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Hrvoje Bubić: Intervju s Brian Muir
Hrvoje Bubić
Brian Muir je cijenjeni kipar specijaliziran za filmsku umjetnost, zaslužan za klasike kao što su Ratovi Zvijezda, Alien, Gladiator, James Bond, Indiana Jones. Za Solin Live govori nam os svom remek dijelu, najpoznatijem filmskom negativcu Darth Vaderu, o britanskoj kraljevskoj obitelji kao I mogućem dolasku u Split
For the start, tell us what did you motivated to be a sculptor? From you get inspiration?
I became interested in art at the age of 13 when I realised I could draw. When I left school at 16, my mother asked a friend who worked at the local careers office if there were any jobs that would suit me in the art world. Fortunately she said APBC Film Studios ( later named Elstree Studios) wanted an apprentice sculptor but not to expect too much as they had already turned down 12 applicants. I was lucky enough to be the chosen number 13. During my apprenticeship, as well as practical work at the studios, I also went to art college in London to study fine art. I was truly inspired by the works of the masters including Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci.
You are well know on your work in Star Wars movie, especially for sculpting the main antagonist Darth Vader, which I would love to compare it like what is David to Michelangelo. As you said before, it is your biggest masterpiece, what is your opinion on the legacy of Star Wars?
I am proud to have been responsible for creating Darth Vader in 3D, which has now opened up a whole new world to me in my retirement years. Star Wars and its community have made a big impact on countless lives and now, being involved in it, I totally understand why. With the many different aspects of the legacy, it brings pleasure to people of all ages and from all walks of life.
Also, I need to mention classics like Indiana Jones, James Bond, Excalibur and Alien. How was like working on those movies? Is there any interesting anecdote during the filming and how was working with great H. R. Ginger?
I’m very often asked how it was working with Giger. He was a strange character but I got on well with him and spent many enjoyable lunch hours with him at the local pub in Shepperton. His concept work on Alien was a pleasure to work from as his airbrushing looked almost 3D.
Although I enjoyed my time on the vast majority of films and projects I was fortunate to be part of, my favourite film was probably Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. It was a long run and with the variety of work and chilled atmosphere on the film it made for one of the most memorable.
You been movies sculptor for 50. years, which makes you sort of name like Hendrix, Bruce Lee or Mozart. What is you secret of your success? Is it true that you been appreciated by British Royal family.
I don’t think there’s a secret. I was lucky enough to have a good training and a flair for art. It just happened that I was asked to work on Star Wars and with Darth Vader becoming so iconic it brought my name to the fore. Then it has allowed all my other film work to be seen which is of great interest to fans, who like to know how it is done. Although I didn’t meet the Queen, she did unveil a plaque I sculpted for the New Stock Exchange in London. Also the Queen Mother unveiled 39 plaques I did for the Scottish Corporation but sadly I had left the company by then and didn’t get to see her. But Prince Charles came to my workshop at Elstree Studios when I had my company there. He was invited to open the new George Lucas Stage. I showed him my portfolio of work and we had quite a chat about different aspects of the work and he was very interested. So much so that he was told he had to leave but he said he wanted to see more. We chatted a bit longer and then he left with his entourage to do his speech for the event.
For the end, what are your future plans? Do you work on new Star Wars or Alien and would you stop by in Split, Croatia?
I am now retired and living in a beautiful part of the English countryside. Although I have no plans to work in the film industry, as Rogue One was my last film, I can never say never. But travelling and meeting fans all over the world is keeping me busy for now. And yes I would be happy to stop by in Split anytime.
PRIJEVOD
Za početak, recite nam što Vas je potaklo da budete kipar? Odakle crpite inspiraciju?
Zainteresirao sam se za umjetnost kad sam imao 13 godina. Tada sam shvatio da mogu crtati. Kada sam sa 16 godina napustio školu, moja majka je pitala prijatelja, zaposlenog u centru za zapošljavanje, ima li poslova u umjetnosti koji bi mi odgovarali. Srećom APBC Film Studio (kasnije je ime promijenio u Elstree Studios) je tražio naučnika za kipara, mamin prjatelj je napomenuo da ne očekujem mnogo jer su već odbili 12 prijavljenih kandidata. Ja sam imao sreću da budem odabran kao trinaesti. Tijekom moje nauke, uz praktični rad, pohađao sam studij umjetnosti u Londonu gdje sam učio likovnu umjetnost. Veoma su me se dojmili radovi majstora kao što su Michelangelo I Leonardo da Vinci.
