Does Sigourney not give out her likeness? Seems like Sideshow "couldn't" reach an agreement. I know the previous toys have yet to get a good sculpt. Is it the same as Arnold and the McFarlane T2? Got this in the latest newsletter.



*http://www.sideshowtoy.com/?p=6975&source=062509news&utm_source=newsletter-pers-062509news&utm_medium=email

I know that Sigourney items are rare to get. What are your opinions?

Thanks!

Greg

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CPL A08/TQ0.0.12146E1
Newell, Greg A aka Gman
Illinois - USA
UKCM
Shoot first, think never.
Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the gun.
SMMFD
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.

Every performer has a right to others using their likeness. The same thing happened when Halcyon released the Power Loader kit, Sigourney only allowed them to use her likeness if the company made a donation to Diane Fossey's gorilla fund (Sigourney had just finished playing Diane in the movie 'Gorillas in the Mist'). This pushed the price of the kit up considerably to £40.00 UKP, which was a lot of money in those days.

The irony was of course that the kit went to China for manufacture and Halcyon were showed a prototype of the Ripley figure which they approved, but when the kits came back the figure had been changed and didn't look like Sigourney at all!

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

I inderstand that just seems like SideShow can get everyone's likeness. For such a high profile piece I would want a dead on likeness.

Thanks!

Greg

_________________
CPL A08/TQ0.0.12146E1
Newell, Greg A aka Gman
Illinois - USA
UKCM
Shoot first, think never.
Good? Bad? I'm the guy with the gun.
SMMFD
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist.

Likeness rights are a reall sticky subject, especially for older movies. The characters' likeness rights weren't attached to the contracts for merchandising in those days like they are these days, so it has made making accurate collectibles from movies difficult at best. This is why the Hot Toys Aliens figures and earlier terminator figures did not have spot on likenesses. It's also why the Hot Toys Alien Kane figure looked more like Freddie Mercury. They managed to secure the rights for Tom Skerrit on the Dallas figure but not for John Hurt on the Kane figure. This also became an issue with the Hot Toys Predator figures. They reached a deal for Arnold's likeness for Dutch, but not Sonny Landham for Billly.

As for Sigourney, I have heard that she is difficult to deal with, especially if the collectible depicts weapons.

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A06/TQ2.0.92142E1

Its not a bad effort at "a likeness" even if its not "the likeness" The whole diorama thing looks really good.

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"I saw Avatar last weekend, it was so awesome, I wish the whole world was in 3D"

The face they used looks pretty good though. It's prettier than Weaver actually. And ultimately I doubt I'll be able to afford one anyway.

But still, those sideshow folks sure know how to do it right! That looks amazing.

Yeah, don't mention Apone Figures to Al Matthews.

_________________
STEVENSON F.
A11/TQ0.0.82148E1

"You are not your Drop Count."

Or, more entertainingly...
Do.

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MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

Why, does it upset him? It shouldn't, as the Apone figure looks as much like him as I do.

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

That's why.

Ewan MacGreggor doesn't like his children being on TV.
Certain people on this very board don't like their photo being taken.

They have that right to privacy.

The figure is a representation of the fictional character Apone, not of Al.
If he doesn't want little dolls that look like him, that's fine. Not everybody likes that sort of thing. Some even find it a bit freaky.
End of the day, it's his choice and his business.

I think it was more with them selling likenesses of his face and not seeing any money. But I maybe wrong, I only caught the end of that conversation at Birmingham.

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STEVENSON F.
A11/TQ0.0.82148E1

"You are not your Drop Count."

Well see, that's my point. The head on the Apone figure looks nothing like Al. I have it sitting behind me on a shelf as I type and that was my main gripe about it, but that's also why I bought it. At the time these figures were made, Apone was the only one that I knew someone had made an accurate headsculpt to replace the factory head.

How Al can be upset that there's a figure out there, when it looks NOTHING like him makes no sense.

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Mainly because they're not giving him any money ...

And why should he expect any when it does not use his likeness? If anything Wesley Snipes should be upset.


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

LOL. Maybe you should ask Al that ...

There would be very little point in asking Al- if he is bitter about it there would be no reasoning with him. Besides I've never had the pleasure of meeting him and wouldn't mention it if I ever did, as don't think a question like this would fare well.

