3D printing is having an effect on the way things are made.
This episode talks about what those things are, how it benefits us all and how you can get involved.
Chris Dombos knows a thing or two about 3D printing, and he is also a massive FX nerd so we got on rather well. Having met him first at LA IMATS in Jan 2017 (I discovered he had some of the original Lost Boys moulds), it made sense to catch up when he came over to London recently. Of course, I figured bring the mic and make a podcast out of it.
We recorded in a cemetery in London, so there are background noises. The whole gamut of life - cars, sirens, passing people, kids, birds in the sky, aircraft, wind – it’s all there in a place of the dead. It's all background, our audio is clear and we chatted about a number of great topics which matter to anyone who makes things. This includes:
- There have been a number of auctions as big FX shops started scaling down! This means that the larger shops have all but disappeared but more smaller operations opening up.
- Props Store London https://propstore.com/
- Importance of design and the danger of generic, the process informing the look.
- Occulus Medium: https://www.oculus.com/medium/
- Cost of CAD programs - the free and the fortunes.
- Digital sculpting revealing an artists lack of anatomical understanding, and how an understanding of form is essential to good sculpture regardless of the medium – clay or pixels.
- Costs or materials v digital process. It exists as a process, will only get better.
- The increased incident of joined up thinking, and how digital FX uses a team to create what would have been the job of one person, teams fitting together. For practical FX this wider collaboration is a new thing.
We also mention some great artists. These include:
- Norman Cabreara https://www.instagram.com/norman_cabrera_monsters/
- Steve Wang https://www.instagram.com/stevewangcreaturecreator/
- Gio Nakpil http://gionakpil.com/
- Bill Corso https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/artists/special-effects-makeup-artist-bill-corso
- Digital Makeup Group - http://www.digitalmakeupgroup.com/
- Adam beane and 'CS Wax' http://www.adambeaneindustries.com/cx5/
- Landon Meier http://www.hyperflesh.com/
- Jose Fernandez and http://ironheadstudio.com/
Software and websites to help include:
- Modo https://www.foundry.com/products/modo
- Places to learn 3D Sculpting https://www.renderosity.com/ http://www.wings3d.com/
- Sculptris http://pixologic.com/sculptris/
- ZBrush Central http://www.zbrushcentral.com/
- ZBrush http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/
- ZBrush Core https://store.pixologic.com/zbrushcore/ who listened to sculptors to make the software work for sculpture.
- Mudbox (https://www.autodesk.com/products/mudbox/overview ), DigiPen https://www.digipen.edu/
- Gnomon https://www.gnomon.edu/
- Pluralsight (Formerly Digital Tutors) https://www.pluralsight.com/
- https://www.gentlegiantstudios.com/
- https://3dprinting.com/what-is-3d-printing/
- Reality Capture – photogrammetry software https://www.capturingreality.com/
Hope you enjoy this episode - It's exciting and scary at the same time for me.
Check us out on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/stuartandtodd/ or email us direct at stuartandtodd@gmail.com!
- Stuart & Todd
This podcast was a lot of fun to do.
I met up with the Mekashes (Eryn and Mike) at their hotel as they were over for The Prosthetics Event here in the UK.
I was lucky enough to squeeze in a face to face interview and had a frankly wonderful time chatting with a couple of lovely people who also are amazing artists and FX nerds. Listen here, or on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. Soundcloud or whatever podcatcher you like to use.
Her credits include TV shows Glee, Nip/Tuck & Movies such as Flags of our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, My Sisters Keeper. As per her IMDb bio:
Eryn Krueger Mekash has 30 years of television and film industry experience as a makeup artist and is diversified in beauty, makeup effects and design. Her credits cover a wide range of productions. Eryn started her career in the special makeup effects field in Los Angeles.
Eryn has won 6 Emmys and 6 Artisan awards and well as 29 Emmy Nominations for outstanding makeup, prosthetic and non-prosthetic. She is the department head for FX's anthology, American Horror Story (2011), and can still make a nice mold in a pinch.
Listen here, or on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. Soundcloud or whatever podcatcher you like to use. It's a hefty one, almost 2 hours so get stuck in!
We are also now on Spotify, so check us out there too!
We talk about the great book Leading Ladies of Makeup Effects in which Eryn features, being a department head for FX heavy shows like American Horror Story, how much fun Halloween is at Rick Bakers place and recreating The Lost Boys thirty years on using pieces from the original moulds.
Todd was printing a head of himself to make 'Chocolate Todds' so that's the sound you can hear in the background. Todd discusses the finishing up of his third edition to the well-known FX bible Special Makeup Effects for Stage And Screen! Hear all about the goodies in store there in the podcast.
Incidentally, the antler in question which frankly I think looks like something which needs batteries is this: I think this looks suspect. Is it just me...?
WINNER!
The winner of the Steve Wang Sculpting Tool Set is Darren Pastor - well done fella. These will be on their way to you soon!
As ever, get in touch on our Facebook page, comment here or email us stuartandtodd@gmail.com.
My sincerest thanks for the Mekashes for giving up their time so generously and for all the beer and pudding!
Until next time!
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Stuart & Todd