Special
Effects
 The
special effects for the pilot film of Salvage 1 required two versions
of the Vulture; a full  scale prop for the actors to
interact with and a smaller model for blue screen filming. The
full-size Vulture was pretty much created the same as the fictional
ship...using a gasoline truck tank and cement mixer. A large industrial
crane was used to lift the prop to simulate liftoff and landing. A 32
inch miniature Vulture was created for the space sequences. These were
filmed using the "blue screen process" which was
still in its early years at the time. There were some difficulties. The
miniature's rounded, silver design tended to reflect the blue backdrop,
 creating problems
in the blue screen process. Eight effects shots were originally written
into the pilot film's script.This was eventually expanded to 32. The
final effects bill for the first film was $150,000.
Once the weekly series began, effects shots were being completed in a
week's time. The exp ensive bluescreen
process was not used, but rather, a process by Rob Maine calledthe
"Flying Screen Front Projection Compositor". This not only saved money,
but made the quick output of effects shots possible. Producer Mike
Lloyd Ross was once asked if he thought the full-scale Vulture prop
could really fly. He said, "Of course not. First it would need some
acid etching...then it could fly!" |
The
special effects for the pilot film of Salvage 1 required two versions
of the Vulture; a full 
creating problems
in the blue screen process. Eight effects shots were originally written
into the pilot film's script.This was eventually expanded to 32. The
final effects bill for the first film was $150,000. 
ensive bluescreen
process was not used, but rather, a process by Rob Maine calledthe
"Flying Screen Front Projection Compositor". This not only saved money,
but made the quick output of effects shots possible. Producer Mike
Lloyd Ross was once asked if he thought the full-scale Vulture prop
could really fly. He said, "Of course not. First it would need some
acid etching...then it could fly!"