Hi everybody, we need your help...
We are currently working on an officially licensed replica of the scarab ring worn by the great Karloff in 1931's The Mummy.
This question is not about the ring itself but a packaging question. As part of the ensemble we are planning to include a severed mummy hand that the ring can be displayed on... OK so a severed hand has no direct connection to the film per say ..... but its a severed mummy hand and we could not think of a cooler stand to keep a ring on?
In the Napoleonic and Victorian periods it was common for enthusiasts of Egyptology to collect Mummies and Mummy parts so the hand display idea harkens back to those bygone era's. It will be a 1:1 sized resin piece that the ring slips onto so you can display it with or without the hand.
The big question..... should the hand be;
a) An accurate 'Karloff' style hand. In the film Karloff had no bandages on his hands, which were simply wrinkled with fairly light make up.
b) An accurate 'actual' Mummy hand from a real Mummy. More decayed and dessicated with some wrappings/bandages.
Our inclination is to go screen accurate and use option a), but we wanted the feedback of the UMA before we make our decision... what say ye ?
I love this idea! I've been waiting for your Mummy ring since I got one of your Dracula rings. Given the choice between the two, since it is a screen accurate prop replica I'd prefer option A and have it displayed on a screen accurate Karloff style hand.
I agree. Since it is a replica from the film, it is only fitting that the stand be accurate to the movie as well. Can't wait to see it!
No doubt in my mind this needs to be screen accurate.
Option A.
When is the eta on this ring. I'm building a life size to put in the sarcophagus and have been waiting patiently. are you also making an economy version?
Sal
It won't matter to me. I don't have the space to display the hand. I was hoping for a nice display box with maybe the film's logo or images of Karloff as Im-Ho-Tep and Ardeth Bey. With the full-sized hand display, I might not be able to even purchase this, now.
I wouldn't worry as much about the presentation (a mummy's hand) as I would about getting the thing right. Packaging is secondary. There were complaints about the Dracula rings (made by different companies) falling apart. Make this ring a real, wearable, durable, accurate product that can be worn daily, reasonably priced. It could be done.
Quote from: kklloo on July 02, 2012, 08:44:05 PMare you also making an economy version?
Sal
I'm also curious about this now, as the Mummy Hand display base may prevent me from getting the Deluxe version. Unless, there were an option to display the hand horizontally, as well as vertically. Could that be taken into consideration, the ability to display the hand laying flat?
I love this idea! I would however like the option to be able to display it horizontally or vertically.
That said. I'm really torn on the look of the hand. My heart says "screen accurate" by my mind says "real mummy".
I guess screen accurate wins since it will display a film prop replica.
Screen accurate is more to the liking for me.
OG
Not interested in the hand at all; hopefully this won't up the cost to "deal breaker" level.
Quote from: Trap-Door Maker on July 03, 2012, 11:27:39 AM
Not interested in the hand at all; hopefully this won't up the cost to "deal breaker" level.
That's another concern of mine, too. How much will the hand raise the overall price? I believe you had said the ring will be gold-plated, with a real black onyx stone, so I'm guessing it'll be in the $200-range, like the James Bond/S.P.E.C.T.R.E. ring? I really couldn't see myself getting this if the price is much higher than that.
Thanks everybody some great feedback... look like Screen accurate it is :-)
At present we are only planing to do one version of the ring, which will be gold plated with a real Onyx stone. There just does not appear to be enough demand for two versions. The lower end version has to be made in a very large quantity to be viable.
The hand is only an extra item and will not affect the price, and is only an added extra. The product will still come in a themed and decorated box. The hand takes the place of a plain display stand simply because it seemed fitting for this piece.
We hope to have some prototypes to show you all soon....
Dusty Karloff hand it is! I had a feeling that's the way it would go. It's appropriate for the piece.
Looking forward to some in-progress images. Not just the ring, but the Mummy's Hand, too!
This sounds good. If the price is reasonable I'm in.
Sounds quite tasty, indeed! Count me in!
Looking forward to seeing your Comic Con showings in person next week!
This sounds awesome. Any price range yet?
Quote from: BigShadow on July 14, 2012, 08:27:36 PMThis sounds awesome. Any price range yet?
It should be in the same range as their James Bond SPECTRE Ring, (http://www.factoryent.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=408145) which is $200.00.
Very cool Idea! I'd love to own one.
I was hoping we'd get some WIP pix by now, especially of the display hand.
Speaking from personal experience, one of the issues with showing work in progress pictures is that you may need to make changes. Then, after the changes are made, you will forever here complaints from some people that the item looked better before the changes. often this is worded like "I don't know why those idiots changed it. They had a great sculpt and then ruined it!"
It is much easier to wait until a sculpt is approved and the item is in production before you release any shots (of the already approved sculpt).
That said, I think it is great that they are doing a hand display for the ring and I look forward to seeing, and eventually owning, one.
There are pics of the prototype ring on their facebook page :)
Also a render if the ring here
http://www.hamfx.com/2012/03/18/mummy-1932/ (http://www.hamfx.com/2012/03/18/mummy-1932/)
Quote from: Gillfan on August 02, 2012, 09:30:21 PMSpeaking from personal experience, one of the issues with showing work in progress pictures is that you may need to make changes. Then, after the changes are made, you will forever here complaints from some people that the item looked better before the changes.
Yeah, but they promised!Quote from: Factory on July 05, 2012, 11:55:57 AMThanks everybody some great feedback... look like Screen accurate it is :-)
We hope to have some prototypes to show you all soon....
I'm fairly certain you are just kidding. Saying I hope to do something and saying I promise to do something are not even close to each other.
Quote from: Gillfan on August 04, 2012, 10:08:21 PM
I'm fairly certain you are just kidding. Saying I hope to do something and saying I promise to do something are not even close to each other.
Patience patience... something we need to make clear. We are not allowed to share or release anything until its approved by Universal. Images, text, product you name it. Sometimes that process takes a little while.
As you also wisely pointed out showing in development stuff can cause headaches/confusion as people cannot always tell final from prototype etc. We also like to get approval from all the other parties involved in a project as well first, like Tyler, the sculptor of the ring. Even though its only a stand, we just think its better to get the creators of a project happy with everything that's going to be included with their work. We don't just do work for hire, we like sculptors and artists that we work with to feel part of our gang and involved in the process. He loved it BTW.. I think the exact words were 'Fantastic!'
Earlier this week we got the final clay sculpt for the hand stand and it looks great! Creepy and delicious, it has Karloff's long slender fingers, heck it actually looks like somebody chopped Karloff's hand off.... which is nasty and cool at the same time. At the moment its only brown clay, which looks a little funny. It's gone off for approval and we will share some images as soon as we can.
Quote from: Gillfan on August 04, 2012, 10:08:21 PM
I'm fairly certain you are just kidding. Saying I hope to do something and saying I promise to do something are not even close to each other.
Yes, just my exhuberance over the upcoming release spilling out.Quote from: Factory on August 10, 2012, 07:38:05 PMPatience patience... something we need to make clear. We are not allowed to share or release anything until its approved by Universal. Images, text, product you name it. Sometimes that process takes a little while.
Earlier this week we got the final clay sculpt for the hand stand and it looks great! Creepy and delicious, it has Karloff's long slender fingers, heck it actually looks like somebody chopped Karloff's hand off.... which is nasty and cool at the same time. At the moment its only brown clay, which looks a little funny. It's gone off for approval and we will share some images as soon as we can.
No, we understand you need approvals and all before releasing images. That's OK. And, at least we got some news on the piece's progress!
Quote from: Gillfan on August 02, 2012, 09:30:21 PM
Speaking from personal experience, one of the issues with showing work in progress pictures is that you may need to make changes. Then, after the changes are made, you will forever here complaints from some people that the item looked better before the changes. often this is worded like "I don't know why those idiots changed it. They had a great sculpt and then ruined it!"
It is much easier to wait until a sculpt is approved and the item is in production before you release any shots (of the already approved sculpt).
I'm glad I don't have the torch and pitchfork concessions in YOUR town. Killjoy.
Thanks for the update, Factory! I really like that you are a member and are willing to listen to fan input and answer questions. It's really classy of you!
I think we're overdue for an update with images!