Creaturegeek

On this episode (our longest show ever), we chat with director/producer/writer/puppeteer Kirk Thatcher. Kirk shares some wine with us and talks about his wacky route from making molds and creatures to directing next to legends like Leonard Nimoy, hanging out in the editing room with George Lucas and working closely with Jim Henson. It's an episode full of great stories. If you like this show and want to hear more, please support us at www.patreon.com/creaturegeek

If you went to see Captain America Civil War this past weekend, you saw the work of this week's guest, Jose Fernandez. In fact, if you've seen a number of blockbusters like Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Amazing Spider Man, Hellboy or Tron Legacy, you've seen his work and the work of his company IronHead Studio. If you are enjoying the show, head over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and support us with a few bucks.

In this, our second live episode from MonsterPalooza 2016, Frank and I chat with resin model kit sculptor, Shawn Nagle of Nagleworks. Shawn chats about his foray into the industry, his history with companies like Marvel, McFarlane Toys, NECA and Diamond. Frank also outs Shawns strange obsession with monkeys. If you are enjoying the show and you like more shows like this, head over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and support us with a few bucks. Enjoy the show! Thanks to MonsterPalooza for having us as guests.

Frank and I record our first live show from MonsterPalooza 2016. Our guest is the Godfather of Gore, the legendary Tom Savini. Tom chats with us about his acting and directing experience and of course about his makeup career. Also, his peg system. Don't know what that is? Listen in! Also, thanks to our many Patreon supporters for not only allowing me (Len) to get to Monsterpalooza, but also for your continued support. If you are enjoying the show, head over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and support us with a few bucks. Enjoy the show!

Frank and Len welcome guests Andrew Freeman and George Frangadakis of Immortal Masks. Frank adds some "apple juice" to the mix and we chat about the creative process, what prospective artists should be working on if they want to work with a company like Immortal, and how a little strip club taught George everything he needed to know about running a business. Once again, this episode enters a NSFW realm, so if there are sensitive ears nearby, maybe listen on your headphones. In any event, if you like the show, please consider heading over to our Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek) and throwing us some bucks. We will see you LIVE at Monsterpalooza, coming up next week!

Frank and I record a "real time" episode this week. For the first time, we actually recorded this episode this week, instead of weeks ahead. This is one of our first Hodge Podge/Potpourri shows. On this ep, we chat about The Witch, Batman V Superman, Daredevil, orange blood and a lot more! If you like the show, please consider heading over to our Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek) and throwing us some bucks. See you at Monsterpalooza later this month!

Frank and Len welcome back Steve Johnson who does an interpretative reading from his yet-to-be-published memoir. You've never heard a story about the creation of Slimer until you've heard this story. If you like the show, please consider heading over to our Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek) and throwing us some bucks. NOTE: This episode is very NSFW. Please use headphones or earbuds if you are within earshot of sensitive ears. Otherwise, enjoy!

On this episode of CreatureGeek, Frank and Len welcome back one of our favorite guests, Shannon Shea. Shannon reads from his book "I'm Rubber, You're Glue." Think of it as a mini audiobook! If you like this and want hear more, look for the book on Amazon and anywhere else finer makeup books are sold. Also, head on over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and toss us a few bucks to keep things rolling!

On this episode of CreatureGeek, Frank and Len welcome Senior Model maker and workshop manager at Aardman Animations. Jimmy2Eggs AKA James Young. James has worked on Award winning films like Wallace and Gromit the Curse of the Were-rabbit, Pirates and a band of misfits and the Shaun the Sheep the movie. He is currently working on Nick Parks' newest film “Early Man”. Also, Frank and Len answer listener email and thank our Patrons! Head on over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and toss us a few bucks to keep things rolling!

It's a special third episode of CreatureGeek for February - thanks to our wonderful Patreon supporters for making it happen! On this episode, Frank and Len welcome the amazing Mike Hill, a phenomenal sculptor and artist who has created amazingly life-like sculptures of not only some of the most iconic creatures and actors in Hollywood history, but also sculptures of the iconic makeup artists (such as Rick Baker and Frank Pierce) who made those creatures possible. Thanks to your support we are doing THREE eps a month instead of TWO! Head on over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and throw us a few bucks to keep this wagon train a rolling.

