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First of all, why don't you introduce yourself to those of us who
don't already know you, and a few words about your company MonsterFX?
My name is Tim J. Hays. I’ve
been doing makeup as a hobby since I was around 11 years old and when I
was 24, I got a job at Universal Studios Orlando doing makeup full-time in
the makeup department in 1997. I’m still there 14 years later!
I run my own shop called MonsterFX.net. I started it around 1998 and it’s still going strong. Not
to be confused with a shop that opened in LA a few years ago using that
name too, but I think that they’re closed down now. I added the
“.net” part to my shop name to cut down on the confusion. LuAndra
Whitehurst is a partner and we have three interns.
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Tim's work on Tara Cardinal in
Diary of Death: Bloodstruck |
We do so much work throughout the
year. A lot of it is making pieces for stage productions, but we do a lot
of films, too. That’s a lot of foam latex that we go through in a year!
But, more than foam, we do body painting, masks, dental appliances,
eyeballs, silicone appliances, props, creature suits, animatronics,
puppetry and so many other things! We have regular clients that are around
the world and we work so hard to keep our customers happy.
Let's
talk about your work in a few recent films first: What can you tell us
about Diary of Death: Bloodstruck? I worked with Tara
Cardinal [Tara Cardinal
interview - click here] on Legend of the Red Reaper
and she introduced me to Joe Hollow
[Joe Hollow interview - click
here] who was
directing Diary of Death. He had me make a bunch of props and special
effect rigs and flew me up to
New York where the production was taking place. I was filling in for another makeup
artist so I didn’t do all of the makeup on that film. I can’t say much
about it because I signed a non-disclosure agreement with him, but I can
say that if someone is a fan of horror and gore, they’re definitely
gonna love this film! It’s a very dark and gritty film.
Legend of the Red Reaper?
Tara Cardinal [Tara Cardinal
interview - click here] and Matt Dean contacted me through my
web site and we got together and went over all of the effects, makeup and
some props that they wanted for this film. I got a crew together and we
shot a big section of the film, but got hung up on some unforeseen
issues. So there was a bit of a hiatus and then we get together again and
shot some more. That actually happened a few more times, but we finally
completed the principle photography! Now,
Tara
is heading up the editing process.
We made some foam latex appliances, silicone
appliances, severed limbs, some sword stab effect rigs, arrow impalement
rigs, did some body painting and went through gallons of blood! The film
is action packed! There are so many stunts, sword fights and free-running
that there’s never a dull moment. I had the honor of getting to play a
part in it, too. I play Ren, a weasely, sidekick type of character.
I got to meet so many great people on that
production that I’ll never forget, especially
Tara. Thank you,
Tara! Super Town: Garden Party of Evil? This
project fell flat on its face. I had hoped that this one would get
completed, but unfortunately, it didn’t. It’s a spoof of the lives of
super villains and super heroes. I made a skull appliance for the main
character and applied a bestial type of makeup on another character. But
nothing happened with this one... L
I spoke with the writer and main villain actor, Lucas. He mentioned doing
a total re-do and doing it the way he had originally had wanted to.
The
Not-So-Scary Monster Movie Show?
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This was a fun project to do. Dan Carro wrote and
produced this one as well as played the main character, Gore Heckspawn. We
made three episodes which aired on WHDO, but when the economy went
downhill, WHDO folded and the series ended.
I made headpieces, pointed ears, costume parts,
props, even a few of the set pieces and did all of the makeup. I even got
to play Gore’s father Killtron Hellspawn.
Devil's Nine? I can’t say anything
about this one at this time, because of a strict non-disclosure agreement.
I can say that I couldn’t have done this without the support of Josh
Counsel and Shane Ferrell. We only worked a few days on this one before
someone else took over doing the makeup after us. I’ve seen some of the
footage of what we’ve done and it looks good! You
have also worked on quite a number of fan-movies, like Star Wars: The
Forgotten, Star Wars: A Dark Beginning, Predator: The
Musical and Batman: Knightfall. Does work on these differ any
from work on 'regular' films, and how would you describe the special vibe on
fan-movies?
These films differ because we had no budget and were
making these for fun film contests. Some were for the Wizard Magazine
Fan Film Contests. Except for Star Wars: The Forgotten, which was Doug
Mallete’s film. He dumped that one before it was even done.
The vibe is different because of the fun and
excitement! Typically on a bigger film, you’re there in your
professional mindset and ready to do whatever it takes to get the job
done. On these fan films, it’s like a bunch of friends getting together
for a day or two and having fun, joking around and sometimes even
brainstorming right there on the spot to make this cool piece to enter
into a film contest or whatever. I mean, you still want to do your best,
but there’s not a lot of pressure. Any other films you were involved with, any
future projects you want to talk about?
Ray Eddy and I have formed our own production group
and are gearing up to make our own films that WE want to do. I have
written three scripts and am working on a fourth and fifth right now. I
have a lot of trust in Ray because he is so tenacious and honest and
hardworking. I’m very
excited about this prospect and will do whatever I can to make this
happen! We have assembled a great crew that is very excited as well to get
our first film off of the ground.
There are a few other projects that I’m working
on, but unfortunately, I can’t say much about them due to non-disclosure
agreements. But one of them will be out on the internet and will be
revealed very soon!
Besides working
on movies, you also create special effects for Universal Studios
Orlando. What can you tell us about your work there, and how does creating special effects for live shows
and such differ from creating effects for
films?
