Concept and creative process
‘A for Andromeda’ was a classic science-fiction thriller by Fred Hoyle and John Elliot in which scientists built a super-computer from plans decoded from an extra-terrestrial signal received through a giant radio telescope. The computer was used in an experiment to synthesize life, resulting in a human baby, the Andromeda of the drama’s title. The titles evoked the feeling of the space origins of Andromeda with simple means, panning and tracking on clear on black, back-lit Kodalith prints of stars and galaxies. Swirling clouds of dust were filmed – liquid nitrogen or even a boiling kettle under camera against a black background were favourite tricks! These various elements, including the sculpture head of Andromeda shot on a turntable, were combined in a film optical sequence at the film laboratory to obtain a final transmission print.