I'm actually braced for the scale of this. I attempted a Bruce head in my college pottery class that's probably the right size, but the way you have to work with pottery, I got it nowhere near to what I hoped I would.
2nd JAWS project: Breaching Bruce Bust by FML
- Thread starter Les Walker
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Well the Jaws maquette is what? 28"? And an accurate 1/6 version would be 48" or 4 feet long.
So if you have the Jaws maquette you can get an idea -- this bust will be almost double the size.
So if you have the Jaws maquette you can get an idea -- this bust will be almost double the size.
Ya, the maquette's in scale with maybe a 6-8" figure, so double would be about right.
That's a 40 incher.
45, 3 tons of him.
That's a 40 incher.
45, 3 tons of him.
Les Walker
Digging my way out!
These are deceptive actually. Bruce's mouth when open is less than three feet wide in the inside. About 2' 9". in fact, he is only 23' 10" long. Not actually 25 of course. I will get some pics of actual accurate info up soon, but until then, be careful when looking at images from the movie that are designed to make the shark look much larger than it was. In those above, note that the shark is on THIS side of the boat, and Quint is actually inline about two feet on the other side of him. A camera trick to maximize mass for the camera.
I'd bet the focus on the above Brody shot is so that all is flattened somewhat, again, making the shark look even larger. Although, there are some absolute shots to go by.
I have many very rare and (currently) non-available shots I cannot share due to rights issues. I have them as a backup for a buddy who is (FOR REAL!) writing a book about the making of this shark, and it's entire history. When that book is out, you will be able to get one, and in it you will then have many images, the likes of which only your imaginations can devise. Trust me. Some are AWESOME!
I wish I was free to share them with you guys, but I promised, so no deal for now.
I want to BADLY, but my buddy would kill me, and I really hope his book will be out soon. He's been working on it for years now.
(I will describe two, one with one of the actual shark maintenence crewmen, all "bloodied up", in the shark's mouth, up out of the water, in a clear and amazing gag shot...and more...another, a full length horizontal profile shot of one of the sharks up out of the water, but still on the rig, in back-sunlit profile, with a crewman sitting on top of him showing PERFECT SCALE!!!!...amazing shots!!!!! )
Anyway, trust I will have great refs. No panic there.
So, pray, continue your very inspiring comments, as I need 'em all!
(Was a long day. Won't get into it too much, but it started with a long trip to the Hospital with my Mom, worried whether she'd had another stroke. Good news! No stroke. Lots of tests , x-rays and all, but she is better....long day.. )
So, this project will be back on track. Just hang with me guys! This is a VERY important project to me, and your enthusiasm for it is a big help. Look forward to cool stuff here. I hope that when you see what I have planned, that your interest will stir even more!
Dun-dun... dun-dun... dun-dun... duuuun-dun...
Thanks for the update Les. And yeah, lots of tricks with the camera, but you know me: accuracy over all else.
I hope your Mom will be OK, but I'm glad it was a false alarm. My thoughts are with you both.
I hope your Mom will be OK, but I'm glad it was a false alarm. My thoughts are with you both.
Glad your Mom's doing well Les, sorry you had to go through more issues though.
As for the project, I know I'm in for the long haul, however long it takes. JAWS is one of the most under merchandised properties for one that should be more merchandised, especially accurrate merchandise. I've always wish Hasbro would do Star Wars / G.I. Joe sized figures with a full Orca and Bruce to go with it. Very excited to be part of this. One day, we'll hear from you "The shark is working, repeat, the shark is working."
As for the project, I know I'm in for the long haul, however long it takes. JAWS is one of the most under merchandised properties for one that should be more merchandised, especially accurrate merchandise. I've always wish Hasbro would do Star Wars / G.I. Joe sized figures with a full Orca and Bruce to go with it. Very excited to be part of this. One day, we'll hear from you "The shark is working, repeat, the shark is working."
How perfect were those first moments. First, the great reveal on Brody's funny line, then, the beautiful unveiling of the entire shark. That first shot of the shark passing the Orca is amazing, visually and William's music.
Les Walker
Digging my way out!
And the greatest last ten minutes in movie history! What a buildup!
Talk about delivering the goods!!!!
Cage - Jump - Quintsnack - airtank - that sinking feeling - harpoon hell - "Smile" - Hooper lives! - "I can't imagine why..." - credits - numbness - stunned shock and stiffness as one leaves the theatre to throngs lined up to see the movie you just saw as you numbly look at the actual movie poster that you will one day own - ....
Sorry...I relive that experience occasionally...
Often.
Talk about delivering the goods!!!!
Cage - Jump - Quintsnack - airtank - that sinking feeling - harpoon hell - "Smile" - Hooper lives! - "I can't imagine why..." - credits - numbness - stunned shock and stiffness as one leaves the theatre to throngs lined up to see the movie you just saw as you numbly look at the actual movie poster that you will one day own - ....
Sorry...I relive that experience occasionally...
Often.
Definitely the best climax in film history! Perfect ending. BOOM!
