Podcast appearances and mentions of alec gillis

Welcome to The Following Films Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of cinema with the filmmakers, artists, and storytellers who bring movie magic to life.On today's episode, I'm joined by legendary VFX artist Alec Gillis to talk about his involvement with Shout! TV's Double Take series, where celebrity guests curate and host themed double features. On April 5, Alec is hosting a special marathon in celebration of Roger Corman's birthday—a fitting tribute, considering his early work on Battle Beyond the Stars under the legendary producer.But that's just the beginning. Alec's career has spanned some of the most iconic sci-fi and horror films of all time, working alongside visionaries like James Cameron and Stan Winston on Aliens, The Abyss, and Terminator 2. He's also brought creatures to life in fan favorites like Tremors, Monster Squad, and Starship Troopers.Today, we'll discuss his journey in the industry, his passion for practical effects, and what fans can expect from this upcoming Double Take event.So, sit back and enjoy my conversation with Alec Gillis.

The one and only film directed by special effects guru Alec Gillis, Harbinger Down brings some glorious practical effects work but not much else. See what we thought of this one in our debut episode of our once Patreon Exclusive series OUT OF THE TUBI. Originally recorded in 2023. Check out all of our links at: https://linktr.ee/dissectthatfilm Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dissectthatfilm

Hellooooo we're talking SMILE 2 (2024) this week and no spoilers but we frigging loved it.  Follow us on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/noshowmonster.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoShowMonster Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noshowmonster/ Email us at noshowmonster@gmail.com Follow Kelly Attaway Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kellyattaway.bsky.social Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyattaway Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spooky_kellyyy/ Follow Chelsea Hollander lol SIKE you can't she's not online because she values her mental health and wellbeing    Lukas Gage tiny apartment audition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARZBRcQztG4 Jeremy Selenfriend's ig - Lukas Gage prosthetics (graphic) https://www.instagram.com/p/DD7OwyduTiQ/?img_index=1 Smile 2 Skye Riley EP we can't stop listening to https://open.spotify.com/album/53i6qzqYuhIhcpVTVu0dW3 A behind the scenes video but I recommend watching pretty much any of them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x1Ebo_YZV8 Join us back here in two weeks to discuss ODDITY (2024)! Hosted by Kelly Attaway and Chelsea Hollander Produced by Kelly Attaway Art by Ryan Tate Theme by Unicorn Heads  

"Alien: Romulus" was released over the summer to praise from critics for its visual and practical effects, which horrified, disgusted, and exhilarated audiences. Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Barba & FX Designer Alec Gillis were kind enough to spend some time speaking with us about their work on Fede Alvarez's entry in the long-running and beloved franchise, which you can listen to or watch below. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now available to stream on Hulu and is up for your consideration in all eligible categories at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're joined by action-horror filmmaker Steven C. Miller to discuss his latest barn-burner of a movie, Werewolves. Werewolves is an unapologetically fun and hydraulic creature feature packed with practical effects, action, and a whole lot of Frank Grillo. Steven dives into his experiences directing Werewolves, his focus on practical effects and full creature suits crafted by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., and his collaboration with star Frank Grillo.Steven also shares his compelling origin story, which included living in his car in Los Angeles before going on to direct multiple action features and collaborating with legends like Bruce Willis, Nicolas Cage, and Sylvester Stallone. This episode was a real blast and is packed with advice and insights for all you horror filmmakers out there. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Steven C. Miller, director of Werewolves.Here are some key takeaways from this conversation with Steven C. MillerGet a rallyerOne of the standout perks Steven shared about working with Frank Grillo is that Frank is a natural rallyer on set. He possesses an authoritative and trusted presence that helps elevate the cast and crew, motivating them to back Steven's decisions and rise to the challenges of production. Having someone like this on set is invaluable. On any film shoot, there will be moments when morale dips, fatigue sets in, or tensions arise. A rallyer—someone who can inspire and energize the team—can make all the difference.However, this kind of relationship hinges on trust. Frank Grillo has been on a lot of sets, worked with a lot of directors and has a pretty sharp bullshit detector. During Werewolves, Frank would ask Steven pointed questions, and because Steven always had solid answers, Frank trusted him. This mutual respect allowed Frank to step into a quarterback-like role on set, helping to unify and inspire the team. As a filmmaker, seek out cast members who possess this quality—but understand that it's your responsibility to earn their trust and respect first.Keep it movingSteven's action-oriented directorial style thrives on momentum. Anyone will tell you that filmmaking is largely waiting around, but Steven counters this with a fast-paced, dynamic approach. By minimizing downtime, he keeps actors engaged, energized, and ready to deliver their best, especially during action-heavy scenes. This efficiency comes from Steven's deep understanding of set logistics, a skill he honed through hands-on experience in his early days. His ability to streamline production and avoid stagnation creates an environment where both creativity and productivity flourish. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez has expressed similar ideas, highlighting that actors appreciate the pace, and it allows productions to run more smoothly and on schedule and budget.Say yesSteven has directed an impressive number of films, and if you look at his IMDB page, he seems to constantly be working. This is a testament to his “say yes to everything” philosophy. He believes that filmmakers should view every project as a learning opportunity, regardless of whether it's a passion project. Rather than being overly selective, Steven advocates for gaining as much experience as possible by consistently working and completing projects. This mindset is especially important in an industry where opportunities are scarce. While some directors, like Quentin Tarantino, can afford to be hyper-selective about their filmography, Steven stresses that this is the exception, not the rule. For most filmmakers, success comes from viewing the craft as a career, where consistency and experience are key. By saying yes, Steven not only became a better and more reliable filmmaker but also built relationships and gained opportunities to work...

