Scuplting Hope
by Casey Banwell and Emma Pritty
Saving Nature received an interesting proposal from a pair of artists in the film industry offering to donate an original sculpture to help raise funds to save orangutans. On furlow during the COVID19 crisis, they turned their attention to their passion for conservation and used the downtime to create a better future.
Rango, a lifesize bust of an orangutan, was sculpted by Casey Banwell, whose art is featured in such films as the latest Star Wars movie! It was cold cast in bronze by Emma Pritty, a skilled mold maker, whose film credits include Jurassic Park and Fantastic Beasts.
Together, they have shown us the power of art to save endangered species. Saving Nature’s Andy Schiffer sat down with them to learn more about these two amazing women and their vision for the world.
Welcome a sit down with film industry artists Casey Banwell and Emma Pritty
How did you two meet?
Casey: We were building a giant snowman.
Emma: For a Christmas window display. Casey was building the snowman and I was heading up the team of people creating it.
Casey: Then I’ve been harassing her ever since. (Both start laughing)
What are your favorite animals?
Casey: Strange of you to ask that! When I was a kid I had two favorite animals: one was a raccoon called Ricky and the other was an orangutan. Ricky was a puppet I carried around.
Emma: You did some ventriloquism, right?
Casey: Yes, I carried him around and did shows. The only reason I stopped was I started liking boys and it wasn’t that appealing to be carrying a raccoon puppet around (both laugh out loud again).
What was the origin of Rango?
Emma: He represents what is happening with global warming.
Casey: He represents the closest animal to us in the animal kingdom that may go extinct during our lifetime if we don’t do something.
Emma: Also, cause Casey’s favorite animal growing up was an orangutan.
Casey: We contacted 20 charities with the idea of auctioning Rango. Our end result is to raise 20,000 pounds to help protect the beautiful orangutan. He is the first of many sculptures we hope to use to raise funds.
About Rango
Artists: Casey Banwell and Emma Pritty
Year created: In Lock Down 2020
Medium: Sculpted in Clay, cast as a Cold Cast Bronze.
Description:
First sculpted in clay, Rango was then molded using a silicone and fiberglass jacket. The bust is Cold Cast Bronze, which has been art effected to look like a patinated bronze.
Height (inches): 20
Width (inches): 23
Depth (inches): 13
Weight 3 kg
Artist Bios:
Casey Banwell is accomplished TV/film sculptor and modeller who worked on a wide range of projects from: Dumbo; Kingsman: Golden Circle; The Legend of Tarzan; to, most recently, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.
Emma Pritty is a skilled mold maker, who has also worked in the industry for a long time. With films in her portfolio such as: A Theory of Everything, Cinderella, A Solo Story, Justice League, Jurassic World, Fantastic Beasts, Star Wars. Both are based in England.
What advice do you have for artists out there that want to make a difference?
Casey: Just get making. My favorite sentence of all time is “If you build it, they will come.” I think it was from an American baseball movie.(check out Field of Dreams, great movie)
Emma: Just get started. I mean we messed up a lot haven’t we? Just get started. If you have an idea, start doing it. Even if it goes wrong you will get there in the end.
What place does art have in conservation?
Casey: It’s another way of connecting with people. Sometimes people get switched off by the constant bombarding of animals in need and animals in desperate situations. They can’t handle the gruesomeness of it.
Emma: I think the idea here is that instead of asking people to donate to a charity with nothing in return, they actually have the chance to get something back. If you are looking at a brilliant sculpture like Rango over a charity box, you are much more likely to donate.
How do you think COVID is going to effect your line of work for future projects?
Emma: I mean, thankfully, projects like Rango are not affected by COVID and actually we have more time to do them.
Casey: For future projects where we get paid income, I think there is always fortunately going to be a need for entertainment. I think the film industry will bounce back. It is starting to thrive again now, isn’t it?
What piece of work are you most proud of?
Casey: I am proud of what we are doing.
Emma: So Rango?
Casey: Yeah. This and sculpting a dog for Beauty and the Beast. Um. Luke Skywalker’s house and a giant’s head.
Is it strange going back to work on production?
Emma: Yes, I am back now and it’s very different. They are managing it very well. They are very strict. We have no actual cases and it’s been around a month.
Casey: I mean you are getting tested two times a week?
Emma: We are getting tested, we are getting temperature checked. People who have shift work have come in just fine and everyone has just been sensible. Everyone is wearing masks. Honestly, those are the only changes really. I think other than that, we will go back to normal and the industry will be back and running again. But as for projects like Rango, COVID has probably kickstarted Rango having all this time to get our teeth in and work on him.
Casey: I mean Rango started a year ago. But as soon as lockdown started, I was able to really focus on him and able to finish him.’
What was it like working on the set of Star Wars for you two? Did you two get to hang out?
Emma: We worked there for over a year. We always shouted at each other from our workshops across the road, “Oh, we should grab a coffee.” But it was always so busy on set set we didn’t have much time.
I think that is all the questions. Thank you for everyone who has already donated to support the beautiful orangutan.
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