The first of four exclusive live-streamed interactive events in which Hollywood insiders and celebrity super-fans delve into the magical world of legendary film-maker Ray Harryhausen – part of the stunning exhibition, Ray Harryhausen – Titan of Cinema at the Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art in Edinburgh takes place tomorrow, with the film-maker’s daughter, Vanessa Harryhausen.
In this first event, Vanessa discusses the life and work of her father and reveals some behind-the-scenes stories with Connor Heaney, the Collections Manager of the Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation.
The online event will be introduced by Simon Groom, Director of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Galleries of Scotland.
To take part in this event, all you need to do is to subscribe to the Harryhausen Virtual Exhibition Experience, a specially-curated online exhibition which not only includes four events, but also features a wealth of exclusive videos, virtual exhibits and more. Subscription to the experience costs £10 – no further charge is required to take part in any of the events.
Celebrating the work of this extraordinary film maker Ray Harryhausen, the wide-ranging physical exhibition, reviewed here by comic artist Gary Erskine, draws on an archive that consists of a treasure trove of material from Ray’s life, ranging from storyboards, paintings and scripts, through to original models, film equipment and plaster moulds. Much of this material has never been seen before, and as such the Foundation are aiming to present Ray’s work in a manner through it that has never been exhibited in the past where possible.
The physical exhibition is “everything you could ask for in a Harryhausen exhibition,” enthuses downthetubes contributor Jeremy Briggs. “Original art, models, pre-production designs, posters, video clips plus his Oscar and his BAFTA. Since he kept so much through the decades there were models from his B&W days as well as many from his colour films. The Harryhausen Foundation has done a great job of preserving them.”
• More about this first online “Ray Harryhausen – Titan of Cinema” event here, including a link to buy a Harryhausen Virtual Exhibition Experience pass
• Ray Harryhausen – Titan of Cinema runs until Sunday 20th February 2022, The Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art (Modern Two) | Book tickets here | Sign up for their eBulletin on the National Galleries web site
This virtual experience includes: five specially created films including newly created animation; over 150 items from the exhibition including drawings, storyboards, models, posters and behind the scenes photographs; archive films and objects from Ray’s Harryhausen’s life and work; three specially created 3D model videos; access to four exclusive live online events, giving you the opportunity to ask questions of the experts (the first takes place 26th May with Vanessa Harryhausen) ; and get a fascinating look inside the exhibition and hear from family, friends and contemporaries, as well as just a few of the writers, animators and film makers who tell how Harryhausen and his work left an indelible mark on them.
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions, Film, Other Worlds
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