Battles With Bits of Rubber

This podcast is a joint venture with Stuart Bray and Todd Debreceni. It's all about the making of stuff for makeup effects and prosthetics. Todd is author of 'Special Makeup Effects For Stage And Screen', what many consider to be the modern makeup FX bible. Stuart Bray is a working makeup FX artist with many years experienc. Credits include 'Saving Private Ryan', 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Dr Who' and more recently 'Game of Thrones'. If you have any FX questions you would like to see made into a featured blog post, then get in touch: [email protected]

#95 - The Prosthetics Event 2024 Debrief 11/21/2024

#95 - The Prosthetics Event 2024 Debrief This episode discusses our experience following the Prosthetics Event 2024 in Coventry. We mention our highlights, including networking, speaking to hundreds of people with our presentations, and a series of insightful discussions, which we hope you will find very helpful if you are a rubber monster freak like us. We chatted with , known for his exceptional bald cap techniques. He shared his methods and discussed common challenges in creating realistic bald caps. We also discuss the advances in digital workflows in prosthetics moulding with , who shares his innovative methods, including reverse engineering life casts and 3D printing to make lightweight, efficient moulds and very realistic appliances. The conversation touches on the importance of adapting to new technologies and continually innovating in the field. While technology has evolved, the basic principles of mould-making remain vital, so you should download the free notes we made for it. We try to capture the essence of these artists' passion and enthusiasm for their craft and the importance of sharing knowledge and pushing the field's boundaries. Be sure to check out the we give away, which are available for download on the website. ----------------- Check for detailed show notes and transcription of the episode. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/34078271

#94 - Practical Pixels & Imprudent Imposters 08/09/2024

#94 - Practical Pixels & Imprudent Imposters This time around we discuss the technical aspects of 3D modelling and printing for practical work, especially in creating detailed prosthetics and animatronic components using software like CAD and ZBrush. We delve into teaching and learning new techniques, particularly the significance of hands-on experience in moulding and sculpting. Then we look at taking on jobs without proper qualifications, highlighting the potential dangers and importance of safety in prosthetic and special effects work. With Sasquatch suits, severed heads and blood gags on stage, come and join us on episode #94 of Battles with Bits of Rubber! ---- Cannibal! The Musical (1993) /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/32520587

#93 - Falmouth Part 2 04/06/2024

#93 - Falmouth Part 2 In this second and final part of our trip to Falmouth Uni, Neill Gorton joins us as we discuss making mistakes and learning the hard way in the workshop. We also discuss how to approach workshops and folio critiques and why latex and plaster are such great materials when starting and budgets are tight. Latex and plaster are a big theme in this episode. Be sure to check out the blog post with the show notes and the , which is all about making latex pieces and plaster moulds from the UMAE 2024 makeups Stuart recently did. This is a hefty episode, and the workbook is 26 pages full of step-by-step processes and techniques! If you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell people about it? Send them a link and help the show grow! /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/30710958

#92 - Falmouth Uni Part 1 12/29/2023

#92 - Falmouth Uni Part 1 Our trip down to Falmouth Uni preceded The Prosthetics Event 2023. It was a great trip, and so nice to see the work being done by students there and talk shop. As always, we have a rough idea about what we want to talk about, but it's always led by the feeling in the room at the time, questions that come up and current events within the group . We spoke for so long in a packed room using a single recorder, so the sound is a little different from our usual close microphone stuff. It went on for nearly three hours, and fell into two distinct sections - the first half we present here. The second part we shall release soon, and was when Neill Gorton arrived after just having beaten Covid again. Present were lecturers and all-round good eggs Brad Greenwood and Duncan Cameron, plus a room crammed with the students from the Prosthetic Effects MA who we had come to see. Thanks to Duncan Cameron for his awesome sketches which feature in the episode art of parts 1 and 2. Check his work out on Insta . Thanks for listening! Incidentally, the 'Hi, welcome to passes with bits of brother' bit comes from an automated transcript attempt in Word of the near 3 hour recording. Needless to say,I don't think we will be using that as a way to pull text from audio! More notes on the blog post found at /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/29274108

#91 - Digital Tools In The Workshop 11/28/2023

#91 - Digital Tools In The Workshop Makeup artists typically like makeup. It is a tactile medium, and they enjoy products, how they feel and smell and respond to brushes and pressure. Making prosthetics similarly has its tactile qualities, and it is hard to separate these sensations from the very nature of the joy in the work. It is little wonder then that this same group of people may not have developed an extensive love of digital versions of the same work. Doing a digital makeup effect in Photoshop requires the makeup artist's mindset but somehow it is not the same thing, and I think this reluctance to do digital work can put the makeup community at a disadvantage. The digital ship has definitely sailed, but the opportunity to join the crew is always open. This is our attempt at starting a wider conversation within the makeup industry regarding digital tools in the workshop. Check out the available on the blog post that corresponds with this episode. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/28830398

