A Brief History
By Tom Sullivan
My Genetic structure was altered at age 5 when I saw the first half of the original King Kong. I reckon this happened about 1960. The island and dinosaurs magical look stunned me. Curiosity about new mysteries started to become a creative obsession. After seeing what I could of this action filled adventure set in a fantastic world, I wanted to go to Skull Island. It took a year to see the full film thanks to a vigilant Mom. Thanks Mom.
I knew immediately that adults made this film and if that is a career option then sign me up. I started drawing and sculpting dinosaurs and reading all I could about movies, dinosaurs and monsters at my school libraries. I became pretty good at research. Geeky and nerdy also. As one of the "Children of Kong" I followed a similar routine that now seems programmed into some viewers of that movie. The first "Kinder Kong" was Ray Harryhausen. Of course he has inspired generations of filmmakers who create images today never before possible.
What affects me most about the creators of Kong and Sinbad and the army of special effects wizards is the range of technical and artistic skills they possess. They Draw, Paint, Sculpt, can mold their own work in a variety of materials. They can Photograph, Animate, Create Mattes and composite diversely shot film elements into masterpieces. First and foremost they can also tell stories. Film combines more artistic and scientific disciplines than any other form of expression. I was attracted to that challenge. I bought my first 8MM movie camera at age 11 and started my solitary education in Film effects.
I animated clay Cyclops and Dinosaurs and soon saw the benefits of wire and foam rubber. I also pixilated the neighborhood kids driving around my family’s yard.