ERICK SOSA INTERVIEW ABOUT PROTOTYPEZ

Erick Sosa is regarded by many as one of the most gifted sculptors of our days. He dared to pursue the dream of having his own company, PrototypeZ Studio. Let’s learn about this venture.

1 – Hello, Erick, when I interviewed you around a year ago, you were battling to turn PrototypeZ Studio into reality. Now it is. What changed in your life?

Erick Sosa: Well mainly, I have less stress as I don't have to deal with many clients anymore.

2 – Is PrototypeZ Studio a customs venture or are the products it offers licensed?

 ES: All products are 100% licensed.

3 – I saw you launched a Street Fighter Ryu. In several formats if I’m not mistaken. What were the formats/variants, their prices and are there anymore available for purchase?

ES: There’s a few left but stock is low. We mainly work in 1/6th and 1/4th scales.

4 – What’s coming next if you can say? And when will it be released?

 Akuma has been released and we will let people decide between Chun Li and Ken…

5 – Do you have any wild dream regarding PrototypeZ Studio? Like an authorial series of figures? If any, in which category (horror, fantasy, heroes etc.) it would be focused?

ES: Yes, my hope is to begin creating an original series of PVC heroes and monsters…

6 – Any other wild dream regarding PrototypeZ Studio? Besides become Sideshow rich? Lol.

ES: Nah, no desire to grow that big at all… just the desire to do my own creations and to be able to grow from that.

7 – This is a short question with a big answer I guess: could you name and describe every process from PrototypeZ Studio from conceptual design to delivering of the figure to the buyer? I’m very curious to know every step a given piece comes across until reaching the final buyer.

ES: We start with a 2D sketch, then we get that approved by Capcom and we move on to the 3D modeling, once that is approved we print and mold cast and paint. Then we submit photographs and then once approved we send the prototypes to our factory in China in order to begin production.

8 – Of this whole process what do you like the most and what do you dislike the most?

ES: I dislike leaving my family behind to go to China, as much as I love China. However it is a great time to be able to do quality control and make sure people get the best product we can give them.

9 – Can PrototypeZ Studio products be bought in stores? How to acquire a PrototypeZ piece?

ES: You can but via retailers like big bad toy store, or our website www.prototypezstudios.com

10 – Besides PrototypeZ Studio you still work in other places/projects? Could you name it?

ES: I only work for Kotobukiya and Banpresto but not many projects as my focus is Prototypez and Semic-Protoypez…. more on that soon. All I can say is we got a Marvel license and we are doing quite a bit of product for it.

11 – It worth both financially and let’s say psychologically to create your own enterprise?

ES: Absolutely!

12 – What are the big differences of being the boss?

ES: More responsibility but also more benefits such as being able to create what I want instead of being told how to go about it.

13 – What do you like the most about PrototypeZ Studio?

ES: The freedom it comes with being able to dictate what gets done and how.

14 – What needs improvement in PrototypeZ Studio in your opinion?

ES: A lot, we are working on a new system for our consumer service, preparing a new quality control team, and working on a new product not just Polystone statues.

16 – Which franchise you really wanted to bring to PrototypeZ Studio?

ES: Honestly after Street Fighter I may just focus on King of Fighters but still working out a deal with SNK for that. The truth is my focus is original product and toys.

17 – Is there any character you sculpted so much you got tired of it?

ES: Not tired but yeah I would say the minions from Despicable me…. Ugh

18 – Is hand sculpting a dying art in the industry since digital sculpting seems to be an easier, faster sculpting tool?

ES: It is, all companies are working with digital tech, I hardly no anyone doing traditional sculpt besides Neca maybe, and they are also using 3D assets.

19 – Do you still do hand sculpting? In which circumstances?

ES: Once or twice a year I do my own monsters and sell them in japan as resin kits  at Winter Wonderfestival.

20 – Why do you think prices are increasing so fast in the industry? Do you believe there’s a practical reason (or reasons) besides pure greed? How much of it is just greed?

ES: There’s many variables, but greed is usually part of what drives any industry…. A lot of it is greed. A lot of it is…yeah greed too… lol

Right in the face of big companies! 

21 – What are the variables taken into account to determine the price of a piece?

ES: License cost, production cost, territory limitations….

22 – Did your previous experiences on the market help you developing PrototypeZ Studio? If so, in which manner?

ES: In every aspect, I wouldn’t have been able to start the company without the knowledge I gained from rubbing shoulders with people that know so much about the industry.

23 – Define PrototypeZ Studio with one word. Or phrase if a word is too short of an answer.

 ES: “Freedom to create “

Thank you Erick, wish you the best in your life and work. I hope this interview bring some light about your company and about the market as whole.

