five with frights:- scott sliger
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SCOTT SLIGER, an accomplished horror FX creator and prop maker was kind enough to take some time out to talk to Mr. Frights about his horrofying work.
Monsters, Madmen, and Mayhem
IMDB
Trail of Fears
MR. FRIGHTS: How did you get into making these ghastly items & FX type of work?-
SCOTT SLIGER: I got into Special Effects Make -up and Prosthetics, because I love to scare people! I used to dress up like a really nasty corpse and have friends drop me off in front of a cemetery. They'd park around the corner and then find a safe area to watch me nearly cause several serious car accidents. I'd wait for a car to drive by, then I'd act like I was escaping from the Graveyard!!
It was a blast. As the years went by I found better materials and techniques to work with, and started practicing on myself, my sisters, brother & mom. They hated wearing it but were very supportive. I started out using my moms make up,( some of her lipsticks made Awesome blood dribble). She had to start hiding her make up kit, because I'd trashed it several times making Zombies!!
Many years later I bought her a really nice make up kit and taught her the newest methods for applying beauty make up. We still laugh about that.
Through out the years I met several people along the way that taught me about newer techniques and materials. That helped me get more serious about my craft. I studied Anatomy, life drawing and practiced incessantly. I took classes in color and paint mixing. I became a resin kit fanatic and learned even more about what colors do to evoke certain emotions, etc. and more practice. I never feel like I have reached that plateau where I won't learn anything, or am not interested in learning more. I'm always hungry for new materials , new techniques and sadly yes, Gossip about the industry! I love to talk shop!!! -
MR. FRIGHTS: What's your favorite & least favorite material to work with?
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SCOTT SLIGER: The materials I love and hate are: I love foam latex , because It allowed me to move forward into modern methods.
It is very forgiving and helped me to bring out some of my worst nightmares in the "flesh"as it were..... I Love/ Hate Fiberglass/ Polyester resin. I like making resin molds but hate the fiberglass shards that easily work their way into bare skin when you are sending it.
Not to mention the highly TOXIC nature of the material itself, and the smell....knock you out.
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MR. FRIGHTS: How do you know when to stop working on something, how do you know when it's "done"?
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SCOTT SLIGER: I was taught many years ago not to " marry" my work. I think each individual artist needs to learn the business aspects of when to stop and move on. I say Business because that's what we are in and we do not always have the luxury of time. so working something to death is an easy thing to do. If you want to sell it you can't do that.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Where do these creations spring from inside you?
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SCOTT SLIGER: deep in the darkened recesses of my id...LOL! actually
I'm just a really f-ed up individual and love to create Mayhem!!!
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MR. FRIGHTS: Aside from really cool things to make your home more spooky, what else have you used these creations for?
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SCOTT SLIGER: Normally (love that word...heheh, who's normal anymore....hehehe) I try to make only what I need for a production or can sell. I don't really have the funds or time to just " play" anymore.
Hit the Grab Bag Questions below to go on with the interview...
GRAB BAG QUESTIONS
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MR. FRIGHTS: What's your favorite piece you've done?
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SCOTT SLIGER: I am currently working on a man to fishman transformation. I think the finished product will be fantastic. It won't be scary, just "otherworldly".
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MR. FRIGHTS: You hear a noise in your shop as if something you made came to life, do you investigate?
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SCOTT SLIGER: HMMMMM, well, since I would be the " Dr. Frankenstien" I would hope that my " baby" wasn't too hungry and might listen to reason.
other wise I'd hit the road as fast as possible!!
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MR. FRIGHTS: Best Horror Special effect you have ever seen? What about one you've done?
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SCOTT SLIGER: Best Effect- all the transformations in the
new WOLFMAN movie. the best I've done ( efx wise)... would be the throat slashing I did for
SATAN'S PLAYGROUND.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Can you tell us about some of the groovy up coming products you've been working on?
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SCOTT SLIGER: I just finished working on a feature in NY & NJ called
TORTURE CHAMBER - lots of fun burns , diseased minions and such. In August
I will be working on 2 productions A HOME NEAR WATER ( fishman transformation) and PSYCHED OUT a dark / romance / thriller/ ghost story w/ lots of fun ghosts/dead folks. then in October I will be heading up the makeup team at
TRAIL OF FEARS a local
(Hilliard OH) Haunted Attraction.
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MR. FRIGHTS: Advice for people who want to get into your line of work?
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SCOTT SLIGER: Practice your sculpture, anatomy studies, life drawings, and colorings. learn how to blend colors to make things as life like as possible. and a shitload more practice!!! and make sure that you LOVE what you do otherwise you'll burn out and be miserable.