SILLOF's "THE WAR GALACTIC"

This morning, we woke up to an email from Jamie Follis aka Sillof to let us know that he just released a new line of creative Star Wars action figure interpretations commissioned by none other than Patton Oswalt in their 3rd collaboration together. Their first two collaborations, Faster Empire! Strike! Strike! and Road Wars were both huge hits! This project, the challenge was to create an action figure line for Star Wars if Wes Anderson had directed the film. Jamie started with a 7-page script that he wrote, and then designed the project like he would do for a movie. He then made eleven 7" scale figures, a 3-story house diorama, a truck (completely from scratch) and created a fictional movie trailer to present it all in such epic fashion! 

http://sillof.com/the-war-galactic

"Over the years I have had many amazing creative opportunities. More than a few have come because of working with Patton Oswalt. I first heard Patton mention me in a tweet years ago and then later in an Empire magazine article while promoting the film Young Adult. The most flattering mention was when he wrote a post about me on his blog. It is quite surreal when someone who’s work you enjoy so much expresses an appreciation of what you do. Patton first commissioned me to create a line of figures where I imagined a world where Star Wars had been directed by the famous exploitation filmmaker Russ Meyer and all the characters would have their genders reversed. The line was called “Faster Empire. Strike! Strike!” Next, he hired me to create a line where Star Wars existed in a Mad Max-esque post-apocalyptic world. The line was called “Road Wars”.

We had kicked around a few ideas of what to do next and then Patton threw down the gauntlet and said, “What if you did Wes Anderson does Star Wars”. I was simultaneously terrified and excited. I have found that my best work comes when I am intimidated by the idea of the commission. Over the years I have never done a line that has been done by someone else first. I have tackled Samurai, WW2, Steampunk, Western, and Serials. But, to try to combine my favorite films with one of my favorite directors of all time was a quite intimidating. This fact was compounded by the fact that Wes Anderson has one of the most distinctive film-making styles of all time.

This was going to be a real challenge. Many times, when people do these kinds of creations they “mash” things together. That has never been my style and I knew I did not want to simply have the father Royal Tenebaum dressed in black like Darth Vader or do a Bill Murray as Obi Wan. I have worked as a production designer and art director on films, so I decided to tackle this project the way I would if I was lucky enough to work on a Wes Anderson film. I started with a 7-page script that I wrote that allowed me to create a complete narrative with the archetypal characters of Star Wars but in a Wes Anderson style world and story. Once I worked through who my characters where I began to design their look with heavy research on the recurring looks of Wes Anderson costumes but with subtle nods to the Star Wars inspirational characters and colors but muted palette. Patton always likes me to create vehicles, which I did for this line. But I counter proposed an additional idea to Patton that would expand the world I was creating. I pitched the idea of creating a miniature set for the figures to occupy. The sets are as much a character in Wes Anderson films as anyone and his love of miniatures made the idea even more appealing. Patton jumped at the notion and I was off.

The line consists of eleven 7" scale custom figures, a three story diorama, a scratch build truck, and an original movie trailer." - Jamie Follis

Click on the poster image to read see all the figures, the diorama, vehicle, and more…

PREVIOUS COLLABORATIONS

http://sillof.com/the-war-galactic

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim - Action Figure Customizing Panel Video Presentation & Commemorative Video

Big thanks to swnut77.com for posting this video.  It's the first one we found so far.

Sillof provided the audience with an introduction to the hobby, and explained the different types of customs that exist. He gave a brief overview of how custom action figures are made, how to disassemble and reassemble action figures, sculpting help, paint tips, as well as information on molding and casting. Other topics covered were 3-D printing, as well as the supplies and resources that Star Wars custom action figure artists utilize in their step-by-step process.

Six artists were featured: PeakOB1, Sillof, Sith_fire30, Chewie, and Customs for the Kid aka Darth Daddy & Elias. It's was a huge honor for us to be included in the featured artists at this year's panel.

The Panel had some of the best Celebration exclusives available, random giveaways of Star Wars custom action figures created by the featured artists. This was one panel you didn't want to miss.

The event was sponsored by Aves and Sculpey.

