Military Figures Are No Ordinary Joes
Ermey, 'Platoon' Figures Take Military Toys To New Level
POSTED: 3:59 p.m. EST December 21, 2002
If you didn't get enough of actor R. Lee Ermey's hardened drill instructing style as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in the 1987 Stanley Kubrick war drama "Full Metal Jacket," then get ready for a serious workout.
That's because Ermey, a retired Marine gunnery sergeant in real life and a veteran of over 60 films -- including "Apocalypse Now," "Dead Man Walking," "Leaving Las Vegas," "Saving Silverman" and the "Toy Story" movies (where he voiced the plastic Army Sarge), has been playing a new role for the past year -- himself -- as a 12-inch talking motivational action figure.
Ermey teamed with noted California-based doll and collectible makers Sideshow Toy to bring the idea to life, and it has turned out to be Sideshow's most successful line, he said.
"This little guy can't be called a doll because he's a motivational figure," Ermey explained to me in a recent phone interview.
"But, he is 12 inches tall, and the beauty of that is, he can play with Ken and Barbie down by the pool because he's the same size they are," Ermey mused. "Who knows what he might be doing with Barbie, but I know Ken would be down doing push-ups all the time."
What makes figure unique is that not only does he talk, he motivates by barking out some colorful language, Ermey. Since he's considered the first "R-rated" action figure, you better get ready to be called a "sorry sack of s---," and told to "get your head out or your," well, take one guess.
In other words, the figure is the perfect eye-opening motivational tool after a long night on the town, Ermey said.
"Say if you had a couple too many cold beers last night and your head's a little cob-webby when the alarm goes off in the morning, if you got him handy on the night table just reach over an push the button," Ermey said.
"Not only will he get you out of the rack, he'll drop you down for push-ups so you have your exercise for that day," he continued. "He'll send you off to work motivated. Or, since he's pocket-sized, take him with you to work in case your friends need to be motivated."
While new recruits who buy the figure may need some time to get themselves into shape, one group is already motivated by the 12-inch tower of power -- Ermey's Marine brethren.
"I'm a charter member of the Drill Instructor's Association, and they give these away as awards to people -- such as the drill instructors of the quarter," Ermey said with pride.
Because of his loyalty to his roots, Ermey has been continually donating a portion of the profits from the sales to the association: "I feel responsible for helping them out, and I also help out the American Legion when possible," he said.
If you're a fan of Ermey's films -- "Full Metal Jacket" in particular -- you'll be happy to hear about his role in the upcoming remake of the horror thriller "Willard," where Crispin Glover plays a man with an unusual connection with rats. Ermey is playing the role Ernest Borgnine originated in the 1971 classic.
"I worked with director Glen Morgan and producer Jimmy Wong before, and they let me do the role the way I wanted to do it," Ermey said. "I think this is hands down my best performance since 'Full Metal Jacket.' It's colorful and just crazy. It's a great screenplay."
'Platoon' Figures March In
As Ermey continues to enjoy the success of his motivational figure line, Sideshow Toy, in conjunction with MGM Consumer Products, has just launched another series of military-themed 12-inch action figures -- based on Oliver Stone's 1986 Oscar-winning war drama "Platoon."
Unlike the Ermey figure, these figures are based on characters from the film -- and recognizable characters at that: Pvt. Taylor (Charlie Sheen), Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) and Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger).
While it's not unusual for a film to spawn an action figure line, the "Platoon" figures have been created under a different set of circumstances. For one, the film is over 16 years old, and two, it addresses the sensitive subject matter of the Vietnam War.
Travis Rutherford, Senior Vice President of MGM Consumer Products & Interactive, was keenly aware of this, and approached the project with the utmost respect of the real-life events.
"The action figures are unique because they are high-end collectible products, meant to both commemorate the film and give proper authenticity to the Vietnam War," Rutherford said in a recent e-mail interview. "Teaming with a company that understands the collectible market and has a high standard of quality, like Sideshow Toy, ensures the subject matter is handled with appropriate reverence."
While other action figure lines may only bear slight resemblance to the actors they reproduced in plastic, the "Platoon" figures -- like the other film and television related dolls Sideshow has produced -- feature incredible likenesses of Sheen, Dafoe and Berenger. The great thing is, the level of quality doesn't stop there, Rutherford said.
"Our creative team worked closely with Sideshow Toy in getting them many archival photos and original film props -- everything they would need to create top-shelf collectibles," he said. "For example, there is writing on one of the action figure's helmets that replicates word-for-word the message that was on the character's actual helmet from the film.
