The Armour Archive

In the end, there are precious few problems a gorgeous brunette in custom plate armor can't solve.












The movie is Shroud. The girl is Nicole Leigh Verdin. The armor is Patrick Thaden & Ugo Serrano. The Photographer is Gayle Patridge.

http://www.shroud-movie.com

Enjoy

So close-ups of the armor:

[img]http://studio930.com/plackart.jpg[/img]
[img]http://studio930.com/couter.jpg[/img]
[img]http://studio930.com/lames.jpg[/img]
[img]http://studio930.com/gardbrace.jpg[/img]

We thank Patrick Thaden and Ugo Serrano for their hard work and excellent craft. Their contribution to our first film really added some authenticity to the armorial points of our story, Shroud.

Thanks, guys.

David Jetre

pretty fine i must say...its just too bad she didn't have a shirt of maille on under neath the harness.

Hi there, Whew! is it hot in here?? Ladies in armor are hot theres no way around it. Thank you for posting those here. The lady and the armor are smokin for sure. I wish there was chain under it also but the black shows the armor nicely too. Super nice waist detail on there ive never seen those pics before.

thank you

Pitbull

Lovely on all counts. I find the finish textures on the harness very interesting. Any enlightenment available as to why these were chosen ?

I know both men's work well enough to understand that the finish was very much by choice and design, not by chance...

SAAAWWEEEEET Added the movie to my netflix que. Love the armour. Does she actually wear the armour in the movie?

Lienhart Fischer wrote:pretty fine i must say...its just too bad she didn't have a shirt of maille on under neath the harness.

X2
Even sweeter would have been a skirt of light maille!

Thanks for the feedback guys.

The film revolves around a 300-year old Indian legend of a depraved soldier in the service of Coronado who, convicted for murdering and eating Apache children, is condemned and hanged by the Conquistador on a cursed tree.

The film explores the medieval legend of the revenant, and follows Lady Victoria Celestine, a Dutch wife in search of her missing husband, an occultist sent to the Arizona Territory (Civil War America) in to confirm or deny the existence of the mythical monster.

Accompanying Lady Celestine is her younger brother Abraham, a boy who will learn the mystery and the might of the undead -- knowledge he will eventually call upon thirty-five years later to do battle with a famous Transylvanian count.

The armor is discovered by her late husband, who realizes that both the armor and sword were forged (1432) before the revenant was created (155) -- it is part of theme of the story that only something forged by man older than the curse can harm the revenant.

It is a misdirect, but a fun one.

If you guys like Victorian designs, there are a lot cool dresses we also had made for the film located here:

http://jetrefilm.com/portfolio.php

More to come...

David

That is supposed to be 1550 AD.

Not 155.

Just a clarification.

David

Mr Jetre,
Welcome.
I want to say I used to work in the film business and I never worked with a director who credited his crew or contractors for anything, never mind even saying a simple thank you.
So to you I say thank you.

I have to say the thing I like about it the most is the texture of the armor. It makes it look sort of soft and lived in.

Any Director -- if he is honest -- realizes that whereas he is ultimately responsible for the decision(s) on a film, he is only as many excellent options to choose from as his crew affords him.

In short, you are only as good as those people you surround yourself with.

I had a great team on our first film, top to bottom.

My film is the direct result of their patience, dedicatioin and perfection.

So, I'm happy to give something back.

David Jetre
Jetrefilm

Not to mention the movie looks pretty interesting, too. Do let us know when and how we can get a copy, please? (Looks like a direct to DVD, not theatrical release?) Happy to support quality indie film work!

The film turned out to be pretty daring, given the fact it was an independent film with very limited funds.

I will try to find some screen shots of the armor. It held up really well in Hi-Def. I was very happy to learn it looked great under the lights.

Here are some other shots. They are bit big being hi-def:

<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... rifice.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... rifice.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... olland.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... olland.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... _steel.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... _steel.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... ecrets.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... ecrets.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... rilege.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... rilege.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... 0Sloan.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... 0Sloan.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... g_dire.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... g_dire.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>
<a href="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photography/wtf.jpg" target="_new"><img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photography/wtf.jpg" width="576" height="324"></a>

It was fun, all things considered.

David Jetre
Jetrefilm


(Edit by JT to shrink images... click on them to see them full-size)

Thank you very much for the wonderful pics.
I certainly hope your film does well.

Hal

I always thought that was some of the best aluminum work I'd ever seen. With those close up shots, I'm even more impressed.

Jetrefilm wrote: The armor is discovered by her late husband, who realizes that both the armor and sword were forged (1432)...

Looks great, but that armour appears to be of a somewhat later style than that used in 1432...1482 maybe?

