Talking LEGO with Jack and Dawn from LEGO MASTERS

Last week, we saw the second episode of LEGO Masters and it was the first time that a team went home this season. It was a bittersweet moment when Jack and Dawn were asked to leave. They were a lot of fun to watch and had some grand ideas, but in the end it just wasn’t in the cards. Fox was kind enough to allow me to ask Jack and Dawn a few questions and I used it to learn about how the episode was made as well as to get tips for building with LEGO. Be sure to tune in for a a new episode of LEGO Masters on June 15 on Fox.

Tommy: Can you peel back the curtain a bit on the episode for us? Thanks to the magic of editing, it looks like you presented your masterpiece, you put on your protective gear, and then they blew it up right there but in a void somehow. Did it happen there or did they take the builds somewhere else to blow up?

Dawn: After presenting our build to the judges, we moved it to the Gallery where there was a backdrop and a camera already set up for the Hero Shot. We placed it on the podium... and got out of the way. It all happened right on set.

Jack: We started by building our street scene, Dawn started on the jewelry store and pizza shop, I started to build the streets, which was actually a mistake. I thought we needed space between the explosives and our minifig. We wanted a safe in the jewelry store, breakaway walls which we had but mistakenly strengthened by adding some architectural features at the last moment. They blew them up on the studio set but away from where we built them.

Tommy: When were the explosives included in the build? Did you have to put them in as you built or were they loaded after the building was complete?

Dawn: The Squib charges were loaded into the build after we had completed building. we gave the Pyro expert as much instruction as we could and had to make sure he had access to where we wanted them to be placed. We did not work on our build with active charges in them. We did however move them from the presentation podium to the explosion podium with the charges already placed, and the build was moved with utmost care... now for 2 reasons.

Jack: They had someone else put in the explosives after the builds were complete

Tommy: I loved the ideas behind the two builds that we got to see the two of you put together. The butterfly in the first episode was larger than life with a lot of sentimentality and the story of Opal the Jewel Thief was a lot of fun. When you do LEGO builds at home, what's your approach? I know on LEGO Masters they ask you to tell a story with your builds, do you take a similar approach at home or do you just let the bricks guide you or something else?

Dawn: Many times, the bricks in my builds tell the story on their own, but other times, I come up with a story to help them find their way. Sometimes it is a life event, a silly idea that comes into my head, a building I have seen that needs to be recreated in LEGO form, or a comment someone makes that sparks an idea.

Jack: It depends on a lot of things when I build. Sometimes the shape, size or color of a piece will inspire me… other times real life inspires me, or an emotion. I have never thought about a story line when I build at home, but I might now. I do try to come up with a name or a title.

Tommy: I assume that both of you are more about buying bricks and then creating your own masterpieces (please correct me if I'm wrong), but do you also like to buy the sets that LEGO puts out and build those? If so, what are your favorite sets?

Dawn: I am most definitely a MOC (My Own Creation) builder more so than a set builder, but I have enjoyed many types of sets. Building a set is a great way to see and learn techniques that you might not have otherwise thought of. The set designers at LEGO have provided some great inspiration along the way. I have a hard time deciding on a favorite theme or set, but I am inspired by the colors of the Friends and Trolls sets and I love the details in the modular sets.

Jack: I like building sets and have kept some together for a while but eventually I break them down for parts on my own creations. I have to say I really like all the modular buildings but my favorite right now is the piano. I want to get more Technic sets eventually.

Tommy: What is a LEGO building tip that you would give to a new builder?

Dawn: I would suggest to a new builder to find a couple sets to build and rebuild, and then rebrick -use those pieces to create your own "alternate build" That way the number of bricks is not too overwhelming. I would also remind them to keep trying ... your first build, or two, or ten, may not be memorable, but it will come.

Jack: Stay young at heart, Run with your imagination, don't hold back and never give up.