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

[John Harvey]

Thanks Everyone

I am afraid I am going to have to finish up here. I'm sorry if I have not been able to answer everyone's questions. There were a lot more questions, than we were expecting !!

So once again, a huge thank you to everyone for showing interest in Weta. We really do appreciate all your questions and kind comments

Kind regards

John


PS : Tim will announce the prize winners tomorrow ! I hope I get one.

 

[quarksbarb]

Originally Posted by Birdie
Since this is The Replica Prop Forum, do you ever look at us guys trying to replicate your designs and think, 'Nah, that bit doesn't go there', 'There's a funny story about that...' or just 'You guys are crazy!'

Simon

I'll add my bit : Did you ever want to help people recreating your props ( by sending bits of plans or wip pics, or just advice ), or there is no interest to it, or legal issues that forbid you to do it ?

Ooooh...I'd like to know this, too!

QuarksBarB

 

[Weta]

Hi Everyone

Sorry it's taken us so long to announce the prizes. We just didn't expect to get so many questions, which was very cool !

So the winners are as follows (please send a PM to Art Andrews and advise me your name, address and tel number, so we can deliver to your home) :


1st place - Winner of the Righteous Bison - Contec

The Righteous Bison Indivisible Particle Smasher

2nd - 4th place winners - Weta T-shirt - PirateDude, TomGLFan, Honus

(Please also advise Art Andrews your t-shirt size)

T-shirt with Weta logo

5th - 7th place winners - District 9 patches - discjunkie, Reverend Scapegoat, berger

Embroidered Badge: MNU Security - Paving the Way to Unity

Thanks so much for everyone who posted a question. Much appreciated

Cheers

Tim



PS : John has just told me he is going to answer some more questions. He is feeling guilty for not answering enough.

 

[John Harvey]

Hi John,

I keep it short: What are the dimension of the dog tags used in AVATAR?

Thanks in advance

Dietrich

Hi Dietrich

Not sure if I should answer that (so I don't get into trouble). But I think they were around 60mm x 30mm and the generic ones had my face on them.

John

 

[John Harvey]

Hi John,
Can you recommend any books or reference material thet you find yourself returning to often? Historical designs or futuristic art books?
Best, Jeff

Hi Interceptor6

I have a lot of "art" books, but the ones I love the most are leonardo's inventions

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

John, when you agreed to do this, did you plan on getting slammed with so many questions?

Hi Funky Jedi

I thought tops 80 questions, hence the reason it is taking so long. Sorry everyone.

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

Is there a Film/TV Show that you have really wanted to work on and have not gotten the oppurtunity to do so?

Hi hotfuzz,

I have been lucky 99.9% of films in NZ we work on .... but if I was to travel overseas, Bond, Harry Potter.

cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

With production quality increasing for high definition television, how do you see props being created to reflect that increased quality?

Hi Dakarn,

Defect for us isn't really an issue, others will have to pick up I suppose ?

Thanks

John

 

[John Harvey]

Do you collect props yourself? If so, is there a "holy grail" that you are constantly looking for and what do you look for in the props you want to own?

Also, do you feel that fans hinder or help your propmaking skills? What I mean by this is does the knowledge that your props will be scrutinized by sites such as the RPF force you to do better, or do you see it as a limitation to creativity and/or other aspects such as spending more time that you normally would on a prop purely to appease the 1% that would notice?

Hey Wookie

I sort of collect art, I work with props 60 hours a week.

No, not too worried, it is quite coll that there are people out there that care this much.

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

Hi,

just wondering if you have made any props for the (hopefully forthcoming!) Hobbit films?

Not sure ?

 

[John Harvey]

How was the idea of Dr grordbort's rayguns developed into such an original product and storyline? Most projects of that type would be a limited run one shot - one model try. :love

Second Question - Why the heck don't you make enough to fill the demand? The product lines are SOLD OUT before people around the world can get them all for their collection. :cry

Gordon Carew

Hi Gordon

1. You can thank Richard Taylor and Greg Broadmore for this

2. You can thank Tim Launder for this. Sorry from me though !!

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

Hi John,

Two questions here.

