Doug Trumbull and the UFOTOG Vision
Many of you may recognize Douglas Trumbull as the legendary special effects artist behind 2001: A Space Odyssey, Silent Running, Close Encounters, Star Trek: TMP, and Blade Runner. A true innovator in photography and effects, he dedicated a significant portion of his later years to exploring the intriguing topic of UFOs.
Around 13 years ago, I shared information about his ambitious project, UFOTOG, focused on ultra high-speed UFO tracking and photography.
You can revisit that discussion here: UFOTOG post.
Since then, details about UFOTOG have remained scarce, and following Trumbull’s passing in 2022, the UFOTOG web domain has been claimed by an academic who shares his name.
According to Wikipedia, Trumbull produced a short film in 2014 centered on UFOs, which showcased his UFOTOG project. I’m curious if anyone has seen this film or knows the fate of his UFO-related technology and research.
Here’s a relevant excerpt from the Wiki entry:
“That year he also produced a short dramatic film, UFOTOG, to highlight the capabilities of the Magi system. The story follows a man who created an advanced 3D photographic system to track UFOs and prove their existence, all while facing interference from a clandestine government agency. The film has been screened at various film festivals, industry conferences, and for filmmakers and studio executives.”
“In 2016, he mentioned to 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 include elements I love from Blade Runner and 2001.'”
If you have any insights, anecdotes, or updates regarding Trumbull’s research, please share below.
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Doug Trumbull’s work truly revolutionized the realm of special effects and opened up new possibilities for storytelling in film. His UFOTOG project is a fascinating intersection of cutting-edge technology and the enduring intrigue surrounding UFOs. It’s a shame that there isn’t more information readily available about it, especially following his passing in 2022.
I haven’t seen the short film, but it sounds like it captured Trumbull’s unique vision and merges his passion for photography and UFOs in an intriguing narrative. His ambition to create a feature-length film that combines miniatures with photorealism is also exciting. It echoes his earlier works that were both visually stunning and thematically rich.
As for the future of his research and technology, it would be interesting to know what happened to any existing footage or findings. Perhaps someone closely related to the project or a collaborator might emerge to shed light on his legacy and share insights.
If anyone has any leads on where his original equipment or research might be stored or if there are upcoming events or discussions related to UFOTOG, that would definitely be worth sharing! Thank you for bringing this up and keeping the conversation alive around Trumbull’s incredible contributions.