ABOUT THE NORMAN GRIFFIN COMPANY
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The Norman Griffin Company has the expertise of 20 years in manual 3D modeling for the entertainment industry, including film, stage, and amusement parks. The company also designed and produced props and large sets for the television commercial market.
After extensive experience in developing and engineering large structures, sometimes up to 25-feet high, the Norman Griffin Company turned to 3D CAD modeling, where they can more easily convert ideas and concepts into reality. The quality of the company’s projects define excellence as well as diversity.
As sole proprietor, Norman Griffin’s experience evolved within various industries, including:
- Molding props and large structures for film and television ads, including Die Hard 3 and Beastmaster and commercials for General Motors® and Dodge Trucks®
- Constructing stage sets and motorized structures for live shows with celebrities, such as Michael Jackson, Prince, and Jerry Seinfeld
- Creating theme park sculptures and mechanical transportation systems for Walt Disney® and Universal Studios®
- Producing dimensional product packaging, such as shrink-wrapped food and background
milk farm mural for on-stage commercial photography - Prototyping military vehicles, such as autonomous vehicles for the defense industry, General Dynamics
- And much more…
The Norman Griffin Company Mission is simple. Norman Griffin remains focused on collaborating with you and your project. From two-dimensional sketches to using the best 3D CAD software, he will adapt to your needs and effectively manage a required project. Mr. Griffin is your nuts and bolts, so whether your concept is a prop, product or engineering specific, you can be assured Norman Griffin’s combined manual 3D modeling and 3D CAD modeling will meet your expectations.
About Norman Griffin: Fine Arts Experience Assist in Future of 3D Modeling
Norman Griffin’s career into 3D CAD modeling isn’t a typical one. For several years, Norman lived in New York City. His original plan was to work in fine arts, but after the sudden death of his best friend (a prominent auto designer), Norman eventually decided to follow in his friend's footsteps as a designer. But the new path to his desired future was sidetracked with opportunities in the fine arts sector. His initial jobs included: installation designer at the newly minted Huntington Hartford Museum. A year later, Norman worked as assistant curator of design and architecture at the MOMA. The work there included collaborating with the esteemed Bernard Rudofsky and his incredible exhibition “Architecture without Architects.”
Men in black target aliens for Men in Black show in Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida. Alien and prop guns designed by Norman Griffin. |
He eventually moved west and accepted a job as Guest Drawing and Painting Instructor at Humbolt University (see Fine Arts). After a few years, he began working in the manufacturing industry as well as all phases of signage. This work required him to understand the mechanics of cranes and lifts as well as the engineering design work that was used in billboard installations on the ground and on the face of buildings. Norman’s interest in this work spurned a concept for a company: he could use his past fine art experiences of molding and sculpturing and morph it with his mechanical engineering sense.
Thankfully, he met people like Dennis Curtin and Joe Garnet—two well-respected producers, who eventually helped him enter the field of dimensional engineering in Hollywood. Under their tutelage and employment, Norman was able to start working under his own name by manually modeling three dimensional objects for Mr. Curtin and others in the entertainment industry. Soon new clients began requesting different types of projects. After building a bendable teller cage for a bank commercial, his work soon expanded to sketching and assembling effects-based projects for large set designs in motion pictures and live stage events. During these years, Mr. Griffin was fortunate enough to collaborate with John Gilmore and his brothers of Carthay Sets fame.
Experience with Manual 3D Modeling
Norman's first film job was Beast Master: directed by Don Coscarelli and art directed by Conrad Angone. Norman worked directly with Conrad to realize his vision of a village on stilts as well as dimensional surfaces for stone walls inside a pyramid.
Later, the creative people at General Motors contacted Norman to produce standing Numbers “5/100” for their truck commercial. Norman’s company built the numbers, transported, and then assembled the numbers in the high desert. In order to stand without being blown over by 70 mph gusts of wind, the numbers had to be welded to a steel grid surface or rug, The structure eventually measured 80 feet wide, ten feet deep, and 50 feet high. Because of his exceptional drawing, his well-organized project management skills and teamwork with local unions, the success of this project propelled him to notoriety in Hollywood production circles.
The numbers for the Dodge Trucks commercial. Designed by Norman Griffin.These were built at his production company. Each number is 25 feet high and withstood up to 70 mph gusts out in the high desert. |
Other projects during this time included sculptural and 3-dimensional projects for a number of other commercials. Strang and Sons also provided him set work for projects at Warner Brothers. This relationship was instrumental in gaining extended success for Norman Griffin on which he is grateful for his friendship and work history with artist, Ron Strang.
Production of Props and Stage Sets
Norman was introduced to Ron Strang, back in 1977, while seeking work at Warner Brothers. They began working together immediately for a travelling science fiction musical. The participating actors wore roller skates while singing and roller skating upside down over a moonscape environment.
Later in the 80's, Ron and his associate, Ian Knight, hired Norman to design and build a mechanical glowing rock as part of the "Excalibur" portion in Michael Jackson’s Brothers tour. At the shop, Norman and assistant, Fred Arbagast had a wonderful time working together building the stone and the sword of changing colors for the show. A revue from Time Magazine mentioned the stage prop favorably. This association led to other productions with Michael Jackson, who was quite active in the production process.
Ian and Ron also generously hired Norman to work on a project for the Purple Rain tour for the artist formerly known as Prince.
Another notable project included a commercial for GMC Trucks. Highly recommended by the owners of Jet Set Builders, Norman was asked to build a machine of massive proportions that could crush a four-door sedan sitting on a tow truck. Four 20-foot hydraulic rams were needed to enable the crushing capacity of 150 tons. Norman delivered and assembled the project in an aircraft hangar at the Santa Monica Airport. Through Norman’s intense research; finding the right team and resources to build; and finally, ensuring the project was well built and safe, he and his team delivered, operated and managed the project successfully. (see video)
In Die Hard 3: Die Hard with a Vengeance, Norman created the structures featured in a water scene with the main character, John McClane. This scene uses water as a weapon. The water is dumped through manmade underground tunnels where McClane is trapped in his truck; but manages to escape on his own. Besides this structure, Norman designed and built a 20 x 25 ft aluminum-sided tower. He also built and engineered the 6 x 20 ft horizontal piece of steel and clear plastic full-pipe used to enable proper lighting when the river of water pushes the truck away.
In 1998, Norman Griffin started a seven-year association with Ron Griffin, who by then was owner and operator of Attraction Services. Ron and Norman collaborated on many adventures in entertainment history, including: exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles; a replica of the Tiananmen Square tank, which was featured in Michael Jackson’s HIStory world tour; trade show booths; a steam engine built to near full-size for a production at Six Flags theme park; autonomous vehicles designed to perform sentry duty.
3D CAD Modeling
Forever evolving, Norman Griffin, has naturally moved from manual 3D modeling to 3D CAD modeling. His previous experience combined with his quality work in computer-aided design has made him a perfect fit in assisting businesses in the entertainment, engineering, and manufacturing industries make their product a reality.
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