THE SPECIAL EFFECTS SECRETS of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, UFO and MORE with MIKE TRIM

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THE SPECIAL EFFECTS SECRETS of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, UFO and MORE with MIKE TRIM

Рет қаралды 62,955

Күн бұрын

What does it take to craft the model worlds of Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, UFO and more? In 'Fly By Wire' designer and special effects expert Mike Trim shares special effects secrets from his time working on classic Gerry and Sylvia Anderson Supermarionation television series.
From Derek Meddings and Thunderbird 2 to 'Doppelgänger' AKA 'Journey to the Far Side of the Sun', Mike shares his thoughts on the unique look of Century 21 Films' model effects output.
For more Supermarionation, visit: century21films...
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About Us:
About Me:
Century 21 Films Ltd is a multi-faceted production company whose work spans drama to documentary, miniature effects to puppet shows. It was founded by a group of filmmakers who first collaborated on Filmed in Supermarionation, the story of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's hit puppet shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet.
Since then, we have worked for a multitude of high-profile clients including ITV, BBC, Mammoth Productions, British Film Institute and the Halifax working on projects such Thunderbirds, Endeavour, Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone.
In addition to our regular filmmaking services, we specialise in ‘Supermarionation’ - the puppetry filming technique used to make shows like Thunderbirds and have collaborated with ITV repeatedly to provide specialised services. Our work has been featured on The One Show, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, BBC News, ITV News and Mastermind.
#filmedinsupermarionation #thunderbirds #century21films

Пікірлер: 125

@BrilliantDesignOnline 27 күн бұрын

Extraordinary interview. Amazes me when studios take props and just dump them, not to mention cancelling shows.

@EtonieE25 25 күн бұрын

Thank you for posting wonderful memories for many of us in a country that no longer exists! 😢

@williamjackson6705 2 ай бұрын

Gerry Anderson & the artist that worked for him created a world that was so amazing. As a child I was mesmerized by the pseudo- reality they brought to life. Thank you, Mike, for all the magic you & Gerry gave to us.

@Birkguitars Ай бұрын

These shows were the narrative of my childhood. I can still recall the sense of exvitement watching the drama of Thunderbirds. Thank you Mr Trim for some wonderful memories.

@joeking4206 Ай бұрын

Be assured Mike, Century 21 had an enormous impact on many young post-war baby boomers. Derek Meddings, Red Hill, and all of your colleagues are an enormous part of my childhood. Thunderbirds was just the best thing in my life. To some extent it still is. I deeply regret never going to a convention and meeting Gerry. Just glorious. Please just get over the lemon squeezer. I never noticed it until some “expert” pointed it out. I have just retired from being a aircraft engineer at the major UK manufacturer. Guess why I became an engineer?

@jyvben1520 Ай бұрын

more time for the hobbies like model building - dangerous explosions - puppetry - piano ... in Century 22 production

@brucebechdel3524 Ай бұрын

@@jyvben1520

@dr.plutonus1496 29 күн бұрын

Today I've been to an exhibition of Gerry & Sylvia Anderson's creations, & don't mind admitting I got quite emotional. As so many have said, these iconic productions were high points of our 1960s childhoods. They gave us excitement, awe & adventure, but they also had a strong moral message. We learned that good people could work together, defeat bad people, & make the world a better place. That's an important message that young children - & all of us - still need to hear today.

@theboofin 23 күн бұрын

Great job. These shows fired the imagination of a generation of youth.

@Water_Rabbit 2 ай бұрын

Mike, you scared the hell out of me with those UFOs when I was a kid. Can't thank you enough for the thrills!

@terranceparsons5185 Ай бұрын

Thanks to content like this, i can see the men who shaped my childhood. I wanted to be Virgil Tracy when i was little.

@tybulustyburn5580 2 ай бұрын

The brilliant Mike Trim x

@Veeger 2 ай бұрын

Why did Century 21 shut down? It's weird to say but the management had no imagination as to the future potential of this amazing collaboration of artists. As a kid , I watched them all.

