Tom Savini
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Tom Savini | |
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 Savini in 2014 | |
| Born | Thomas Vincent Savini November 3, 1946 |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Website | http:// savini / |
Thomas Vincent Savini(born November 3, 1946[1]) is an Americanprosthetic makeupartist, actor, stunt performer and film director. He is known for his makeup and special effects work on many films directed byGeorge A. Romero,includingMartin,Dawn of the Dead,Day of the Dead,Creepshow,andMonkey Shines;he also created the special effects and makeup for many cult classics likeFriday the 13th(parts I and IV),Maniac,The Burning,The Prowler,andThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
Savini directedNight of the Living Dead,the 1990remakeof Romero's 1968Night of the Living Dead;[2]his other directing work includes three episodes of the TV showTales from the Darksideand one segment inThe Theatre Bizarre.As an actor and stuntman, he has appeared in films such asMartin,Dawn of the Dead,Knightriders,From Dusk till Dawn,Planet Terror,Machete,Django Unchained,andMachete Kills.
Early life
[edit]Savini was born on November 3, 1946, inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania,and is of Italian descent.[3]He was raisedCatholicand graduated fromCentral Catholic High School.As a boy, his inspiration was actorLon ChaneySr., and Savini attributes his earliest desires to create makeup effects to Chaney and the filmMan of a Thousand Faces.[4]
Experimenting with whatever medium he could find, the young Savini practiced creating makeup effects on himself, later convincing his friends to let him practice his craft on them. He also discovered another passion, acting. Combining his makeup applications and homemade costumes, he especially enjoyed scaring his friends. Savini attendedPoint Park Universityfor three years, before enlisting in theUnited States Army.After his tour in Vietnam, he attendedCarnegie-Mellon University,[5]as the first undergraduate to be awarded a full fellowship in the acting and directing program. He appeared in stage productions throughout college and continued on stage long after his tour of duty inVietnam.
Savini served as acombat photographerduring theVietnam War.[6]In a 2002 interview, he told thePittsburgh Post"When I was in Vietnam I was a combat photographer. My job was to shoot images of damage to machines and to people. Through my lens, I saw some hideous [stuff]. To cope with it, I guess I tried to think of it as special effects. Now, as an artist, I just think of creating the effect within the limitations we have to deal with."[6]He continued to practice with makeup in Vietnam, often frightening indigenous peasants by appearing to suddenly transform into a "monster".
Using the lens of his camera, Savini separated himself from the real life horrors of war;[7]however, all the images still haunted his mind. Savini said his wartime experiences influenced his eventual style of gory effects: "I hated that when I watched a war movie and someone dies. Some people die with one eye open and one eye half-closed, sometimes people die with smiles on their faces because the jaw is always slack. I incorporated the feeling of the stuff I saw in Vietnam into my work."[8]
In 1970, while on guard duty, aflarewas triggered in the jungle area Savini was watching. Against military protocol, Savini fired into the bush without informing his superiors. Other soldiers likewise began firing until a duck wandered from the bush completely unharmed. Due to his failure to follow orders, Savini was taken off guard duty from his bunker on the following evening. That same evening, the bunker came under attack and several soldiers were wounded or killed. As a result of this incident, Savini earned the nickname "Duck Slayer" and to this day will not eatduck.[9]
Among the many talents Savini achieved as a young man was the art offencing;he is a tournament fencer as well as an accomplished gymnast.[10]Much of his stunt work and some of his characters reflect these graceful abilities; however, he is also accomplished with a bull whip and can easily execute a motorcycle stunt. Many of his characters have beenbikersor madmen who are hardened and eerily evil.
Career
[edit]Savini is primarily known for his groundbreaking work in the field ofspecial make-up effects,also known as prosthetic makeup.[11]His signature style and techniques bring vivid realism to genre films. Early in Savini's career,Dick Smithbecame an inspiration and a guide, later becoming an associate at Savini's Special Make-up Effects Program. Among other projects, Smith is known for his groundbreaking work inThe Exorcist.
