JND Studios: 1/3 John Wick

[jodl73]

Originally Posted by bytor33

It is because they are Asian/Korean. The reality is that it is harder for people to distinguish facial characteristics of a race different than their own. Granted Keanu does have somewhat of an Asian/exotic look, but he?s still a white dude and I?m sure he looks pretty spot on to the people at JND.

Yes like others before me have said, being an Asian has nothing to do with it. I'm Asian and I know the likeness is off. And like others have said a lot of sculptors and painters are Asian. Look at Hot Toys and Inart. Hot Toys is an Asian company. Heard of J.C. Hong?

[bytor33]

I’m aware there are exceptions but it is backed science. Maybe this is the reason with JND being off, maybe not, but it’s clear that they need some outside help regardless.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...r-other-races/

[Brandon]

Originally Posted by Hobbyist

It is an artistic tragedy when a portrait artist of a realistic style, be it a painter or sculptor, is incapable to tell whether the likeness is spot-on or off.

One would think that it is rather straight forward, just compare an image of the sculpt to an image of the actual person side by side.

It seems that most people of the general public outside the JND office can see the discrepancies. Why can't the JND people?

It brings back to one's mind the previous comment made by their Marketing guy regarding the time required to perfect the likeness and the company going bankrupt.

Does JND have a rigid time frame for sculpting that when the alarm clock goes off in the studio the sculptor must stop immediately and the headsculpt must be used for the final reveal regardless of the quality?

Does JND knowingly release an inferior headsculpt just because:

a) They don't want to spend more money on R&D and also on the hourly wages of sculptor?

b) They are certain that the statue will "sold out" despite the poor likeness?

Someone at JND must have realised that the likeness is not there, and yet collectively the company has decided to dump it on the collectors and let them be the judge of that.

If that is indeed the case, it makes me wonder where do they find the courage and audacity to sell this inferior statue for $2299? Silicone and rooted hair be damned, IMO.

Simple. This is "JND's interpretation" of John Wick....or at least that's the cop out they've used in the past whenever they didn't want to do the work to make a piece screen accurate.

[Phoenixblazes]

Originally Posted by bytor33

I?m aware there are exceptions but it is backed science. Maybe this is the reason with JND being off, maybe not, but it?s clear that they need some outside help regardless.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...r-other-races/

I’ve heard the same, but that’s lazy science imo. Probably got more to do with social demography’s that one lives in, more than anything else. And it’s my guess that it only holds when you’re talking about witness statements regarding complete unknown individuals over a very short time frame. Once you’re talking about reviewing a particular likeness over time, I think such issues become less prevalent.


I’m East Asian too, and I’m also able to quite easily distinguish features. Heck I find those of certain Anglo backgrounds to have far far more distinguishing features than my own particular background.

To me I’ll more readily agree if one were to say that all Chinese look the same than those of other backgrounds, and that’s my own background.

[jodl73]

Originally Posted by bytor33

I?m aware there are exceptions but it is backed science. Maybe this is the reason with JND being off, maybe not, but it?s clear that they need some outside help regardless.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/a...r-other-races/

I mean I can agree with you somewhat. For example I remember some Hot Toys sculpts, way before this recent run of "spot on" likenesses, where the actors look a little Asian. That's why the Asian actor sculpts are spot on. Look at JND's prototype of Madam Jung (Kim Hye-Su), looks like a real person. That's why I would like to see JND do a Bruce Lee 1/3 scale statue.

[IcedDog]

Originally Posted by Phoenixblazes

To me I?ll more readily agree if one were to say that all Chinese look the same than those of other backgrounds, and that?s my own background.

I find ethnic appearances interesting. In terms of Asian backgrounds, I find that I can more easily identify a Japanese person apart from say Chinese or Korean folk. I can't really articulate the differences very well, just something I've noticed.

[God]

Interestingly, even the sculpts of the Korean actors that JND produced seem pretty off as well when comparing the sculpts to the real people (Kim Hye-Su as Madam Jeong and Choi Min-isk as Dae-su Oh).

They look lifelike, no doubt, but there are these alterations to aspects in the likenesses that has a similar off feeling.

[Silas Loki]

Originally Posted by Brandon

Simple. This is "JND's interpretation" of John Wick....or at least that's the cop out they've used in the past whenever they didn't want to do the work to make a piece screen accurate.

And that's ok, but if JND are going to specialize in "interpretive" works - what's the point of obtaining a license?

Originally Posted by God

Interestingly, even the sculpts of the Korean actors that JND produced seem pretty off as well when comparing the sculpts to the real people (Kim Hye-Su as Madam Jeong and Choi Min-isk as Dae-su Oh).

They look lifelike, no doubt, but there are these alterations to aspects in the likenesses that has a similar off feeling.

I don't know - I think, based on your comparison photos, the "differences" you're hinting at, can be directly attributed to the lighting differences between the two photos.

IMO the JND sculpt is 100% accurate (all things considered) - this is probably JND's best work, alongside Old Boy, and JND's Gal Gadot pieces.....

[Masa_yodamorph]

Originally Posted by rjtvfx

Here's an edit I tried

Nice work on your photo edit. This shows exactly how far off JND is in the likeness. JND needs to hire you

[Hobbyist]

Originally Posted by bytor33

It is because they are Asian/Korean. The reality is that it is harder for people to distinguish facial characteristics of a race different than their own. Granted Keanu does have somewhat of an Asian/exotic look, but he?s still a white dude and I?m sure he looks pretty spot on to the people at JND.

That's not it. The sculptors of Queen Studio, Infinity Studio and Blitzway are all East Asians. Their works are consistently fantastic.

Ethnicity has nothing to do with it. It is the attention to details that matters the most in sculpting a perfect likeness. The ability to discern minute details is critical in this business.