CozmicFunk Starlog

Starlog "From the Bridge" articles

STARLOG # 245 From The Bridge

World Building

"He wanted his real life to be as colorful as his imagination."

Often I like to start conversations with total strangers who catch my eye. Most times I have no idea why a particular person grabs my attention, but more often than not, once we get to talking I find that we have something in common. John Funk and I met that way. He was working as a waiter at one of my favorite restaurants, and something about him made me start talking to him. I found John to be a friendly, intelligent guy, who played guitar and was a committed Buddhist. Before too long I also discovered that he loved science fiction. John attended cons regularly, built models constantly and read STARLOG frequently. When he couldn't afford to buy a copy, he went to a newsstand and made himself comfortable for an hour. He was living in a small world but itching to build a bigger one. In terms of a career, John didn't know exactly what he wanted, but he was determined not to settle for something ordinary. He wanted his real life to be as colorful as his imagination.
Today, eight years later, John had focussed his goals and is involved in the field of computer graphics and animation for simulators and video. He has built databases that simulate total aviation tower environments for air traffic control training in a virtual reality. Some of this work involves building 3-D models, landscapes and architecture -- computer versions of the same model making process that has always fascinated him. "I just worked on a training program for Kai Tek international Airport in Honk Kong," John explains, "which is basically a million-dollar computer game. "Right now, the multi-media production field is very much alive with work on films, videos, CD-ROMs and computer games. The technology has been improving over the last decade so that now, for instance, I can do this kind of work at home. To get started in this field with a fast computer you need to spend less than $5,000.00 for hardware and maybe another $5,000.00 for programs. Probably for only $8,000.00 you can produce good, competitive graphics. "The same program I have is utilized for the TV series "Dark Skies." "Sea Quest," "Hercules" and "Babylon 5" use a similar graphics program. Johnny Mnemonic, the William Gibson short story turned into a motion picture a few years ago, had some breathtaking special effects, and they were all computer generated. They animated Keanu Reeves flying through the cyber tunnels of the future on the Internet, navigating with some special gloves. "I could go on for days with the list of films and videos that have used computer animation. Jurassic Park created dinosaurs in the computer, and in The Lost World they went beyond that with the number of creatures and their interactions with people. It's pretty common now."

John's big break into this field came a few years ago when Peter David and Bill Mumy were preparing a TV series. They needed a real model they could shoot against blue screen, and they also needed some hot computer-generated special effects, but they didn't have much money. Bjo Trimble had seen John's work at a convention and was impressed. She suggested to the producers that they give John a chance. John came through for them, and the presentation for "Space Cases" sold the series. Then John experienced a bitter show biz reality: In spite of the fact that Peter David credited him with helping to sell the series, John was not contracted to produce effects for the actual show. Still, he considers the project a great opportunity and a worthwhile experience. "I'm very interested in working on feature films and television," John says with calm determination. "I haven't moved to Hollywood, partly because I haven't gotten the nerve and partly because I think there's no reason why I can't go on working in Austin -- just like I've been doing." "I'm building my skills right here, in my own room, on my home computer, while I'm building worlds for other people. Now, I'm ready to take on a major project." It remains to be seen whether John Funk will soon move to California or stay home and build a special effects business in central Texas. Whatever the location, his goal will be to bring into virtual reality, worlds that are as colorful and exciting as his imagination. -- Kerry O'Quinn

STARLOG # 252 From The Bridge

Computerdom

"...now the everyday world is driving the science fiction world."

Less than ten years ago, in STARLOG #136, I wrote a column titled "Better Late Than Never." In the opening paragraph I confessed, "This is the first time I've used a computer to write anything!" I remember going to Isaac Asimov's apartment a few years earlier and squeezing around a stack of large cardboard boxes in his entrance hall. "It's a computer," he explained. "Radio Shack sent it to me in hopes that I'll use it, but I'm too busy writing." He hadn't even opened the boxes. Eventually, of course, he endorsed Radio Shack computers in their ads, while his already-abundant writing output was multiplied several times by his conversion to computerdom. Since 1988 I've pecked away at my PC keyboard, completing another 116 STARLOG columns, writing articles for various magazines and newspapers, and finishing the majority of two non-fiction books and two-thirds of a novel. I've used it like an electronic typewriter, without ever clicking a mouse. Unlike those of us in Asimov's generation, teenagers don't hesitate to open new boxes. For years my son Brian has been chatting with pals in other places and dragging files and opening windows. He's completely computer comfortable. Finally he shamed me into joining mankind in another giant leap. Four months ago I bought a computer that's super-fast with 8.5 gigs of memory. Even with zip drive, CD-ROM, modem, large monitor, color printer and surround sound - the system cost only slightly more than my original 10-meg monochrome laptop. For the first few weeks I was totally intimidated, but no more! I have an e-mail address (AUSTEXK@aol.com) and I can't imagine how I ever lived without hearing that magical voice announce, "You've got mail!" Obviously, Internet communication has done wonders for science fiction fandom. Friends don't have to wait for a once-a-year con to chat and argue and share information. Last week I attended AggieCon XXIX and was overwhelmed by my new awareness of the ways in which computers are impacting our world. Computers have always been as much a part of futuristic fiction as spaceships, but now the everyday world is driving the science fiction world.

My friend John P. Funk (STARLOG #245 "World Building") gave a fascinating presentation at AggieCon that traced the thirty-year history of digital special effects in movies and television. He started by explaining the conventional animation used to simulate futuristic monitor displays in 2001: A Space Odyssey. He ended by describing the mega computer that created the feature Toy Story and the smaller, cheaper systems used to produce dazzling space battles in Babylon-5 and incredible creatures in Starship Troopers and The Lost World. Thanks to computers, Hollywood can accurately and convincingly visualize anything a science fiction writer can imagine. When my friend David Mattingly's book of illustrations, Alternate Views, Alternative Universes, was published two years ago he told me that it contained his "old" art. His style was perfected and his career was built painting with acrylics. "Now," he said simply, "I work entirely on a digitizing tablet. I don't use paints or airbrush or turpentine any more. The only thing computers haven't yet replaced is the pencil, for sketching." Also at AggieCon I ran into my once-a-year pal, Ardath Mayhar (Towers of the Earth). Ardath is a sharp little old dynamo who always wears a button that proclaims "Mean Little Old Lady." She has almost forty books of fiction to her credit, but computers are taking her in a fresh direction. Her first science fiction novel, How The Gods Wove In Kyrannon, is now available on-line from Alexandria Digital Literature (www.alexlit.com/pavilion) for a modest fee. Books that were considered dead, have been given new life. Her tale of art and death, A Road of Stars, will soon appear either as a download option or a hardback book, from Xlibris (www.Xlibris.com). The hardback version will be printed on acid-free paper, one at a time, as ordered. This system eliminates the most wasteful aspect of publishing: overprinting. Book warehouses are no longer needed, and fewer trees are cut for paper. Think what a system like that could do for the magazine business. No returns, no waiting months for payments, no more printing too many copies and shredding half of them. With one of the largest costs reduced, there would be more profits for everyone involved. Right now, computerdom is challenging the most innovative minds in science fiction fandom. "Use me," computers say, "in some way that reduces waste and maximizes benefits - and I will make you wealthy." Many are accepting that challenge and applying science fiction to reality. -- Kerry O'Quinn

john@cozmicfunk.com