ICONS Authentic Replicas Interview clip?

Interesting and hopefully a lesson that any of the current Licensee's will not need


Here's an important lesson, each studio licensing contract specifies that once a licensee goes into bankruptcy it's licensing contract and rights are terminated immediately. But a Federal Bankruptcy Judge can turn licenses back on, in order to save the company. Something many attorney's do not understand.
 
You are ASSUMING that ICONS took in orders as the company was tanking. Where's your proof of this statement? Where's your proof that ICONS had cut and run?
The "proof" you seek has been lost to time and server changes of the RPF. All I have is my recollection of the events. This comes off as a copout, but just because I have no evidence and you challenged me, doesn't mean its not true.
If you had a problem with this company, and you couldn't take it into a court of law, due to the BK filing, why try and take it into a court of the public?
The motive for my post was to lend a voice of outrage that Jim Latta is even here, let alone trying to whitewash history and rebuild his reputation.
Whats your motive new guy?
And why attack me, when I am just providing useful information, and trying to keep this subject as civil as possible?
If you think I've "attacked" you, get over yourself. You answered a question specifically posed to another person by name. Your platitude laden response was unwelcome and rude.
 
Here's an important lesson, each studio licensing contract specifies that once a licensee goes into bankruptcy it's licensing contract and rights are terminated immediately. But a Federal Bankruptcy Judge can turn licenses back on, in order to save the company. Something many attorney's do not understand.

Imagine our horror at learning that important lesson as the Titanic sunk. It was mind-blowing.

The Star Wars Insider magazine ( LFL fan-club ) was willing to sell the Icons Han Solo blaster replica as an exclusive to try and help Icons. The piece was already tooled and ready for production. But it was not permitted to be manufactured or shipped. Icons had invested a ton of money into the tooling and it was ready to be produced. You may have seen the 78 that were produced.

The Star Wars Insider was then taken over by Wizards of the Coast. The Han blaster sales may have helped the original Star Wars Fan Club survive as well.

Icons was not the only casualty before the release of Star Wars The Phantom Menace. And there was a huge shake-up at LFL that you never hear about or read about. Much, much more went on behind the scenes all the way up the ladder. Go ask Tiger Electronics, Estes, or DK Books what they experienced at the time.

LFL was given 30% of Hasbro's stock in order for them to re-up their Star Wars license. And guess what Hasbro was able to do before all other licensees? Release product before them. A lot goes on besides just the challenges of manufacturing. Lots of politics. I still have a rusty bayonet sticking out of my back courtesy of the folks at Disney.
 
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Icons was not the only casualty before the release of Star Wars The Phantom Menace. And there was a huge shake-up at LFL that you never hear about or read about. Much, much more went on behind the scenes all the way up the ladder. Go ask Tiger Electronics, Estes, or DK Books what they experienced at the time.

LFL was given 30% of Hasbro's stock in order for them to re-up their Star Wars license.

I am 100% familiar with this. I was at Mattel at the time and we were ASKED by LFL to present Star Wars toys. Even though we had 1. zero clue about Phantom Menace and 2. believed Hasbro was going to get it anyway...but in some BS political way. It was crazy back then and the potential money to be made with a connection to the prequels was unreal. I have Mattel Star Wars prototype toys as proof.
 
Re: Scarfman, I can't re-build my reputation. Are you joking? It's buried under a mountain of rubble. I just posted answering a question someone asked here. I was linked to it by a member. And there were some RPF members who had other questions. I've been a total recluse for over a decade since what happened at Icons. I can't ever redeem myself or even be forgiven.

As far as Icons purposely taking customers money when it knew it was going under, nothing could be farther from the truth. Guy Raz, who served 3 years in a Federal Prsion for cyber-stalking a 12 year old girl, is the one who spearheaded the FBI investigation into Icons and helped sabotage our public offering. Using the Internet as a tool to encourage customers to cancel their orders. This lead to a bull run on demanding customer refunds. When so much of Icons funding has gone into R & D and mastering.

Ever master / tool a B-9 Robot and full-size Endoskeleton? Know how much that cost? Icons shipped 10 B-9's and 8 Endoskeletons so we completed the tooling / mastering for both. But they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to master & tool.

At the time Icons products were being sold on QVC, The Home Shopping Network, Sharper Image, FAO Schwarz, The Smithsonian, Disneyland, Disney World and Universal Studios. What fly-by-night company with studio licenses with all of the majors does what you are accusing Icons of doing?

Imagine what it was like for me, when the FBI, after 6 interviews with them behind steel gated doors, to profile Guy Raz as a stalker of Icons and myself. And then arrest him for same. While they cleared me of all acqusations. I was given an enema by the FEDS. My personal bank records examined and scrutinized. A Grand Jury convened and was dismissed. But it was too late. My reputation destroyed. I was never charged with anything.

Bottomine is Icons was encouraged to continue to expand and not downsize by it's investment bankers. We were told our factory was going to become a product inventory fulfillment warehouse once Icons began making most of our product in the Pacific Rim. Not to downsize. Not to lay-off employees. This while they handed us checks for 50K to 100K. Why? Because they considered Icons "sexy" to sell to investors. But all they wanted was their 15% commission on raising capital. They had ZERO plans to take Icons public. They inflated her and then they abandon her. They never planned on taking her public.

