Books - Biographies and others

Pennywise. Xenomorphs. Freddy Krueger. Beetlejuice. Jason Voorhees. Most movie fans immediately recognize these creatures and characters, but hardly know much about the artists behind these iconic designs. In Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume 1, journalist Heather Wixson shines the spotlight on twenty special makeup effects artists, creators and technicians whose work has left us captivated and marveling at their innovation, ingenuity and creativity. Featuring behind-the-scenes photos and extensive interviews, MM&E explores the lives, careers and inspirations behind some the greatest artisans to have ever worked in film and television. MM&E is a celebration of the creative spirit and artistic endeavors of those who have worked tirelessly for decades to create the memorable monsters, creatures and onscreen personas that have terrified us, made us laugh and filled us with a sense of wonder. Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume 1 features comprehensive discussions with: Howard Berger – Ve Neill – “Screaming” Mad George – Thomas Burman – Alec Gillis – Tom Woodruff Jr. – Joel Harlow -Matt Rose David LeRoy Anderson – Bari Dreiband-Burman – Doug Drexler – Wayne Toth – Lance Anderson – Tony Gardner – Patrick Tatopolous – Jim McPherson – Bart Mixon – Gabe Bartalos – Paul Jones – Everett Burrell.

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Gizmo. Michael Myers. Hellboy. Predator. Pinhead. Twisty the Clown. Spielberg’s dinosaurs. Brundlefly. This is just a sampling of the iconic characters that have continued to thrill fans both on the big and small screens for decades now that you’ll read about in Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume 2. For this second installment of her ongoing interview series, journalist and FX historian Heather Wixson celebrates the lives and careers of 20 more special effects artists who have left their indelible mark on the world of entertainment, and many are still working hard in the industry today.

Featuring in-depth conversations and hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume 2 furthers the exploration of the influence felt by the work of these brilliant artists whose ingenuity and creativity were behind the creation of so many seminal creatures and characters that have captured our imaginations, left us in awe and genuinely excited us as moviegoers. In simpler terms, these are the artists who were able to make the impossible possible, and these interviews are a celebration of all of the incredible contributions that these artists have made throughout their careers and the passion that has fueled their creative endeavors, both inside and outside of the makeup studio.

Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume 2 features extensive interviews with: Steve Wang, Chris Walas, Mike Elizalde, Eryn Krueger Mekash, Kazu Hiro, Todd Masters, Phil Tippett, Michèle Burke, Robert Burman, Christopher Nelson, Richard Landon, Guy Himber, Shane Mahan, Stuart Conran, Joey Orosco, Norman Cabrera, John Dods, Bruce Spaulding Fuller and David Grasso.

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Leprechauns, lost boys, and labyrinths—the things of bad dreams from the kings of mad screams. 20 special effects artists that helped shape the landscape of modern horror and sci-fi cinema from the 1970s to today finally pull the cobwebs from their secrets.

Heather A. Wixson from Daily Dead interviews legendary and visionary creators Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff, Jr., Tony Gardner, Jennifer Aspinall, Michele Burke, David Marti, Bart Mixon, John Rosengrant, John Dykstra, Phil Tippett, Brian Wade, Steve Wang, Rick Lazzarini, Gabe Bartalos, Mike Elizalde, Kevin Haney, Todd Masters, Bob Keen, John Goodwin, and Steve Johnson.

Discover how your favorite creatures were brought to life and the inspirations behind their imaginations. Illustrated with over 300 behind-the-scenes photos from over 50different horror and science fiction films.

About the author: Heather A. Wixson, a ten-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment, has written for several notable websites, including Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead.

Films discussed in Monster Squad include An American Werewolf in London (1981), Jurassic Park (1993), The Terminator (1984), the original Star Wars trilogy, The Thing (1982), Ghostbusters (1984), Aliens (1986), Hellraiser (1987), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Evil Dead II (1987), the Basket Case films, Predator (1987), Fright Night (1985), the A Nightmare on Elm Street series, Pan’s Labyrinth (2007), Stephen King’s IT (1990), The Lost Boys (1987), Tremors (1990), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Darkman (1990), The Monster Squad (1987), Army of Darkness (1992), the Leprechaun series, Hocus Pocus (1993), Robocop (1987), Planet of the Apes (2001), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), the Friday the 13th series, The Blob (1988), Species (1995), Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Harry and the Hendersons (1987), the Chucky films, Alien 3 (1992), The Toxic Avenger (1984), The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998), The Dark Crystal (1982), Pumpkinhead (1988), The Addams Family (1991), House (1985), the Hellboy films, Starship Troopers (1997), Attack the Block (2011), Fright Night Part 2 (1988), Mimic (1997), Spaceballs (1987), Slither (2006), The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Tales from the Crypt Presents: DemonKnight (1995), Saturday Night Live, MADtv, and many more.