Watch on YouTubeIn this thrilling installment, Creature FX creator Alec Gillis continues to share stories from beloved classics like Tremors, The Thing, Alien 3, Prey, and more. Join us as Alec reminisce's about the film's impact, share behind-the-scenes stories, and discuss its lasting legacy in the realm of creature features. We delve into the creativity and artistry behind the film's practical effects and the ingenious minds behind the scenes, including the talented team that designed the iconic Graboids and other creatures. We explore the evolution of practical effects in the film industry, debate the merits of digital versus practical effects, and offer insights into how the horror genre has transformed over the years. From the technical challenges faced during filming to their personal journeys within the industry, this episode is packed with nostalgia and inspiration for horror fans and aspiring filmmakers alike. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more fun discussions on your favorite films, directors, and spirits! Cheers!Follow Drinks and a Movie Podcasts SocialsFor more Behind the Scenes content on Alec's work check out his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ @studioADI 

Watch this episode on YouTubeIn this special episode of the Drinks and a Movie Podcast, Rudy and Carissa visit Studio Gillis, where they chat with special effects/creature creator Alec Gillis. Known for his impressive work on iconic films such as *Aliens, Alien 3, Tremors, Jumanji, It, Starship Troopers, Prey, and more. Alec shares insights into his fascinating career in the film industry. We start by pouring some Mezcal 33 and Nelson Bros Sherry Cask whiskey then dive into his journey of becoming a creature designer, explaining the blend of art and engineering necessary for creating memorable cinematic monsters. He recounts anecdotes from his work on major films, including *Alien 3*, and reflects on the challenges and innovative techniques encountered in integrating CGI with practical effects. Check out Alec's YouTube channel for behind the scenes content HereFollow and to subscribe to Drinks and a Movie Podcasts socials here

Willem Dafoe and Alec Gillis (Oscar-winning special effects artist and actor) hang out and talk about the behind the scenes world of special effects. They joke around but mostly play it straight. 

Alec Gillis grew up in Orange County, California within sight of the Disneyland fireworks show. As a kid he roamed the mean streets of Main Street Disneyland, It was here he gained a lifelong appreciation of animatronics, but it was in the local movie theatres that he fell in love with genre films. At age 20 Gillis began working for Roger Corman on a film called BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, along with James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd. After working for various Makeup Effects luminaries such as Tom Savini and Greg Cannom,  Gillis was recommended by James Cameron to Stan Winston, where Gillis worked on effects for classic films such as ALIENS and PREDATOR. In 1988 he co-founded Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI) with Tom Woodruff, Jr. TREMORS was the company's first feature, and the film's giant subterranean worms gained Gillis notoriety. The duo's work garnered Oscar nominations for STARSHIP TROOPERS, ALIEN 3 and won for DEATH BECOMES HER. Gillis has won numerous other awards such as BAFTAs and SATURNs.  His work has been seen in BRIGHT, IT 1 and 2, and currently the Disney/Fox Predator feature PREY, directed by Dan Trachtenberg. During his 3 decades with ADI, Gillis has also written numerous screenplays, written 3 books and produced/directed a feature film, HARBINGER DOWN. His new solo company, Studio Gillis, will continue the tradition Gillis is known for of high-quality Creature, Make Up and Practical Effects. In this episode we discuss: Alec's unique way of ending up entering in the industry How his passion for scary movies and monsters as a child became a dream job Coming up with James Cameron and a fun full circle moment The ins and outs of how they make monsters and creatures from start to finish How technology has contributed and changed his job throughout the years He talks about his foray into directing and acting His favorite monster and experience Alec discusses how his whole family has become an industry family (despite his best efforts :)) Make sure to watch out on Tipsy Casting's instagram for a behind the scenes video look into Alec's shop and some of the amazing creatures he's created! Resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alec's Instagram Alec's Twitter/X ⁠Alec's IMBD ─────────────────────────── ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stay Tuned with Tipsy Casting on IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tipsy Casting YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Jessica ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Jenn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn More About ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jess ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jenn's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Casting Journeys  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Casting Life Away Merch here!⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tipsycastingpodcast/message