However it still stands that the Apone likeness really looks nothing like Al Matthews- not even in his younger days. In fact most of the USCM figures do not look like the actors (Drake actually looks pretty spot on when you remove the mustache though). What is really interesting is the choice of blue eyes for the Vasquez figure- Jenette Golstein has blue eyes however the character Vasquez had dark brown eyes.


I just had a gander at the Ripley "likeness"...





I think Angelina Joile will be calling her lawyer.

Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

When you meet him, you'll know exactly what I'm on about.

That said, I dunno any other guy I'd rather get plastered with ...

I have talked with Al about this, after filming a Q&A he did where he mentioned this doll.
As Al said, Apone was never particularly intended to be a black man -- so in a way they are taking from Al's identity.
Technically, at least. If they're not taking from Al's image as the character in any way whatsoever, then there is no reason to make him black.
He wasn't black in the script before Al was cast. Jim Cameron wasn't auditioning exclusively black men for the part of Apone.

But they have to make him black because Apone is black because Al is black. Al brought 'black' to the roll - no-one else. So you expect an Apone doll to be black or you just don't buy him as Apone. And they know this.

Though I doubt he would win such a case on those grounds. But he does have a point.
Or does he?
If Burke looked nothing like a 'Burke doll' because he had red hair and a 'tash the actor probably wouldn't take the toy maker to task because the toy was white.

At the end of the day the manufacturers will go as far as they can and no doubt have lawyers to advise them accordingly.
They'll get away with what they can – and so will Al, lol!

For my money, I don't like any figures that don't look like their movie counterparts. That's why I'm ponying up the full dollar for the official Harry Harris figure - complete with plastic cheese slices!

LOL! ACD you know I'll be your doll any time baby!

Reminds me of when I used to paint 25mm Warhammer 40K figures. A friend of mine (who's sadly no longer with us) did a custom figure for me with my head on it. I'll try & remember to dig it out and take a photo of it.

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

I dare you to post it with the figure on top of a block of your favorite cheese

Mike

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There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!

So...

Where would this leave my Sgt Lincoln Osirus/ Robert Downey Jr doll from "Tropic Thunder"?



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Well... I can almost see this arguement, however in a crazy way wouldn't it be like saying that the doll makers are forced to make a Vasquez doll a woman because Jenette Goldstein was a woman? Jenette herself said that Cameron would normally have written her part as Vasquez for a six foot muscular, mustachioed man (but went with Jenette instead as it broke the stereotype).

So in that respect- if for instance the Vasquez doll looked nothing like Jenette, would she still deserve royalties due to the doll being female?

I can see Al's point, but I don't think it would hold up in a court case.

Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Another point is that I doubt Al was consulted. He probably found out after the fact.

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STEVENSON F.
A11/TQ0.0.82148E1

"You are not your Drop Count."

So his whole argument is based on the fact that the doll is black, and he is black, so the doll is somehow of him?

That's like me saying that the Drake figure is white, and I'm white, so they owe ME some money.

That just doesn't float, and makes Al seem a little crazy.

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Not at all, Apone *is* Al Matthews, just ramped up.
Spend anytime with him and you realise that..

What I meant was, They are making money of a character that Al had creative input into. Input that came from him. So I'd say he was justified in feeling protective off 'his' creation, considering how much of himself he poured into it.

Yes he got paid for the part in the film, but who knew 20 years ago how popular the film was going to be.?
Then he finds people selling dolls, uh action figures, of his character, and he's not getting cent one. I'd be a little bitter about it as well.

Course not being privy to the entirey of the conversation I may be mistaken. Just don't hold my blundering attempts at an explanation against Mr Matthews.
As mentioned by myself and others, he is a great guy. No-one else I'd rather get drunk with..

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STEVENSON F.
A11/TQ0.0.82148E1

"You are not your Drop Count."

Think of it another way - Suppose you were walking along the street, talking toa friend. Friend makes a remark and your natural emotions cause you to adopt a particular expression.

A photographer snaps you mid-way between the two expressions and the resulting pic looks Hi-Larious.

Photographer then goes on to sell actions figures, t-shirts, posters, lunchboxes, badges, patches, buttons, wallpapers and so on, all featuring your face.
You get paid nothing for this.


How would you feel?

Fair enough, the character of Apone is the intellectual property of Fox, or whoever, but Al's face is his own property. I'm sure any of you would get upset if I started selling action figures of you....