ES: Thank you, sir!

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed it!

LIST OF INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEW’S LIST (FROM NEWEST TO OLDEST)

I decided to create a post with all interviews and their respective links. That way will be easy to spot somebody you want to read about and by just clicking on the name of the person go to the interview. I will update this post every time I do a new interview so one can always access all them by here.

I hope it helps.

COLLECTORS

- Dom Peeps

MARKET INTERVIEWS

- Erick Sosa (owner of PrototypeZ Studio)

- Danny Lim (owner of Imaginarium Art)

- Pablood-Z talks about Sideshow Killer Croc (Art Director/Lead Artist Imaginarium Art)

- Kotobukiya, Sideshow, Diamond Select, Gentle Giant - Ed Bradley (painter)

- Pop Culture Shock - Jerry Macaluso (owner, sculptor, art director)

- Sideshow - Amilcar Fong (sculptor, designer)

- First 4 Figures - Alex Davis (owner)

- Sideshow - Mark Newman (sculptor)

- ErickSosa (sculptor, producer, owner, manager etc.)

- Sideshow –Alfred Paredes (sculptor)

- XMStudios – Bryan Tan (co-founder)

- Prime 1 Studio - Alvaro Ribeiro (sculptor)

- Iron Studios - Gabriel Ebehardt (projects & developing)

- Sideshow -Matthew J Black (sculptor) – PART I
- Sideshow - Matthew J Black (sculptor) – PART II

- Randy Bowen



CUSTOMS INTERVIEWS


- PART I - PRODUCERS

- PART II - SCULPTORS

- PART III - PAINTERS

- PART IV - COMMISSIONERS

EXCLUSIVE ERICK SOSA INTERVIEW

If there’s an artists that doesn’t need presentation is Erick Sosa. The great sculptor that’s being on the Market for over 20 years and have been everywhere and seen everything is known by every collector who deserves this sobriquet. Today we get to talk with Erick about the past, the present, the Market and tiny bit of the future.

-x-x-x-

1 – How old are you and for how many years do you work as a professional sculptor?

Erick Sosa (ES): I just turned 40 a few weeks back, I have been a professional sculptor for 23 years now.

2 – Do you sculpt solemnly with 3D software? If so, is it ZBrush? If not when do you use handmade sculpt?

(ES): I sculpted in clay and way for 20 years, now I am a 3D sculptor for the past 3 years, only 3D now.

3 – Tell us briefly what’s your story. How you became a professional sculptor?

(ES): I started sculpting at 3 year old, never stopped until this day. In high school my art teacher got me into Mattel toys, and ever since I have been in the toy industry and for 12 years in the collectibles industry.

4 – To which companies you already worked for?

(ES): I have worked for mostly all of them except Hard Hero, or NECA, other than that most of them.

5 – I see that today you work for a bunch of different companies - Kotobukiya, DC Collectibles and your own – PrototypeZ Studio. Which generates the best income? And which gives you more pleasure to work for?

(ES): I rather not talk about income, however I can tell you that the obvious answer is being a producer, that is where the most income is generated. Also I enjoy working for all clients, but Kotobukiya and DC Collectibles and Mattel Toys have a special place in my heart. However, working for myself and my own company gives me the most satisfaction as every step taken takes me to the realization of my goals and dreams, those dreams being the complete independence from any company and complete artistic freedom, oh and to be able to help other fellow artists.

Ryu by PrototypeZ

6 – What’s exactly your role in Kotobukiya? I quite didn’t get it by your job description.

(ES): I used to help run Kotobukiya as an advisor and art director and developer of product. These days I am just an art director... kinda 😁

7 – Is it common to have a team sculpting one figure nowadays?

(ES):  For the most part most companies only hire one person per project, however, there are others that do hire a group of people to work on a project, usually projects that are very time consuming. I personally have been working with other artists for a good 12 years now.

8 – What do you think of the ever-increasing prices, well over inflation, on statues Market? Why do you think it happens? Or is happening?

(ES): The industry as a whole is an ever evolving, shifting living creature, and as such it is always changing and adapting to factors such as the world economy, trends, pop culture, and yes inflation. There's nothing one can do about inflation, and companies have to adapt. One thing I do see is that there's an over flooding of similar licensed product, that is not good for the industry, it may be good for fans as they have more options, but it does affect everyone revenue wise.

9 – Do you do commission work for fans/collectors? If not, do you have any prejudice against it?

(ES): I do on occasion, but these days I am too busy to do anything anymore so I am not taking on current commissions. I have no prejudice against it although some do, I find it odd that comic book artists can sell as many sketches of Batman as they want but we sculptors cannot sell our stuff.... Anyway, I don't want to get into a debate over copyrights :)

Archangel 

10 – In sculpting, which is the easiest part, the most difficult part and the more pleasurable part?

