On April 7, 1998, RTM hosted a live chat with sculptor Clayburn Moore. Below is a transcript of that event. RTM edited the transcript for clarity and brevity. No questions or answers were altered except for correcting typos.

Enjoy!

Moderator: Welcome Clayburn to the RTM chat room!

Clayburn Moore: I'd just like to say Hi and thanks for showing up.

Chip: Clayburn, thanks for doing this. I was wondering if you'll be pursuing the Hellboy license. Hellboy and Abe Sapien would be excellent with your sculpts.

Clayburn Moore: It's my understanding that Graphitti is doing Hellboy action figures.

Clayburn Moore: It's an over size 8-incher.

Chip Thanks Clay

Tintin: Have you heard about the problems with the Wizard Glow in the Dark Ernies? Can you make them take proper care when mailing them?

Darkness: When is the Darkness line coming out and who will be in it and will there be a second Witchblade assortment if so who will be in it?

Clayburn Moore: Darkness line is scheduled for late this year. It'll start off with Jackie, the Ghoulies, Angelus, and who do you think should be the fourth?

Darkness I think it ahould be an Angelous warrior

Clayburn Moore: Second assortment of Witchblade will be Notingham, Sarah in her red dress, and the third figure may be a surprise.

emperor1: Clay, I sculpt and eventually want to move into more toy work. Currently I work in Minneapolis occassionally helping out at Eightball studios. Do you think that getting into the business is getting more difficult? What do you think is a good way to approach it?

Clayburn Moore: The business is only growing. It's a great time for sculptors. Mail your portfolio to people like us.

XMan: 1. What other licences have you aquired? 2. What licences are you trying to aquire?

Clayburn Moore: After this question, I'd like to address the Evil Ernie/ToyFare situation.

Clayburn Moore: FAKK2 is acquired. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a good possibility. We're close on the deal. Beavis and Butthead. Darkchylde. More Chaos!

Clayburn Moore: Possibly Shi as well.

Clayburn Moore: With regard to the ToyFare Evil Ernie, we spoke to Wizard magazine today (they came to Texas) and should not happen again. It was a bizarre mistake.

Clayburn Moore: They are going to solve the problem by making custom boxes.

Scary: What's the latest news on the Universal Monster pre-paints? Any chance at all of unpainted/kit versions?

Clayburn Moore: No. We're not looking into kits at this time.

DBallance: Hey Clay........any chance of a 12" line? And possibility of a 4th figure in the Chaos! 2nd assortment??

Clayburn Moore: Yes, there will be a 12" of the Lady Death action figure. If the fans like it, we'll continue the line.

Clayburn Moore: The 2nd Chaos line will be three figures but it's looking like the third figure will be Chastity.

scottlikestoybiz: How about doing some other comic figure like X-Men?

Clayburn Moore: Tell Marvel to give us a call. :-)

Darkness: How many Ghoulies will there be? Angelous Warriors should be a fourth or Saotine ( or however you spell his name)?

Clayburn Moore: Ghoulie two-pack. You're right. Angelous Warrior is a good possibility. What do you think? Male or Female?

Darkness: Male since the Angelous is already a female

Tintin: Any thought about getting the Kabuki license?

Clayburn Moore: My apologies to David Mack, we should have mentioned it before when I mentioned our upcoming properties.

gandalf: I'm new in the toy biz. What is it that you do?

Clayburn Moore: I'm a sculptor...and I started an action figure company called Moore Action Collectibles.

DBallance: My favorite BATTLE ARMOR LADY DEATH......older armor or newer armor ?

Clayburn Moore: Older armor

Chip: What is your "dream license" to acquire, as far as your creative wants and desires? Feel free to choose from any medium...

Clayburn Moore: I'd say there are two parts: I would have loved to have gotten Babylon 5 and done it right....

Clayburn Moore: Some of the Silver Age marvel characters also done right...

Clayburn Moore: Let me think just a sec.

Chip: Take your time! :-)

Clayburn Moore: I'm thinking of my favorite movies and such...

Clayburn Moore: Predator would have been good but Kenner did a great job.

Chip: Thanks Clay

Clayburn Moore: Robbie the Robot would have been great too.

Clayburn Moore: I've been real lucky to do the top stuff in the industry anyway. The stuff I've really wanted to do.

Clayburn Moore: Next question?

Scary: OK, no kits (sigh...)-- but when can we expect the Universal Monster figures? (Silver Age Marvel characters done right WOULD be great, too...)

Clayburn Moore: We'll lead the line of the Universal Monsters line with Frankenstein. The painted prototype is being approved by Universal now. Expect advance publicity in the next few weeks.

