C & H Film from Berlin contacted Andrew to make this rather comical bear. The bear is the symbol for 'Berlin' so to get it right was a touchy subject. A glassfibre head was made from a plaster mould. The articulating jaw and roving eyes were radio controlled and even tears were all realistic features of the bear. Various types of fur skins were used to simulate a real bear - fine otter fur was used for the face.
BANANA PAUL
1980
OTTO
Otto a very tall and fit lad, drew the short straw for being inside the costume. A rough size was carved out of expanded Polystyrene before the build was decided upon. Although light-hearted, the bear had to respect the history of the city.
BANANA PAUL
1980
PRETTY HOT!
Pretty hot in there - Otto taking a breather.
BANANA PAUL
1980
CLEVER BEAR
'Bana Paul" was not such a stupid bear. Not many bears can ride a motorbike.
ALIEN
1978
GIEGERS CONCEPT
Giger`s concept of a monster that was translucent, showing all internal organisms,was a tall order for Andrew. To develop a material and invent a moulding process in the space of the time scale of a film shoot, was always going to be challenging. A very tall Massai Warrior from Kenya was the actor engaged to be inside the Alien costume. Alas,the tear strength of the material was not adequate in time for the shoot. Ridley Scott said OK, let`s go without the monster, it might even add to the suspense. ndeed it did, because you never saw the monster in the original Alien film.
