ESB Star Wars Stage Diorama

Apart from Stopmotion, another obsession of mine is the Original Unaltered Trilogy of Star Wars. I came across a blueprint of Echo Base's Hangar that was constructed on the Star Wars Stage for The Empire Strikes Back, and was inspired to create a diorama. I have been working on it off and on since March of this year. The amount of detail that I hope to incorporate into this diorama is going to make the build a long and slow process. I will be using a variety of methods to construct it, from pattern making, cutting wood, scratch building, model making, and 3D printing. I look forward to seeing it completed but am also enjoying the journey. It is my first diorama, and has its fair share of flaws and imperfections, but when all said an done I think it will really shine. You can follow the progress on The Replica Prop Forum Here.

Happy Birthday to me

For my Birthday, my Sister made me a Coraline themed gift box. It contained a Little me, of me, some peanut butter cookies shaped like buttons, a home made button skeleton key, my own Other-Mother card with gift box. If you go to her blog, there are more photos and a description of how she made it all. Get the Coraline Little me Doll here

Frankenweenie Trailer

The Frankenweenie Trailer is up. It is a must see for me, but I am noticing a little too close similarities to Burton's previous features that is a bit distracting for the time being. The boy reminds me too much of Victor from Corpse Bride, and the dog is a spitting image of the Amazing Story 'Family Dog''. But you have to expect that from Tim Burton's films. He reuses actors like he reuses designs. It's his style. I'am not sure if saying "From the Director of Alice in Wonderland" means a whole lot. I mean, it opened in theaters pretty strong, but in the end, it just barely broke even domestically, but it's Disney.

The Other Pink Palace North Elevation

OK, I think this would be the North Elevation of the Pink Palace. It's the back of the house that leads to garden. I cannot be sure as there is no official North, but if you use the Map on the official web site and assume that the top the the screen is North... Anyways, I used a behind the scenes photo of this side of the house to draw it up in Microstation to scale. I cannot recall if I finished, as it has been a long while since I last worked on this Elevation, but I believe it's done. My goal is to draw up the entire Pink Palace and build a miniature 'doll house' of it. It may be pipe dream, but it is a dream none the less. In previous posts I presented a rough layout of the first floor of the house. It wasn't accurate as far as dimensions, but it was a starting point. I will continue to refine the drawing little at a time when I have the time. Currently, I am pleased with how it is coming out.

Happy Anniversary Coraline

OK, it may not be official or anything, but it is the 3 year Anniversary of the release date of Coraline in theaters. I received the Collectors Edition box for Christmas this year. It is definitely something to add to the collection for the die-hard fan, but for the average fan, the normal Blu-Ray would suffice. What I liked about this gift set was the little book and the four post cards. The other little bonus was the new Disc images. But the thrills stop there. The discs are stored in cardboard sleeves, and with regular use can only mean wear and tear on your discs. There are no extra special features or added bonus discs that would have made this gift awesome. You just get a large box (which takes up too much room on my shelf), with a cool 3D image on front, a pull out drawer with your loose discs, four post cards (that will never be used as such) and a little booklet that covers everything that you learn from watching the special features. The 3D glasses is nothing special, as you get them with the regular set. So, a little disappointing in the end. I have thought about switching out these discs with the ones in my original set as I like the new images that much better.
The only disc set that I don't own is the new 3D version (not the one with the blue and red 3D glasses, the OTHER-3D Version). It would be worth getting a 3D TV and blu-ray just to watch this again in its original 3D.

Paranorman

I just came across a new Laika movie called ParaNorman on Vera Brosgol’s blog. Watching the teaser trailer I am excited to see it. I love the colors, textures, and great props (monster toothbrush). It is set to release August 2012 which is a long time from now, but I look forward to seeing more on this movie in the mean time.

Watching the trailer again and again, and reading the brief plot line provided by Laika, it sounds like a boy named Norman can see and speak to ghosts in his town. This probably lends towards is fascination with all things monster and zombie. I assume that a ghost (probably the one in the theater poster) tells Norman about a curse on the town, and then spends a good deal researching it and trying to uncover its mysteries. He comes upon seven victims (Pilgrims) who where killed by the curse, and locates their grave site. Upon arrival, the seven Pilgrims come back from the dead as zombies and scare the town. Norman must break the curse that has been on the town for generations. I had to look up the director and writer as I wasn't familiar with their names, Chris Butler, and Sam Fell. They have done some interesting stories before, so I look forward to see what they have done with this film.

Speaking of Vera Brosgol, she came out with a new book, Anya's Ghost. Looks like I have to pick myself up a copy.

Nightmare Before Christmas Salt and Pepper Shaker

Halloween is upon us once again and I needed a few more props around the house for decor. The trouble with Halloween decorations that you find in stores is that they are all garbage. Everytime I go shoping for Props for Halloween, I walk in the store, look at all their stuff, and walk out empty handed. Sometimes when you want something good you have to make it yourself. So, for inspiration, I popped in my Nightmare Before Christmas Blu-Ray and found a salt and pepper shakers that I have not yet done. I pulled out my sculpty clay, formed it around some foil, baked and painted. It was a quick and easy craft that looks great on the shelf.