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Post by jeffwaynefan on Apr 12, 2005 19:53:12 GMT
Tonight (12th Apr) I have had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Trim, the designer and artist of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds album cover. Michael was commisioned in 1976 to design the awesome Martian Fighting Machine and Handling Machine that you see featured on the album cover and album artwork booklet. Michael has kindly agreed to take time out from his busy workload to answer any questions that members of www.waroftheworldsonline.com may have. I will leave this topic open for 7 days for people to post up there message for Michael, after that I will close the topic and forward the questions onto Michael H_C
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Post by Gnorn on Apr 12, 2005 19:56:44 GMT
I think what we all want to know, how the heck did he came up with that freaking fighting machine design? What was he on? (after all, it where the 70s) ;-)
By the way, great of him to answer our questions. Thank him for that.
-Gnorn
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Post by Anthony on Apr 12, 2005 23:39:03 GMT
Before painting each of you War of the Worlds paintings what did you do, did you always have a copy of the book at your side?
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Post by HTT on Apr 13, 2005 9:33:27 GMT
[glow=purple,2,300]Blimey! Where to start! There's so many questions...but I'll keep it down to 10 - I'm not greedy!!!
1. What was your reaction to seeing your designs animated in the CGI footage? 2. Did you do any other artwork for the album that has never been seen? 3. If you had been asked to design the album artwork today, what would you change? 4. The Thunderchild is one of the most iconic images in Sci-Fi - do you love it or hate it? 5. Does it annoy you when people refer to the Fighting Machine as a Jeff Wayne Tripod, rather than a Trim Tripod? 6. Are you having any input into the CGI movie? 7. Are you creating any new artwork for the new 6-CD special edition booklet? 8. What did you think of the new machines in the WOTW games? 9. What did you think of Roger Dean's alternative designs for the album? 10. Do you regret making these images - has it overshadowed your other work?
Thanks, H_C for arranging this. And many thanks to Mike for agreeing to answer our questions!
[/glow]
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Post by FALLINGSTAR on Apr 13, 2005 19:52:01 GMT
My questions are as follows -
1.Were you happy overall with your fighting and handling machine designs or are there now things you would have done differently with hindsight.
2.Your fighting machine designs are different to the descriptions in the book. Was it you who made the decision to change the look of the machines or were you given a brief description of what the final designs should look like.
3. What do you think your reaction will be when you see your designs come to life on the big screen.
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JonT
Full Member
Posts: 120
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Post by JonT on Apr 13, 2005 19:58:52 GMT
just want to ask how did you come up with the tripod design? it is a bit different to the books, or is that what you wanted to go for, something new?
sorry if this question has already been asked. thanks for taking the time to answer and thank you very much for your great WOTW artwork it got me into it and i have never looked back.
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Post by Thunder Child on Apr 13, 2005 20:45:57 GMT
Is it true you based the hood of the machine on a helicopter cockpit?
What are the eyes of the machine made off? In the original design.
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Post by Bayne on Apr 14, 2005 4:36:07 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]How does it feel to have designed something that has become a classic scifi icon and has scarred generations of young children, many of whowm have since become obsessive fans?
Other than the book what were your inspirations for the design?
How did you picture it's way of walking?
How did you imagine the martians enter/exit the machine?
Why was there no flying machine or images of the martians themselves in the original album art?
What was behind the decision to move the collection basket from the fighting machine to the handling machine?
What did you think of the changes to the designs in the current CGI animations?
What is your favourite War of the Worlds design other than your own?
When did you first become involved in the project?
When did you first encounter Wells novel?
What do you think of the other two War of the Worlds film projects?
What do you think has made Jeff Wayne's musical so lasting, and your design in particular? [/glow]
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Post by Gnorn on Apr 14, 2005 10:46:00 GMT
Is it true you based the hood of the machine on a helicopter cockpit? What are the eyes of the machine made off? In the original design. I'm not sure if this is what Thunder means, but... the eyes on the machine, are these like some sort of cockpit windows, or are these the eyes of the actual martians? -Gnorn
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Apr 14, 2005 11:42:30 GMT
Those are cockpit eye's
H_C
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Post by Gnorn on Apr 14, 2005 16:56:10 GMT
Those are cockpit eye's H_C I was not asking you, now was I? ;-P Cheers Horsell. Allthough if those where the martians eyes would be a heck of a lot scarier... -Gnorn
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Post by epicdream on Apr 16, 2005 12:43:31 GMT
[glow=green,2,300]Ok, this question might be a bit vague, so i'll try my best...
"When painting (creating) these images, did you stick to a certain palette of colours designed evoke fear/hopelessness/disater emotions within the viewer??"
I only asked this as they scared the hell out of me as a kid (practically traumatising me!), now iam fascinated to understand how you managed to do this to me (and many others!!). I have always wondered whether the colours had a direct result?
PS. I love these pictures because they scared me so much!!!
PPS. Hope this question wasn't too late Horsell!!
[/glow]
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Post by epicdream on Apr 16, 2005 12:54:53 GMT
[glow=green,2,300] Sorry all, Forget my previous post, my head is not right today. I forgot that Michael Trimm designed the fighting machines and didn't actually paint the pictures!!!!!! Seems like every question I had in mind has been covered by everyone else!!!! So i'll shut up now and await Michael's response... [/glow]
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Apr 16, 2005 12:55:11 GMT
I wont close the thread until Tuesday, then I'll send it off to Michael to answer.
Cheers guys
H_C
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Post by Gnorn on Apr 16, 2005 14:53:25 GMT
[glow=green,2,300] Sorry all, Forget my previous post, my head is not right today. I forgot that Michael Trimm designed the fighting machines and didn't actually paint the pictures!!!!!! :-[ :-[ Seems like every question I had in mind has been covered by everyone else!!!! So i'll shut up now and await Michael's response... :) [/glow] Actualy Epic, in a way, you made an interesting point. So to follow up on your questions: Did you (Mike) had a hand in the final paintings, like design or use of colors? Or where the artists free in this, only guided by the kind of scene they had to paint? -Gnorn
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Apr 16, 2005 19:58:59 GMT
[glow=green,2,300] Sorry all, Forget my previous post, my head is not right today. I forgot that Michael Trimm designed the fighting machines and didn't actually paint the pictures!!!!!! Seems like every question I had in mind has been covered by everyone else!!!! So i'll shut up now and await Michael's response... [/glow] Ooops, Mike not only designed the machines, he was the one who ALSO painted the album cover of 'Thunder Child'. H_C
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Post by epicdream on Apr 16, 2005 20:56:37 GMT
[glow=green,2,300] Cool!, Then my question is still valid in a way! ;D
[/glow]
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Post by Gnorn on Apr 17, 2005 2:51:33 GMT
Did you also design the WotW logo and the font used in the booklet? Do you like cats?
-Gnorn
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Apr 17, 2005 11:09:54 GMT
Did you also design the WotW logo and the font used in the booklet? Do you like cats? -Gnorn That was the artist John Pasche who designed the logo for the album. He also did logo's for other albums/groups including Genisis and the synth band The Art Of Noise. H_C
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Post by Stuuullaaa on Apr 18, 2005 18:00:45 GMT
A question thats been asked a thousand times before, but: 1. What or where did you get the influence from, for the design of the Fighting Machine/Handling Machine? 2. Do you think you could draw the machines again from memory, instead of copying from a picture? Thanks Michael / H_C
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