John Harvey - Weta Senior Modelmaker - Q&A with the RPF

[Bilious]

Thanks so much for answering my questions! Joining the Weta Mailing list with glee.

 

[Scapey]

Thanks! It's been great reading all your replies

 

[DAZ71]

do you think that CG sculpting will take over the skills of the traditional sculptor with clay for the movie industry?

Thanks
Darren

 

[dtssyst]

What carrer path would you have taken if you were not a modelmaker/supervisor for Weta? Example: A Doctor, Electrician, flipping burgers, and so on.

 

[bolsoncerrado]

Thanks for all the replies John, it has been a very nice and unique experience

KUTGW@Weta!

 

[Mythbustersfan]

When and why did you decide to become a model maker? Do you know how to make a BFG?

 

[pr3dato8]

damn, my question wasnt answered yet oh well, will just have to wait for a week

 

[Art Andrews]

John is coming back to answer the remainder of the questions and Weta will be announcing the winners of the contest as well!

 

[CB2001]

Cool beans!

 

[Interceptor6]

John is coming back to answer the remainder of the questions and Weta will be announcing the winners of the contest as well!

Do we have an official RPF "In Appreciation" plaque or something, we could give John for his time?:cool
Something to hang between the "really big" awards!

 

[Solaj]

Thanks John for indulging our questions.

It made a heck of a good read.

Regards and Good Luck!

 

[jason1976]

Thanks John for indulging our questions.

It made a heck of a good read.

Regards and Good Luck!

I'll second that. I actually got my girlfriend to read this thread with me, and she usually hates props with a passion, but she loves the work weta does, and all the movies they have worked on.

 

[CTF]

Man, this thread makes me realize how much I miss Miramar.

 

[pr3dato8]

so.........have not come back to answer the rest of the questions yet....shame :confused :lol

 

[John Harvey]

What was the last prop you obsessed over? or what prop would you like in your collection?

Hi Guys

Sorry for the delay in coming back to answer the remainder of the questions. We have these things called movies, which sometimes keep us busy.


Hi T2sf,

The original Gollum concept hanging on the wall at Weta

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

John,

Appreciate the time you're taking to visit the RPF!

1 - What technology has dramatically changed prop making since you started your career and on which of your projects did this really come into play?

2 - What technology do you believe will change prop making over the next 20 years?

Cheers!

Hi FuseNova

1. The computer 3D wave and it really came to play on LWW

2. 3D maybe. But it will become a tool just like a bandsaw. Remember it only does what you tell it to !!

cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

i'm a young propmaker trying to make my way into the industry, what would you suggest to become a succesfull professional?

Hi Snowflake

Try getting a job in the industry, any job, work your way up. Keep making and keep pushing your ability

Thanks

John

 

[John Harvey]

Hi Mr Havey,

I want to become a prop designer /creator,
What is my first step to making it happen?

Hey Chewbacca

Keep making, meet and talk to people in the business (without stalking them)

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

What is the most memorable piece you had a part of making and why?

What is your most memorable piece rejected for any reason? What prop was nearly done but was rejected for some reason?

Hi Ikariya,

Susan's bow and quiver from LWW, I had a lot of fun making it. I had to make new processes for it and it all ran so smoothly.

The rejected pieces you sort of forget about and start something new. But there were a few D9 guns that no one saw.

Thanks

John

 

[John Harvey]

John, i have a non asked question yet:
What materials are currently being used to build props, what kind of thermoplastics(i guess) you use and what will be the better material for an example a halo weapon to get the right metal look?

Luck.

Hi Nickslick

We cast our props in a urethane made by an australian co called Erapol CC60D. We cast 99% in black and all the metal effects are paint processes. We do have a range of P.U which we use when required eg: stunt flexible, Background and Miniature

Thanks

John