Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Darkest Side of the Night
I don't usually name my hocks, but I love the song from part 8. lol. This is my first part 8. I made sure to get the green moldy weathering on the chin that you see in the scene before he hits the guy in the sauna with a rock. Thanks for the great screen grabs (and the straps) Auz!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
His Unlucky Day comparison
Honestly, I've said it before on this blog and I'll say it again, this is the best Jason bust out there... period. Mine will finally be in the mail in a few days and I know it will be well worth the wait. Check out this comparison...
At left is James's prototype. When you are trying to create 1:1 accuracy on a 3 dimensional object from 2D photos there are a lot of decisions to make, as well as overall design decisions and its obvious here what James was going for when you compare with the original movie sculpt at right, and how it looked on Ted. Because of distortions in the prosthesis created by the dentures, the mouth as seen onscreen is different from what we see in the original sculpt. To capture the purity of the design as envisioned by James Kagel, James basically copied the original sculpt, line for line and opened the mouth to insert the dentures. That way we don't see any of the accidental distortions caused by Ted actually wearing the pieces, but a pure form of the design as it was intended to look. I have one word for this--brilliant!
At left is James's prototype. When you are trying to create 1:1 accuracy on a 3 dimensional object from 2D photos there are a lot of decisions to make, as well as overall design decisions and its obvious here what James was going for when you compare with the original movie sculpt at right, and how it looked on Ted. Because of distortions in the prosthesis created by the dentures, the mouth as seen onscreen is different from what we see in the original sculpt. To capture the purity of the design as envisioned by James Kagel, James basically copied the original sculpt, line for line and opened the mouth to insert the dentures. That way we don't see any of the accidental distortions caused by Ted actually wearing the pieces, but a pure form of the design as it was intended to look. I have one word for this--brilliant!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Dick Warlock's mask sold?
It would appear so, according to Mr. Warlock, though the new owner is anonymous. The holy grail of Friday the 13th props and the only mask to be seen in four films (counting the prologue of part 7), it could be worth upwards of $40,000. We in the fan and artist community can only hope it is someone who will provide some better photos than those currently in circulation.
Mr. Warlock served as stunt coordinator for Friday the 13th part 5 and has owned the mask since the film wrapped in 1985. He is also one of the kindest and most fan-friendly of Friday the 13th alums, although like most of us, he doesn't like to get harassed with too many emails ;)
Friday, March 18, 2011
What is Friday the 13th about?
I have been contemplating this lately... most film critics (and even many fans) find little artistic value in slasher films, which are generally considered thoughtless, shocking and morbidly entertaining for merely entertainment's sake.
For me they always had a little more value. I posed a few thoughts and observations to Victor Miller, the creator of Jason Voorhees and screen writer for the original 'Friday the 13th.' Victor is a very cool guy and I've talked to him a few times on political topics over facebook. He basically agreed that there is a theme or moral to Friday the 13th, as with many horror films. Below is my email and his response.
Hi Victor
So I've been thinking about the horror era that the original Friday the 13th was written in and I have a question that really only you are qualified to answer.
A lot of the classic horror films of the 70's and 80's were made by young, indie film makers, many with a social axe to grind. Halloween, for example, can be thought of as exploring the idea of latent evil in American suburbia... the underpinning theme of Nightmare on Elm Street films, according to Wes Craven, is teens dealing with parental neglect.
I have always thought of Friday the 13th as a commentary, even if unintended, on youthful indulgence and carelessness. Mrs. Voorhees was, through her rage and grief, attempting to correct an evil that can never be corrected, or really even punished, because it was committed accidentally by two careless, sexually indulgent teenage counselors. The 70's were a self-indulgent time in many respects (so I'm told, I wasn't quite born yet), and Friday the 13th, almost an urban (rural) legend in movie form, seems to me to be about the dark side of youth in that era.
I know a lot of former cast members, writers, directors, etc. have tried to distance themselves from the franchise and consider it a stain on their resumes, but I think the Friday films, and horror in general, have artistic/literary value sort of like a macabre Aesop's fable. They tell a dark story, accompanied by a warning or a moral theme, with a conflict that isn't necessarily resolved at the end of the story... at least the best ones aren't. They leave you feeling uneasy, without being aware that you were even supposed to have digested any lesson or... really think at all. They may not really be complex or nuanced, but many stories, oral traditions, urban legends (the lovers out in the woods one, where the guy ends up swinging from a tree comes to mind) and such evolve similarly.
Anyway, my question is did you guys write this movie with the same intents or themes in mind as Wes Craven and John Carpenter, or were you just trying to put together a scary movie?
Thanks for your time,
Jason
-----------------------------
Victor's response:
...when we started out to make Friday the 13th, we did not have any social themes in mind, but we were quite obviously creatures of that period and the zeitgeist demanded that the plot come out as it did. Rather than a condemnation of teens, I think it had more to do with what happens when you are consumed by your own delight...that was the first sin. Lust causes others to suffer because it is so thoughtless. And, by the same token, revenge punishes the guilty and the innocent no matter how justifiable.