Who in would risk everything they had built, everything they loved and dreamed in, to simply destroy it? I lost everything. My home, my collection, my savings, the stock I owned in Icons and my reputation. Why? Because I never gave up hope. And I stayed with the sinking ship.

I couldn't believe that a company with such huge potential, amazing licenses and best selling product would be allowed to fail. But that is the way of the world and business. And this is what America has become. A foreshadowing of what was to happen to many American companies. Wall St. was scummy then, and they are scummy now. They feed on great companies and vision like scavengers. This is the truth of it.

Icons occupied a 12,500 swuare foot factory and had 65 employees. It raised over 1.7 million in venture capital and was poised for a 5 million dollar small cap IPO. Had that happened the rest would be history.
 
You have my sympathy for your Guy Raz problems, but little else.
Raz posted here for years after his ban, under a sockpuppet account named Proprunner.
Really a ****ed up individual.
 
"Hell Jim I thought you would already know not to turn your back on the Mouse!"

I was a fool and an idiot. I had a warm fuzzy meeting with and helping to close Lucasfilm and Disney. It was dream-like. The pride we all felt. But we were not prepared for the reality of dealing with them in business. The day to day. The approval process. The internal politics. And the backstabbing.

20th Century Fox, Universal, Sony, Columbia, MGM, all a distinct pleasure to work with. Each studio has their own personality. And it morphs depending upon the state the studio is in at the time financially and the executive staff changes at the top.

Warner Bros. was fair but very strict and very focused. A total machine. The best run studio of all of them.

Disney was mercenary not only with their licensees, but with their own staff. They would fire them at the drop of a hat. Their reputation for being Nazi's is well deserved.

Newline is a different story, and I am not legally allowed to discuss them in-depth. Let's just say they got their licensing % $$$ on EVERY single B-9 and Jupiter 2 that wasn't delivered. So they got paid in full in the end.

Lucasfilm was a different beast. George had a standing order at the company that employees were not allowed to look him in the eyes or greet him unless he approaches them first. My first visit to Skywalker Ranch in 1996, I was walking up the stairs of the legendary Victorian house and I greeted an employee. He was sweeping. We started to talk about the landscaping at Skywalker Ranch which was so beautiful and impressive. It turned out he was a Star Wars fan and knew Icons product. Towards the end he suddenly grimaced and whispered a word of warning: "It is frowned upon to be a fan here."

It reminded me of that classic Star Trek episode: "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" when the old man states that truth to the Captain Kirk, Spock and Bones and then collapses and is killed for mentioning it, by a device implanted in his neck. I half-expected that employee to fall to the ground in agony and expire right before me eyes. He shuffled away as we walked up the stairs and into the Victorian house.

By the end of that trip, Skywalker Ranch felt like the Village in the movie "Village of the Damned." I couldn't wait to get out of there. Even the trees billowing in the breeze begain to appear artificial, and as if they were strategically planted like set-dressing. A 20 year realized dream to visit Skywalker Ranch unraveled in my head. And I began to question what was transpiring.

These were the harsh realities of coming to terms with the saying: "Be careful what your wish for...you may get it."
 
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"Just curious would you ever get back in the Prop-Replica business?"

Well...for the past decade or so I've advised numerous licensed collectible companies behind the scenes as a consultant. Including from when they were start-ups. You all know their products. I've also consulted with numerous studios, networks and licensors in regards to re-branding properties and merchandising etc. They knew I had damage to my reputation, but felt I still had some knowledge and original product concepts etc. I've been fortunate to be able to make a living still as a consultant. I know full well that I could never be a partner or an executive in a prop replica company again. That much is certain.
 
I have no stake in this and am too young to have experienced Icons, just following this story with intrigue.
Some have joked about why you suddenly decided to come forward and post here but I don't think you directly responded to them. What spurred all this on?
 
Hi Spike,

I don't make it a habit to visit the RPF. Far too painful. A friend linked me to a question that was unanswered relating to Icons and there were some claims posted that continued to erode at the companies accomplishments. I felt they were unfair, so I registered and posted a response.

FYI I do not hope to or plan on becoming an active member of the RPF community so I am only posting on this specific thread. And people can message me if they like.

I know I am fortunate to even be allowed to post here. And would like to continue to do so, if that is possible and if I am not offending too many members.

Thanks.
 
For anyones info: When I went to the battlestar galactica convention in san fran in 1998 I won for $500.00 in the auction a gift certificate for a icons cylon helment they were making. When I called it in, the rep also told me about the viper helment they were making so I ordered that also for $500. Well long story short, after many phone calls, time passing,and many promises, I never got anything, not even a refund. I have all the paperwork, documneted, etc..if anyone like Jim wants to dispute it, in fact I might even had talked to you at one point.....end result empty promises and out of 1,000 .... i am sure I am not the only one they took money from
 
I don't recall a contest at a Battlestar Galactica convention. But Icons sales department may have put one together / sponsored one. They reported direcly to Icons President / CEO & co-founder Doug Conway in 1995,1996, 1997 and into the spring of 1998. I did not have control of that department.

