Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

Keanu Reeves as Arctor in
A Scanner Darkly

I have loved the dark vision of science fiction author Philip K. Dick since Harrison Ford slid through the back alleys of BLADE RUNNER in 1982. Director Ridley Scott was one of the first directors to enter the dark moorings of PKD’s futuristic worlds. Spielberg tapped PKD’s short story for MINORITY REPORT and Verhoeven remembered PKD when he made TOTAL RECALL. Dick died of heart failure shortly before his first film was to debut in 1982. His writing continues to capture readers, filmmakers and audiences alike.

Now, animation aficionado Richard Linklater and rotoscoping genius Bob Sabiston have released the trailer for the newest PKD film, A SCANNER DARKLY. The Austin Chronicle ran an article on the making of the film that features several nice images. It also mentioned that they were looking for artists to work on the film! I can think of lots of folks who’d enjoy that work (not me) although I am thinking I’m going to have to get to Austin one of these days! (Thanks to Jordan Pack for the link!)

In addition to loving PKD, I’m also a BIG, BIG fan of Bob Sabiston. I loved his 2004 Sundance Short Film Grasshopper and his work on Lars von Trier’s 2004 Sundance film THE FIVE OBSTRUCTIONS. I bought the WAKING LIFE just for all of the “making of” information. This film has a “much tighter” style than Linklater’s previous films. I like the look of it A LOT.

Sabiston has been working on a rotoscoping software program (demonstrated on Waking Life) for quite a few years and is now saying it will be ready for release on June 6, 2006! I think he gets so much film work and that he keeps improving his own process and product. I think it may never be released for those very reasons. Earlier this year, I bought a program called Studio Artist that was supposed to Rotoscope life action footage. It was a big disappointment. Guess I’m still waiting for 2006.

(If you’re interested, the PKD story was adapted for the screen by Charlie Kaufman of Adaptation fame. This version of the screenplay is 130 pages long so I don’t think it’s the final.)