Latest news with #CloseEncounters
Geek Tyrant
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Rare CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Alien Mask Up for Auction – And It's Equal Parts Creepy and Cool — GeekTyrant
If you've ever dreamed of owning a piece of extraterrestrial cinema history, now's your chance, just don't expect it to phone home. Propstore has launched a new auction featuring an incredible lineup of film memorabilia, and one item in particular is drawing attention: An original alien mask from Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind . One of the eerily sweet 'Gray' aliens that descended at Devil's Tower in the film's unforgettable final act. This rare piece is part of Propstore's sale of items from Planet Hollywood's vast memorabilia collection. The auction kicks off May 21 and runs through June 11, and the catalog is packed with movie treasures that also includes Gremlins puppets, Ghostbusters miniatures, and Spock ears from Star Trek . But the Close Encounters alien, complete with 'functional eye mechanisms,' is the standout. According to Propstore's listing, the production team crafted multiple alien masks during filming, including prototypes, static versions for wide shots, and mechanical masks capable of limited movement. This particular piece is one of the mechanical versions used for close-ups, and it's got a bit of engineering under the hood. It comes from the collection of Roy Arbogast, the Oscar-nominated special mechanical effects artist and longtime Spielberg collaborator. The listing explains: 'It features a foam latex-backed slip latex skin dressed over a fiberglass underskull and painted gray-brown on the exterior. The interior is inset with wide cast resin eyes painted with blue irises and black pupils. The eyes are designed to move from side-to-side via cables installed along the interior.' Arbogast's filmography is filled with classic films including Escape from New York , The Thing , They Live , and Return of the Jedi . Some 'sympathetic restoration' has been done over the years to keep it display-ready, though the listing makes it clear the piece is fragile and not meant for wearing. So, maybe don't go scaring the neighbors in your driveway. The starting bid is $2,500.
Gizmodo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Summon Your Own Friendly Aliens With This ‘Close Encounters' Mask
Propstore's latest auction features a rare piece of memorabilia from the 1977 Steven Spielberg classic. You'll have to construct your own Devils Tower out of mashed potatoes (or garden dirt, depending on how much room you've got), but an authentic Close Encounters of the Third Kind alien mask is going up for auction, and it's equal parts cool, cute, and creepy. It's part of Propstore's auction of items from Planet Hollywood's extensive memorabilia collection (see the whole catalog here), kicking off May 21 and running through June 11. There's a Gremlins puppet, Ghostbusters miniatures, Spock ears from two different Star Trek movies, and lots more, but the Close Encounters alien—complete with 'functional eye mechanisms'—is the standout pick. According to Propstore's listing, the climactic Close Encounters sequence in which the musically inclined aliens land their ship at Devils Tower 'was achieved by dressing dozens of young girls as the friendly Grays. Multiple versions of their extraterrestrials masks were built by production, including a number of tests and prototypes, while two versions were ultimately selected for filming: non-articulated masks for wide or long shots of the aliens, and mechanical versions capable of a limited number of facial expressions.' This particular item, the listing explains, 'originated from Academy Award-nominated special mechanical effects artist and regular Spielberg collaborator Roy Arbogast. It features a foam latex-backed slip latex skin dressed over a fiberglass underskull and painted gray-brown on the exterior. The interior is inset with wide cast resin eyes painted with blue irises and black pupils. The eyes are designed to move from side-to-side via cables installed along the interior.' Arbogast's many special effects credits also include several John Carpenter films (Escape From New York, The Thing, They Live, and more) as well as Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Some 'sympathetic restoration' has been applied to the mask in the intervening decades, though the listing notes it's in quite fragile condition. In other words, it's for display only—don't try to wear it around the neighborhood to freak out unsuspecting Richard Dreyfuss types. The starting bid for the Close Encounters of the Third Kind mask is $2,500—you can learn more about the auction and how to bid here.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PICTURES: Kip Marina hosts first major event of Scotland's new sailing season