--------
I like the theme of Friday the 13th, how the entire story begins with one innocent, tragic young boy who drowned senselessly, sending his mother into a schizophrenic rage, driving her to murder not only those who were responsible, but all those who fit the same typology-- the young, attractive and lusty. There is definitely a warning here, a campfire story intended to both terrify and titillate the young and remind them of their own mortality. Perhaps one of the reasons 'Friday the 13th' has been so enduring is that contrary to what Roger Ebert may think, it does have something to say.
For me they always had a little more value. I posed a few thoughts and observations to Victor Miller, the creator of Jason Voorhees and screen writer for the original 'Friday the 13th.' Victor is a very cool guy and I've talked to him a few times on political topics over facebook. He basically agreed that there is a theme or moral to Friday the 13th, as with many horror films. Below is my email and his response.
Hi Victor
So I've been thinking about the horror era that the original Friday the 13th was written in and I have a question that really only you are qualified to answer.
A lot of the classic horror films of the 70's and 80's were made by young, indie film makers, many with a social axe to grind. Halloween, for example, can be thought of as exploring the idea of latent evil in American suburbia... the underpinning theme of Nightmare on Elm Street films, according to Wes Craven, is teens dealing with parental neglect.
I have always thought of Friday the 13th as a commentary, even if unintended, on youthful indulgence and carelessness. Mrs. Voorhees was, through her rage and grief, attempting to correct an evil that can never be corrected, or really even punished, because it was committed accidentally by two careless, sexually indulgent teenage counselors. The 70's were a self-indulgent time in many respects (so I'm told, I wasn't quite born yet), and Friday the 13th, almost an urban (rural) legend in movie form, seems to me to be about the dark side of youth in that era.
I know a lot of former cast members, writers, directors, etc. have tried to distance themselves from the franchise and consider it a stain on their resumes, but I think the Friday films, and horror in general, have artistic/literary value sort of like a macabre Aesop's fable. They tell a dark story, accompanied by a warning or a moral theme, with a conflict that isn't necessarily resolved at the end of the story... at least the best ones aren't. They leave you feeling uneasy, without being aware that you were even supposed to have digested any lesson or... really think at all. They may not really be complex or nuanced, but many stories, oral traditions, urban legends (the lovers out in the woods one, where the guy ends up swinging from a tree comes to mind) and such evolve similarly.
Anyway, my question is did you guys write this movie with the same intents or themes in mind as Wes Craven and John Carpenter, or were you just trying to put together a scary movie?
Thanks for your time,
Jason
-----------------------------
Victor's response:
...when we started out to make Friday the 13th, we did not have any social themes in mind, but we were quite obviously creatures of that period and the zeitgeist demanded that the plot come out as it did. Rather than a condemnation of teens, I think it had more to do with what happens when you are consumed by your own delight...that was the first sin. Lust causes others to suffer because it is so thoughtless. And, by the same token, revenge punishes the guilty and the innocent no matter how justifiable.
--------
I like the theme of Friday the 13th, how the entire story begins with one innocent, tragic young boy who drowned senselessly, sending his mother into a schizophrenic rage, driving her to murder not only those who were responsible, but all those who fit the same typology-- the young, attractive and lusty. There is definitely a warning here, a campfire story intended to both terrify and titillate the young and remind them of their own mortality. Perhaps one of the reasons 'Friday the 13th' has been so enduring is that contrary to what Roger Ebert may think, it does have something to say.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
A mystery solved
Kudos to Crash for solving the mystery mask photo.
A photo of a mysterious yellow hock has been around the fan community for a while and no one seemed to know the story behind it. The mask was so intriguing because it was clearly old, apparently on a part 4 hood, and had characteristics of masks from several films, including inverted part 5 chevrons, a triangular part 6 style forehead chevron, part 4 eye cuts and part 6 style straps. Strange indeed.
Some had speculated it was an unused design from part 5; it appeared in a promo video for Friday the 13th part 5 as seen here. Note the dirt patterns on the left side of the face match perfectly, identifying it positively as the same mask. So we can say for certain this is indeed a sister mask to those made for one of the films.
Crash has concluded its likely to be a spare from part 3, and thus one of the original hocks produced. Given its slimmer appearance, larger eye cuts and 3/8 holes, this is entirely possible, although the fact that its photographic history as far as we can tell goes back to part 5 seems to suggest it could have been part of the "Roy" set that was produced for that film in 1984/85. Either way, its an interesting find.
A photo of a mysterious yellow hock has been around the fan community for a while and no one seemed to know the story behind it. The mask was so intriguing because it was clearly old, apparently on a part 4 hood, and had characteristics of masks from several films, including inverted part 5 chevrons, a triangular part 6 style forehead chevron, part 4 eye cuts and part 6 style straps. Strange indeed.
Some had speculated it was an unused design from part 5; it appeared in a promo video for Friday the 13th part 5 as seen here. Note the dirt patterns on the left side of the face match perfectly, identifying it positively as the same mask. So we can say for certain this is indeed a sister mask to those made for one of the films.