#90 - Joel Harlow 12/31/2022

#90 - Joel Harlow Joel Harlow is an academy award-winning artist who started out in animation before he moved on to makeup. Gradually building multi-faceted skills, confidence and workloads, he has evolved and expanded into the makeup effects heavyweight we know today with a hefty rollcall of credits. Check out his company, . It is always fascinating to go through the IMDb of an artist and see their credits creeping up the hierarchy over time. Evidence of trust earned as supervisors see a way to pass the responsibility on, and nothing breeds more work than showing up on time and doing more than the client bargained for, happily smiling through it all and happy to be doing it. This was certainly the impression Joel gave us in the chat too, and we think you’ll love it! Drop us a line @ or leave us a voice message on --- Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/25469763

#89 - Maddie Scott-Spencer 10/02/2022

#89 - Maddie Scott-Spencer Maddie is a talented concept artist and teacher known mostly for her ZBrush work. Coming from a practical background, her skills come from familiar ground - Fangoria, a love of monsters and sculpting for fun! She has taught classes for Gnomon since 2006 - we recommend the ‘’ video course. Todd and I both cite this as the breakthrough moment for both of us, making what previously had been indecipherable to us accessible and understandable. The way she comes across reminded us of Dick Smith, with a generous nature coupled with a thorough understanding of the subject. Maddie graciously invited Stu and me into her museum-like flat in London, where we chatted for hours surrounded by an eclectic collection of curios and oddities; it is a little 'Ripley’s Believe It Or Not' and a little bit Smithsonian, with a dash of Natural History thrown carefully in. We talked about everything, concentrating on how digital sculpting has become a permanent part of the special makeup effects world. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/24557262

#88 - Adam 'KreatureKid' Dougherty 08/16/2022

#88 - Adam 'KreatureKid' Dougherty Adam Dougherty and his company are based in Colorado. An incredibly talented artist, he is an inspiring soul who makes things happen with determination and persistent hard work. Although he considers himself lazy, his output shows anything but. In particular, his style celebrates the warmth and unique character that Jim Henson created with puppets, and has himself produced some jaw-droppingly effective puppets for various projects such as the upcoming Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, directed by Andrew Bowser. Adam has a flair and a style for big, expressive characters and, as you will hear in the podcast, celebrates and works hard to put practical effects front and centre. He is a sculptor working both digitally and practically, so he understands both sides of the coin. He also has a clear vision of a good story and isn't happy to mindlessly follow the herd. We left inspired and impressed! We think you will be too. Check out his homepage, Instagram and YouTube account. It will be time well spent. In particular, this video from ADI (Amalgamated Dynamics) is an excellent account of Adam's journey and is a joy to watch: ----------------------------------------- Many thanks, as always, for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us directly at [email protected] or leave us a voice message on our site. If you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one more person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/24074862

#87 - Frank Ippolito 08/14/2022

#87 - Frank Ippolito Frank Ippolito is something of a practical effects polymath. From starting out with makeup effects and putting in solid work in the lab, he has gradually expanded to running a company and crew with impressive credits and a high standard of work. Checking out , you’ll see a switch around 2016 as he started working on speciality costumes. This is a big overlap in the practical effects industry as creature and ‘hero’ suits become more sophisticated. Frank started as a freelancer doing the thing; now, he runs a shop and has a well-trusted and reliable workforce at his shop, . Because of his heavy lifting, now a team of folks get work and get paid, and our chat was an amazing dive into how a workshop is set up and run. This is a great episode to listen to if you are serious about getting work in the industry and want to understand how workshops work. We particularly appreciate Frank discussing budgets with actual numbers. Not often will folks spell out the costs of making stuff so clearly, but this is SO important. Often, a suitable budget is put together and whittled down until there is no profit or financial gain from an endeavour. It is particularly the case for creative freelancers who are often people pleasers and feel uncomfortable discussing money and defending their costs. (Hint: Just because they say they can't afford it doesn't mean you have to work for nothing and do the job! Saying no to something that takes your time and gives nothing in return is often the wisest move.) ------------------------------------ Many thanks, as always, for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message on our site. If you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one more person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/24049527

#86 - More Noses, Fewer Horns 07/30/2022

#86 - More Noses, Fewer Horns In this episode, we look at a makeup I did nearly 30 years ago at college. Adrian Rigby sent me a remaining original piece from the mould, along with some photos (prints, no less, which I scanned). We talk about remembering what you knew then (the past) and how you thought it should be done. You can also advise your old self on how it could be done better using the knowledge you know now (the present) and things you would attain in the future. By seeing your errors written plain, having an actual artefact from the past, you can connect with both then and now. We also answer a few listener questions about how to work out softnesses for appliances and what to include in a successful portfolio. -------------------------------------------- Many thanks, as always, for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message direct on our site. If you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one more person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/23907000

