The Jurassic fan community is thriving as we all wait on the new Gareth Edwards film for the franchise. More people are creating original content than ever, either based on the Jurassic films or featuring dinosaur-related stories. Earlier this week we had the fan film by Muzzammil Shaik, and later in June there will be a new season of the fan-made audio drama ‘Tales From A Jurassic World.’ Today, we have a new dinosaur-related film from Cretaceous Cast called ‘Bygone‘! [Note: This film includes strong language for mature audiences only.]
Synopsis:
Materials have run out. Corporations go back in time to areas of rock swept away in the present to mine. They believe this will stop paradoxes, but the ecosystem of Morrison Formation Colorado appears to be dying.
The sands of time are better left undisturbed.
Loosely inspired by concepts from Ray Bradbury’s classic ‘A Sound Of Thunder,’ the short fan film ‘Bygone’ is a fantastic sci-fi excursion with a fun premise. Written & directed by Spenser Mehew and beautifully shot by Clay Bowen, capturing the interiors with warm diffusion and the landscapes with glistening beauty… then inky-black suspense.
The big question on your mind probably is: do we see any dinosaurs in this dinosaur film? There’s a couple… including one with a unique quality that I won’t spoil!
What did you think of ‘Bygone’? Have you been enjoying this surge of fan creations? Are you going to make something yourself? Share your comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
While we all wait for the next official installment of the Jurassic franchise, fans are hard at work, bringing their own stories to life. With dinosaurs roaming rampant across the globe by the end of ‘Jurassic World: Dominion,’ there are endless possibilities and stories to tell of chance encounters with these wonderful, yet dangerous, animals. One such fan, Muzzammil Shaik, released his newest fan-film this morning.
‘AMBUSH’ follows an individual listening to a podcast that reports on incidents and news revolving around the prehistoric creatures now cohabiting on our planet. A few surprises lie in store for viewers as a few characters and creatures from Jurassic stories past make appearances. And be sure to stay during the credits!
“They have set up a Jurassic “World” of opportunities,” Muzzammil said when asked what prompted the short. With projects like ‘AMBUSH,’ he hopes to encourage fans of all kinds to tell their own stories. “I plan to write down whatever comes to me. This one was big for me because it’s an idea I had since ‘Battle at Big Rock.’ Also, anyone who’s seen the ‘Jurassic World’ Resort TV segments, I do plan to make more in the future especially to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2015 film coming up. Ultimately, I encourage [other] fans to continue to share stories in any format you see fit. It’s inspiring and fun to see what you all come up with!”
Jurassic World 4 is stampeding its way into theaters next year on July 2, 2025! Gareth Edwards is directing, David Koepp is writing, Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall are executive producing, Scarlett Johansson is in talks to star, but there are still some unknowns…
Who’s going to shoot this film? (Greig Fraser?)
Who will create the visual effects?
Who’s going to fill the rest of the cast?
Who’s going to be creating sound?
Who… will compose the music?
Music – both orchestral and otherwise – is an integral bone in the Jurassic skeleton, and an irreplaceable part of the art and filmmaking that go into creating all of the films we love. When it comes to the narrative mediums of film and television, fans of Jurassic have experienced scores from the greatest film composer of all time, John Williams, the amazing Double D Don Davis, the inimitable Michael Giacchino, and incredibly gifted newcomers like Amie Doherty and Leo Birenberg. Whoever is brought on board by Gareth Edwards and producers to create the musical world for the next Jurassic film will be joining some pretty fantastic dinosaur music company. Will it be someone familiar, or someone new? My hope and my bet is on some new blood, but… we shall see!
Let’s talk about who we think should be the composer for the next Jurassic movie!
John Williams
The obvious choice! And while we know the GOAT Johnny Williams coming back to Jurassic isn’t too likely to happen, we had to take the time to mention it and dream for a second about John Williams Jurassic music. Jurassic Park? The Lost World? Near the top of his most iconic scores! Imagine if he came back, even just to write a new theme or piece of music like he did exceptionally well for SOLO? He has returned to other franchises to continue his musical legacy before, so it wouldn’t be unheard of. The circumstances, timing, and story would all have to line up… Regardless, we’ll always have Malcolm’s Journey as the underscore to one of the best Jurassic moments.
