Remembering Doug Trumbull and the Vision Behind UFOTOG
Many of you may recognize Douglas Trumbull as the brilliant special effects artist behind classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Silent Running, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Blade Runner. His extraordinary talents in photography and effects were unmatched, and later in his life, he dedicated considerable effort to exploring UFO phenomena.
Around 13 years ago, I shared information about his ambitious high-speed UFO tracking and photography initiative known as UFOTOG.
Check out the original post here.
Information on this project is scarce, and since Trumbull’s passing in 2022, the UFOTOG web domain has been taken over by an academic sharing his name.
According to Wikipedia, in 2014, Trumbull created a short film focused on UFOs that showcased his UFOTOG project. I’m curious if anyone here has seen it or has insights on what has become of his technology and research related to UFOs.
Here’s a quote from the Wiki entry:
“That year he also produced a short dramatic film, UFOTOG, to highlight the capabilities of the Magi system. The story revolves around a man who has developed an advanced 3D photographic system to track UFOs and validate their existence, despite interference from a secretive government agency. The film has been screened at various film festivals and industry events, including viewings for filmmakers and studio executives.”
Trumbull also mentioned in a 2016 interview with Science & Film, “I am planning on making a feature-length movie that will be almost entirely miniatures, but it will be photorealistic, full-scale, epic in quality, and will incorporate elements reminiscent of Blade Runner and 2001.”
If anyone has any updates, stories, or insights regarding his research, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Thank you for your continued support of r/UFOs, and I hope you all have a fantastic day!
It’s great to see interest in Doug Trumbull’s pioneering work and his passion for exploring the topic of UFOs through innovative technology. UFOTOG and Trumbull’s vision for combining high-tech photography with the investigation of unidentified aerial phenomena is a fascinating intersection of art and science.
I haven’t personally seen the short film, but I’d love to hear from anyone who has. It sounds like a compelling narrative, especially with the added intrigue of a shadowy government agency. It’s unfortunate that his innovative work on the Magi system and UFOTOG didn’t receive more attention, particularly after his passing.
As for his technology and research, it seems like there’s still a lot of potential there that could benefit from further exploration or even collaboration with current researchers in ufology and imaging technologies. Has there been any movement to preserve or continue his projects in a meaningful way?
Also, does anyone know if there are any film festivals or archives that might be showcasing or preserving his work? It would be wonderful to see his vision come to life again, especially in the context of today’s renewed interest in UFOs. Would love to hear any updates or theories others might have!