BEHIND THE SCI-FI SCENES: THE MAKING OF UFO, SPACE 1999, TERRAHAWKS, AND MORE

At this extended look at his life in television, Gerry Anderson remembers his post-supermarionation career – a time in which he branched out into live-action science fiction with hits like UFO and SPACE: 1999, before going on to return to the world of puppetry with Terrahawks and resurrect some of his classic characters with New Captain Scarlet. His action-heavy, practical effects based TV series brought in huge global audiences and dazzled them with imaginative stories and world-leading special effects.

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About Us:

About Me:
Century 21 Films Ltd is a multi-faceted production company whose work spans drama to documentary, miniature effects to puppet shows. It was founded by a group of filmmakers who first collaborated on Filmed in Supermarionation, the story of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's hit puppet shows including Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet.

Since then, we have worked for a multitude of high-profile clients including ITV, BBC, Mammoth Productions, British Film Institute and the Halifax working on projects such Thunderbirds, Endeavour, Doctor Who and The Twilight Zone.

In addition to our regular filmmaking services, we specialise in ‘Supermarionation’ - the puppetry filming technique used to make shows like Thunderbirds and have collaborated with ITV repeatedly to provide specialised services. Our work has been featured on The One Show, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, BBC News, ITV News and Mastermind.

#filmedinsupermarionation #thunderbirds #century21films

[henerygreen]

Made millions of children all over the world happy watching his programs.... that's quite an accomplishment.... I think I can speak for those children when I say thank you....

[Mr_Kenneth]

UFO was insanely ahead of its time. Incredible special effects, top-notch totty and a fantastic music score

[captainsensiblejr.]

Space: 1999 - the Eagles are one of the most iconic space ships ever built.

[cpuuk]

Every Anderson idea was gold, just a pity they were hamstrung by "executives" with no vision.
Thank you 21C for making my childhood enjoyable, at times you were all I had.

[almanuel]

as i am in my seventh decade i have said before and say today as a consumer of sci-fi programing THUNDERBIRD and the long list of other shows by Gerry were and still are the apex of puppetry...the fact that i still remember how much fun it was to watch these so long after seeing them the first time is a testament of how well these shows were made.

[mraidymaddful]

RIP and thank you Gerry for a life of wonderful

[BruceBanner-egvs]

UFO remains my favorite TV science fiction show. It was excellent.

[swpowell]

Thanks for all the great shows. Shouldn't have listened to anyone in America and we would have probably had more episodes of UFO and Space 1999.

[wyb]

Everything Gerry and his team produced was and still is First Class…Unbelievable Model making, Effects, just everything and added to that, the Genius of Barry Gray with his Fantastic Music…Perfection.
There is not and never will be, anything to come anywhere near the quality of these productions.
Thank you Gerry and your Teams for producing such Great series that I still love watching now 👌🏽

[tasercs]

'Hero' is an often overused word these days but I have always regarded Gerry as a true hero. He earned the respect of TV execs and made the most amazing programmes that changed many a child's life - with nothing but an idea and some passion. Yes, he had a wonderful and unique team of creators to help realise that dream, but he was the driving force.
This showed a side of his life that had its fair share of adversity but he overcame this and if you didn't know the details of the cancellations, threats and petty squabbles, you would be left with just an amazing list of triumphs - programmes children will look back on when there is nothing but AI and CGI and wonder at.
I'm sure the excitement and drama will create the same tingles it did for me 50 years ago (and still does), in generations of children to come.
RIP my hero.

[PatrioticAmericanVeteran-yf]

Thunderbirds, UFO & Space 1999 are shows that I grew up watching and loved very much. TYVM, Gerry Anderson. R.I.P..

[jeffcook]

I loved UFO and Space 1999 as a kid...I still watch them today...I loved when they introduced Maya in the second season, she did lots for the series. Thank you Mr. Anderson.

[Realmasterorder]

Great documentary these people were true visionaries and pioneers especially Space1999 is on of the Best and most Beloved Sci fi series EVER made.R.I.P Gerry and Silvia Anderson thank you for all the great memories.

[Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Back around 2013, J. Michael Straczynski [JMS] -- creator of the science fiction TV show *BABYLON 5* -- posted a comment online saying that most television network executives {I presume he meant in the US} just did not 'get' science fiction.

I think JMS was absolutely right. It was definitely true in decades past, and I think that is still true to some extent even today.

[johnclay]

the editors and lighting camera people were very good Stafford (Ufo and Space 1999) and Frank Watts (Space 1999) and Barry Gray's greatly effective music Great documentary.

[captainsensiblejr.]

I was very young when I first saw UFO, . I noticed that whenever Gabrielle Drake was on screen, strange sensations occurred in my trousers.

[Celtopia]

Thank you, I just relived my childhood,

[THE_Michael_Westen]

I'm a huge Anderson fan. Space: 1999 basically sparked my love for scifi. I still haven't watched all of his shows start to finish. Those I did I always enjoyed and they gave me hours and hours of fun and entertainment.

[vascoapolonio]

The Opening Theme from Space: 1999, Season 1, its the G.O.A.T. themes ever done in the world. I still have goose bumbs when i hear it, even after all this decades...❤

[papalaz]

This is a great documentary I have never seen before and the most honest.
Gerry is piling on the sarcasm at the end. I don't blame him after the way he was treated.