Harry. We have something terribly exciting to talk about. Well, I know its especially exciting to you and me.
WHICH IS?
A project weve probably talked about since we first met. As you know, I had the honor and privilege to work with FRANK FRAZETTA on a special From Dusk til Dawn poster and youve always asked when are you going to get the rights to Frank Frazettas FIRE and ICE?
AND DID YOU?
Yep! The awesome Ralph Bakshi and I have been working it out for a while, and its now a TROUBLEMAKER STUDIOS PICTURE. Whats cool is, unlike past projects that Id get involved with that would get stalled for various reasons, I control the rights to this one. So its actually in my power to set it up and get it made, which wasnt the case on other projects. And for you filmmakers out there, thats really the best way to get things done. If you can manage to get the rights yourself to a property by dealing directly with the artists and creators like I did with Frank Miller on SIN CITY, and now with Ralph Bakshi on FIRE and ICE, it makes a world of difference and you can get started sooner rather than never.
YOU VISITED FRAZETTA A FEW TIMES
Yes, and it was actually very sad that this deal closed right after Frank passed, I was so looking forward to calling him and saying At long last, were finally making the movie, Frank!
Frank was an awesome guy, I went to visit him at his house some years back and he showed me his museum. He walked me through and pointed out so many of his famous paintings, saying I painted that in three days, I painted that in one day, that one over there in two days. His wife Ellie was there to confirm that he wasnt exaggerating. She was the one that had to ship them out with the paint still wet because Frank was pressing up against a deadline. To see what he was able to paint in record time was astounding. Ive been inspired by his paintings since I was 10 years old back when I first saw those Bantam Books collections of his work at the local bookstore.
I think thats why I was continually drawn to Machete over the years, I always thought of Machete as my version of Frazettas CONAN. In fact, I have a bronze of Machete on my desk which youve seen where Machetes standing in a classic Frazettas CONAN pose. I also have Frazetta reproduction paintings hanging all over my house, I dont think Ive gone a day without seeing Franks work somewhere in my living space. Hes been so influential to artists and filmmakers, and yet we still havent seen a Frazetta world truly come to life in a live action film, so thats what Id want to do with the FIRE and ICE project.
DOES THIS MEAN WE'LL GET KNB FRAZETTA INSPIRED SUB-HUMANS AND PTERODACTYL RIDING BARBARIC WARRIORS?
Yes! You bet. It's that kind of Awesome.
SO WHOS GOING TO BE TEEGRA?
Harry thats the same question youve been asking for 12 years. At least now you know youll finally get an answer. Stay tuned.
