ESB Mark Hamill Face Cast

[JoeR]

I went to London this week and met a guy who acquired this life cast of Mark Hamill made during the filming of Empire Strikes Back. It is taken direct from the original moulds which he still has.

Excuse the quality of the picture, I took it on my mobile/cell. More to follow tonight hopefully.

Joe

 

[ob1al]

That's cool Joe - wonder what the lifecast was used for in ESB?

So is the guy producing casts?

 

[JOATRASH FX]

I'm guessing it may have been used for the Wampa and Bacta Tank scenes... they may have had more elaborate makeup plans for Luke's injuries.

 

[JoeR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ob1al @ Mar 9 2007, 02:51 PM) [snapback]1435664[/snapback]</div>

That's cool Joe - wonder what the lifecast was used for in ESB?

So is the guy producing casts?
[/b]

I was told it was needed for the scene in Dagobah where Luke fights Vader in the cave and when he cuts his head off part of the helmet explodes revealing Luke's face...

We may be able to produce some casts

Joe

 

[Ramsey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ob1al @ Mar 9 2007, 02:51 PM) [snapback]1435664[/snapback]</div>

That's cool Joe - wonder what the lifecast was used for in ESB?

So is the guy producing casts?
[/b]

Well, there was that deleted scene...after Han rescues him from the snow and he's just come out of the bacta fluid tank...he had a sort of "Phantom of the Opera" mask like thing on his face, being removed by the surgeon droid....maybe it was used for that?
Here it is, in case you haven't seen it...

Oh, and is that an Artoo lens on the panel behind him? *lol*

 

[JoeR]

Well, there was that deleted scene...after Han rescues him from the snow and he's just come out of the bacta fluid tank...he had a sort of "Phantom of the Opera" mask like thing on his face, being removed by the surgeon droid....maybe it was used for that?
Here it is, in case you haven't seen it...

Oh, and is that an Artoo lens on the panel behind him? *lol*
[/b]

Interesting I forgot about that scene...thanks for the info.

Joe

 

[krugj]

I'd always wondered if that was a dummy face in the cave scene, I'd be very interested in a cast of this. Would be cool to do a exploded vader mask with this face inside....very cool...

 

[krugj]

Also, Mark Hamill would probably be interested in a copy....poor guy....

[attachmentid=12984]

 

[JoeR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(krugj @ Mar 9 2007, 05:17 PM) [snapback]1435799[/snapback]</div>

Also, Mark Hamill would probably be interested in a copy....poor guy....

[attachmentid=12984]
[/b]

Poor guy, I wonder what he would look like if it hadn't been for the accident....

Joe

 

[misterfusion]

I collect lifemasks and would be VERY interested in a copy of this one

Steve

 

[Deleted]

They did make a face cast for that helmet scene on Dagobah.
I saw it at the Ranch.

It did not look that great though, so they redid the shot optically.

Tim

 

[HDPE]

Great find Joe.

I could be interested in a casting.

 

[GINO]

Actually it was in the helmet as it fell to the ground if I recall correctly. There are screen caps that clearly show it in there so it definitely was used.
The optical effect was only used at the very long pause after the helmet explosion.

 

[JoeR]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GINO @ Mar 9 2007, 05:57 PM) [snapback]1435838[/snapback]</div>

Actually it was in the helmet as it fell to the ground if I recall correctly. There are screen caps that clearly show it in there so it definitely was used.
The optical effect was only used at the very long pause after the helmet explosion.
[/b]

Thanks Tim and Gino interesting points. I actually haven't had time to sit down with the DVD yet. :lol

Guys I will do an interest thread shortly when I have some better pictures and prices.

Joe

 

[krugj]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The Dark Side @ Mar 9 2007, 01:14 PM) [snapback]1435851[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GINO @ Mar 9 2007, 05:57 PM) [snapback]1435838[/snapback]

Actually it was in the helmet as it fell to the ground if I recall correctly. There are screen caps that clearly show it in there so it definitely was used.
The optical effect was only used at the very long pause after the helmet explosion.
[/b]

Thanks Tim and Gino interesting points. I actually haven't had time to sit down with the DVD yet. :lol

Guys I will do an interest thread shortly when I have some better pictures and prices.

Joe
[/b][/quote]


Here's the two versions before and after the cut, hamill's face and hair ARE posed differently (mouth is more closed on dummy head etc, even the helmet is slightly more melted around the edges, ground is slightly different, slightly different angle overall...very interesting, I had no idea it was an optical. Now that I see it though, maybe there is a slight jiggle....Looks like they did the optical shot way later and tried to recreate the original shot. [attachmentid=12995]

 

[JoeR]

 

[ob1al]

With a bit of tweaking would be the perfect base for a lifesize Luke ESB bust, eh?

Colour me interested, depending on price of course...

 

[krugj]

Anybody else have photos from this scene of the face/mask - I know I've seen them, maybe in the insider? I can't seem to find them at the moment....I'd be very very interested in a cast of this as well..

 

[jonny5]

Considering how all those Dagobah sets were built up high on scafolding to accomodate Frank Oz, and the other puppeteers working underneath, I always assumed the close up of the 'helmet-opens-to-reveal-the-face-of-Luke' shot was done the same way as the cheezy old Halloween 'live-head-on-a-platter' gag.

Maybe I'm totally wrong, but it would work like this: Back of the helmet gets cut away, the neck opening is stuffed with gore. Mark pokes his head up through a hole from under a section of floor, tilts his neck back to the right angle, while the gutted helmet is placed over him, someone yells action, and he freezes for the camera, as the guy with smoke machine trys get out of frame.

They do terrible things to props on set. Only maniacs like us
would regard hacking the back off a Vader helmet as sacrileage.
I'd bet it was tossed in the garbage at the end of the day.

My "hat" is off to anyone who does this as a display.
Consider adding some of the ROTJ interior detail.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GINO @ Mar 9 2007, 05:57 PM) [snapback]1435838[/snapback]</div>

Actually it was in the helmet as it fell to the ground if I recall correctly. [/b]

Also the helmet doesn't 'explode' to reveal the face until after if falls.
It drops... rolls to a stop, and then goes POOF. For a brief second we see the
dummy head, they cut to a reaction shot from 'Luke', then back to the
'beauty shot' of Mark's impression of a wall-eyed pike in a black bowl.

jonny5

 

[TMP]

You can se it is two different helmets. Look at the battledamage.