Every makeup effect has a story behind it, but even more fascinating are the stories behind the makeup effects artists themselves. For years, Heather Wixson has shared her passion for the horror genre as the Managing Editor on Daily Dead, and we couldn't be more thrilled by the official release of her new book, Monster Squad, a celebration of practical effects artists and their incredible creations that made so many of us believe in the magic of movies and gave us nightmare fuel forever.
Now available from BearManor Media, Monster Squad: Celebrating the Artists Behind Cinema's Most Memorable Creatures shines a light on the artists who have worked tirelessly in the shadows behind the camera to create the jaw-dropping creatures that have haunted big screens and warmed our hearts.
Brimming with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos and fascinating anecdotes in its 444 pages, Monster Squad takes you from humble beginnings in garages to practical effects triumphs on historic studio lots, including 20 in-depth interviews with a wide range of special effects and makeup artists such as Tony Gardner, Michèle Burke, Jennifer Aspinall, Steve Johnson, Brian Wade, Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr., Todd Masters, and many more.
Monster Squad is now available in hardcover, paperback, and as an eBook from BearManor Media's official website, and you can also find both versions of the book on Amazon. To stay up to date on Monster Squad, be sure to follow the book on Twitter and check out the official synopsis and eye-popping cover art by BeastPop ArtWorks.
Synopsis: "For Monster Squad: Celebrating the Artists Behind Cinema's Most Memorable Creatures, journalist Heather Wixson turns the spotlight on twenty special effects pioneers and artists who helped shape the landscape of modern horror and sci-fi cinema throughout the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and beyond. Featuring in-depth interviews with the legendary and visionary creators who share their personal journeys through Hollywood, Monster Squad is a tribute to those who toiled endlessly to help make the impossible possible in so many of our favorite movies, and to all the "Monster Kids" out there who still believe in the magic of practical effects in film to this very day.
Featuring several hundred behind-the-scenes photos, and crafted from over 75 hours of interviews, Monster Squad includes comprehensive discussions with Jennifer Aspinall, Gabe Bartalos, Michèle Burke, John Dykstra, Mike Elizalde, Tony Gardner, Alec Gillis, John Goodwin, Kevin Haney, Steve Johnson, Bob Keen, Rick Lazzarini, David Martí, Todd Masters, Bart Mixon, John Rosengrant, Phil Tippett, Brian Wade, Steve Wang, and Tom Woodruff, Jr. About the Author: Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A ten-year veteran entertainment journalist, Wixson fell in love with the world of genre cinema at a very early age, and has spent the last decade carvingout a career as a professional writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and sci-fi cinema. Throughout her career, she has contributed to various online outlets, including Terror Tube, Dread Central, FEARnet, and is currently the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, the website she's called home since 2013."
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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