"There is also a package of cigarettes for one figure that matches the film character's exact brand," Rutherford continued. "In the quest for authenticity, going the extra mile to create the figures makes them even more special."
More Info:
R. Lee Ermey Web Site
Sideshow Toy Web Site
That's because Ermey, a retired Marine gunnery sergeant in real life and a veteran of over 60 films -- including "Apocalypse Now," "Dead Man Walking," "Leaving Las Vegas," "Saving Silverman" and the "Toy Story" movies (where he voiced the plastic Army Sarge), has been playing a new role for the past year -- himself -- as a 12-inch talking motivational action figure.
Ermey teamed with noted California-based doll and collectible makers Sideshow Toy to bring the idea to life, and it has turned out to be Sideshow's most successful line, he said.
"This little guy can't be called a doll because he's a motivational figure," Ermey explained to me in a recent phone interview.
"But, he is 12 inches tall, and the beauty of that is, he can play with Ken and Barbie down by the pool because he's the same size they are," Ermey mused. "Who knows what he might be doing with Barbie, but I know Ken would be down doing push-ups all the time."
What makes figure unique is that not only does he talk, he motivates by barking out some colorful language, Ermey. Since he's considered the first "R-rated" action figure, you better get ready to be called a "sorry sack of s---," and told to "get your head out or your," well, take one guess.
In other words, the figure is the perfect eye-opening motivational tool after a long night on the town, Ermey said.
"Say if you had a couple too many cold beers last night and your head's a little cob-webby when the alarm goes off in the morning, if you got him handy on the night table just reach over an push the button," Ermey said.
"Not only will he get you out of the rack, he'll drop you down for push-ups so you have your exercise for that day," he continued. "He'll send you off to work motivated. Or, since he's pocket-sized, take him with you to work in case your friends need to be motivated."
While new recruits who buy the figure may need some time to get themselves into shape, one group is already motivated by the 12-inch tower of power -- Ermey's Marine brethren.
"I'm a charter member of the Drill Instructor's Association, and they give these away as awards to people -- such as the drill instructors of the quarter," Ermey said with pride.
Because of his loyalty to his roots, Ermey has been continually donating a portion of the profits from the sales to the association: "I feel responsible for helping them out, and I also help out the American Legion when possible," he said.
If you're a fan of Ermey's films -- "Full Metal Jacket" in particular -- you'll be happy to hear about his role in the upcoming remake of the horror thriller "Willard," where Crispin Glover plays a man with an unusual connection with rats. Ermey is playing the role Ernest Borgnine originated in the 1971 classic.
"I worked with director Glen Morgan and producer Jimmy Wong before, and they let me do the role the way I wanted to do it," Ermey said. "I think this is hands down my best performance since 'Full Metal Jacket.' It's colorful and just crazy. It's a great screenplay."
'Platoon' Figures March In
As Ermey continues to enjoy the success of his motivational figure line, Sideshow Toy, in conjunction with MGM Consumer Products, has just launched another series of military-themed 12-inch action figures -- based on Oliver Stone's 1986 Oscar-winning war drama "Platoon."
Unlike the Ermey figure, these figures are based on characters from the film -- and recognizable characters at that: Pvt. Taylor (Charlie Sheen), Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) and Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger).
While it's not unusual for a film to spawn an action figure line, the "Platoon" figures have been created under a different set of circumstances. For one, the film is over 16 years old, and two, it addresses the sensitive subject matter of the Vietnam War.
Travis Rutherford, Senior Vice President of MGM Consumer Products & Interactive, was keenly aware of this, and approached the project with the utmost respect of the real-life events.
"The action figures are unique because they are high-end collectible products, meant to both commemorate the film and give proper authenticity to the Vietnam War," Rutherford said in a recent e-mail interview. "Teaming with a company that understands the collectible market and has a high standard of quality, like Sideshow Toy, ensures the subject matter is handled with appropriate reverence."
While other action figure lines may only bear slight resemblance to the actors they reproduced in plastic, the "Platoon" figures -- like the other film and television related dolls Sideshow has produced -- feature incredible likenesses of Sheen, Dafoe and Berenger. The great thing is, the level of quality doesn't stop there, Rutherford said.
"Our creative team worked closely with Sideshow Toy in getting them many archival photos and original film props -- everything they would need to create top-shelf collectibles," he said. "For example, there is writing on one of the action figure's helmets that replicates word-for-word the message that was on the character's actual helmet from the film.
"There is also a package of cigarettes for one figure that matches the film character's exact brand," Rutherford continued. "In the quest for authenticity, going the extra mile to create the figures makes them even more special."
More Info:
R. Lee Ermey Web SiteSideshow Toy Web Site
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