Introducing MrHenryDogThe cover World Stuff
Where did your nickname come from?
Quite simply my old dog Henry
What part of the world do you come from?
The Midlands in the UK near Leicester
What got you into designing covers/labels in the first place?
Not what but who - Blobby66, he gave me a copy of paintshop 9 and introduced me to dvd covers for films he was ‘backing up’
Is there anyone on the cover/label making scene that has inspired you?
When I first started I hadn’t a clue on design or using paintshop, HvB and Supreme Taco were an inspiration – I learnt to scan using Supreme Tacos original tutorial. Designer wise I was in awe of all the people who could put a cover together but it was Krafty who had kind words when I first started (He had a polite way of telling you it wasn’t good enough but not to give up) and Lulu help me a lot, and of course I have to thank Bazzah for not only allowing scans on site but for his help and support over the years.
What would be your best advice to any up and coming designer?
Look at how other covers are laid out, I am no designer and for me design is the hardest part - it’s not something I have ever found easy, but the most important thing is make sure the information is correct. Never make a cover expecting plaudits! Make a cover for yourself, over time people will appreciate your work.
What’s your favourite cover/label you have made?
There are a few I really like, Memphis belle which looks simple but the back is cloned from the front and it had a big watermark on it which I cloned out, They live which I made for one of kylumis competitions and was made without and related artwork, The Wrestler which has hit a thousand downloads on the two sites its officially on. Other than that I like some of the blu-rays I am now making
What’s your least favourite cover/label you have made?
Most of my early stuff, but I leave them on site as a reminder of how far I have progressed. I hate it when someone posts thanks on a cover I hate. I sit here being embarrassed thinking about how awful the cover is
What’s your favourite cover/label that someone else has made?
There are a lot that make me think WOW like Close Encounters by Halfbreed, but two that really nail it for me are L.A confidential by Kaleigha and Bonnie and Clyde by Dweez.
The Personal Stuff
What is your real name?
Iain
What do you do for a living?
I work in street works administration, basically I make sure everything’s ok between our guys on site and the local councils and we are working legally
Any kids (that you know of)?
Just one a nine year old daughter (who can name all the x-men ïŠ and loves anime that no one at school has heard of)
Any brothers/sisters?
Nope
What was your childhood like? Share an interesting "growing up" story.
I had a great childhood, looking back I suppose I got what I wanted. I lived in a cul-de-sac (Dead End) which had 24 kids, so there was never any shortage of fun. I once nearly set a neighbours house on fire messing around and making threats with a teddy and a gas fire. Luckily her screams alerted her mum and only the teddy ‘got it’
What is your favourite food?
Hmm, I like Italian and Chinese food but I would have to go for the full-English breakfast (Which for me is a rare treat)
Tell us about your best vacation.
My dad took me to Florida when I was 14, that was amazing. After that any holiday with mates where you just get drunk and make fools of yourselves. Now days I enjoy every holiday quite simply because of the excitement it produces in my daughter. We go to the sea-side, I think its important she appreciates and visits other parts of England, she can go abroad when she’s older.
What is your favourite type of music/band?
Indie/ punk growing up but now I’m older I like a much wider variety of music
What is your favourite movie of all time?
When we had our first VCR you couldn’t buy videos so we used to pirate our favourites, me and my mates watched First Blood, Evil Dead or The Thing virtually every day. To narrow it down to one is impossible but if I were pushed its probably Blade Runner.
Who is your favoutite director?
John Carpenter, he’s made so many great ‘popcorn’ films I love, other than that I think Clint Eastwood’s a great director and I think Ben Afflick has a lot of promise
What one place would you like to visit?
Hong Kong and Tokyo
What other hobbies do you have besides movies & graphics?
