As someone who has had the pleasure of spending a good amount of time speaking with many different members of the special effects makeup industry over the last few years, I always get excited whenever new projects from the community are announced. Currently, there are two different crowdfunding efforts underway, and believe me, special effects fans are going to want to get involved with both.
First up is Steve Johnson’s follow-up book Rubberhead Volume II: Sex, Drugs, and Special FX, which promises more mind-blowing content and wildly unforgettable tales from his glory days on the sets of films like Ghostbusters, Blade II, The Abyss, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, and many more. As someone who has had the pleasure of speaking with Johnson a few times—and I also recently checked out the first volume of Rubberhead, which was an absolute thrill to finally read—I can attest that no one spins a yarn quite like Steve does, and he has a beautifully gonzo writing style that fans of his work will certainly enjoy. To become a backer for Rubberhead Volume II, get the lowdown on the entire campaign right HERE. Note: There are less than two days left for this campaign, so I would recommend checking it out as soon as possible to get your chance to be involved.
The second campaign is something that I had heard about a few months ago before it was announced (which may or may not have to do with a certain book sequel this writer is currently working on), so I’ve eagerly been awaiting this announcement, and it’s finally here. Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film is a comprehensive examination and celebration of the artists behind one of the greatest science fiction films of all time—the original Planet of the Apes—and Making Apes director William Conlin has teamed up with effects legend Tom Burman to give fans a deep dive into one of the most beloved and respected effects projects of all time. Making Apes features interviews with many legendary talents in the world of special effects who worked on Planet of the Apes (John Chambers included), a number of modern effects artists that the film influenced over the years, a handful of notable filmmakers, and more. If you are a fan of the Planet of the Apes films, you are definitely going to want to be a part of this one. For more information on the Making Apes: The Artists Who Changed Film campaign, click HERE.
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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