A while back I was speaking to a few people about Don Post Studios’ claim to have worked on masks for the first 1978 film. We all know Wallace said he bought the mask at a costume shop, converted it himself and that seems to be the end of his version of the story.
There is also stories from prior Don Post employees on the creation of the Myers mask. For example, this one from when I interviewed Rob Tharp several years ago and asked him about the first films mask:
Rob Tharp: I have vague memories of Don Post and Bill Malone showing some movie guys through the shop looking for a mask that the maniac in their movie could wear. I didn’t have anything to do with Halloween one. I was amused that Captain Kirk was a knife wielding psycho. I think Bill did the customizing job on the mask originally. They brought it back at some point, and they needed another one to match it, and we remarked on what a mess it was. They’d sprayed white lacquer paint on the face on the movie set, and it was really dirty and gross looking.
So, in this image:
I always found it interesting that if we were to pick a mask that was made or converted by a non-mask maker I would say Wallace probably originally converted the mask on right while Malone probably converted the mask on the left which might have been the “replica” Tharp mentions in his statement. It has nicer features, nicer paint and the eye cuts are much more even. Looks to have been done by the professional which Malone was. The nicer looking of the two was, of course, the Hero mask used in both the first and second film.
Anyway, back on topic. How come we never have Wallace commenting on his (or people from the set) visit to Don Post Studios to get an additional mask or masks as Rob stated? Does he think it takes away from the folk lore of his original story? It seems that’s a big piece of information that seems to be left out of official answers of the mask’s origin when given. Wallace said he created it. Malone has said he created it and this story was backed up by then employee Rob Tharp.
What I always heard was that they went through the studio and found nothing of interest. They then went to the famous costume shop, (which could have happened before the tour of the studio, actually) picked up a couple masks, one of which being the Kirk, of course.
They then converted the mask and realized it was what they wanted and would need more. In result, they went back to the stuido and asked if anyone could replicate what they had done with the previous conversion, and the rest was history. Why they couldn’t have done it themselves you may ask? That’s where it gets a bit fishy…
Like stated in the previous thread, it really is hard to trust what TLW says sometimes, or many other celebrities that credit themselves much more than deserved.
I, personally, don’t think Don Post studios had anything to do with making a mask for the original Halloween. Keep in mind that Halloween was a low budget film on a short schedule. I doubt they took the time to go to DPS & have them customize a mask for the film. The mask was an after thought on Carpenter’s part & that is why he sent TLW out to find something for the killer to wear. It was not a big deal to them while they were in pre-production.
Once DPS saw how successful the original Halloween was I’m sure they had no problem making them masks for Halloween II. I think DPS made the Tramer and also the 2 stunt masks that were burned in the final scene; they had to film that shot twice.
CBK and I was discussing this very topic last night on the phone. All I know is that the newly found close ups of the hero prove to have had VERY smooth eye cuts!! Well I know how tough it is to get smooth cuts and I see no way that TLW did this amazing job his first time out, or his 20th time out for that matter! I say DP was responsible for the hero Kirk conversion and TLW did indeed convert a 75 Captain Kirk which I believe was the stunt mask. Now, the stunt mask definitely had “rookie” eyecuts! I’m no pro at eyecuts but I have to say that the close up pics of the hero eyecuts blew my mind! The paint and hair is another mystery for another day, which I have reasonable beliefs about as well! All this is just my humble opinion of course!
i have to agree donnie. i think it was after Halloweens success that don post wanted to jump on the band wagon and today claim more credit than due.
as far as tommy lee wallace making smooth eye cuts for the first or 2nd try, the original Halloween was an alignment of stars, the masks eye cuts are by far the least phenominal part of the film. and as you are a pro James, you know better than most the eyes are both considerably different, and are difficult to replicate due to trying to make an exact match. TLW just went at it not worried what the outcome would be as it was an all original attempt. perhaps he did infact convert the hero and someone else on set converted the others for a back up? on side note i dont think a stunt mask was used in the filming as they didnt care about the mask and only had back ups incase something happened to the ‘hero mask’.
food for thought: if don post wouldve played a major part in creating the mask used in H1, im sure they at least would have wanted a major credit role in the end credits. but for DP to make the mask for a no name film at the time for free and not even want credit in the film says to me they had nothing to do with it in the beginning other than previously releasing the captain kirk mask. but thats just my gut feeling.
This is what i’ve always thought.
Even the paintob is more detailed on the HERO.