#85 - Bill Corso 07/03/2022

#85 - Bill Corso "Bill, there's a scene where The Blob attacks a woman who's in a 'phone booth and it covers the 'phone booth, it crushes the 'phone booth and here and then it goes on the sidewalk and goes into a gutter and disappears into this sewer." I'm just looking at him and I go…"Okay." And he says "Figure out how to do that scene!" I was, like "Well, what IS The Blob?" He goes "I don't know…you come up with something. Come up with 5 things and I'll pick one." That was it. That was my first day Bill who? Pardon our manners. We're talking about Emmy and Academy Award winner, Bill Corso, makeup designer extraordinaire, whose credit list is mind-boggling. We talk about respect and the future of our industry, which is mainly what this episode is about. There are full-on makeups being done digitally now, but they're being done by people who are not makeup artists. Bill's push is that more makeup people do get involved. Rarely is the makeup department consulted when digital modifications are employed which affect makeup so Bill has taken the step of formulating the Digital Makeup Group to address the absence of the makeup artist in the digital process. This is a great episode for those looking to get into the industry! Many thanks as always for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us direct at or leave us a directly on our site. -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/23617022

#84 - Pete Tindall 02/03/2022

#84 - Pete Tindall In this episode, we talk with materials maestro Pete Tindall about all things making related, along with a dose of rantage. I moan a bit about ZBrush (although I love it) and the fact that despite the terrifying interface and the huge number of tools available in ZBrush, freedom comes from accepting that you likely need only a handful of them. Early on in ZBrush, you are can indeed happily ignore most of it with confidence. Pete is an adept materials man, knowing and using a broad range of materials. We first met on Batman Begins (2005) where Pete worked in the Bat-suit workshop and miniatures for the monorail sequence. ------------------------------------------------ We also start the podcast as usual with a little FX chit-chat and this time we talk about creating the illusion of hard things in soft tissue such as horns protruding from foreheads, teeth showing from exposed gums and foreign bodies sticking out of the skin (knives or arrows for example). In the reality of filming, the scene may need to be repeated and used in intense action, so things that are really hard or sharp in real life could break off or cause real injury. As a result, often it is made up of either soft or semi-rigid material which looks solid but is safer. Sometimes the thing may be designed to break away, be replaceable if multiple takes are needed, be incredibly lightweight or even detachable so it can be removed when not needed. ------------------------------------------------ Many thanks as always for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us direct at or leave us a directly on our site. you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/22016387

#83 - Ian Morse & Cliff Wallace Part 2 01/27/2022

#83 - Ian Morse & Cliff Wallace Part 2 Check the shownotes on the blog: This second part of our chat with Ian and Cliff takes a look back at the company they had together, Creature Concepts - or as Ian puts it ‘How not to run a business'. Ian and Cliff mentioned Blood On The Satan’s Claw (1971) and I watched it on their recommendation. It whetted my appetite, and I had to rewatch some of my favourites, The Creeping Flesh, Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter and of course The Curse Of Frankenstein. It also reminds me of the joys of direct-applied makeups. Things like burns, or wound interiors for example have many random details which can be created in different materials. Sculpting in plastiline is the usual method for creating the forms in appliances, but some things are better created - or at least started - using other techniques. Many thanks as always for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us direct at or leave us a directly on our site. If you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one more person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21919061

#82 - Ian Morse & Cliff Wallace Part 1 01/21/2022

#82 - Ian Morse & Cliff Wallace Part 1 This episode was recorded at Cliff's studio, with all four of us present and correct. Ian and Cliff have worked together and separately in the industry for a long time - Ian's credits include Little Shop Of Horrors, Alien 3, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse, Fury and Dr Who. Cliff racks up an impressive listing on IMDb with Hellraiser (1987), Lair of the White Worm, Black Hawk Down, World War Z and 28 Days Later. It was a hefty chat that we split into two parts as it was so long, but also they divided into two clear conversations which lent themselves to being broken in two. We had a great time recording and producing this one and we hope you get a kick out of it too. It's not often Todd and I get to be in the same room when we record so getting to do this was a dream. --------------------------------------------- Check out the website for more info and full show notes: Thanks as always for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us direct at or leave us a directly on our site. If you you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one more person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21847145

