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 LMC:
Do you get any input into the design?
JF:
Sometimes,
but then I am told to shut up (Kidding)
Nope. There is a design team and once they are finished we get the
illustration and start sculpting.
LMC: Do you want to do some design work? Do some artists mix
between areas like sculpting, design, painting, etc.?
JF: Oh yeah! That would be great. In fact I just drew that picture
over there the other day to see if I still had it in me. It is a
typical answer, but I would love it if I made a career out of those
3 you listed. Those are my 3 favorite things to do. Most great
sculptors that I know of are excellent at all three. Painting,
illustration and sculpting.
 LMC:
Do you
have much freedom to tweak the design once it's set, or does your
sculpture have to look just like it?
JF:
On occasion depending on who did what design. They will say, “ do
what you can with it “ which basically is giving you the option to
change some things. Follow the basic design but give it something
extra. I try to stick to the design as closely as possible, which
the designer appreciates.
LMC:
How
about sculpting quickly. Have you learned any tricks to speed this
along?
JF:
Lots and lots
of coffee.
This is so funny. I said this to Lee once at work. “ You know? I
have never sculpted for 8 straight hours.” I did not know how fast I
was I guess. When you are forced to be quick you just have to be.
One thing I try to do is spend about 80% of the time I have getting
the forms as right as possible. Then the rest of the time on
refinement and detail.
 LMC:
What
clay do you use in the shop?
JF:
WED, Roma, Chavant. Full body sculpts we would use WED. And for
anything we needed done fast we would also use WED. Say the Cowl for
a Make-up would be done in Wed, while the face would be done in
Chavant.
LMC:
Is everything you need available? Tools, armatures, anything you
might prefer, or do you have to bring in what you need, make
armatures, etc.?
JF:
Sculptors bring in
their own tools. As you well know you have the tools that fit your
likening.
As for everything else it is all there.
LMC:
When
you collaborate with other artists for a large piece, how do you
work together to make the sculpt uniform and look as if one person
did it?
 JF:
You don’t! Please, like I am as good as Lee or Mark. My side always
looked like shit in comparison. I am kidding. Since I was the new
guy. I did not have any part of a suit that was going to stand out
lets say. Like the back of the knees or the underside of the arms.
Any part that a Blind Retarded Monkey could not do. If so, I would
watch what the others would do and try and match it best I could. In
the end it all worked out. On a full suit you would continually
rotate around the piece so it was all uniform at the end.
LMC:
When
you finish a sculpt, where does it go from there?
JF:
In the Dark recesses of my mind. Oh wait, it goes to get molded.
Then it is off to Sculpture Heaven.
LMC:
So the mold guys just wisk it off and you move on to the next
project?
JF:
Something like that. There has been the occasion that I mold what I
had sculpted.
 LMC:
Who
molds it, who paints it?
JF:
We have some great mold guys at the shop. I have even molded
some. Getting better at it too, which is nice. But, it still gets me
all paranoid when I have to mold.
LMC:
What
is a typical work day in the studio for you?
JF:
Wake up, spend way
too much time in this Fucked up traffic Hell-A is known for. Try not
to be in the ‘someone pissed in my wheaties’ mood before I get to
work.
Clock in anywhere between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. If I was on something
the day before I get right back to work. If not, wait for the boss
to show to see what’s next. Around 10:30 the food truck shows and it
is break time.
LMC:
So you basically sculpt all day long with breaks? No meetings, or
odd jobs you do in the studio?
 JF:
For the most part yes. Since I have only been to one shop so far I
am sure things are very different at others. On days where there is
not much to sculpt, I will help in other areas. Which is nice
because I am trying to learn as much as I can to better myself as an
artist. Like on that 3-4 hour demon head I sculpted I got to do my
first silicone brush up mold. Pretty sad I know. But, give me a
break, I am new ; )
LMC:
Talk
about some of the work you have done. Various projects and sculpts
JF:
First one we talked
about were the arm appliances I did for Angel. For a character
called Dinza. I also did her feet. Everything I list here will be
referring to sculpture work unless
otherwise noted. Hope I can
remember everything. Lets see…I helped on the suit for the Gnarl
character for Buffy. I also did his Feet and a weapon he wore on his
finger to poison and cut his victims ( sorry no pics ) there were
these Spiders from hell
in Buffy I did the
legs and pinchers . There was this body for the
show Miracles, all burnt to a crisp. I also
did an autopsy scar for the same episode. OOOooh I did my first “
Buffy “ brow aka vampire brow. I had to
 sculpt a demon head in about
4 hours.(note the one to the left) That was a challenge .
