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Alien vs. Predator Galaxy’s very own RidgeTop and SizzyBubbles recently had the chance to visit studioADI where they had a tour of the studio (and caught a quick glimpse of a new Predator) as well as interview studio co-founders Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr.

During the interview, Alien vs. Predator Galaxy was able to ask the creature effects maestros a couple of questions about their experience working on the upcoming The Predator as well as their involvement with Neill Blomkamp’s aborted Alien 5.

When asked about how Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. became attached to provide the creature effects for The Predator, Tom Woodruff told us:

“I feel like we’ve been very fortunate. We inherited the Alien franchise and we inherited the Predator franchise. And I say inherited meaning these designs were big strong designs that came our way and we stayed through the Alien stories and the AvP movies and Shane Black wanted to come back to us because we’ve been so involved in the most recent Predator movies. And John Davis, who is a very strong supporter of ours, actually brought Shane to our shop for a sit-down and said “anything you want to know about the Predator world, these are the guys to talk to.””

Alec Gillis also added that Fred Dekker played an important role in their attachment to the film – “We’ve known Fred since Monster Squad. And we had kind of a relationship with Shane. We’ve worked on with various projects [with Shane] over the years. But a lot with Fred. Fred has always been a big supporter of ours and he loves practical effects in general. So he was really pushing for our involvement. It’s nice to have a guy like Fred in your corner as well.” 

In the past, Shane Black had made comments that made it sound like the design work wasn’t so important to him so we asked what it was like to work with Shane given those previous comments and how interested he was in the creature effects work.

“Shane was easily as involved as any other director. I think he’s a very detailed guy. And I understand he’s more focused, as a director should be, on the story and the characters because what we do…really comes down to you either accept our level of expertise and trust it, or you don’t. And he did so he was allowed to put his time elsewhere.

It didn’t mean he put us in a backseat at all. He was very much involved. He came here several times to look at sculptures, comment, ask for changes all the way through. Even the paint he was very involved with because we came up with some new paint schemes – probably shouldn’t have even said that – but he was very involved with all of it. I never felt like he was focused elsewhere.”

According to Alien vs. Predator Galaxy’s own sources, there’s are several different new Predator designs featured in The Predator, one of which was described as the best Predator that ADI has ever done! We’ve previously seen some of ADI’s work on The Predator in various leaked set pictures.

RidgeTop also made sure to ask about ADI’s involvement with Neill Blomkamp’s shelved Alien 5. While the duo wasn’t able to go into the specifics of their work on Alien 5, Alec did say that they “had a great time because Neill is one of our favorite directors and he’s got great ideas. I’ve no doubt everyone would have loved his Alien 5 but it’s all kind of under wraps until he says so.”

Earlier this year, on Halloween, Tom Woodruff held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit and I took the opportunity to ask about how much work ADI did on Alien 5. Again, Tom wasn’t able to go into much detail but he did say that there was “an exchange of Neil’s artwork and story ideas and a maquette that he requested, details of which he asked us to hold back…”

We also asked Tom about reports that he pitched his own idea for Alien 5 way back when:“It was shortly after Alien Resurrection. I sat here in the conference room with the quadrilogy and I just watched each one, one right after the other. I spent the whole day and I was taking notes. My whole idea was finding some common thread – which is Ripley – to bring this whole storyline to some kind of satisfying close without dismissing anything that had happened in the past.

It got pretty far in terms of a treatment. It was all inspired by something that I can’t really get my hands on but creatively, I think it’s a good experiment, it’s good practice to be able to continue to embellish in great stories that way.”

Keep a close eye on Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for RidgeTop’s full article and the complete interview soon! Be sure to continue checking in with Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest on The Predator! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Predator fans on our forums!

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We really enjoyed having you guys. Looking forward to the video. The guys had a really good time shooting it.

Thanks guys! Keep up the good work.

I didn't realise ADI was officially working with Blomkamp. I know Woodruff posted that Hicks costume picture but I assumed that was just fan stuff.

"It's all under wraps until he says so" does anyone think he's still battling to get the film the go ahead?

i guess there is no chance of seeing a photo of the new predator right?

Quote from: D88M on Dec 02, 2017, 10:43:44 PM
i guess there is no chance of seeing a photo of the new predator right?

No, Fox is probably keeping it a secret until the last possible second as a special surprise for filmgoers!

So you'll probably see it at the end of the second trailer.

Knowing the script, it will be very difficult not to light at least one predator and even in the first teaser.

Quote from: black on Dec 02, 2017, 11:53:45 PM
Knowing the script, it will be very difficult not to light at least one predator and even in the first teaser.

I thought he was talking about Upgrade, that's who I was referring to.

I hope they leave it to the film in secret as well as "panties" but most likely tv spot as always everything will show.

Interested to see this new design. I still don't think anyone's hit a home run on the mandibles since the original.

