Sunday, October 31, 2010

BODY CASTING AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Stumbled on this fascinating glimpse into body casting Jackie for Around the World in 80 Days. I recognise the head from the sequence on the steam engine in the beginning of the movies from the goggles outlined on them. But why would they also need a full body cast? For the same scene?

A suggestion was made for when the tablet from the statue of liberty 'squishes' Jackie near the end of the movie but that is so quick it doesn't have to be a life cast.

Ideas anyone?

ADDENDUM - just discovered the body casting was to mold the jetpack and helmet for ATW80D

February 2003, Babelsberg Studios in a freezing cold Berlin. It was my first proper feature film junket, Around the World in 80 Days. The prop-making department had to make a steam-powered jetpack and helmet for Jackie Chan to wear which would fit him perfectly, so a life cast of his head and body were required.

I’d been reading about Jackie in a magazine on the flight over. I found incredible the suggestion that he travels with three pairs of Y-fronts that he washes in the hotel sink. Imagine my surprise when having handed him some Speedos to get cast in, he returned in a saggy old pair of Y-fronts stating he’d keep the Speedos as they were nice.

Hair isn’t the ideal covering for anything you want to cast. Silicone rubbers that are more forgiving weren’t widely available then. To cast using alginate you have to smooth down all the hair with Nivea.

It’s not nice having your head or full body cast. It is uncomfortable, claustrophobic and undignified. He was a real star, he didn’t complain and was smiling throughout. Afterwards he sat around signing autographs and chatting with our little crew. What a gent.


SOURCE: OFFSCREEN MAGAZINE.CO.UK


DIRECT LINK

Description:

Jackie Chan's head cast for the film Around the World in 80 Days

Portrait bust with no hair and eyes closed


DIRECT LINK

Description:

Body mould of Jackie Chan for the film Around the World in 80 Days



From the site:

Full body casts

Full bodies refer to casts of whole or nearly whole 3D bodies. These casts are used for statues, full body portraits, architectural features, art installations, exhibitions and in the TV and film industry. Like all my body casts they are suitable for both indoors and out, so they make the most fantastic sculptures for your home or your garden. Mostly I make these for exhibitions and the film industry, where they are used for prosthetic make-up, wounds, body parts, corpses, doubles etc. Most battlefield corpses are lifecasts (they don't need feeding or paying!). Amputees are used in war films, with prosthetic limbs explosively detached. It's all part of movie magic; smoke and mirrors and fair amount of silicone rubber!


SOURCE: BRIGHTON BODYCASTING.COM

WARNING - THERE ARE IMAGES OF AN ADULT NATURE ON THIS SITE
The direct links above are 'safe' - navigate further at your own risk.

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