“Julia Child of Special Effects Makeup” Designer Mark Shostrom Latest Addition to Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival® Judges’ Panel
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Horror and Science Fiction Makeup Designer Mark Shostrom is the latest talent from the genre to sign on as a judge for the 2011 Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival®. A thirty-year veteran, Shostrom has created Special Makeup for some of the most accomplished directors in modern horror and fantasy cinema. Assisting the likes of John Carpenter, Sam Raimi, David Cronenberg, Wes Craven, Stuart Gordon, Don Coscarelli, Tobe Hooper and Sean Cunningham, Mark has established himself as one of the premier Special Makeup Effects artists of his generation.
Shostrom was encouraged to pursue a career in special effects makeup by the wife of Boris Karloff, whom he had befriended after becoming a devoted fan of Bride of Frankenstein (1935). He began his career on David Cronenberg’s Videodrome (1983), moved on to his signature work on Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II (1987), and designed the standout sequence for A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985). He earned his first Saturn Award nomination for the many surreal manifestations of Dr. Pretorious in Stuart Gordon’s From Beyond (1986). Two more Saturn nominations came from his work on A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), and a fourth for Phantasm II (1988). In the latter, he created as well as co-directed the “Tall Man’s” spectacular melting sequence, a scene that earned him the nickname, “the Julia Child of Makeup” for all the food ingredients used in the gore.
Shostrom reunited with early mentor Rick Baker on such films as Men in Black (1997), The Devil’s Advocate (1997), Life (1999) and How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). He received four Emmy® nominations and three wins for his television work on “The X-Files,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” and “Star Trek: Voyager.” He is one of only ten makeup artists in the Visual Effects Society, which boasts nearly 3,000 VFX artists. He currently runs his own company, Hello Boss Effects – with business partner Maria Amrhein.
“Mark is a master of cinematic makeup and has a loyal following of fans who admire his work,” said Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival® Co-Founder Jamie Kristen. “We are delighted to have such a talent on board.” Shostrom joins fellow special makeup effects artist Michael Westmore at the judges’ table (with whom he worked on the Star Trek: Generations (1994) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995) films), along with producer/director Tom DeSanto and film composer Harry Manfredini.
About The Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival®
Founded in 2009, the Big Bear Horro-Fi Film Festival® is held annually in the mountains of Big Bear Lake, CA, to recognize excellence in the film genres of horror and science fiction. This year’s festival is scheduled for September 30th – October 2. Film submission deadlines have passed, but tickets are available for purchase for the three-day event. For more information and to get tickets in advance (recommended), please visit the festival’s official website at www.bigbearhorrorfilmfest.com
Contact Information: Michael Easterling (310) 733-8727 press@bigbearhorrorfilmfest.com Follow us on Twitter: BigBearHorroFi
