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MI6 caught up with the team behind the James Bond
series at Sideshow Collectibles recently to find out
more about the new Sean Connery figures...
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Sideshow Interview - Sean Connery Figures
10th November 2004
MI6 caught up with the team behind the James Bond figure series
at Sideshow
Collectibles recently to find out more about the creative
process. In this part, Mat Falls - Director of 3D, Heath Hammond
- Supervisor of Product Development and Tom Gilliland - Creative
Director, give insight into the new 1/4 scale Sean Connery and
12" Thunderball figures...
1/4 Scale Sean Connery
This is the first time Sideshow Collectibles has created
a unique quarter scale James Bond figure. Why did you decide
to create such a large model? Apart from size, what are
the main differences in creating a larger model?
TG: The 1/4 figure line was something we began developing
in our own response to the limitations our 1/6 scale lines
presented us. The smaller scale required that we simplify
many details. We were looking for a premier format to make
a much more uncompromising figure presentation. Upsizing
our scale created a format that is infinitely more impactful,
authentic, and detailed. The results bear themselves out
when looking at the 1/4 scale Connery. The Tuxedo’s
tailoring is knife sharp, the Portrait has better definition,
the body language of the figure speaks volumes. It’s
just so much more in nearly every way. We feel that in the
end this figure format offers the collector a signature
piece that can be displayed in any environment and will
carry an art subject perception rather than one of a toy.
How has the figure differed in development from past
figures?
TG: The 1/4 scale figures are not designed with articulation
in mind. That is where the 1/6 scale counterpart takes over.
The 1/4 scale figures focus is on the capture of a moment.
This involves choosing just the right pose that is as accurate
to the character as the portrait. The end result is intended
to simulate the character in the same way a wax museum’s
1:1 scale rendition might. Ours is made in a scale that
is more manageable [and perhaps less threatening] than the
full-sized figure.
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Sean
Connery as James Bond 1/4 Scale |
Will the figure be packaged in the new unique packaging format?
TG: The figure will come in a package that is quite different from
the flap style 1/6 scale boxes. It will still be characterized by
our award winning graphics but will instead come in a large format
sealed collectors box.
Will the figure be articulated?
TG: The figure does not have any adjustable accessories or moving
parts as it is intended for premium display and not for play value.
What unique challenges did creating this figure present?
TG: Attempting to capture the subtle body language of a classic
Connery Bond pose proved to be a great challenge. The tailoring
on the tuxedo obviously had to be razor sharp. Both of these elements
were expertly handled by Greg Mowry, our Chief 1/4 Scale Architect.
Mat expressed his sculpture issues earlier. From there the group
wrestled with drawing all the elements together with paint, base,
and final box to create what we believe is the quintessential
Connery Bond figure.
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Look Up! Look Down! Look Out!
What challenges did the Thunderball Connery figure
present with his exposed legs?
MF: Exposed body parts are always a challenge for obvious
reasons, but sometimes we have to do it to capture the essence
of the character. We do our best to disguise joints as much
as we can; a wristwatch here, a strap-on knife there. It's
a whole give and take thing. Those joints are standard in
the 1/6 scale format and they allow for the most range of
movement. The payoff to the exposed legs on the Thunderball
Bond is the dive rig. That piece could be in a box by itself.
Kudos to the design team.
Did you create a completely new head for this figure?
Yes. His expression had to change to take the breather
device and the mask.
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What unique problems did the accessories for the underwater
Connery present?
HH: First of all there was no reference for the Aqua Jet
Lung outside the grainy underwater images from the film. We had
to create a model blueprint for our model making team. The engineering
feat on this was the small piping involved in the piece and to
make the to-scale pipes accurate yet strong enough at that scale
to withstand handling.
The exclusive accessory for the Sideshow figure was the Rebreather
Apparatus, which was sculpted from the actual movie prop used
in the film!
When creating the Sean Connery Thunderball figure
how did you go about creating that famous wet suit look?
TG: Like all things we look to reproduce the original. Trying
to find a fabric that best represented the colour and material
for a wet suit was a challenge. We feel pretty good about
how we answered the problem.
The dive gear was obviously the bear in this project and
it took considerable time to just breakdown the model project
according to the weak reference we had. We literally had
to crawl frame by frame through the DVD to try to translate
the intricate forms and details covering the gear. Again,
I believe everyone will be very happy with the end result.
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Sean
Connery as James Bond in Thunderball |
Will we be seeing a new character stand for this figure?
TG: Yes. There will be an adjusted wire top to our current
stand that will allow the figure to be posed horizontally to capture
a swimming posture, as opposed to standing.
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Thanks to all at Sideshow Collectibles.
Images courtesy Sideshow Collectibles. Bond materials © Danjaq
and United Artists. Bond trademarks Danjaq.