#81 - Bolton Part 2 01/01/2022

#81 - Bolton Part 2 Competence and comfort are the results of the repetition of activity over a significant period of time. In an age of endless self-promotion, this podcast has always championed the work involved in quiet competence. Being competent at something is what people will pay money for, so it is worth considering as an ambition. But how do we keep ourselves on the right track? A great many working professionals have a very meagre following on social media precisely because their work is mostly protected and discrete because of NDAs (non-disclosure agreements), and they are not looking for mass appeal from as many people as possible. Check out this episode written post on the - it's hefty - ---------------------------------------- Many thanks as always for your time checking the stuff out. You can email us direct at or leave us a directly on our site. If you enjoy this podcast and got something out of it, would you do us a solid and tell just one more person about us? Send them a link and help us grow! -Stuart & Todd /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21646901

#80 - Bolton Part 1 12/26/2021

#80 - Bolton Part 1 What does digital sculpting have to do with battling with bits of rubber? /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21599741

#79 - Jake Garber 12/18/2021

#79 - Jake Garber Our conversation recently with Jake Garber at The Prosthetics Event in Coventry was, we think, a very important chat worth listening to for anyone who is trying, or thinking about trying to get a foot in the door into the (oftentimes) wonderful and exciting world of movie and television makeup. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21528836

Amelia Rowcroft: Strong Foundations 11/24/2021

Amelia Rowcroft: Strong Foundations Amelia has been sculpting practically, working in clay for over 20 years, creating primarily fine art portraits and figurative sculptures, though she has also worked within the film industry, and for the world’s leading wax figure museums including Madame Tussaud’s, and we talked about it all. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21270356

#77 - Truth Is Grosser Than Fiction 11/20/2021

#77 - Truth Is Grosser Than Fiction Paul Savage is a returning guest on the show. We caught up with him at the Prosthetics Event in Coventry. Merging medical knowledge with movie makeup, he aims to bring more realism to training scenarios. Raising the bar in simulation can help to save actual lives. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/21230981

#76 - 1.9 Million Sq. Ft Needed 10/18/2021

#76 - 1.9 Million Sq. Ft Needed Filming has really picked up now productions have found their 'Covid feet'. This being the case, studio space is in demand and there are many expansions taking place right now as studios increase capacity to meet demand - that is great news for the industry. We also chat about breaking sculpts down for moulding and why this may or may not be necessary. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/20853608

#75 - Cutting Edges & Flat Moulds 07/20/2021

#75 - Cutting Edges & Flat Moulds We covered cutting edges in episode #61 but this one is specifically about cutting edges on flat moulds. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/19873436

#74 - Foam & Filament 06/21/2021

#74 - Foam & Filament In episode #74 we talk about running lots of foam latex and overcoming the things that can go wrong with foam latex. Despite silicone being the material most go to first, it is a very real material that needs to be kept in mind for certain projects. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/19551335

~73 - Rod Maxwell 02/20/2021

~73 - Rod Maxwell Rod Maxwell is a bit of a Renaissance man, and the more we talked the more you can see how wearing many hats has informed his approach. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/18021347

#72 - Adam Beane 02/10/2021

#72 - Adam Beane Adam has become well known for his miniature and smaller-scale work which has both great expression as well as high levels of detail, and even developed a material which allowed such tight detail for miniatures called Cx5. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/17904140

#71 - Daniel Parker 01/08/2021

#71 - Daniel Parker Daniel Parker has recently been praised for his work as makeup and hair designer on The Queens Gambit (Netflix) and Chernobyl (HBO). He has an extensive range of credits spanning 37 years. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/17472476

#70 - Dominic Hailstone Part 2 12/28/2020

#70 - Dominic Hailstone Part 2 In this second and final part of the chat with Dominic, we look at his art and discuss the drawing and sculptures. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/17348771

#69 - Dominic Hailstone Part 1 12/13/2020

#69 - Dominic Hailstone Part 1 In this episode (and the next), we have a chat with artist Dominic Hailstone. He works extensively with visual effects and has a background in makeup effects and practical effects which inform his approach. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/17174726

#68 - Q&A 11/29/2020

#68 - Q&A This episode is a catch up on some emails and questions we had over the last couple of weeks. We have some great questions this time around, so many thanks for getting in touch! /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/16987838

#67 - Brian Kinney 11/15/2020

#67 - Brian Kinney Brian Kinney is a primetime Emmy-nominated makeup artist and a Journeyman in IATSE Hollywood Local 706 Make-up Artists and Hairstylists Guild, where he serves as Makeup Craft President and Executive Board Member. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/16819004

#66 - Lars Carlsson 11/10/2020

#66 - Lars Carlsson Lars is a generous self-taught artist from Sweden. He works in film, TV and theatre productions often using new technology to scan and print items for practical effects. /episode/index/show/makeupfx/id/16750961

Battles With Bits of Rubber

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