National Treasure- Ocular Device/ ALL PARTS FOUND!!!

[postmortem01]

Just wanted to throw my two cents in....

The glasses are an off the shelf item. They were bought from a shop in Pasadena, CA called "Old Focals".

I believe the lenses came from the same place before we attached them. The same pair of glasses were later torn apart and reused in "Click". Just some fun facts in case there was some confusion.

Cool stuff coming in National Treasure 2 also.

 

[SgtFang]

Thanks for jumping in dude!

Old Focals doesn't seem to have a finished website, but here's the street address and phone.-

www.oldfocals.com
45 W Green St
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 793-7073
Get directions


-Sarge

 

[postmortem01]

They are very nice people there and they deal with the film industry alot. I'm not sure how open to giving info they are but you can try.

 

[SgtFang]

They are very nice people there and they deal with the film industry alot. I'm not sure how open to giving info they are but you can try.

I can't see too much problem with it- All the places I've dealt with like that for found Trek items have been pretty cool over the years. I think one place was a little nervous once, but once they knew I was referred by one of the shops or prop people they were familiar with, they opened right up.

One bigger, and very important thing though- we might want to elect a representative to do all the calling/visiting, so they're not having to answer the same questions over and over again. That can cause a lock down on info if they get tired of it.
-Sarge

 

[TazVader]

Great idea Sarge.....I am in agreement. So who's it going to be? Gigatron? Relicmaker? Sarge???? LOL If I didn't live in Tasmania I'd do it. Let's get a group buy happening then huh????

Regards
TAZ

 

[Gigatron]

well, I live on the east coast, so that kinda leaves me out.

I want to make the glasses, but a 6 hour plane ride just to visit a lenscrafters seems a bit excessive :lol.

I hope we have a west coast member who's also interested in making these things.

-Fred

 

[Darth Brass]

If it comes down to an in-person visit, I could probably swing by. Thing is, I would invariable forget some important question to ask, so I'd need everyone's list of questions to ask before I went.

It might be best if someone can call 'em - I'd only send me for the legwork as a last resort!

 

[RelicMaker]

I can't do it, since I live in Texas, but it seems that Darth Brass has volunteered.:cool

 

[Gigatron]

If it comes down to an in-person visit, I could probably swing by. Thing is, I would invariable forget some important question to ask, so I'd need everyone's list of questions to ask before I went.

It might be best if someone can call 'em - I'd only send me for the legwork as a last resort!

I don't think there are really any questions to ask. I would just take a copy of the fifth screen cap that I posted (so you have a visual reference), maybe find out from postmortem which prop house he worked with so the store owner has a reference and see if he can get a bunch of the same model glasses.

I have a feeling that an in-store visit may be the only way to get any actual information. It'd be too hard to describe what we're looking for over the phone.

-Fred

 

[SgtFang]

Here's some questions for them off the top of my head-

Bring plenty of pics, printed out at full size, or even enlarged.

Were they a single, antique pair, or modern replicas?

Can they get more?

If they can't get more, what are the closest look-a-likes they "can" get? Are they any closer than the Townsends?

For the guys w/ deep pockets- If needed, can they replicate the right pair? Minimum order?

If they "can" get more of the right ones, prices per pair, and in quantity?


When you go, just print this out as a list.

-Sarge

 

[postmortem01]

I don't think there are really any questions to ask. I would just take a copy of the fifth screen cap that I posted (so you have a visual reference), maybe find out from postmortem which prop house he worked with so the store owner has a reference and see if he can get a bunch of the same model glasses.

I have a feeling that an in-store visit may be the only way to get any actual information. It'd be too hard to describe what we're looking for over the phone.

-Fred

I think you guys are kind of on your own as far as getting the parts from the eyeglass guys. I can't really get involved in acquiring anything for you guys. I don't mind answering some questions though.

 

[Gigatron]

I think you guys are kind of on your own as far as getting the parts from the eyeglass guys. I can't really get involved in acquiring anything for you guys. I don't mind answering some questions though.

I was only suggesting to DB that if he mentioned which art department had purchased these in the past, it might ring a bell with the store owner. Then maybe the owner could check past records to see which model number it was that was sold.

-Fred

 

[postmortem01]

I was only suggesting to DB that if he mentioned which art department had purchased these in the past, it might ring a bell with the store owner. Then maybe the owner could check past records to see which model number it was that was sold.

