For the past 30 years, the New Blades modelmaking exhibition has served to showcase the practical modelmaking skills of graduates from around the United Kingdom. The ongoing show is run by 4D modelshop and aims to give graduates from various special effects related courses a chance to highlight their creative efforts and connect with industry professionals. A far-reaching variety of model work is showcased at each New Blades event, from architectural to, product design, animation, prop making, engineering, theatre design, costume design, and puppetry.
This year’s event took place on June 13th at the Holborn Studios in London and presented the work of six universities’ practical effects degrees: Arts University Bournemouth (BA (Hons) Modelmaking), Northbrook College (Prop Making & Special Effects BA (Hons)), University of Hertfordshire (BA (Hons) Character and Creative Effects, BA (Hons) Model Design and Model Effects, BA (Hons) Special Effects), University for the Creative Arts (BA (Hons) Design for Theatre & Screen), Coleg y Cymoedd (BA (Hons) TV & Film: Prop Making), and The Northern School of Art (BA (Hons) Model Making & Visual FX).
Anderson Entertainment is proud to sponsor two of the awards at the New Blades exhibition. This year’s winner of the Gerry Anderson Film Miniature Award was Mair Ure from Coleg y Cymoedd, who constructed a wonderfully detailed miniature model of a Zizzi Italian restaurant. The winner of the Richard Gregory SFX Award was Charlotte Couch of Arts University Bournemouth, who produced a stunning animatronic model of a phoenix, as well as an orangutang and sloth.
We recently caught up with Mair and Charlotte to discover more about their creative backgrounds, their experiences on their respective courses, their award-winning efforts, and their hopes for the future!
What are your inspirations for pursuing modelmaking?
Mair: I grew up in a creative household, and as a small child, was always making fairy houses for the garden out of basic materials like sticks and string. My mum used to take me and my sisters on family outings to Castle Coch, which had a beautiful miniature model of the castle in one of its rooms, and I thought it was magical. I grew up to do an art foundation degree and fell in love with 3D art, leading me to the prop making degree. There, I learned the skills for model making, and instantly felt that I had found my niche.
Charlotte: When you’re a child, the world seems so vast and unpredictable… Why shouldn’t magic and dragons and superpowers exist? Fantasy books and television only feed into the deception, and as I grew older, I became curious about the individuals responsible for breathing life into such an enticing illusion. For these lucky people, the world doesn’t have to shrink quite so much as they grow up. Because for a model maker in film, there’s no reason why these things shouldn’t exist either. For me, pursuing a model making career combined two exciting opportunities: to embellish everyday life with a bit more wonder and to never have to give up being creative.
Are there any examples of great practical effects in any films and/or TV shows that have had a lasting impact on you?
Mair: Growing up, I was drawn to films such as The Borrowers and Stuart Little as they featured miniature things, perhaps because they reminded me of how much I loved the furniture in doll houses when I was young. I would always watch the behind-the-scenes bonus discs of films and was fascinated by the way they were made. The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Harry Potter films have always had a lasting impact on me due to their brilliance, but in recent years, they became more magical as I learned about their use of models when filming, solidifying my desire to pursue model making as a career.
Charlotte: It’s strange because, since studying model making, it’s become second nature to pick apart anything that you see onscreen! You can’t watch any film or show without contemplating how some effect or finish has been achieved! Without a doubt, the franchise that has had the largest impact on me and my interest in model making is Harry Potter – which is probably a very classic answer! The design work in this series managed to perfectly blend authenticity and unconventionality to create a very tangible experience of magic, which enraptured me as a child. My interest and nostalgia for this franchise, and specifically for the creature effects department, definitely incited my decision to develop my own version of a phoenix for my final university project.
Both of you have studied modelmaking courses at your respective universities. How have the courses your own knowledge, skills, and interests in the medium?
Mair: During the first two years of my degree, I learned skills such as sculpting, moulding and casting, carpentry, puppet making, blacksmithing, CAD software, etc. and loved every new skill that I learned, I wanted to do everything. For the first module in my third year, I had to make a 1:24 scale building that replicated a building in Cardiff,. This was the Zizzi model I won the award for at New Blades. During this module, I learned how and why models were used in TV and film, which was fascinating to me. I was able to learn new skills and practice pre-existing ones to create my model, and I realised that this was the module I enjoyed the most, and this is what I wanted to do.