Amie Doherty
The next choice on our list is the composer of Jurassic World short film Battle at Big Rock, which was a hit with pretty much every Jurassic fan – it was a great display of the awe and terror that comes with dinosaurs being loose in the world, solidified by Amie’s use of Jurassic musical themes both classic and new. Musically she goes from the Jurassic World theme, to utter terror, to the Jurassic Park and Lost World themes, all within about 10 minutes. Her Jurassic experience combined with her work since then on projects like Spirit Untamed, Undone, and She-Hulk demonstrate her command of the orchestra and thematic skills, making her a perfect choice for a future Jurassic movie.
Sarah Schachner
Composer of the Predator franchise film Prey Sarah Schachner is next on our list. She also created the scores for The Lazarus Effect, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare I & II, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, Anthem, and multiple other video games and series. She has experience adapting previous thematic material into new projects with Prey while simultaneously creating something fresh and new. On top of her experience in the science-fiction realm, her video game music is top-notch, emotional, and action-packed – she could be a great musical fit for the next Jurassic.
Leo Birenberg & Zach Robinson
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous composer Leo Birenberg would be a solid talent to call upon for the next Jurassic film. His work over 5 seasons and 50 episodes of the show contain some excellent Jurassic music, fitting in perfectly with the island settings and dinosaurs throughout. He and his scoring partner Zach Robinson have worked recently on Cobra Kai, Twisted Metal, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Their modern style with familiar orchestral elements could work well with a modern Jurassic story, not to mention, having another composer with a bit of Jurassic experience would be great!
Hans Zimmer
The next composer finds himself on our list in part because he has experience working with director Gareth Edwards on his latest feature The Creator. No doubt you’ll recognize the name of legendary musician and film composer Hans Zimmer! He’s created countless iconic scores for films like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Dune, and Gladiator (to name only a few). His music from Backdraft was used in an incredible trailer for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, so technically he has touched Jurassic before! His connection to Gareth and iconic, engrossing music are big upsides, and while his more modern style doesn’t really fit Jurassic at all in my opinion, his more orchestral music in the past would give me hope if he were chosen to score the next Jurassic.
James Newton Howard
James Newton Howard: composer for amazing films like Disney’s Dinosaur, Atlantis, The Hunger Games, Signs, and the 2005 King Kong remake – has a strong musical argument to score a Jurassic film. Howard’s music exudes adventure and suspense in its brass fanfares, sweeping strings, and the overall power he provides the orchestra with his writing. He’s written breathtaking music for dinosaurs more than once already, but is also clearly able to create chilling and exciting music for science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories. Listening to his score for Dinosaur recently… I would be very excited at the prospect of his take on a Jurassic score.
Kara Talve and Anže Rozman
Composers Kara Talve and Anže Rozman are no strangers to creating music for dinosaurs in wild global habitats. Their score for the AppleTV+ series Prehistoric Planet is massive, grand, and majestic, and they even created their own dinosaur instruments to add to the orchestra! Outside of dinosaurs their work, both separately and together, ranges from The Simpsons to Faraway Downs to BBC’s The Planets. Kara and Anže enjoy creating excitement and wonder with their music, and the vast emotional and stylistic range in their Prehistoric Planet score alone provides an intriguing foundation should they ever get the opportunity to score a Jurassic project.
Natalie Holt
Another composer who has followed in John Williams’ footsteps while also paving a path of her own is Natalie Holt. She took on the Star Wars universe with her score for the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and has also scored exciting projects like The Princess, Marvel’s Loki series, Knightfall, and a project unfortunately shelved by idiot execs at Warner Brothers, Batgirl. Regardless, she did a fantastic job carrying on John Williams’ styles and themes in Obi-Wan Kenobi. That and her engaging, mysterious style on Loki would have me very intrigued to hear her take on some Jurassic music.
Joe Kraemer
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Jack Reacher, and The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot all boast music by composer Joe Kraemer. While those titles may not sound too related to Jurassic, their music certainly is. Kraemer’s grasp of traditional orchestra and use of brassy motifs and rhythmic strings could be great for a Jurassic adventure. His somewhat old-school approach to huge action set pieces and more intimate moments of espionage in Mission Impossible followed by the danger and uncertainty his music aids in Jack Reacher could pair very well with a science fiction dinosaur story likely filled with international intrigue and suspense.