Today, we welcome Josh Forbes to the podcast, director of Destroy All Neighbors. This is a gleefully fun movie that feels as inventive as it is unhinged. It's the kind of movie that I'm feeling really good about seeing more of because it's completely original. This is Josh's second feature after his debut Contracted Phase 2 and I think he's really made a serious statement; the energy, attitude, fun and bonkers practical effects make this a very fun movie. The movie starred Jonah Ray with a very hilarious performance by Alex Winter and special effects by Bill Corso and Gabe Bartalos of Basket Case Fame. In this interview Josh gets into the making of Destroy All Neighbors from the conception of the idea, to his attachment as director, raising funds and more as well as the current state of cinema that enabled something this original to get made. Don't forget to check out Destroy all Neighbors, now streaming on Shudder, and in the meantime, please enjoy this conversation with Director, Josh Forbes. Take inventory of awesome things you have access to.This is a common one, take inventory of everything you have access to and fashion your movie out of that. Production value is so critical, and often so expensive. Maximize your movie by taking an inventory of what you have access to and writing your script around it. If you have a friend with a boat, that boat should be in your movie. A friend who owns a pig, in the case of Josh, a pig should be in the movie. This is exactly what Robert Rodriguez did with El Mariachi and Kevin Smith with Clerks.Use practical effects.Practical effects, never went away, but still somehow feel like they're having a second heyday which is awesome. The thing about practical effects is that the community is very very passionate and despite having a low budget, Josh was able to get some very heavy hitters like Bill Corso and Gabe Bartolos on board simply because the project looked fun. Similarly when he did Mortuary Collection, Ryan Spindell was able to get Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis from ADI on board despite a relatively low budget because these guys wanted to be involved for the fun of it. The level of passion present in the practical effects community is something very awesome to tap into and it adds a level of production value to your movie that goes a long way in the horror community. Always pay as much as you can though.Push for your original singular vision.Destroy all Neighbors could not have been made by anybody else because it's so specific and singular to Josh, his sensibility, and the things he likes. Directors are supposed to direct movies that only they would be able to do. As a director, you need to understand own and articulate your own sensibility - yes, be open to feedback and collaboration, but your movies should feel specifically uniquely yours. These are the types of projects that inspire others and are worth getting excited about.SHOW NOTESMovies and TV ShowsOnyx the FortuitousFried BarryIdle HandsWhat We Do in the Shadows (both movie and TV show)Sin City (referenced for character design)Buffalo 66" (referenced for trailer music)MusicKing Crimson ("In the Court of the Crimson King")Gentle Giant ("Octopus" album)Straubs (band)Yes (band)Follow Josh Forbes at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestjoshforbes/IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1141362/?ref_=tt_ov_drThanks as always...

David and Ryan are joined by living legend Alec Gillis to discuss his illustrious (and ongoing!) career as a creature designer and practical effects wizard. He tells the guys about his first job with Richard Corman, going to see Alien with James freaking Cameron, subsequently getting a job on James freaking Cameron's Aliens and building the infamous Alien Queen (first out of garbage bags), all before founding his own legendary FX company, ADI, with partner Tom Woodruff. Alec has made more monsters than you can collect! But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

David and Ryan are joined by living legend Alec Gillis to discuss his illustrious (and ongoing!) career as a creature designer and practical effects wizard. He tells the guys about his first job with Richard Corman, going to see Alien with James freaking Cameron, subsequently getting a job on James freaking Cameron's Aliens and building the infamous Alien Queen (first out of garbage bags), all before founding his own legendary FX company, ADI, with partner Tom Woodruff. Alec has made more monsters than you can collect! But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

Alec Gillis, Academy Award-winning special effects artist, is our next guest! He and his team were behind the creation, motion, and effects of Mortal Kombat 1995's groundbreaking Goro animatronic as well as having been involved with the Alien and Predator films including the most recent movie, Prey! This is all in addition to Alec's extensive career involvement in a long list of other movies such as Death Becomes Her, Jumanji, Bubble Boy, The Thing, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Starship Troopers, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Tremors, Godzilla vs Kong, and many, many more! On this episode, we go into detail on the story and process behind the first Mortal Kombat movie's groundbreaking Goro animatronic as well as other aspects of Alec Gillis' career! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-realm-kast/support

Alec Gillis, Academy Award-winning special effects artist and creature designer, is our guest! He and his team were behind the creation, motion, and effects of Mortal Kombat 1995's groundbreaking Goro animatronic as well as having been involved with the Alien and Predator films including the most recent movie, Prey! This is all in addition to Alec's extensive career involvement in a long list of other movies such as Death Becomes Her, Jumanji, Bubble Boy, The Thing, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Starship Troopers, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Tremors, Godzilla vs Kong, and many, many more! On this episode, we go into detail on the story and process behind the first Mortal Kombat movie's groundbreaking Goro animatronic as well as other aspects of Alec Gillis' career! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-realm-kast/support

Prey Movie Reaction, First 10+ Mins - https://bit.ly/PreyFirst10 Prey Full Movie Reaction - https://bit.ly/Preycommentary JOIN the *free* Discord Channel - https://bit.ly/freeMADdiscord SPONSOR an episode (past, present, and future) - https://www.fiverr.com/share/05pkx2 Join the Movies Are Dope Discord - https://bit.ly/MoviesAreDopeDiscord (& assume all links from here on are affiliate links)

Movie Reaction, First 10+ Mins - https://bit.ly/PreyFirst10 Full Movie Reaction - https://bit.ly/Preycommentary JOIN the *free* Discord Channel - https://bit.ly/freeMADdiscord SPONSOR an episode (past, present, and future) - https://www.fiverr.com/share/05pkx2 Join the Movies Are Dope Discord - https://bit.ly/MoviesAreDopeDiscord (& assume all links from here on are affiliate links)

