for the puppeteer to put there hands through. If a puppet was on the floor the initial ground would be lowered so the puppeteer could either stand , sit or kneel so there out of view whilst controlling there puppet above them. Puppets in this film are controlled many different ways.
Some are controlled by hand. This is where the puppet would be main to fit in one persons hand so they could control the mouth.
Others are controlled on a stick. This is usually for the puppets without speaking rolls and are in the back ground. So the whole puppet is created and but an a thin black stick.
The ones they want more control over are on string. this is where there whole body can be controlled by the stings but the control is very limited.
When they want full control they use blue or green suits and get somebody different to control each section of the body.
I  personally love the puppets in this film because they create an amazing visual experience foe the viewer of any age. These creatures today would probably be CGI if it was done by any other company.


Goblins 

In this film there are not only puppets as goblins but also little people. On the Goblin King's chamber scene there where "8-12" people in costumes running around acting like goblins. During the song Dance Magic Dance that takes place in this scene these characters start jumping up 8 feet into the air. This was done by putting them all on flying rigs and wire harnesses.


Eyes

http://www.cap-that.com/labyrinth/

These eyes follow Sarah as she walks past them at the beginning of her journey.These eyes show whats to expect in this film and show the viewer what they should be prepared for.

This is done by a cabling system running through to control all the eye balls but separate. There where five separate circuits to control 30 eye balls. this gives the illusion that they are real and moving one there own individually.


The Fire Gang


http://cinematicthoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/labyrinth-1986-jim-henson-jennifer.html

The fire gang scene have the use of black screen. This is the typical black screen where there is a black boarder around each character and you can tell they have been black screened. because black screen which is now green screen.

This gang where create by three people controlling each puppet. One person would control the head, another the arms and the other the head. They would have to be in perfect sync with each other. The feet would be attached to the puppeteers feet and that puppeteers hand would control the hip movement. The arm movement would be controlled by sticks on there elbows. The head is controlled by one hand, that puppeteer would be the voice.
It was shot with a computer controlled  camera. The background was then shot with the same camera so the exact movements that was needed would be in the background. This was meshed together during pre production.

Technology like this has improved to this day used in films like The Avengers. This can now if used properly create scenes where the audience wouldn't even know the background wasn't real and believe they are where they say they are.

Hoggle



http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3572406528/nm0001345
Hoggle is said to be the most difficult puppet they have produced because of his face. In his face there are 18 different motors. These control the different portions of the face. Much like ET this is controlled wirelessly by 4 different people.
Hoggle is done by a little person called Sharri Weiser. She is the body movement  She has the mask and the costume on. Nothing on the face of Hoggle is connected to her. Each controller had to be in sync because the face and the body movement had to be the right shape and look.
Hoggle is such a creative character but can be compared to Gollum from Lord of the Rings. They are both main characters but created in two very different ways. Even though Gollum is one of my favorite characters ever I prefer Hoggle because he is there on set and screen it is easier to believe he could be real.
Where is this puppet now? Well in 2006 the puppet was restored to its former glory and is now at a collectors house.



The Goblin King 


http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2012/01/16/labyrinth-goblin-king-jareth-getting-his-own-prequel-graphic-novel
The act with crystals where not done by David Bowie but where done by Mathew. Mathew was a juggler and his expertise is in crystals. He used his hand and manipulated the crystals whilst standing behind David. This scene was a long process's because he was working blind and couldn't see what was happening with the crystal. Filming this scene "David was very patient " says Jim Henson.


Room Illusion 

http://lunaguthrie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/labyrinth-1986-dir-jim-henson.html



http://cinematicthoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/labyrinth-1986-jim-henson-jennifer.html

This set was create by Eliot Scott. Every gap is lit so on screen no body knows whats top and whats bottom. This is an amazing visual effect.
Camera where placed on there side and upside down to add to this effect.
Mechanical effects were used in this scene.

Nowadays this would of been done by CGI but having a set like this disorients the viewer

Ludo 

http://media.gunaxin.com/ten-reasons-why-jim-henson-labyrinth-rules/62921

Ludo is controlled by just one person. However this costume was made as light as they could. Even though the puppet is controlled by one person at a time it was built to fit two different people. One arm is controlled by one hand and the head is controlled by the other.


The Shaft of Hands

http://shotcontext.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/hands.html

http://pinterest.com/pin/4011087138570831/
This long shaft was 40ft tall. Sarah was slowly lowered down past rubber hands until she reached the real hands.The puppeteers wore latex gloves and there was over 100 pairs created.

The Ball

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/as%20the%20world%20falls%20down
One of my favorite scenes in this movie is the ball room scene. Because this scene we suppose to be set in a bubble the actual footage was shot with a bubble like filer around the lens to get the effect.

The Giant at the Door



http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=4719


http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=4719

http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=4719

This was a 15ft high giant that walked. The largest built at the time. The inside was mechanics that worked perfectly but the first body was made out of fiber glass but it wouldn't work because it wouldn't bend. But like most things in this movie it ended up being made out of foam. They only had 2-3 months to make it and is controlled by one man.