·       LMC: Can you put a value on your collection?

TS:  I really don’t think I could!   So many of the pieces were made by me, and the molds are long since gone.  Not to mention all the time I put in. 

LMC: Can you put a value on the cost to this point?

TS: Rather not think about that!
 

TS: People have been really great.  I get emails all the time about stuff I’ve made and it’s just a good feeling.  I know how much I love getting a nice piece for my collection and I try to think about that when I’m finishing a mask or prop for someone.

LMC: Do you sell any of your collection?

TS: Occasionally I’ll offer a piece up for sale.  Gotta make room for new stuff!

LMC: What’s your favorite piece? 

TS: Whew… well, I’ll break this in two parts:

Favorite I’ve bought

My favorite piece I’ve bought is TOUGH.  The Duros from the Star Wars Cantina have always been my favorite aliens.  When the opportunity came to get a casting of the screen used mask, I was floored.  I’ve since found another and to this day, those are probably my favorites.

A close second would be the screen used hands to that same creature!   A big plus is that those were made by Baker’s team for Star Wars.  If that ain’t a one-two punch, then I don’t know what is!

Favorite I’ve made

This is another tough call.  It’s like choosing your favorite child!  For now, it’s probably the Devil Guy mask.  I’m really proud of the way that turned out.  A runner up here would have to be the Wampa puppet.  It’s the only one out there.  I made one for myself and that’s it!

LMC: What was the hardest/longest to make?        

TS: Wow, they all fit in that category at times.  The life-size wampa was tough just cus he was 8 feet tall. (and pricey cus of the NFT fur!).  He may have taken the longest, though I worked on other stuff while I was doing that.  The Devil Guy mask was pretty tough as it was the first (mostly) human sculpt I ever did.

LMC: Talk about what it was like making the Wampa?

TS: Hairy!  Well, ok, that was a cheap joke.  But it’s true.  I built him in a tiny room in the house with just barely an 8 foot ceiling.  Made for some real interesting work.  I built him as a poseable statue, not a costume, so that simplified things a lot.  I used a wood frame with foam rubber musculature and bulk.  I made it break down at the waist and head for transport.  National Fiber Tech hair was the only way to go on this one!  The 4 way stretch fabric really helped move things along when it came time to lay the fur.  I used the synthetic stuff cus that’s what the movie suit used… then went to town with Krylon in beige and almond to give it a bit of “living”.  I also added a ton of melted white wax into the fur for snow and ice… tough to see in the pics but it looks cool in person.

                                             

LMC: What was the easiest?

TS: Wow, I can’t recall any that were easy.  I guess everything’s challenging in it’s own way.  I really still feel like I’m just starting to learn.  With each project, I take away a little more.

TS: Sure, though lately I’m short on time, I’d love to hear from anyone who’d like some work done. 

LMC: What are you working on now?

TS: I just finished a Leatherface (TCM style) sculpt I just did for KreationX.com.  We just molded that today! (7-10-02)  We also molded my latest sculpt for a display bust I’m doing.  It’s the Doctor character from the Twilight Zone episode “Eye of the Beholder”.  He’s been dubbed, rather appropriately, “the Beholder!”

LMC: What do you have plans for upcoming?
   

TS: Buying a house to put all my stuff in!  Which happens to be the reason I mentioned I’m short on time lately.

LMC:   What about the new SW episodes?  First what do you think of the movies?

TS: I was really excited (and then a bit let down) by Episode One.  I think everyone was.  Episode Two was a great step forward in my mind, but still a little cold.  I’d love to see some more creature work and less CGI, but it’s not what George is looking for, I guess.

Sometimes, I think having such a blank canvas can be bad.  With CGI, it’s really limitless what you can do and I think that hurts the realism a bit.  To me, kitbashing, and struggling to find ways to put certain bits together to create something new can open up your eyes to something you might never have thought of otherwise.  Kinda the ole “necessity is the mother of invention” thing.

TS: Not really.  While I’ve enjoyed them and seen them each several times, they just haven’t grabbed me in the way that the originals did.

LMC:  So, are you going to keep working on the movies you have now, or are there others you would like to begin working on out of the realm you have already explored?

TS: I’ve got sketchbooks filled with monsters, so hopefully I can find an outlet for some original stuff someday.  Or course, I’m sure I’ll end up doing some more cantina aliens just cus I want em!  As for other stuff, yeah… definitely.  Ya never know.

LMC: Where’s the collection going when you are gone?

TS: I guess that depends.  I’m hoping to stick around for a while and enjoy it, but if I go anytime soon, maybe I’ll have it all shipped to Bob Burns!

LMC: Can you give me a few of your pieces?  Awwww please!

TS: Gee, I’d love too, but since people are reading this, I’d have to start giving things to everyone just to be fair.  You wouldn’t wanna start that, would you?

LMC: Ok, what if I take this question out ;-) ?

TS: Uh, still no :)

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