Working at Universal is very rewarding and I do love
it, however the classification of the job that I do there has been
re-evaluated. As of a year
ago, I am an ‘on-property’ prosthetic makeup artist, which means our
department has split and now there are Creative Fabricators that work in
the shop, making the masks, prosthetics and such for Halloween Horror
Nights and Grinchmas. I’m one of the makeup artists that apply the
makeup and appliances. We used to have eight full-time makeup people, two
part-time and a slew of seasonal artists. Now, we’re down to two
full-time artists (which are Evan Moore and I), two part-time artists and
about forty seasonal artists.
The difference in making things for live shows
vs. film is VERY big. You can maintain makeups in film much easier
because you can do touch-ups between takes. You have to keep the lighting
in mind for film and if something breaks, you can do another take. For
live events, if something breaks, you have to work around it in the spur
of the moment. When it comes to (hand-made) special effects, you
have pretty much done it all, from special makeup to full bodysuits,
prosthetics and whatnot. What part of your effects work do you enjoy the
most, what could you do without? I love sculpting and
painting. Those are where I can just let my imagination flow and do some
creative things. I try to learn new effects and try out new products
whenever I can. I love trying
out samples and new techniques. For something I can do without? I’d have
to admit, I rather despise sanding fiberglass. I don’t think that anyone
enjoys it, but I’d rather not do that ever again. I know that there’s
no way around it sometimes, but I would grit my teeth and just get the job
done.
How did you learn to
become a special effects artist? I mean, did you take any special classes,
did you have any education as an artist/sculptor first, or whatever? I read a lot of
magazines and watched those ‘behind-the-scenes’ shows, but when I was
a kid, I discovered a costume shop not far from where I lived that sold
some special effects supplies and books. I was in there quite a lot,
asking the guy behind the counter so many questions. I’m sure that he
dreaded seeing me come through the door and go straight to the makeup
counter. He sold me The Techniques of Three Dimensional Makeup by
Lee Baygan which I still have to this day. I studied that book from
cover-to-cover and learned so much from it. I have to say, though, that I
learned most of what I do from working in the prosthetics lab at Universal. Also, taking the Dick Smith course has taught me so much. I
tell all of aspiring makeup artists that I meet to look him up at: www.dicksmithmake-up.com.
He has a beginner course and advanced course. I highly recommend it.
Going
even further back in your life: What inpired you initially to go into
effects-making? I can remember seeing
the Creature from the Black Lagoon and some of those old
Hammer films with
Christopher Lee as Dracula and just being awe-struck! My older brothers
were into watching monster films, but I wanted to make monsters! My
parents bought me some clay and paints which I would get so excited about.
But a friend of mine showed me a copy of Famous Monsters of Filmland and I
was hooked! When I was around 14 or 15, I tried making my own latex
Halloween mask, but I didn’t have a head to sculpt on, so I made it in
sections and glued it together. In retrospect, it was pretty
terrible-looking, but you have to start learning somewhere, right?
Most of the films you work on are of the
horror/monster movie variety pretty much by default. Is that a genre
you are particularly fond of? Honestly, I don’t
really care much for gore. I know that sounds odd, but I like to be
challenged and gore is just so messy and anyone can do it. In my opinion,
zombies are so overrated and overdone. It seems that horror films are what
people like to make and are makeup heavy so I get called for them. I like
to try to come up with something original and new, but that’s getting
harder and harder to do. I think that monster movies are fun, if the
monster is something of a character and not just a shadow lurking in the
darkness. Any kind of monster you'd
love to create for the screen but haven't yet? A huge, mutant cyborg
alien that has been amalgamated with plant DNA and has six clawed
tentacles for arms and a spine that has extended spikes sticking out.
I’m joking. I think an updated version of the Creature from the Black
Lagoon would be really fun!
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Tim and Ruth Hays |
Your wife
is fantasy author Ruth Davis Hays [Ruth
Davis Hays interview - click here]. Does her writing in any way influence your
work (and/or the other way round, actually)? We are both creatively
driven and will constantly bounce ideas off of each other. We’ve been
together for over 18 years and are at the point in our relationship where
we will tell each other if an idea is not great at all. We never fight and
get along wonderfully, but we aren’t afraid to speak our minds and take
criticism from each other well. I think that you have to be around
creative people to spur creativity in yourself, so in a way, yes, we
inspire each other in our works. Effects-wizards
who inspire you? Definitely Dick Smith.
Rick Baker, Stan Winston and Rob Bottin are up there, but I have to say
that Dick Smith was the one who definitely inspired me! He freely
shares information and experience and has a limitless knowledge of
products and resources. He is so intelligent and caring.
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Predator, as rendered by Tim Hays
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Your favourite movies?
Well, the movies that I love are action types. I
love martial arts movies and I know that not a lot of makeup and effects
are typically in them, but Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee are my favorites. I
love Big Trouble in Little China, too.
As far as FX movies, I really love the Aliens
movies and Predator movies. I study the various skills that it takes to
make movies, like stunts, acting, lighting and camera op. I found that
makeup and script writing are sort of my niche. ...
and of course, films you really deplored? Ugh! There’s so many! If a film has no real feeling to it or is really
mainstream, chances are, I’m not going to like it. I like films that are
really different or that a very small number of people have heard of, such
as: Condorman. J Your website,
Facebook, whatever else? My website is: www.monsterfx.net.
My facebook is: http://www.facebook.com/tim.j.hays. I’m also on IMDb: Tim Hays III
and my Model Mayhem is: 473695. Anything else you are dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Yes! I’m very happy
and honored that you took the time to interview me. Thank you. Thanks for
the interview!
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