Special FX makeup artist Tabitha Surette
What drove you too become a special effects makeup artist, and with being in the horror genre was there an outside influence that sparked your interest specifically along the years?
I was originally interested in being a tattoo artist. Family business, my dad is an artist. I've always loved the thought of body art. I started tattooing and I liked it, a lot, until I discovered face and body paint. I never put the brush down after that. As for special fx, I have always been the person watching a movie going, "But how did they do that?" Usually referring to a face being blown off or a person eating another person. So, I started looking into it more and came across Savini and his Grande Illusions, a learn by example guide to special fx. That had me hooked, then, I moved onto reading about Dick Smith and the Stan Winston School of character arts. I started taking interest in behind the scenes info for horror movies. As for influence. I have a lot of that in many, many people. Social media allows me to connect with people all over the world, to ask questions, see others work. As for why horror? I don't have a straight answer for that other than I grew up with it, fell in love with
it early, and want nothing more than to create it.
Has the art of tattooing influenced your art style, and did that carry over to your makeup and prosthetic work?
Maybe with some of the technique. Attention to detail for sure, steady hand and preparation. As for the art style, I would say no. My makeup and prosthetics I make are very different from anything I have tattooed.
All of which is done under your studio's label DOA SpFx correct?
All of my makeup looks and my fx are done under DOA SpFx, yes.
Can you tell us more about your company?
Of course. I have a small studio at home, just an area for me to work in, nothing special. My fiancé and I travel together to do events and cons. He is a huge help to me with setting up all my equipment and helping put up banners and stuff. He's also a social butterfly where I am not. haha. It makes things easier while working a table. In my studio as well as at a table, I offer face and body painting, out of kit fx (meaning nothing pre-made), and I also have costumes. I collect old wedding dresses and make them looked aged and spooky! I collect lots of costume wigs and props for photo shoots as well. All of which I offer all year round, but always seems to boom around October.
Is it fair to say Halloween season is a great time of year for you ?
Absolutely! Everyone is always looking for a little help with their costumes and face!
More and more people seem to be looking at social media to get ideas and tips for their seasonal costuming, what do you think of the rising trend on social media sites like youtube with DIY artist giving out more or less good advice?
I think its inevitable. Everyone has access to everything and information that is literally endless. Its a good and bad thing. There are always very helpful youtube videos and there are always videos you should just skip over after about 5 seconds. DIY artists are a wonderful thing. The fad artists will do their thing and fade out, the artists at heart will forever keep learning and teach when given the opportunity. There is good and bad advice every where. As an adult you have to just weed through it and teach your children to do the same.
Do you also have a presence on social media sites?
Yes! Or at least I try to, haha!
I post a lot on my personal facebook and try to network with other artists. I have a page specifically for my work as well. Instagram... My favorite place on earth! So many incredible artists of every medium on there. It fantastic for connecting with people who do what you do!
Have you had the chance to work with any other artists?
I've participated in group collaborations online with different paints and some fx. Usually I'm working alone though. There have been a couple cases where there is another fx artist on set, 2 films actually, but we were never doing the same thing at the same time. "Dead Rush" for instance, I was key makeup and fx and there was another extremely talented artist on set who did all the main hero zombies, I didn't really get to work with him, but we both did the same film, haha!
Can you tell us more about your work on "Dead Rush", how did that come to be?
I had a friend on facebook tag me in a post about a feature length film that needed help with makeup. I contacted the producer immediately, sent in my work and started a few weeks after. The cast and crew of "Dead Rush" were like family pretty much immediately. Absolutely, hands down, the most amazing people I have ever met. It was hectic, it was busy, it was fast paced and it bloody. I loved every second of it. It was almost surreal seeing it on the big screen last year at the Canadian film fest.
Is there any future project lined up for you in the world of gore and zombies?
Gore yes, always. Zombies, no.
I have 3 films coming up starting in April. I can't give out too much info as of yet, but they are full of gore and pure awesomeness!
I'm sure what ever they are, true horror fans will enjoy seeing the bloody goodness you will bring to them.
I hope so. It's going to be great!
No doubt it will. it's greatly appreciated and all the best for your future monster creating exploits.