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As conceived by author-producer Scott Essman, this 20-page magazine-style special black-and-white publication will be a treasured collectors’ item for movie fans everywhere. Spanning the first 100 years of movies, this first part in a series of Essman’s special publications focuses on the pioneering makeup and creature artists who have created some of cinema’s most memorable characters. Organized as a series of photo-essays profiling each significant “creature person,” readers will learn the secrets of their most beloved screen heroes and villains alike.

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Written by Patricia L. Terry and Gary Christensen, this is the 1st book to offer portrait biographies about 26 Leading Ladies working in makeup effects for film and television. Featuring their influences, training, projects and careers, these biographies express how and why these Ladies have risen to success. The book features 12 Oscar winners, 9 Emmy winners, and 5 Emerging Artists (the possible award-winners of tomorrow).

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Paul Blaisdell was the man behind the monsters in such movies as The She Creature, Invasion of the Saucer Men, Not of This Earth, It! Terror from Beyond Space and many others. Working in primarily low-budget films, Blaisdell was forced to rely on greasepaint, guts and, most importantly, an unbounded imagination for his creations.

From his inauspicious beginning through The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow (1959), the construction of Blaisdell’s monsters and the making of the movies in which they appeared are fully detailed here. Blaisdell’s work in the early monster magazines of the 1960s is also covered.

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The saga of special effects presents the full story of the largely unkown technicians, artist, and jack-of-all-trades who, ever since pictures first began to move, have been creating the impossible on screen.
Note – Published in 1977.

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In the 1950s Hollywood unleashed a wave of monsters; everything from demon aliens and dinosaurs to blobs and bloated bugs infested theaters and drive-ins. Lost worlds were discovered, unnatural terrors shook the screen, gigantism ran rampant. Moviegoers were left with one question: How did they do that?

This work uncovers the cheap and challenging behind-the-scenes production secrets of the fantastic films of the 1950s. Special technical effects, visual effects, menacing makeup, stunts, fantastic sets and film locations are all covered in detail along with the many men and women who shared in these occasionally brilliant and usually outrageous efforts. Also included is a lengthy checklist of the prominent makeup, stunt, prop and effects artists of the era, with a listing of their fantastic film credits.

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Behind the scenes on landmark movies such as King Kong; the Star Wars trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men, Predator, and Alien series; Hellboy; and The Chronicles of Narnia, are a host of visionary and often obsessive artists, designers, and technicians whose passion is the movies, and whose role is to create nothing less than cinematic icons.

This unique book interviews and reveals the character designers, painters, illustrators, sculptors, and animatronic engineers who transform a sketch or a few words from a script into convincing characters with a life and personality of their own. Designing Movie Creatures and Characters reveals the inside story of how creatures of the imagination are brought to life onscreen – told by the makers themselves, and illustrated with exclusive, behind-the scenes shots from hundreds of movies.

Learn what inspires and motivates these skilled artists; how Weta Workshop began; how Walt Conti builds swimming robot sharks and whales; how Patrick Tatopoulos creates his stunning designs; how molds, creature suits, eye mechanisms, and masks are constructed – and how dedicated artists bring characters to life in front of the camera, using suits, makeup, animatronics, puppets, masks, and CGI. Whether you are a designer, animator or an aspiring makeup artist, this book will entertain, challenge, inspire, and inform.

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JACK PIERCE. The name is not familiar to most. But for enthusiasts of movie monsters and the Golden Age of Hollywood, Pierce is a legend. He was the designer and applier of the most famous horror movie makeup of the silver screen. So iconic is his ‘Frankenstein monster’ maquillage of a flat head, neck bolts, and forehead laceration that it was copyrighted by Universal Pictures where he worked for 20 years. This book presents a comprehensive and unique insight into the background, psyche, and motivations of Jack P. Pierce; from his childhood in Greece to his immigration to America, his career rationales, his psychological instincts, his rise to fame and recognition, and his eternal legacy. But more than simply a focus on Pierce himself, this book also provides an inclusive exploration into the Golden Age of Hollywood and theatrical makeup. It presents an insight into the films Pierce worked on, as well as the producers, directors, performers, and technical colleagues who worked alongside him throughout his career. In many ways, Pierce was the real ‘Dr. Frankenstein’, researching the design of his characters, utilizing the materials around him, ‘operating’ on the performers in his makeup chair, and bringing to life the most famous creatures of horror the world has ever known. And while most generations may not recognize the name of Jack Pierce, they most certainly recognize his makeup masterpieces that have endured for nearly 100 years. This book is the only in-depth personal and professional biography of Jack Pierce. Including 350+ photos and graphics.