Alexandre Desplat
Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Alexandre Desplat – a solid orchestral composer who is extremely creative thematically and in his choice of instruments. Not to mention, he’s worked with the man, the myth, the Gareth on a reptile movie before! His score catalog speaks for itself with intense and bombastic action music for Godzilla, sweeping, emotional music for the final two Harry Potter film installments, and quirky, tunes for many Wes Anderson films. He also created suspenseful, yet poignant music for The Shape of Water, and engaging thriller music for Argo. My gut says the next Jurassic score has a good chance of coming from the mind of Desplat – his experience with director Gareth Edwards is valuable, and his ability to work an orchestra to create captivating, thematic music no matter the genre could make a flawless pairing with Jurassic.
So, that’s our list of the top composers we think could score the next Jurassic – Jurassic World 4. However, there are a few honorable mentions who may also find their way to a new Jurassic project in the future:
Jongnic Bontemps (affectionately know as JB), composer of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
Henry Jackman, Marvel and Jumanji composer.
Ludwig Goransson, known for his sweeping hybrid scores for Black Panther, The Mandalorian, and Oppenheimer.
Christophe Beck, composer of Marvel projects and other great orchestral works.
John Powell of How to Train Your Dragon, Bourne, and Solo: A Star Wars Story fame.
And of course, a name that could still happen for Jurassic, Michael Giacchino, whose bombastic, sweeping, and epic music left a large dinosaur footprint on the Jurassic World trilogy. Giacchino has been the Jurassic composer for three films in a row – would it make sense for him to simply continue? He started out in the world of Jurassic by scoring The Lost World and Warpath: Jurassic Park video games before making his way onto bigger things. Similarly, Amie Doherty and Leo Birenberg have composed music for smaller Jurassic projects, and it could be a perfect time for them to move onto bigger projects as well. While I’m hoping for some new blood in the Jurassic musical world, Giacchino’s experience with Jurassic and Gareth Edwards keeps him in the possible conversation going forward.
But, we’ll have to see which composer nature (or the producers and studio) chooses to create the music for the next Jurassic story.
Who do you think should be the composer for Jurassic World 4? Who did we miss on our list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Jurassic Time unveils a very special short documentary: ‘Jurassic Park’s Original T-Rex: The Tim Lawrence Files.’ Discover an unknown history behind the most famous dinosaur ever featured on film. Tim Lawrence was the first to design the Tyrannosaurus Rex for the classic movie. He worked on special creature effects for films like ‘Ghostbusters 2,’ ‘Harry and the Hendersons,’ & ‘Gremlins 2.’ Tim was a man of many talents, and great aspirations, until he sadly passed away in 2019.
During his career, Tim Lawrence was one of the first people employed for Steven Spielberg’s film adaptation of the Michael Crichton novel: ‘Jurassic Park.’ At this time, he helped create the very first incarnation of the film’s T-Rex. Despite this milestone, after the film went on hiatus during Spielberg’s production of ‘Hook,’ Tim was replaced by Stan Winston for unknown reasons. But the story of Tim Lawrence’s time on ‘Jurassic Park’ is still one that should be remembered. It’s an important piece of the film’s history; one that has never been told in any book or program.
Pre-production image featuring Tim Lawrence, in the grey ‘Les Misérables’ shirt, near Steven Spielberg among others.
Years before his death, Tim listed several auctions of his ‘Jurassic Park’ items on eBay. He provided several pictures and context for all of them, and most have never been seen before. Using these sources, and a few others, I (Derrick Davis) compiled them into a story that are all Tim’s words; with short connective phrases to string them together. Voice actor J. Malone respectively recorded them. While this section of the presentation isn’t Tim’s voice, they are his stories. May he live on in memory…
Mark Hallett designs and notes for the T-Rex.
The video includes an array of rare and never-before-seen images from the production of ‘Jurassic Park,’ including concept art by Mark Hallett, designs by Bob Gurr, and images of Tim’s models, and scans of photographs. As J. tells Tim’s story, it is accompanied with music by Bernard A. Kyer from the game ‘Jurassic Explorer.’
Bob Gurr T-Rex animatronic design.