@elizabethpalladino8301 2 ай бұрын

Very interesting. I could listen to Mike Trim all day long. He was fascinating.

@SunShine-dk6rk Ай бұрын

Mike and the folk at Century 21 you had a massive impact on the lives of us then youngsters, it was an amazing world we felt part of whilst watching, it's a pleasure to see Mike and some of the team, these programs stood the test of time and the love and work that went into the programs lives on. Best wishes to the folk from Century 21, loved ones and fellow viewers ❤❤❤.

@moonbear1st Ай бұрын

those models became apart of my life i was already a sci fi fan at a young age being born in 1955, growing up with all gerry anderson shows. i started model making age 9 and wanted my kits to look like gerry anderson ones . now at 69 i cant move for models and things so thankyou for the great creative models you made..

@waynekerr5645 23 күн бұрын

Thank you Mike Trim and all your colleagues, you brought my childhood to life. We now have CGI, which whilst a skill in itself, doesn’t quite capture the magic of puppetry.

@stephenrose1343 2 ай бұрын

Terrific little documentary.I still have the various "Dinky " versions of the Captain Scarlet,Joe 90 and UFO vehicles , still lurking in the attic!

@Bloke-in-Stoke 28 күн бұрын

Thank you, thank you, thank you Mike and Century 21 Films. You helped make one little chap's childhood, the happiest it could have possibly been. At the age of 57 I'm still a huge fan who's currently enjoying reruns of Captain Scarlet on Talking Pictures TV. Hope they get to do the same for Joe 90, Stingray and of course, Thunderbirds. Thank you again, you have no idea just how much of a positive influence you all had on my early life. Cheers 🍺

@ogarzabello Ай бұрын

You were part of my chilhdood, and yes: I did notice the orange squeezer 🤣

@Mark-h2e5c 19 күн бұрын

This is great!! I started watching Supercar in New York when it first aired and have been a fan throughout all the shows. I am 71 now and STILL watch them either on youtube or I pull out the DVD's! THANKS AGAIN and God Bless!

@BlackArroToons 2 ай бұрын

Seeing the miniature cars and vehicles driving in the outdoors or around buildings and roads were some of my favorite moments in these shows in addition to the classic puppets/marionettes.

@minicle426 2 ай бұрын

The lemon squeezer is iconic.

@TrevorDennis100 25 күн бұрын

I've always assumed that lemon squeezers were based on Thunderbird model details.

@synthdude Ай бұрын

If i recall correctly, they also used the caps off toothpaste tubes because of the size, shape and texture! Thanks for the memories - its a real treat to watch all these "behind the scenes" clips.

@zuioprt 25 күн бұрын

The Thunderbird 2 is my Favorite :)

@Markus_Andrew 2 ай бұрын

Such a shame that so many of those wonderful models and sets didn't survive. But they will live on in film (or in some form of digital media) and that's some consolation. It was certainly an era.

@alangood8190 Ай бұрын

That was a stroll down memory lane. Brilliant. Compare and contrast our childhoods then to what children experience now. I'd go back to that era in a heartbeat. PS. My era was Fireball XL5, Supercar, Stingray and Thunderbirds when whacking the side of the tele got the valves working again.

@Mcfreddo 2 ай бұрын

Those Century 21 graphics that was the opening sequence for each series was fantastic. I loved it. You knew your favourite show was going to start and it launched you into a new era!

@Markus_Andrew 2 ай бұрын

I know exactly what you mean!

@nigeldewallens1115 2 ай бұрын

That was extremely interesting! Thank you for making my childhood so exciting! I started with fireball XL5 right up to the point if not watching the Secret Service! Simply as it was not shown on my regional channel! Sigh! What was lovely was the magazine that was made for us kids back then! It made us feel grownup, sitting down at Breakfast with your parents reading the newspapers too! Thank you for all the magical fun you gave us all! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@WOFFY-qc9te 2 ай бұрын

Mike, you and the crew of API did magnificent work I and many others have good memories and still enjoy your work. Thanks.

