Pinocchio
Trailer
I was a Jr. Model Maker on the award winning Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. I worked on the film for almost three years where I utilized a wide variety of fabrication skills to create an array of props and set pieces for the film. I worked alongside my head of the department to create and finesse a polishing process utilized on props like the hourglasses and the limousine, as well as to create intricate and animatable props such as the pistol and the gas masks.
I was able to transition onto the skeleton crew later in the project, which allowed me to learn the skills needed to support stages in prop repairs and emergency prop builds, as well as assist other parts of the art department, like landscapes and mold and cast, where needed. I also assisted in packing and preparing props for storage and shipment, and some simple, quick set dressing at the studio in preparation for exhibitions.
My work from this film has been showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, the Portland Art Museum, and is currently on display at the newly renovated Portland Airport.
The slideshow below showcases some of my favorite props I made from the film.
Made of hollow resin for the glass, and solid resin for the bases and columns. I was able to fully build all of the columns here, I made (from scratch) 3 of the 6 hourglasses, and polished and assembled almost all of them as well.
Hourglasses in the paint and polish process. Together with the head of department, I refined and developed the polishing process of these hourglasses.
Hourglass shape in progress.
Column in process.
This was one of my favorite props to build on this project-a pistol. It had fully animatable pieces, like the top, the trigger, and the magazine. The magazine could actually could pull completely out of the gun, and be inserted back in.
Two guns in different scales were completed for the film-one animatable and the other a static sculpture (the smaller one).
Two guns in different scales were completed for the film-one animatable and the other a static sculpture (the smaller one).
Built from a combination of vacuumforming and sculpting, these animatable masks could move with the characters.
Here you can see the animatable piece posed. This piece could pose as well as collapse and stretch out thanks to the accordion design and the vacuum formed vinyl that makes up the hose.
Here you can see the animatable piece posed.
Here you can see the animatable piece posed. This piece could pose as well as collapse and stretch out thanks to the accordion design and the vacuum formed vinyl that makes up the hose.
One of my favorite props to build was this gas mask. Built from a combination of vacuum forming and sculpting, these animatable masks could move with the characters.
I assisted the landscapes department with this build, where we had to build a sequence of Pinocchio animated replacement noses that animate to show the nose growing.
I assisted the landscapes department with this build, where we had to build a sequence of Pinocchio animated replacement noses that animate to show the nose growing.
A record player I made-from mdf, plastic, brass.
A record player I made-from mdf, plastic, brass.
A set of chess pieces I made-from renshape.
My first prop made on the film-axes! Made of wood and renshape.
A rosary I made. Made from wire, beads, clay, and plastic.
A small toy airplane I made-from plastic, wood, renshape.
A balcony-made from mdf and brass.
A stopwatch made from renshape, magnets, plastic, wire. I had to make two of these (each has a different face, specifically requested from vfx). Pieces were interchangeable between the watches.
Teabags from clay, wire, paper.
Here I made the bows for this violin (made beautifully by my coworker Sam Cobb). I also strung up the violin with elastic, and assembled the pieces of the violin.
A horn made from plastic, wire, brass.
An umbrella from plastic, brass, epoxy clay.
This balloon cluster was challenging. All the delicate balloons were hollow, and needed to be glued together in a solid, freeform, cluster. A solid resin balloon is at the center-as a base and as a rigging point.
I sometimes was able to put my softgoods skills to the test, like with this build-a banner.
I added some detailing to the top of this lighthouse set piece, including the riveting and strips, and the sphere at the top.
Here I made the team pot and the tea cup and saucer.
Here I made the teacup, glasses, and quill and ink pot.
For the limo, I assisted in painting, polishing, and assembling. Together with the head of the department I refined the polishing process used here and on the hourglasses.
For the limo, I assisted in painting, polishing, and assembling. Together with the head of the department I refined the polishing process used here and on the hourglasses.