Photo by Brendan Lutes
Early Life and Passion for Monsters
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Frank Ippolito was the nerdy kid who hung out in the basement and made monsters, and it turned out to be the perfect training ground. A lifelong lover of monster movies and special FX makeup, he was already crafting his own Halloween masks at the age of 10.
Breaking Into the Industry
After working on a number of small independent films in the Midwest, he made the move to Los Angeles, where his career quickly gained momentum. He appeared as a contestant on SyFy’s Face Off Season 1 in 2010, and later made a second appearance on Season 5 as a returning veteran of the show.
Hollywood Credits
Frank’s film credits are impressive. He spent months in the Caribbean in 2005 and 2006 working on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, where he was part of the team that created the beating heart of Davy Jones and helped craft dozens of cannibal makeups. He also sculpted the “P” scar prosthetic worn on Jack Sparrow’s wrists in both films. Other major credits include The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The Maker Community and Tested.com
Beyond film, Frank has become a recognizable figure in the broader maker community. Adam Savage tapped Frank to help create his Admiral Ackbar cosplay for his incognito entrance to Comic-Con, and the two have continued collaborating through the Tested.com team. Frank also contributes regularly as a columnist for both Makeup Artist Magazine and Tested.com.
Thingergy Inc.
He is the founder of Thingergy Inc., a premier full-service specialty costume and FX makeup shop based in Burbank, California. What began as a solo freelance career has grown into a well-trusted workshop with an entire crew, providing work and income for a whole team of FX professionals.
Favorite Film
His all-time favorite special effects film remains John Carpenter’s The Thing – a fitting choice for someone who has dedicated his life to the art of practical monsters.
In the tutorial below, Frank Ippolito demonstrates how to create a decayed, corpse-like effect on a skull:
Photo on top of page by Brendan Lutes. From IMDB.