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Studio Macbeth Brought Lincoln Back to Life
By Samuel P. Wheeler | February 23, 2009
I received a number of emails from readers over the weekend regarding the History Channel’s recent special, “Stealing Lincoln’s Body.” Indeed, there was a plot to steal Lincoln’s body in 1876. Though I was able to forget about those incompetent body snatchers, another aspect from the film still lingers in my mind.
What did you think about the graphics?
A company called Studio Macbeth brought Lincoln back to life in this program. I received an email from these folks several months ago. They told me about their work and let me view a few pictures. At the time, I was impressed, but their work on this documentary absolutely blew me away.
They have since begun a blog, which you can view here.
I dug up a brief youtube clip (at the top of this post), in which these folks walk viewers through their creative process. Give it a look and tell me if it isn’t remarkable to see “Lincoln” walking down the street.
Though I look forward to someday seeing Steven Spielberg’s take on Lincoln, I suspect a feature-length film using Studio Macbeth’s technology would be incredibly intriguing.
In the meantime, I see the History Channel has already made plans to release “Stealing Lincoln’s Body
Topics: Assassination, DVD, Hollywood | 1 Comment »
March 11th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
With regard to the animators at Studio Macbeth, Abraham Lincoln’s face is great, but only so long as it remains immobile, like the pictures. However, if they had done some reading, they would have read testimony from the many people who commented on how elastic and mobile his face was, particularly when telling a funny story.
The walk, too, would have been helped immeasurably by some reading. Lincoln was one of the most awkward men some of the Washington men had ever seen, according to their testimony. Particularly his walk: he was slightly pigeon-toed, and put his whole foot down at once, rather than the normal heel-to-toe action, so that he had a “clodhopper” gait, with no ease of motion. THAT I would like to see.
By the way, I go to great lengths to collect the remarks on Lincoln’s appearance and awkward ways in my book, _The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln_, coming out in May.
Larry Tagg