Savini got his breakthrough working with Pittsburgh filmmakerGeorge A. Romero,providing a convincing wrist-slashing effect in the opening scenes ofMartin(1978). The following year, working with a larger budget onDawn of the Dead,Savini created his signature palette of severed limbs and bite-marks. In the 1980 slasher filmFriday the 13th,Savini expanded his repertoire of blood and gore.[12]He continued to perfect those techniques in another film that year,Maniac.[13]
Along with the 1981 filmsThe BurningandThe Prowler,Savini earned the nickname "The Sultan of Splatter". In 1982, he created more traditional horror effects in the filmCreepshowdirected by George A. Romero and written byStephen King.In 1984, he agreed to work onFriday the 13th: The Final Chapter,where he killed his creationJason Voorhees.Returning to the zombie genre in 1985, Savini was nominated and won the 1985Saturn Awardfor Best Makeup Effects for his work on the Romero'sDay of the Dead.In 1986, Savini worked with directorTobe Hooperon the filmThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
Savini has also worked on films by Italian directorDario Argento,first in 1990 on the filmTwo Evil Eyesand again on the 1993 filmTrauma.In the 1991 filmHeartstopper,he created special effects for directorJohn A. Russo.Although focusing more on his acting career in recent years, Savini has continued to be active with special makeup effects and in 2011 supervised the effects for the Australian filmRedd Inc.
As an actor, Savini has appeared in many of the same films he was creating effects for. His first appearance was a relatively straight, innocuous character inMartinin 1978; however, he played a menacing biker called Blades in his next filmDawn of the Dead(1978), a role he reprised in zombie form with acameo appearancein the 2005 continuation of the series,Land of the Dead.In the 1980 filmManiac,his brief role in the film found him facing the maniac's shotgun and having his head blown off in a spectacular display. Savini had a more prominent role as biker and antagonist Morgan, the Black Knight, in George A. Romero'sKnightriders(1981).[13]Continuing with the biker theme, Savini played the universally recognized, whip-wielding, vampire-fighting biker "Sex Machine" in the 1996Quentin Tarantino/Robert RodriguezfilmFrom Dusk till Dawn.[14]
In 2007, Savini had a role inPlanet Terror,one of two stories in theGrindhousefilm, directed by Robert Rodriguez. Savini plays Deputy Tolo, who fights to save his town from an infestation of zombie-like creatures. In another Rodriguez film,Machete,[15]based on a fake movie trailer played during the filmGrindhouse,Savini played Osiris Amanpour, hired to track and kill the protagonist Machete. Savini reprised his role in the sequel,Machete Kills.
Throughout the years, Savini has appeared in movie roles from cameos as the vampire David Van Etten inLost Boys: The Tribe;as the sheriff in the 2004Dawn of the Deadremake; or tongue in cheek characters like Jesus Christ inZombiegeddon(2003).
