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Jan 4, 2008
Doc Terminus
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The Ellenshaw Museum: Pete’s Dragon (1977)

In our second focus on material in the Ellenshaw museum here in Passamaquoddy, we focus on th epride and joy of our town… the matte work done of the most beautiful town in the world…. our very own Passamaquoddy.

Many of us are familiar with the film Pete’s Dragon which was set around here. We all know the story and we laughed at the world when they accepted the story as fiction.

But Harrison Ellenshaw’s work was no fiction. Like his father whose work is seen throughout this museum, he brought artistry to the matte painting – the process of painting on glass to crate the illusion of location.


The finished film… The matte work highlighted

Nowadays, this work is easily created using a computer, but creating a location using a plate of glass, a paintbrush, paints and a steady hand is truly one ofteh most artistic aspects of the creation of film.

And to have a father and son both skilled at matte creation is fortunate. What is unfortunate is that matte paintings were usually erased after shooting so the glass can be re-used. I know I would have sold my neighbors house out from under them to have one of these wonderful paintings hanging in my office… or in my prison cell if I sold my neighbors house.

To see more of the Ellenshaw museum, use “Ellenshaw” in the search engine on the right.

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