@jackmessent3490 10 күн бұрын

Very interesting hearing Mike Trim’s recollections of working on these amazing shows.

@user-jk6ic8iy5l 28 күн бұрын

Thanks Mike. The models that you and your team made helped shape my childhood.👍

@Heavy-Metal-Spike 2 ай бұрын

Mid-1964, 15 GBP per week - before taxes & union dues. My word, Mike was an absolute STEAL 🙂 ( but he would have been at 100 times that salary!) SO humble & understated, and so British. The model-making and filming techniques on these shows were YEARS ahead of their time - geniuses & pioneers that raised the bar to a level that has never been surpassed. I ADORE these videos - PLEASE keep them coming.

@MrNas42 21 күн бұрын

A true maker of dreams!

@edbrackin Ай бұрын

Thanks for the interview.

@skippyyoung7872 Ай бұрын

The model makers were genius! Also high as a kite to be so creative..

@dranet47 Ай бұрын

It's always so interesting hearing about how these shows are made. Thank you!

@Anton-ji4td Ай бұрын

It was all fantastic and still is. What a great video. Way ahead of its time. Excellent!

@plainswell 2 ай бұрын

Wonderful stuff. I loved all these shows on first release when I was a kid. My endless gratitude to all the skilled creatives that made these shows happen.

@johnella4744 10 күн бұрын

I really enjoyed watching this video, clearly Mike was passionate about the work he did at the studio. Thank you for sharing your memories.

@colinbrookes8625 Ай бұрын

What an uplifting and marvelous 26 minutes. Thank you so much. I could listen to Mike Trim recounting the making of these seminal series for hours. I do hope you are able to have Mike back again to talk more about his many years in production with APF. There are so many aspects of how and why things unfolded as they did as their abilities and experience increased that there must be many more stories to tell.

@margaretmcallister5422 Ай бұрын

Talking of using everyday items - as kids we had an oval soap dish with a plastic tray that was the same as some 'grids' that appeared on some of the Thunderbird models and sets. Took me years to realise that. Great series and terrific effects.

@negotiableaffections 2 ай бұрын

Seeing the Lemon Squeezer - Knowing it WAS a Lemon Squeezer was definitely an awakening in my early model making career. DON'T ever diss that lemon squeezer, its more holy than the universal greeblie. And so too; all the knobs from radios, gas appliances etc.

@bobsterbiker4346 Ай бұрын

Great video the effects were out of this world and the music especially in the disaster scenes in Thunderbirds were epic thank you so much

@harrysingh6577 19 күн бұрын

Shado 2 was my favourite childhood toy! Thank you.

@nickbonzer 26 күн бұрын

loved the MSV. great vehicle......you sat backwards as I remember and had no windows

@ericboehm9457 Ай бұрын

Great interview.

@mickymondo7463 2 ай бұрын

My late uncle Rod was a model maker on Cptn Scarlet and Joe 90

@WOFFY-qc9te 2 ай бұрын

Thank you Rod, great times.

@user-zl8jd1rf4g 2 ай бұрын

Sorcerer is the name of the film about the trucks driving through the jungle with nitroglycerin. If anyone's interested. Roy schieder was the protagonist

@century21films28 2 ай бұрын

Sorcerer was 1977. He is, in fact, talking about The Wages of Fear - the original.

@ByronWerner-qw5sh Ай бұрын

Wages of Fear is a far superior film, in glorious black and white.

@F8Tributo Ай бұрын

Always loved the Thunderbirds! Was part of my early development! Fantastic production quality and stories!

@thesushifiend Ай бұрын

Fantastic film thank you!

@moreheff 2 ай бұрын

What a great video. Ah Mike, all your hard work is a major part of my childhood. Amazing stuff. Now I think the guys at the Gerry Anderson Podcast need to get you in for a bit more of a detailed chat. People would love that!

@EdVanMeyer Ай бұрын

This was such fantastic television.