In 2006, Savini essayed the role ofPrester John,the mythical villain in the dreamlikeSea of Dust.That year also saw the release of Johannes Roberts'Forest of the Damned,in which Savini played a mad hermit surrounded by angels cast from heaven. In 2008, he made a brief appearance inZack & Miri Make a Pornoas a thievingslumlord.He also appeared inThe Dead Matter,along withAndrew DivoffandJim O'Rear.Savini voiced himself onThe Simpsonsepisode "Worst Episode Ever":While making an appearance at Android's Dungeon, Savini performs the" Gutbuster "gag, covering the crowd in" blood and guts "and consequently humiliating theComic Book Guy.In 2012, Savini appeared as a shop teacher, Mr. Callahan, in the Pittsburgh-set teen dramaThe Perks of Being a Wallflower,starringLogan Lerman.Savini also appeared as one of the Trackers in Quentin Tarantino'sDjango Unchained.Future projects include Savini starring in the Nazi zombie filmThe 4th Reichdirected by Shaun Robert Smith, playing the role of SS-StandartenführerOskar Dirlewanger.[16]
As afilm director,Savini helmed episodes of the syndicated television seriesTales from the Darkside,the aforementioned 1990 colorremakeofNight of the Living Dead;andHousecall,the pilot of the proposed seriesThe Chill Factor,which starred Pittsburgh actor Bingo O'Malley. In 2011, he directed "Wet Dreams", one of six segments to the horror filmThe Theatre Bizarre.In 2009, Savini announced his plan to direct a new film,Death Island,withspecial make-up effectsby his former protegeGreg Nicotero.[17]On September 1, 2013, Savini began acrowd fundingproject onIndiegogoforDeath Island.His plans were to begin filming by the end of 2013.[18]
In the 2008 novelBad Moon RisingbyJonathan Maberry,Savini appears as one of the real-world horror celebrities who are in the fictional town of Pine Deep when monsters attack; other celebrities includeJames Gunn,Jim O'Rear,Brinke Stevens,Ken Foree,Stephen Susco,Debbie Rochon,Joe Bob Briggsand blues manMem Shannon.[19][20][21][22][23]
Savini also briefly took part inJerry Lawler's 2010 revival of theMemphis Wrestlingpro wrestling television show. His on-screen character sent horror-movie monsters (played by wrestlers from the Memphis area) onto the show to get revenge for Savini who blamed Lawler for the death of Savini's friendAndy Kaufman;the monsters' handler was manager "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock.
In 2012, American filmmaker Jason Baker debuted a biography of Savini entitledSmoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini.[24]
He stated during a Q&A with fans that the hardest movie he has ever worked on wasCreepshowbecause it was "5 movies in 1".[25]
In 2018, Savini announced via his Instagram that he would be directing a horror web series, in collaboration with others, including Tina Romero,George A. Romero's daughter. Special effects for the web series will be completed by Savini's students at Douglas Education Center.[26]The web series is currently in production.[27]
In May 2019,Slipknotlead singer and frontmanCorey Taylorsaid in an interview[28]that Tom Savini worked to produce and create his new masks for the upcomingWe Are Not Your Kindalbum and subsequent tour cycles. Around the same time, Savini was approached by wrestlerBray Wyattto design the mask for his brand new "Fiend" character.[29]
FX education
[edit]Savini runs theTom Savini's Special Make-Up Effects Program[30]at theDouglas Education CenterinMonessen, Pennsylvania.Savini is happy to say that he refers offers he receives for movie make-up effects projects to his students and graduates of his school as well.[31]
Savini is the author of several books on special effects includingGrande IllusionsI and II (1983, 1994) which detail the production and mechanical workings of many of his famous film effects.[32]InHorror F/X,a 1989 direct-to-video interview conducted by frequent collaboratorJohn A. Russo,Savini explains many of his effects techniques, illustrated by film clips and behind-the-scenes video footage. He is also associated with other books in thehorrorgenre includingBook of the DeadandHorror 101for which he wrote the foreword. Savini has also appeared in public demonstrating his effects, including appearances in the 1980s onLate Night With David Lettermanin which he demonstrated such effects as "fire gel" and a gunshot to the head onLettermanhimself.
