Cynicism of the Studios By Jared B. Gilbert
The LEGO Studios Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set
Is TLC really at the end of its reign? Making Star Wars
with bricks and the up and coming Jurassic Park III sets, TLC is showing
consumers its withering imagination. Gone are the days of the M-tron
battling the Blacktron and Space Police. Gone are the days of the good
castles (yellow) and the sieges made upon them by the Wolfpack Renegades.
What TLC is now selling to us is something WE thought of years ago.
As you are well aware, last Christmas, TLC teamed up with Steven Spielberg
to release a feature laden package. This two hundred dollar eyeful contained
a camera, an editing program and a four hundred piece set. As the set
is 
concerned,
it is nothing like what TLC has made before. Rigged with two toppling
buildings (that’s it) and a hellish highway base plate, one can
create their own "dinosaur got loose again" movie. TLC forgot
to film their movie with the camera they included in set 1349. The crystal
clear quality of their images made me wish they had included the camera
they used and the software for the money. In reality, the grainy footage
captured by the camera looks like someone was shooting with a permanent
mask.
On Brickfilms, there are no movies including the new Studios line. The sets are pretty flashy with everything that is in the movies today. Sure we like car chases, blowing up banks, and crumbling temples-but what set comes with something new that we haven’t seen before? People who have been collecting legos for years have plenty of cars, helicopters, and bricks to make anything happen. Why buy the same set that has only a miniature version of Spielberg to offer? Which brings me to another point about the Studios line. Every set comes with a cameraman or some behind the scenes crew. Unless you are doing a movie all about cameramen they mean nothing. You can film and film and film and all the little cameraman did was stand there. And what is the point of the fan car to keep your Lego actors cool? The only reason they get hot is if I burn them. And then, as an added insult, the lego man behind the fan is not able to operate it himself. So if I need to feed the flames, I have to turn the fan MYSELF?! Take them out.
TLC has been expanding over the past couple years. Now they offer watches, software, clocks, pens, key chains, stickers, books, and other various things that have no bearing on Legos at all. While offering a myriad of options to show your true Lego Maniac (for the most money) TLC has spread itself too thin to make the quality sets they used to. They do not make the seemingly inspired sets of long ago, they rely on bestselling novels and blockbuster hits to sell their bricks. Studios is no different.
(note,
this article was written some time before the release of the LEGO Designer
Sets early 2003, which seem to have instilled a new sense of hope within
the hearts of many an AFOL who remember when all sets came with a multitude
of possibilities for construction, and contained less specialized pieces-
Nate)
I wonder whom TLC was really offering this new line to. I thought (before
I bought Studios) it was a reward for sticking with them-a delightful
package
aimed at the seasoned Lego veteran who gave years upon years of service.
After many headaches with the thrown together software I realize I was
wrong. The price was made to suck parents dry at Christmas to get the
newest and flashiest set to keep up with their child’s collection.
It was not made for us who have envisioned animating bricks forever;
or to those who have and needed better equipment. By adding the tumbling
building set to the package, TLC suggests you do not have enough -or
the right- Legos to make a movie. To make the matter worse TLC had a
movie contest for those up to the age of 18. I know half the people
here at Brickfilms were not eligible to participate.
I have come up with some good ideas for TLC about making movies:
-TLC could team up with another organization to make a non-Lego package to help filmers. Think about it: lights, double sided tape, noise makers, turkey baster, fishing line, etc. etc. This one package would hold the convenience of movie-making.
-Get rid of all the cameramen and behind the scenes crew. Put more props in the sets, more explosion stuff, more animals, harder to find Legos.
-Have TLC check out Brickfilms to see what we are making and make sets accordingly. Maybe they’ll make an update to the software that allows super imposing (ed. - chroma key or blue/green screens). HA!
By providing us with a camera, TLC has taken a step in the right direction.
TLC knew what we wanted, but the knowledge ends there. Lego needs to
know what we really want in terms of filming. Brickfilms is a good place
to start.