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Born in 1914, Stuart Freeborn’s credits include literally hundreds of films over more than 50 years, including Oliver Twist, The Bridge on The River Kwai, 10 Rillington Place, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Omen, Dr. Strangelove, Murder on the Orient Express, Top Secret Haunted Honeymoon, four Superman films and the first three Star Wars movies.

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JOHN RICHARDSON is an Oscar-winning special effects supervisor and designer, who has been involved in over 100 movies, including nine James Bond adventures, all eight Harry Potter films, Aliens, Superman, A Bridge Too Far, Straw Dogs, The Omen, Cliffhanger, Far and Away, Willow . . . and many, many more. In creating the magic that flows through these films – by creating huge explosions, beheading people, producing futuristic gadgets, making a man fly or breathing life into creatures that amaze and haunt us – Richardson has come to hold a unique place in cinema history.

The son of pioneering FX technician Cliff Richardson, he learned his trade at the feet of a master of the craft. With over five decades of adventures under his belt, and a vast photographic collection of unseen pictures, Richardson now lifts the lid on his exciting and fascinating career of making movie magic.

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Farscape, Jim Henson’s hit show, is one of the most exciting science-fiction series ever to be shown on television. This book is a lavish and colorful look inside the make-up studio that created a stunning array of creatures and characters for the acclaimed show. Featuring scores of previously unseen images, exclusive contributions from the show’s stars and make-up artists, and a foreword by executive producer Brian Henson, it is the perfect companion for the show’s many devoted fans as well as people interested in special effects.

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Ever since Metropolis performer Brigitte Helm climbed into her art deco robotic armor in 1927, creature suits have been an important, if often overlooked part of the Hollywood filmmaking process. Whether it’s an ape, alien or android, there’s usually a trained performer inside it bringing that suit to life.

Behind the Mask: The Secrets of Hollywood’s Leading Creature Suit Performers is an eye-opening look at the men and women inside the suits, from the early apes of Tarzan to the recent Oscar-winning film The Substance. Along the way, it covers countless creature suit-related projects, including 2001, Star Wars, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Game of Thrones, Nightbreed and Stranger Things, as well as the Alien and Predator films. There’s also a look at how modern technology, such as computer-generated imagery and motion-capture is changing the industry in a big way.

In the 1920s, there was a popular saying: ‘Don’t step on it, it might be Lon Chaney!’ referring of course, to Hollywood’s legendary ‘man of a thousand faces.’ And after reading this book, you will never look at movie monsters the same way again!
Entertainment journalist Joe Nazzaro has been covering film and television makeup/creature FX for nearly four decades. In addition to a 20-year stint on Makeup Artist, he helped launch Prosthetics Magazine in 2015. He’s written countless magazine articles on the subject, as well as numerous makeup-related books, including From Star Wars to Superman: Conversations with Makeup Legend Stuart Freeborn (also published by BearManor) and Dick Smith: The Godfather of Makeup.

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From Star Wars to Jurassic Park and RoboCop to Starship Troopers, special effects master Phil Tippett has brought his magic to some of the most iconic films of all time. His unparalleled career in visual effects spans more than 40 years, with two Academy Awards, one BAFTA, and two Emmys. This stunning book, published in a beautiful slipcase, celebrates Tippett’s career, from early Super 8 explorations through his groundbreaking work with Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, and beyond. While Tippett’s first love remains the stop-motion animation that made him a Hollywood legend, he was present at the birth of big-screen digital effects, and his genius has evolved with the times. In 1984, he founded Tippett Studio, which has come to specialize in digital effects.

Packed with over a thousand behind-the-scenes photographs and housed in a beautifully designed slipcase, Mad Dreams and Monsters includes never-before-published stories from the master himself and a veritable who’s who of visual effects luminaries—a must-have for movie fans, film students, and anyone who’s ever been captivated by movie magic.

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This deluxe slipcased two-volume set is an insider’s tour of twenty years of film-making magic at Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, the creative companies behind such celebrated films as The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, The Avengers, King Kong, District 9 and The Hobbit.  Brimming with never-before-published content, including concept designs, sketches, making of and behind-the-scenes imagery, along with interview material from cast and crew members, it is a stunning look at how the costumes, creatures and characters, weaponry, and visual effects are created for some of the world’s most iconic films.  A director will have a vision in their head of the kind of movie they want to create but they always need great teams to realise that vision.  This is what Weta Workshop and Weta Digital do.  Based in Wellington, New Zealand, these two companies, founded by Peter Jackson, Jamie Selkirk, Tania Rodger and Richard Taylor have been an integral part of some of the most ground-breaking and acclaimed movies of all time.

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