Born in Bangor, North Wales and raised in Brighton, Ian Whyte was 7'1" tall by the time he he was 17 years old. Ian always stood out from the crowd. Tall, slim and athletic, little did he know of his future career in the limelight however, Ian endured sometimes savage bullying throughout his school years. After discovering basketball in his teens, he quickly caught the attention of national team scouts who saw his physical attributes and determination as invaluable assets and he quickly progressed to the junior national team ranks. However, Ian lived in fear of being emotionally and creatively expressive for fear of more ridicule, so he was keen to escape school at the earliest possible opportunity. He spent a year at Henry Hudson High School in New Jersey, where he again attracted the attention of basketball scouts, earning sports scholarships to Iona College in New York and Clarion University in Pennsylvania. Ian returned to England in 1994 to play for the London Towers, a new franchise owned by the music promoter Barry Marshall. Still eager to find himself Ian only stayed a season with the Towers, transferring to their rival team across town, The London Leopards. As Europe freely opened its doors to sportsmen and women from across the continent, Ian played for teams across France, Belgium, Greece and Portugal, winning the domestic treble; League, cup and playoff championships with F.C. Porto in 1997. Ian returned to England soon after to play for the Newcastle Eagles, a place that would become his home until his retirement from the game in 2003. Throughout his career Ian tirelessly distinguished himself, representing his country 80 times. In 2003 Ian received a phone call that would change the whole course of his life. By his own admission he was keen to retire on his terms rather than through injury or old age, he responded to a casting call for the new film Alien vs Predator. His success in gaining the role is a matter of history, but personally it was a tremendous victory for him to finally find an outlet for his emotional creativity. Ian was fortunate to work alongside such luminaries as the Oscar winning special effects duo Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr as well as Oscar winning VFX supervisor John Bruno. He also met soon to be double Oscar winning makeup effects artist Mark Coulier who advised him to get in touch with Nick Dudman, the creature effects supervisor for the Harry Potter franchise. Upon completion of filming on AVP Ian travelled back to England and straight into the world of Harry Potter. Not credited as an actor this time, Ian was hired to help bring to life the character of Madame Maxime played by the sublime Francis De La Tour. Ian worked full time for an entire year on the film, faithfully doubling The character who was the full size 8'6" tall. During this time Ian found himself in great demand, but had to turn down roles on The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy and a worldwide tour with Cirque du Soleil. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-cuoco/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/steven-cuoco/support

In this week's episode Academy Award-Winning special effects visual artist Alec Gillis joins Dr. Anna Guanche. Alec Gillis gives Dr. Guanche “ All Access” to some amazing Hollywood Icons he has brought to the big screen. Alec shares his passion for special effects and how he broke into the industry. There's a lot that goes into special effects makeup, and Alec dives right into the techniques… from eyelashes to lid creases! Keep watching for A HUGE surprise that you DON'T want to miss! CALL 747-273-1627 TO LEAVE DR. GUANCHE A MESSAGE FOR THE CHANCE TO BE FEATURED IN A FUTURE EPISODE! Website: https://drbeautypodcast.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6M9XHpH... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Instagram: @annaguanchemd & @drbeautypodcast TikTok: @annaguanchemd

You've heard all about how Tremors came to be from screenwriters Steve Wilson and Brent Maddock, producer Nancy Roberts, special effects creator Alec Gillis, director Ron Underwood, and actor Kevin Bacon. Now it's time to hear the story from the host, Burt Gummer himself - Michael Gross!Welcome to Tremors: Making Perfection - the podcast. Join your host Michael Gross every Friday for the next 6 weeks as we go deep on the making of Tremors, with the people who made it. From the very first draft of the script that birthed the graboids, to the challenges of filming in the middle of the desert, the cast and crew are going to tell you everything you need to know about the monster movie that became a cult classic. So grab-oid yourself a seat, and let's make perfection.Head over to the official Tremors channels:https://twitter.com/TremorsMoviehttps://www.instagram.com/Tremors Moviehttps://www.facebook.com/TremorsMoviehttps://www.youtube.com/c/TremorsOfficial/community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special effects master Alec Gillis explains the process of designing the Graboids and bringing them to life with practical effects.Welcome to Tremors: Making Perfection - the podcast. Join your host Michael Gross every Friday for the next 6 weeks as we go deep on the making of Tremors, with the people who made it. From the very first draft of the script that birthed the graboids, to the challenges of filming in the middle of the desert, the cast and crew are going to tell you everything you need to know about the monster movie that became a cult classic. So grab-oid yourself a seat, and let's make perfection.Head over to the official Tremors channels:https://twitter.com/TremorsMoviehttps://www.instagram.com/Tremors Moviehttps://www.facebook.com/TremorsMoviehttps://www.youtube.com/c/TremorsOfficial/community Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alec Gillis is one of the founding partners of Amalgamated Dynamics, an Academy Award-winning character effects studio where we design, produce, and perform special characters for film, television, and commercials. From his early days working with Stan Winston to starting his own shop to building the stuff of nightmares to writing and directing his own feature film, Alec has got stories for days. His '5 Things Everyone Should Know' will warm your heart and inspire your creative muse.

Includes an interview with Amalgamated Dynamic Inc. founders and owners, and long time Alien and Predator creature effect extraordinaries Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. Presented by Corporal Hicks and RidgeTop.

Episode 57 – The One With The Tremors Documentary Well hello there, welcome to our podcast. This is episode 57 of Kaiju Curry House – The One with The Tremors Documentary – Making Perfection. Please download from your favourite podcast service and enjoy our content. Also, go on over to heroespodcasts.com to see other episodes...