SAILORS from all over Scotland headed to the Clyde for the first major event of the new sailing season - the annual Kip Regatta. A total of 32 small boats sailed into Kip Marina to compete in a weekend of racing in the Haven Knox-Johnston Kip Regatta. Across the six different classes, boast were up against others of an equal speed and size, with each class racing for historic trophies presented by the Royal Western Yacht Club. (Image: Contributed) (Image: Contributed) Prizes were up for grabs from race sponsors Helly Hansen, Gill, Tunnocks, Dubarry and Kingfisher along with the prestigious RWYC silverware. The overall winners of each class were Sapphire (CYCA 2), Close Encounters (CYCA 4), Bounce Back (Etchells), Salamander XXII (IRC 1), Headhunter (IRC 3), and Inclusion (two-handed). The champion's crown for the overall winner of the regatta went to the crew of Sapphire, from Helensburgh, who were the best performing yacht of the weekend after winning all four of their races. (Image: Contributed) (Image: Contributed) The Royal Western Yacht Club, which promotes small boat sailing on the Clyde, has been involved in running the regatta since the 1980s and said this year's weather was perfect for sailing. A spokesperson said: "The racing was held off the waters of Inverkip which on the Saturday offered the perfect racing conditions. "The steady breeze, glorious sunshine and clear waters enabled three tight races to be held. (Image: Contributed) "The Sunday was a different day, with a shifty light northerly breeze offering different tactical options for the yachts, and one race was completed on the Sunday morning. "We were once again pleased to work alongside Kip Marina to deliver a successful regatta which was enjoyed by the local and visiting yachts." Kip Marina thanked all the competing boats, crews, and race committees for another fantastic event and said they were already lookijng forward to seeing everyone again next year.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Middlesbrough director credits grandfather for love of cinema
A young film director has credited his grandfather for taking him out a toxic home environment and igniting his passion for month, a film Middlesbrough-born Joe J Walker shot for less than £1,000 will premiere at the Alhambra Cinema in Keswick, where he also Walker said his film directing dreams had been shaped by his grandfather who had taken him to the Blockbuster video shop in his home town every Friday."We'd usually go with a movie of his choice, like an obscure French cinema or German cinema," he said. "Then he'd pick a more mainstream one for me, something like Close Encounters." Mr Walker said his childhood had been chaotic and he regularly witnessed violence and substance he said Joe Walker senior, who died in 2018, had taken him out of that environment and taught him a love of cinema."We were actually watching ET and afterwards there was a behind-the-scenes featurette and I was so fascinated with the notion that people are on a set, working with actors and constructing shots," he said."My grandad told me it was called being a director and, if you want to do it, you can do it - I'll get you a camcorder." After getting the camcorder, Mr Walker quickly started making "terrible films", he said."It was so much fun and, from that moment, I knew that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life," he latest film, a psychological horror entitled Beyond the Eye, was shot at the cinema where he works and premieres on 26 Jonathan Moore said when he found out Mr Walker wanted to make a film "it was kind of a no brainer really" to agree to it."It's really hard to get into the film industry," he said."You either have to come from a family that's in the industry already and has connections, or you have to have money and kind of buy your way in." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blake Lively Brings Down House At SXSW Premiere Of ‘Another Simple Favor', Says Pic 'Was Uncomfortable To Watch In This Theater'. Here's What She Meant…
Blake Lively said that Another Simple Favor director Paul Feig 'upped the ante' in the Amazon Studios MGM/Lionsgate sequel — and that's keeping the spoiler at bay. However, watching herself — a lot of herself on screen at the Paramount Theatre, the actress said, 'It was uncomfortable to watch in this theater.' That's not a ding. You gotta see the movie on May 1 on Prime to see what she's talking about. More from Deadline 'The Astronaut' Review: Kate Mara's Close Encounters Come Back To Haunt In Modest Sci-Fi Psychological Thriller - SXSW Amazon MGM Will Release 12-14 Films Theatrically In 2026 As Studio Commits "Financially And Philosophically" To The Big Screen - SXSW 'The Threesome' Review: Zoey Deutch Shines In Rom-Com With Complications - SXSW In Another Simple Favor, Lively's Emily Nelson is not dead. She returns to visit Anna Kendrick's Stephanie Smothers, who is making a name for herself as an author of the calamities that ensued in A Simple Favor. Emily is getting married in Capri, Italy to mob-tied glamorous guy. She insists that Stephanie be her maid of honor, or else she'll sue her for not clearing her name and likeness which was used in her book. Chaos ensues. Lively said on the first movie, A Simple Favor, Anna Kendrick and her were 'nervous' — they didn't know if Feig was making a drama or comedy. He would tell the actresses it was both. On part duo, Feig wanted to shoot in Capri. After watching the movie, Lively says, 'Now, I want to live there! They serve ice cream in lemons!' Feig's inspiration for setting the sequel in Capri came from the Paris Vogue editor's opulent wedding there. Kendrick enjoyed reprising the earnest Stephanie. Her convo with the costume designer was that her character 'is addicted to not serving. Can I just not be very well dressed, but comfortable?' One of her signature wears in the film is a striped sweater. Amazon MGM Studios once again is a force to be reckon with at SXSW, for in addition to this year's Another Simple Favor, they have The Accountant 2 tomorrow night. That Ben Affleck movie is getting a theatrical release on April 25. Feig is also a frequent denizen of SXSW having world premiered his movies Bridesmaids and Spy down here in the past. In regards to whether this audience has any idea of what the Lively-Justin Baldoni situation is — it doesn't seem to faze them in Austin. It's clear they loved the movie. Best of Deadline The Best 7 New Movies On Netflix In March 2025 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys & More
