Before the end of 2009, expect the rease of this film described as an Action, Horror, Western Thriller
Tagline: Live by the gun. Die by the gun. Come back for more
The Story: A mysterious gunman, Aman (Wesley Snipes), is the son of a nun who breaks her covenant with God to ensure his survival. This act brings a curse upon Aman – all those that die by his gun will return. Soon, he is hunted by a gang of his undead former victims, led by the vicious Kansa (Kevin Howarth). Aman enlists Fabulos (Riley Smith), a new young warrior, to fight by his side.
Make Up Department
Becky Cain … prosthetic technician
Iraina Crenshaw … hair stylist: Mr. Snipes
Jackie Fowler … chief makeup artist
Dan Frye … prosthetic technician
Rod Hamlin … prosthetic technician
Brian Hillard … sfx makeup: moldmaker, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Kristyan Mallett … prosthetics technician
Sue Michael … key makeup assistant
Richard Northcroft … prosthetic technician
Conal Palmer … prosthetic technician
Alison Rainey … makeup artist
Clare Ramsey … prosthetic technician
Cyndi Reece-Thorne … makeup artist: Mr. Snipes
Tommy Van der Nest … hair stylist
Special Effects Department
David Beneke … sfx makeup: moldmaker, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
George Bernota … special effects makeup: key mechanic, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Julia Bogdan-Rollo … production accountant: Tatopoulos Studios Inc.
Robert Braune … special effects
Bruce Spaulding Fuller … special effects makeup: sculptor, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Nikky Haberle … contact lens technician
John Halfmann … special effects makeup: moldmaker, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Guy Himber… special effects makeup: shop supervisor, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Paul Hyett … prosthetics supervisor and special effects makeup
Clive R. Kay … special effects contact lenses
Allison Klein … assistant to designer: Tatopoulos Studios
Carol Koch … special effects makeup: sculptor, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Russell Lukich … special effects makeup: sculptor, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Amber Meno … special effects makeup: purchasing assistant, Tatopoulos Studios, Inc.
Max Poolman … special effects supervisor
Richard Redlefsen … sculptor/painter: Mosca: additional photography: Los Angeles
John Shea … fabricator: Tatopolous Studios Inc.
Patrick Tatopoulos … special effects makeup designer
Janek Zabielski … special effects supervisor (2006)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – How do you carve out a niche as the principal Disney sculptor when you’re following a bona fide Disney Legend? For Valerie Edwards, director of sculpting for Walt Disney Imagineering, the passing of the tools from the fabled hands of Blaine Gibson has involved the challenge of sculpting the likeness of President Barack Obama.
Edwards’ sculpting is for the Hall of Presidents attraction at Walt Disney World Resort. The vintage attraction in the Liberty Square section of Magic Kingdom features Audio-Animatronics likenesses of all the United States presidents. All previous “heads of state” were sculpted by Gibson, now 91 years old.
As Gibson was sculpting the bust of George W. Bush following his election in 2000, he “hinted at the possibility” his role might pass to his protégée, Edwards, when the next president came to office. He’d been mentoring her for a dozen years and recognized the talent of the second-generation Disney artist. Now a 21-year Disney veteran, Valerie is the daughter of Disney animator George Edwards, who worked on projects such as the classic film “Sleeping Beauty.”
Hall of Presidents attraction at Walt Disney World Resort
As for Valerie: She had a couple of very familiar “portraits” on her resume when she got the call to create the Obama bust. She wielded the sculpting tools behind the uncanny
Audio-Animatronics figures of Captain Jack Sparrow and his feature-film nemesis, Barbossa, at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in Magic Kingdom.
Of her latest project, she comments, “It was a great challenge and, certainly for me, it was time to put my best foot forward. After all, Blaine is a tough act to follow.
“There are techniques and tools that I learned to embrace from him and add to my repertoire,” Edwards continues. “For this kind of work, it’s not only sculpture as fine art, but sculpture as a mechanical art as well – because of all the internal mechanisms built into the figures. Blaine was the guy who developed this type of sculpture, and he had – and still has – so much to share.”
With Gibson providing oversight, Edwards’ hands were firmly on the tools for this latest “head of state.” Here are some facts and insights about the project …
The Wonder of the Reducing Glass – A tool that functions like a magnifying glass – except in the opposite way – can be valuable to the sculptor: “It takes big things and makes them small,” Edwards says. “Using it, you change the scale of your work to see it as it will appear to the guest. By changing your distance from your work, you also can match the scale of the reference you’re using. It’s such a valuable asset.”
