original BSG matte painting

[MAD]

Okay, I know this isn't a signature, BUT this is far beyond a good signature!

Just now I've won this original BSG matte painting on eBay in a heart stopping last 10 seconds (as usual!)

This is a very unique original matte painting used in the first three hour Battlestar Galactica movie pilot. This consists of two parts. The first is a 16x20 enlarged photograph. It looks like a close up of a barren landscape. The second piece is a clear sheet of acetate that has the sci fi images painted onto the surface so that when layered you get a background shot of vipers and two moons on a realistic surface.



The seller doubted if this was real and had a low starting bid (the painting came from an estate buy without further background info). The actual scene this was used for didn't match the painting. The background is different to this one and the Vipers look further away. All true! But after careful analysis I knew the painting was real. The background is different, but in an other scene the background used does match to screen used material. The moment when Boxey wanders off and is captured by the Ovions we see a similar background used that does match the painting. The Vipers don't match the later scene either, but the background match is so striking that no fan could ever reproduce this from just a piece of film. Even the tiniest details in the background match. Therefor the foreground was probably painted to serve at the end of the movie. It must have looked wrong on film so they probably redid the entire painting (fore and background) and that's why it doesn't match. Here is my detailed analysis of the comparison with actual film images.



A matte painting like has been auctioned by Profiles in History about 6 months ago. It was sold for $4,000. I won this on eBay for just $500 and it has some really neat painted Vipers so you bet it's gold! Once proved real (I'll contact the painter, probably Andrew Probert), I could easily sell it for the same amount as the other one. Of course for the next couple of decades it will be another highlight in my collection!

[joel]

*drools* Oh...so....beautiful! That's a very nice piece indeed! So how do you plan to display this?

[MAD]

Maybe I'll frame it, but I'll probably just scan it and keep it stored somewhere to look at it when I please. I'm not displaying a lot of stuff, that's why I actually never buy posters or even want a signed poster. All my signatures, photos and scripts are in a couple of albums which I can easily flip through. That's enough for me, it's nice and private. If ever anyone breaks into my apartment, I'll loose my photo- and videocamera, my laptop, etc. (which are all replaceable) but the small row of albums that have thousands of euros in signatures and memorabilia they'll leave untouched!

[mikedx]

Very Sweet!

Now you can make your own shots with you on planet.

[ThinWhiteDuke]

What a piece of junk.....I mean; its not even from a real painter! ;D

(I could start a discussion about the new career of the Poolboy....his new career as a painter )

Serious: I already told you my opinion: this is another 'Batman story' addition.
I may even rank this one higher than your script to be honest....

Awesome stuff.

[MAD]

I'm still happier with my script. Only 50 were made and 3 are know to still exist. Only mine is filled with sigs of cast and crew.

This is a "nice add". I still have to see it up close (in my hands) to judge the real value of it, but I guess I won't be disappointed!

I have some other really good stuff coming up, but this was the nicest I can think of right now. But hey, I said the same not so long ago when I bought the Dykstra photos, and then the Greene tradingcards, and then the Ray Bolger script... I guess I've been real lucky lately.