tech
“I’ve always been fond of hairy creatures!” Visual effects maestro Rick Baker on a monstrously good career
Rick Baker helped define Hollywood’s creature features with his wild makeup effects skills. From Locarno, he talks Gremlins, his love of simians– and why AI will never replace expert design
TL;DR
- Rick Baker, a seven-time Oscar winner, is being honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Locarno Film Festival.
- He has contributed iconic makeup and creature effects to numerous films and music videos, including "The Exorcist," "Star Wars," Michael Jackson's "Thriller," and "An American Werewolf in London."
- Baker is concerned about AI stealing from artists but sees it as a new tool, predicting that the demand for human artists will persist.
- He takes pride in training the next generation of special effects artists, a tradition he learned from his own mentor, Dick Smith.
- Baker continues to work on projects even after retirement, such as assisting with the makeup for the musical biopic "Michael."
- His creative process is often spontaneous, with inspiration coming from various sources, sometimes without conscious thought.
- Baker has a long-standing affinity for creating ape and werewolf characters, stemming from his deep appreciation for hairy creatures and his quest to perfect gorilla costumes.