"Filled with all the love and warmth and joy. . .the human heart can hold!" Critic Alec Gillis (aka VyceVictus) joins the show to discuss William Wyler's 1946 The Best Years Of Our Lives, and how the experiences of the trio of veterans onscreen, and those behind the scenes, resonate with his own experiences coming home from war. Hosts:Michael NataleTwitterInstagramLetterboxd Tom LorenzoTwitterInstagramLetterboxd Producer:Kyle LamparTwitterInstagram Guest:Alec Gillis aka VyceVictusTwitterLewtonBusPatton Veterans Project Follow the Show:TwitterInstagramWebsite Music:“Into the J (ft. Geoffpeters)” & “Isolation” by Admiral Bob 77

In this episode, we are joined by Alec Gillis, Academy Award winner, Creature Fx Legend, and Director. Alec Gillis began his professional career in 1980 at Roger Corman's New World Pictures. While working with future luminaries such as James Cameron and Gale Ann Hurd, Alec also attended UCLA Film School. By 1985 he began working for Creature FX legend Stan Winston ("Aliens", "Predator", "Pumpkinhead"). There he met Tom Woodruff, Jr with whom he co-founded the Creature FX studio Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI) in 1988.The duo received an Oscar for their work on "Death Becomes Her", as well as nominations for "Alien 3" and "Starship Troopers". They also won BAFTAs and Saturn Awards for the films "Starship Troopers" and "Jumanji".Gillis is also a writer. His book Worlds: A Mission of Discovery has been optioned by a major studio. He's also written a number of screenplays and created a TV series.

This week Gary and Jess review and discuss, Harbinger Down (2015) by Director, Alec Gillis. Starring, Lance Henriksen, Camille Balsamo and Matt Winston. For more Off The Shelf Reviews: Podcasts: https://offtheshelfreviews.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/@OTSReviews Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheShelfReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OffTheShelfReviews Support us: http://www.patreon.com/offtheshelfreviews Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/offtheshelfreviews Discord: https://discord.gg/Dyw8ctf

Depois de colocar dois filmes na lista dos melhores de ficção científica do cinema moderno, a saga Alien fechava a trilogia trazendo sangue novo com David Fincher para realizar "A Desforra" do xenomorfo. Porém, o resultado deixaria os fãs divididos e ainda hoje Alien 3 é um capítulo controverso. Há quem goste, há quem odeie, há quem lhe dê uma chance pela lente do famoso "assembly cut".Os efeitos especiais arriscaram novas maneiras de dar vida ao monstro e para nos explicar todo o processo, convidámos uma vez mais Alec Gillis da StudioADI e membro da equipa técnica do filme.António Araújo (podcast Segundo Take), fã confesso e que viu Alien 3 no cinema em 92, junta-se a nós na celebração de mais um Alien Day 26/4.

On this episode of LIFECAST, SFX artist Alec Gillis discusses the creation of one of Natasha's favorite creatures from the 90's: Prince Goro in MORTAL KOMBAT (1995)!  Alec talks about the new technologies that were created for the project and how Goro almost killed him. Fatality! 

Movie Meltdown - Episode 516 Settle in for an extensive discussion of the sci-fi "classic" - Battle Beyond the Stars. And this is a film that definitely gives us a lot to dig into, considering the movie is produced by Roger Corman, written by John Sayles, featuring music composed by James Horner, art direction and visual effects by James Cameron… just to name a few of it's notable crew. Plus a star-studded cast including Richard Thomas, Robert Vaughn, John Saxon, George Peppard, Julia Duffy and of course Sybil Danning. And while we come to realize we are vaguely humanoid in the wrong kind of ways, we also cover… Last Woman on Earth, electric kaleidoscope, Enter the Dragon, Harlan Ellison, Vincent Price, glitter is cool, a disgraced conquistador, a back alley that also just happens to be a space ship, George Lucas, Starcrash, Hephaestus, lots of dome shapes, The Wasp Woman, Eloi, sassy consciousness, protecting the village of the innocent, analog electronic toys, stealing from Kurosawa, he's an old prospector stuck inside of a giant egg timer, create a new kind of a world, Ray Harryhausen, always be selling, this is a pretty bored universe, it doesn’t matter how many of the pools leak, Bucket of Blood, almost everything from a plumber's supply store, in a brutal display of physical comedy, prancing lizard man, clone Borg, a space hell house, Gale Anne Hurd, perched on top of a pile of pirate treasure, Ingrid Pitt, space medieval, plasma balls, Bela Lugosi, high-concept science fiction, H. P. Lovecraft, finger on the pulse of the decade, a caulking gun, Bill Paxton, cycling through potential robot partners, the most awkward angle possible, spiral latex, hope for the future, shooting people from space, with a washable silk shirt, surreal pop art, why did your movies manage to become classics, five surgery-mutant thumbs up, Forbidden Planet, the league of local actors who all do the robot, a lot of uncanny valley, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Alec Gillis, Las Vegas in space, Caroline Munro, matte paintings, space hippies, captured by mimes, the development of special effects as a science, The Man Who Fell to Earth, a civilization of rubes, The Mission, Marcia Lucas and the worst Roomba ever.  Spoiler Alert: We go into painstaking detail about the film Battle Beyond the Stars. So you should watch the movie before listening. You have been warned!  “...this movie was like, it was trying to be, at times, a silly, sci-fi romp, but then would turn around and then just be utterly surreal, acid-trip of a film.”

On this episode of LIFECAST, SFX artist Alec Gillis walks us through how he impaled and split Lance Henriksen’s character Bishop in half for the spectacular "Queen Kill" in ALIENS.  Impaling Bishop with the Queen’s tail was easy. It was the foaming at the mouth that proved to be the difficult part! 