-Fred

Just keep in mind that these store owners deal with the film industry alot and rely on their business. They are not always forthcoming with info or willing to work with people who are trying to recreate props. Just word your questions wisely and if they are not bothered by the questioning, they will most likely help out. It's a touchy thing for film industry people to work with "black market" prop making. This industry is VERY small.

 

[Gigatron]

Just keep in mind that these store owners deal with the film industry alot and rely on their business. They are not always forthcoming with info or willing to work with people who are trying to recreate props. Just word your questions wisely and if they are not bothered by the questioning, they will most likely help out. It's a touchy thing for film industry people to work with "black market" prop making. This industry is VERY small.

Well, you seem to have inside knowledge, so how would you suggest we word the questions so as not to anger the store owner?

Personally, I would think money is money and noone owns the rights to ben franklin style glasses. There'd be no reason for them to get all annoyed because we're looking for glasses that are similar to ones that were in a movie.

But then, what the heck do I know? I'm not a tempermental store owner :lol

-Fred

 

[SgtFang]

Well, you seem to have inside knowledge, so how would you suggest we word the questions so as not to anger the store owner?

Personally, I would think money is money and noone owns the rights to ben franklin style glasses. There'd be no reason for them to get all annoyed because we're looking for glasses that are similar to ones that were in a movie.

But then, what the heck do I know? I'm not a tempermental store owner :lol

-Fred

Be coooool... Postmortem is the one who worked on the movie(s) and is here because I asked him to drop by. He's trying to help, but understandably, he doesn't want to take the chance of making things hot for himself at his shop or with any of their contacts. The shop he works at might not think much of this info going so public- the Studios who hire them don't look too kindly on info like this getting out unless they're turning a profit on it. :lol

Also, I can see where the store itself might get antsy about giving out info- Like he said, it's a small community out there and if the Studio or maybe even the prop shop gets wind that they're giving away too much info, they might go to some other supplier the next time. And out there, reputation and word of mouth is everthing.

-Sarge

 

[Gigatron]

Be coooool... Postmortem is the one who worked on the movie(s) and is here because I asked him to drop by. He's trying to help, but understandably, he doesn't want to take the chance of making things hot for himself at his shop or with any of their contacts. The shop he works at might not think much of this info going so public- the Studios who hire them don't look too kindly on info like this getting out unless they're turning a profit on it. :lol

Also, I can see where the store itself might get antsy about giving out info- Like he said, it's a small community out there and if the Studio or maybe even the prop shop gets wind that they're giving away too much info, they might go to some other supplier the next time. And out there, reputation and word of mouth is everthing.

-Sarge

I am being cool. All I'm asking is how should we word our questions? I'm assuming that since he's in the biz, he might best know how to ask. Nothing more, nothing less.

-Fred

 

[Indy Magnoli]

Sorry for turning up late in this thread... I've been wanting to make these replicas myself for a VERY long time. I too tracked down the Old Focal shop and sent a buddy of mine to talk to them about two years ago. They confirmed that they made the glasses for the film using an antique pair of glasses from their stock and that they were being modified (for a then) new film. They offered to make me a replica for...

$10,000! :eek

This put a damper on my "Old Focal" quest. I'm going to get the townsend glasses to work from and try to resculpt them from there. I'll then make a mould and cast a zinc alloy replica. Wish me luck!

Kind regards,
Indy

 

[juno]

I'll give 'em a call and see what I can do. Unless someone else has already called them. In that case I won't ring them up because I don't want to harass them.

 

[postmortem01]

I don't know about $10,000 but the key is that in the film industry, making unlicensed replicas of items is enough to get you and your company blacklisted. When Disney is making a ton of films a year, that's a huge dent in your pocket. Therefore all I'm saying is that when you ask for Ben Franklin style glasses, you should not elude to the fact that you are making a replica of a movie prop that they had their hands in. You would essentially be asking them to set themselves up for a beating.

Trust me, the RPf is well known in the film industry and is not well-liked. I personally like the community when it does not hurt someone. Unfortunately, alot of the props that are "gotten" are often stolen in some fashion. Then they are molded and reproduced. That is where the problem occurs.

Movie productions are concerned with making money. They are NOT concerned with the preservation of movie props for historical reason in any fashion unless, it makes them money.

Being careful in how you word things will get you more of the parts that you are looking for rather than asking for the "National Treasure Ben Franklin style glasses" so I can replicate them.

Just friendly advice.

 

[RelicMaker]

$10,000! :eek

Kind regards,
Indy

I have a feeling that a regular pair of their glasses aren't going to be cheap....