Ernie: When is the Witchblade Snowglobe due out?

Clayburn Moore: It's being sculpted now.

Clayburn Moore: It's almost finished.

greg: Have you abandoned porcelain in favor of plastic? Not that there's anything wrong with that. If not, what's up?

Clayburn Moore: What can I say, we're releasing the Frankenstein I sculpted as a porcelain now.

Phil_Sheldon: Are there any plans for distribution beyond comic stores and mail order for like say..... the Beavis and Butthead line?

Clayburn Moore: Yes, we'll be selling through Tower Records, Babbages, and retailers at that level.

Starscream: Any interest in acquiring a license for Bone or Elfquest?

Clayburn Moore: Not for Elfquest....and probably won't see Bone figures from us either, but I respect Jeff Smith's work.

scottlikestoybiz: Do you credit McFarlane toys for bringing out the best in scuplting these days?

Clayburn Moore: Besides the obvious bias for our work? :-)

Darkness: In the next Witchblade assortment, is it just going to be a Sara in red dress and Nottingham? What will Nottingham be wearing and will there be more in that line? I suggest a Danette Boucher and a plain regular supporting character like Jake McCarthy or Joe Siry

Clayburn Moore: I'm sculpting Nottingham now. Black slacks, bare chest, wearing the Witchblade glove.

Clayburn Moore: Regarding Boucher...

Clayburn Moore: I'd like to sculpt her, but since she is dead Top Cow would like to opt for a different character...

Clayburn Moore: A regular character must justify the high expense of an action figure.

emperor1: Do you put your articulations in before you start your sculpt or after you finish?

Clayburn Moore: Neither before nor after. I rough the figure in, then I cut it (make the articulation) and sculpt with the articulation for about 75% of the process.

WarriorPrincess: Do you have a web site?

Clayburn Moore: Yes, www.moorecreations.com and www.mooreaction.com

Clayburn Moore: We also have the new on-line store at www.mooreshop.com

Ghost: If you could do a Marvel Comics dude would you do GHOST RIDER or who would you do?

Clayburn Moore: Ghost Rider is a good character but he's not in my top ten.

Ghost: Oh

Clayburn Moore: I would do Silver Surfer, Wolverine, and Psylocke.

Chip: Not really a question, but a suggestion. The Indiana Jones action figure license is currently unused. What do you think? I think you should go for it. *grin*

Clayburn Moore: Would you be willing to put up the money? :-)

Chip: LOL!!!

Chip: Sure thing dude!!!

Chip: Thanks Clay

Changa: I'd donate

Tintin: Would you like to obtain the Nightmare Before Christmas license? I think there are some top notch figs to be made in that assortment.

Clayburn Moore: You always have to be careful about doing toys for licenses that have already been done. I'll tell you what I would like to do: Dr. Seuss action figures like the Grinch and stuff like that.

Changa: Would you be interested in Ghost in the Shell, Evil Dead/Army of Darkness, or Crow figures? Kudos on the Draco statue too!

Clayburn Moore: Yeah, those are really good suggestions. In order of desire, I'd say Evil Dead would be great, Crow is possible, and Ghost in the Shell would be great too.

Clayburn Moore: The Shiflett Brothers did a great job on the Draco statue.

Changa It was great nontheless, good job getting their talent!

DBallance: Congrats on the SELL OUT of the LADY DEATH and PURGATORI ornaments. Which action figure (so far ) would YOU say you are most proud of ? And will Moore Creations be at any conventions this year ?

Clayburn Moore: I'm most proud of Lady Demon and Medieval Witchblade. We'll be at Pittsburgh in April, Chicago in July, Tokyo in May and San Diego in August.

George: Hi Clay, what's involved in acquiring a license for a particular property and how difficult is it?

Clayburn Moore: It's difficult to start without a track record unless you have some serious financing. Otherwise you approach the licensing department, show them what you've done, how successful it was, and your marketing plan. And it is difficult.

Ernie: When's the next Frazetta coming out? Also, I can't get through when I call your company...?!

Clayburn Moore: The next Frazetta will be the Barbarian and it's already started. Look for photos in the next couple of months. We have a new phone system up and running so I'd encourage you to try again or e-mail us if there is a problem (michele@moorecreations.com).

Comic2read: When will the VAMPIRELLA figures be out and will TAARNA be in the FAKK 2 line? Photos?

Clayburn Moore: We have to sign a contract on Vampirella so look for them in the first half of 1999 if we do them. The FAKK2 figures will be from the upcoming movie. I would love to do TAARNA (possibly included if we were to do a second line).