Charlotte: I have always been drawn to the idea of creation for film. However, with more of a fine art background, I wasn’t aware of modelmaking as an avenue until I started researching for potential university courses. It was a very happy accident! Although my art background definitely gave me a strong creative footing, my university experience has been the foundation for me to develop most of my technical knowledge and skills. In doing this, I am now able to pursue my passion for organic and sculptural making through a more rounded, technical, and professional lens.
What is it about practical effects in film, television, and beyond that makes them such a worthwhile pursuit?
Mair: I have always found great satisfaction in physical models ever since I first saw the one in Castle Coch as a small child. Physical models evoke feelings of awe in me, and I think that their use in TV and film makes the production even more magical. I love making things, and that, combined with the aesthetic pleasure of a physical model, makes it a worthwhile pursuit in my eyes – they make me happy.
Charlotte: The appeal of practical models tie in with my inspirations to pursue modelmaking. They help to embed a little more of the extraordinary into your ordinary life!
Talk us through your winning designs – what was the inspiration for their creations?
Mair: The 1:24 scale model of the Zizzi restaurant was created as part of a module on my degree. My lecturer chose a street in Cardiff that housed architecturally complex and beautiful buildings that would challenge the skills of me and my peers and allow us to grow as makers. We were all assigned a building to replicate, and the idea was that our buildings would be placed next to one another to recreate the street. A camera could then hypothetically pan through the street for a film or TV series.
Charlotte: Because of my relationship with the Harry Potter franchise, I was very drawn to the idea of creating my own phoenix. I remember fixating on a pipedream in my first year at university that by the time I left the course, I would know how to make one. Therefore, when it came to choosing my final major project in my third year, there was never really another option! Despite preparing me in advance with an idea, my casual daydreaming definitely didn’t prepare me for the process involved! I wanted to make the most of my final project as a last opportunity to explore a new skill at university, which is why I choose to dabble in animatronics with my design. I’m thrilled that I managed to see this project through… However, it was definitely a much easier feat in my head!!
What did both of your processes involve in creating your works?
Mair: I began the project by visiting the location and taking some ground floor measurements of windowsills, doorways, etc. of the building. I then made a 1:24 scale drawing of the building using the measurements I had taken, scaling the top two floors using a photograph, ensuring that everything was in proportion. A cardboard maquette was then made to finalise the design and make sure everything was right. Carpentry skills were used to create the carcass of the model and then the façade was built on top using sculpting, moulding and casting, AutoCAD, and laser cutting skills. The building was primed and then painted using acrylic paints.
Charlotte: My phoenix included a range of processes from ones that I have practiced before – moulding, casting, vac forming, fibre-glassing, sculpting, and painting to entirely new processes, including acid dyeing, and an introduction to electronic work and animatronic systems. Although the latter was definitely the hardest part to wrap my head around and develop, the most time-consuming part was the feather work. My estimation is that I used approximately 6,000 goose feathers on my model, all of which required dyeing, trimming, and individually gluing!
How does it feel to be recognised by the industry via the New Blades exhibition?
Mair: It feels wonderful to be recognised for my work, and I am so grateful to have been given an award. I have always struggled with my confidence, but this award has made me realise that my work may be good enough for industry standards, and with hard work, I could do well in a career doing what I love, which is amazing. The award has allowed me to connect with people and industries I had never considered as a possible career path aside from TV and film, such as architecture or doll house making. I feel as though my horizons have been broadened, and I am really excited for the future.
Charlotte: Because I’ve been wondering about this project since first year, completing it really demonstrates to me just how far my modelmaking has come in the last two years. I definitely had to push myself to get here, and so it feels amazing to have that hard work recognised and appreciated. The fact that it was appreciated by industry is a very surreal cherry on top! Stepping out of the comfort of university and into your first industry job is intimidating. Being recognised at New Blades has given me a boost of confidence to help me face this leap!
What might your hopes be for your futures in modelmaking and practical effects?
Mair: I plan on engaging in some work placements as a model maker for the TV and film industry in South Wales to network, gain more experience and new skills. Hopefully I will then be able to find employment in the industry and pursue a fruitful career in model making.
Charlotte: I really started to recognise my passion for creature creation whilst at university and got the opportunity to pursue it for several projects, including my phoenix. I would love to continue to pursue this area of modelmaking professionally and to one day recognise my own name in the credits of a film!
Many thanks to Mair and Charlotte for their time, and congrats on their award-winning creations! Discover more about the New Blades exhibition from 4D and check out the full gallery of this year’s event and previous exhibitions to see all the other fantastic creations on display!
To be the first to hear about the latest news, exclusive releases and show announcements, sign up to the Anderson Entertainment newsletter!
Leave a comment