One More Inspiration

It’s a Big One!

When I did my What Inspires Me post recently, I forgot one more inspiration to add to that short list…a huge one. Before I tell you what it is, I’d like to make sure that you know that those few things on that list are not the only things ever, in this whole big universe to inspire this artist. I do find random little inspirations here and there that usually happen unexpectedly, when I’m not looking for it. The ones that I’ve listed for you are the sources that I know that I can go to when I actually am looking for it. So without further ado…

What’s So Inspirational That It Would Warrant another Post?

That one more inspiration would be (drum roll)…bonus features on DVDs! Specifically, “the makings of” my favorite movies. You know…all the behind the scenes stuff? Some people have told me that they don’t like watching them because it spoils the magic of the movie. I’m the total opposite. Somehow, watching them makes the magic even greater for me. Plus, knowing all of the artists and all of talent that it took to make a movie come together seamlessly on screen is not only inspiring, but fascinating as well.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy Box Sets

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of my favorites. Each of the movies has hours of bonus features. They cover everything from site location to costume and creature design, creating Hobbiton, as well as the Elven homes of Rivendell and Lothlórien or Eriardor, and the mountain home of the dwarves. At the Weta Workshop, it’s all hands on deck to link together all of the chain mail that was used in production. Weapons designers were needed to create unique armory for each of the Middle Earth races. It wouldn’t have looked right for example, if the Elves were using the larger, clunkier weapons of the dwarves. Theirs had to be light and elegant and beautiful as well as deadly.

Weta Workshop Swords

The environments had to be created and transformed from a variety of molding materials to stone, wood, marble, shiny, rough, ancient and weathered surfaces. And all of that gets incorporated into a CGI background that made each location seem vast. You believe Frodo’s journey to Mordor and Gandalf’s encounter with the Balrog on the stone bridge when he shouts, “You shall not pass!”

Movies Cannot Succeed without the Talent of Artists

How can bonus features not be an inspiration for me? Artists are necessary for all of that. Every minute detail was carried out by an artist. No matter how mundane some tasks were, it was necessary for the movie to succeed in getting the audience to buy it, to suspend belief in what we know and to believe in the make believe.

CGI Sequence of Legolas and the Mumakil

I suppose this one could have possibly been lumped in with the work of other artists on my other post. But bonus features highlight artists doing whatever they specialize in collaboratively with other artists and their specialties, all working towards a common goal. That, in and of itself, is an inspiration. And, bonus features are something that I can have playing and not have it totally distract me from my work. And just so you know, I can’t wait to get my hands on the bonus features of Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice. I’ve already seen bits and pieces of it and the artist-comic book-geek started coming out in me (especially for the Wonder Woman parts!). Hmm…now that I think about it, the Wonder Woman parts might be a little distracting for me! Oh well! The sacrifices one must make…