Sort of a sequel, The original script was 'The Deadly Spawn II: Metamorphosis'. But, the director felt that this film was going to be so much better than the original that he and the producers decided in the middle of production to change the name and break the tie with 'The Deadly Spawn'.
I personally wish they had not made that decision because the original was a cult classic film and I'm a personal friend of the effects artist (John Dods) who created the original creature. Bad decision.
Yep! I felt the same way about a lot of puppets I made for TV commercials, back then I just didn't have an animation reel worth showing so I couldn't get that part of the job.
Now I have a great reel but there are no more stop motion studios on the east coast where I live... guess I'm gonna have to build one.
It took me a while to make the connection on how I knew Ron Cole. And then it came to me. We both worked on the visual effects for this film. I shot a handful of second unit creature shots on the live actions sets. And then I worked with Dan Taylor, Kent Burton, John Ellis at Taylor Made Images, creating the miniature and stop motion effects. Rons creature designs were amazing. After METAMORPHOSIS we went on to produce our film INVADER.
Yep, blew the budget BIG TIME! But don't look at me. :) I worked for over 2 years on that film and I think I made a GRAND TOTAL of about $500.00! It was a 'labor of love' type of film that had many volunteers working for $Zippo on it. It was just crazy to think that the list of effects in the script could be pulled off for the meager amount agreed to... not MY decision mind you. I did more than was asked of me - trying to build my portfolio with stuff to show. :)
Well of course it does! CGI isn't real to start off with and after a lot of work polishing and perfecting... it STILL isn't real and never will be. This film was produced on a dirt cheap budget, yet yielded special effects that looked real because THEY ARE real.
The 'special effects artists' of today need to take a long hard look at what made the films of the past successful. The computer is a tool that is extremely valuable for effects but, it will never replace the stage nor should it.
wow that was my first time seeing that isomer, freakin awesome. i just read that you already have done live action work, so i had to check this out straight away. was that second puppet latex, the one hanging from the ceiling i mean, he looks like he was alot of fun to make
Thanks Bob, The second creature was my baby! The original script for the film called for a much smaller live action puppet that had been used earlier in the film (before he grew up) to be placed in the miniature hallway and simply shot to appear larger. But I insisted to the director that if there was no more money in the budget to do him in stop motion, then I would just do it for free! And that's how that little bugger ended up being the star of the last shots of the picture. :)
Well, that movie is nearly 20 years old and I was only a teenager when I started working on it (in my 20s' by the time it was done!) Stop Motion is in the process of making a big comeback into the main stream so, get out that old box of clay!
This is awesome...truly great stuff. There is something so much more tangible with stop motion and puppetry than CG.
hercroftjunior 8 months ago
I did some stuff for this film, Checkers and the alien clam/pods.
MacabreEnt 2 years ago
so was this actually the sequel to Deadly Spawn or simply a spin off
Dedokai32 2 years ago
Sort of a sequel, The original script was 'The Deadly Spawn II: Metamorphosis'. But, the director felt that this film was going to be so much better than the original that he and the producers decided in the middle of production to change the name and break the tie with 'The Deadly Spawn'.
I personally wish they had not made that decision because the original was a cult classic film and I'm a personal friend of the effects artist (John Dods) who created the original creature. Bad decision.
animatorIsomer 2 years ago
These look really cool, I like that the camera actually dollys back before the spidery thing starts ripping tiles out of the ceiling.
flannelking 2 years ago
i bet you wished you took part in animating as well rather than just making the puppets
thespazicat 2 years ago
Yep! I felt the same way about a lot of puppets I made for TV commercials, back then I just didn't have an animation reel worth showing so I couldn't get that part of the job.
Now I have a great reel but there are no more stop motion studios on the east coast where I live... guess I'm gonna have to build one.
animatorIsomer 2 years ago
It took me a while to make the connection on how I knew Ron Cole. And then it came to me. We both worked on the visual effects for this film. I shot a handful of second unit creature shots on the live actions sets. And then I worked with Dan Taylor, Kent Burton, John Ellis at Taylor Made Images, creating the miniature and stop motion effects. Rons creature designs were amazing. After METAMORPHOSIS we went on to produce our film INVADER.
