New and Original Ideas

[rollerboi]

Another member (Birdie) mentioned the following in another thread:

Just gonna throw this out - maybe if people were showing more interest in new and original pieces, there would be less focus on recasting old kits. The hobby seems to me to have become very stale recently, with a lot of the most talented diappearing or moving onto other more viable markets.

This got me thinking. How many of us would like to try making something new, or collecting something new, but we don't know where to start or what people would like?

Let's do a roll call of ideas, of sorts. Let's get away from what's been done, and venture into the realm of possibility.

What would you like to see more of, regardless of whether you think you could afford it lol)?

For me, it would be:

Watchmen-related props (pending peeks of the movie)
Pan's Labyrinth blind creature bust

 

[KnightAsylum]

Although that post in the other thread was not really on topic at all, I do agree people can get stuck in a rut. So I appreciate you bringing it up here. I think if there is a lack a variety it is because this is a very small group of collectors and there is just not a big range of what people want.
That being said...
I would love to see more 1:1 scale comic book related props, these seem to be few and far between - and always overpriced.:rolleyes

 

[Gigatron]

Y'know, it does raise a very interesting idea. As someone who has been around awhile, I occassionally get "bored" (for lack of a better term) of seeing the same props over and over again. I've seen more Luke, Vader and Obi sabers than I'd ever care to. But, I realize that what's old to me, is possibly brand new and therefore, exciting, to someone else.


It would be cool to see obscure props from either obscure movies or even tv shows or video games. I've made things that were fun to me, but way out there to others. For instance, a long time ago, I made a replica of Linguo the grammar bot from the Simpson's episode "trilogy of errors". I also build plastic models. I usually stick to WWII, but on a whim, I did the planes from the movie "Hot Shots". It's the variety that keeps people guessing.

-Fred

 

[Jedifyfe]

Yeah I agree. I have been trying to find movies that are 'UNTOUCHED' as it were. That's why I delved into my True Lies sunglasses. I was also wanting make things from other older films like "Cloak & Dagger" or "Explorers". I'm kinda on a 80's themed kick lately.

Brad

 

[Birdie]

Although that post in the other thread was not really on topic at all

The point I was trying to make is that it easier and cheaper to make a recast of an old unavailable kit than it is to put lots of time and resources into new pieces that no-one shows any interest in. There would be less recasting of old stuff, if people were more enthusiastic towards new props.

I recently made a kit for the smartgun headset from Aliens. Sold like hotcakes elsewhere, not a blip here.

Likewise items I scratchbuilt from Appleseed ,Ghost in the Shell & Kite. All do good business on Ebay, no interest whatever on the RPF.

Will watch this thread with interest, though

 

[PHArchivist]

Another challenge is that to drive interest in this hobby, you generally need to have a film that is both GOOD, and "prop rich".

A Few Good Men is a great film, but what props would you make? Or why?

Wild Wild West and Waterworld were VERY prop rich with - really - some cool designs. But who wants props from these movies?


Or another twist on what I am saying is this:
Many of our favorite films and/or props come from films that feature unique or plot-significant props. The idol from the opening of Raiders was in and of itself a McGuffin for the little mini-movie that the opening sequence was.

But not all movies have such singular or unique props. And not all props are so cool, though the movie may be a good one.

 

[Kylash]

i dont think theres a shortage of original ideas and new props, but hen posted here, they tend to be the more obscure things most people dont know about and they get dropped off like a stone slab, if its not starwars or something from a brand new movie, it seems to get very little attention.

 

[TheGreenMachine]

If anything I tend to be more interested in stuff from anime, manga, and games that people create. Because it often never existed as a "real" item and it is crazy seeing someone realize a static drawn/painted image of something into an actual piece you can touch and hold in your hands.

- TGM

 

[Noeland]

Sorry, removed my post, I misunderstood.

Carry on . . .

 

[Birdie]

If anything I tend to be more interested in stuff from anime, manga, and games that people create. Because it often never existed as a "real" item and it is crazy seeing someone realize a static drawn/painted image of something it to an actual piece you can touch and hold in your hands.

- TGM

Totally with you there

Yeah, conceptually speaking, are we talking purely original prop concepts that we just sort of make up ourselves, or are we talking about props that no one had taken the time to make replicas of

For me it's the latter, I love to see totally custom stuff, but don't really make or collect it.