I’m a gamer (mrhenrydog on PSN if anyone want to add me) – I have been since the days of space invaders, I’m not hardcore I just play for fun. Other than that I like fast bikes and F1, F1 has got exciting even when Vettel wins, its been the best racing for the last few years that I can remember. As for bikes its good to Rossi in winning form again – hopefully he can mount a challenge for the titlenext year before he too old – be good to see him dueling it out with Lorenzo and Pedrossa
What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
The birth of my daughter, children really do change everything and you get to play with toys like lego again (but dont play them at video games – you get your a$$ handed to you on a plate)
What is the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you?
There’s a few - one I remember is running down the main high street on a busy Saturday and jumping on my cousins back and shouting “KARL!†down his ear ....only to find out it wasn’t him.
Recently I decided to remove an old unused storage heater from the attic room. they weigh a ton, easily a hundred kilos. The thing to do is remove the heating bricks to make it easy. Without a thought and armed with a screwdriver I proceeded to remove the panel from the back of the heater. As I lifted the panel up a white sheet attached to it started breaking up and falling off the back. My instant thought was holy crap asbestos. I held my breath and quickly left the room. Obviously my next step was to check the internet to find not a lot of information about my particular model number - only that pre 1975 the heaters contained asbestos and that the advice line was closed and not open until the morning. So I decided to ring the fire brigade (not the emergency number) for advice. Within 20 minutes I had a fully manned pump outside and a fire crew in the attic trying to decide if it was asbestos, they are no experts and more akin to dealing with fires, so they called in their Hazmat officer, he turned up in full gear and had a look but couldn't decide one way or another but advised that the brigade dont deal with asbestos so I would need to contact environmental health to get a specialist removal team in. I rang the local council emergency number and was advised that it was too late tonight and the officer would attend in the morning with a testing kit and take it from there. The brigade kindly bagged up the offending material in hazardous material bags and advised me to stay well away. As my daughters bedroom is directly opposite the attic stairs we decided she should sleep downstairs, so her and her mum slept in the front room. The following morning the advice line was open and I rang first thing, to be told that the heater was safe and no danger, they kindly directed me to a website where all the information was held (not that you would find it unless you knew about it) Gingerly I rang and told the environmental officer his presence wasn't needed, then the brigade rang to offer some further advice, so I had to tell them too. I felt foolish to have wasted their time but they said it was better to be safe than sorry
What is your favourite colour?
I really haven’t got one..is that sad?
What is your favourite animal?
I’m a dog man as you probably guessed
Who is your favourite actor?
Again a real tough question, I grew up with 80’s action so I love Sly and Arnie and Bruce, loving that they are still going strong, but over-all its probably Clint Eastwood, If you asked who was the greatest actors I would opt for Gary Oldman. I also rate Tim Roth and Robert Carlyle
If you could meet one person, who would it be, and why?
The Dalai Lama, I’d like some enlightenment please
If you could be one person, who would it be and why?
George Clooney just to have women throwing themselves at me
What super power would you have, and why?
X-ray visions the first one that springs to mind for obvious reasons, but I would probably opt for the strength of Superman
What is your favourite car or motorcycle?
Bikes. I used to have a souped-up GXR 600, and have clocked 165 mph on public roads - its both exhilarating and fookin scary but I drive a car (slowly) now
Are you a night-owl or an early-bird?
Early bird
If you knew you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend that time?
With family and friends
Some strange stuff
Have you ever been shot?
No
Have you ever shot someone?
No
What size feet do you have?
7
Do you like Spam?
No
Do you like Spam mail?
No
What's your favourite colour of sky?
Clear Blue, a nice day put a smiles on my face (which is important living in bloody England)
Did you go out last night?
Yes to try and start my car, it had broken down
- fixed now though 
What’s your worst nightmare?
The week my numbers come up and I forget to buy a lottery ticket!
If you won a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with the money?
Move house
Pick three people of your preferred s3x, and decide if you would marry, sleep with, or throw them off a cliff.
Marry my long term partner and I’d like to throw David Cameron and Nick Clegg off a cliff
Anything else you feel like sharing with the community?
I think a lot of people miss out on some really great movies because they are subtitled – dont limit yourself, your missing some superb films.
