Monday, January 28, 2013

Hellbound Glory Stage Flags and Mini Movie


Taking the easy road to do anything, is just plain boring to us. If we can create a new challenge and use it as a way to work through some ideas, we are into it! Take for example our concept to build a boat, for use in a quick little promo video with Hellbound Glory. The video is for their upcoming Rebel Soul Tour with Kid Rock and Buckcherry. Instead of just having actors play a role or to show some live footage of the band, we wanted to up the ante and have some fun. 

This whole project started off with the idea of creating a new set of flags for the band to be used as stage backdrops. The Hellbound Glory logo needed to be sewn on bright orange canvas, to help jump off of all the black on the stage setting. Putting up some crappy banners made from vinyl just felt soulless and we wanted them to have a proper setup, to be seen by the hundreds of thousands of fans on this tour. 

Our story needed an interesting narrative to help tie everything together. While conjuring up the the local folklore over in Morehead City, North Carolina, about the one and only Blackbeard, we got to thinkin' on his infamous pirate flag. Creating a flag and or banner from scratch was our mission and we enlisted the help of our favorite upholstery team to sew the various elements together. Our theory was that if the flags were done right and proper, then they should be approved by the one and only Blackbeard himself. Luckily for us, a partner in crime, just so happens to be a Blackbeard stunt double.

Getting the lettering just right, as it was cut out of black canvas and sewn onto orange canvas for a great effect
Ryan is putting the finishing touches on the Hellbound Glory flags, which are Made In the USA!
After a quick sketch in our handy notebook, we were ready to head off to Lowe's, to see what materials, we could procure. Now you might be thinking this is a bit of insanity and yes we completely agree with ya. But then again, that is the whole point of a design challenge. If we knew all the parameters and over thought this idea, then we might even reconsider spending the next twelve hours constructing a faux boat made for a minute long short movie.

Blueprints checked and double checked for accurate measurements on our boat build
With supplies in hand, what better time to start building a ship than 9pm on a Friday night. After working until about two am, we opted to call it a night and start up again early in the morning to finish the task at hand. All in all, it took around twelve hours to get the boat figured out and built. Would we do it again, yep in a heartbeat!

Next up, more movie props for the Carolina Still video series coming up this spring! 

Huge thanks to Tams Higgins, Mike Thompson, Buck Thrailkill and Shane DeRuise for helping out on this project. Without their help, there is no way in hell I could have gotten it all done. Also we need to give Blackbeard a proper shout out. His legacy lives on in these parts and growing up by the sea in old pirate stomping grounds, has allowed that part of East Coast nautical culture to be firmly embedded into my DNA. I also shot and edited the short film and put it all together. Life is too short not to try your hand at everything!

Our short film actors ready for their big roles, haha!
Troy Bilt now will become a ship!
Adding in the side frame for the starboard side
Basic structure of the frame is complete
Add the side ribs are in place and ready for the next layer
Main structure is just about complete
Design challenge, hmmm... how to create an axle system with spare parts
There we go, scrap wood and long bolts with sleeves from Harley shocks made just the right fit
Everything is now ready for the paneling to be screwed into place
Buck getting used to driving his new ship. Gotta dig the wood grain on the back side of cheap paneling, fit perfect!
"How is this supposed to be a boat?" Just go with it...
Saw dust everywhere and last minute pieces being finished up