What a verry interesting read this was,remember this thread alobg time ago.
Sorry to resurrect this thread for its 5th time, but it’s too good of a thread not to bump, especially this time of year. Somebody on the FB page posted that warm shot of the Hero that Billy posted back on the first page, and I couldn’t pass up giving this thread another read. A lot of great information in these pages, I’m actually reconsidering how I may want my mask painted when my number comes up with James.
This was an awesome read. Thanks for digging it up.
Digging this up again.I’ve read through this thread so many times over the years, and I just did again. These conversations are what makes the site. I also figure now would be a good time to bring this up with all the new members on here. A shame that photobucket f’ed it up lol.
I have no idea why this thread is being resurrected, what a head ache lol!
Because it’s one hell of a thread! lol. My head spins when reading it lol.
Oh yes, it certainly does 
If I’m being honest, I think this was one of the most regressive threads on the subject. Blue paint? Ridiculous.
All I learned is that one should never trust the recollection of Don Post employees.
No, NO! It HAD to have been blue paint 
. The paint is still a mystery to me, honestly. What are your opinions on it now, so many years after? Do you think Dick ever had it repainted? If he didn’t, how did the flesh-neck disappear? Still confusing as hell lol.
Lots of interesting conjecture here… In regards to the ‘weathering’ of the H1/H2 mask I personally believe a lot of the dirt/grime seen on the mask was due to the handling of the mask after having sprayed the hair darker (supposedly streaks 'n tips temporary hair color spray). One can see in behind the scenes photos Castle handling the hero by the hair. If the hair was truly sprayed with a ‘temporrary’ hair spray then over time this darker color would get all over the most touched areas of the mask… ie. the neck, nose, basically wherever the wearer would grab it to position it on their face.
Now maybe this is just my hypothesizing HOWEVER I plan on testing this theory with a TOTS Kirk and said streaks 'n tips hair spray. So if my findings prove noteworthy I will post a thread!
So is everyone on agreement that the actual hero was converted my don post?
I don’t know, honestly. I don’t believe that the hero was due to the misted hair, paint rubbing off, etc. HOWEVER, if one were to be converted by Don Post it would be the stunt/stunt blood tears mask. Look at this photo below. The paint is much higher quality, and in the second picture the hair is dark to the roots, meaning it would’ve been haired and painted professionally (i.e., By DPS).
A theory I just thought of while typing-
What if the school yard scene mask (arguably the most shoddy of the masks) was the initial one converted by TLW during preproduction for test runs, trying it out, ETC… Then they/he had to create another because they noticed that mask beginning to weather or maybe they wanted to try and perfect it, so he made the Hero. Then they wanted/needed a third (Stunt/Stunt Blood Tears), so they had it custom from DPS.
That’s honestly the only logical explanation in which you would have 2 masks so drastically similar conversion/weathering wise, and then the odd one out with a professional paint job and hair. Anyone else have theories?
This is pretty much my thought process on the three masks as well. If DPS was involved, and TLW did the Hero, the Blood Tears mask is the prime DPS conversion candidate.
If we had a solid grasp of the order of shooting, it could confirm that the Schoolyard one was in the initial shooting blocks. I can’t see why one would want to continue to use it once the Hero was available.
On that note, why use the third mask at all in H1? Maybe it was thinner and stretched better for the reveal peel.
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On hair spray grime: I can confirm that temp hair color comes off in the hands, even more so with moisture (it’s meant to wash out with shampoo). Spraying a patch colored hair with isopropyl alchohol and rubbing it over the mask is a great way to weather it. You can then lift off excess with more iso.
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One other weird thing about Blood Tears: I can’t figure if it has wonky eyes, or it sits wonky on heads. The eye cuts look even on Jamie (above), but her eyes aren’t evenly exposed. It’s probably warped from being stuffed into her neck collar? There’s a similar effect on Nick.
I think 100 percent, that TLW converted the hero. I don’t believe DP had anything to do with the hero.
Segment from my personal write up that is still in the works… ( with reference )
( TOMMYS KIRK)
However, this first modification had several problems due to the spray paint cracking & not upholding up during the filming conditions. Don Post JR, Rob Tharp (head painter) & Bill Malone recall in the spring of 1978 the “Halloween people” coming to the studio looking to have several backup Kirks made to look like the mask Tommy had modified. The team of Malone & Tharp finished three Kirks using a rubber cement based paint formula so the masks would uphold during filming. In comparison to Tommy’s mask these Kirks still had the sideburn & eyebrow hair remaining. The common “Tommy” story originates from him modifying the backup masks once back on the set by removing the sideburns and the eye brow hair. For years the Don Post Studios segment was not acknowledged by Wallace & the filmmakers until recently the full story was published in the book The Illustrated History of Don Post Studios by author & collector Lee Lambert.
One of the backup kirks made at Don Post Studios by chance received slightly more attention than the others. The eyes holes were cut evenly, the face painted fully white, & the hair was misted black to cover the existing dirty blonde hair. This specific Kirk went on to become the “Hero” mask worn by Nick Castle as “The Shape” Michael Myers inHalloween. The filmmaking term “Hero” is defined as a prop that is used on screen for closeups & has all the necessary details so it can be shown up close on camera without giving away that it is fake or specifically created for a movie. The other masks, including the first modified Kirk went on to be used for the stunt scenes which can be seen during the schoolyard, balcony fall & reveal of Michaels face at the finale of the film. A fourth Kirk was personally finished by Bill Malone which is known as the “Malone” or “sister” mask. This mask was kept by Bill Malone & never made it to the set.
Did this all 100% happen ? … most likely we will never know… but this is what I believe to have happened. IMO
If this story of events did in fact occur, then why did the hero have dirty blonde hair, but the other one (stunt) had dark hair to the roots? Unless the hero didn’t have misted blonde hair. This is why I asked Benny to ask Mark to check if the hair was all one solid color.
I don’t buy this story one bit. I think these Don Post employees are mistaking the spring of '78 for the spring of '81, if at all.
So you think that DPS had nothing to do with converting the masks for H78? Not even one?
Edit: Asking for clarification, not being a dick
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I think what’s pretty telling is the Kirk done up by Malone. The white paint is sponged on and because of that all the flesh is coming through in the nooks and crannies, the recessed areas.
The shots of the hero all have the paint rubbed off the raised details like the eyebrows, the sharp points of the ears, nose etc.
But Jimmy the eyes on the hero are not cut evenly. They are distinctly different shaped from one another. And they are a series of individual cuts, what you with get with cuticle scissors, not what you would get from a professionally done x-acto knife or the like smooth neat cutting. And the hair had a distinctly spontaneous look to it. And the mask was not fully painted white, it was uneven and thin, just like a few light coats of spay paint gives you. Everything about the mask looked spontaneous and off the cuff. Hence why it is so hard to duplicate. I continue to have no doubt it is the work of TLW.
Roger, I meant symmetrical… as in they were smoother than the jagged stunt mask cuts. Everything else we will probably never know the exact account. The mystery makes it that much more special 