Fifty years ago, the science fiction film "Planet of the Apes" debuted in cinemas across America, enthralling and bewildering audiences in equal measure. In tribute to the film's enduring legacy, USC is holding a semester-long celebration.
On February 9th, the USC School of Cinematic Arts , 20th Century Fox, and Visions & Voices kicked off the golden anniversary of the "Planet of the Apes" franchise with a slideshow of behind-the-scenes footage from the original 1968 film, followed by a screening of the film, and concluding with a panel forum.
The lights in the Norris Cinema Theatre dimmed, and the audience was taken back to the 1960s, as never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes images were flashed over the original score for the film. The images shed light on the work behind John Chambers' groundbreaking prosthetics that received an honorary Oscar for best makeup at the 41st Academy Awards, long before the Academy Award for Best Makeup was established. Despite the use of computer-generated imagery in modern films, Chambers' innovations are still used in filmmaking today, such as matte adhesives and a foam latex that permeates heat and moisture.
Selected works of Chambers, such as the mold used to cast simian prosthetics, are on display at the Hugh Hefner Exhibition Hall till May 13th, along with other props and costumes from the Apes universe and other film collectibles.
The presentation was followed by a screening of the original 1968 film, a tale that takes place in an apocalyptic future where humans are shoved around by socially superior apes. The film contradicts the viewer's anthropocentric sense of self-importance, and provokes its audience to think critically – whether humanity is limited by our conceptions of self and pride. The self-sabotaging hubris of man presented through the lens of the Apes makes the film a timeless classic.
Immediately after the film rounded to a close, the lights were snapped back on, launching into a panel discussion. The invited panelists included makeup artist Dan Striepeke from the first film, art director William Creber, and the members from the reboot series: "Rise" director Rupert Wyatt, "Dawn" and "War" director Matt Reeves (SCA alumnus), the trilogy's visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, and producers Dylan Clark and Rick Jaffa (SCA alumnus).
They looked back at the past half-century of the Apes franchise, and discussed the role of technology in the filmmaking process, which has undoubtedly changed the way films are made. The reboot series relies heavily on motion capture to animate their apes, while the original relied on realistic prosthetics and makeup. However, despite the parallel between past and present, the film's success could not have been possible if it were not for the actors who brought the apes to life.
- Photo by Sally Davies
Midway through the panel, a mysterious forum panelist named "Dr. Zaius" shocked the crowd with a surprise visit and jolted the room with energy. He entertained the crowd with humorous responses to audience questions, and provided his commentary on society, perplexing the audience, as he seemed identical to the film character Dr. Zaius.
Since then, "Dr. Zaius" has revealed his identity on Twitter – comedian and self-proclaimed Apes fanatic, Dana Gould. Gould is presently in the process of breathing new life into the original screenplay of Planet of the Apes in the form of a graphic novel "Planet of the Apes: Visionaries".
USC will host a semester-long celebration of the series entitled "50 Years of Planet of the Apes" with an exhibit, a film retrospective, and conversations with industry experts, artists, and scholars to offer an immersive and intimate insight on the evolution and enduring popularity of the ever-expanding Ape universe.
Admission to all events and exhibits are free. More information and the complete schedule of events are available at http://cinema.usc.edu/Apes.