Comic2read: TAARNA would be GREAT! How about SHEENA from the 1956 tv show?

steve: What do you thinkof the Lord of the Rings license and of the first assortment?

Clayburn Moore: I know Lord of the Rings. I read Lord of the Rings. And those ain't Lord of the Rings. :-)

greg: I've checked your site but it almost never changes. As a statue collector I feel abandoned.

Clayburn Moore: The action figure company has taken up a lot of time as we've gotten it up and running. I'll never quit sculpting large, showcase statues. We have a lot coming out in the fall, so look out for a lot more additions in the coming months.

vman: Just got my Princess...Awesome. I read you will be doing an auction at mooreshop.com? Sounds great. When?

Clayburn Moore: You are obviously a discerning collector. :-) There will be an auction at our official on-line store to be announced soon.

Comic2read: Will you have PLAYSETS for the figures? Like for VAMPIRELLA ?

Clayburn Moore: We're only on our second line so look for increases later in articulation, possible playsets and other fun stuff as we grow.

Clayburn Moore: Look for a figure display stand we're sculpting now.

Scary: How long does it take you to sculpt a figure? What materials do you use?

Clayburn Moore: I sculpt almost exclusively in Super Sculpey. I do cut it with Sculpey III. It takes about 100 hours roughly.

Darkness: I think you are the best sculptor out there.

Darkness: You answered all my questions and you are the greatest sculptor to put articulation in your work it is very good and I love it.

Darkness: Keep on!

Clayburn Moore: That's very kind. Reactions like that are why we do it. And really all we have to offer is a better look.

MWC: Some have wondered about the decision to go with B&B[Beavis & Butthead], a seemingly dead license. Why, and why not a license like South Park that was ready to hit the scene?

Starscream: Did you ever consider gettin south park perhaps before B&B? And if so did you not get it because of its price?

Clayburn Moore: Beavis and Butthead have a lot of fans (like me). It has been some of the best social commentary and animation. Don't count us out on South Park, but I'm real pleased to be doing B&B.

SuperRobotBoxHead: I don't know the status of the Thundercats license, but if it's up for grabs why haven't you gone after it? *snickering yet serious*

Clayburn Moore: I hadn't really given Thundercats any thought, but I'd really appreciate your reasoning for licensing it. We'd want to do them in our style. More detail. Beautiful figures.

SuperRobotBoxHead: Come on everybody!...WE WANT THUNDERCATS! WE WANT THUNDERCATS!

Chip: Welp, with that comment on money regarding the Indiana Jones license before, I have an alternative...a show that I love and would really like to see you do, yet would cost next-to-nothing. How about Mystery Science Theater 3000?

Clayburn Moore: We're doing Crow and Tom Servo statues and pewter figurines. A line of robot action figures is not out of the question. Let's see how the statues do.

Chip: Thanks Clay! Great news!!!

Changa: Have you read Hyperion, if not do so now. Make figure of Shrike (coolest monster ever!!!). Trust us, We know.

Changa: And make 5th Element figures.!!!

Clayburn Moore: I have read Hyperion. Actually, the Irons action figure was somewhat inspired by the Shrike. I've considered doing well-known science-fiction characters as action figures.

Tintin: Two parter: 1 - Any thought to packaging that allows for the figure to be removed w/o messing up the packages (like a lot of Anime stuff)? Part 2: What are your thoughts on toy scalpers?

Clayburn Moore: We've wanted to do that (with the packaging). This may sound strange, but I don't want collectors to feel obligated to buy two figures (one to open and one to display). So you may see it from us.

Clayburn Moore: Obviously toy scalpers sicken me. We want our toys to be collectible, but we don't want the prices to be artificially driven up. Consider asking your retailer to order in advance or order on-line through our store.

Ernie: How's Pete?

Clayburn Moore: Our company mascot is fine. On overdrive as usual. :-)

Moderator We'd like to thank Clayburn Moore for being here tonight and inaugurating the toy celebrity chats!

DBallance: THANKS CLAY........SCULPT ON

Starscream: Thanks Clay

Ernie: Thanks, Clay

Clayburn Moore: Thanks a lot. I thought your questions were great. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. I'd like to thank RTM as well.

George: Thanks Clay...you da man!

greg: Keep it up

Tintin: You're the best

Scary: Thanks a lot, Clay! So can we chat away like maniacs now?

Chip: Thanks Clay, Eric, and Jason!!!!

Moderator Please be sure to visit Moore Creations website and RTM for updates on what Clay's working on!

Clayburn Moore: Good Night everyone. Thanks again.