Avadon wrote:SAAAWWEEEEET Added the movie to my netflix que. Love the armour. Does she actually wear the armour in the movie?

Hmmm. I couldn't find it. Could you post a link?

What is the source of the 'earlier than the revenant's creation' bit? Is it a southwestern legend? Voodoo? I am not as acquainted with the good stuff like I used to. Many apologies.

Those images are captivating! To state the obvious, beautiful woman (the eyes have it!). Her dress is pretty as well, fits her frame nicely. The armor DOES look soft, which is intriguing. The plackart is gorgeous!

I wish you the best, SXSW bound???

Sweet. I'm gonna be looking for this flick.

Thanks for this!

Fun little story, back when I was working diving I was staying with a sister and had set up my first makeshift shop in her back shed and yard under a tree. One day I've got the coal forge running and am beating out some odd ball bit of armour and this guy pops his head over the fence and goes " hey, what'cha doing there?" I replied "making armour" he went "oh, can I come over?" I said sure and he wandered around the fence, told me he thought it was cool and liked what I had shown him. He then said, you know I'm going to make movies and I'm going to put your armour in them. I said Oh, ok.... I get a call some 5 or so years later and lo and behold it's this guy David Jetre, he says, I'm making a film and I want your armour in it..... We'll there you go ..... David's a great guy, working with him was good, as well as all the lovelies he brings by to be fitted up for stuff I'm looking forward to seeing this film along with the rest of you. Patrick

<img src="http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photography/wtf.jpg" width="573" height="324">

Now that there is a picture with something for everybody.

Sigh... one of the most beautiful, sweetest creatures I've ever worked with.

I mean Nicole, not Patrick... he's cool too- but she's more my type

C'mon Patrick, Ugo. I'm with Gavin on this one. More info on the texture.

Please.

Just give it "the business" with a wire wheel, treat it real mean like & hurt it's feelings 'til you get the right texture.

Fellow Armor Enthusiasts:

Here are some of our original pre-production stills for the great armor Patrick Thaden and Ugo Serrano built for us. These were unglamorous photo-tests to see how the armor held up under florescent lights.

And honestly, who doesn't want to take as many pictures of Nicole as possible?

Dear God, people, that should be self-evident! LOL

These also show off more of the armor and sword. Again, these are rough stills.









There is just no way to take a bad picture of Nicole.

You get to see a little of the armor in the trailer at the end when the Gatling gun bullets are richocheting off the heavy steel shield under her poncho:

http://www.shroud-movie.com

David Jetre
http://www.jetrefilm.com

Just give it "the business" with a wire wheel, treat it real mean like & hurt it's feelings 'til you get the right texture.

I thought so but the close ups made it look...different. That and of course we expect some sort of mystic voodoo secrets from you and Patrick.

Wire wheel + hammer marked *does* work. (filed for future reference)

an occultist sent to the Arizona Territory (Civil War America)

Looks brilliant. (Who knew Van Helsing picked up his mad skills from mommy?) At the risk of being insanely picky, though, it seems to me that some of the firearms that appear in the trailer are a little late for the Civil War years. Our heroine is seen shooting a metallic cartridge revolver, an anomaly amongst a field of cap-and-ball designs (the Colt Peacemaker wasn't patented until 1873), and the Gatling gun existed only in limited-run prototype form until the government's first order in 1866. Not sure about your lever-action Winchesters, though.

Such are the risks of being a weapons-enthusiast fanboy.

Klaus

Klaus the Red wrote:

an occultist sent to the Arizona Territory (Civil War America)

Looks brilliant. (Who knew Van Helsing picked up his mad skills from mommy?) At the risk of being insanely picky, though, it seems to me that some of the firearms that appear in the trailer are a little late for the Civil War years. Our heroine is seen shooting a metallic cartridge revolver, an anomaly amongst a field of cap-and-ball designs (the Colt Peacemaker wasn't patented until 1873), and the Gatling gun existed only in limited-run prototype form until the government's first order in 1866. Not sure about your lever-action Winchesters, though.

Such are the risks of being a weapons-enthusiast fanboy.

Klaus

I haven't seen any trailers but I have to agree that the pic of a beautiful woman carrying a sword, wearing armor, and aiming a 1860 Colt stirs the soul.
IIRC, there were a couple cartridge revolvers floating around during the Civil war years. I think the little tip-up S&W rimfires were around then and also I think there were a couple French pinfire designs that saw some limited use by confederate forces. For the most part though, it was assorted percussion designs. On Winchesters - sort of. The Henry rifle was used by Union forces during the war and it was the predecessor to the 1866 Winchester. I think the Henry was actually manufactured by Winchester but I'm also not positive.