It was nice to be
able to do some full makeups. Wish I got more pics, so I don’t bore
anyone any longer ranting about stuff I did. But we have some
below.
Not to mistaken that
Vampire with the burn . I just sculpted the burn, all Lostboys
style.
Did some Fabrication
work but unfortunately lost everything when the ole hard drive
crashed.. I also just sculpted those hands for Little Rat Boy in
some above pictures.
LMC:
Now
that you have seen the reality of working in the industry, what
opinions do you have of it?
JF:
Hard question to
answer. Honestly,
so far it is not what I expected. And it is a very hard business to
keep a constant work load from what I can gather. 9 months of work
can turn into 5. I also came off a good steady job (steady income).
I knew my place and I was used to it. It is extremely competitive
and a lot of it has to do with who you know.
 BUT, I have only
worked in one shop that is a smaller budget shop so I can't say I
know everything. I have a lot to learn and experience. Hopefully I
will get that chance. It is a harsh reality to know that there are
guys out there far better then me that are also out of work. All you
kiddies out there who want to take that leap be prepared. I have
been out of work for a month now and doing my best to get more. I
could be back to retail hell in San Diego before this interview hits
the site. OH MY GOD!!!!!
Ask me this question in two years.
LMC:
Have
you formed any differing opinions on movies/TV now that you know the
other side of the camera?
JF:
I do know this. The camera has a very forgiving eye.
LMC:
Is it exciting to see your work on TV?
JF:
For the most part. When I saw the first thing I worked on I was very
excited. Had to make sure I called the family. “ Did you see that ,
I did that “. Or when something aired I worked on and friends call
me up asked if that one was mine. But, I was not real pleased with
it.” Nope! I don’t
 know who did that one” Probably Lee did that one. Doh! Just kidding buddy.
LMC:
Will
you be doing anything for the big screen? Do you want to?
JF:
I hope so. I would love to. I look at it this way. When I go and see
something like Planet of The Apes. And I am Dumbfounded by this
outstanding MakeUp that this guy Rick Baker (this guy. Ha ha ha.
Funny stuff) and his shop Cinovations did. All I can think of, I
can’t wait for the day I can be a part of something like this. Now I
just have to get better, grow some balls and send my work over
there. It is like standing in front of the Pearly Gates hoping you
did not mess up too bad and have to get cast down to the StinkPot
LMC:
Do you
feel your skills have significantly increased?
 JF:
I’d like to think
they have increased. Others have told me that I have gotten much
better since I started. I try and convince myself of this.” You are
only as good as you are today. Strive to be better” It is
frustrating to sit next to guys that do it so easy and are very
good.
You just have to use that frustration to push yourself to be that
good.
LMC:
How do
you network your skills to other studios and jobs?
JF:
I have a lot to learn when it comes to this. Still new to this
networking thing. This goes back to, It’s who you know. You need to
be aggressive. You need to throw yourself out there. If people don’t
see your work, how are they going to know who you are and hire you
(Did I say that?). Lately I have been in front of the big shops with
a cardboard sign “will sculpt for food”. Sending out resumes’ and pics to shops. E-mailing those I can e-mail. I would say this
interview is a way to network. Anyone reading this? Cough, cough!
 LMC:
Are there new opportunities you can do outside of TV/Movie FX to pay
some bills? Are you doing any between work when you have downtime?
JF:
I am trying
to get involved in doing sculpting for prop shops or Halloween
companies.
I am trying not to think of getting a 9-5 just yet when work is
slow. I think that would kill me. Selling my personal work and masks
gets me by. There was this bank that takes ….Oh nevermind.
LMC:
Where
do you want to go from here?
JF:
Up. I want more opportunities. More opportunities to work in shops
to meet other fantastic artists in this business. I want to improve
on the skills I am best at and learn new ones.
 I want to be a part of something big.
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