(ES): Everything is part of a whole, once you start categorizing which parts are harder or which one is easier then sculpting loses its fun, you must enjoy the whole process or else you are in the wrong business. Ok, ok I'll cave, anatomy is tough, portraits even more... women are very hard to sculpt, but again if you are enjoying yourself everything becomes just a constant flow and it all works out in the end.

 

And that's because sculpting woman is hard.

11 – Which piece(s) you did you’re more proud of?

(ES): None, I don't have a favorite sculpture, as a matter of fact I am not a fan of my work, I tend to enjoy it as I am working on it and once it is done I can see so many problems that it makes me not really like it anymore. I am always looking to find the way to get closer to what I see in my mind versus what I make with my hands... very tough, and I have never been able to achieve such level of excellence yet, maybe one day ... buy I doubt it.

Guess who

12 – Do you collect figures or have any other hobby?

(ES): I don't collect at all, I do have many pieces, I usually get samples of my work, I do collect work by sculptors whose work I admire, so yeah maybe I do collect a bit.

13 – Your profession grants a good, bad or average income to you?

(ES): I have to say it has allowed me to live a humble yet relaxed lifestyle, I make enough for my needs, and the needs of my family.

14 – What is necessary today to be a professional sculptor?

(ES): Passion, a great eye for form, distances, depth, drawing, patience, and tons of studying empirically and by way of practice every single day. If you want to be a best sculptor, become great at drawing.

Guess who 2

15 – Who is your favorite character?

(ES): Depends, if we are talking fantasy then Superman/Spiderman/Batman, I know very cliché  😁 hey I like Yoda too 😜

16 – Which character would you love to model?

(ES): The one I have in front of me right now 😁

17 – Are there any news (I know there are) from one of the three companies you work for you could share with us? Does something change with this news?

(ES): Nothing new, wolfing on film product for DC and Marvel Fine art for Koto, I am actually not doing much freelance anymore. I believe the market for sculptors is oversaturated and the fact that many sculptors are not very well versed in business is beginning to affect those that are already established to the point of sorting wages down across the industry, time to become a producer.

18 – Is there a company you would like to contribute with?

(ES): PrototypeZ Studios :) no one else really, I have collaborated with mostly everyone and it has been fun, time for me to do my own thing I think.

19 – In your opinion, what is the best collectible figures company in the world today?

(ES): The one that is honest with its clientele, the one that respects its fans, the one that listens to feedback, the one that would rather make less money but give their faithful customers product that is worth the money they paid, hopefully many companies think this way, because that is what makes a great company.

20 – Three bands and three movies.

(ES): Bands - Duran Duran, The Verve, Five for Fighting, Remy zero... oh wait hat is four...

Movies – Matrix, Back to the future trilogy, Robocop, Ghostbusters

Oh wait that is way too many movies 😁

21 – What would astonish you the most: to see a ghost or to see an alien?

(ES): After working in this industry for almost a quarter of a century nothing really would surprise me lol.... ghosts do not care me as they are just the essence that lives within human bodies, what gives them life, so ghost are basically just people... I am not afraid of people...

Aliens, I used to be one... but I can't remember what planet I came from so no worries, I love aliens :)

Maybe Erick's portrait of a distant parent? :)

22 – Please, leave one last phrase or quote for our readers.

(ES): "Don't look back, you are not going that way"

Thank you very much for your time and your talent. Wish you all the success you deserve with PrototypeZ!

Addendum:

CCF: […] But what about the rumors of PrototypeZ getting the Marvel license? Is it true?

ES: I cannot say more, Marvel won't let me. Apologies, brother 😭😭

Soon I will let everyone know!

CCF: Ok! Thanks once again! I will not be on your ankle anymore! Lol!

ES: No, thank you and I apologize it has been very hard for me to have a minute even for myself.

Addendum 2:

I've found relevant to put a statement a fellow collector closer to Erick did, so I cite staueforum.com amloprinzi user here:

"Yes, Erick is very passionate about his company prototypez and what he does. I can confirm that. He was working extremely hard before the release of Ryu. He barely got any sleep most of his days. He was so worried and wanted to deliver on his promise of giving everyone the best statues money can buy.

After working hard day and night, he finally got the product samples and knew he had an amazing product, and could have asked for anything better for himself and his fans. I know everyone will be presently surprised and love their Ryu's. They will see the level of love and details Erick has put in these statues."

TO SEE A LIST OF LINKS TO ALL 

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS FROM CCFIGURES

CLICK HERE.