This has to be the most repetitive newsletter to date for most of you. Repetitive in the sense that I am repeating myself due to the influx of ape mask orders. Little did I know they would be so popular and it is taking all of my time lately to keep up with it all. But that’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing for the studio.
Despite that, the profit from all my hard work is marginal (all masks are under $275). This fact does not allow me money to hire help. And everytime time I turn around to re-purchase materials the price of those materials go up. Inflation is very real here and cuts into studio profit. Companies are using inflation and the war as an excuse to jack up prices. They have increased the costs of some things as much as a third over that of what I paid last month. By all rights I should increase my prices. I’m not sure the market will bear it. The people that collect my work are hard working people and money is tight these days as the men in the suits steal from us more and more.
End of bitching and back to the work at the studio.Time has been spent with casting, trimming, painting, and laying hair but it all goes a long way to keeping our doors open. I never did get the Tologian started this week. I hope to do that and start apes prosthetics as well, next week.
I did manage to make the first Orangutan test mask and I think it turned out rather well.
We are now officially adult Girl Scouts and our Troop is Camp Arnaz. The Girl Scout troop we are involved with is actively seeking a launch site for their rocket class activities we will be teaching soon. Finally I can contribute to the interests of young minds seeking the stars. Who knows which one of those girls might be the one that discovers warp drive and starts the dream of exploring the Galaxy.
We had a good production meeting with Peter Fox and Dr. Chris Landon for the movie I’m directing soon named, “Good Vibrations”. This is not about the beach boys but a rather deep lesson in the human experience about life. There will be no aliens, flying saucers, or Sci Fi this time. Our lives are amazing and unexplained as it is without all that. We have our child actor who is an amazing little girl with tons of talent named Poem. I think her name is rather perfect considering the nature of Peter Fox’s script. This film should be a game changer for us.
Mary explained the following on Facebook:
“I’m going to put it out there (if anyone is seeing this)
Peter Fox wrote a great screenplay short called “Good Vibrations”.
He and a child actor are playing in it.
Steve Neill is directing it.
Dr. Chris Landon and I are helping with production.
We have a location at Girl Scout Camp Arnaz in Ventura County.
We need help though.
We have a camera but we need sound equipment (2 mics for the actors)
We have lights.
People wise, we need some help.
A sound person.
A light person (gaffer) and;
a make up artist.
Anyone who helps will, of course, get screen credit.
Our last film, The Dreamtime, won several awards.
It will be widely seen. (look up Peter Fox on Imdb)
If you can help, or know anyone who can please email me at mary.cacciapaglia@gmail.com“
Mary posts her work at her WordPress blog https://marycacciapaglia.wpcomstaging.com on Sundays.
That’s it for this week. We deeply appreciate all the orders and the busy times at the studio. We thank you all for your continued support on Patreon. Every bit helps us to remain engaged in our many activities and projects.
In closing,my dear friend Carl Soto sent me this image from Laser Blast. I had never seen this artwork poster for the film before. This is a film that launched my career and Ve Neill’s many years ago and remains popular with the fans to this day. I played the alien in the opening sequence and made all the prosthetics and props. Ve applied the makeup and so did I. It was a lot of fun. The film was panned badly by many critics. It was never intended to be a serious film, but rather a fun, comical, spoof. It remains a cult classic.
Love you all,
Steve and Mary
Fine Art America – Steve Neill
SNG Aero – Rockets by Steve Neill
…and Mary on the web
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The Art of Steve Neill 