Editing The Abyss (section)

===Post-production===
To create the alien water tentacle, Cameron initially considered [[Traditional animation#Cels|cel animation]] or a tentacle sculpted in clay and then animated via [[stop-motion]] techniques with water reflections projected onto it. [[Phil Tippett]] suggested Cameron contact [[Industrial Light & Magic]].{{sfnp|Smith|2001|p=107}} The special visual effects work was divided up among seven FX divisions with motion control work by [[List of animation studios owned by The Walt Disney Company#The Secret Lab|Dream Quest Images]] and computer graphics and opticals by ILM.{{sfnp|Blair|1989|p=40}} ILM designed a program to produce surface waves of differing sizes and kinetic properties for the pseudopod,{{sfnp|Smith|2001|p=107}} which was referred to by ILM informally as the "water weenie."<ref name="Hoare">{{Cite web |last=Hoare |first=James |date=2022-08-05 |title=CGI Fridays: Matchmove Master Alia Agha Touched The Abyss |url=https://www.thecompanion.app/2022/08/05/cgi-fridays-matchmove-artist-alia-agha-touched-the-abyss/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=The Companion |language=en-GB |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809095528/https://www.thecompanion.app/2022/08/05/cgi-fridays-matchmove-artist-alia-agha-touched-the-abyss/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> For the moment where it mimics Bud and Lindsey's faces, Ed Harris had eight of his facial expressions scanned while twelve of Mastrantonio's were scanned via software used to create CGI sculptures. The set was photographed from every angle and digitally recreated so that the pseudopod could be accurately composited into the live-action footage.{{sfnp|Smith|2001|p=107}} For the sequence where [[Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio]] touches the surface of the pseudopod, then-ILM receptionist Alia Agha stood in as a hand model.<ref name="Hoare"/> The company spent six months to create 75 seconds of computer graphics needed for the creature. An [[optical printer]] was used for the [[compositing]] of the sequence, except from the shot where the pseudopod turns back into ordinary water, which was composited digitally.<ref>[https://www.redsharknews.com/production/item/6304-the-abyss-we-look-back-on-james-cameron-s-groundbreaking-thriller The Abyss: We look back on James Cameron's groundbreaking thriller]</ref> The film was to have opened on July 4, 1989, but its release was delayed for more than a month by production and visual effects problems.<ref name="Harmetz"/> The CGI-animated sequences were supervised by ILM animation director [[Wes Takahashi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agni-animation.com/fullerton/halloffame/Wes_Ford_Takahashi.html |title=Subject: Wes Ford Takahashi |website=Animators' Hall of Fame |access-date=14 June 2016 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812020742/http://www.agni-animation.com/fullerton/halloffame/Wes_Ford_Takahashi.html |archive-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>

Studio executives were nervous about the film's commercial prospects when preview audiences laughed at scenes of serious intent. Industry insiders said that the release delay was because nervous executives ordered the film's ending completely re-shot. There was also the question of the size of the film's budget: 20th Century Fox stated that the budget was $43 million,<ref name="Harmetz"/> a figure Cameron himself has reiterated.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO6vsr10i_4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/wO6vsr10i_4| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Young James Cameron talks about Abyss, budgets, and his first job as a director (September 1989) |date=April 27, 2016 |time=3:54 |work=[[YouTube]] |access-date=27 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, estimates put the figure higher with ''[[The New York Times]]'' estimating the cost at $45 million<ref name="Greenberg (1991)">{{Cite news |last=Greenburg |first=James |title=Film; Why the 'Hudson Hawk' Budget Soared So High |date=May 26, 1991 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/26/movies/film-why-the-hudson-hawk-budget-soared-so-high.html?pagewanted=3 |access-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812135130/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/26/movies/film-why-the-hudson-hawk-budget-soared-so-high.html?pagewanted=3 |archive-date=August 12, 2017}}</ref> and one executive claiming it cost $47 million,<ref name="Sujo">{{cite news |last=Sujo |first=Aly |title=''Abyss'' Puts Studio Executives on Edge |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=August 8, 1989}}</ref><ref name="Long Swim">{{cite web |title=Long Swim |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-16-ca-5643-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=July 16, 1989 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407171702/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-16-ca-5643-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> while box office revenue tracker website ''[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]'' lists the production budget at $70 million.<ref name="thenumbers">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1989/0ABYS.php |title=The Abyss (1989): Movie Details |website=The Numbers |access-date=27 October 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017120609/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1989/0ABYS.php |archive-date=2009-10-17}}</ref>