Crash has concluded its likely to be a spare from part 3, and thus one of the original hocks produced. Given its slimmer appearance, larger eye cuts and 3/8 holes, this is entirely possible, although the fact that its photographic history as far as we can tell goes back to part 5 seems to suggest it could have been part of the "Roy" set that was produced for that film in 1984/85. Either way, its an interesting find.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Ari & Me
For those of you who have facebook accounts, you can see a political argument I had with Ari Lehman (the first person to ever play Jason) on his facebook page. I have debates occasionally with Victor Miller (screen writer for Friday the 13th and the creator of Jason) and though we are from different ends of the political spectrum, I have found we agree on a lot of fundamentals and our debates have always been civil.
Ari, on the other hand, called me a "lackey" who "obeys the rich", told me I was "betraying the efforts of my ancestors" (because I didn't support the striking public sector unions in Wisconsin), told me I speak only "brainwashed drivel" and asserted that I was trying to "assuage [my] guilt" for betraying the working people of America. He claimed to be well read, sitting frequently in his public library and reading books on political theory and economics, yet none of this supposed learning made an appearance in this thread, or an earlier thread we debated the same topic on.
You can see the thread here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=185993121437987&id=1047362220
I don't get offended by other people's political beliefs, nor did I find his ad homs anything but amusing... the only frustrating thing really was his inability to support any of his positions with anything resembling logic or education. You could never accuse Ari of being dispassionate, thats for sure.
The funny thing is, I don't think we have any real fundamental differences in belief. I am a Libertarian who is as distrustful of government as I am corporations... Ari claims to have similar ideas. The man just loves his unions apparently, despite the fact that public sector unions are inherently corrupt, giving huge amounts of campaign money to the people they will later negotiate luxurious salaries and benefits with that dwarf comparable private sector benefits.
I have never met Ari in person, but if I do, I don't think I will be able to resist bringing up politics now. lol.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Something a little different... a Top Five List!
Just off the cuff here, I've rated what I think are the best fan-made Jason busts in existence.
1. His Unlucky Day (part 4), by James Mangrum. This gets the number one slot for a multitude of reasons... James's incredible fidelity to the original design, his improvements on that design (adding lifelike skin lines, pores and even gingivitis not present in the film appliances), his painting with translucent inks and the fact that its resin make this the greatest Jason piece anyone can own. If you were lucky enough to get in on the first run and get it painted by James himself, you indeed had a Lucky Day.
2. Hideous Looking Man (part 3 Winston version) by Crash Cunningham. One of the greatest artists in the Jason-fan universe, Crash created a stunning duplication of the Stan Winston mask originally made for Richard Brooker in part 3. As with James, Crash even improved on the detailing in the original design, and added acrylic teeth. Truly an ultimate collector's piece.
3. Silver Shampain Novelties 'New Blood' (part 7). Made from the screen-used appliances worn by Kane Hodder, so you can't get any more accurate than this guy. There is something so satisfying about owning something cast directly from a movie piece. These things unfortunately come with a medicore paint job that doesn't exactly match the movie makeup and the mouth is strangely filled in, but nonetheless a must-own for New Blood fans.
4. Horror at Higgins Haven (part 3 Doug White version) by Dead End Hollow. Josh at DEH does some of the best Jason bustwork out there, everything from Crazy Ralph to Pam (living and decapitated) and has sculpted what is probably the overall best part 3 DW Jason piece. This thing is light years beyond Itz-U in its faithfulness to the movie makeup, with my only small gripe being a too-small right eye. Josh's unique style comes through in all of his pieces, its tough to describe... a certain expressiveness, I guess, in the eyes and facial features make his pieces seem particularly lifelike.
5. 'Kill for Mother' (remake) by Jeremy Bohr. Jeremy has done a ton of Jason work but I think this is his crowning achievement. Though Jeremy is by his own account not one to go for perfection in reproducing a Jason design, he really pulled off something amazing with this piece, with its grotesque acrylic teeth, maniacal expression and faithfulness to the movie design. Outstanding work... also like his Roy and his JGTH.
1. His Unlucky Day (part 4), by James Mangrum. This gets the number one slot for a multitude of reasons... James's incredible fidelity to the original design, his improvements on that design (adding lifelike skin lines, pores and even gingivitis not present in the film appliances), his painting with translucent inks and the fact that its resin make this the greatest Jason piece anyone can own. If you were lucky enough to get in on the first run and get it painted by James himself, you indeed had a Lucky Day.
2. Hideous Looking Man (part 3 Winston version) by Crash Cunningham. One of the greatest artists in the Jason-fan universe, Crash created a stunning duplication of the Stan Winston mask originally made for Richard Brooker in part 3. As with James, Crash even improved on the detailing in the original design, and added acrylic teeth. Truly an ultimate collector's piece.
3. Silver Shampain Novelties 'New Blood' (part 7). Made from the screen-used appliances worn by Kane Hodder, so you can't get any more accurate than this guy. There is something so satisfying about owning something cast directly from a movie piece. These things unfortunately come with a medicore paint job that doesn't exactly match the movie makeup and the mouth is strangely filled in, but nonetheless a must-own for New Blood fans.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The CJ progress
So I overlayed transparencies of images of CJ wearing the original mask onto my sculpt to determine the accuracy of my form this far and its looking really good. Here's a couple of samples.
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