http://www.davidscottholloway.com/lego
I’m too sentimental. That’s what I’ve been told. I compulsively document a lot of my son’s things; shoes, toys, uneaten pizza crusts. Whatever speaks to me in the moment.
2020 was the first time my son didn’t get anything Lego for Christmas. That evening I found myself thumbing through a pile of his mini-figures, when I came across Captain America. He was fantastic, or maybe amazing? No, that’s Spiderman. Spectacular? No that’s Spiderman too. I dunno. He was perfect. A little beaten up, played-with, loved. He was wearing an older outfit. The thing that caught my eye was, he had a mustache. It. Was. Glorious.
Lego Nick Offerman as Captain America
“So that’s what this is, an exercise in imagination, a work-in-progress, thinking of Nick Offerman as many of my favorite characters in many of my favorite films, TV shows, and even IRL.”
Instantly I knew how I was spending my night. I stayed up until sunrise, putting together every combo I could dream up with. Every metaverse role that I dreamed of Nick Offerman playing. Maybe it sounds silly, but in my opinion, the biggest movie franchises don’t take enough chances that inspire me. They aren’t letting actors go off the rails and be more than what people think they are. I get it, they have massive amounts of money and resources invested in making something they need to reap financial rewards. But one of those resources are the deep pools of talent they have. The creative talents of a handful of actors and directors can redefine what it means to be the lead.
Taika Waititi has always been on my list and then he did it. GENIUS. Because of him, Hollywood has never been better. THANK YOU! Jack Black has always been on my list and I LOVE that guy. He has been a leading man, but I dream of seeing him in something I don’t expect him to be in. Look at what Chris Pratt has done! He is an inspiration for everyone. Simon Pegg. Bokeem Woodbine. Rebel Wilson. Tilda Swinton. Sam Rockwell. Julian Dennison. So many greats.
Lego Nick Offerman at Batman / Bruce Wayne
“Nick Offerman is way more than a mustache… but it’s symbolic.”
And YES YES YES Nick Offerman is on my list. When you think of him, you think of Ron Swanson, which is amazing, an iconic character that everyone loves, but his range is phenomenal. Is there a character that he couldn’t play? Whatever the role, he makes it his own and he makes it interesting. Check his IMDB, he has been at this nearly 30 years and he just keeps getting better. Besides being half of the really lovely creative power couple of Mullaly and Offerman, you’ve already seen him in Lego form. He was Metalbeard in The Lego Movie!
I’m not saying the actors in these roles that I’m reimagining didn’t kill it. They totally did! That’s exactly why we have fallen in love with Ethan Hunt, Owen Grady, John Wick, Rick Grimes. Ok wait, the last one isn’t the best example, because I 100% believe that Nick Offerman would’ve made an infinitely better Rick Grimes.
So that’s what this is, an exercise in imagination, a work-in-progress, thinking of Nick Offerman as many of my favorite characters in many of my favorite films, TV shows, and even IRL. I’m making them in Legos because I don’t have him around to shoot a portrait series with, but also because this project is partially about me being a father and documenting the things that remind me of my son’s personality and these moments in time.
Some friends have said, “Well this is more like Tom Cruise playing Ron Swanson, or Shaun White as Ron Swanson…” I get it. That’s fair, Nick Offerman is way more than a mustache (and I prefer him with a beard), but it’s symbolic. Every generation has a guy with an iconic, legendary mustache, a mustache that will be remembered. There was Clark Gable, Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, Sam Elliot. My generation has Nick Offerman.