Some may balk at the design being more fantasy-like in approach, but this was what Spielberg asked for. It is clear, through Tim’s words, that Spielberg wanted a more character-oriented approach to the dinosaur than accuracy. Opinions obviously changed over time, and perhaps that is why he was replaced by Stan Winston later on. Still, one wonders why Tim wasn’t simply given another chance at it? We’ll probably never know. ‘Jurassic Park’ had an extensive pre-production phase compared to many films, especially unique in that it began before the book was even published. Early scripts by Crichton himself were dated months before it was on store shelves!
Additional designs by Tim, nicknamed “Curious” & “Furious.”
Tim Lawrence was a talent that will not be forgotten, and I wanted his story about his time on ‘Jurassic Park’ to finally be out there for everyone to appreciate. He was an important piece of this classic film’s history that needed to finally get a spotlight. I hope it was all done in a tasteful manner for everyone. It was an emotional experience working on this. Hopefully that all shows through in the presentation.
What do you think of Tim’s T-Rex design, despite it being more of a movie monster? Do you wish it had at least been used in another film, like an adaptation of Conan Doyle’s ‘Lost World’ or a ‘King Kong’-type story? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest (and the past)!
Museum of the Rockies isn’t just where Dr. Grant works. Every spring, for the last three years, MOR has hosted a special gathering that brings science and the public together.
April 12th through the 14th, the Museum of the Rockies (Bozeman, MT) will be hosting its annual Dinosaurs & MOR! event. Similar to other events, like Burpee Museum’s (Rockford, IL) PaleoFest (which just hosted its twenty-sixth event this past March,) Dinos & MOR! is meant to bring the public and many influential paleontologists together for a weekend full of education, inspiration, and dino-mite fun!
Over the course of the three-day event, scientists from around the world will give presentations on the latest research, finds, and news in the world of paleontology to the public. Some of the presenters in attendance will be Dr. Stephanie Drumheller, Dr. Thomas Holtz, Dr. Caleb Brown, Dr. M. Eugenia Gold, Dr. Stephen Brusatte, and many many more.
Along with the presentations, there will also be lots of other breakout activities as well. Art shows, auctions, special workshops, dino puppet-building classes, and more, the team at MOR has carefully crafted the event so that there would be something that appeals to everyone.
The event kicks off on Friday, April 12th, with a Members-Only Appreciation Night (5:30 – 8:00 PM MDT.) Then Saturday, April 13th, marks Day 1 of lectures and workshops (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM MDT), which culminates to the Dinner with Keynote Lecture from Dr. Stephen Brusatte (6:30 PM MDT.) Sunday, April 14th, is Day 2 of lectures/workshops and the final day of the event (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM MDT.)
Event tickets include general museum admission but please note that some workshops, breakaway sessions, and the dinner/key-note lecture require additional tickets or registration. You purchase your tickets, register for workshops, and find the entire lineup for Dinosaurs & MOR!, here!
You may remember back in 2017 we shared a chapter from a new novel by Jurassic fan Ethan Pettus. The novel is an exhilarating and terrifying adventure that’s truly worthy of your time.
The series has grown since then and now has a number of books along with a comic adaptation. Not only that, a movie adaptation is now in development and set to begin filming soon in the Gold Coast of Australia.
Today, Deadline revealed the cast list which includes Jeremy Piven in a leading role. See below:
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven (Entourage, Old School), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Lucifer), SAG Award Nominee Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Glorious) and Nick Wechsler (The Boys, Revenge) are set to headline Primitive War, Luke Sparke’s sci-fi horror adaptation of Ethan Pettus’ sci-fi military book series.
The film also includes actors Anthony Ingruber (Age of Adaline, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny), Aaron Glenane (Interceptor, Danger Close), Carlos Sanson Jr (Bump, Legacies), Ana Thu Nguyen (Mortal Kombat 2), Adolphus Waylee (Nautilus), Richard Brancatisano (The Messenger, After Verdict), Marcus Johnson (Talk to Me, Bring Him to Me) and Jake Ryan (Savage, Underbelly).
Primitive War follows an elite recon unit known as the Vulture Squad. In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War they are sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone. Dinosaurs have been let loose in the jungles.
Sparke (Occupation Rainfall, Bring Him To Me) will direct from his own script. He will produce under his Sparke Films banner, alongside producers Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke, executive producers Geoff Imrie, and co-producer Alex Becconsall. Wade Muller (Occupation Rainfall) will serve as director of photography. Primitive War blends action with survival-horror and war themes, as Sparke promises “This ain’t no walk in the park”.
