juliann and the werewolf . . . Posted by Juliann Wilding on Dec 10, 2008
hi guys. you may remember me from a few months ago - i inquired about moving eye mechanisms and many of you were incredibly helpful to me.
the project i am working on is a huge, ten-foot-tall werewolf for a film. the film's process was delayed for a few months, so I had some time to really figure things out [as well as taking a lovely vacation for a whole month!]
but we're back on track with the film and I have COMPLETED my moving eye mechanism - it works! I'm so happy. I wanted to share some photos of it with all of you.
also I will describe how I made it and if anyone has questions I would be happy to answer them.
firstly i needed spheres, and I needed them to be able to support me drilling into them and also screwing things into them. i looked everywhere i could think of to find wooden spheres - hardware shops, walmarts, art shops, craft shops - but i couldn't find ANY anywhere. so i used ping-pong balls, but because they are hollow i first drilled a hole in each [but not THROUGH] and filled the balls with spray expanding foam. has anyone ever used it? it's very messy and sticky, but it worked great for what i needed.
after the foam had cured i cut off the excess, sanded it down, and then drilled a hole THROUGH each ping-pong ball. then i painted the balls a sickly yellow and made the irises different colours on each eye for added creepiness - so the werewolf has one green iris and one red iris. then i varnished the eyes about 5 times to make them as shiny as possible - i think eyes look more realistic if they look wet. as well the gloss will catch the light well on film.
then i took a high-tension spring and screwed it into the back of each eyeball, creating a sort of 'optic nerve'. then i took a screw that was longer than the ball and smaller than the hole i drilled through the ball, and screwed the balls down to a small plank of wood. the backs of the springs i attached to another piece of wood, as a brace at the back. then i screwed a little hook into the back of this brace, to which i will attach the handle.
because the eyes can freely spin around the screws and the springs have a lot of tension and bounce-back, when the brace is moved from left to right and vice versa the eyes freely move as though looking from side to side.
PICTURES
FRONT VIEW
TOP VIEW
SIDE VIEW
FRONT AGAIN
BACK VIEW
MOVING
OTHER DIRECTION
obviously it is difficult to depict the movement in static photos.
please ask me questions so i can explain this process further! thanks to everyone who gave me advice. my method is a hybrid of several different methods i discovered.
the project i am working on is a huge, ten-foot-tall werewolf for a film. the film's process was delayed for a few months, so I had some time to really figure things out [as well as taking a lovely vacation for a whole month!]
but we're back on track with the film and I have COMPLETED my moving eye mechanism - it works! I'm so happy. I wanted to share some photos of it with all of you.
also I will describe how I made it and if anyone has questions I would be happy to answer them.
firstly i needed spheres, and I needed them to be able to support me drilling into them and also screwing things into them. i looked everywhere i could think of to find wooden spheres - hardware shops, walmarts, art shops, craft shops - but i couldn't find ANY anywhere. so i used ping-pong balls, but because they are hollow i first drilled a hole in each [but not THROUGH] and filled the balls with spray expanding foam. has anyone ever used it? it's very messy and sticky, but it worked great for what i needed.
after the foam had cured i cut off the excess, sanded it down, and then drilled a hole THROUGH each ping-pong ball. then i painted the balls a sickly yellow and made the irises different colours on each eye for added creepiness - so the werewolf has one green iris and one red iris. then i varnished the eyes about 5 times to make them as shiny as possible - i think eyes look more realistic if they look wet. as well the gloss will catch the light well on film.
then i took a high-tension spring and screwed it into the back of each eyeball, creating a sort of 'optic nerve'. then i took a screw that was longer than the ball and smaller than the hole i drilled through the ball, and screwed the balls down to a small plank of wood. the backs of the springs i attached to another piece of wood, as a brace at the back. then i screwed a little hook into the back of this brace, to which i will attach the handle.
because the eyes can freely spin around the screws and the springs have a lot of tension and bounce-back, when the brace is moved from left to right and vice versa the eyes freely move as though looking from side to side.
PICTURES
FRONT VIEW
TOP VIEW
SIDE VIEW
FRONT AGAIN
BACK VIEW
MOVING
OTHER DIRECTION
obviously it is difficult to depict the movement in static photos.
please ask me questions so i can explain this process further! thanks to everyone who gave me advice. my method is a hybrid of several different methods i discovered.
Re: juliann and the werewolf . . . Posted by Jon on Dec 11, 2008
wretched? ... pelt? ... luxuriate? ... 
wow JW. Are you a writer as well as a builder. 
I'm not used to words like that turning up on my computer screen.On a different note -- I'm quite envious of your axcess to quality faux fur. I quite literally have three sorces for fabric. Joanns, Walmart and the Web. Everything else is at least a 3 hour drive away.
looking forward to seeing you're progress on the werewolf.
Jon
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