Filmography
[edit]As an actor
[edit]Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Martin | Arthur | First film withGeorge A. Romero |
| Dawn of the Dead | 'Blades' | Second film with George A. Romero | |
| Effects | Nicky | ||
| 1980 | Maniac | Disco Boy | |
| 1981 | Knightriders | Morgan | Third film with George A. Romero |
| 1982 | Creepshow | Garbage Man #2 | Fourth film with George A. Romero (cameo) |
| 1985 | The Ripper | Jack The Ripper | Direct-to-video;shot in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 1986 | Twisted Sister: Come Out and Play | Teacher | Cameo |
| 1987 | Creepshow 2 | The Creep | |
| 1990 | Two Evil Eyes | The Monomaniac (Uncredited) | Fifth film with George A. Romero |
| 1992 | Innocent Blood | News Photographer | |
| 1994 | Heartstopper | Lieutenant Ron Vargo | |
| 1995 | The Demolitionist | Roland | |
| 1996 | From Dusk till Dawn | 'Sex Machine' | |
| 2001 | The Monster Man | Uncle Joe | |
| Web of Darkness | Rouge | ||
| Children of the Living Dead | Deputy Hughs | ||
| 2002 | Eyes Are Upon You | Eddie Rao | |
| Ted Bundy | Salt Lake City Detective | ||
| 2003 | Blood Bath | Stranger | |
| Zombiegeddon | Jesus Christ | New York City Horror Film FestivalLifetime Achievement Award | |
| 2004 | Vicious | Kane | |
| Dawn of the Dead | County Sheriff Cahill | Remake of the 1978 filmDawn of the Dead | |
| Death 4 Told | Man | Cameo | |
| Unearthed | Victor Tonelli | ||
| 2005 | Forest of the Damned | Stephen | |
| Land of the Dead | Blades (Zombie) | Sixth film with George A. Romero | |
| 2006 | A Dream of Colour in Black and White | Caddy | |
| Beyond the Wall of Sleep | Sheriff | ||
| The Absence of Light | The Higher Power | ||
| Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film | Himself | Documentary film | |
| 2007 | Grindhouse | Deputy Tolo | SegmentPlanet Terror |
| Loaded Dice | The Bishop | ||
| 2008 | Silent Vengeance | Daniel Phillips | |
| It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To | Uncle Tom | ||
| Lost Boys: The Tribe | David Van Etten | Sequel to the 1987 filmThe Lost Boys | |
| Zack and Miri Make a Porno | Jenkins | ||
| Sea of Dust | Prester John | ||
| 2009 | Eldorado | ||
| 2010 | The Dead Matter | Sebed | |
| Machete | Osiris Amanpour | ||
| Horrorween | Killer | ||
| 2012 | The Theatre Bizarre | Dr. Maurey | |
| Django Unchained | Tracker Chaney | ||
| The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Mr. Callahan | ||
| 2013 | Machete Kills | Osiris Amanpour | |
| The 4th Reich | SS-StandartenführerOskar Dirlewanger[33] | ||
| Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th | Himself - Special Make-Up Effects | Documentary film | |
| 2015 | The Sadist | The Sadist | |
| 2020 | In Search of Darkness: Part II | Himself | Documentary film |
| 2024 | Terrifier 3 | TBA | [34] |
Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Boy Who Loved Trolls | Motorcyclist | Television film |
| 1996 | Mr. Stitch | Chemical Weapons Engineer | |
| 2000 | Sheena | Peter Reynolds | Episode: "Lost Boy" |
| 2001 | The Simpsons | Himself | Episode: "Worst Episode Ever" |
| 2004 | The 100 Scariest Movie Moments | Television documentary, Part 1: 100-81 | |
| 2009 | His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th | Himself - Host | Television documentary |
| 2010 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Cop | Episode: "One Hundred" |
| 2016 | From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series | Burt | 7 Episodes |
| 2020 | N0S4A2 | Old Snake | Episode: "The Night Road" |
| Locke & Key | Locksmith |
Video game
| Year | Video game | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | LocoCycle | Holt Ryebach | Live acting only[35] |
