Exclusive: Aaron Sims Talks About The Film Archetype And The Aaron Sims Company

Update: I've gotten many kind words and emails about this project, but I'm not affiliated with the Aaron Sims Company in any way. Go to http://www.aaron-sims.com/ to learn more.

You may not know the name, but you've seen the work of Aaron Sims and his concept design work a lot.

He's worked on some of the biggest films like Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Transformers and The Thing. He started out as a make-up artists working with Academy Award winning make-up artists like Stan Winston and Rick Baker. It was in 2007 that he founded his own concept design studio called the Aaron Sims Company which bings together the work of some of the most visionary arstists in the industry.

Since, his new short film Archetype is coming out today I sat down with him to find out more about the creative mind of Aaron Sims.

Q: How did you get started working in make-up and special effects?
[Image: From Beyond (1985)]

I started working in make-up effects 1985, on a film called From Beyond. I was hired to design the creatures and I loved it so much that I made a career out of it.

Q: What was it about concept design that drew you from make-up and how did you make the transition?
[Image: A.I. (2001) concept art]

I was a designer way before I was a makeup artist. When I was a kid, all I did was draw monsters all day. After years of doing makeup effects I taught myself VFX . I started working at Stan Winston's as his Art Director, and headed his Digital Department. After five years I decided to take all the knowledge that I acquired of both makeup and VFX and use it for designing.

Q: Tell us about your new film Archetype.
[Image: Archetype (2012) concept art]
Archetype is a short film that I've been working on for a bit. I wanted to stretch my wings to show my directing ability. I had so much fun with the process of it that I'm of focusing on a feature version now. It'll be based roughly on the short film but the feature script is bringing a lot of fun surprises and depth with it.

Q: What was the most surprising thing you learned directing Archetype?
I would say the greatest thing I learned was developing a mindset for working with actors. Actors have there own language and I realized I needed to understand how to communicate my vision in a way they would understand. This was a process, but I definitely learned a lot.

Q: Did the experience change your view of concept design?
For me it only justified the importance of concept design, and committing to them early on. It became an exceptionally powerful way communicate all my ideas to everyone - the Set Designer, DP, Actors, etc...

Q: Can you tell us the most challenging project you've worked on?
To be honest, the most challenging project for me so far is Archetype. The most challenging thing was completing the short on almost no money. It was definitely a labor of love for me and the entire crew. That's what helped make it real.

Q: What's next for you and you company?
My company recently added previs as a tool [to] help directors and filmmakers tell their story early on. This especially helps projects that are heavy in design, and effects.

Thank you for your time.

You can learn more about Aaron Sims and his production company at http://www.aaron-sims.com/
Also, check out the short film at http://www.archetype-movie.com/.

Check out more of my interviews with amazing artists on my List of Interviews page.

What If Your Brain Were Trapped in a Rampaging Kill-Bot? 'Archetype' Concept Art Shows What.

How freaky would it be if you woke up in a robot body? Especially if everyone says your brain isn't even in there. The upcoming independant film Archetype has the tagline "Your Memories Are Just A Glitch".
Aaron Sims is a creature/conceptual designer working with directors like Steven Spielberg, Zack Snyder and Martin Campbell. Now he's striking out on his own as a director in a short film.

RL7 is an eight-foot tall combat robot that goes on the run after malfunctioning with vivid memories of once being human. As its creators and the military close in, RL7 battles its way to uncovering the shocking truth behind its mysterious visions and past.
Directed by Aaron Sims
starring Robert Joy (Land of the Dead, CSI:NY) and David Anders (Heros, 24).

Alex Mandra (X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern) has a few concept paintings from the upcoming film.
Here's the trailer.


The film opens January 20, 2012 and you can learn more, including watching a couple of behind-the-scenes videos, at http://www.archetype-movie.com/.

See more of Alex's work, including stuff from X-Men: First Class at http://alexmandra.blogspot.com/

What would you do?

Top Ten Amazing Concept Art of 'X-Men: First Class' (2011)

There are many talented artists who worked on X-Men: First Class, and while I haven't seen all the artwork, these are my favorites.

