Submit your questions for Alien: Covenant concept artist Dane Hallett!

I ll write this because it might be useful; as Wayne Haag mentioned in AVPGalaxy.net podcast, Dane worked on set decoration department and he did concept art for Covenant sets. So focus your questions in that direction.

ok heres my question, what was it like working on alien covenant? Diesektor 

It seems I cant write a bit longer post? 

Edit: Resolved

(REMOVED)

Question asked by someone who is not a member of SCIFIED but would like to get an answer to this interesting question:

Has Zdzislaw Beksinski's work have any influence on you as an artist? (or any other surreal artist for that matter)

I will write my questions later, If I m allowed to asked them of course. :)

I think we need be careful as some questions can be totally ignored if they are hitting the mark.... i.e like what role does Dr Shaw play etc....

So i have a vague Question well one in a way that be answered with ambiguity but one that could then give some clues.... well i think help me paint the picture...

Here it goes....

Dane:  The Plans for a Alien Prequel took a certain route and Bold Plot that had evolved and changed a lot from conception, to Spaights draft's to Lindeloffs to the Final Prometheus, even after shooting Edits and Cuts were made to evolve/change the Story...    The Sequel has had a number of writers and would be changes from Paglen/Green and Logan.

Would you say Alien Covenant has drastically changed or evolved a lot, or does it follow smoothly within context to Prometheus.

Did you have any 
influences from 
Unused concept 
Art from 
Prometheus?

BigDave

I believe Wayne already answered your question to a certain extent. He said that Covenant story will "lift" Prometheus story (Covenant will pull up Prometheus story with it; there is even David's sentence from Prometheus which continues to flow in Covenant) to a certain level and make some thing from Prometheus clearer. Wayne also added that the vision of Covenant was definitive and that Ridley knew from the start where he wanted to go. So I believe that all script rewritings were in fact just revisions and polishings (that's what John Logan does).

Maybe its better to ask him this: As we know, Prometheus explored many themes and contained many hidden messages, it was a movie influenced by mythology, philosophy, old/unused Alien concepts... would you say Covenant is continuing that tradition of immersive scope about which Fassbender also spoke? So, will Covenant have those underlying hidden messages etc.

Dave 

Good point 

I am all for him 
Using all the unused
Concepts as much 
As he can but there 
Was some really good 
Concept art that 
Was never used and
I had hoped since 
He was using some 
Old ideas that the 
Art direction was 
Asked to look at some 
Unused stuff.

I hope its the case. 

@Enoch333

I know ;)

To a degree yes.... but its a question of how much evolution.. because things had constantly changed from inception of Alien Prequel that was ground points for Spaights to make his drafts, then Lindeloff came and it changed a bit and evolved but followed the same base Story/Plot...

Then after shooting, they had cut things because of changes to ideas and plans.... of where they wanted to go...  they at this point had the broad idea... that may be a bit different to what ideas they had running into Prometheus.

Its case of how far evolved and changed have these gone... no doubt the back bone is similar.

I think if my questions is asked and depends how its answered when combined with clues we have and Waynes comments would then paint a picture at least for me whats going on.

His answer may not give stuff away, but even the slightest clue if read right can provide a lot of clues that many could miss.

Waynes interview when combined with Fassbenders Comments does seem to link that there is some very connective tissue with the themes Prometheus gave... only the Synopsis and comments on AC seem to differ.... from these..

But we have to remember they are not going to give too much in AC away... we have a lot of leaked images that are very spoilery.... or could be...

There is No Engineers, No Shaw... yet these was the main things with David that Prometheus 2 was heading for.... and what the Source claimed...

But we have to remember a Synopsis wont give key points away and looking at comments by Wayne and Fassbender does seem that Engineers and Shaw could be key roles that are not mentioned because well they are KEY to the Plot and would give it away.

Indeed oduodu

The Franchise has used unused concepts and ideas that never made it from previous movies and it would be interesting to see if any are used for the next movie.

I like how articulated & invested your thoughts on everything are as always @BIGDAVE. That's where I would direct the focus of what my (potential) question could be to Sir Dane:

Are there any concepts that are repurposed for how Alien: Covenant is set up that were originally thought of through unused Concepts of the earlier movies; Or Elements that are Canon through the original ALIEN Series that are explored in a way through Alien: Covenant that open doors to more backbone as to why/how the events truly came about in Alien/Aliens?  ^_^

Im trying to think of a question that he would be able to answer thats not going into spoiler territory. Its harder then I thought. Maybe if there was someway to get him to clarify anything about those neomorph reports. I know it is a pretty direct question though. Maybe asking if there are any new designs that have some of the old elements of previous films of the franchise. Like the egg chamber or how xenomorphs would put that crazy stuff all over the walls and use it to encase people who were waiting to be chestbusted. I think I remember reading somewhere that James Cameron originally was going to have this transparent version of a xenomorph be the one who encases the people who have the Alien in their chest against a wall. He had this large  tongue I think that would make the hard goo like substance that Ripley had to pull off Newt at the end of Aliens to free her.

It definitely was a cool idea and explained how people got stuck behind that stuff. I even think that NECA came out with a white Alien figure that is suppose to represent what James Cameron had in mind for creature even though it didn't make it into the film. 