As a make-up artist/special effects technician
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Deathdream | |
| 1974 | Deranged | |
| 1978 | Martin | |
| Dawn of the Dead | Nominated:Saturn Awardfor Best Make-Up Effects | |
| 1980 | Friday the 13th | |
| Effects | ||
| Maniac | ||
| 1981 | Eyes of a Stranger | |
| The Burning | ||
| The Prowler | Savini sometimes cites The Prowler's gore and special effects as his all-time greatest work | |
| Knightriders | ||
| 1982 | Xiao sheng pa pa | |
| Creepshow | ||
| Alone in the Dark | ||
| Midnight | ||
| 1984 | Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter | Jason Voorhees |
| Maria's Lovers | ||
| 1985 | Day of the Dead | Saturn Awardfor Best Make-Up Effects |
| 1986 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 | |
| 1987 | Creepshow 2 | |
| 1988 | Tales from the Darkside | Episode "Family Reunion" |
| Monkey Shines | ||
| Red Scorpion | ||
| 1990 | Two Evil Eyes | |
| 1991 | Heartstopper | |
| Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh | ||
| 1993 | Killing Zoe | |
| Trauma | ||
| H.P. Lovecraft's: Necronomicon | ||
| 1994 | Backstreet Justice | |
| 1995 | Ghostwriter | Episode "Attack of the Slime Monster" |
| 1996 | Mr. Stitch | Television film |
| 1997 | Cutting Moments | |
| 1999 | Cold Hearts | |
| 2001 | Web of Darkness | |
| 2002 | Ted Bundy | |
| 2011 | Death from Above | |
| 2012 | Redd Inc | |
| 2022 | The Black Phone | Savini designed the Grabber mask with Callosum Studios |
| TBD | Nightmare City |
Video game
| Year | Video game | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Friday the 13th: The Game | Savini Jason design |
As a director
[edit]| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984–1988 | Tales from the Darkside | TV, three episodes |
| 1990 | Night of the Living Dead | Remake of the 1968 film |
| 2004 | Chill Factor: Housecall | |
| 2011 | The Theatre Bizarre | Segment "Wet Dreams" |
| 2019 | Creepshow | Episode 6. Segment "By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain" |
| TBD | Nightmare City | Remake ofNightmare City(1980)[36] |
Bibliography
[edit]- Grande Illusions: A Learn-By-Example Guide to the Art and Technique of Special Make-Up Effects from the Films of Tom SaviniISBN0-911137-00-9
- Grande Illusions IIISBN0-911137-07-6
- Bizarro!(A reissue ofGrande Illusions,arbitrarily re-titled by its publisher)ISBN0-517-55319-8
References
[edit]- ^Dick, Jeremy (November 3, 2021)."Tom Savini Celebrated by Horror Fans on His 75th Birthday".MovieWeb.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
- ^J.C. Maçek III (2012-06-15)."The Zombification Family Tree: Legacy of the Living Dead".PopMatters.
- ^3 Like1 Dislike0 Jan 27, 2012 by B. Alan Orange (2012-01-27)."Exclusive: Tom Savini Talks The Theatre Bizarre".MovieWeb.Retrieved2012-08-22.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"Foreword by Tom Savini".Cult Reviews. 2011-12-15. Archived fromthe originalon 2019-08-17.Retrieved2012-08-22.
- ^Savini NewsArchivedFebruary 8, 2007, at theWayback Machine
- ^abHayes, John (October 11, 2002)."Savini's a Scream-Checking in with the master of TerrorMania".Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Archived fromthe originalon March 5, 2021.RetrievedOctober 27,2013.
- ^Interview in the documentaryScream Greats Volume I - Tom Savini Master of Horror FX;Starlog Films/Paramount Home Video, 1985.
- ^Chris Hewitt, Adam Smith (March 2009). "Freddy V Jason".Empire.p. 97.
- ^Interview in the magazineBizarre,February 2006.
- ^"Tom Savini Supanova Pop Culture Expo".Archived fromthe originalon 2016-10-10.Retrieved2020-06-24.
- ^Horror F/X hosted by John Russo; JTC Video Inc./Market Square Productions, 1989.