“I was captivated by the imagery surrounding Ethan’s book and the story it told. I’ve worked hard on capturing that essence but also the grittiness, horror aspects and military edge. My vision is to feel like the characters have walked out of the film Platoon and into the jaws of the greatest predators the planet has ever known,” said Sparke during pre-production. Pettus enthused: “I’m thrilled to see Luke’s interpretation of my work. I know his team is giving this project everything they’ve got.”
Principal photography is slated to begin soon on the Gold Coast of Australia, employing over 200 local crew members.
The director of the movie adaptation Luke Sparke has previously worked with Sam Neill on his movie Bring Him To Me, has explored creature-horrors with Devil Beneath, and has tackled ‘war’ in Occupation: Rainfall. Hopefully he can deliver on the same level of horror that’s depicted in the novel.
Have you read Primitive War, or have you seen any of Luke Sparke’s movies? You can check out the original novel by heading to this link and be sure to check out the series website for more of the expanding world of The Primitive War.
Since the announcement of a new Jurassic film in the works, fans have been wondering who will be tied to the project. Will we see the return of some familiar faces, or will we get all new characters to enter the fray? One such character many fans are wondering if will return is Claire Dearing. Since Claire’s growth and evolution have been a huge driving force behind a lot of the Jurassic World series, will we be seeing more of her?
The Bryce Dallas Howard Network tweeted a clip from a recent interview EXTRA did with the actress herself, along with her co-star Bryan Cranston, promoting their new film Argylle. In it, Howard was asked if she was coming back to the franchise for the 7th installment. While she states that she would like to return, her ultimate hope was that “{…] they continue with the story and the conceit that Michael Crichton has created, and invite new cast members and storytellers to be a part of it.”
Later in the interview Cranston chimes in, stating that he would “love to be a part of Jurassic World,” and that he loves the films. Bryan Cranston is a renowned actor, known for roles in films and shows such as Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle, Godzilla (2014), Isle of Dogs, and many many more. He’s the kind of actor who would be an amazing addition to the franchise, adding to the already incredible list of talented performers who have been a part of this saga.
You can watch the entire interview below:
While the original announcement of a new film stated that it would be the start of a “new Era” for the franchise, it is unknown at this point if any characters (human or dinosaurs) from the first six films will be returning for the new movie. We also have had no further word on who else will be working behind the camera as well.
In the last several years Bryce Dallas Howard has found herself in the director’s chair for several projects, including the popular Star Wars series The Mandalorian, and TheBook of Boba Fett on Disney+. Proving to have great a passion for her projects, as well as a wonderful eye and directorial skill, perhaps the person best to take on the reigns of Jurassic 7’s director’s chair is someone close with the material already?
With the film’s initial announcement stating that Universal is currently aiming for a 2025 release, we suspect that if they intend to keep to that timetable more announcements could be just around the corner.
What do you think? Who would you like to see star in the next Jurassic film? Would you like to see familiar faces or all-new characters? Who would you like to see direct the film?
News, first reported by Park Stop, broke on Monday that Comcast (Universal’s parent company) purchased nearly 500 acres of land in Bedford, England. This coincides with multiple website domains being registered under ‘Universal Studios Great Britain.’
Following this news, the Company released a statement the following day confirming the land purchase and that they are “…[in] the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site.’ The company also stated that it would be months before a final decision would be reached about whether to move forward or not.
While there has not been a confirmation of what rides or properties will be present at this new park, it is speculated that the park would be closer in style to that of Universal’s newest destination, Universal Studios Bejing, which features mostly indoor attractions to help combat the concerns of weather hindering guest experience. If that’s true, perhaps the UK could be seeing the award-winning Jurassic World Adventure dark ride come to its new park.
No official timetable has been released regarding the project, but needless to say Universal is on the cusp of a big destination boom with EPIC Universe set to open in Orlando in 2025, a new family park in Texas, Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, and now this new park in the UK. We can only hope that our favorite dinosaur-filled franchise is a part of this expansion, as Jurassic has continually been an incredibly popular property for rides and experiences at their already established parks around the world.