Danny and Jenna have a truly iconic guest named Alec Gillis. Alec is an Academy Award winning artist who is not only responsible for the fat suit, the animatronic reindeer, and the toy soldiers in the Santa Clause franchise, he's also the mastermind behind some of the most amazing special effects and character designs in film. He worked on Death Becomes Her, Nora Ephron's Michael, the Alien franchise, IT, Sorry to Bother You, Jumanji, and SO MUCH MORE. He's a genius and we are happy to have him breaking down his work on The Santa Clause movies and so much more!VISIT MINT MOBILE AT www.mintmobile.com/MERRYICONICLINKS:Twitter.com/DannyPellegrinoInstagram.com/DannyPellegrinoFacebook.com/PellegrinoDannyCameo.com/DannyPellegrinoT-shirts: EverythingIconic.store OREverythingIconic.Threadless.comJenna:Instagram.com/Jenna.Brister Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Say AHHHH!  Our series on LEVIATHAN kicks off with SFX legend Alec Gillis!  Alec worked on the film as a member of Stan Winston’s team. He shares his memories of filming in Rome, the mechanics of shooting “dry for wet”, the special effect he doesn’t care for (but is learning to embrace!), his best George P. Cosmatos impression, and more! 

¡Leyeron bien! En este episodio platicamos con Alec Gillis, el multipremiado y multitalentoso co-dueño y co-fundador de Amalgamated Dynamics Inc (Studio ADI). Estudio de efectos especiales ganador del Oscar, de donde han salido infinidad de monstruos, desde Goro de Mortal Kombat (1995) y las criaturas de Tremors (1990). Hasta los orcos de Bright (2015), IT (2017), El Depredador (2018), Godzilla vs. Kong (2020). Además de haber trabajado en clásicos como Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Jumanji (1995) y muchos más. *ADVERTENCIA* Si Toncho Avalos suena como fan intenso en este episodio, es porque LO ES. Tomando esto en cuenta, esperamos que lo disfruten y lo compartan con sus amigos. **Sorpresas, subtítulos y más en nuestro canal de Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjjwla_P1jWlkx4OIf-89ULh9w4D63-lq Redes de Alec Gillis y Studio ADI (¡SÍGANLOOOOOOOS!): Instagram Alec Gillis: https://www.instagram.com/alec_gillis/ Canal de Youtube de ADI (¡IMPERDIBLE!): https://www.youtube.com/user/studioADI ¿Tienes un familiar millonario? ¡Compra aquí! https://studioadi.bigcartel.com/products

A dupla Alec Gillis e Tom Woodruff Jr, responsável pela criação de grande parte dos monstros mais icónicos do cinema (Alien, Predador, Starship Troopers, etc) levou um pontapé nos tomates gigante enquanto trabalhava nos efeitos práticos da prequela de The Thing. Por imposição dos estúdios, todo o seu trabalho foi substituído por CGI.Como reacção, e para provar que os monstros "reais" de látex e gosma ainda funcionam, a Studio ADI decidiu lançar uma campanha entre os fãs do cinema old school e criar Harbinger Down, um filme de terror low budget totalmente artesanal mas feito com muito amor.O honroso convidado é, nem mais nem menos, Alec Gillis, que nos vai acompanhar numa conversa alucinante sobre os altos e baixos de um dos estúdios de efeitos especais mais requisitados em Hollywood.Na recta final não desliguem pois José Santiago volta com um Direto Pra Vídeo e o inesperado gato assassino do DVD de culto de Uninvited.

Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr are former apprentices of the legendary Stan Winston, and for the past 30 years, their company Amalgamated Dynamics has been at the forefront of some of the most epic and large scale  practical effects in Hollywood. From the Graboids from Tremors, to the Aliens and Predators and even the dinosaurs from Jurassic World, Tom and Alec have been behind them all, and through the process have built one of the most prolific practical effects studios in history. Despite their extensive accomplishments and indelible name in the industry, Alec and Tom still face the challenges that come with being a practical effects studio in a CGI driven Hollywood. Condensed timelines, lower budgets, unrealistic expectations, and the ever-present over-reliance on digital effects, are just a few of the challenges that come with doing what they do. But regardless, Tom and Alec continue to fight the good fight for practical effects. We dive into the challenges and splendor of practical effects and learn more about ADI's creative processes behind creating some of the most iconic creatures in cinematic history. All of this and so much more on today's episode of the Nick Taylor horror show. Overall I feel like this interview does a great job at illustrating the trails and tribulations of practical affect studios in this era of CGI. Regardless, the good fight is being fought as more and more directors like Guillermo Del Toro and JJ Abrams are outspokenly utilizing practical effects for their major blockbusters and blending it with digital. Even James Wan opted to use as many practical makeup effects as he could for his CGI extravaganza, Aquaman. The pendulum is swinging back towards practical, and I personally believe that the reason we're seeing so much rampant nostalgia for the 80's and 90's is because of practical effects - people yearn for movies that had effects and characters that they could feel, that had true tangible gravity that their minds and hearts believed. It's not just makeup effects either, explosions, car crashes, and other stunts and special effects are simply way more effective when they're done practically. Just look at Mad Max Fury Road - George Miller did the majority of those insane car sequences entirely practically. (I could go on and on) Here are some key takeaways for aspiring practical effects makeup artists from Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis. Provide options for the director. Alec speaks to the importance of presenting different design options to directors so that you can get into his or her head and instantly understand the look they are going for through trial and error. Alec recommends presenting a boring option, an option that is completely out of left field, and then something in between. Be a capitalist. Alec states that in creative endeavors, you need to understand business, probably moreso than in non-creative endeavors. Artistic professions are extraordinarily difficult to make a living at and require not only endless amounts of passion, but financial acuity as well. Alec says, that if you are an artist it is incumbent upon you to understand business, your products, your marketability, and to get out there and network and promote yourself properly. Don't forget to 'do you'. When Tom and Alec are recruiting other artists, they ask their applicants to show them not just what they worked on when they were working on big movies, but what they created on their own time. They want to see what kind of art matters most to their applicants because doing this enables them to really get a grasp on what their people are most passionate about. This is why it's critically important to constantly be improving your craft through your own personal side projects. It not only enables you to get valuable practice in, but helps you further develop and arrive at your own personal aesthetic. This is part of what shapes artists. Tom and Alec recommend building an extensive portfolio of your own personal projects because it will showcase your unique sensibility.