 

[KnightAsylum]

The point I was trying to make is that it easier and cheaper to make a recast of an old unavailable kit than it is to put lots of time and resources into new pieces that no-one shows any interest in. There would be less recasting of old stuff, if people were more enthusiastic towards new props.

I did understand the point, I just was saying that I did not reply to it there because it was off the top of that particular thread. I do agree that it is a seller issue and if they would offer things that people wanted to buy they would sell well, and you are right in that it is attractive to recast something over making a new version of the same prop, easy money for a seller.

As for Original works that seems to be an even smaller group the prop collectors, probably makes for an even harder sell. Although much like most prop makers I don't think the original work is usually done with the intent on it being a money making project.

 

[Goodwolf]

I tend to like period pieces, like Titanic, Gangs of New York, HBO's Rome. And I think it's why Firefly attracted my attention so much. Period sensibilites in a sci fi setting. Maybe I'll watch Rome again and look for some props to do there.

As an example, Nexus66's excellent work from Gangs of New York was a nice change of pace for me.

 

[rollerboi]

As a second thought, I'd like to add - those of you who've made stuff outside of the mainstream, please - feel free to add a link to your thread or webpage here, sometimes stuff just gets lost in the noise here. I know I can't check often enough to see every prop thread.

My original intent was to get a list of mutually brainstormed ideas, with the possibility of something sparking my interest and becoming an upcoming project.

As it is, I've got a chunk of clay and a block of spare time (what was that again?) coming up in the second half of my summer.

 

[Goodwolf]

As an idea... what about crossover stuff? Like I see stuff all the time at Dragon Con. One year they had the Imperial Quidditch team, complete with TIE panels on their brooms.

How about things from well known, or even obscure, scifi literature? Make the prop, display it here with an explanation where it came from, and who knows, maybe an author gets a new fan. The TANSTAAFL flag from Lunar City comes to mind.

Reinterprative stuff like the Steam Punk Star Wars.

It's a niche I know, but anything Cyberpunk is awesome to me.

World of Darkness stuff, again a niche but cool to me.

Just some ideas.

 

[Dalroi]

I would like to see more computer game items produced, as the creativity shown by the designers often matches or exceeds that of the movies - Half-Life, Halo (obviously... ), Doom 3 and Bioshock for example...

Dalroi.

 

[Jedifyfe]

Another challenge is that to drive interest in this hobby, you generally need to have a film that is both GOOD, and "prop rich".

A Few Good Men is a great film, but what props would you make? Or why?

Wild Wild West and Waterworld were VERY prop rich with - really - some cool designs. But who wants props from these movies?

EXACTLY! I think there are so few good movies that have props just waiting to be made.

 

[micdavis]

Part of the problem is the Beer Budget and Champagne tastes dynamic that is getting more and more prevalent here.

New and interesting ideas require R&D and time and materials to develop.

Most people see the finished product and have ZERO concept of the time it takes to do something from scratch.

It's just $10 worth of resin.......right?

 

[KnightAsylum]

I think the opposite problem happens as often, folks that think everything should be sold at a premium. While I do understand time & labor I also understand that something is only worth what someone will pay.

 

[Fizbin]

Part of the problem is the Beer Budget and Champagne tastes dynamic that is getting more and more prevalent here.

New and interesting ideas require R&D and time and materials to develop.

Most people see the finished product and have ZERO concept of the time it takes to do something from scratch.

It's just $10 worth of resin.......right?

Couldn't agree more with this post. I shudder to think of the time and money I've spent/lost in creating things from scratch only to encounter unreplied emails after the interested individual inquires what I charge for a kit. Sad fact of the matter is, my prices are way below what similar items go for.

But, I guess that's just the way the cookie crumbles. :unsure

I think the opposite problem happens as often, folks that think everything should be sold at a premium. While I do understand time & labor I also understand that something is only worth what someone will pay.

Yes, I've seen this, too... but it's not like you can find this stuff at your local Wal-Mart. At some point reality has to come into play and many people are quite misguided or lack any knowledge of what a reasonable price is.

 

[Birdie]

Part of the problem is the Beer Budget and Champagne tastes dynamic that is getting more and more prevalent here.

New and interesting ideas require R&D and time and materials to develop.

Most people see the finished product and have ZERO concept of the time it takes to do something from scratch.

It's just $10 worth of resin.......right?

This post just about sums up exactly what I feel is the greatest problem with the RPF. When it seems folks on Ebay get it more, that is kind of worrying.