STARGATE 1994 Concept Art and Storyboards by Patrick Tatopoulus and Peter Rubin

Check out Stargate concept art and storyboards by Patrick Tatopoulus and Peter Rubin

Every Friday, I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Stargate (1994)

Director Roland Emmerich is planning to reboot Stargate as a trilogy, so here's a look back at the concept art for the original film.

Two of the artists working on the film are Patrick Tatopoulus (Super Mario Bros, Riddick) and Peter Rubin (Man of Steel, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome)

Check out the rest of the images after the jump (click to enlarge).

Patrick Tatopoulus
In an interview for VFXHQ he talked about designing for the film Stargate:
"When I showed [director Roland Emmerich] my designs from DRACULA," Tatopoulos recalled, "Roland asked me to help design sets and the warrior characters for STARGATE. Over a three-day period, I created one sketch per character, each in one day, and he approved all of my designs on the spot. Roland and I understand each other; we are in the same realm of imagination."
 
Tatopoulos used Egyptian themes "with a Japanese samurai influence" for the design concepts but said he used his own originality for the characters. "Basically, I open books every day of my life, but when I need to design something, I close all the books," Tatopoulus' explained. "If I have 20 books open in front of me for references, I get lost."

After working on the character and creature designs "Roland asked if I could then build the creatures, which became my first experience setting up my own shop," he reflected. "I found a large space in North Hollywood that I shared with Greg Jein who was creating the models. 45 people worked in the shop with me coordinating the creatures, including Russell Shenkle, the mechanical shop head. He became my right hand on the show and really made things happen."
 

Peter Rubin

See more of Tatopoulus' concept art at tatopoulosstudios.net (coming soon) and Peter Rubin's work at ironroosterstudios.com.

Click on the links if you want to see more of Patrick Tatopoulos' film design and Peter Rubin's concept art or Stargate on my blog.

What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Stargate what did you think?
 
Official Stargate Summary
When Professor Daniel Jackson (James Spader) innocently accepts the offer of a mysterious woman to decode an ancient Egyptian artifact know only as the Stargate, he unwittingly takes the first step on an epic adventure that will span the galaxies and decide the fate of an entire planet. Colonel Jack O'Neil (Kurt Russell) a true soldier with nerves of steel and a tragic past, is brought back to active duty to commandeer the first trip through the Stargate. On a desert planet on the far side of the universe, Jackson and O'Neil must battle the powerful alien Sun God, Ra (Jaye Davidson). At stake: the freedom of an ancient civilization from slavery and any chance of ever getting home! 
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Cinematography by Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Production Design by Holger Gross
Starring: Kurt Russell, James Spader, Alexis Cruz, Viveca Lindfors, Mili Avital
Release date: October 28, 1994
Official Site: stargate.mgm.com
© Copyright 1994 Canal+, Centropolis Film Productions, Carolco Pictures, MGM. All rights reserved
 
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