Exclusive Interview with Mike Elizalde: Amazing Special Effects Artist

Mike Elizalde

Jackie Jekyll – GoreMaster.com

Mike Elizalde, whose credits include “X-Men: The Last Stand”, both of the “Fantastic Four” films, both of the “Hellboy” films and most recently “The Land of the Lost” film, has been in the special effects business for over 20 years.   Mr. Elizalde was nominated for a “Best Makeup” Oscar for his work on Hellboy II (2008).  He is the owner of Spectral Motion an all purpose special effects shop offering Creatures, Props, Special Makeup Effects. His shop specializes in the design and creation of astonishing cinematic creature effects, special makeup effects, animatronics and action props.  Mr. Elizalde shares his journey into the world of filmmaking and special effects with GoreMaster.

Read the Exclusive Interview HERE!

Amazon Specials!

Quantum Of Solace, Man On Wire up for Conch sound awards

Sarah Cooper – ScreenDaily.com

The UK Screen Association, the film and TV industry body, has revealed the shortlist for its annual Conch awards, which honour audio post production in film, TV and advertising

The shortlist has been voted for by the industry and the contenders how have to submit material for the final judging round. The winners will be announced on September 22.

Pinewood Studios Group, Film London and the UK Film Council are sponsors of the awards, which are now in their fourth year.

Further shortlisted nominees in four other categories – Film Facility of the year, TV Facility of the year, Commerical Facility of the year and Most Promising Newcomer -  will be announced in September.

The 2009 nominations include:

 

Film Soundtrack of the Year under £10m

Slumdog Millionaire

Man on Wire

The Boy in Striped Pyjamas

Film Soundtrack of the Year Over £10m

Quantum of Solace

Hellboy II

The Boat That Rocked

Best Foley project

Quantum of Solace

Man  on Wire

Red Riding Trilogy

Production Sound Mixer of the Year

Simon Hayes

Chris Munro

Julian Howarth, Bang Post Production

Film Sound Editor

Lisa McMahon

Claire Ellis

Glenn Freemantle

Eddy Joseph

Audio on TV/Film Documentary

Man on Wire, Molinare

Evolutions, Evolutions

The Animal’s Guide to Survival, Halo Post

Film Re-Recording Mixer

Paul Cotterell, Lipsync

Mike Prestwood Smith

Ian Tapp, The Pinewood Studios Group

Richard Pryke, The Pinewood Studios Group

Get Pro Tools here!

Guillermo del Toro Producing Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark Remake

 

Alex Billington – FirstShowing.net

   Miramax and Guillermo del Toro will together produce a remake of the horror film Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark that first aired on TV in 1973. Comic book artist and writer Troy Nixey will make his feature directorial debut with the film. Del Toro himself and his writing partner Matthew Robbins (Mimic) will be adapting the screenplay for the remake. The original film was directed by John Newland and gained a cult following after its debut and on VHS. The story follows a young girl who is sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend, only to discover that sinister creatures live underneath the stairs. If I remember correctly, this is movie that scared the crap out of me as a kid and here we are remaking it! 

Development on the film is only at the very early stages, as they haven’t begun any research on the monsters. However, Variety says that we can expect “an upscale creature feature along the lines of del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, with an emphasis on distinctive characters in keeping with the Miramax slate.” And for those that saw Hellboy II, the creatures were the best part, so maybe that’s a good thing. Director Troy Nixey is the latest of Del Toro’s mentors to be given his first gig, along with Spanish filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona who directed the highly praised thriller The Orphanage. “It has always been a dream of mine to work on a project with Guillermo, my favorite filmmaker,” Nixey said. “I had no idea it would be on my first one out. Miramax’s faith in me is everything a first-time director could ask for.”

   Anyone who saw Orphanage will attest to the fact that Guillermo del Toro is as good of a producer as a filmmaker. I think he knows great talent when he sees it and I’m sure Nixey is the next talented filmmaker being given his big break. As for the film itself, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, let’s just hope it will scare the living crap out of me as it did back when I was a kid.

   Michael Hancock,( Altered States, The Burning Bed, The Untouchables) was the makeup artist for the original 1973 version

Amazon Specials!