@kaipeterson 26 күн бұрын

What agreat interview!

@timames4405 Күн бұрын

An absolutely fascinating interview. Thank you.

@raccoon874 26 күн бұрын

*21:38** original 1953 French film **_Le Salaire De La Peur_** , later the English version in 1977 **_Sorcerer_** . This interview is SPENDID, 26 minutes of pure enjoyment of listening to a well-spoken man talking about an excellent TV program that n one is willing to replicate in terms of quality and entertainment value.*

@bunkie2100 Ай бұрын

Thanks so much for sharing, it brings back a lot of happy memories.

@AXE668 Ай бұрын

Love the Supermarionation series. Particularly loved the super percussive intro to Stingray, "Anything can happen in the next half hour!..." A propos of nothing, quick shufti on Google Maps to see the studio location in Slough, and the buildings were still there in 2016, but they've since been demolished.

@century21films28 Ай бұрын

@@AXE668 See our latest upload in which some crew members go back to the site before demolition.

@Lumibear. 2 ай бұрын

That was great, such a sad ending to it all though, it went out with a whimper.

@inchbyinch7759 23 күн бұрын

Good old days 🍺

@eddtemperley2421 Ай бұрын

I am fascinated by the Round House which TB3 launched through. I wish there were more pictures of it. I don't think the Tracy family ever used it for interior shots in the TV series. Perhaps Lady Penelope stayed in it when she visited. Thanks Mike Trim, you had an eye for such style and grace.

@gregpetterson 19 күн бұрын

Great video👍. Brings back childhood memories of these fabulous shows. Amazing detail that really showed back then and I think still looks great today. Nice to know these scenes and the work that went into them will still be seen long after all involved have moved on.

@pauljazzman408 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic stuff. Love all the vehicle designs especially for UFO by Mike Trim. Loved the Shadow mobiles and didn't realise the heritage from Joe 90 episode with the trucks based on the French film about transporting nitroglycerin. Those cloud shots with dry ice and smoke were revolutionary at the time. Shame they didn't keep all the sets and vehicles for a museum. Still they are great memories.

@martindooley4439 Ай бұрын

Awesome content

@BGCW_86 2 ай бұрын

This is fascinating, what a great insight!

@iancurtis1152 Ай бұрын

Those two discs of ( I presume torch light) “the Mysterons” combined with the accompanying mysterious sound effects did make my quiver as a kid. But as an aside I crapped myself when “the child catcher” was present in the movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”

@jpofgwynedd3878 2 ай бұрын

Thunderbirds... I was 5 or 6 when it was first broadcast. It was GLORIOUS - although I always thought the child characters annoying - and somehow, I KNEW what I was looking at: models and puppets. I was an avid reader of TV21 which had frequent behind the scenes photos and articles; they didn't break the illusion for me, they made the visual magic even better! Of course, nearly 60 years later, following this series with extra details like the different speeds of rolling roads and such... The real reason for this post, though, is the lemon squeezer on Thunderbird 1's launch bay... for me, it was a link to the real world, somehow. It looked perfect! It was brilliant - and of course, we had one in the kitchen! But for me, that lemon squeezer is THE highlight of that launch bay - always was, always will be.

@howardg396 2 ай бұрын

Great interview. Mike Trim mentioned he was the main vehicle designer for Captain Scarlet. I'm curious who the vehicle designer was for the New Captain Scarlet?

@PeterMayer Ай бұрын

I lived outside of Detroit from 1967 to 1972 before moving to Cincinnati. Anyway, we watched The Thunderbirds big time up there. I used to draw the ships, especially Thunderbird 2!

@Thunderbirds-models 2 ай бұрын

What a wonderful insight 👏

@itowmyhome797 Ай бұрын

Thank you

@metabugs7702 2 ай бұрын

Thankyou for sharing that with us, it was a fantastic era , I work within the filming industry and still hope that we will return to in camera practical effects rather than going down the AI root. again thankyou for all of your great work Tim and all of your colleagues.

