The fortuitous conclusion of “Jurassic Park” filming coincided with the onset of “The Flintstones” production, serendipitously freeing up key crew members for the latter. Renowned cinematographer Dean Cundey and special effects wizard Michael Lantieri were thus available, and both had just contributed to the blockbuster success of Spielberg’s dinosaur epic. With Amblin Entertainment, Spielberg’s company, producing “The Flintstones”, it was seamless for Spielberg to reassign his talented contributors to Director Brian Levant’s movie.
Cundey’s previous experience was impressive, with cinematography credits on major films like “Back to the Future” series, “Hook”, “Road House”, and a spate of John Carpenter’s works such as “The Thing”, “Halloween”, “The Fog”, “Escape from New York”, and “Big Trouble in Little China”.
Lantieri’s special effects prowess was equally celebrated, boasting involvement in “Hook”, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, “Death Becomes Her”, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”, and “Fright Night”. His reputation in the cinematic SFX sphere was immense.
Despite the expertise behind it, “The Flintstones” film had a distinctly artificial and colourful look, reminiscent of a theme park ride, which was arguably fitting for a live-action take on the classic 1960s cartoon. Levant recognized the pressure and opportunity of working with such esteemed industry professionals, noting it pushed him to up his directing prowess.
The insights gained on “The Flintstones” carried over to his subsequent movie, “Jingle All the Way” (1996), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite being panned by critics, like “The Flintstones”, it achieved financial success.
FAQ Section
Q: Who were the talented crew members from “Jurassic Park” that worked on “The Flintstones”?
A: Dean Cundey, the cinematographer, and Michael Lantieri, the special effects coordinator, both from “Jurassic Park,” worked on “The Flintstones.”
Q: What other movies did Dean Cundey work on?
A: Dean Cundey was the cinematographer for films such as the “Back to the Future” series, “Hook,” “Road House,” and several John Carpenter projects including “The Thing,” “Halloween,” and “Escape from New York.”
Q: What was the visual style of “The Flintstones” movie?
A: The film had a deliberately artificial and colorful aesthetic, similar to a theme park attraction, which matched the original cartoon show’s vibe.
Q: How did director Brian Levant feel about working with the high-caliber crew members from “Jurassic Park”?
A: Levant felt that working with top-flight people like Cundey and Lantieri pushed him to elevate his own game in directing.
Q: Did “The Flintstones” film succeed financially despite criticism?
A: Yes, despite critical reviews, “The Flintstones” was a financial success.