And to think Benchley didn't think the audience would buy it.
And to think Benchley didn't think the audience would buy it.
Definitely the best climax in film history! Perfect ending. BOOM!
And to think Benchley didn't think the audience would buy it.
Didn't Spielberg comment in BTS interview about how the end seemed a bit rediculous but if he got the audience to buy into the movie to that point, he could get away with it.
It was great, and I love the beautiful music Williams came up with as poor Bruce's carcas floats to the bottom of the atlantic.
This is one of my favorite movies and creatures ever. Ironically, I tried to watch it for about 3 years before I didn't get scared to look. A true testament to Williams' music, he got my scared before the kills even happened
I'm a huge Great White fan because of JAWS, but my first love will always be for the design of Bruce. I've seen some other Bruce stuff come up since SSC's maquette but most look like ugly abominations that make McFarlane's Bruce look more accurrate.
Yep, Bruce definitely has a very distinctive face. Not true to life, but cool nonetheless. I think it's those JOWLS -- love 'em! It came out of necessity to operate the mouth, and shark's obviously don't have those, but back in the day who knew? It looked real to me. And I've come to see Bruce as a much more frightening "shark" than the ones I see on Shark Week. He truly is a great movie monster.
And even if he doesn't hold up in some people's eyes, I defy them to show their kid the movie and see if he doesn't get scared out of his pants. No one, on first viewing, is gonna say 'ah that shark looks so phony I couldn't get into the movie'.
And even if he doesn't hold up in some people's eyes, I defy them to show their kid the movie and see if he doesn't get scared out of his pants. No one, on first viewing, is gonna say 'ah that shark looks so phony I couldn't get into the movie'.
I got excited when the movie Deep Blue Sea came out, finally more sharks in film, but I was actually underwhelmed by the perversions the CG sharks looked like. 30 years later, I still think Bruce is more realistic than any CG shark.
I like the jowls too. I also love how his gums always show where a real White projects the upper jaw gum out only at the last moment of a strike. That and how his overall body makes him a "porker" where even an 18' White tends to still have an almost streamlined shape to it it. Bruce looks like a beheamoth in his midsection which adds to teh power of his look. That and the dorsal fin is fairly larger and bulkier in depth than a real White, a choice I'm sure was done to make it more clear when the fin surfaced, but I actually prefer it, and it's one flaw on McFarlanes' JAWS, the dorsal fin is closer to a real White's. I really like how Sideshow and McFarlane both captured the small row of older teeth on the lower jaw that basically shoot out straight, almost downward insted of upward toward the upper jaw, a bit of a Bruce trademark.
I like the jowls too. I also love how his gums always show where a real White projects the upper jaw gum out only at the last moment of a strike. That and how his overall body makes him a "porker" where even an 18' White tends to still have an almost streamlined shape to it it. Bruce looks like a beheamoth in his midsection which adds to teh power of his look. That and the dorsal fin is fairly larger and bulkier in depth than a real White, a choice I'm sure was done to make it more clear when the fin surfaced, but I actually prefer it, and it's one flaw on McFarlanes' JAWS, the dorsal fin is closer to a real White's. I really like how Sideshow and McFarlane both captured the small row of older teeth on the lower jaw that basically shoot out straight, almost downward insted of upward toward the upper jaw, a bit of a Bruce trademark.
Les Walker
Digging my way out!
Still working on this! Don't think I haven't been.
Truth is, I have been regathering my ref shots, and have found so many that I had forgotten I had.
I can't find the accurate size chart I need though. WHen I do, I will post it, and some sketches I am prepped to make. I know pretty much what I am gonna do, just need some specs to firm it all up for myself.
Here is one thing I have noticed from my shots, the shark is smaller than it appears on film. No doubt. He is 23' 10" long, not even quite 24 feet. And, with his mouth and head and dorsal fin so enlarged, he looks even smaller, but not so cinematically. Trust me. I will get him correct. Just will take some time to get all my ducks in a row.
Thanks and stay tuned for more stuff. And maybe, ONE good new unreleased shot of Bruce for you all to enjoy!
Truth is, I have been regathering my ref shots, and have found so many that I had forgotten I had.
I can't find the accurate size chart I need though. WHen I do, I will post it, and some sketches I am prepped to make. I know pretty much what I am gonna do, just need some specs to firm it all up for myself.
Here is one thing I have noticed from my shots, the shark is smaller than it appears on film. No doubt. He is 23' 10" long, not even quite 24 feet. And, with his mouth and head and dorsal fin so enlarged, he looks even smaller, but not so cinematically. Trust me. I will get him correct. Just will take some time to get all my ducks in a row.
Thanks and stay tuned for more stuff. And maybe, ONE good new unreleased shot of Bruce for you all to enjoy!
Les Walker
Digging my way out!
Here are a couple of shots I have sort of taken the liberty to draw all over, so please don't post these anywhere else...thanks...
OK, in an effort to affirm an absolute scale, I have found a couple of hard evidence shots that will show without a doubt his size.
