Pixologic: Interview with Scott Patton of Legacy Effects
John Carter may have explored Mars, but for the movie it didn’t begin there. Before anything can actually be made for film, it must start as a concept. This has traditionally been in the form of drawings and paintings, but thanks to advancing technologies and innovative studios, an entirely new form of Concepting is coming forward.
In our interview with Scott Patton of Legacy Effects, we look at how and why it can actually make more sense to start in 3D using digital sculpting software like ZBrush, before ever picking up a design pencil or building a maquette!
The Interview
Let’s begin by talking a bit about you. What’s your background? What are some things you’ve done that we would recognize?
Well I started out as a make-up effects artist in the early 90’s. I worked as a sculptor and effects designer. During my time in make-up effects I worked on about 200 movies in one way or another, either as a sculptor, designer, make-up artist, painter, puppeteer… whatever was needed.
Over the years I have worked on films like “Sin City”, “Narnia”, “Kill Bill” and “The Green Mile” to name a few.
In 2005 I made the decision to switch to exclusively digital sculpture, character design and concept work. Since then I’ve worked on films like “Avatar”, “Iron Man 2”, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, “Pirates of the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides”, “Snow white and the Huntsman”, “Thor”, “I am Number 4”, “Cowboys an Aliens” and of course “John Carter”.