I was 6 years old when my dad took me to Universal Studios where he had designed the sets for BRUTE FORCE. I remember getting the grand tour of the Art Department. Then came the stage and that incredible penitentiary gate and watch tower. That did it I was imprisoned for life, in film design.
I too was transfixed by a backlot set and felt that I had to meet the person responsible for captivating me with movie magic. I was 10 years old touring the Fox Lot in 1968, on a 5 dollar tour of the lot with my Mother. The big moment for me was when the guide led us down a bland hallway in an administration building through a green door, only to land, as Dorothy did, in the Technicolor "Oz" that was the Hello Dolly! Set a day before shooting. We began with the "money shot" and walked up the street, each facade giving itself away to it's falseness as we finally arrived at the El Station and the train was being worked on above. Bigger and better than Disneyland, my previous benchmark for make believe. I knew what I wanted to do.
ReplyDeleteNearly a decade later when I was actually working in the design field did Fredric Hope (another Fox legend) tell me who the man was who designed Dolly. My friend and mentor Herb Ryman once told me he was John's art teacher. What an education.
To me, John lived up to his legend, he was epic in every way as he thought that way. Although I never got to work for him, I did get to spend some time with him when he worked at Landmark Entertainment as my office was across from his. He told me his inspiration was D W Griffith. He was incorporating Griffith's set from "Intolerance" into a shopping center for Hollywood and Highland. When it did not happen I suggested it a decade later when Disney was involved in planning that area. Others took that idea and, although it fell short of the vision, I hoped it would fulfill John's aim for the corner.
So like you, I was captivated by the immense work of John in an instant, and made it a benchmark in my own career. What an inspiration!
Eddie Sotto
I too was transfixed by a backlot set and felt that I had to meet the person responsible for captivating me with movie magic. I was 10 years old touring the Fox Lot in 1968, on a 5 dollar tour of the lot with my Mother. The big moment for me was when the guide led us down a bland hallway in an administration building through a green door, only to land, as Dorothy did, in the Technicolor "Oz" that was the Hello Dolly! Set a day before shooting. We began with the "money shot" and walked up the street, each facade giving itself away to it's falseness as we finally arrived at the El Station and the train was being worked on above. Bigger and better than Disneyland, my previous benchmark for make believe. I knew what I wanted to do.
ReplyDeleteNearly a decade later when I was actually working in the design field did Fredric Hope (another Fox legend) tell me who the man was who designed Dolly. My friend and mentor Herb Ryman once told me he was John's art teacher. What an education.
To me, John lived up to his legend, he was epic in every way as he thought that way. Although I never got to work for him, I did get to spend some time with him when he worked at Landmark Entertainment as my office was across from his. He told me his inspiration was D W Griffith. He was incorporating Griffith's set from "Intolerance" into a shopping center for Hollywood and Highland. When it did not happen I suggested it a decade later when Disney was involved in planning that area. Others took that idea and, although it fell short of the vision, I hoped it would fulfill John's aim for the corner.
So like you, I was captivated by the immense work of John in an instant, and made it a benchmark in my own career. What an inspiration!
Eddie Sotto