As one of Hollywood’s premiere monster makers, Todd Masters has been in the SFX game for well over four decades, with an impressive resume that spans from horror classics, such as Dead Heat, Night of the Creeps and Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, to modern greats like Slither, American Mary and Psycho Goreman.
We've learned today that Masters has been selected to receive the well-deserved "Fright-Time" Award for Lifetime Achievement during an evening ceremony on June 4th at the 2022 Monsterpalooza Convention in Pasadena, CA!
Winner of three Emmy Awards, Masters is the founder, president and "Chief Monster-Maker" behind MastersFX, one of the entertainment industry’s top Character and Special FX studios, which is currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year.
Masters' film career spans more than 43 years – he started working as a young teenager in the FX industry making monsters on genre blockbusters such as Big Trouble in Little China, Night of The Creeps, Looks Who’s Talking and the original Predator.
During the early part of his career in the 1980’s, Masters spent many years working in Southern California’s creature shops. During this era, he began developing his artform before expanding it into what the renowned MastersFX Studio has become today.
"Those of us in this field all stand on the shoulders of the FX giants that came before us: people like Ray Harryhausen, Jim Danforth, Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Lon Chaney, Stan Winston, Tom Burman, Craig Reardon, Chris Walas, and many, many others who taught us this unique art," says Masters. "Many of the artists I’ve worked with over the years have exceedingly evolved this art, all while remaining good friends of mine. We’ve all spent decades developing this truly unique entertainment industry artform"
In addition to his three Emmy Award wins, Masters has also won: a Cable Ace Award, a Saturn Award, eight Leo Awards, a Gemini Award, a Screamfest Award, and most recently, a Fangoria Magazine 2022 Chainsaw Award, as well as several other accolades over the years in his role as a director and producer.
Regarding his 2022 award from Monsterpalooza, Masters says, "It’s a true honor to receive this Lifetime Achieve Award - especially since many of our MastersFX teammates and alumni - as well as numerous of my Monster-Maker colleagues, fellow FX Studio owners and good friends – will be in attendance. I like to consider the people in the Special/Character/Makeup FX industry my extended family. In the sincerest sense, we’re ALL 'Masters' of our craft!"
"Monsterpalooza is the pre-eminent monster fan convention on the planet," Masters declares, "while also serving as the creative center of the professional Monster-Maker universe."
Monsterpalooza 2022 will be held starting this Friday, June 3rd through 5th, 2022, at the Pasadena Convention Center, and it will spotlight an inside look at some of MastersFX’s work via two panels:
First, on Saturday, June 4th, at 3 PM: The multi-award-winning, cult-hit PG: Psycho Goreman will be screened in the Monsterpalooza theater auditorium. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the film’s writer/creator/director, Steven Kostanski, (who is also an MFX/Toronto FX Artist). Joining Kostanski will be Zane Knisely (Supervisor at MastersFX/Toronto Studio) and Graham Chivers (MFX Toronto Prosthetics Artist). Todd Masters himself, will serve as MC of the Q&A session.
Afterwards, on Saturday evening, June 4th, beginning at 7:30 PM: A special guest star will present the 2022 "Fright-Time" Achievement Award to Masters. Following the award presentation, Monsterpalooza will host a party to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of MastersFX.
And on Sunday, June 5th, at 1:30 PM: A panel entitled The Making of Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight will begin. The session will highlight MFX’s work featured in that 1995 classic monster-movie. This panel will be comprised of Masters, actors Billy Zane and Charles Fleischer, and the film’s director, Ernest Dickerson.
Also, throughout the entire weekend of Monsterpalooza, a number of iconic props and FX memorabilia - created over the years by the MastersFX team - will be on display, inside the renowned Monsterpalooza Museum. These items will include: a "Demon" from Demon Knight; the leading character from the film Psycho Goreman (in Cowboy attire), and other characters from that hit film. In addition, some of the other FX items created by the MastersFX team which will be on exhibit include items from the TV series "Day of the Dead" and DC’s "Legends of Tomorrow". The legendary Monsterpalooza Museum is a must-see, and annually features full-sized creatures, hyper-realistic sculptures, screen-used props and animatronics from many popular horror films. The museum also debuts various new horrific creations from the world’s most elite Monster FX Studios.
"I’m still in a bit of shock by how well the 2022 Monsterpalooza team is treating lil ol' us, this year," Masters concedes. "The tremendous producers of this convention have really turned this year’s Monsterpalooza into a veritable 'MASTERS-Palooza'! I am sincerely humbled by the outpouring of support and love from them, and from so many other artists within our industry. The entire Monsterpalooza event brings a sharp-focus into the Art of Monster-Making, for both professionals as well as for collectors. The annual event is a must-see for classic monster fans and newcomers. After a few years off due to the pandemic, I’m so glad that Monsterpalooza is back, bigger and scarier than ever!"
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