Since these masks have finally made their way out, I can show what the original sculpt I did looked like. As you can obviously see, there were changes made to the sculpt before it was produced. These were done at the request of Trancas, NOT Don Post and were done by a Don Post Studios’ in-house artist. Trancas has the final say of what they want a Myers mask to look like, as they are the H1 licenser.
Also, Don Post Studios is owned by Paper Magic. Has been for a number of years. So please, STOP BASHING Don Post Studios! They have no control over where the masks they develop are manufactured. If you were to see the paint masters that come out of there, you’d be AMAZED at the quality of the work! It’s easily as good as it was in the Golden Days of Don Post masks. So again, please STOP BASHING Don Post Studios AND Don Post in particular! He is a wonderful man that does not deserve this kind of abuse. I guess so much for the rule about “No Bashing” on this board. It seems like it’s open season on Don Post and he is left unguarded when it comes to this rule.
-Dennis
Here are a couple of photos of the original sculpt:
Hello mykill. This sculpt is awesome!.. It definitely has the Shatner look… If this mask was to be produced from this sculpt, it would be amazing…
I guess it is like everything in life… Corporations move in, management and views change etc… I do remember Don Post masks back like 20-25 years plus ago… They were really great and quite the innovators.
I know this is a dead issue… However, is there any chance of your sculp being made into a mask? Maybe a limited edition run?..If not, what about just creating one mask from that sculpt to just display. I would really like to see this prototype finished.
Thats a nice sculpt.Not super accurate but a great looking sculpt.I do not think people are saying don post is a bad person or bashing him personally…Without don post mask there wouldnt be much of a halloween.I think the dp mask have went down hill in quality over the years.The company is in business to make mask that people wear once a year and the masses could care less about accuracy or quality.He has a super successful business and I guess thats what matters…I do know if a mask like the 75 kirk had that type of qualty in the 70’s it can be easily done in 2012/13 and would be very sucessful in todays market.
That is an amazing sculpt, too bad it was messed with before being mass produced. I also do not blame Don Post personally for the crap that the paper magic group crank out year after year, I just with they cared a little more about their product and customers like TOTS does.
Dennis, that sculpt looks great. Too bad that is not what hit the streets. I pre-ordered that mask knowing that you did it and was hoping to see something that looked like your work.
I personally do not support bashing Don Post Jr., although he has never been very warm to me or Justin since starting TOTS, but in all fairness, Don Post Studios was making masks, specially The Mask and a handful of others in China long before Paper Magic Group bought the company. And I’m not sure if you saw them but, Trancas had nothing to do with Motel Hell, The Skulls, Halloween 3 and Pumkinhead, and I pre-ordered and received all of them and they are really poorly done and I’m not the only one that said that, see David Lady on Facebook.
Also, I have worked with a lot of Licensing Companies lately including Universal, Paramount and Fox and they have never told me to make changes that fundamentally change the design, they always say “your the mask making company, you figure it out, we trust you.” Too bad PMG can’t tell Trancas to stick to what they do best and let Post release the mask as is or else pass on the license and take a stand that the reputation and integrity of their company is more important. Believe me, Trancas would come around so fast if all of the costume companies took that stance with them.
And I’m still not convinced on the “Don doesn’t have any input and it’s all PMG” excuse. I believe he has some control, after all Don Post Studios is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of PMG, which means it is run as it’s own company, with it’s own set of books, and it’s own Executive Officers. And again when Justin and I started the TOTS Don told us at at the Halloween Expo in Houston, “you know boys, the three most important things in the industry is Price, Price and Price.” It is something I have never forgotten and to me, that sounds like the advise of a guy that made a decision to put cost first.
I just think it is a shame to see Don Post Studios go down in quality the way it has regardless of who is making decisions over there. I cherish my old Don Post Masks and would love to see a day that the newer masks look as good as the old ones and it can be done, look no further than Zagone Studios who makes everything in the USA.
I think for the most part, we are really just bashing the worthless mask they are making. I don’t know Don, or anyone working for him, and frankly could care less. The bottom line is this:
If you put YOUR name on something, then YOU are going to reap the rewards or suffer the criticism. If you don’t like what your being told to do by a bunch of blithering idiots, don’t do it. Don could easily opt out of making crap for Trancas, but apparently chooses not to. With TOTS now making a high quality accurate affordable Myers mask, what’s the point of even mentioning DP in the conversation? People who buy the DP white ugly mask deserve exactly what they get. The informed know better.
I personally just think it’s sad that the great sculpts Dennis Produces don’t get a chance to be made into quality masks that the fans can purchase. I love TOTS but it would be really awesome to have a variety of great Myers masks choices in the mass produced market. I would love to see the day I walk into my local costume shop and actually had to decide which awesome Myers mask to buy. Until then the choice is all too easy.
And I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I agree with you. Just ask Rich or Tony Zagone at Zagone STudios who their biggest fans are? Justin and I love their stuff.
If Post and Rubies would up the quality, I wouldn’t have to spend the majority of my time explaining that customers WILL pay $10 to $15 more for a good quality mask and you would see TOTS in Spirit Halloween, but the Buyer over there feels strongly that no one will pay more for a mask than what you can get through Rubies and Post.
Dennis, the sculpt before this one was ACE.
Sad how that one ended it up also. You should go down to the factories and give them an air brush/hairing lesson