In an interview the the guys at DP say that the first mask created was in bad shape and that JC’s prop people had to keep re-painting it. The stunt mask has a rough paint job and with fleshtones showing all over with very amatuerish eye cuts.
As for the mask looking pretty good from the hand of TLW. It’s hard to DUPLICATE something. It’s not so hard to do it the first time, to create the original, to capture lightning in a bottle. If you are the originator, you aren’t trying to copy anything. Cutting eyes in latex is not difficult if you have anatomy knowledge. Trying to make one set look JUST like another set, IS difficult. It’s the copying that makes it difficult.
I don’t doubt the TLW story because it makes sense. Zero budget, and a slightly awkward, beautiful, very rawly finished mask as the result, makes perfect sense coming from someone doing it on the fly used to ad libbing. The Hero mask is full of the kind of imperfections you would make doing it deftly, but fast, figuring it out as you go. Hence the randomness of the removed sideburns, the spray paint in the hair, the off the cuff way it was painted with canned spray paint that you can immediately see starting to peel off. Not to mention the under the chin flesh spot missed due to rushing, that never would have been deliberately not painted. [Don Post would not have done it that way.] The random, but deft conversion of the mask is the genius move in the whole production.
The Don Post story doesn’t make sense. It would have cost a pretty penny, and the result would not have been the raw, spontaneous mask that we see on the screen. The sign posts are all there. Of course, after the fact, Don Post is going to try to take credit! I say, thank goodness he didn’t go to Don Post first or we might have ended up with a non spontaneous, boring flop of a mask.
If just Don Post were saying they made masks for the first film and no one else could verify this, I could see that maybe one guy made up stories to get his name in there, but that’s not the case. Malone, Tharp, several others and Post himself all have spoken on the studio making masks for the first film. Out of everyone mentioned I know Tharp wouldn’t lie. The guys reputation is just too sparkly clean. Besides, he would have no reason to lie about what he said the studio did for the first movie. No benefit for him. You then also have the “made for H1” Kirk mask Malone posted pictures of at the HMA. They have a role, I just don’t understand how it all fits in and Wallace never ever has mentioned it. The debate isn’t if DPS had a role, the debate is just how exactly they did.
Agreed. I don’t think anyone thought TLW converted the hero for a second. If all the the masks were consistant with their look it’d be one thing. The differences between the hero and the two stunt masks is too drastic to think they were all done by the same person. They probably paid a pro for the hero conversion and had the stunt masks done in house to conserve the $$
My theory (well… educated guess rather) is that… TLW… did indeed purchase a kirk and a “clown”… converted and messed with the kirk and came up with “the stunt” mask… returning back to DPS to “have one done like it” and we got the hero…
tlw might be telling “half truths” or recalling differently… who wouldnt want credit from die hard fans?
Didn’t Don Post make the 75 Kirk. Yes they made the mask used in Halloween. As far as Post making a special mask for the movie I don’t believe it. Before or making the movie no one had a clue this movie would become so big or let alone a classic. Look at all the stars that turned down being in the movie to start. They were lucky to get Donald. Even when they got him it was for a limited time. After the movie become HUGE now Don Post just claiming to be the 5th Beetle. As far as the eye cuts. From the post production party picture there was 3 masks used. So Wallace had 3 chances to perfect the eye cuts.
IMO Don Post just made masks for H2. As far as someone not working being affiliated with Don Post so they would have no reason to lie. Wouldn’t you want to go down in history as having a role in creating the most famous Mask in Cinema history.
I agree here too. I’m certainly no expert, but the Hero is too random to be done “professionally” The eyecuts are different on each eye, but cut with very sharp scissors. And perhaps they spray painted the hair because they got white spray paint on it after colouring the face?? Makes sense to me. They then tried to replicate the first mask done up…So either the Hero or the “Stunt” mask was done first, and then they obviously made the executive decision to use the “Hero” because it looked the creepiest.
However, there is also the “Bill Malone” made mask, that is painted white and still has the sideburns attached that was never used. At what point did THAT mask come into the picture??? Perhaps this is where Post and Tharp are speaking about Post being involved???
As far as Post making a special mask for the movie I don’t believe it. Before or making the movie no one had a clue this movie would become so big or let alone a classic. Look at all the stars that turned down being in the movie to start. They were lucky to get Donald. Even when they got him it was for a limited time. After the movie become HUGE now Don Post just claiming to be the 5th Beetle. As far as the eye cuts. From the post production party picture there was 3 masks used. So Wallace had 3 chances to perfect the eye cuts. 