I was originally interested in being a tattoo artist. Family business, my dad is an artist. I've always loved the thought of body art. I started tattooing and I liked it, a lot, until I discovered face and body paint. I never put the brush down after that. As for special fx, I have always been the person watching a movie going, "But how did they do that?" Usually referring to a face being blown off or a person eating another person. So, I started looking into it more and came across Savini and his Grande Illusions, a learn by example guide to special fx. That had me hooked, then, I moved onto reading about Dick Smith and the Stan Winston School of character arts. I started taking interest in behind the scenes info for horror movies. As for influence. I have a lot of that in many, many people. Social media allows me to connect with people all over the world, to ask questions, see others work. As for why horror? I don't have a straight answer for that other than I grew up with it, fell in love with
it early, and want nothing more than to create it.
Has the art of tattooing influenced your art style, and did that carry over to your makeup and prosthetic work?
Maybe with some of the technique. Attention to detail for sure, steady hand and preparation. As for the art style, I would say no. My makeup and prosthetics I make are very different from anything I have tattooed.
All of which is done under your studio's label DOA SpFx correct?
All of my makeup looks and my fx are done under DOA SpFx, yes.
Can you tell us more about your company?
Of course. I have a small studio at home, just an area for me to work in, nothing special. My fiancé and I travel together to do events and cons. He is a huge help to me with setting up all my equipment and helping put up banners and stuff. He's also a social butterfly where I am not. haha. It makes things easier while working a table. In my studio as well as at a table, I offer face and body painting, out of kit fx (meaning nothing pre-made), and I also have costumes. I collect old wedding dresses and make them looked aged and spooky! I collect lots of costume wigs and props for photo shoots as well. All of which I offer all year round, but always seems to boom around October.
Is it fair to say Halloween season is a great time of year for you ?
Absolutely! Everyone is always looking for a little help with their costumes and face!
More and more people seem to be looking at social media to get ideas and tips for their seasonal costuming, what do you think of the rising trend on social media sites like youtube with DIY artist giving out more or less good advice?
I think its inevitable. Everyone has access to everything and information that is literally endless. Its a good and bad thing. There are always very helpful youtube videos and there are always videos you should just skip over after about 5 seconds. DIY artists are a wonderful thing. The fad artists will do their thing and fade out, the artists at heart will forever keep learning and teach when given the opportunity. There is good and bad advice every where. As an adult you have to just weed through it and teach your children to do the same.
Do you also have a presence on social media sites?
Yes! Or at least I try to, haha!
I post a lot on my personal facebook and try to network with other artists. I have a page specifically for my work as well. Instagram... My favorite place on earth! So many incredible artists of every medium on there. It fantastic for connecting with people who do what you do!
Have you had the chance to work with any other artists?
I've participated in group collaborations online with different paints and some fx. Usually I'm working alone though. There have been a couple cases where there is another fx artist on set, 2 films actually, but we were never doing the same thing at the same time. "Dead Rush" for instance, I was key makeup and fx and there was another extremely talented artist on set who did all the main hero zombies, I didn't really get to work with him, but we both did the same film, haha!
Can you tell us more about your work on "Dead Rush", how did that come to be?
I had a friend on facebook tag me in a post about a feature length film that needed help with makeup. I contacted the producer immediately, sent in my work and started a few weeks after. The cast and crew of "Dead Rush" were like family pretty much immediately. Absolutely, hands down, the most amazing people I have ever met. It was hectic, it was busy, it was fast paced and it bloody. I loved every second of it. It was almost surreal seeing it on the big screen last year at the Canadian film fest.
Is there any future project lined up for you in the world of gore and zombies?
Gore yes, always. Zombies, no.
I have 3 films coming up starting in April. I can't give out too much info as of yet, but they are full of gore and pure awesomeness!
I'm sure what ever they are, true horror fans will enjoy seeing the bloody goodness you will bring to them.
I hope so. It's going to be great!
No doubt it will. it's greatly appreciated and all the best for your future monster creating exploits.
Martin Lafrance
NYZ Apocalypse
NYZ Apocalypse is selling a line of prosthetic transfers. All the prosthetic's are available at www.nyzapocalypse.com
BEYOND THE FLESH with Patrycja Nowacka
