The Alien films are among my all-time favorite movies, and it all began with Alien. Released forty years ago this year, the first film, directed by Ridley Scott, remains a true classic that stands the test of time. It's certainly one of my all-time favorites.
Here's a very well done documentary (it was made several years ago), featuring interviews with the cast and crew, that goes in-depth on how they made this great film.
Space 1999 was my jam back when it first aired. I was a kid then, and loved it. This is a look behind the scenes of shooting the effects for the show with Brian Johnson, the head of effects for Space: 1999.
In this present age of computerized effects--where images are created on the computer--it's fascinating to watch old-school effects work being done, with physical models and landscapes in use. This kind of effects work, with physical models being used, is rapidly leaving us.
I think I must be one of five people who actually enjoyed Alien: Covenant, the most recent (and possibly last) film in the Alien film franchise. I own the film on Blu-Ray and even have a Funko Pop of Daniels, its main character played by Katherine Waterston.
This video shows several major sets for that film being constructed in time-lapse. It's a cool look into film-making, as well as set building. It's remarkable how they can re-use a set in two different scenes and still make it look entirely different. It's basically the magic of movie making in its purest form.
