D AV I D
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& David Pride, of D&S Design Pty Ltd, has an artistic flair for working with wood and metal. But, this talented local has also been described as a ‘problem solver and innovator’ – and when you read about his work in the film industry, you’ll see why …
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hat originally brought you to Port Macquarie? My brother and I bought a property at Bellangry in 1991, to have a retreat from Sydney. Where did your interest in art begin? My dad was good at drawing, making gadgets and inventing things, so that was a big influence. The first ‘sculpture’ was probably a piece of driftwood that we found in the Ohio River when I was about 8 years old. I scraped at that thing for weeks. Then came the usual model cars and bicycles, of which all were heavily modified. We also had a fantastic junk pile at my grandfather’s farm in Kentucky (where I was born) that was a source of amusement. Thankfully, there were no video games then to distract me. What art mediums do you mostly work with these days – and why these particular mediums? I work mainly in wood, because it’s a very tactile medium. I did my time as a welder when I left school, so metal is also a favourite because of its strength and permanency. After welding and various factory jobs, I started in the film industry as a model maker, and this opened a whole new world of opportunities as far as materials and techniques. We have also used high explosives to ‘form’ stainless steel into sculptural shapes. How did you make the transition to working with special effects in films? I got into that industry purely by accident. I was asked by a friend who had a small animation company to assist with some mold making for one evening, and it was infinitely more interesting than working on a building site. I have worked in film ever since. What is involved with working both as a design engineer or special effects on a film set? It can be quite involved, but basically I would translate the art director’s ideas into tangible objects or rigs and devices to accomplish those visions. I
should add that it is not We quickly became known and respected always possible to bring all as ‘problem solvers and innovators’. I am I work mainlysin a of the grandiose visions to no longer a director, but my brother still wood, becauseedit’ium. m fruition, because of sheer runs that company in Sydney. very tactile as a e tim y m scale or cost restraints. Among the other flow on changes I did left welder when I al That’s when compromise that occurred are the demise of practical is school, so met ... and common sense prevail. effects, such as some model builder’s also a favourite You’ve worked on many jobs, special film techniques and mass films – including Superman crowd scenes – all of which are ‘generated’ Returns, The Matrix and by computer. Kangaroo Jack. What film job We couldn’t have done films like Lord of the sticks in your memory most – and Rings in 1980 or the Transformer films. You might why? have made an attempt, but it would have been futile The Matrix movies, because of the concept and the to get the quality possible with today’s technology. people who were involved it the project. These were What gives you the most personal satisfaction projects where I couldn’t wait to get to work, because – working away in your studio, painting and it was so interesting every day … the designs, the sculpting, or working with a team to help create scale of events, and the crew and actors were great to a movie (or are they both processes you find work with. My wife said I was ‘designing rigs’ in my equally enjoyable, but for different reasons?) Both, and as you said, for different reasons. I sleep during that job. haven’t worked on a film for a while, as there are What’s the most recent film project you’ve been very few being made. Films are adrenaline ... wood involved with ... sculpture is Zen. Over the past year, I’ve designed parts of the stereo What’s next in the pipeline for you (3D) cameras that will be used to shoot the new professionally? Are there any artistic and/or Mad Max film. The cameras were assembled in my film projects on the agenda for the next few brother’s workshop in Botany in Sydney. I have also months? been involved in the design of training devices for I have some camera parts to design and possible the military and federal police. I can do most of this Navy helicopter-trainer. I have a series of wood from home, as it is designed, virtually tested, and sculptures I want to build using the large computer assembled on the computer. controlled cnc router I built last year. That will Doing the work on computer allows me to live in be exciting, as it involves compound shapes that Port Macquarie instead of Sydney. I only have to travel link together at very close tolerances. It would be to check final assembly etc. What are some of the major changes you’ve seen impossible to do this with traditional methods. I might add that working with this loud, aggressive in the special effects industry over the years? machine is not at all Zen-like! The major change, of course, is the computer. We Where can people view your artworks? had designed and built what was probably the 4th or Anyone interested can email me at 5th motion control camera in the world at that time david@dpride.com.au (1979), and it has been a big part of my job since. Thanks David. Those pioneering times were the most interesting of Interview by Jo Atkins. my career, because everything was new and exciting. greater port macquarie focus 101