This past Sunday, July 28, 2024, was the last live demonstration of the Dykstraflex at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, for now at least. Now it heads back into storage and some continuing restoration work. My heart was warmed by the huge crowds that came to see this amazing machine at work, and listen to some of the luminaries that were responsible for its development and use on “Star Wars” and many other feature films. Among the special guests were John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Jon Erland, and Al Miller, some of the last of the original team that developed and pioneered the technology of the Dykstraflex motion control system. This machine spawned a sea change in the world of special visual effects, and many adaptations of the Dflex came to life at most of the visual effects houses around the world.
Many thanks to the Academy for sponsoring the restoration and continued maintenance, and many thanks to everyone at the museum for helping to make this exhibit possible. And a very special thanks to Gene Kozicki who patiently wrangled all us misfits to ensure that all the moving parts that made up this exhibit came together for these demonstrations. Those of us on the History and Technology Subcommittee hope to put more shows like this on for those of us who love the people and the machines that make movies possible.
