For Sale: Jaws Sculptures Created By Hollywood SFX Legend Nick Marra
You're Gonna Need A Bigger Display Cabinet!
Nick Marra is a bonafide Hollywood legend has worked in the television and film industry for 30+ years as a sculptor and special effects make-up artist. His credits include Jurassic Park, The Hateful Eight, Lake Placid, Man Of Steel and many more.
Nick has branched out into creating life size silicone figures, bronze busts, and statues for private clients, business owners, production companies, award ceremonies, national organizations and others.
His impeccable talent for capturing lifelike, hyper-realistic emotion in clay has designated him as a master sculptor and one of the best in his field.
Jaws was one of the movies that inspired Nick to follow his chosen career path and revealed to us he has some very special creations for sale that Jaws fans and collectors would kill for!
Master sculptor Nick Marra working on another familiar face from TV, Breaking Bad’s Walter White.
TDJ: What makes Jaws such a great movie?
NM: That’s easy .... a spectacular blend of acting, writing, story , editing , an unforgettable score all tied together by a 26 year old wiz kid named Spielberg. I was already a huge fan of the young phenom director - as far back as his directing in Marcus Welby MD, Columbo, Night Gallery , and then the made for TV masterpiece DUEL, I was eagerly awaiting his first big studio pic based on the smash novel by Peter Benchley .
TDJ: How long have you been a jaws fan? when/where did you first see it?
NM: After 2 unsuccessful attempts to see JAWS in June and July 1975 ( there was lines wrapped around the Odeon theater in the waterfront area of my hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Canada ) I was finally able to see the film . I was not prepared for a life changing experience .
TDJ: What is your favourite moment / character?
NM: My favorite moment - thats a really tough question. But if I had to choose one it would be Hooper ( and the entire theater ) getting there scare of his life when he sees Ben Gardner’s head in the hole in the bottom of the boat . The reaction from the audience was one I’ll never forget - it wasn’t like a bunch of heads rose up in the theater, it was like the theater dropped 2 feet !! Every head in the theater went up at the same time - I got a great view because I was towards the back of the theater .
Of course my favorite character, probably my favorite film character in any movie was the Captain Quint . He was bigger than life , funny, and scary - just a staggering performance by the Great Robert Shaw .
TDJ: How long did it take to design and create the sculptures?
NM: I started working on the Quint sculpture first - in the early 90’s . From the beginning I wanted to sculpt the trio from the film . I started Hooper next then Brody .
TDJ: Any advice to people wanting to get into your line of work?
NM: I opened my Studio ( Nick Marra Studios ) in 2014 after over 25 years in the Special Makeup FX business. My advice to someone interested in that field would be work , apply your craft , study , live it - you must have an unending passion to create . There will be rejection, difficulties, but you must persevere - determination will be your best friend .
Nick helped his friend and fellow Jaws super fan Greg Nicotero create some Jaws sculptures for Jawsfest, as well as an incredible life size Quint. Watch Nick and Greg’s interview below:
