Sense of Scale

DVD release
No. of discs:	2
Run time:	180 minutes
Director:	Berton Pierce
Region free release date:	2012
Rating(s):	none
Reference:	ASIN B00B2AGW18

Sense of Scale was a documentary, lovingly dedicated to the dying craft of physical studio model making and their creators, in lieu, as of 2012, of CGI. Produced in 2011 and released the following year, by Berton Pierce and former Blue Sky/VIFX's model maker Tom Griep, it was a homage to all the physical model makers and their creations of the 1970s through the 1990s, a large number of whom are interviewed, having plied their trade, and having contributed to countless (visual effects heavy) productions of the era.

A region-free, two-disc documentary, running for 180 minutes, it was not broadcast through any of the networks, but was rather issued as a direct-to-DVD release. A slew of model makers, American, Canadian, British as well as German, were interviewed for this release, each of them reminiscing on the productions they worked upon. While understandably a huge number of productions of the era passed the revue, fondly discussed by their (physical model) originators, no less than around ten minutes in the first part of disc one were dedicated to the physical models built for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, accompanied by privately behind-the-scenes photographs shot by the model makers themselves, never before seen, especially ones showing the build of the V'ger studio model. Model makers not directly associated with that particular production, but nevertheless associated later on with the franchise, did often reference their work on Star Trek.

On the second, "bonus" disc, called "deleted scenes", some of Gregory Jein's input on his builds for DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations" are included.

The DVD, privately produced, was likewise marketed through its own official site. It has ever since been one of the most elaborate specialized documentaries ever made on the subject of physical studio model making, available to the general public.

While the DVD was in the making, Pierce established his own YouTube channel (see link below) where he posted snippets of his work in progress. Later on, he also posted snippets he could not include on either of the two discs of the DVD release for editorial reasons, mostly because of poor audio quality due to faulty recording and otherwise known as "outtakes". One of these was one where Bruce MacRae discussed an anecdote involving Jonathan Archer's remote controlled model spaceship, featured in ENT: "Broken Bow", and which he co-built with Gene Rizzardi. [1] Also featured on the YouTube channel and spread over two videos was the uncut version of the The Motion Picture segment that ran for 35 minutes, a full 25 minutes longer than was included on disc one. The cut segments featured interviews with Apogee, Inc. modelmakers Pete Gerard, Leslie Ekker and Michael Joyce, who were otherwise not seen in the main presentation on the DVD. [2][3]

Star Trek-affiliated interviewees on official release[]

• Gregory Jein
• Matthew Gratzner
• Ron Gress
• Tom Griep
• Laura Grijalva
• Pat McClung
• Bruce MacRae
• Lisa Morton
• Gene Rizzardi
• Scott Schneider
• Mark Stetson

Content gallery

Ron Gress

Bruce MacRea

Pat McClune

Lisa Morton

Morton working on V'ger model

Scott Schneider

Gene Rizzardi

Mark Stetson

Stetson on The Motion Picture set

External links[]

• Senseofscalefilm.com^(X) – Berton Pierce's archived official site
• Sense of Scale at the Internet Movie Database
• Piercefilm Productions at YouTube – Berton Pierce's YouTube channel, featuring many excerpts not included in the main documentary with many not even included on the "deleted scenes" bonus disc