The town where one of Hollywood NorthB次元官网网址檚 first blockbusters was filmed now has a permanent red cedar reminder of the industryB次元官网网址檚 beginnings. And the carving, of Sylvester StalloneB次元官网网址檚 character John J. Rambo, is officially Sly-approved according to the man himself.
On Instagram, Stallone posted that he was very proud of the B次元官网网址渕assiveB次元官网网址� Rambo statue installed in Hope, B次元官网网址渆xactly where we shot First Blood.B次元官网网址� He also gave a shout out to carver Ryan Villiers, who was commissioned to take on the reincarnation of RamboB次元官网网址檚 iconic look in red cedar.
Villiers, an Edmonton-based chainsaw carver, has made a name for himself in the industry by taking on lifelike carvings of Don Cherry and Norm from Cheers. It was these carvings that caught the eye of Hope councillor and leader with Communities in Bloom Victor Smith, who commissioned Villiers for this project.
The process began with a lot of Googling of Rambo in different angles B次元官网网址� Villiers estimates he had two to three hundred screenshots on his phone. Then it was about scaling, getting the proper proportions which he has modeled on his own frame.
Throughout the creative process, Villiers heard from SlyB次元官网网址檚 agent after he had seen his progress on the piece. Stallone was shown the photos of the carving when it was still just bare wood, and loved it his agent said in a text message. B次元官网网址淪o that was icing on the cake for me,B次元官网网址� Villiers said.
The only question the agent had, allegedly from Sly himself, was around the stature of the art piece. The carving, Villiers answered, stands 6 foot 1 inch tall.
B次元官网网址淔irst Blood fans have been waiting for this moment for almost 30 years,B次元官网网址漵aid local tourism promoter Bryan McKinney on the day of the unveiling of the piece Aug. 14. Fans of the franchise always wonder when they visit Hope and its many chainsaw carvings, McKinney said, where the Rambo carving is.
And with the piece now installed, McKinney is also able to push back against the digs from his friends in Philadelphia who have their own bronze statue of Rocky Balboa in their city.
B次元官网网址淭his day is for the fans, the millions of them, that are around the globe and IB次元官网网址檓 not lying, itB次元官网网址檚 a little bit of an emotional day for sure,B次元官网网址� McKinney reflected on the unveiling. B次元官网网址淲e often like to say, you know what, the co-star of this film is Hope, B.C. and a lot of the fans they come to our town because of the way the town looked on screen.B次元官网网址�
READ MORE:
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
emelie.peacock@hopestandard.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on
