The Art of Horror
step by silent step
This week, we’re taking a look at something magical. I was vaguely aware that home video releases in a similar vein to this had existed, as I recall reading about them in a TV Guide magazine when I was growing up. Thankfully, all these years later, I was able to grab these three dusty tapes out of a basement in Oak Ridge.
What we’ve got this week is part of what would have been a masterclass on visual / make-up effects in the early 90s. The Art of Special Make-up Effects series in particular has at least 4 tapes in total, though I only managed to score two of them. I’ll attempt to track the others down sometime this year. The first two tapes go into pretty deep detail on life casting and latex appliances —the kind of fun movie practical effects stuff I’ve really only ever come across behind-the-scenes info of on Mythbusters.
For me, Horror Effects is the stand-out piece of media here. I have seen a good portion of Tom Savini’s work over the years, so getting to see him breakdown some of his more famous practical effects was really fun to watch.
I have found that I tend to feel like art is more magical the more I know about the process of how it was made. I’ve listened to a lot of directors commentaries and watched a lot of after-credits featurettes, and most of the time, it’s made me want to watch the film again. I’ve noticed many of the streaming services have begun uploading the directors / actors commentaries as separate audio tracks for certain, more influential films, and that’s wonderful. I do hope that trend continues to extend to some of the lesser known films, and onto to the behind-the-scenes footage too, as the special features are the most rewarding parts of owning physical media.
I don’t have a whole lot to say this week other than I think you’ll really enjoy these tapes, so let’s get right into them!
Horror Effects:
An Inside Look At The Biggest Horror Movies
1989 | Runtime: 40 Minutes
"Horror Effects" is a chilling, behind the scenes look at the murky world where the terrifying effects of today's biggest Horror Blockbusters are created. Hosted by the original architect of fear, Tom Savini, creator of the blood-curdling special effects of such creepy classics as DAWN OF THE DEAD, CREEPSHOW, and FRIDAY THE 13TH! Tom will show you step by step demonstrations of the techniques he uses to bring these gut-wrenching nightmares to life in such a fearfully explosive fashion! Whether you're a film fan, a hopeful special effects artist, or just drawn to the macabre, "Horror Effects" will both entertain and shock you in its whirlwind exploration of the fascinating and frightening world of "Horror Effects". Don't get too comfortable, you never know what's lurking ahead in "Horror Effects"!
The Art Of Special Make-Up Effects
Volume 1
1989 | Runtime: 30 Minutes
This tape shows you how to create three horrific make-ups using easily obtained materials. Using the techniques taught in this tape you can learn to create your own motion picture quality make-up effects.
Volume One Demonstrates:
Gelatin make-up
Cotton and latex make-up
Wax build up make-up
This series of instructional tapes is revolutionary to the make-up and home video industry. The series not only simplifies the complicated techniques involved in creating make-up effects, but it makes these lessons accessible to anyone owning a VCR.
Each volume demonstrates techniques in a clear and simple manner so with a little practice even a novice can achieve professional results.
Follow-along instruction books are available for each volume. These books include helpful hints as well as a complete list of material suppliers. Other volumes on "The Art of Special Make-Up Effects" are available from your video distributor or MBP.
The Art Of Special Make-Up Effects
Volume 2
1989 | Runtime: 45 Minutes
This tape shows you how to create your own prosthetic appliance make-up like those seen in many of today's popular movies. Using the techniques taught in this tape you can learn to create your own motion picture quality make-up effects.
Volume Two Demonstrates:
Full face lifecast
Moldmaking
Artificial teeth
Foam rubber
Finish work
Sculpture technique
Make-up application
This series of instructional tapes is revolutionary to the make-up and home video industry. The series not only simplifies the complicated techniques involved in creating make-up effects, but it makes these lessons accessible to anyone owning a VCR.
Each volume demonstrates techniques in a clear and simple manner so with a little practice even a novice can achieve professional results.
Follow-along instruction books are available for each volume. These books include helpful hints as well as a complete list of material suppliers. Other volumes on "The Art of Special Make-Up Effects" are available from your video distributor or MBP.
Well, that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the tapes! If you’re looking for more, please check out my page on Archive.org for the full list of digitized media. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message right here or drop a comment below. If you haven’t already, please check out some of my older posts, also below, or all of my previous posts here. Thanks so much for checking out this week’s edition of Diptych!
See you soon!
—Forrest
It's good to be back!
Some of these tapes are pretty typical of what I might find at a church sale, though one of them does stick out a little. Inside a blank red hard plastic clamshell, I found this tape labeled “Snuff Video” (not listed below). It’s the kind of unnerving and tasteless depravity you might expect from this kind of bootleg release. As far as I can tell, the publisher of this material, Shock X-Treme, put out a handful of garbage tapes like this throughout the 90s, none of which hold much value in their contents. Viewer discretion advised.
Hoover Dam American Construction Epic 1931-1936
This week, I’d like to highlight a tape I picked up just a few weeks ago at the Amvets Thrift Store in Alcoa, Tennessee. I love archival footage, it’s been a big interest of mine since I can remember, especially media from the early years of moving picture technology. It’s interesting in so many ways to see places or people you know from a different time.
Hey, Man, That's a Real NASCAR©!
I don’t really know much about the world of automobile racing, but I recently saw this photo of a NASCAR Camero towering over the other cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France, and it really got me thinking about those late summer lazy Sunday afternoons when it really felt like there was nothing else on television but 5 straight hours of a NASCAR race.
This is the content we deserve. Thank you.