CELEBRATION ANAHEIM 2015: 

STAR WARS CUSTOM ACTION FIGURE PANEL 

COMMEMORATIVE VIDEO

created by Darth Daddy

If you were bummed that Hasbro had no 3 3/4" exclusive for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015, fear not.  The artists that are being showcased at the Action Figure Customizing Panel have provided some of the coolest Celebration exclusives ever available at a Star Wars Celebration event.  Artists like Chewie, PeakOB1, Sith_fire30, and Elias of Customs for the Kid have all provided unique action figure art that were given away to lucky attendees at the Panel.  

 "Commander Faie, Commander Cody & Admiral Screed" created by Sith_fire30

 "Imperial Troop Transport Pilot" by Elias

 Vehicle and additional figures not included.

"The Force Awakens" Han Solo created by Chewie

"Star Wars: Rebels" Lando Calrissian created by PeakOB1.

http://www.sillof.com/C7-Custom_Figure_Panel.htm

DARTH DADDY's CUSTOMIZING CORNER: CELEBRATION ANAHEIM - ACTION FIGURE CUSTOMIZING PANEL

So if you all have been wondering why I haven't posted in a while, it is because I have been working on developing content for the upcoming Action Figure Customizing Panel being held at Celebration Anaheim. It is only the second time ever that this panel is being presented at a Star Wars Celebration. The first time was at Celebration VI. Jamie Follis aka Sillof will be hosting the event once more on Friday, April 17th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm on the Collector's Stage 210AB.

Sillof will provide the audience with an introduction to the hobby, and explain the different types of customs that exist. He'll even give a brief overview of how custom action figures are made, how to disassemble and reassemble action figures, sculpting help, paint tips, as well as information on molding and casting.  Other topics covered will be 3-D printing, as well as the supplies and resources that Star Wars custom action figure artists utilize in their step-by-step process.

There will also be a customizer showcase featuring some of the most talented Star Wars customizers in the hobby today.  The five artists being featured are: PeakOB1, Sillof, Sith_fire30, Chewie, and me, Darth Daddy. It's a huge honor for me to be one of the featured artists at this year's panel. Unfortunately, I will not be attending Celebration, but I'm glad I will still have some kind of presence at the event.  The Panel will also have the best Celebration exclusives available, random giveaways of Star Wars custom action figures created by the featured artists.  This is one panel you don't want to miss.

The event will be sponsored by Aves and Sculpey. Also be on the lookout for Sillof at the Diorama Workshop located at the Hasbro booth where he will be teaching classes on how to build Star Wars custom action figures.  Class participation is limited so be sure to sign up as soon as you get to Celebration so you don't miss your chance to be taught by one of the masters.

by Darth Daddy

by PeakOB1

by Sillof

by Sith_fire30

by Chewie

If you were bummed that Hasbro had no 3 3/4" exclusive for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015, fear not.  The artists that are being showcased at the Action Figure Customizing Panel have provided some of the coolest Celebration exclusives ever available at a Star Wars Celebration event.  Artists like Chewie, PeakOB1, Sith_fire30, and Elias of Customs for the Kid have all provided unique action figure art that will be given away to lucky attendees at the Panel.  

Last Celebration more than half of the people who were waiting on line for the Action Figure Customizing Panel had to be turned away once the room filled to capacity. so if you want to get one of these exclusive items, you better get on line for the panel early.  It's a must see event!  Be there on Friday, April 17, 2015 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at the Collector's Stage 210AB.

 "Commander Faie, Commander Cody & Admiral Screed" created by Sith_fire30

 "Imperial Troop Transport Pilot" by Elias

 Vehicle and additional figures not included.

"The Force Awakens" Han Solo created by Chewie

"Star Wars: Rebels" Lando Calrissian created by PeakOB1.