1. How many of each prop is usually made for the movie?

2. How much time is put into each one of those props?

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Chris,

A sword : 1 hero steel sword, around 3 aluminum stunt swords and 3 rubber stunt sword .......the Samaritan was 1 hero and 2 rubber stunt versions.

and the amount of time, depends on the prop, which can differ between 1 day and 2 weeks

cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

How much time do you spend on research at the beginning of a new project, or do pull most of your ideas directly from your head?

To most here the following question will seem like an unfathomable thing in a dream job all of us perceive you to have, but have you ever suffered moments of burnout? Do you fear that at some point you will?

How do you feel about sequels? Since you're already familiar with the characters and settings, does that make it easier to get in the zone and build on what you've previously accomplished, or is some of the thrill diminished because of the familiarity?

Shylaah

Hi Shylaah

Most are well thought out, but some deadlines are very short so you do have to make it up as you go ...

Burn out ....yes .....yes..... yes.... I'm not as young as I used to be

Anyway, sequels, hard work but because of the familiarity a bit of a walk in the park.

Thanks

John

 

[John Harvey]

Hello John,

Thanks for the opportunity to answer some of our questions.

I have a couple of questions for you:

1) Has there ever been an instance where you have worked on a prop and been very happy with it, but when seeing it actually on screen, your opinion has changed and you didn't like it after all?

2) Same question but in reverse, unhappy with the prop but liked it on screen.


Also, a Lion, Witch and Wardrobe specific question:

Did you draw any inspiration for any of the props from Lion, Witch and Wardrobe from what you imagined when (if) you read it as a child?

Take care

Hi Planet

1) Yes, to both
2) Yes, but not going to tell ..... don't want to annoy or **** off the wrong people. Oh, how pc of me.

Oh yes, I loved those books as a kid. I was so excited to get the opportunity to work on them. I got to make the turkish delight box ....


cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

Hi John,

I am studying industrial design at university at the moment and 3D modeling now plays a big role in the industrial design industry for both prototype and presentations etc.

How has the development of 3D software packages and CNC machining as well as "3D printers" affected how you work? Does traditional modelmaking techniques still play a big role?

Also, if you do use 3D software packages, what is most favoured in the industry? I am trained on Pro-Engineer and am currently learning Rhinoceros.

Hey Powermove

It has influenced model making props in a very large way, but my theory is that it is now just another tool, just like a Bandsaw or a table saw. You can use them as much or as little as you want. The programs used most here are Rhino and Solidworks

Cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

we're like five pages deep into this so I don't know if anyone asked something similar. See, I'm a huge fan of the Narnia book series. I grew up reading them and so I know a lot of the artwork inside. That being said, how hard was it to visualize and indeed re-visualize the books for any of the props you made for the films from what was in the books to the films and not lose or feel like you were losing the feel and look from the book and that universe? In other words, how was what was in the books translated into the films without feeling like you were making a different movie?

Hope that's a good question XD

Hi Straker

I grew up on these books too .... the great thing is that I had absolutely no problems with the designs. 99% were right on the money.

Thanks

John

 

[John Harvey]

What would you recommend for matirals and/or methods of making an over-sized revolver prop? (Nice Hell Boy gun there btw)

Hi LastImmortal

Hard question to answer ... no money, make it out of custom wood and K&S products ! ....... heaps of money, aluminum using 3D modelling and milling,

cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

I have seen some screen used props close up and own a few and they do not seem to look like alot of work went into them compared to a prop that is seen close up. What determines which props used in a movie gets more detail and what determines which get less? What Are your most favorite props and do they share space in your collection.

Hi starfighter,

Normally lead actors and featured props get a lot of attention. Background props are cheaper .... but you have to be careful as you put an extra on set and you can guarantee they will try to make it in front of the camera

thanks

John

 

[John Harvey]

John,

Should you manage to make it this far, can you please tell me....

Are you sorry that you volunteered to answer 4 million questions on the RPF?? LOL

Hi G17RDY

No, not at all. I wish I had more time to get them answered faster ... I will try to keep on answering as long as I can

cheers

John

 

[John Harvey]

Oh and on a more serious point, are we going to condense this down, as a lot of the questions in one way or another cover the same subjects. Surely we cannot expect this chap to sit through and answer every single one of them??

I am, I will, OH DEAR, what have I done ?