All these books discussed the various scripts that were written: a vital part in creating a strong skeleton to support the body of each film. It’s a process that can take a lot of time, and a lot of drafts, to get just right. Their creation is more interesting and complicated than people may realize, making a whole book dedicated to the subject something ‘Jurassic’ fans have wanted for some time. Each of the six films in the franchise (so far) undoubtedly has fascinating stories behind their screenplays. However, the original film, adapted from the bestselling novel by Michael Crichton, had perhaps the biggest challenges.
Thanks once again to Insight Editions, a documented history of this process, with the final screenplay by David Koepp, is finally told in ‘Jurassic Park: The Official Script Book.’
Jurassic Park gave moviegoers an unforgettable thrill ride. Now, on the film’s 30th anniversary, fans can experience Jurassic Park in an all-new way with this deluxe, annotated edition of Michael Crichton and David Koepp’s script. This script book is annotated by franchise expert James Mottram (Jurassic Park: The Ultimate Visual History, Jurassic World: The Ultimate Visual History), offering commentary and insight into the behind-the-scenes story of the film. Fully illustrated with film stills, concept art, and other key visuals, this is a must-have collectible for Jurassic Park fans and a fitting tribute to a landmark film.
There is a lot more to this book than simply David Koepp’s script. To discover what’s beyond the cover, join me on a grand adventure at Isla Nublar via the video below (or an abridged version)! For an even more detailed look, continue reading this article!
WHAT’S INSIDE?
DAVID KOEPP’S 12-11-1992 FINAL CONTINUITY DRAFT
The book features the 12-11-1992 draft by David Koepp, known as the final “Continuity Script.” What sets it apart from a more polished final draft are some beefier descriptions and the inclusion of some alternate dialogue for sequences that director Steven Spielberg would have to choose from. This gives the reader an additional “alternate universe” for certain scenes. The script also includes some moments that were filmed but cut, such as the reveal of why the Triceratops was only sick “every six weeks” and not all the time.
The only part of the script not included are the “Appendices.” These were two pages at the end of the script that had John Hammond’s dialogue heard during the lunch scene as a slide show played behind the characters. Most copies of the script didn’t include thesepages, so their absence isn’t exactly inaccurate to what the majority of cast and crew members had. Thankfully, they do at least get mentioned in one of the book’s many annotations, featuring a summary of what they consisted of.
INTRODUCTION & ANNOTATIONS BY JAMES MOTTRAM
The author of both Insight Editions ‘Jurassic’ Visual History books returns to provide additional content alongside the script. A lengthy introduction details the overall history of the film’s screenplays, before unveiling Koepp’s draft itself. Nearly every spread features an annotated section on the side, containing information that ranges from details exclusively revealed by David Koepp himself, comparisons to earlier drafts, alternate ideas from the previous screenwriters, and other behind-the-scenes intel. The added material James Mottram provides is written in a clear and engaging way that greatly stirs the excitement of the reader as they delve into the film’s script. One of the many exclusive quotes from Koepp explains why his original draft did not include Ian Malcolm; the mathematician who constantly is at odds with what ‘Jurassic Park’ is trying to accomplish.
“Honestly, it was because it was too hard,” he admits. “If you read the book, he talks a lot. He talks about math a lot, and he talks and abstracts a lot. And I just couldn’t figure out how to make it visual. I couldn’t figure out how to. And I thought about all sorts of things.”
INSIGHT ABOUT THE PREVIOUS SCREENWRITERS AND THEIR DRAFTS
As mentioned, the annotations not only cover Koepp and his various drafts but also the screenwriters who tackled the film before him. Michael Crichton was the first to adapt his own novel into a screenplay, producing a pair of completed drafts. One detail James conjures is how a Crichton draft opened with a scene that would later front Spielberg’s film adaptation of ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park.’
In his revised draft, Crichton opened with a variation on the novel’s second major sequence, where a young vacationer, Tina, is attacked on a deserted Costa Rican beach by a Compy. He also includes another early scene from the novel, set at New York’s Tropical Disease Lab, in which one Dr. Richard Stone and his technician Alice examine Tina’s sketch of the Compy, with Stone reaching the conclusion it’s a lizard.
