Interrogate Mike

[TOM S.]

Here's a question for you Mike. When you are sculpting a portrait of an actor in a charcter role (i.e Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster) do you sculpt a representation including flaws (if any) or limitations in the makeup application ? Or do you sculpt your likeness remaining true to the makeup artists intentions, I guess in effect correcting those imperfections - sculpting the character as opposed to sculpting the actor in makeup? Something i always wondered about ( incidently, the Karloff/Frankenstein reference was only an example - Jack Pierce developed a makeup that transcended any limitations of time and material, in my opinion !). Thanks - Tom

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by TOM S.

Here's a question for you Mike. When you are sculpting a portrait of an actor in a charcter role (i.e Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster) do you sculpt a representation including flaws (if any) or limitations in the makeup application ? Or do you sculpt your likeness remaining true to the makeup artists intentions, I guess in effect correcting those imperfections - sculpting the character as opposed to sculpting the actor in makeup? Something i always wondered about ( incidently, the Karloff/Frankenstein reference was only an example - Jack Pierce developed a makeup that transcended any limitations of time and material, in my opinion !). Thanks - Tom

Hi Tom,Thats a great question.Its a very fine line.

On the whole I will use the imperfections of the makeup,if it can be disguised as looking cool. Are we making an actor in makeup or a real monster?

As you said, the original make up artist didnt want those imperfections but they have become part of history so I do try and use them ,although a little discreetly.

Hope that makes sense?

[TOM S.]

Originally Posted by Mike Hill

Hi Tom,Thats a great question.Its a very fine line.

On the whole I will use the imperfections of the makeup,if it can be disguised as looking cool. Are we making an actor in makeup or a real monster?

As you said, the original make up artist didnt want those imperfections but they have become part of history so I do try and use them ,although a little discreetly.

Hope that makes sense?

Perfectly. Thanks Mike!

[TOM S.]

Hi Mike. How are thing's going? Hope all is well.

[Mike Hill]

Hi Tom , yup all is great.

Got a thousand projects on the go,sculptures,prototypes,movies,2D art...you name it.

Thanks or asking

Mike

[TOM S.]

Originally Posted by Mike Hill

Hi Tom , yup all is great.

Got a thousand projects on the go,sculptures,prototypes,movies,2D art...you name it.

Thanks or asking

Mike

No problem,Mike. Always great to have you posting on this forum!

[albeeman]

Um.. uh.. hi.. uuuh.. excuse me..

there are A LOT of chris reeve portraits in progress now.. i was wondering if you're not tooo busy if you were goin to do one also?

I got into this hobby and statue world because of u Mike! Would LOVE to see you whip something up!!

[Mike Hill]

I dont have Chris Reeve on the cards sorry.
Mr Reeve has been covered a LOT and is still being covered.
I was actually offered a commision recently.Im not one to step on toes, so I turned it down.

Love the character though!



.

[Vader]

I think that's a good decision. There's way too many Chris Reeve's in the works already. Howard S. has done one, Bob Causey is doing one. The cinemaquette one is coming out. There's even that other one that was sculpted in Europe that is very good (Cap70 has it I think).

While I obviously love the Reeve superman, I've always loved your Ross version too. That is a fantastic work of art.

[TOM S.]

I have to agree with you Vader about the Ross Superman - Mike did an amazing job ! Here's hoping Version 2 is a possibility! Mike - any chance of a del Toro "Wolfman" in the future ? Gotta say I love the design/concept that Rick Baker came up with and I can't wait to see it on the screen ! All the best! - Tom