First up, is a recast body, in fiberglass (The very same one I have been within 20 feet of myself, out in a junkyard in Sun Valley...) that hung for ages in Universal Studios in L.A. This was the last direct full scale casting from the original molds for the Seasled shark, which was the full bodied one of the three made for JAWS, so it is an exact scale recast.
As you can see, there is a kid there, but not a two year old that would be average half full grown hieght, but more like a seven to eight year old, so my sketch of an adult at about the same line as the tip of the snout, gives you a much better idea of his scale. A six foot man would just about reach the last gill as posed.
And for a better scale of the head...
WATCHOUT!
Yeah! Here is some guy's mom, posing with the Left to Right shark, my favorite, that ate Quint among other onscreen duties, and his lines are the most famous in my mind.
You can see that the inside width of his mouth is under three feet. Big enough to eat Quint, but not so large as the camera angles suggest in the movie. Remember, this is a smaller woman than a grown man, so she is not as large a person as Robert Shaw even.
But, with these two, rare shots, you can see his scale with no question.
I will be endeavoring to sketch out some images now, that will fulfill my ideas of a shelfworthy bust, that will conform to these images, and others I have, that will make future Bruce busts just right.
Hope these are interesting for you, and that I can trust you guys not to share these around. Not that they are slated for anything, just that these are privately taken shots, non-Studio owned, and as such just don't need to leave this area.
Anything else I post of Bruce from here on out, will be my own art, or photos of work in progress on the actual bust.
Thanks and I hope I now have your attention.
More to come!
OK, in an effort to affirm an absolute scale, I have found a couple of hard evidence shots that will show without a doubt his size.
First up, is a recast body, in fiberglass (The very same one I have been within 20 feet of myself, out in a junkyard in Sun Valley...) that hung for ages in Universal Studios in L.A. This was the last direct full scale casting from the original molds for the Seasled shark, which was the full bodied one of the three made for JAWS, so it is an exact scale recast.
As you can see, there is a kid there, but not a two year old that would be average half full grown hieght, but more like a seven to eight year old, so my sketch of an adult at about the same line as the tip of the snout, gives you a much better idea of his scale. A six foot man would just about reach the last gill as posed.
And for a better scale of the head...
WATCHOUT!
Yeah! Here is some guy's mom, posing with the Left to Right shark, my favorite, that ate Quint among other onscreen duties, and his lines are the most famous in my mind.
You can see that the inside width of his mouth is under three feet. Big enough to eat Quint, but not so large as the camera angles suggest in the movie. Remember, this is a smaller woman than a grown man, so she is not as large a person as Robert Shaw even.
But, with these two, rare shots, you can see his scale with no question.
I will be endeavoring to sketch out some images now, that will fulfill my ideas of a shelfworthy bust, that will conform to these images, and others I have, that will make future Bruce busts just right.
Hope these are interesting for you, and that I can trust you guys not to share these around. Not that they are slated for anything, just that these are privately taken shots, non-Studio owned, and as such just don't need to leave this area.
Anything else I post of Bruce from here on out, will be my own art, or photos of work in progress on the actual bust.
Thanks and I hope I now have your attention.
More to come!
Very cool Les, that first image is a great, clear shot of Bruce's head shape from overhead view, very pointy snout, and the second shot really shows, while still much larger than a real White and still frightening, Bruce's mouth isn't as big as many of the film shots made him look. I have no doubt your design will be very true to him, from our chats, it sounds like you've analyzed him a lot, as have eye. You definitely have more reference than I'll ever have, but any help I can provide, you know how to reach me.
Great stuff, Les! I'm getting so excited. So much is going on this month.
So a normal man's height is essentially from Bruce's nose to about his pectoral fin. Looks right to me. I really appreciate the exactness you're going for. Awesome!
So a normal man's height is essentially from Bruce's nose to about his pectoral fin. Looks right to me. I really appreciate the exactness you're going for. Awesome!
Les Walker
Digging my way out!
Still planning on this, guys! Bear with me. I assume you all know how much I have workwise until month's end, so bear with me.
BRUCE WILL BREACH! News at 11!
BRUCE WILL BREACH! News at 11!
Customikey
Super Freak
Still planning on this, guys! Bear with me. I assume you all know how much I have workwise until month's end, so bear with me.
BRUCE WILL BREACH! News at 11!
This is such an exciting addition to Trev's work, Les! Bruce is going to make that set-up even more special.
pjam
Here on the Perimeter
Oh I agree Mikey, the perfect ending.
Les, I was curious, are you going to consider airbrush painting Bruce, meaning the demarkation between the gray and white of the body?
It may be easier I imagine spray painting the body. I know the intricacy of the jaws, teeth and inner mouth is a different thing paint wise.
Then again, what do I know?
Les, I was curious, are you going to consider airbrush painting Bruce, meaning the demarkation between the gray and white of the body?
It may be easier I imagine spray painting the body. I know the intricacy of the jaws, teeth and inner mouth is a different thing paint wise.
Then again, what do I know?
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