Phil Cook Eagle Films
camuledon 2 years ago
How big were the puppets? Life sized?! lol, that would be cool just to have hanging in your living room. ;)
sgtjlopez 3 years ago
The puppets in Metamorphosis were both life sized and miniature stop motion.
animatorIsomer 3 years ago
Whoa! That's even cooler! Love to see people man-handling them to move them frame by frame :D
sgtjlopez 3 years ago
Oh my gosh!
I remember that little green fucker, with awkward eye and stuff, that bites that "doctor".
To be honest, one of my worst ever seen animals on tv.
We had soso many discussions considering "what would you do, if that thing bites you?"
Cheers
Tiiggii 3 years ago
Weren't you guys given a bigger budget.....USD1Million plus? Overall the stop motion still looks impressive by 90s standards.
johnchaser 3 years ago
Yep, blew the budget BIG TIME! But don't look at me. :) I worked for over 2 years on that film and I think I made a GRAND TOTAL of about $500.00! It was a 'labor of love' type of film that had many volunteers working for $Zippo on it. It was just crazy to think that the list of effects in the script could be pulled off for the meager amount agreed to... not MY decision mind you. I did more than was asked of me - trying to build my portfolio with stuff to show. :)
animatorIsomer 3 years ago
The guy hanging from the ceiling is great!
I agree with your sentiments about CGI. Just because you know how to use a piece of software, doesn't make you a good animator.
kuhnigget 3 years ago
That's some great animation. I almost venture to say it looks better than most CG animation these days.
NellyNinja 3 years ago
Well of course it does! CGI isn't real to start off with and after a lot of work polishing and perfecting... it STILL isn't real and never will be. This film was produced on a dirt cheap budget, yet yielded special effects that looked real because THEY ARE real.
The 'special effects artists' of today need to take a long hard look at what made the films of the past successful. The computer is a tool that is extremely valuable for effects but, it will never replace the stage nor should it.
animatorIsomer 3 years ago
Yep, thats true. Theyve made film entirely with 3d characters, all mentalray shders etc., but it isnt real film no more, its more 3d showreel.
Tiiggii 3 years ago
i've been looking for a copy of this movie for a couple years but found nothing in local stores. maybe i should try online
ninjamastercat 3 years ago
wow that was my first time seeing that isomer, freakin awesome. i just read that you already have done live action work, so i had to check this out straight away. was that second puppet latex, the one hanging from the ceiling i mean, he looks like he was alot of fun to make
bobharling1 3 years ago
Thanks Bob, The second creature was my baby! The original script for the film called for a much smaller live action puppet that had been used earlier in the film (before he grew up) to be placed in the miniature hallway and simply shot to appear larger. But I insisted to the director that if there was no more money in the budget to do him in stop motion, then I would just do it for free! And that's how that little bugger ended up being the star of the last shots of the picture. :)
animatorIsomer 3 years ago
your work was awesome!
dare I say, Metamorphosis is one of my favorite movies of all time.
I miss when this movie and a couple of more great movies from Trimark were available free for watching at yahoo! movies
elhaya 3 years ago
I used to love making little claymation videos when I was about 16! this is really awesome, your fantastic.
CloudyChan 3 years ago
Well, that movie is nearly 20 years old and I was only a teenager when I started working on it (in my 20s' by the time it was done!) Stop Motion is in the process of making a big comeback into the main stream so, get out that old box of clay!
animatorIsomer 3 years ago
I did the sculpt on that one as well as the finishing and paint work. Kent Burton made a beautiful wire armature and shot the animation.
animatorIsomer 3 years ago
Holy crap that was awesome =)
princessamy13 3 years ago
Haha, that's great. The ceiling monster was definitely awsome.
UnbeltedSundew 3 years ago