Learn the art of monster suit & animatronic character sculpting with Academy Award-nominated special effects character creator Alec Gillis.

In this nearly 5 Hour Sculpting Master Class, Alec shares a wealth of techniques for how to sculpt full monster suit character while also accommodating the facial animatronic mechanisms that will bring it to life.

Alec's creature character, dubbed Yellow Hands, is an original design of a desert-dwelling tribal alien, to be featured in an upcoming project produced by Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. and directed by Gillis.

This DVD is a 2-Disc Set

Intermediate Level

4h 45m of duration

Spanish, English

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Curriculum

1. Title & Introduction - 2min

2. Roughing the Head - 6min

3. Working Out the Design to Perform With Mechanics - 3min

4. Placing the Animatronics Eyebar - 4min

5. Character Sculpture Check - 9min

6. Character Design - 4min

7. Monster Suit Design Overview - 2min

8. Monster Suit Design Overview - 51s

9. Monster Suit Design Overview - 6min

10. A Review of the Sculpture - 20min

11. Finessing the Head Sculpt - 4min

12. Head Sculpture - 3min

13. Head Sculpture - 4min

14. Head Sculpture - 2min

15. Head Sculpture - 6min

16. Mouth Considerations - 2min

17. Character Sculpture - 3min

18. Refining the Lips - 5min

19. Character Sculpture - 2min

20. Character Sculpture - 5min

21. Character Sculpture - 2min

22. A Brief Aside on Heating Clay - 1min

23. Back to Neck Sculpting - 11min

24. Smoothing Textures With Alcohol - 2min

25. Neck Blockout - 3min

26. Project Collaboration - 21s

27. Sculpting the Arm - 5min

28. Arm Sculpture - 1min

29. Arm Sculpture - 2min

30. Arm Sculpture - 49s

31. Hand Sculpture - 9min

32. Sculpting in Wed Clay - 3min

33. Arm Sculpture - 4min

34. Arm Sculpture - 5min

35. Arm Sculpture - 43s

36. Arm Sculpture - 5min

37. Arm Sculpture - 7min

38. Learning to Work Quickly - 2min

39. A Fresh Perspective - 10min

40. Refining the Shape of the Hand - 3min

41. Hand Sculpture - 4min

42. Drying Details in the Clay - 1min

43. Keeping the Base Damp - 24s

44. Hand Sculpture - 2min

45. Arm Sculpture - 31s

46. Arm Sculpture - 2min

47. Arm Sculpture - 2min

48. Arm Sculpture - 2min

49. Arm Sculpture - 3min

50. Sculpting the Body - 1min

51. WED Clay vs. Oil Clay - 3min

52. The Serrated Kidney Tool - 2min

53. Making Monsters on a Budget - 1min

54. Sculpting the Body - 10min

55. Sculpting the Body - 3min

56. Sculpting the Body - 2min

57. The Ideal Monster Suit Performers - 2min

58. Sculpting the Body - 2min

59. Sculpting the Body - 3min

60. Sculpting the Body - 6min

61. Sculpting the Body - 2min

62. Sculpting the Body - 8min

63. Sculpting the Body - 1min

64. Sculpting the Body - 1min

65. Sculpting the Body - 36s

66. Sculpting the Body - 53s

67. Improvising Solutions - 3min

68. Supporting the New Clay Foot - 3min

69. Apply Vaseline to the Surface - 43s

70. Sculpting the Legs - 4min

71. Sculpting the Legs - 2min

72. Sculpting the Legs - 5min

73. Sculpting the Legs - 21s

74. Revisiting the Arm Sculpture - 40s

75. Arm Sculpture - 2min

76. Arm Sculpture - 2min

77. Arm Sculpture - 50s

78. Caring For Your WED Clay Sculpture - 1min

79. Applying 'Cracked Mud' Texture - 3min

80. Applying a Coat of Valspar - 5min

81. 'Cracked Mud' Mixture - 2min

82. Testing the 'Cracked Mud' Texture - 2min

83. Applying the 'Cracked Mud' Texture - 2min

84. The Finished Sculpture - 28s

85. Sculpting Tools - 15min

Materials

CLICK on the links below to find the materials you need for this lesson.

Some items might be harder to find, but a little internet scouring usually finds you everything you'll need.

Naimie's Beauty Center

Reynolds Advanced Materials

Smooth-On Inc.

Monster Clay

GreatArt UK

FOR YOUR WORK STATION

Double Boiler or Microwave

Lazy Susan

Full Body Lifecast

Hand/Arm Lifecast

Lifecast Head and Upper Torso of Actor who will wear suit

CLAYS/PLASTERS

Mud Mix

White Clay, Gesso, Ca-Bo-Sil

Soft NSP Medium Oil Clay

Ultracal Plaster

Wed Clay

CLEAR COATS/GLOSSES/MATTING AGENTS

Valspar Weathered Crackle Glaze

PAINT/BRISTLE BRUSHES

Chip Brushes

Small Bristle Brush

SPONGES

Open Cell Structured Scott Foam

Smooth Sponge or Foam

Stipple Sponge

THINNERS/SOLVENTS

99% Alcohol

TOOLS

Measuring Tools

Calipers

Power Tools

Cordless Drill

Sculpting Tools

Large Metal Spatula

Large Ridged Loop Tools

Medium Metal Prong Brush

Medium Ridged Loop Tool

Medium Sized Ball Tools

Rounded Metal Dental Spatula

Serrated Metal Kidney

Small Loop Tools (various sizes and shapes)

Small Metal Rake Tool

Small Metal Spatula Tool

Small Metal Prong w/Point Tool

Small Wire Brush

Smooth Wooden Kidney

Very Small Ball Tool

Wire Prong Brush

Other Tools

Blowtorch or Hairdryer

Eye Bars

Eye Forms

Sifter

SUPPLIES

Bucket

Burlap or Sisal Fiber

Gust Compressed Air

Paper Cups

Paper Towels

Saran Wrap

Spray Bottle w/Water

Tub of Water

Vaseline

HEALTH/SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When working with toxic and/or dangerous materials or tools:

ALWAYS read labels for appropriate use guidelines

ALWAYS wear a high-grade respirator

ALWAYS work in a well-ventilated area

ALWAYS protect your skin

ALWAYS wear eye protection

Artist BiographyAlec Gillis

Academy Award nominated FX Wizard | Co-Founder Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. | Founder Studio Gillis

See Full Bio

Additional Purchasing Options

Notice: DVDs do not include closed captions.

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