This book is the first official publication to reveal that Rick Carter, the production designer of ‘Jurassic Park,’ also created his own unique “working document” draft. He wrote and assembled it during the production’s downtime when Steven Spielberg left to film ‘Hook.’ Jurassic Time created an epic “illustrated audio drama” version of his take on the film, which includes a unique item most fans would certainly love: a Spitter umbrella that squirts water from its “mouth.” Rick details the inclusion of this gag, among many other new notes.
“The idea of an umbrella squirting water is pretty ridiculously funny,” says Carter. “You have this thing designed to keep the water out. It’s actually squirting water!” The concept of a branded novelty umbrella came up during brainstorming sessions, adds Carter, when he and others on the team began to consider, “How would the dinosaur experience be commercialized in that park, and that Visitor Center?”
James also had an exclusive conversation with Malia Scotch Marmo, the penultimate screenwriter brought on board. While she only penned a single draft as well, her ideas were still an important part of the screenwriting process until Spielberg ultimately chose another direction. Scotch Marmo even contributed to a vital casting recommendation that became a reality!
Described in the book as “twenty-four and darkly tanned,” with her blonde hair tied back, Dr. Ellie Sattler proved to be a difficult role to cast. “Steven sent me clips of young actresses to play Ellie,” recalls Scotch Marmo. “The clips showcased the actresses in previous film roles. I noticed they were all ingénues. They had youth and a certain naïveté and freshness. I kept thinking they were missing the mark. Ellie is a scientist. Perhaps because my father was an astrophysicist, I couldn’t buy the actors he was showing me as realistic in any way . . . in a science fiction movie like Jurassic Park believability was essential. Steven is very open to push back, and he asked, ‘Who would you like?’” The writer made a case for Laura Dern, who coincidentally had impressed Spielberg in the 1985 film Smooth Talk.
LOADS OF CONCEPT ARTWORK, STORYBOARDS, & OTHER IMAGES
While both ‘Jurassic’ Visual History books were filled with production artwork and other images from the entire franchise, this book is only focused on the first film. Despite the included script being essentially the film that made it to the screen, the pages are filled with seemingly endless concept art, storyboards, and blueprints that cover many iterations. These materials transport the reader into the film’s art department during the creative process that helped shape the story just as much as the scripts did. This includes early designs by John Bell for lead characters before the actors were cast, never-before-seen storyboards of the famous Main Road attack sequence by David Lowery, a pair of slides from the lunch room scene by Caroline Quinn, and numerous artwork showcasing the omitted river and helicopter attack sequences. Peppered throughout are wonderful stills and other photographs from the film itself. Overall, much of the amazing artwork is not present in the other Insight Editions volumes, or any book.
Countless artists worked on the film, for a much longer period than most get these days. All the concept artwork is credited to each artist; however, the storyboards were tricky to identify given several artists often worked on just a single sequence. The final page of the book credits those artists who were able to be identified, but the entire art department should be forever applauded for their immense contributions to this film.
It wouldn’t be an honest article without referring to the “dinosaur in the room”: the front cover of this book. The artwork used was not made during the production of the film, but a recent selection of “key art” provided by Universal. To put it nicely, it’s definitely not the cover I would have chosen. It doesn’t appear inside the book itself, although a small selection of other recent artwork to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary is present. They are, thankfully, quite a bit more appealing.
However, being asked by James Mottram to join him in the production of this book was a dream come true. I have always been entranced by the many scripts of ‘Jurassic Park,’ as well as the thousands of artwork that was created before cameras ever rolled. After I read the original ‘Making Of Jurassic Park’ book, I was obsessed with peeking further behind the curtain to see the creative process of how it was all done. Over the years, I collected hard to find documents and artwork that would have otherwise been lost in time. Several of these materials, along with my own insights, enhanced this book’s content. To be associated with a book like this, for my favorite film, is something I will be eternally thankful for.
Another fan is given special mention for helping with this book: Astrid Vega (pictured with me, above, in 2018). She once ran The Jurassic Park Collection, until she sadly passed away in 2019. Astrid was a collector of many production materials that she shared with fans for years, and thanks to her, some of those are now showcased in this book.
DIGITAL E-BOOK EDITION ALSO AVAILABLE
While the physical hardcover edition is my preferred way to possess this unique book, there is also a digital e-book version available separately. This is a departure from both “Visual History” books, since those featured additional inserts that were referenced in the text that couldn’t be adapted in this format. Some may prefer a digital version for the cheaper price point and to avoid high shipping costs in certain areas of the world. E-books are also handy for quicker research, with the ability to find text in seconds. The way I see it, having a digital edition also available ensures all ‘Jurassic Park’ fans have a fair chance to seek a copy of this book!
