Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Special Makeup FX Legend Neill Gorton Visits Cinema Makeup School!


SFX legend Neill Gorton and CMS student Victoria Goldberg

Being Human, Torchwood, Children of Men, Judge Dredd, Doctor Who…what do they have in common? Besides being beloved classics (or inexplicable Sly Stallone adaptations of beloved classics) of British science fiction, all also feature the special makeup effects work of one man: four time BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)  and RTS (Royal Television Society) award winner Neill Gorton.

Gorton, in Los Angeles for IMATS over the weekend, decided to pay a visit to CMS to check out the state of the art facilities.  He toured the campus with Director of Admissions Lee Joyner and offered his thoughts to some lucky students and grads working in the labs.

Gorton owns and operates Millennium FX  Ltd. out of Chesham, England. His work goes well beyond science fiction including projects as diverse (yet universally loved) as Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan and the raucous Little Britain sketch comedy show. But for many fans, he will always be associated with science fiction and his iconic work on over 40 episodes of long-running cult BBC show, Doctor Who, spanning the years 2005 to 2010.

Here at CMS, Gorton’s visit has left us with a mix of emotions: incredibly happy we got the chance to spend some time with him, somewhat surprised that he chooses to travel by car and not TARDIS, a bit worried that any one of us might inspire his next brilliantly grotesque Little Britain character, thankful for the wisdom and knowledge he shared while touring the labs, andmost of allrelieved that he didn’t bring the Daleks. 

Thank you, Neill!

Neill with CMS student and Doctor Who fan Kelby LeNorman.

Lee Joyner shows Neill around the FX labs.

Neill discusses a werewolf suit job with CMS grad Alan Carnes

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