- ^Roffman, Michael (April 30, 2020)."Tom Savini on Learning from Dreams, Exercising in Quarantine, and Revisiting Friday the 13th".Consequence of Sound.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
- ^abAbrams, Simon (October 16, 2018)."The Legendary Tom Savini on a Career of Special Effects Wizardy and Unforgettable Horror".RogerEbert.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
- ^Chapstick, Kelsey (June 11, 2019)."Tom Savini on Corey Taylor's New Mask, Joy of Scaring People, Life as" Sex Machine "".Revolver.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
- ^"It's 'Machete' Madness!! Check Out Over 27 New Images!!!".BloodyDisgusting. 10 July 2010.
- ^"Early Concept Art for Nazi-Horror Tale 'The 4th Reich 3D'".BloodyDisgusting. 15 January 2010.
- ^"Tom Savini directs again on Death Island".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-23.
- ^"First Details on Tom Savini's Death Island".21 August 2013.
- ^ILoz Zoc (2007-02-07)."BC Books Interviews Author Jonathan Maberry".Blogcritics.org. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-11-23.Retrieved2013-08-23.
- ^Maberry, Jonathan. "Bad Moon Rising". Pinnacle Press, 2005.
- ^Scythe, Ramius (2010-06-22)."Horror Chronicles Features Debbie Rochon".Horrorchronicles. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-02-21.Retrieved2013-08-23.
- ^"MTV Artist Focus On Tom Savini".Mtv. 1946-11-03. Archived fromthe originalon October 5, 2013.Retrieved2013-08-23.
- ^Greg Petaloudis (2013-01-10)."Horror Unlimited Ingrid Pitt Award - Debbie Rochon".Horrorunlimited.blogspot.Retrieved2013-08-23.
- ^"Filmmaker Jason Baker Talks Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini".6 April 2013.
- ^"Tom Savini Q&A - Texas Frightmare Weekend 2012 - May 6th, 2012".YouTube.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-01-09.
- ^"Instagram post by Tom Savini • Jan 16, 2018 at 12:46am UTC".Instagram.Archived fromthe originalon 2021-12-26.Retrieved2018-01-16.
- ^"[First Look] Tom Savini Directs in New Web Series, Currently Shooting! | Nightmare on Film Street".Nightmare on Film Street.2018-01-16.Retrieved2018-01-16.
- ^"Corey Taylor recruits Dawn of the Dead effects master Tom Savini for new Slipknot mask".31 January 2019.
- ^"Details On Bray Wyatt's Creepy New Mask".July 16, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 17,2021.
- ^"Tom Savini Special Make-Up Effects School".Dec.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-09-06.Retrieved2013-08-23.
- ^"Tom Savini: A Real Sex Machine".Film Threat. 2003-10-14.Retrieved2012-08-22.
- ^Squires, John (February 25, 2019)."Tom Savini Coffee Table Photo Biography Book Coming Soon!".Bloody Disgusting.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.
- ^"The 4th Reich prepares for battle; filmmaker talks".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-11-15.Retrieved2020-06-24.
- ^Squires, John (May 23, 2024)."'Terrifier 3' – Makeup Effects Legend Tom Savini Will Appear in Slasher Sequel ".Bloody Disgusting.Archivedfrom the original on May 23, 2024.RetrievedMay 23,2024.
- ^"We Make Awesome".Twisted Pixel Games. 6 November 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 2014-06-30.Retrieved2014-05-05.
- ^Gingold, Michae (March 3, 2015)."Tom Savini remaking Umberto Lenzi's Zombie Fave" Nightmare City "".Fangoria.Archived fromthe originalon May 16, 2016.RetrievedMay 7,2016.
External links
[edit]
- 1946 births
- Living people
- Male actors from Pittsburgh
- American male film actors
- Film directors from Pennsylvania
- American make-up artists
- United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
- American photographers
- American stunt performers
- Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni
- American horror film directors
- Point Park University alumni
- Special effects people
- American people of Italian descent
- United States Army soldiers
- Central Catholic High School (Pittsburgh) alumni