Sure, Buford's cavalry at Gettysburg (1863) were armed with lever-action Spencer repeaters. I'm not hung up on the absolute start dates of certain types of weapons, just curious about the level of plausibility that state-of-the-art shooting irons were running around in private hands in the territories during the war.

But then, this is the sort of picayune stuff that amuses me. I still think the film looks like a hoot and a half.

K

PS, David- any chance you can resize the huge images? It does make the thread load mighty slowly and they're impossible to see in one piece on the screen.

Fellow Armor Buffs:

OOPS...I accidentally hit NEW POST instead of REPLY, so ignore that new thread from me.

With regard to several things like chainmail shirts under her armor, leg plates or other period-correct weapons, I will fully admit the film has its anomalies. It is a first-time film from a first-time filmmaker, so I am sure it has flaws. But when I founded Jetrefilm Entertainment, I knew I was going to take some bumps and bruises on my first film.

My cast and crew got me through it, thank God.

Concerning the armor, that was all we could afford -- and Patrick and Ugo did us a huge favor even for that. We simply couldn't afford a helmet or the bottom half of the suit.

With regard to the weapons, the Gatling Gun is definitely a later model but has anyone tried renting an actual firing Gatling Gun lately?

We couldn't find any!

And the ones we did find (two, if I remember correctly) wanted $10,000 a day + $10,000 specialty insurance which was so far out of our budget it wasn't even considered.

The one in the movie is from Tom Cruise's "The Last Samurai" and it didn't work very well. It kept hanging, so we had to put the rhythmic muzzle flashes in digitally.

Most of the ball and caps pistols were historically okay, but the Blackhawk she shoots the guy at the lake with was definitely cartridge -- and you are right, cartridge weapons were just coming out at the beginning of the civil war.

The three excuses (lol) I offer for these points are:

1) One of the movie's themes is "anachronism" -- things not being in the right time frame. Things out of place.

2) Her husband is wealthy and would have had the contacts and the money to get the latest toys for himself; and secondly, the Gatling Gun is stolen in the movie from the U.S. Army and is considered something new and wondrous.

3) And lastly -- and this is the real reason -- I didn't have enough money.

Films are very expensive. But I tried to make it all work with what I had.

Anything else...

Oh, Victoria is not Abraham's mom, but his sister. Victoria Celestine's maiden name is van Helsing -- Victoria van Helsing. This explains why she goes on an ass-kicking crusade in the Old West when she discovers her husband has been killed. She was raised by Isaiah van Helsing: adventurer, occultist, scientist, priest and all-around badboy.

There's a line after she's beat up a bunch of people that Abraham, ignoring his sister's fight as he whittles on some wood, says "Father wanted a boy."

Victoria was raised like a boy until her younger brother Abraham was born. That's why she may look pretty, prim and proper, but as a van Helsing, she's pure zip code-thrashing hotness.

And yes, I have a Joan of Arc fetish. Please forgive me.

One can never have enough armor in a movie.

More to come....

David Jetre
Jetrefilm
_________________
David Jetre
Writer | Director

Point and set to you, sir! I urge you to get this DVD into our sweaty hands as quickly as possible.

And yes, I have a Joan of Arc fetish. Please forgive me.

One can never have enough armor in a movie.

If it does well, I may have a script treatment to float by you for your next project.

K

Just to show you where this all began...

Before I did Shroud and asked for Patrick & Ugo to hammer out a top half-suit of medieval plate armor, I wanted to test my filmmaking skills out on a short film called Knightsilver. It was about 20 minutes.

So I show up at Patrick's forge one day, and I'm like "I promise, I will eventually get to a real suit of armor, but for now, can you hammer me out a little plate-belt for my female characters in my upcoming short film?"

Underwhelmed, Patrick is like "That's it?"

"Weak, I know, but it's all I can afford," was my reply.

So, about six hammer strikes later he hands me my metal belts and they get bent around the svelte figures of my actresses for this short film.

We shot our short film and the belts looked great. We did a few photo tests on them to make sure they look good before filming.

[img]http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... ts.jpg.jpg[/img]
[img]http://studio930.com/jetrefilm_photogra ... _pants.jpg[/img]

[I have these pictures in better quality if not for the armor but the girl, actress Grace Holley]

Now, I recognize this simple little piece of metal does little in anyone's mind to advance Patrick's reputation as a great armorer, given how undemanding the task was.

But he did it anyway.

And his help on such a throw away piece (not even armor by any definition) went a long way in my mind, and to me certainly advanced Patrick's reputation as a great guy and a total professional.

As soon as I get to my full-blown medieval holocaust, I'm calling Patrick.

David Jetre
Jetrefilm

IMDB.com says she's in the movie too? Okay, I'll watch.