When delivering Creature FX solutions for the film and television industry, you’re often given very limited time!  This free workshop will give participants the unique opportunity to gain insights into real-world CFX delivery. Taking an idea from concept to camera… just like they do in the movies!

With supportive guidance from vastly experienced industry professionals, you’ll have a taster of what it’s like to be on a Hollywood production.

You won’t be alone… just as happens on production, you’ll be in teams, which will allow different skills to develop and shine.

The director will give your team the brief, followed by the build leads helping you conceive a deliverable CFX solution.

Over the workshop days, you’ll have supported access to a full props workshop and suitable materials, which will allow you to make your creature effect. The result will be a working prototype.

On the final afternoon, you’ll get to screen test your creature, under the watchful eye of the director… the same as happens on a real-world production.

NB:

•             The Concept to Camera workshop has limited spaces, so early sign-up is recommended.

•             This workshop is for people who have some familiarity with tools and making.

Your Creature FX Guides:

Billy O’Brien – is a BAFTA nominated director and writer.

He has written screenplays for Paramount, Bad Robot, Film 4, Working Title, Element Pictures and Random House.

Directing credits include: the darkly funny supernatural thriller, “I am Not a Serial Killer”, starring Christopher Lloyd and Max Records and the intense horror, “Isolation”, starring Ruth Negga, Essie Davis and Sean Harris.

Worldwide, his films have garnered over 25 prestigious awards and nominations.

Throughout his career, Billy has directed numerous commercials, music promos and short films.

Billy will be your client director.

Armorel Hamilton – is a full-time artist specialising in doll & creature making. Her creations are sought after by collectors all over the world.

She has also worked in creature effects, on the BBC’s “His Dark Materials” and the Netflix series “The Dark Crystal – Age of Resistance”.

She draws inspiration from the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it.

Armorel will lead on creature look.

Philippa O’Brien – is a mixed media and textile artist specialising in puppets, masks and specialist costumes.

She has built for film, television, theatre and even the circus…working independently and for companies such as Neil Scanlon Studios, Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, ITV and BBC, and Northern Ireland Opera.

She has a passion for finding creative design solutions.

Philippa will lead on creature mechanics.

William Todd-Jones – is a world-renowned creature designer, performer, director, movement consultant, digital performance artist and writer for award winning film, television, and theatre productions.

Highlights include: Destroying the Earth as a Vogon in “Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy”. Hagrid’s brother Grawp in “Harry Potter”, Batman’s cape, Narnia’s Glenstorm & John Carter’s Woola.

Head of creatures, daemons & bears for “His Dark Materials” Lots of Muppets, principal puppeteer “Little Shop of Horrors” & “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. Goblin and Toby wrangler for “Labyrinth”.

Todd will be guiding progress as production manager.

Timetable

Monday July 1st – evening only – Screening & Director Q&A

Opportunity to watch Billy O’brien’s, “I Am Not a Serial Killer”, starring Christopher Lloyd and Max Records, followed by Q&A with Billy and a chance to meet ‘The Monster’.

‘The Monster’, is the screen used puppet representation of the daemon that inhabits Christopher Lloyd’s character in the film. It was built specifically for the production by Toby Froud (the Babe from Labyrinth and Oscar winning creature builder for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio).

Tuesday July 2nd – 9am to 6pm – Build Day 1

1) Intro to CFx by your mentors.

2) Create teams – given the amount of work entailed and the different skill sets needed to successfully produce an in-camera CFx creature… teams of 4/5 individuals will be assigned to work together.

3) Design your creature.

4) Create the armature and start on mechs

Wednesday July 3rd – 9am to 6pm – Build Day 2

1) This is the main build opportunity to MAKE! your creature, including any mechanisms.

2) Aim to complete the majority of construction, so that only finishing off remains.

Thursday July 4th – 9am to 4pm – Finish & Screen Test

1) Finish off your creature – complete mechanisms and art finish

2) Final tweaks and rigging for performance

3) 2pm – in front of camera!

4) Shoot a short, directed piece that you can take home!