KISS OF CARMILLA; Gothic Horror Miniatures. New Company, 'Monolith Models'.

[jami 415]

I want to introduce to you a new producer:

http://www.monolithmodels.com

What we are producing is a bit different from the norm, in the sense that our target audience are the people on the outskirts of the hobby gaming genre that like to paint and collect solely for artistic purposes, not necessarily for actual gaming.

I was talking with a friend who works in the retail sector a while ago, and several questions kept coming up;

1.How do you grow the industry?

2.How do you bring in more customers?

3.How do you get more people interested in the mini genre? (Which in turn, fulfills 1 & 2)

The best answer i could come up with is this:

Bring in hobby enthusiasts that like to paint and build dioramas. Model making enthusiasts.
Or better yet, people who are going to be potential model enthusiasts, but have yet to fully enter the genere simply because no one has yet produced what theyre interested in. They may not go on to become the 'regulars' who conduct tabletop wargaming regularly, but they will atleast support the hobby industry financially by buying, and collecting solely as a hobby. This in turn benefits everyone. Especially small retailers.

So far, there are four areas we have covered:

1. Gothic Horror.
2. Kinbaku & Shibari from the Edo Period as an artform.
3. Targeting the Fetish audience; Histoire d'O
4. Cult Cinema Horror, B-Movie fans. (Currently under development)

So far, it has proven a successful business model to follow. The initial reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. We've been live for just over a month, and have already completely recuperated our initial mould costs. We didnt bother with a kickstarter, we just jumped in with both feet and did it, and learned as we went.

But now we have a new issue to tackle; A lot of what we are selling is going overseas to Europe. The main destination seems to be Germany. So we are currently looking for a distributor in the Euro Zone.

In anycase we now have the funds to produce even more.

The question we are now grappling with is, do we continue to specialize, or do we begin the arc into actually gaming minis?

So another project i am working on, is called 'Carnival of Lost Souls', which when ready (by that, i mean the minis actually sculpted, and perhaps atleast pattern moulds made) we are contemplating a Kickstarter. These being actual gaming minis. You can find a few of them already in development on our website, under the 'Carnival of Lost Souls' category.


Once again, our website: http://www.monolithmodels.com


Thanks for reading.

 

[jami 415]

This one is called 'Funeral Flowers'. It is in part inspired by the movie 'Les Frission Des Vampires', an underground movie made in the 1970's. Pro-painted, i envisioned a coffin full of tiny rose petals. Ironically, ive yet the time to paint anything...

 

[Dragonsreach]

I was going to applaud your intent in aiming at the Painters side of this hobby but I have to be honest after looking at the items in the Kinbaku and Shibari sections, I just lost all interest.

In my opinion those figures are just pandering to the stereotypical overweight, socially inept, sleazy viewpoint some people have of gamers, so I'm sorry.
I would have liked to see something different, new and appealing, but those just strike me as "Tacky".

 

[evl hmr]

I have to agree with DR. I can see what and where your inspiration comes from, but it just plays up to the stereotype that miniature painters are sweaty 14 year old boys. The difference between art and smut is very blurry, but I honestly can't see the appeal of your Kinbaku & Shibari lines.

 

[jami 415]

'smut'... 'sleezy, overweight'...?

um, no.

Since when does someone's physical body mass index have anything to do with Art?

 

[jami 415]

well, it sounds like you are both speaking from some very sensitive personal issues, and i wish you both the best of luck.


However, what i like about the miniature hobby industry, is not only is it growing and expanding, but that it also appeals to a broad base of individuals, and is not limited to a 'select group'. I have met both men and women, from across the spectrum, from many different walks of life, different age groups and different ethnic backgrounds. Not only are we woman owned and operated, I myself am actually from Thailand. In a place like San Francisco, there are people from every shade of the spectrum entering the hobby as a whole. no one is made to feel unwelcome, just because they have 'blue hair' and piercings, or because of their skin color. That mentality is truly dated, and it is unfortunate that some would continue down that path.

