When the Disney Channel needed to transform their teen star, Hutch Dano, into the old Ms. Zamboni for their movie THE DEN BROTHER, they asked if I would help. Of course I said yes and, after pulling a lifecast, designing and sculpting a face-full of new features, creating molds, casting up some foam latex and spending 2 1/2 hours gluing the whole thing to Hutches face, Ms. Zamboni breather her first breath. The secret in creating the middle-aged Zamboni was to avoid the sculptures temptation to go overboard with all of the Beautiful folds and wrinkles that manifest themselves as one nears the status of a living corpse.
Hutch was a good sport. It was my first time putting an appliance on a moving target as he distracted himself from the horrible ordeal by bouncing and bobbing to his ipod provided music. Once completed, however, he fell right into character. He watched fascinated into the mirror as he moved and manipulated his new, older, matronly face. Everyone had allot of fun with it and the show has proved to be popular.
For most people, music is an important and mighty part of their lives. I hold dear so many musicians and their songs that have been the soundtrack to my life.
I remember the first concert I ever went to. I had just turned 16 and, although I had already received my license, my mother refused to let me drive me and my buddy Tom to the Greek Theater in Berkeley. She dropped us off outside and dashed to the theater, my hand growing sweaty as I clutched the Men At Work ticket. We had gotten there early and as we waited, the boys from down under warmed up a bit and checked their equipment, still hidden from sight, on the other side of the gate.
It was so thrilling to hear the sounds of their instruments pour over the wall like a great flood and to hear Colin Hays unmistakable voice bend the currents of air around him into heart penetrating peaks and valleys. The concert was amazing.
After their “best new band” Grammy Award and a few hit singles, the men went their separate ways. I later found out that Colin was actually Scottish and not from Australia, and was delighted to discover that his solo works are as grand as anything he ever did with Men At Work.
He performed here just the other night and after the show I thanked him for his contribution to my life and he signed a CD for me. Keep it up Colin. As soon as I begin production on my film I want to talk to you about providing some of you magic for its soundtrack.
I once experienced a universe that was perhaps parallel to our own, certainly similar to ours and yet all together different. It reminded me of a film I once saw titled, The Planet of the Apes, but, instead of being ruled by up-righted primates, it was bovine that lead the heard. Here are a few images of these cattle that seemed so foreign, and yet oh, so very familiar.
Mine is a wacky business. I just spent the past month on a very intense shoot for the short film, Henri 2.0. The entire film features my models, designs, robots and props. I was either on set puppeteering and making things look good for the camera or in the shop getting ready for the next set up. I worked six days a week and was lucky if I got four hours of sleep a night. Some nights were actually spent right there on my studio couch. When I finally did get home, my twelve year old was asking for the car keys and I was able to borrow my nine year old’s shoes.Having made a movie may sometimes be considered glamorous, the act of making one certainly is not. Despite the grueling demands of the shoot we got some of the most beautiful footage. I think this film will draw allot of attention and rightfully so. Here is a sneak peak at some of out sets and our main character, Henri. I’ll post more as we get closer to the Sundance Film Festival and other venues. Here’s to making making movies. I Love My Job!
My latest film has hooked me up with Margot Kidder, aka Lois Lane. I was eleven years old when Superman the Movie came came out. My buddy, Eddie Vick did a great pantomime of Christopher Reeve coming in for a landing, and a flawless impersonation of Ned Beaty “Hey Mr. LU-tor”, and we all believed that a man could fly.
It was a delight to have Margot with us for the day. She’s friendly, entertaining, kind and approachable. Her acting chops are well honed and very impressive. It was great fun to be able to work with Margot and when she’d call me by my name “Clark” all I could hear was Lois speaking to Mr. Kent.
Please keep your eyes opened for this sci-fi short, “HENRI 2.0″. I’ll be posting more about it throughout production and when we are finished we’re going to see if we can get ourselves an Oscar.
I love designing and building, spaceships and worlds of fantasy, and its fun to destroy national monuments and blow up air planes, but some times I’m asked to do the more normal, everyday, unexpected variety of visual effect. Check out this Big Box Hardware Store/Warehouse being featured in an up-coming Kels Goodman film, “The Last Eagle Scout”. We shot the scene in camera, forcing the perspective of the models, using an actual warehouse as a backdrop, and captured some great, tipping over, domino action.
Warehouse
Warehouse angle 2
Big Guy
One of the tricks to creating a successful miniature is to include everyday items that help sell the scale. I mean, who in the world would take the time to build a miniature ladder and pallets?
“If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn’t anything you can’t do if you want to.” – Jim Henson
A couple of years ago I heard rumors of the Empire Film Group starting production on the feature bio-pic, HENSON, based on a screenplay by Robert D. Slane that tells the story of the life and achievements of Muppets/Sesame Street creator Jim Henson. I see on IMDB that it is currently in pre-production (2010). If anyone has further information please let me know.
added note: on Aug 3, 2010, another bio-pic titled HENSON’S PLACE is slated for release. Hope its a good one.
I have quite an eclectic taste in music, really. I like a varied and colorful variety of genres and sounds, but there have been only a small number of bands or musicians over the course of years that make up my life that have actually been able to crawl under my skin, course through my veins and find a space to nest in my heart. I am happy to say that Justin Furstenfeld and his group BLUE OCTOBER are my most recent tenants. I attended their concert not long ago, with my wife and a friend, and got to hang out with Justin a bit after the show. Here is my caricature of Jusin – Keep up the magic.
This is a painting based on a photo I took when my wife and I toured Europe a while back. It features the Musee Rodin in Paris. The original is acrylic on masonite 10″ x 24″
