Cinefex #16

Rick Baker - Maker of Monsters, Master of the ApesArticle by Jordan Fox When ten-year-old Rick Baker first began experimenting with the most basic of makeup materials, his emerging passion for the sorts of illusions which could be wrought with these arcane substances was decidedly out of the ordinary. Motion picture makeup -- the kind that transforms actors into monsters, aliens or even animals -- was not at all the stellar occupation it has come to be; and at the time, there was little in the way of instructional materials an enthusiastic novice could draw upon, let alone a clearly marked path toward professional involvement. Baker's unwavering dedication, coupled with a single-minded pursuit of excellence, was to serve him well, however -- vaulting him past such obstacles to a position of prominence in a burgeoning career field in which he now has few peers. From the early, low-budget efforts of Octoman and Schlock, through It's Alive and The Incredible Melting Man, and eventually on to loftier assignments in Star Wars, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and the lamentable King Kong remake, Baker honed his skills and developed his talents -- ultimately reaching full maturity in response to the diverse challenges of An American Werewolf in London, Videodrome and Greystoke. From simple pie dough makeups to the most complicated of bodily transformation, Baker delves into his life and work, offering an incisive look at the artist and his art.