I think Cameron had some great ideas about where the series should go as well as Ridley of course. I can't believe that at one point they were going to team up to make Alien 3 I think and Fox couldn't wait, or shot down the idea for some reason. It was either Alien 3 or Alien 4, I can't totally remember. I just know that at some point in time, these two were going to make an Alien film together and FOX screwed it up. That would have been beyond amazing. Both of them are brilliant and responsible for the two best entries in the series. Maybe once Cameron is done with Avatar he will come back to Aliens. I know thats a long shot and probably won't happen, but a guy can dream. 

Well i think its a TWO Fold Thing.... 1) They would not want to give Spoilers.... 2) They would want to Protect their Future and may also be held to a None Disclosure.

So they would not want to Spoil the movie for Fans... or land themselves in any trouble.

Not only if Dane was to Drop Big Spoilers, would it maybe prevent Ridley from considering hiring him for other movies, it could effect Fox and how they would too and even go further than that as far as Prospective Movie Production companies after  Artists or even Cast Members who have shown in the past to Give Away the Movie before or just as its came out.

So yes, i think there is only so much they would say... maybe they can be vague with things...  Wayne Haag was in his interview a bit.

Some Cast have given things away but they are only things that Ridley Scott has mentioned.....  so its no surprise at all or Spoiler... as long as they dont go into detail...

For Example... if Dane: said.... "well i designed/created the New Face Hugger and this was a great honor and i tried to keep it as faithful to Gigers Original but it also has to be a bit different and fresh"

This would be fine as we all ready know there would be some kind of Face Hugger Ridley said so... this would be regardless of those leaked photos... even if they never came out and Dane answered as above its not a massive Spoiler...

But.... If Dane added "yeah the Face Huger i worked on is awesome but not as Awesome as the after after math... poor Noomi was covered in more Blood than John Hurt was after his Chest Buster Performance"

This kind of answer prior to the movie being out for weeks, would definitely give the Plot away and land Dane in Hot Water.

If you know what i mean?

yeah, I definitely agree 100%. I just hope that he gives us something. It doesn't have to be anything to revealing or even close to a spoiler. I know Fox would go crazy if he did that. I guess Im hoping for him to say something that will get us more amped up about the movie but still keep things secret. It is a pretty difficult task considering how much he probably knows already, and how much he needs to be quite about. Hopefully the trailer for this movie is released soon. Even if it was a 30 second teaser I would be ecstatic. 

I think there is more in store for us.... the movie so far we know a lot more about than we did about Alien, Aliens and Alien 3 and Prometheus prior to Trailers....

i doubt the Synopsis and comments are going to give the most important parts away... we see a lot of leaked set photos too. Officially as well.

They know they need to bring their A-Game after Prometheus and so i think there is a lot they are keeping up their sleeves and the comments and photos so far could distract us to look at some elements that should be common knowledge... leaving us to not touch upon some Big Plot Points they have not really touched upon yet.

@ Chad Ripley

You are right about the fact that Ridley Scott and James Cameron were about to make their own alien film.

They were actually making a 5th alien film they even had a name for it, Alien Revelation, but 20th century home entertainment decided to go with the AVP series instead.

CHRIS PICARD - Oh, how very neat! Hmm...I have only one question for Mr. Hallett. I would ask if he believes he has done the original Alien film justice with his work. :)

Proud of you Chris!

Thank you for taking the time and consideration to answer our questions Mr Hallett!

Sir Ridley Scott is an incredible, visionary director, who also happens to be a very fine artist. I would like to ask Mr Hallett if he would kindly share with us, a little of what it was like collaborating with Sir Ridley on A L I E N: COVENANT?

Thank you Chris for your great efforts 

my question is ,to what degree the art concept was infulanced by director .

thank you in advance 

Just want to echo Halloway's comment above, Chris - thanks :)

My question is similar to a some of those above really (some great ones there guys and gals!):

Dane, How much of the design/creativity came from your own personal style and inspirations and how much of it was ultimately dictated, if that's the right word, by Ridley?  i.e. was there a template, of sorts, to follow or were you allowed total creative freedom?  If it was more the latter, where did you draw inspiration from?

Thanks

I think we can gauge the potential answers from Wayne Haag interview and Ridleys past...

He would draw some ideas and discuss them and then allow concept workers to develop that and maybe evolve it... they could even then do something a bit different to Ridleys basic drawings and Ridley would sometime go... WOW.. thats IT i like that etc....

Dear Dane,

You worked on concept art and set design for Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant. Which sets did you work on for the movie, those of the human space vessel "Covenant" or those of the planet featured in the movie? Of the set designs you were involved in what influences were used (Ron Cobb, Moebius, Giger, Cameron, Stan Winston etc.), and do you have any anecdotes about one of the more interesting or technically challenging set designs you helped realize practically for the movie?

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions! I'll he sorting through them and adding them to the list for Mr. Hallett. Watch the front page for when the interview is published!

Hey, Chris, when can we expect to see this interview? 

I will be officially publishing it this Monday (January 9th). Very thrilled to share it with you all!

Happy to announce the interview was published! Here's the link.

Going to lock and un-pin this topic now. Thanks again to everyone who participated!