Lunenburg bladesmith makes props for some of Hollywood's biggest moviemakers
Rick Marchand of Lunenburg has been a bladesmith for over 15 years and his sharp skills landed him gigs working with some of Hollywood's biggest moviemakers.
Marchand met master bladesmith Wally Hayes through music, and showed him a couple of knives he had made.
"He said, 'they look pretty good, you want to learn how to do it for real,'" Marchand said. "We worked together for about three years."
A few years ago, Marchand received an e-mail from one of 20th Century Fox's prop masters, asking him if he'd be interested in making knives for Planet of the Apes.
"I didn't know how they found me, but apparently they had a crew that were scouring the internet looking for the aesthetic they wanted and my name came up at the top of the list and they hadn't asked anybody else," Marchand said. "I took it on."
He's also done some work for Disney when the same props company he had worked with before was working on the new Jungle Cruise movie featuring Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson.
"I made the machete -- the emails we had back and forth were titled 'hero machete,' so I was really hopeful that, you know, it would show up on the screen," Marchand said.
They sent him a wood cutout that said "JC – The Big Guy" and then asked for something a little bit larger
"I'm thinking 'they're scaling it to The Rock, right, he's a big guy," Marchand said. "So we ended up with a machete that I sure can't swing at anything, but it seems to fit him."
Marchand said you can see it early in the movie as it shows up in flashes, and he recalls giggling at the time.
"But when they had the fight scene, I kind of almost came out of my seat with a "Yes!'" Marchand said. "And I'm sure people around us were wondering what the heck was going on, but I wasn't exactly going to start handing out cards to everybody but it was it was a cool experience."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Feels like mid-30s in parts of Canada, while other areas expecting snow
Anything is possible this week, as far as Canada's weather is concerned, with forecasts ranging from scorching heat in some parts of the country to rain and snow in others.
BREAKING Canada's inflation cools to 3-year low of 2.7%, in boost for rate cut bets
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to a three-year low of 2.7 per cent in April, matching expectations, and core measures continued to ease, data showed on Tuesday, likely boosting chances of a June interest rate cut.
One dead and 30 injured after severe turbulence hits Singapore Airlines flight
One person has died aboard a London-Singapore flight that encountered severe turbulence, Singapore Airlines said Tuesday. The plane was diverted to Bangkok, where emergency crews rushed to help injured passengers amid stormy weather.
Independent stores and grocery alternatives see sales boost amid Loblaw boycott
As the month-long boycott of Loblaw-owned stores wears on, small independent food retailers and alternative grocery options say they're seeing a boost in traffic and sales.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
How to check the Air Quality Health Index and assess your health risks
As we enter another wildfire season, Environment and Climate Change Canada is advising people to pay attention to air pollution levels and check the Air Quality Health Index – especially on smoky days.
Cardinal Lacroix cleared after investigation ordered by the Pope
The Vatican has announced that the investigation it commissioned into allegations of sexual touching against Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix did not confirm any act constituting misconduct or abuse on the part of the Vatican.
Trudeau making 'Team Canada' pitch in visit to Philadelphia
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Philadelphia today, on his first trip south of the border since his government launched a new 'Team Canada' charm offensive in the United States.
Oilers win Game 7 over Canucks, advance to Western Conference Final
The Edmonton Oilers weathered a late Vancouver Canucks charge on Monday night, beating the hosts 3-2 to win their seven-game second-round playoff series in the decisive showdown.