Official plot synopsis: "X-Men: First Class charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men."



1. Angel by Howard Swindell

It's not hard to make the beautiful Zoe Kravitz look good, but the coy way Angel peeks behind her extended wings really sells this piece.

2. Beast by Howard Swindell

3. Beach wreckage by Jamie Rama

In the clymactic battle at the end of the film, the mutants crash onto the beach. This landscape by Jamie Rama does a great job exploring the wreckage of the X-Men's jet.

3. Banshee scream by Unknown (Aaron Simms Company)

Banshee was an alright character in the film, but I think this concept art makes it really dynamic. Notice the change to his throat suggesting an incredible release of power.

4. "Havok v.5" by Alex Mandra Unknown (Aaron Simms Company)

In the film Havok is able to release blasts of energy. I'm assuming this was a scene from when Havok was trapped on an aircraft carrier and he's blasting his way out.

5. "Havok v. 4" by Alex Mandra Unknown (Aaron Simms Company)

Another great scene of Havok blasting away. Notice a couple of things. First, he's not wearing his harness, but still has control of his power. Second, notice the sword which I'm assuming was owned by Azazel. That also might explain the leg and hoof hanging in the air.

6. Azazel by Jerad S. Merantz

This image of Azazel is much more extreme than what we saw on film. With the suggestion of horns and an amazing armored costume. I'm not sure about the fur coat though. Too much?

7. Angel by Jerad S. Merantz

Another alternate view of Angel, this one is far more goth than the final result. Some nice touches are the gorgeous backlit wings and the slight hint of drool at the corners of her mouth suggesting her acidic saliva.

 8. Darwin by Howard Swindell

A Photoshop job adds gills. This is the first art I've seen that shows Darwin's tranformations effectively. He created a bunch more, but this is my favorite. 

9. "Emma Frost, Preliminary Design" by Hao Wu

The lovely view of Emma Frost as being made of large diamonds with sparkling eyes. The fire in high-quality diamonds really adds to the drama. In the film the effect is a bit muddied, so I like how this one shines.

10. "Havok Firing Sequence" by Hao Wu



While the final result looks nothing like this, I like how he laid out the feel of the sequence which is sweet. Great use of colors too.

Visit all the websites of the artists for more great stuff.
http://www.aaron-sims.com/
http://www.howardswindell.com/
http://www.haosketch.com/
http://jamierama.com/
http://jeradsmarantz.blogspot.com/
http://alexmandra.blogspot.com/

Some artwork taken from conceptartworld.com
What's your favorite concept art from the film? Do you have a favorite artist?

Artists of 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)'

Here are the fine men and women who helped bring you the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011).

Official Synopsis:

A single act of both compassion and arrogance leads to a war unlike any other — and to the RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. The Oscar-winning visual effects team that brought to life the worlds of Avatar and Lord of the Rings is breaking new ground, creating a CGI ape that delivers a dramatic performance of unprecedented emotion and intelligence, and epic battles on which rest the upended destinies of man and primate.

Starring: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt

Written By: Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver

Produced By: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Estimated Opening Date: 5 August 2011 (USA)

Production Designer

• Claude Pare http://www.adg.org/?art=member_profile&ID=7484

Character designer

• Jerad S. Marantz http://jeradsmarantz.blogspot.com/
• Aaron Sims http://www.aaron-sims.com/  

Concept illustrator

• Brian Cunningham
• Warren Flanagan
• Milena Zdravkovic
• John Dale

Graphic Designer

• Brian Cunningham
• Adrian Hrytzak
• Jack Gauvreau

Illustrator

• Kirsten Franson

Model Maker

• Michael Toby

Previsualization

• Slavik Anishchenko

Set designer

• Bryan Sutton

Storyboard artist

• Timothy Burgard http://www.timburgardart.com/
• Warren Drummond http://web.mac.com/warrendrummond/Site/STORYBOARD_ARTIST.html
• Martin L. Mercer http://www.martinmercer.com/

All information taken from IMDb. Updated as necessary.