| Rolling Ball Sculptures, both desktop and 6ft high are | | | | only to come out in unexpected places. |
| featured in the 2007 Anthony Hopkins movie | | | | The movie writer appointed Mark Bischof, a Dutch |
| "Fracture." These elaborate rolling ball machines serve | | | | artist, to advise and oversee the special effects team |
| as dramatic metaphors for the character of Ted | | | | who constructed the rolling ball sculptures for 'Fracture'. |
| Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) and the story, symbolic | | | | Bischof had been working on kinetic art for over 10 |
| of the many complicated and cunning plot twists to | | | | years and he designs the sculptures to exhibit the slow |
| come in this clever up-to-the-minute suspense thriller. | | | | release of energy of a guided ball along metal tracks. |
| Anthony Hopkins plays Ted Crawford in the movie | | | | He uses track switching mechanisms, loops, spirals, |
| 'Fracture', a wealthy L.A. aeronautical engineer, a | | | | drop-trough and other devices to demonstrate various |
| precise, meticulous man who builds these rolling ball | | | | aspects of this energy - the sculptures are enthralling. |
| sculptures for amusement. In the lounge of his smart | | | | The writer Gers, said "It's always best when you can |
| designer house is one such rolling ball sculpture - | | | | find an external sign to show the inner person (talking |
| known also as kinetic art (sculptures that have | | | | of Ted Crawford, Anthony Hopkins) but when I wrote |
| movement), approx 6ft high by 6ft wide with shiny | | | | the paragraph, I never really imagined the complex |
| metallic tracks and carved wooden wheels, where | | | | machine they would have to build." |
| small glass balls skitter and roll in an elaborately | | | | Several configurations of Bischoff's designs were built |
| choreographed dance - a beautiful piece of precision | | | | on set. Anderson, the special effects director and his |
| machinery and dramatic art. | | | | team were honored and excited to step outside the |
| The machines are also known as 'Rubes', originally | | | | normal realm of their duties of pyrotechnics, explosives |
| depicted by the famous cartoonist and engineer Rube | | | | and mechanical effects to build the 8-foot sculpture |
| Goldberg, 'complex devices that perform simple tasks | | | | along with a same-size "stunt double" version. |
| in indirect, convoluted ways'. It is difficult for a writer to | | | | Together they designed the kinetic brass sculpture and |
| describe these sculptures - they are whimsical, not | | | | its wooden base to compliment the dynamic |
| only functional but very visual with all the workings on | | | | architecture of Crawford's unique house. |
| display. | | | | The large sculpture measures 8 feet high x 8 feet |
| The writer of the 'Fracture' movie came upon the idea | | | | wide x 2 feet deep and uses two 12-volt electrical |
| of using a rolling ball machine in the movie 'Fracture' | | | | motors operated via remote control, weighing about |
| whilst playing with his son who likes marble mazes. | | | | 250 pounds. The manual desktop version is about 14 |
| The marbles roll through a labyrinth of confusing tracks | | | | inches x 32 inches x 12 inches wide. |