Let's get some visuals up in this piece, boys! That way, the rest of us know what you're discussing!
Are these those? Are those them?
They sure look great but what does one do with them after purchasing? Are they just for display or do you let your children play with the stuff? Or do YOU play with the stuff (and I'm not being judgmental here)?
Speaking of ALIEN, I saw a fantastic-looking book at my local comic shop called The Art of Alien: Isolation, which is apparently based on a video game(?). I love art direction books and thought that this might be one.
Let's get some visuals up in this piece, boys! That way, the rest of us know what you're discussing!
Are these those? Are those them?
They sure look great but what does one do with them after purchasing? Are they just for display or do you let your children play with the stuff? Or do YOU play with the stuff (and I'm not being judgmental here)?
Speaking of ALIEN, I saw a fantastic-looking book at my local comic shop called The Art of Alien: Isolation, which is apparently based on a video game(?). I love art direction books and thought that this might be one.
Hi Jim! Those are indeed the figures. I will keep mine factory sealed for display. They come with the figures and card backs in a plastic clam shell packaging.
The figures look to be start at around $20.99 a shot--kind of like one of those limited edition CDs we're always obsessing over.
I like the idea of surrounding myself with all that stuff from my childhood--well, not really the ALIEN stuff, but, say the original MEGO Star Trek figures I had as a (very young) boy in the late '70s. I've seen the reproductions of those figures--on the card yet--at my local comic shop, but Kirk looks like he spent too much time in the desert battling the Gorn, because he looks way too tan. The originals go for entirely too much money and I don't have the space for them anyway, even after I purge my stuff like Stalin in the '30s. You need a "That Neil Guy"-sized house to fit all those toys in there.
I've never really collected toys or action figures. Though they are very cool. (I do have a few anime figures) Budget is one issue. My two main hobbies are soundtracks and model kits and that's enough. But if I was so inclined I could see myself buying these, along with Star Wars stuff.
Not to derail henry's topic on NECA items but I thought I'd post this here.
I often wonder about the rights to the likenesses of the actors and such. Are they getting some percentage on these figures? Even 20 and 30 years ago when a good many of the mass produced figures looked very little like the actors they were supposed to be portraying I can recall rights issues with action figures.
Then there are the "garage artists" who produce some remarkable work and don't market their stuff to generate mass sales. These are usually labors of love handmade to order by talented artists and these of course are much more expensive. But the quality as you can see is outstanding. Right down to that famous scar on Ford's chin.
I often wonder about the rights to the likenesses of the actors and such. Are they getting some percentage on these figures?
Rights vary. Actors used to have no rights when their image was reproduced (in character) for merchandising. (think 60's television shows) Things change and the studio's started to give actors some royalties. And by "some" I mean checks amounting to 65 cents! (Even as recent as some of the LOTR's actors) Carrie Fisher once joked every time she looks into the mirror George (Lucas) gets 10 cents!
Today studio's like to hire young talent whom are not popular yet. They are less likely to have the clout to negotiate high royalty deals. (for their likeness in character) Remember actors own the likeness of their "image", but not to the fictional characters they portray. That is owned by the studio's and sometime they forfeit their image when they sign a deal to play a character) Though today huge stars probably make a lot of money off of their likeness even if it's associated with a studio's fictional character.
As far as the garage market goes it's a grey area. You can sculpt a one of a kind figure in the likeness of an actor and sell it as a work of art. No infringement in this case under the US 1st amendment- right of free speech which includes right of expression through art. However if you reproduced the figure and made say ten castings and sold them, it is now copyright infringement.
Political figures are considered in the public domain so you can make bobble heads of GWB or Obama and not pay any royalty fees. However someone tried to sell bobble heads of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the governor. Schwarzenegger sued saying he was more famous as an actor than a governor and won the case.
It sometimes comes down to civil law, money, lawyers and jury. For example a fine artist sold paintings of Tiger Woods. Woods sued but for some odd reason lost the case even though he has a right to control his own image.
Andy Warhol is another famous case. He actually sold prints of famous stars like Marilyn Monroe and registered trademarks like Campbell's Soup. It would seem to be a clear open and shut case of copyright and trademark infringement. But the courts sided with Warhol on the grounds his artistic interpretation changed the image or likeness enough it didn't infringe on the respective copyrights.
Cool. Yeah, I fall into the garage category. I've just begun sculpting, molding and reproducing some original pieces in the style of the old Kenner figures. It's a fun hobby. I'll post my results here when they're all done.
I've just done a well-paid private job and have some disposable cash....been eyeing up NECA's new 1/4-scale Alien....looks amazing....but pricey (though it does look stunning).....and maybe a little on the large size too....any advice on what smaller Alien one(s) I should go for? Or shall I just go for the Big Chap? New to this....will be my first...