Curious how the new Predator designs turn out, though cautious about the rumoured Hybrid creature from the leaked script. Interesting to hear that ADI were working on designs with Blomkamp, possibly the Marquette they made was of Ripley in her Xeno armoured suit or its a design for a totally type of xenomorph.

Looking forward to The Predator, only another 9/8 months. Hope we someday get to see the rest of Blomakp's design, whether it be in a completed film or just put on display for the heck of it.

Quote from: D88M on Dec 02, 2017, 10:43:44 PM
i guess there is no chance of seeing a photo of the new predator right?

Perhaps I should have asked if I could photograph it but I was pretty positive that'd be a no.

Quote from: RidgeTop on Dec 03, 2017, 03:58:23 PM

Quote from: D88M on Dec 02, 2017, 10:43:44 PM
i guess there is no chance of seeing a photo of the new predator right?

Perhaps I should have asked if I could photograph it but I was pretty positive that'd be a no.

Quote from: Highland on Dec 03, 2017, 05:55:57 AM
Interested to see this new design. I still don't think anyone's hit a home run on the mandibles since the original.

As much as I would love to see the new Predator, I would rather wait until it comes out in the theater

A pure CGI fest infestation of our warrior alien would be awesome, and hopefully much more slower paced and more dealing with the atmosphere, ultimatey we got the faster paced version with Aliens, Alien 5 should not be a recycling of the material but an edgier, atmospheric one, since we will get to see guns blazing on Aliens in CGI.
But whatever, we probably won't see it until this movie gets the green light.

Fred Dekker posted a link to the article on his FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/DirectorFredDekker/posts/1155920577872592

Quote from: Darkness on Dec 02, 2017, 08:25:59 PM
I didn't realise ADI was officially working with Blomkamp. I know Woodruff posted that Hicks costume picture but I assumed that was just fan stuff.

The Hicks costume picture was something done on spec by Tom's son's company. I hadn't realized ADI was going to work on it but RidgeTop had remembered a tweet Neill made about it.

Quote from: Username-Unavailable on Dec 02, 2017, 11:21:37 PM

Quote from: D88M on Dec 02, 2017, 10:43:44 PM
i guess there is no chance of seeing a photo of the new predator right?

No, Fox is probably keeping it a secret until the last possible second as a special surprise for filmgoers!

So you'll probably see it at the end of the second trailer.

I fully expect to see it end up in all the TV spots too.  :laugh:

I'm really curious to see more of ADI's Predator work in this film soon! I've repeatedly heard how good the new Predator is.

What character is that on the left side of the screen?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcTItEunTcz/?tagged=thepredator

It's the hunter from Alien vs Hunter

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstore.theasylum.cc%2Fv%2Fvspfiles%2Fphotos%2F62-2.jpg&hash=ae87c30a92dbb63a943dee53dbcdbfeca143c11d)

Witch Mountain?

Haven't seen the movie but I think you're right.

That's a pretty fun little Disney flick.



And yeah that is def the bounty hunter from it!


I'm not too worried about ADI's work on the film thus far. The leaked shots of the Predators look okay so far, the plot specific details are questionable (in terms of what's going on with them wearing... certain things.) But the heads look really good, much better than there AvP stuff. Hopefully that's down to more budget coming their way and the ability to give the Predators complete focus.

Me, three years ago:

QuoteQ: There was a rumour that ADI had pitched their own Alien 5 to Fox. If true, can you elaborate on your ideas?

A: If true, I would not elaborate.

You guys, today:

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 02, 2017, 05:00:55 PM
We also asked Tom about reports that he pitched his own idea for Alien 5 way back when: "It was shortly after Alien Resurrection. I sat here in the conference room with the quadrilogy and I just watched each one, one right after the other. I spent the whole day and I was taking notes. My whole idea was finding some common thread – which is Ripley – to bring this whole storyline to some kind of satisfying close without dismissing anything that had happened in the past. It got pretty far in terms of a treatment.

:laugh:

I wish someone would do a real sequel to Alien 4 with Sigourney etc

Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 05, 2017, 06:07:39 PM
Me, three years ago:

QuoteQ: There was a rumour that ADI had pitched their own Alien 5 to Fox. If true, can you elaborate on your ideas?

A: If true, I would not elaborate.

You guys, today:

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 02, 2017, 05:00:55 PM
We also asked Tom about reports that he pitched his own idea for Alien 5 way back when: "It was shortly after Alien Resurrection. I sat here in the conference room with the quadrilogy and I just watched each one, one right after the other. I spent the whole day and I was taking notes. My whole idea was finding some common thread – which is Ripley – to bring this whole storyline to some kind of satisfying close without dismissing anything that had happened in the past. It got pretty far in terms of a treatment.

:laugh:

Lol  :laugh: And I just want more details, more!!!

I wish these guys where able to direct their own AVP movie in addition to doing the special effects, and no studio interference!

That would be the worst movie ever. AvP:R status.