- Home
- University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
- Film-making at the Environmental Simulation Laboratory
Film-making at the Environmental Simulation Laboratory
- Metadata
Title
Film-making at the Environmental Simulation Laboratory
Series Title
Created Date
1970s to 1980s
Description
In the late 1960s, UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design established the Environmental Simulation Laboratory in response to people's growing concern for the environment and ecological well-being. The Lab developed methods for measuring and communicating the effects of urbanization on cities and landscapes, utilizing bespoke scale models and in-house cinematographic technical innovations. According to retired lab director and urban design professor Peter Bosselmann, the films were produced as studies "to test how model simulation could aid the decision-making process in the approval of large planning and engineering projects. A computer-guided camera mounted on a moving crane traveled at eye level through a model landscape and recorded, on 16mm film, the experience" of moving through simulated spaces. John Dykstra, working with the Lab prior to achieving fame for his Academy Award-winning visual effects work on the first Star Wars film, helped to develop the Lab's special camera system, which was a precursor to the Dykstraflex system used in Star Wars.
This film includes observational behind-the-scenes footage of the Environmental Simulation Laboratory filmmakers at work in the Lab, positioning model cars and trees with tweezers, prepping and mounting the Arriflex camera, and editing.
Creators and Contributors
Subject Topic
Genre
Spatial Coverage
Media Type
Format
16mm film
Extent
1
Reel
Generation
Work print
Base Type
Acetate
Stock Manufacturer
Kodak
Color or Black and White
Color
Frame Rate
24 fps
Track Standard
Film
Silent or Sound
Silent
Copyright Statement
Copyrighted. Rights are owned by the Regents of the University of California. Copyright Holder has given Institution permission to provide access to the digitized work online. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Country of Creation
United States
Contributing Organization
Call Number
ITM0018660
Contributing Organization Contact Information
Email: bampfa@berkeley.edu
Phone: (510) 643-2196
Phone: (510) 643-2196
Organization Websites
Link to Internet Archive
Duration
0:11:27