AniaR
01-15-2014, 08:58 PM
Thom was part of a team of people hired by Disney to create the tail for Splash. Disney, couldn’t use the name Disney at the time because of naked mermaid bum and boobs (seriously) and they branched out into “Touchstone” pictures so they could put out Splash without causing backlash. There were several people on the team. Thom headed up the physical making of the tail along with some of his friends, while Robert Short create the design and gave input on how it should be done and helped with hands on, chose the colours, and Madison’s over all look (as he told me himself in the comment you can see (https://24.media.tumblr.com/e812212df63ff732d9ffc23a8e488ff1/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo5_1280.jpg)) Mitch Suskin (http://themoviesplash.blogspot.ca/2013/05/the-tail-updated-and-expanded-look.html) (seems to always be forgotten) was the visual effects supervisor, who made sure the work of Thom, Robert, and the others, came to life on screen in the way it was envisioned.
After Splash, Mitch and Robert went on to continue working generally in the special effects world for films, doing many different projects. Thom however, stuck with mermaids, and was the main mermaid man for Disney for decades. His other most memorable Disney work was his work with gold medallist Michael Phelps. However, an agreement was signed that he and the others would not remake the Splash Tail in the way it was originally made. Thom always tends to get the credit for Splash, likely because he’s the only one who actively still talks about the project.
To this day, Thom’s main project that he is the most proud of, is his consistent work with make a wish foundation. Thom has been named, by the community, as the tail man. While the other artists involved indeed are spfx artists, Thom was the one to become the TAIL MAKER. Because he was the first, 30 years ago, to start a tail making business, before most current tail makers were even born. He has undertaken many commercial and TV/Movie projects, he’s also mentored many professional and amateur tail makers.Though, he was not the first to ever make mermaid tails as we've seen from old movies ;)
A few years ago, Thom suffered a serious reaction to an immunization, and had 6 mini strokes. He has recovered very well, but he struggle to physically type. He instead opts to use the Dragon Speech program to dictate what he’d like to say. You don’t see him as active online as he is in person, because of that barrier.
This year marks 30 years since Splash came out. I think I’ll post loads of behind the scenes :)
While Thom was not directly credited in the credits (a studio admitted mishap as explained in the ultimate splash fangroup where some of the actors still frequent [like the guy who said pee down the air hose]) this often happens. A perfect example would be, Jim Henson studios is simply credited as thus and doesn't list every person working. Merwrangler Sean's brother in law also works in movie production and it really depends on who he is working under whether he shows up on credits.
Regardless, you can actually see Thom working away here ;)
Here's photos of Thom working away!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1545212_472100846233672_1459147905_n.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/fcedea41837c8fa4b1c5183a3224ac35/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo4_500.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/c5fad55c9f87dcd727c24421d2057b51/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo2_500.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/b8df4c7954f8bb4fbb36706933e41f68/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo3_500.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/e922ca316df25cd32e8a90f81ebd6f8d/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo1_500.jpg
After Splash, Mitch and Robert went on to continue working generally in the special effects world for films, doing many different projects. Thom however, stuck with mermaids, and was the main mermaid man for Disney for decades. His other most memorable Disney work was his work with gold medallist Michael Phelps. However, an agreement was signed that he and the others would not remake the Splash Tail in the way it was originally made. Thom always tends to get the credit for Splash, likely because he’s the only one who actively still talks about the project.
To this day, Thom’s main project that he is the most proud of, is his consistent work with make a wish foundation. Thom has been named, by the community, as the tail man. While the other artists involved indeed are spfx artists, Thom was the one to become the TAIL MAKER. Because he was the first, 30 years ago, to start a tail making business, before most current tail makers were even born. He has undertaken many commercial and TV/Movie projects, he’s also mentored many professional and amateur tail makers.Though, he was not the first to ever make mermaid tails as we've seen from old movies ;)
A few years ago, Thom suffered a serious reaction to an immunization, and had 6 mini strokes. He has recovered very well, but he struggle to physically type. He instead opts to use the Dragon Speech program to dictate what he’d like to say. You don’t see him as active online as he is in person, because of that barrier.
This year marks 30 years since Splash came out. I think I’ll post loads of behind the scenes :)
While Thom was not directly credited in the credits (a studio admitted mishap as explained in the ultimate splash fangroup where some of the actors still frequent [like the guy who said pee down the air hose]) this often happens. A perfect example would be, Jim Henson studios is simply credited as thus and doesn't list every person working. Merwrangler Sean's brother in law also works in movie production and it really depends on who he is working under whether he shows up on credits.
Regardless, you can actually see Thom working away here ;)
Here's photos of Thom working away!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1545212_472100846233672_1459147905_n.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/fcedea41837c8fa4b1c5183a3224ac35/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo4_500.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/c5fad55c9f87dcd727c24421d2057b51/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo2_500.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/b8df4c7954f8bb4fbb36706933e41f68/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo3_500.jpg
https://31.media.tumblr.com/e922ca316df25cd32e8a90f81ebd6f8d/tumblr_mzgrj9kmjd1r0wgkuo1_500.jpg