@johnclay7644 2 ай бұрын

good documentary

@SaturnCanuck 2 ай бұрын

Some of your designs are brilliant. I have your book too

@davidseaford797 Ай бұрын

What a great job

@Iskelderon 2 ай бұрын

Awesome! I just love such looks into the actual thought processes that led to certain aspects that shaped the designs.

@rbaxter286 Ай бұрын

Amazing my opinions changing from comic book youth to engineering degree/systems engineer operation and maintenance real life experience.

@Allan_aka_RocKITEman 2 ай бұрын

Great video...👍

@lyxnick 16 күн бұрын

Amazing interview.

@ducomaritiem7160 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, I love the stuff you made, it was of great inspiration to me when I was a kid ❤

@charlessmyth 2 ай бұрын

Took a look at the Sunprobe episode on ITVX. The resolution and lighting was remarkably high. So high, the paintbrush marks were sorely evident on the hull of the Sunprobe. Too much of a good thing :-)

@Mcfreddo 2 ай бұрын

I thought Captain Scarlet was SO handsome, back in the day. 😊

@bobcalderon2534 2 ай бұрын

Love these videos. Keep it going. 😊

@ThePeej Ай бұрын

Astounding to think none of this was done with radio control, batteries & servos. Just wires !

@Deepthought-42 Ай бұрын

2:21 £15 a week was a relatively good wage for someone in their twenties back in 1964. Just shows how much inflation has eroded everything since.

@You-Anakin-Skywalker 2 ай бұрын

Love it

@AtreiusLux 2 ай бұрын

It's always sad hearing how the Century 21 props were smashed up. Some of the film making and special effects techniques made their way into TUGS through David Mitton as he had worked as a special effects technician on Thunderbirds. There's a fantastic documentary on the making of the series and the ongoing preservation of the surviving model props kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g9V7jdBzqNKpnJc.html

@blxtothis Ай бұрын

Wonderful and ultimately sad, I was 11 when Four Feather Falls started but watched it anyway because it seemed to be different and became an Anderson fan through all of the developing projects, as a near teenager, my peers and I enjoyed other shows like Space Patrol but Supercar was really the start of the exotic for us. For that trailblazing organisation to just disappear was a tragedy.

@manxman8008 Ай бұрын

Genius

@shapeshifter8986 Ай бұрын

is century21 films still active in making new tv shows? It would be cool to see new productions like space: 1999 with new actors but with old technology, no cgi.

@charlessmyth 2 ай бұрын

[25:07] They found new jobs with the cheaper to make, Blake's 7 :-)

@anthonyxuereb792 Ай бұрын

I've seen what happened to one of the models from 2001: A Space Odyssey, quite bizarre.

@yantantethera689 26 күн бұрын

And they all went to the USA and did the sets for Star Wars.

@Alex000113 20 күн бұрын

Excellent video, thanks for sharing ! Such a sad end to a glorious creative period and a successful process and team. Those models and the shows fueled the imaginations of many future engineers. I always wondered about the relationship between the model designs and realworld objects (eg concorde, soviet satellites). I built many lego versions of the Zero-X assembly and still think of technical issues inspired by those shows.

@gregorydahl 2 ай бұрын

You were a fort knight after sting ray .

@DaveSCameron 11 күн бұрын

SPACE 1999 Those Eagles were fantastic 😂😂😂

@charlesachurch7265 18 күн бұрын

Century 21 shaped my childhood. Bastards sold me short. Wheres my silver spandex suit and holidays on the moon?

@user-ee5yk4fz2f 16 күн бұрын

Such a shame that ufo only had one series. Grew up on it and thought it was great. Watched 1999 but never thought it had the same punch

@ArcanePath360 20 күн бұрын

I used to have the toy of TB2. It was entirely metal like everything back in those days. I think it was made by Corgi. Also had James Bond's Lotus, Batmobile and many others which would be worth a lot of money today. As a kid I think I just threw them out when I was done with them