This video was put together by Darth Daddy of "Customs for the Kid".  It was created to play during the Q&A of the Action Figure Customizing Panel at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim this past Friday.  The video features almost all of the Star Wars custom action figure artist's work Customs for the Kid have archived here on our blog. We hope it's a nice surprise for the artists whose work appears in the video to know that their work was planning on being displayed in front of the Celebration audience this year.  

http://www.sillof.com/C7-Custom_Figure_Panel.htm

Custom Action Figure News: Episode 78 - SILLOF TALKS CELEBRATION ANAHEIM'S ACTION FIGURE CUSTOMIZING PANEL

ANAHEIM 2015 STAR WARS CELEBRATION - ACTION FIGURE CUSTOMIZING PANEL ANNOUNCED

The second official ACTION FIGURE CUSTOMIZING PANEL has been announced for STAR WARS CELEBRATION ANAHEIM 2015.  Coolest part...it will feature custom creations made by my father, Darth Daddy of "Customs for the Kid".  Other artists being featured are our good friends: PeakOB1, Sillof, Sith_fire30, and Chewie.  Sillof will be hosting the panel again this Celebration.  I'll try and get Dad to post more information here about the event soon.

http://www.sillof.com/C7-Custom_Figure_Panel.htm

DARTH DADDY's CUSTOMIZING CORNER: SILLOF

Darth Daddy's Customizing Corner featured Star Wars customizer Sillof in his latest post over at The Star Wars Underworld.

CLICK HERE TO READ

Sillof is pronouced "Si" (like Psi or Sci-fi ) and "llof" (like cough or pilaf) and no it is not his real name. He's a high school history and film teacher. Sillof has no formal art training, other then a few art classes in middle school. If something turns out good, he says it is just from years of practice, or luck. Personally, I think it comes more from an extraordinary amount of talent and has little to do with luck. He started building custom figures and dioramas when he was just a kid. He opened a website in 1999. It was then called "The Wookie's Workshop" and "The Wook's Workshop". before he had his current website www.Sillof.com.

His work has been featured online on blogs, websites, and online news services, newspapers at the local, national and international levels, in books and magazines nationally and world wide. His customs have even been featured on television in local news, national news, cable, and overseas, in independent films as props, costumes, and set designs. His action figures have been publicly displayed at contests, fairs, & conventions including four of the six Star Wars Celebrations. Most recently his work has been seen in Toyfare and Star Wars Insider Magazines.

Sillof, is a seasoned builder in the Diorama Workshop, who recently organized the Star Wars Custom Action Figure Panel at Star Wars Celebration VI. It was really nice to see his customs on display. Sillof's customs are really unique within the community and stand out in a signature way. Yes, he only makes the same core characters over and over again, but don't let him fool you...his interpretations of these characters are out of this world! Unlike most custom action figure artists who work in the 3 3/4" scale, Sillof works in a 6" scale. In his art, he reinterprets our favorite Original Trilogy characters in various different ways. Unlike other customizers, Sillof has gotten away from faithfully creating characters and has begun to redesign these figures in various time periods or aesthetics. Sillof has reinvented Star Wars in his own image ranging from themes such as "Steam Punk" Star Wars to "Western", or Star Wars as what it might look like if it occurred in 1942. My personal favorites of Sillof's is where he envisions our favorite Star Wars characters as samurai warriors and his recent Mad Max - Star Wars mash ups. I'm definitely a big fan of this artist and his work has even found its way into my own custom collection. His Toy Wars stop motion film and his recent Noir Wars film are worth a look too. True labors of love.

He starts with a general concept or direction (samurai for example) Then he brainstorms what he wants. This is mostly done in his brain. Then he makes a list of adjectives and descriptions of the character, maybe a little back story and the physical elements he wants to include in the figure. He then begins the actual construction. He usually works on all of them at once. So while the glue or paint is drying on one he works on another. Some parts of the figures are recycled from existing toys. They are cut off and glued together. Sometimes he sculpts over the old toy parts. Sometimes he dremels down the part using it more as an armature and sculpts over it. Often times, he will sculpt an entire new piece. Some of the figures are completely built from scratch. It really just depends on what he wants, needs, and what he has on hand in his various drawers of parts.

He sculpts using a 2 part epoxy polymer sculpting compound called Apoxie Sculpt by Aves Studios. You mix 2 parts together and then in few hours it is hard a rock. It is not as easy to work with as sculpey but more then makes up for it with it's durability. Sillof says it gets easier to work with practice.

Prepare to be blown away!

You can see more custom action figures created by Sillof here:
http://www.sillof.com/


We also recommend checking out his "Toy Wars" film series where he brings his action figures and dioramas to life at this link here:
http://www.sillof.com/Toywars.htm