THE PERFECT WAY TO CONCLUDE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY!
This year’s 30th anniversary of ‘Jurassic Park’ is coming to an end, and what better way to celebrate it than by experiencing every word of the film in this fully illustrated form? Yeah, I know, I may be a little biased in this endorsement. However, I hope this detailed article on what the book consists of, with some exclusive first-look images, will entice you to seek a hardcover or digital copy today! This is the kind of book I have always wanted for ‘Jurassic Park!’ James Mottram, and the staff of Insight Editions, have gone out of their way to make this new entry in their series “spared no expense.” Perhaps someday the other films in the series will get script books of their own? There are definitely more stories to uncover, and artwork that deserves to be unearthed, before becoming extinct.
For an even deeper look at how this book was created, check out an engaging conversation with annotator & author James Mottram and consultant Derrick Davis.
Do you plan on checking out the first script book ever for a ‘Jurassic Park’ film? Would you like to see Insight Editions tackle ‘The Lost World’ next? Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay informed with Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
Production designer Rick Carter’s new art exhibition in Los Angeles, “Trip Outs & In”, is a showcase of his recent original paintings, cinematic collages, and A.I. inspired collages. It includes Rick’s “cinema room,” featuring artworks that reflect his production design process and film memorabilia from ‘Jurassic Park’ in honor of the film’s 30th anniversary! This special exhibit was created by Rick’s son, Jim Carter, through his Artist Agency Legacy West Media. Sponsored by The Container Yard, Excel Image Group, Sierra Nevada, The Lapis Press, & Jurassic Outpost!
Rick Carter’s production design process has been instrumental in bringing classic films to life for decades, such as ‘Forrest Gump’, ‘Back To The Future 2’, & ‘Avatar.’ They all get a spotlight in the “cinema room”, but Rick’s ‘Jurassic’ art features unique collages he created during ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’. For the first film, he cobbled together ideas for the now-iconic Visitor Center, and for the sequel he depicted dinosaurs on and off Isla Sorna.
During this time, prints of some of these collages from the ‘Jurassic’ films are on sale at Rick Carter’s Art site! These limited edition prints are numbered and signed by Rick himself, making for a unique and special addition to any fan’s collection!
The exhibit also features original art by Rick that is not related to any film, including portraits of faces that come to his mind. This collection of art, with prints also available, details Rick’s personal connection to faces of the world.
Rick Carter’s “Yellow Woman.”
“As an artist I have attempted over the years […] to express the spirit of the many people who now travel within me as I continue my journey [around the world]. […] Many of the people I now paint or draw have come from my imagination. I don’t know who will emerge when I begin. But I do know where most of them come from. They are derived mostly from the people I encountered while traveling. Over time, some of them have become embedded and then embellished like pearls into almost real characters within my soul. They resonate as a group inside of me – creating a dialogue amongst my inner collection of people.”
This exhibit will run from December 2nd to December 11th, but the prints will remain online until they are sold out. Don’t miss out on your chance to see or own official prints of production artwork from ‘Jurassic Park!’ It’s amazing that even after thirty years there is still much to see and talk about regarding the original films from the franchise. Rick’s art is a capsule of special moments in time where his creativity gave birth to what we all know and love today. But his vision goes beyond the films he worked on, and this exhibit is an amazing tribute to his inspirational talent, and an amazing human being.
Rick Carter with a Stan Winston animatronic T-Rex during the production of ‘Jurassic Park.’
For a look at how Rick Carter also adapted the script of ‘Jurassic Park’ during the film’s production, watch Jurassic Time’s ‘Rick Carter’s Jurassic Park,’ an illustrated audio drama! Also check out the newly-released ‘Jurassic Park: The Official Script Book‘ that contains new quotes from Rick with a concept sketch he made for the Visitor Center’s rotunda!
Rick Carter’s sketch artwork featured on the page to the right.
Will you be able to visit Rick Carter’s exhibit? Interested in his art prints? Did you know collages like Rick’s are instrumental in the design process of films like ‘Jurassic Park?’ Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned to Jurassic Outpost for the latest!