Includes an interview with Alec Gillis of Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. about ADI’s work on The Predator and plenty more! Presented by Corporal Hicks & RidgeTop.

Harbinger Down set a new precedent for special effects films. Alec Gillis and the crew at ADI brought us some truly memorable images from the film. We caught up with the author of the Harbinger Down production book, Christopher Cooksey to talk about his experiences with the production of the film as well as his own film, Quantum Terror, a mind-bending Lovecraftian horror film soon to be released. Buy the Harbinger Down production book on Amazon here

Harbinger Down set a new precedent for special effects films. Alec Gillis and the crew at ADI brought us some truly memorable images from the film. We caught up with the author of the Harbinger Down production book, Christopher Cooksey to talk about his experiences with the production of the film as well as his own film, Quantum Terror, a mind-bending Lovecraftian horror film soon to be released. Buy the Harbinger Down production book on Amazon here

Episode 21 sees Andy and Mitch joined by founder of the London Horror Society, Chris Nials. His chosen film? Pumpkinhead! Directed by special effects supremo Stan Winston, featuring the FX talent of Alien suit creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr and based on a short story by Ed Justin, 1988's Pumpkinhead is a superb film that, while in no way a bad film, is certainly underseen. Remedy that immediately and seek this one out.  The cast includes Lance Henriksen, Brian Bremer, Jeff East, Buck Flower and Florence Schauffler. Pumpkinhead also features the first film performance of Mayim Bialik! The synopsis is as follows:  When a group of rambunctious teenagers inadvertently kill his only son, Ed Harley seeks the magic of a backwoods witch to bring the child back. But when she tells him the child's death is irrevocable, his grief develops into an all-consuming desire... for revenge! Defying superstition, he and the witch invoke 'the pumpkinhead' a monstrously clawed and fanged demon which, once reborn, answers only to Ed's bloodlust. But as the invincible creature wreaks its slow, unspeakable tortures on the teens, Ed confronts a horrifying secret about his connection to the beast and realizes that he must find a way to stop its deadly mission before he becomes one with it forever!   Please note that this podcast contains strong language and Scottish accents.  Remember, you can keep up to date with our news by following us via the usual social media outlets:  Facebook Twitter Instagram Plus you can drop us an email to stronglanguageviolentscenes@gmail.com. Strong Language & Violent Scenes theme by Mitch Bain Edits & Artwork by Andy Stewart   Also, we love what we are doing and the response so far has been wonderful so if you enjoy what we do and want to help us continue to do it and help us to grow, then please consider sending us a few pounds via Paypal to stronglanguageviolentscenes@gmail.com! There is no lower or upper limit and every bit helps. 

The post #79 Alec Gillis ADI Creature FX Interview appeared first on Orbital Jigsaw.

As Alien fans, we’ve become used to change. Different directors; different scripts; different planets; different eras; different timelines; even different film studios. With everything so constantly in flux, it’s easy to forget that Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr. have been there since nearly the very beginning. From their pioneering work on Aliens, to the foundation of the legendary Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc., Gillis and Woodruff have been at the vanguard of the effects industry for more than three decades. In this exclusive, unprecedented interview, our very own JM Prater visited Gillis and Woodruff at Studio ADI in Hollywood for a sit-down conversation about their love for the Alien Saga, their relationships with the fans, and much, much more. // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.perfectorganism.com. // If you’d like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Building Better Worlds // To support the show, please consider visiting www.perfectorganism.com/support. We’ve got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come.

The Monster Squad is a cult classic 1987 horror comedy featuring a group of neighborhood kids who have to do battle against the gang of Universal Horror monsters, let by Count Dracula.   On this episode we talk to Duncan Regehr who played Dracula, a role that is listed as one of the best portrayals of Dracula in film history.  We also chat with Special FX genius Alec Gillis who handled several of the FX on this film. We learn about the history of the filming locations, find out what the experience was like for "Dracula" on set and learn a whole lot about the use of practical FX in movies from one of the industry's best. Thanks for listening!