On this episode of CreatureGeek, Frank and Len welcome a legend in the field, Neill Gorton! Neill has brought his unique talent to such shows as Children of Men, Saving Private Ryan, The Wolfman, Torchwood, Doctor Who and Being Human. He has also won the British equivalent of the Academy award for his work. Plus, we are huge fans of his latest project, the magazine Prostethics, which we have dedicated an entire show to. Support us on Patreon! Thanks to your support we are doing THREE eps a month instead of TWO! Head on over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek

On this episode of CreatureGeek, it's a solecist with just Frank and Len. Frank wants to go on a rant. And rant he does! We chat about the classic monster Frankenstein in all his iterations including the book by Mary Shelley, the James Whale movie and the newer versions including Kenneth Branagh's 1993 version and the new I, Frankenstein and Victor Frankenstein. Support us on Patreon! Head on over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and throw us a few bucks!

It's a brand new CreatureGeek! Today, we welcome award winning makeup and visual effects artist, Joel Harlow to the show. In 2009, Joel took home an Oscar for best Makeup and Hairstyling for JJ Abram's reboot of Star Trek and was nominated again in 2013 for his work on The Lone Ranger. It's a great conversation, you don't want to miss! Do you love CreatureGeek? Support us on Patreon! Head on over to http://www.patreon.com/creaturegeek and throw us a few bucks!

Happy New Year from CreatureGeek! We kick off the new year with a wonderful interview with the original owner of Optic Nerve, Everett Burrell. Everett talks about the history of Optic Nerve and how it fits in the wider echelon of the visual effects history. Also, Frank and I launched a new Patreon for the show! Head on over to http://www.patreon.com/frankippolito and you can make an ongoing pledge for the show. If you love the show, help us make more of it! More details on the show and at the Patreon. Finally, rate us on iTunes so more people can find the show.

Merry Christmas to you all! It's Christmas Day and how best to add to the festivities than with a brand new episode of CreatureGeek. On this show, Frank finally reveals what he did on The Force Awakens. If you've been watching Tested all week, you probably already know, but Frank goes into the process in depth. We can't think of a better way to spend the holiday than with us, so settle in and listen to us chat. Also, we're setting up a new Patreon to support the show! Please try to give a little bit to support us and help us make some of our milestone goals.

It's a brand new CreatureGeek! This week, we welcome back Shannon Shea, one of the smartest, most amazing makeup FX folks in the industry. Shannon shares some of his thoughts on Star Wars opening next week, about being an FX instructor and teaching the future the industry much more. We're also having another Mezco giveaway! Listen in on how to win really cool Mezco toys! Thanks for listening to CreatureGeek. If you enjoy the show, please share it and PLEASE rate us on iTunes!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody (In the US). We have a special treat for you this holiday weekend - a brand new CreatureGeek! We welcome back Mr. Steve Johnson, one of our favorite guests on the show and also one of the most colorful and interesting people working in the effects industry today. Steve's resume includes Ghostbusters, Predator, Big Trouble in Little China and so much more. On this episode, Steve talks about his upcoming book, enjoying sobriety and working with some of the most iconic creators in effects. Thanks for spending time with us with holiday weekend and enjoy this new episode of CreatureGeek!

Happy Friday the 13th everyone! On this brand new episode of CreatureGeek, we welcome Brian Wade. Brian's resume spans 30 years and features an incredible array of classic films including The Terminator, Tales From the Darkside, Starman, The Last Starfighter and only the best horror film ever made (in our opinion at least) John Carpenter's The Thing. We also talk a little about his uncredited work on one of the greatest TV shows of all time Mystery Science Theatre 3000. Watch your back today and listen to the latest CreatureGeek!

On this episode of CreatureGeek, we talk to producer, animator, director and documentarian Frank Dietz. Frank talks about his wonderful documentary about Bob Burns entitled "Beast Wishes". Also, we have a really cool Halloween giveaway thanks to the fine folks at Mezco Toys. All you have to do is post your Halloween costume from this year or years past, good or bad. Just get our attention! Tweet at @CreatureGeek and @mezcotoys use the hashtag #BeastWishes!

On this episode of CreatureGeek, Frank and Len chat/rant about the current state of SFX/Makeup magazines. Does anyone else miss the good old days of Fangoria, Gore Zone, Cinefex and Cinefantastique? Well, rest easy because the discussion is all about makeup mags. There is also discussion about a new magazine called PROsthetic magazine which is definitely worth a look. Enjoy the show!