Will Ritter can whip up some pretty incredible effects for the big screen — assuming you have a strong enough stomach to watch them.
Ritter creates special effects for movies like “Kill Bill” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.” He also teaches the fine art of movie makeup at the Douglas Education Center in Monessen, Pa.
Ritter instructs students in special make-up effects like mold making, casting, animation fabrication, prosthetics and creature design.
The program is part of Tom Savini’s Digital Film Production Program.
Don’t know who Tom Savini is? Well, he’s only one of the foremost FX men in Hollywood, having designed the makeup for “Dawn of the Dead,” “Friday the 13th,” “Creepshow” and other horror staples.
I checked in with Ritter about his curious craft … and his thoughts about the current state of movie effects:
WWTW: Tell me about the kind of FX work you typically do for Hollywood features – with an example or two of your past work.
WR: I worked on KILL BILL and VAN HELSING and was an eye and teeth specialist for separate studios in L.A.
WWTW: Does being an “eye and teeth” specialist give you a niche that helps you within the industry?
WR: Being an eye and teeth specialist gives me the upper hand in getting FX work because not everyone is cut out to do this, and it’s difficult to find someone to teach it to you. Also it can lead to two separate career paths in being a Dental Tech or Prosthetic eye maker for real people with handicaps.
WWTW: Does your FX tool kit involve makeup, computer effects, or a combination of the two? Which do you prefer?
WR: My work is 99 percent out of the kit and I will always prefer it to computer generated FX.
WWTW: What key lessons did you learn through the Douglas School’s program?
WR: I learned through my teacher, Jerry Gergely, that it’s better to be good at everything than just one skill so you can get more work. Plus, you don’t have to depend on anyone but yourself to complete projects to perfection – and your own standards.
WWTW: Can you name a few of your favorite special effects scenes in film?
WR: My favorite scene is the squished eyeball gag in “Kill Bill Vol. 2.” Very inventive, well shot and edited as well.
WWTW: Are today’s indie filmmakers able to utilize more polished FX than in the past, and why – what advances have been made that make that possible?
WR: I honestly think things were better in the ’80s than now. I don’t see a lot of originality, and directors are so obsessed with CGI and don’t use it properly. I would love to see more physical type effects and less of the CGI … but we dont live in a perfect world. I can only dream. As soon as movie fans stop accepting CGI as quality FX, then it will change back for the better.
WWTW: Final thoughts on a career in FX/makeup work for Hollywood.
WR: It’s there if someone wants to pursue it. It’s exciting, it never gets old and you learn a lifetime of lessons in a very short time. In fact, I can’t remember one day I worked that I ever dreaded going to work in the morning. It’s rare that people can say that in this day and age.
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