|
 LMC:
What tips do you have for sculpting?
LR:
I
prefer simplicity. Keep it close to nature. If you see something
that looks terrible, it's because it has strayed too far from
reality. God, there is so much to learn. I am always learning.
If someone wants personal advice on a specific piece, I'll try to
help. All they have to do is email me.
LMC:
What
mistakes do you see a lot of beginning sculptors make?
LR:
Beginning sculptors make every mistake. They have to. You have to
make all the mistakes so you know what is right and what is wrong.
You can't skip ahead to great. The hard part I think for people is
to let go of what they create, tear it up and start over. If you
can't do that, forget it. There is a lot of over emphasis on
texture. A lot of stuff is too flat. Break your sculpture up into
areas and make sure each and every shape is lovely.
LMC:
Did you go down that path when you were starting out?
LR:
I'm still on that path! Man, I have done some terrible stuff,
believe me. I just try to hide it!
LMC:
What
is your favorite aspect of makeup fx?
LR:
I enjoy when someone comes to me and say's "Lee, we need a creature
or a character, here's the script or idea, what are your thoughts?
Okay, here's the money , do it. That scenario hasn't happened
completely yet, but I've tasted it a little and I like it.
 LMC:
What
do you like the least?
LR:
The fact that I have to wait for the afore
mentioned scenario to happen before
I can work. I hate that. I will figure out how to change that one
day.
LMC:
Do you collect any fx work, masks, props for
your own collection?
LR:
At this point, not really. I have a little
Pufinstuff figure, some Harryhausen figures and a Stan Winston
figure (yes, a little figure with white hair and a ferrari.- no,
just one of his toys). I don't keep any of my own stuff because I'm
still at the point where all I see are flaws. I know that's crazy,
but I feel like I'm moving forward if don't have that stuff
around. Perhaps one day I'll relax and learn to enjoy the stuff
I've done. That's probably an important step in my growth as an
artist. I would like to make some display pieces of some of the
make-ups or masks I've designed. Maybe one day.
There are a few things I'd like to have. I'd
love to have a LITTLE BIG MAN set of appliances and a Dustin Hoffman
life cast. I'd make a LITTLE BIG MAN display!. Or that head from
THE SENTINEL. I'd NEVER ask Dick for anything like this, I
wouldn't ever dare , but I'd love to have that. I would like to
have any of Rick's early stuff too. But I don't think that stuff is
floating around out there. Pay Jordu and Kazu just to make
life-size stuff all day for my collection- that would be great! I
would like to have a lot more skulls and bugs too. Can't have
enough skulls and bugs.
LMC:
Would you consider doing a teaching video/DVD's?
LL:
I
am not interested in teaching at this point. One, because I have
lots of friends who are doing it and I'm not interested in cutting
in on their turf. And perhaps because I consider myself a perpetual
student at this point and not a teacher. Perhaps when I'm 70 or 80
and I've done something worth teaching. I just filmed a little
insert interview for Mark Alfrey's movie monster DVD release. That
was fun.
LMC:
What
are your pet peeves?
LL:
Obnoxious teenagers. LITTER. GRAFITTI. I'm sure I can think of
more but let's not dwell on the negative.
LMC:
What
makes you happy?
LL:
My life. My friends and family. The act of creating something. My
accomplishments. Nature. My dog Sammy. A good meal. Things
like that.
LMC:
If you
have 5 million Dollars, what would you spend your time doing?
LL:
How do you know I don't have 5 million dollars already?
Seriously, I guess the question is fair. I would do what I'm
doing, just plodding ahead, only with more comfort and more
equipment. And more cars. I love cars.
 LMC:
Would you be running your own shop?
LL:
Damn, you had to ask
that. I want to open a shop. I believe I have the skills to make
it a success. But looking at it as a business person, does it make
sense to open a make-up effects shop right now? I don't think so,
but perhaps that is the pessimistic side of me talking. I guess if
I thought like that before I would have never come out here. Hell,
maybe I should JUST GO FOR IT, DUDE! This last job, the Elton John
video, has got me thinking about it seriously.
The bummer to me about a make-up
effects shop is that you are constantly waiting for someone else to
give you a job. You are not creating something for yourself that
can go on without you, which is the ultimate goal of any effective
business. But there are several other variations or branches of
this business that one could go into.
Halloween
is a big business and lets just say there's A LOT of room for
improvement in that world. Toys, displays, museum installations.
As I said , I am very fascinated right now by the idea of creating
my own content so that I don't have to wait for someone to hand me
a job. And of course, you can always do this as a hobby. You may
make more money doing it part- time!
LMC:
Where
do you see yourself in 5 years, 10 years?
 LR:
Well,
I guess I don't have to worry about losing my hair. I see
myself, God willing, continuing to improve in my talents and in my
pursuits. I want to be known for making good stuff of lasting
value. I see myself trying my best to create things that honor
and uplift humanity, not degrade it. I see myself making more
friends and hopefully becoming a better person.
|
;)
;)
;)
;)