This week we talk as little as possible about that one scary thing that happened this week, continue what may be the best or worst themed month we've attempted yet, discussing Turkey's own Nessie, and review Bryan Bertino's mother, daughter, creature feature, 'The Monster'. Also, we were lucky enough to talk to Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr, the creators of 'The Monster's monster, as well as some of the most famous animatronic atrocities in modern history. Keep our mini-fridges full of blood...I mean...not blood...normal things that people drink...by going to http://patreon.com/frightday or http://shop.frightday.com Follow us in the shadows at the following places: http://frightday.com http://twitter.com/frightday http://facebook.com/groups/frightday http://instagram.com/frightday http://facebook.com/ffrightdayy

Originally broadcast the week of 8/23/15, whether it was working with James Cameron on Aliens and The Terminator or creating the monsters for Tremors, Alec Gillis and his partner Tom Woodruff, Jr. have contributed to the nightmares of an entire generation of moviegoers. After a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Alec has written and directed Harbinger Down, a throwback to the kind of practical effects flicks he grew up on and helped to create himself during the 80's and 90's. Alec joins us to talk about his early days working for Roger Corman and meeting James Cameron, which of his iconic creatures still holds up decades later, and whether practical effects are still a viable way of creating chills and thrills for an audience. He even shares some secrets of how they achieved a big budget look on a shoestring budget! More information about Alec's latest film can be found at www.harbingerdown.com From the dangerous minds behind the 30 Minutes of Geek podcast, it's even more great guests, nerdy conversations, and geek humor...now on the radio!!! Because the weekend demands more than 30 Minutes of Geek, it's GEEK UNIVERSE with Jim Yelton! Nationally Syndicated on the GLN Radio Network and streaming on-demand through www.geekuniverseshow.com

Sam calls up Hollywood creature effects legend Alec Gillis to discuss his work on Aliens, Starship Troopers, Tremors, Working under Stan Winston & and directorial debut with Harbinger Down.

To the Batcave as the Damn Dirty Geeks welcome Academy Award-winning creature creator, makeup artist, actor and director Tom Woodruff Jr. to our podcast to discuss his amazing career and his earliest influences that started him on his filmmaking journey. Tom has amassed a huge career in high profile films with his creative partner Alec Gillis, who together created Amalgamated Dynamics Inc./studio ADI, a leader in practical creature, makeup and special effects. A very brief list of Tom's credits include: STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, ALIEN 3, PREDATOR, JUMANJI, SPIDER-MAN (2002) and most recently BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE. Tom Woodruff and Alec Gillis own Amalgamated Dynamics Inc, one of Hollywood's top creature design, makeup and special effects studios. Tom not only makes some of your favorite movie creatures, he often performs as them in the creature suits he creates, including the Lead Alien in both ALIEN 3 and ALIEN RESURRECTION, the title creature of the original PUMPKINHEAD, and Bernie the gorilla in ZOOKEEPER. We discuss the particular challenges of suit performances in such films, and how his acting experience in these suits begins in the creature design phase bringing these aliens, apes and monsters to life on the big screen. This episode starts off with some laughs about Tom's excellent replica of the original 1966 Batmobile from the classic TV series starring Adam West as Batman (see photos in the gallery below). The show had a huge influence on Tom's childhood and it was an early gateway into genre entertainment that we continue to remember fondly today in our careers. Tom also belongs to the ever-expanding group who credit KING KONG and PLANET OF THE APES as highly influential on his life and career -- it almost seems to be a theme of the DDG podcast, go figure.Atomic batteries to power... turbines to speed... prepare to listen now!

Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. co-founded Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. which rose to prominence as one of the great practical effects studios in the world. As well as being the team responsible for H.R. Giger’s Xenomorph from Alien 3 onward their filmography runs the gamut from The Santa Clause to Starship Troopers, Grown Ups 2 […] The post It Came From the Indies – Alec Gillis and Harbinger Down appeared first on Nerdy Little Secret dot com.

Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. co-founded Amalgamated Dynamics Inc. which rose to prominence as one of the great practical effects studios in the world. As well as being the team responsible for H.R. Giger’s Xenomorph from Alien 3 onward their filmography runs the gamut from The Santa Clause to … The post It Came From the Indies – Alec Gillis and Harbinger Down appeared first on Nerdy Little Secret.

Olá, caro ouvinte! Mais uma quinta-feira cheia de novidades, besteiras e papos de gente doida -- ah, e também tem promoção! Nesta edição conversamos sobre o triste falecimento de Esther Williams, o estúdio próprio de Carlos Saldanha, o Kickstarter de Tom Woodruff, Jr e Alec Gillis, o (possível) fechamento da MTV Brasil e as estreias da semana. Confira tudo isso e muito mais no nosso On Demand da Best. Temos uma notícia bem bacana para você, caro ouvinte: quer ganhar um dvd do filme Na Estrada, dirigido por Walter Salles e estrelado por Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley e Kristen Stewart? É fácil! Basta mandar um e-mail para claquete@bestradiobrasil.com com seu nome, cidade e uma resposta bem criativa para a seguinte pergunta: O que você faria com Kristen Stewart na estrada? Pessoalmente, eu abandonaria a moçoila no meio de um deserto. Agradecemos aos nossos amigos da PlayArte pela gentileza. Valeu, gente! Quer dar sugestões, dicas ou simplesmente participar da promoção, caro ouvinte? Fácil! Comente logo abaixo ou mande um e-mail para claquete@bestradiobrasil.com. (Clique aqui para baixar o regulamento do concurso cultural)