Blog Archives
Exclusive: Interview with Adam Johansen
Monster Legacy had the privilege and honour to interview Adam Johansen, head of Odd Studio, about their work on Alien: Covenant. For the film, Odd Studio merged with Conor O’Sullivan’s Creatures Inc. to create a series of practical creatures that would serve both as onscreen effects and as reference for the digital effects.
Exclusive: Interview with Jaroslav Kosmina!
We have interviewed the author of the Kaiju size chart that has been doing the rounds on the internet lately (and which you can see above, completed)!
Monster Legacy: Let’s start with the basics: what got you into illustration?
Jaroslav Kosmina: I’ve always been a huge science fiction enthusiast, and for me, Spielberg’s Jurassic Park and Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla sort of jump-started my interest with these fictionalized beasts — ultimately becoming a strong emphasis in my works. I began coming up with alternate compositions at a very early age of specific scenes, and from there, I started branching out into other areas in the art world, in terms of subject matter and aesthetic. I’m currently completing my BFA in fine painting at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in New England. My goal is to bridge the aesthetic gap between the two art forms.
Exclusive: Interview with Douglas Tait!
Monster Legacy had the chance — and honour — to interview veteran creature actor Douglas Tait about his work on film. Read on!
Monster Legacy: A more personal question first. What Monster films inspired you to become a creature performer, and what are your favorite ‘men in suit’ Monsters?
Douglas Tait: I have to say Frankenstein is my ultimate favorite monster. When I was a kid I bought a Don Post Frankenstein mask, and I wore that thing on several occasions for Halloween. Then when I was 14 I went to Universal Studios with some friends, and I saw Frankenstein performing in a show, and it inspired me. I told myself when I am old enough I am going to get a job at Universal Studios and play Frankenstein, and I did. It was the beginning of me getting paid to entertain behind makeup and masks. The funny thing is, while I was working at Universal I was pursuing my acting career, and my first Guest-Starring role on a television show was as Frankenstein on Sabrina The Teenage Witch. I think I was so comfortable with the character that it came natural when I auditioned for the role. Frankenstein sure holds special memories for me.
Exclusive: The Demons of ‘I, Frankenstein’!
Creating the demons for I, Frankenstein was a task assigned to the special effects artists of the Make-Up Effects Group. Monster Legacy had the chance — and the honour — to interview Nick Nicolaou, co-founder of the company, again — following our last exclusive — discussing the make-up effects of the film. Read on!
Dekar, played by Kevin Grevioux — the author of the original graphic novel.
Monster Legacy: Were you familiar with Grevioux’s graphic novel prior to your work on the film?
Nick Nicolaou: I was familiar with the graphic novel, but I was never able to get a copy to read. I knew of the premise and saw quite a bit of the artwork. When the production approached us, the first thing they pointed out was that the graphic novel was the inspiration, but it was just a stepping stone and the film was being developed in a slightly different direction.
Exclusive: Interview with Mate Jako!
Jako’s Hellhound concept.
Monster Legacy had the pleasure to interview a freelance, overlooked creature designer — Mate Jako!
Monster Legacy: A more personal question first. What inspired you to become a concept artist?
Mate Jako: Well, for a lot of artists you read, their main inspirations are usually comic books, fine art, or cartoons, and they are great, but the main trigger in my life that launched me towards art was monsters. As a child, I loved “scary movies”. I still remember myself watching Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Conan slaying that horrendous-faced wizard — created by Carlo Rambaldi if I’m right — from behind my dad’s armchair for protection. Or no matter how scary the transformations in The Thing were, you could not look away. Monsters are extremely commanding and expressive.
Exclusive: Interview with Mike Corriero
Bleeding Sun, a painting Mike Corriero created for ImagineFX magazine #89.
Monster Legacy had the honour to interview a great (and frequently overlooked) contemporary creature designer and concept artist: Mike Corriero. Though not yet involved in the design work for films, Mike is one of the most talented creature designers – balancing realism and aesthetic purposes in his monstrous creations. With a Bachelors Degree in Illustration – Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NYC – taken in May 2003, He has worked for ImagineFX Magazine, as well as the Topps company, Hasbro and Others.
Exclusive: Man-Thing!
The 2005 Man-Thing film was part of an arrangement Marvel Comics made with Artisan to develop lesser-known characters into motion pictures of their own. Originally intended for a 2004 video release, it was ‘upgraded’ for a theatrical release — only to be put back on the straight to video format by Marvel. Still, the film was theatrically released in a limited number of countries, among which Russia and Spain.
The film featured a mixture of practical and digital effects — with the former parts created by Make-Up Effects Group of Australia. Monster Legacy had the great chance — and honour — to interview Nick Nicolaou, co-founder of the special effects company, who brought the swamp Monster to life.
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