In anycase, it is a much better attitude to take, especially for retailers, and those who have made a business of it all.


But again, best of luck to you both.

 

[gohkm]

M'am, I assure you, this community is quite open-minded. Dragonsreach and Evl Hmr are merely expressing their personal opinion, there really isn't any need to get so defensive. Art is subjective, too - if you are of a mind, dredge up the old thread on Nakatan's diorama on the Imperial Guard and Eldar captive. You will see the great range of opinions expressed (and quite vehemently, too, at times) over it, and arguments whether that constituted art, or something more vulgar.

Personally, I quite like the Vampire Princess in the coffin, I can see it as a pretty nice vignette, if painted by skilled hands. Instead of feeling defensive, may I suggest that you contract the services of an exceptional painter, and use the results to sell your miniatures? The worst sculpt can usually be prettified (significantly!) with a superb paintjob.

Also, perhaps you might consider reaching other miniature-related forums, if you are solely relying on word-of-mouth for advertising? Places like Dakka Dakka (albeit more Warhammer centric, or the Miniatures Page, or WAMP, or OzPainters, or Dragonpainting, to name a few). It would also perhaps bring in more feedback on your miniature range, which you may then use to finetune your sculpts to the desired audience.

Unfortunately, I do no see the appeal of most of your line, as my tastes in art differ somewhat. Miniature art, in it sculping incarnation at this scale, is something similar to Khemhild's Revenge (sp?). That is what appeals to me. I wish you the best, but if you are in business, then, generally speaking, it is best to develop a terribly thick skin, especially when opinions clash.

 

[Dragonsreach]

'smut'... 'sleezy, overweight'...?

um, no.

Since when does someone's physical body mass index have anything to do with Art?

Absolutley nothing, ask Peter Paul Rubens, but the miniatures I referred to I regret to say are not art, nor artistic.
If anything they are pandering to a niche, near pornography market not a mass family friendly market.

well, it sounds like you are both speaking from some very sensitive personal issues, and i wish you both the best of luck.
How very rude and judgemental.

However, what i like about the miniature hobby industry, is not only is it growing and expanding, but that it also appeals to a broad base of individuals, and is not limited to a 'select group'. I have met both men and women, from across the spectrum, from many different walks of life, different age groups and different ethnic backgrounds. Not only are we woman owned and operated, I myself am actually from Thailand. In a place like San Francisco, there are people from every shade of the spectrum entering the hobby as a whole. no one is made to feel unwelcome, just because they have 'blue hair' and piercings, or because of their skin color. That mentality is truly dated, and it is unfortunate that some would continue down that path.

Again a judgemental attitude based on an internet conversation of less than 100 words.
For your information, I too live in a varied community where people of Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Chinese and European extraction mingle and interact, quite often in my house.
So much so that my wife and I were invited to and attended a Nikah, earlier this year (if you don't know what that is look it up), from a girl we've come to regard and love as a member of our extended family.
As for the "Blue Hair and Piercings" comment I think it says more about you noticing them than anything else.
When it comes to adornments, skin or hair colour that is just decoration, to me it is and always will be the person that counts.

In anycase, it is a much better attitude to take, especially for retailers, and those who have made a business of it all.


But again, best of luck to you both.

 

[ten ball]

Well don't know about art, looks like pornography to me.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

To attempt to define art is silly. I don't think these miniatures lend themselves towards any sort of stereotype. Certainly not for children, but I don't find anything at all offensive about them, and I can see how some can consider them darkly beautiful. I'm sorry that the discussion became so passionate, and I wish you success both at home and abroad.

 

[cfwheeler58]

I'm sure that this is somebody's idea of art.
It's not mine.
Once it's not mine, I don't hang on to it.

But....I sure as hell would not want to explain it or it's appeal
to my young son or daughter.

 

[supervike]

Come on! How is a tied up upside down Japanese lady, with a flower vase jammed into her vajayjay NOT art?

If you heathens can't see that, then there is no hope for you.