Internet Research – To gather much of the physical information she needed to begin her Obama sculpture, Edwards pored over Internet photographs from the campaign that showed the candidate from many angles – from the back, the side and all views of his head. “On the Internet you can see so much and select what’s actually useful for detail, because what we’re creating has to be as realistic as possible.”
Art, Math and Science Converge – It helps that Edwards has a background in science as well as art. “Naturally, there is anatomy involved, but also math. Because so many parts of his face are moving mechanically, you have to be vigilant about diameters and circumferences. The calibration all had to be done through photos and scientific references for musculature.”
From a Block of Clay – Edwards employed traditional sculpting methods to begin the Obama sculpture. “It’s about finding a pleasant overall look in the facial composition and paying attention to his speech patterns, the muscles that work his face and his expressions both at rest and during speaking. Once it’s done, there are a lot of progressive meetings to meet criteria of other groups that handle the figure and create the movement.”
Fine Tuning – Living up to audience expectations was “daunting,” Edwards says. “Certainly this is a figure of a person everybody is acquainted with – they see him on the television and in media constantly. We had an expert anatomist look at it to make sure it was structurally sound and to guide us mechanically. We’re always working to find new materials and techniques that will deliver a more realistic figure – it’s a constant search for new materials and technology.”
Movement, Hair and Makeup – Once the presidential figure passes from Edwards’ hands to Audio-Animatronics programmers, myriad functions are keyed into the figure’s mechanical substructures for the mouth, eyes and every “perfectly synced facial movement,” she says. As the figure is completed, artists work on the finishing facial touches and hairpiece. Edwards checked on the figure while in the manufacturing phase “to make sure the external package was not compromised.”
Obama Delivers – Imagineers agree that the Audio-Animatronics Barack Obama is the most dynamic presidential addition – ever – thanks to new materials and refined technology. When the Obama figure begins to deliver the presidential oath of office on the Hall of Presidents stage, the array of subtle movements and facial expressions are convincing. And the words spoken by the president – including the oath of office and Obama’s thoughts on “the American dream” – are his own, recorded soon after his inauguration in the White House Map Room.
The horror comedy Zombieland focuses on two men who have found a way to survive a world overrun by zombies. Columbus is a big wuss — but when you’re afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee is an AK-toting, zombie-slaying’ bad ass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth. As they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.
Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin star as survivors of the zombie apocalypse that has ravaged the world.
Zombieland opens October 9.
Make Up Department
Andrea C. Brotherton … hair stylist
Leo Corey Castellano … special makeup effects artist
Tony Gardner … special makeup designer
Lee Grimes … special makeup effects artist
T.A. Henderson … hair stylist
Bill Johnson … fake bodies
Jamie Kelman … special makeup effects artist
Rachel Kick … makeup artist
Carol Koch … designer/sculptor: Alterian
Jonah Levy … special makeup effects artist
Sarah Mays … makeup department head
Bill McCoy … special makeup effects artist
Steve Prouty … key special makeup effects artist
Toby Sells … special makeup effects artist
Leigh Ann Yandle … special makeup effects artist
Melissa A. Yonkey … hair department head
Special Effects Department
André Freitas … special effects makeup
Jonathan Gording … contact lens consultant
Anthony Lamont Jacobs … special effects technician
Eric A. Martin … special effects technician
Matt Neel … special effects technician
Lisa Reynolds … special effects foreman
Toby Sells … special effects makeup
Bob Shelley … special effects coordinator
Thom Shepard … special effects technician
Darrin Tilton … special effects technician
Erick De La Vega is a painter, sculptor,photographer, and make-up FX artist.
Concentrating primarily on his special effects work for the past 15 years, Erick has a host of project credits under his belt throughout the film and television industry (Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, Angel TV series, Jeepers Creepers, Blade II, Batman Dead End, & Willard). His fine art paintings draw upon that work experience and showcase the ease of realism he achieves with airbrushed acrylics.
Trained at the New World School of the Arts and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Erick’s work is influenced by the modern masters of dark, fantasy art like Frank Frazetta, Wayne Barlow, and H.R. Giger, as well as a mixture of his own Catholic upbringing and his obsession with monsters and creatures. De La Vega’s painted creations are otherworldly and yet eerily familiar.They expose the viewer to a horrific beauty that potentially awaits at the end of every darkened passageway. They are fearsomely compelling.
covenant with God to ensure his survival. This act brings a curse upon Aman – all those that die by his gun will return. Soon, he is hunted by a gang of his undead former victims, led by the vicious Kansa (Kevin Howarth). Aman enlists Fabulos (Riley Smith), a new young warrior, to fight by his side.
