Question about the Nine Gates

[kalkamel]

I've just started an interest thread in the JY for a replica of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows: http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=47101

I've got some question about the book. Any answer is appreciated:

(a) in the movie, the Telfer/Balkan copy appears to have a dark brown and weathered cover. A screen used copy can be seen here: http://www.yourprops.com/view_item.php?movie_prop=15410. And yet in some scenes, the cover appears black. The Fargas and Kessler copies appear to have black covers. Which cover color would be preferred?

(b) are the 5 ridges on the spine gold foiled?

(c) does anyone have a clear picture of the framing design on the front and back covers? Are they also gold foiled?

(d) has anyone made Corso's name card and Balkan's cheque?

Thanks again.

 

[Ramiel]

Judging from the screen used pic you posted, I would say:

(a) I suppose the darkest brown you could find/use OR a wheatered black

(b) no

(c) I think I saw a close up of the framing, but I don't remember where... And no again, no gold foil

(d) Don't know...

 

[kalkamel]

Thanks, George! So the only thing in gold foil is the pentagram, right?

I've been searching for the frame design but I just couldn't seem to find it.

 

[Ramiel]

Yes, I think so, but I'm not the resident "nine gates" expert here...
If I could find those close-ups of the framing I'll post them here for sure!

 

[kalkamel]

Thanks, my friend!

 

[Sumatra]

The spine is quite reflective, that's why it looks like it might be gilded, but it's not. Also, since the bands are raised, they have worn more than between them.

As for the color. I would suggest talking to the person whose binding them and letting them know what you will be doing to them to weather them. They should hopefully know what tpye of coloring to uise to get the desired effect.

I'm sure you've got all of the screen caps you need, but I took these. If you want more from a certain scene, let me know. I'll try to get more tomorrow from the library. The lighting should be quite different in that scene. Hopefully softer and more even.

 

[kalkamel]

Looks very brown to me, similar to the cowhide I used in my latest run of Grail diaries:

 

[Sulla]

I started playing around with making one of those books.

I got some scrap black leather and played around with making a ridged spine. I like the way it turned out, not accurate, but It gave me some insight on how to do it right.

I'll eventually get back to it one day.

I'll dig it out of the pile of unfinished props and take some pix for you.

Also, in those screen grabs it does look like very dark brown that has aged. Perhaps horse hide? It often tans dark (depending on the breed) and shows brown through aging.

 

[Sulla]

Oh, and there's always here:
http://www.apocprod.com/Pages/prop_pages/ninthgate.htm

 

[propstuf]

Kal,The binding on this book was a dark brown, not black. Slightly darker than the hide you've been using on your grail diaries (and thicker).