Poznati ste po svom radu na ratovima zvijezda, posebno zbog izrade glavnog negativca, Dartha Vadera, za kojeg bi rekao, da je vama ono što je David Michelangelu. Kao što i sami ističete, on je vaše remek djelo. Kakav je Vaš stav o nasljeđu Ratova Zvijezda?
Ponosim se što su mi dali odgovornost za stvaranje 3D modela Dartha Vadera, to mi je u mojim umirovljeničkim godinama otvorilo sasvim novi svijet. Ratovi zvijezda i njihova zajednica ostavili su velik utjecaj na nebrojene živote, što sada, kada sam i sam dio svega, u potpunosti razumijem. Naslijeđe koje ima toliko različitih viđenja donosi zadovoljstvo svim dobnim skupinama bez obzira kojem društvu pripadaju.
Moramo spomenuti i klasike poput Indiane Jonesa, Jamesa Bonda, Excalibura i Aliena, Kako je Vama bilo raditi na tim filmovima? Sjećate li se nekih anegdota sa snimanja i kako Vam je bilo raditi s velikim H.R.Gingerom (poznati švicarski umjetnik, tvorac Aliena, op.prev.)?
Veoma me često pitaju kako je bilo raditi sa Gingerom. On je neobična ličnost ali smo se dobro slagali I često smo zajedno ručali u lokalnom pubu u Sheppertonu. bilo je pravo zadovoljstvo raditi sa njegovim konceptom za Aliena jer su njegove skice izgledale skoro kao 3D.
Iako sam uživao raditi na većini filmova i projekata na kojima sam imao sreću raditi, kao film na kojem mi je bilo najdraže raditi bi istaknuo Indiana Jones i Ukleti hram. Snimanje je dugo trajalo a pamtiti ću ga po raznolikim poslovima koje sam radio I hladnoj atmosferi na filmu.
Već 50 godina se bavite filmskim modeliranjem, što Vas čini Hedrixom, Bruce Leeem ili Mozartom u području. Koja je tajna vašeg uspjeha? Jeli istina da Vam je britanska Kraljevska obitelj odala priznanje?
Mislim da tu nema tajne. Imao sam sreću da steknem dobru naobrazbu, obuku i žar za umjetnošću. Jednostavno se poklopilo da su me zvali da radim na Ratovima zvijezda i da je Darth Vader postao ikona koja me izvukla iz anonimnosti. To je omogućilo da moj rad na drugim filmovima bude prepoznat što fanovima mnogo znači jer oni vole znati kako se došlo do konačnog rezultata. Iako nisam osobno upoznao kraljicu, ona je otkrila ploču koju sam izradio za burzu New Stock Exchange u Londonu. Kraljica Majka je također otkrila 39 ploča koje sam izradio za Scottish Corporation, ali sam tada već bio napustio tvrtku pa ju nisam imao priliku upoznati. Princ Charles posjetio je moju radionicu dok sam u Elstree Studiu dok sam tamo radio. Pozvan je da otvori novo kazalište Georgea Lucasa. Pokazao sam mu svoju mapu radova, razgovarali smo o različitim aspektima posla, što ga je veoma zanimalo. Toliko smo se zapričali pa su mu morali napomenuti da je vrijeme da krene dalje, ali je rekao da bi htio vidjeti još radova. Još smo malo pričali a zatim je sa svojom svitom otišao održati govor povodom otvorenja.
Za kraj, kakvi su Vam planovi za budućnost? Radite li na novom nastavku Ratova zvijezda, možda Alienu? Imate li namjeru posjetiti Split I Hrvatsku?
Za sada sam u mirovini, na prekrsnom engleskom ladanju. Iako nemam planova raditi u filmskoj industriji, a Rogue One je bio moj posljednji fim, vjeujem da nikada ne treba reći nikada. Vrijeme ispunjavam putovanjima i upoznavanjem obožavatelja diljem svijeta. Da, naravno, rado bih svratio i do Splita.