The Icons BG Viper helmet was not produced and should not have been pre-sold as it was still in development. I'm sorry for what occured. You must have been one of the only Icons customers who ordered a Viper helmet.

I stopped the sales of any Battlestar Galactica replicas other then the Viper miniature when I stepped in as President / CEO. At the time Icons was already 2 million dollars in debt. And there were over 1100 back-ordered products. We shipped the majority of them out and refunded hundreds of thousands of dollars, before the unfortunate collapse.

John - Please message me directly. Thank you.
 
Okay, now you guys have peaked my interest. Who is this GUY RAZ person, is that his real name, or just a handle, and what is his background? I tried to search on this site, but got every post with the word 'GUY' or "RAT" in it. :(
 
Quick note: I am not trying to place any blame on the Icons sales department. They tried everything they could due to grow and save the company. Icons was tracking 10 studios product development schedules and 68 products. So at times there was a disconnect.

Icons original business model was altered to accept pre-orders on products to fund product R & D, development, mastering, tooling and molding. The hope was people would be willing to wait for the product to be produced. Companies still do this today with deposits. It is standard in the manufacturing of custom, limited edition product. But it is precarious if the entire company is not performing like a symphony. If the Tuba is out of tune, the orchestra can not perform well.

The Icons sales department ( like marketing ) was inspired to offer any new product that was underway and close to manufacturing. Orders would come in for products still on the drawing board at one point and the breaks had to be firmly put on as Icons continue to suffer everything that happened that contributed to her demise.

So another word of warning to those new to the industry...don't let your sales & marketing departments get too overzealous with inspiration and wishful thinking, if Finance and Manufacturing are not solid and capable of keeping up with product and sales demand. Pre-sales need to be calibrated with controlled growth. As the margin for error in product manufacturing is a thin line. As many have seen.
 
Roger Sides was a collector in the mid to late 1980's. A pioneer in the field. He has his own controversies surrounding him, but never sold fake memorabilia.

The costumes you speak of were found at a costume rental house in Southern California, who in 1985 and 1986 bought bulk costumes from Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures. They did not know what they bought and rented these pieces to studios & network costumers for many years. For $25.00 to $25.00 a day.

Roger was able to I.D. costumes at the rentai house from Battlestar Galactica & Buck Rogers including much of the Hero wardrobe and multiple complete Cylons. He took a chance and was able to buy a truck load of costumes from the rental house who called the pieces "Disco costumes." He did not educate them. We exhibited this collection at the Star Trek Grand Slam Covention in 1995.

There was "1" costume that was discovered in Rogers purchase from Star Trek discovered by a very capable collector with the initial R.K. Who is also a BG, BR and ST collector and expert. And there was a hunch that the rental house might have a huge assortment of costumes from Star Trek.

In 1996, Myself and 2 other collectors ( including R.K. ) went to the same rental house and discovered 111 classic Star Trek costumes hanging on the racks. Fading in the sun.
We were able to purchase them in bulk as disco costumes, although we did inform the rentail house they were supporting alien costumes from Star Trek. We were very clear about that and they did not care. They sold numerous supporting alien women costumes to us for $35 a piece.

The majority of these historic pieces you have no doubt seen auction at Profiles in History over the years. This discovery of finding and saving those costumes, which could have been thrown out and destroyed at any time, was one of the most remarkable events of my life back when I was a hunter. My hands were shaking as I reached for "2" Star Trek Gorn's costume ( not the rubber suit, the over-costume, choker and gauntlets ) hanging on a rental rack 20 ft. in the air, as I stood precariously on a giant rolling ladder. The new day sun shining through the sun-roof above. And next to those? Sleep suits from Khan's crew used in the classic episode Space Seed. It felt like I was dreaming.

Roger was never owed anything from Icons. In the end he wanted to work for the company as he lost his home and collection but the timing was wrong. Roger Sides is a historical figure in the annals of collection original production artifacts. I hope he is well wherever he is....we had some grand adventures back in the day.
 
Jim. Im very glad you decided to go on the record with this stuff. Bottom line is that for many years people have been mad about losing there money, as is there right to be....of course. Everybody likes a target...and sadly Im guessing the target has been you. I don't know if its earned, or not....but I wasn't there...so im not going to second guess....and thats not why im writing this.

What is commendable is your willingness to talk...your thoughts...and experiences. I see that you clearly have knowledge, insight and experiences in some of the cool events that defined prop and costume collecting in the 1990's and for that I thank you for taking the time, as anyone does who commits this stuff to "paper" as without it, even if skewed one way or the other, at least we have a perspective.

That "disco" collection event from what I remember had "Streethawk", "Quantum Leap", "Battlestar", "Logans Run" and "Buck Rodgers" plus Im sure countless movie costumes (Back to the future maybe) one of the single most important finds next to MGM auction, Trek Christies and the "Lost" auction.

It deserves its footnote in history.
 
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